42. How I became Frankfurt’s youngest deputy mayor (and why you should run, too) - GUEST: Eileen O’Sullivan

In this episode of This Time Tomorrow, Omri and Daniela dive into the frontlines of democratic innovation with Eileen O’Sullivan, deputy mayor of Frankfurt (the youngest ever in the history of the city!) and a rising voice in Europe’s Volt party.

Eileen shares her journey from political activist to city leader, driven by frustration with short-term politics and a belief in grassroots change. She explains how Frankfurt is revolutionising local governance by centralising digital services, launching a “welcome process” for newcomers, and embedding citizen participation into administrative decisions.

Eileen’s message is universal: democracy is at its best when people stop waiting for permission and instead start shaping their communities. Whether it’s hackathons for kids, crowd counters at Christmas markets, or restructuring bureaucracy, Eileen shows that meaningful change begins with simply showing up, and that anyone, regardless of background, can run for office and win.

Tune in for a real masterclass in turning idealism into action.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thistimetomorrowpod.substack.com