ShiftMakers

In this inspiring conversation, host Marianne Schnall interviews businesswoman and philanthropist Melinda French Gates who shares insights and advice on navigating life's transitions, embracing change, letting go of perfection, taking time for self-care, and many other topics featured in her new bestselling memoir The Next Day. As a longtime global advocate for women and girls, Gates also discusses the importance of advancing gender equality, what women bring to leadership, and how we can all take action to contribute to positive change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the fifth season of ShiftMakers. In these challenging times – whether we’re dealing with concerns about the current political landscape, global issues, or personal struggles – part one of this special two-part episode features an impressive collection of renowned women from host Marianne Schnall’s archival interviews, offering wisdom and advice for meeting challenges with strength and resilience. The following thought leaders share powerful insights on viewing hard times as opportunities to learn and grow, drawing on history for encouragement, taking time for self-care, holding onto hope, and much more: Stacey Abrams, Maya Angelou, Cori Bush, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Roshi Joan Halifax, Anita Hill, Arianna Huffington, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Elizabeth Lesser, Wangari Maathai, Amy Poehler, Gloria Steinem, V (formerly Eve Ensler), and Oprah Winfrey. This episode is also available in video form, featuring archival video clips and captions, which can be found on Spotify or Marianne Schnall’s YouTube channel. To learn more about Marianne Schnall, please visit MarianneSchnall.com Podcast Art by Kyle Hollingsworth kyle-creative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the country is poised to possibly elect our first woman president who is also a woman of color, host Marianne Schnall asks law professor and activist Anita Hill to share her insights on the historic moment we’re in. Hill discusses the engagement she’s seeing from women and the younger generation in this election (3:10), the sexism and racism VP Harris has been facing (11:31), how our perceptions of leadership are evolving (16:09), the importance of diversity in leadership and politics (22:57), the significance of Black women leaders throughout history (20:08), her advice for young people today (35:14), and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Marianne Schnall takes a historical look at the feminist trailblazers and political milestones that helped advance women and chart the course to this pivotal moment. As we approach the 2024 election and the possibility of electing our first woman president seems closer than ever, this episode pulls from Marianne's new and archival interviews to share insights and stories from women who helped pave the way, including quotes from Carol Moseley Braun, Nancy Pelosi, Madeleine Albright, Pat Schroeder, Barbara Lee, Gloria Steinem, Kirsten Gillibrand, Nicholas Kristof, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Cecile Richards, Kimberly Peeler-Allen, Glynda Carr, Melissa Etheridge, and Maya Angelou. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is the highest-ranking Black woman appointed to Democratic Leadership and has served in Congress for over 25 years, talks with host Marianne Schnall about the upcoming election, sharing what she imagines her mentor Shirley Chisholm would feel about this moment where we have a woman of color on the ballot for president (6:31), what doors that would open up for women and girls (3:37), why having Black women’s perspectives in leadership is so important (8:35), what we can do to get more women and diversity into politics (11:45), her call to action (14:30), what she wants to be remembered for (18:58) and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this introductory episode of our special election series, host Marianne Schnall shares how her young daughter’s question, “Why haven’t we ever had a woman president?” led to Schnall interviewing some of today’s most respected voices on women’s leadership for her 2013 book What Will It Take to Make a Woman President? Now, with Kamala Harris’ run making the themes around electing a woman president more timely than ever, listen to insights from Anita Hill (10:19), Gloria Steinem (11:32), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (8:45), and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof (9:40) on the importance of having more representation and diversity, Kirsten Gillibrand (12:22) and Cecile Richards (13:00) on protecting women’s rights, Nancy Pelosi (22:41) and President Jimmy Carter (6:42) on the need for more women in Washington, and many other voices and topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to host Marianne Schnall’s full conversation about advancing racial justice with civil rights activist and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw. Crenshaw discusses the #SayHerName movement (3:35) and book (9:24)—which she created with the African American Policy Forum to uplift the often invisible names and stories of Black women and girls who have been subject to racialized police violence—the origins, meaning, and importance of two terms she coined, “intersectionality” (22:55) and Critical Race Theory (27:19), what support Black women leaders need (33:39), her visions for a more equal world (31:25), and much more. For more information about Marianne Schnall, please visit MarianneSchnall.com For more information about Kimberlé Crenshaw and her work, visit aapf.org For more information about Tandem please visit tandemequality.