Person of The Week

Ana Zamora is the Founder and CEO of The Just Trust – a nonprofit organization that supports criminal justice reform and public safety innovation in the United States. This week, we’re sharing a conversation that Ana had with host Charlotte Alter in March, in which she shares her personal journey into criminal justice reform, spurred by her brother’s experience with the system. The pair delve into the complexities and necessities o...

Sherrie Westin is the dynamic force driving Sesame Workshop’s global educational initiatives. This week, Westin shares her inspiring journey to becoming President and Interim CEO of Sesame Workshop with host Charlotte Alter. The pair trace Westin’s path from her early days organizing activities for neighborhood friends, through a successful career in media and public service, to a profound pivot into children's television driven by...

Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn has become a household name in the years following the events of January 6, 2021. This week, we’re sharing a conversation Dunn had with host Charlotte Alter back in February, wherein Dunn shares scenes from his childhood in Prince George’s County and speaks to how his lifelong interest in serving the public led him to a career in law enforcement. The pair delve into the realities of working ...

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has unique insight into the current state and future of American schools. This week, we’re sharing a conversation Secretary Cardona had with host Charlotte Alter last month to help shed light on this changing landscape. Cardona shared cherished memories of being an elementary school principal and the challenges of post-pandemic education. The pair unpacked everything from student loan debt...

Maya Rudolph is a comedy legend, and a 2024 TIME100 honoree. The multitalented actor, acclaimed for her iconic tenure on Saturday Night Live and unforgettable performances in “Bridesmaids,” “Big Mouth,” and more, joins host Charlotte Alter this week to dive deep into her creative process and personal journey. Maya takes us behind the scenes of growing up in a musical family and highlights the parallels between careers in music and ...

Acclaimed novelist and 2024 TIME100 honoree Lauren Groff is a singular voice in American fiction. This week, Groff joins host Charlotte Alter to delve deep into the essence of creativity and the intricacies of the natural world and the human body. Lauren shares her unique perspective on how time acts as the "secret currency" of art, reflecting on the challenges of balancing marriage, motherhood and writing. Known for her commitment...

Distinguished, award-winning journalist Christiane Amanpour is known for her fearless reporting from some of the world's most volatile regions. CNN's chief international anchor of the network's flagship global affairs program, "Amanpour," Christiane joins host Charlotte Alter this week to reflect on her experiences as a war reporter over the past four decades and share what concerns her most about the current state of global affair...

Gillian Anderson, the illustrious actor renowned for her iconic role as Dana Scully in "The X-Files," joins host Charlotte Alter this week on the show. Gillian reflects on the profound impact of portraying such a pivotal character so early in her career and unpacks the "Dana Scully effect," which empowered a generation of women to pursue careers in science and technology. She shares scenes from her bicultural upbringing, moving bet...

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a renowned historian, author, scholar, filmmaker, and is the Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. This week, Gates joins host Charlotte Alter and reflects on his formative years in the working-class mill town of Piedmont, West Virginia, his early education during the pivotal era of school desegregation, and his experiences watching the civil right...

David Axelrod is a preeminent political strategist and the mastermind behind some of the most successful political campaigns in American history. This week, David sits down with host Charlotte Alter and shares his journey from his childhood in New York City to the halls of the Obama White House, with more than a few stops in Chicago along the way. David reflects on his early political awakenings, the unmatched education he received...

Kate Cox, a Texas mother of two, was thrilled to find out she was pregnant with her third child last year. But the dream of expanding her family quickly turned into a nightmare when Cox and her husband were told that their fetus had an anomaly called Trisomy 18 that, in their case, was fatal. In December 2023, Cox asked a Texas court to temporarily block the state's abortion ban so she could receive urgent medical care, becoming th...

Jennifer Lame is a remarkably talented film editor, whose keen eye and unique storytelling abilities have contributed to some of the most iconic films of our time. From her early days as an apprentice to Sidney Lumet to her celebrated work with writers and directors like Noah Baumbach, Christopher Nolan, Ryan Coogler and Ari Aster, Jennifer shares her incredible journey to the top of the film industry with host Charlotte Alter on t...

Kara Swisher is a titan in the realms of tech journalism and media. Known for her fearless interviews with the biggest names in Silicon Valley and her incisive commentary on the tech industry, Kara sits down with host Charlotte Alter to share insights from her latest book, "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story." The pair discuss Swisher’s early days chronicling the rise of the internet, the transformations of the media industry over recent...

Distinguished economist Claudia Goldin is the Henry Lee Professor of Economics at Harvard University, the 2023 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences, and one of TIME’s 2024 Women of The Year. This week, host Charlotte Alter sits down with Goldin for a captivating conversation on the evolution of women's participation in the workforce. Claudia shares the exhilarating moment she was awarded the Nobel Prize and her path to discove...

Danielle Brooks, an award-winning actress and singer who has captivated audiences from Broadway to the big screen, sits down with host Charlotte Alter in this week's episode. Fresh from her acclaimed role as ‘Sofia’ in the film adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical, Danielle shares her journey from an arts education in South Carolina to the set of her anticipated “Minecraft” movie. She delves into the impact of her church roots ...

Sheila Heti is a beacon of contemporary literature, renowned for her unique narrative voice and groundbreaking novels such as "Pure Colour," "Motherhood," and "How Should a Person Be?" This week, Sheila joins host Charlotte Alter to discuss her latest literary endeavor, "Alphabetical Diaries," a profound exploration of life distilled from a decade's worth of diary entries, showcasing her innovative approach to storytelling. The pai...

This week, host Charlotte Alter sits down with Jon Batiste, a celebrated musician, composer, and bandleader with deep Louisiana roots. Known as the "crown prince of jazz," Batiste's journey spans from New Orleans' vibrant streets to Juilliard's halls, extending to international acclaim. Charlotte and Jon discuss the formation of his band, Stay Human, Batiste’s tenure on “The Stephen Colbert Show,” his Grammy-winning 2022 album "We ...

Filmmaker Lulu Wang is known for her poignant storytelling and unique voice in cinema. This week, Wang joins host Charlotte Alter to take us behind the scenes of her latest project, the Amazon series “Expats,” starring Nicole Kidman. The pair delve into Wang's vision for the series and its impactful exploration of privilege, home, family, and motherhood. They also journey back to the biographical roots of Wang's acclaimed 2019 film...

In the second of two episodes focused on the forces shaping the modern GOP, Sarah Longwell, a formidable figure in the political communications world and a leading Republican strategist, joins host Charlotte Alter to discuss the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucus and the implications of Donald Trump's win for the upcoming election season. As the President and CEO of Longwell Partners and the driving force behind several influ...