ShiftMakers

In this special episode, host Marianne Schnall—founder of Feminist.com, now celebrating 30 years as an online hub for feminist voices and action—draws from her rich archive of interviews with some of the most influential feminists of our time: Gloria Steinem, Anita Hill, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Jane Fonda, and many others. Their insights frame a journey through the past and present of feminism—highligh...

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 discusse...

In part two of our Voices on Strength and Resilience episode, host Marianne Schnall shares more timely wisdom from her archival interviews with remarkable women who provide insights and inspiration for overcoming challenging times. They offer advice on turning pain into power, the importance of community, developing inner courage, the healing nature of empathy and compassion, finding strength in a...

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 r...

Host Marianne Schnall shares a collection of insights on "What would it mean for the U.S. to finally elect a woman president?” from her recent interviews with an esteemed group of thought leaders about Kamala Harris's historic run for President. They each share their perspectives on what the possible impact of finally breaking that glass ceiling would be (1:23), how it could open doors for women a...

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 perception...

Host Marianne Schnall shares highlights from her recent conversation with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who, being a trailblazer herself as the first woman Speaker, offers her insights on the upcoming election and the Kamala Harris campaign (3:00), as well as what it will take — and what it will mean — for Harris to be elected (9:30 & 15:15). Pelosi also discusses her new book, The Art...

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...

Host Marianne Schnall speaks with political and voting rights activist María Teresa Kumar, founder and president of Voto Latino, the largest Latinx voter registration and advocacy organization in the country. Kumar has many insights to offer on the upcoming election, including what it would mean to elect our first woman and woman of color president (2:28), what the drivers are for Latino voters (1...

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 a...

In this powerful conversation with host Marianne Schnall, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, U.S. House of Representative for Texas’ 30th district and co-chair of the Harris-Walz campaign, shares her perspectives and wisdom on a number of timely topics related to the upcoming election and beyond, including: what it would mean to elect our first woman and woman of color president (3:15); what’s at sta...

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 presiden...

Recognizing that we cannot achieve gender equality without also advancing racial equality, host Marianne Schnall has devoted this episode to looking at the intersection of gender and race and exploring how we can move the needle on both. Beginning with archival wisdom from her interviews with Black women thought leaders —Anita Hill, Maya Angelou, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and others—who offer the...

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...

In this episode, listeners can hear Marianne's full conversation with award-winning singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant. In their poignant, in-depth conversation they discuss the power of art and music not only as vehicles for personal expression and healing but also as means to help inspire others and create unity and community. Merchant talks about her latest album Keep Your Courage, including he...

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 conve...

In this first episode of our season devoted to creating a gender-equal world, Marianne Schnall explores how new paradigms of power and leadership could help us achieve equality. Beginning with wisdom from her archives of conversations with Gloria Steinem, Ai-Jen Poo, Jane Fonda, Stacey Abrams, Barbara Lee, Anita Hill, Wangari Maathai, and Elizabeth Lesser, Marianne then speaks with special guest a...

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 vi...

Originally Published: January 2023 In this special New Years' episode of ShiftMakers, host Marianne Schnall shares wisdom from her archival interviews about the power of inner work to change the world. Interview segments featured include Oprah Winfrey discussing the daily practice of gratitude, Elizabeth Lesser on the impact of discipline, Deepak Chopra's thoughts on creative solutions, Goldie Haw...

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...

In part two of this conversation with Elizabeth Lesser, bestselling author, speaker, and co-founder of the Omega Institute, she discusses with host Marianne Schnall the connection she sees in our inner world and outer world (1:30), the greatest lesson she has learned through her years at Omega Institute (4:37), her thoughts on the evolution of humanity’s consciousness (7:34), the powerful life met...

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, Cas...

Madeleine Albright was internationally admired for her confidence, intellect, and sharp wit. She had an inexhaustible ability to connect on the deepest human levels. To celebrate the life and legacy of this history-maker who recently passed away from cancer, host Marianne Schnall reflects on and shares her 2010 interview with Secretary Albright. In this never-before-aired audio, Albright talks abo...

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 pros...

In this bonus episode, Marianne Schnall shares her professional journey of shifting from interviewing celebrities about their fame to instead offering them a space to speak about creating change for the greater good. Beginning with the Women's March in 1992, Marianne has since interviewed over 100 celebrities and thought leaders about activism and their vision for a better world which has led her...