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Marianne Schnall continues a season-long exploration of visions for a gender-equal world by delving into the power of artistic expression and its potential to create meaningful change. Beginning with wisdom from her archives, Marianne shares insights from Melissa Etheridge, Maya Angelou, Amy Poehler, and several other renowned women artists. Marianne then shares highlights from a recent conversation she had with award-winning singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant, followed by a conversation with singer Teneia Sanders and drummer/comedian Rita Brent. Listeners will hear insights on how art can help shift culture and raise awareness about important social issues (10:51), turn pain into power (27:00), and unify humanity (12:50). To learn more about Natalie Merchant's activism and body of work including her new album Keep Your Courage and her touring schedule please visit: nataliemerchant.com The song “Our Rebellious Hearts” releases on March 29th, and to watch the documentary short film Our Rebellious Hearts, featuring Teneia and Rita and made in partnership with Tandem, Click Here. (23:45). For more information on Teneia Sanders please visit www.teneia.com For more information on Rita Brent please visit www.ritabrent.com To listen to Teneia's album Black Empress (27:57) For more information about Marianne Schnall, please visit MarianneSchnall.com For more information about Tandem, please visit tandemequality.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode features Marianne Schnall’s full conversation with lifelong activist, educator, and leader in social justice Brittany Packnett Cunningham Brittany Packnett Cunningham. Brittany—the VP of Social Impact at BET, an NBC News and MSNBC Political Analyst, and host of the new and justice podcast UNDISTRACTED—shares her powerful insights on a broad range of topics, including why we need to view power as an abundant resource, the importance of authenticity and integrity in leadership, her hopes for an equal world where all genders and races have the “freedom to dream,” and much more. For more information about Marianne Schnall, please visit MarianneSchnall.com For more information about Tandem, please visit tandemequality.org To learn more about Brittany’s work, please visit BrittanyPacknett.com. To watch Brittany’s viral Ted Talk, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join host Marianne Schnall for a moving conversation with activist, author, and 39th President of the U.S. Jimmy Carter who shares eye-opening insights and calls to action on what he feels is “the most serious and unaddressed challenge of our time”: the discrimination and abuse of women and girls worldwide. The podcast originally aired in 2020. Podcast Art by Kyle Hollingsworth - kyle-creative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part one of this two-part conversation with Elizabeth Lesser, bestselling author, speaker, and co-founder of the Omega Institute, she shares with host Marianne Schnall how she uses historical reflection to gain perspective on the current challenges we face (4:52) and the origins of her popular book Broken Open about growing through hard times (11:56). She then elaborates on her recent book, Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes (14:06), about how our history, belief systems and world could be transformed if we honor women’s voices, stories and perspectives. She also offers listeners one of her favorite personal meditations for standing strong without creating harm (30:40). *This episode contains explicit language Additional Resources: Elizabeth Lesser Omega Institute Podcast Art by Kyle Hollingsworth - kyle-creative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In honor of Women's History Month and Gloria Steinem's 88th birthday this week, host Marianne Schnall shares a collection of essential, timeless wisdom from her mentor and friend the activist, author, and feminist icon Gloria Steinem. This episode features recordings from interviews with Gloria in 2006, 2012, and 2016 on topics ranging from the present state and future of feminism (2:40), the prospect of a female president (11:45), and the power of community (15:14). Additional guests include Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Sylvia Earle, Anita Hill, Justin Baldoni, and Elizabeth Lesser who share what Gloria's iconic phrase "We Are Linked, Not Ranked" means to them (18:11). Additional Resources: Gloria Steinem online We Are Linked Not Ranked website for bracelets that were created by Gloria Steinem to benefit the work of Feminist.com, a thriving online community and hub of feminist voices. The bracelets were designed in partnership with Yoko Ono and the Maiden Nation Imagine Project. We Are Linked Not Ranked Podcast Art by Kyle Hollingsworth - kyle-creative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices