Conversations with Chanda
Chanda Smith Baker is the host of the award-winning Conversations with Chanda podcast. A nationally respected CEO, philanthropist, community leader and entrepreneur, Chanda continues tackling the gritty issues that communities wrestle with — race, leadership, philanthropy social justice and more — but dives even deeper into the profoundly personal stories that drive her guests to use their voice, leadership and resources to make a difference in their communities. From national luminaries like Eric Holder, Dr. Yaba Blay, Valerie Jarret and Ibram X. Kendi to local Twin Cities entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and business and community leaders making an impact, the Conversations with Chanda podcast explores, digs deeper and celebrates what’s relevant in our communities NOW. Download today!
Episodes
April 25, 2025 • 60 mins
In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Girl Scouts River Valleys CEO Marisa C. Williams and four-time bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones shatter the myths of perfectionism and self-doubt. They dive into the transformative power of borrowed courage, revealing how women and girls can silence their inner critic and step boldly into their purpose.
Girl Scouts River Valleys:
https://www.girlscoutsrv.org/
Luvvie Ajayi Jones B...
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April 16, 2025 • 55 mins
Sharon Bush, President of Grand Victoria Foundation, joins Chanda Smith Baker to challenge leadership norms. She reveals why sometimes the most radical act is choosing stillness over noise. Learn how an introverted leader transforms communities by listening deeply, building strategic power, and centering Black abundance—not just surviving, but thriving with purpose.
https://grandvictoriafdn.org/
www.conversationswithchanda.com ...
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April 11, 2025 • 67 mins
Pierre Berastaín, Regional Director of CPI Center for Public Impact, is a Harvard-educated, gay Latino immigrant who turns personal barriers into blueprints for social transformation. In this raw, powerful conversation, he dismantles systemic barriers through personal resilience, revealing how marginalized communities can transform pain into profound social change. Discover radical strategies for healing, leadership, and reimaginin...
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March 27, 2025 • 58 mins
Karla Henderson, the new CEO of Project for Pride in Living (PPL), joins Chanda Smith Baker to unpack her journey of unapologetic leadership. In a raw, powerful conversation, she reveals how to navigate complex challenges, stay true to community values, and transform unexpected opportunities into meaningful impact—all while redefining what it means to lead with resilience and purpose.
Project for Pride in Living (PPL):
https://www...
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March 17, 2025 • 83 mins
Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury, President of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, joins Chanda Smith Baker to expose philanthropy's hidden power dynamics. In a raw, unfiltered conversation, she reveals how Black women leaders strategically navigate and dismantle institutional racism, offering a masterclass in resilience, strategic resistance, and transformative leadership that challenges the very foundations of charitable giving. Ins...
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March 11, 2025 • 58 mins
Join Chanda Smith Baker and the Jeremiah Program's CEO Chastity Lord, Board Chair Meredith Moore, and alumna Lavasha Smith as they discuss JP's two-generation approach to disrupting poverty. This conversation explores how JP's holistic support empowers single mothers and their children, combining personal experiences with different perspectives.
Jeremiah Program:
https://jeremiahprogram.org/
www.conversationswithchanda.com
IG ...
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February 27, 2025 • 59 mins
Chanda sat down with Christo Brand, a former prison guard on Robben Island, who shares his remarkable story of friendship with Nelson Mandela. Discover how an unlikely bond formed between a jailer and the iconic leader, and the profound lessons of respect, humanity, and forgiveness that transformed them both.
https://christobrand.co.za/
To purchase "Doing Life with Mandela" book:
https://a.co/d/bK7jCAh
www.conversationswithchand...
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February 18, 2025 • 62 mins
In this episode of Centering Conversations, an exclusive segment with Voice Vision Value, Ashleigh Gardere, the President of PolicyLink, shares a bold vision to redesign the nation from the ground up. Challenging the status quo, Gardere argues that current systems were never designed for collective flourishing - it's time to redefine the values and legal frameworks that will deliver a just and equitable future for all.
Read Policy...
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February 12, 2025 • 55 mins
We are highlighting an episode on Centering Conversations aired in 2023 with the award-winning journalist and author L'Oreal Thompson Payton. Her debut book, Stop Waiting for Perfect, was published in August 2023. Dive into overcoming perfectionism, identity struggles, and the importance of representation. From burnout lessons to reclaiming dreams, this episode is a powerful exploration of vulnerability, resilience, and self-care.
...
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January 31, 2025 • 54 mins
Dr. Christopher Emdin is the Professor of Science Education and Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Y’all Too," "STEM, STEAM, Make Dream," and much more. Chanda and Chris discussed the major challenges in our education system. Emdin boldly declares the educa...
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January 15, 2025 • 55 mins
Detria Austin Everson, CEO of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, shares her inspiring journey in philanthropy and social justice. Discover how service can be your superpower as Everson reveals the keys to unity, resilience, and hope in leadership. Learn how celebrating small victories can lead to big changes and why black women's voices are crucial in the fight for equity.
https://detriaaustineverson.com/
https://voicev...
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January 3, 2025 • 42 mins
John W. Rogers, Jr. is the Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, the global value-based asset management firm he founded in 1983 and first African American-owned asset management firm in American history. Chanda sat down with John to talk about moving away from supplier diversity and into business diversity, along with the importance of creating multigenerational wealth for Black and Brown communities.
https://www.arielinvestments.com/
ww...
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December 18, 2024 • 73 mins
Join Chanda Smith Baker in conversation with philanthropic leader Lauren Y. Casteel as they explore Black women's leadership in philanthropy. Lauren Y. Casteel is president and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado. Drawing from her family's civil rights legacy and 35-year career, Lauren shares powerful insights on community building, navigating racism, and fostering systemic change. Together, they discuss how bold, innovative ...
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December 13, 2024 • 68 mins
Discover how two visionaries turned music into a lifeline for struggling students, challenging everything you thought you knew about education. David "TC" Ellis, a pioneering Minnesota rapper and music producer, and Tony, an accomplished entertainment lawyer and educational leader, co-founded Studio 4 and the High School for Recording Arts (HSRA). Tony Simmons and David Ellis reveal the groundbreaking approach that's not just keepi...
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November 29, 2024 • 67 mins
This episode of Conversations with Chanda takes you inside the mind of a prosecutor who is challenging the status quo and redefining what true public safety looks like. Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County Attorney, shares a refreshingly honest and nuanced perspective on the criminal justice system - one that moves beyond simplistic notions of punishment and instead seeks to address the root causes of crime through compassion, rehabi...
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November 18, 2024 • 71 mins
This episode honors the life and legacy of Gladys Krigger Washington, the late Deputy Director of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, reflecting on her remarkable contributions to philanthropy and her role as a trailblazing Black woman leader. Through her impactful work, Washington exemplified the values of self-care, honesty, and community building, inspiring countless others. Her wisdom, including the importance of lightening u...
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November 8, 2024 • 67 mins
Chanda Smith Baker hosts a conversation with Sheena Meade, highlighting her journey from being a teen mom and facing domestic violence to becoming an advocate for criminal justice reform. Sheena shares her experiences with incarceration, including a $87.26 bounced check leading to arrest and the impact on her life. Sheena is the CEO of the Clean Slate initiative, which aims to automatically clear records for eligible individuals, w...
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October 24, 2024 • 59 mins
Chanda Smith Baker hosts a conversation with Simone Hardeman-Jones, Executive Director of GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, and Ali Knight, the incoming national director and CEO. GreenLight Fund is a national network of sites partner with local communities to tackle the barriers that prevent individuals and families from achieving inclusive prosperity. They select and scale proven programs to directly address those barriers identified ...
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How Black Women Leaders Can Thrive in a World That Often Silences Them with Andrea Caupain Sanderson
October 16, 2024 • 58 mins
Andrea Caupain Sanderson, a racial and social justice advocate for over 25 years, discussed her journey from immigrating to the U.S. at 12 and becoming a single mother at 19 to becoming CEO of the Byrd Barr Place. She is currently the co-founder and co-executive director of the BIPOC Executive Directors Coalition and one of four architects of the Black Future Co-op Fund, Washington’s first cooperative philanthropy created by and fo...
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October 9, 2024 • 59 mins
Chanda Smith Baker speaks with Charles Adams, an Author of Twin Cities: My Life as a Black Cop and a Championship Coach, about his Northside upbringing and the complexities of community policing. They discuss the challenges black officers face, the impact of George Floyd's murder, and the removal of officers from schools. Joining the conversation is Jayland Baker, a North High alumnus and former football player coached by Charles, ...
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