Claim OwnershipConversations with Chanda
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Conversations with Chanda isn’t just a podcast — it’s a movement. Hosted by powerhouse CEO, philanthropist, and unapologetic truth-teller Chanda Smith Baker, this award-winning show cuts through the noise to confront the issues that shape our world: race, power, leadership, justice, and philanthropy. With a fearless voice and a deeply personal lens, Chanda brings listeners into raw, unfiltered conversations with national changemakers like, Robin DiAngelo, PhD, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Caroline Wanga, and Ibram X. Kendi, as well as the bold Twin Cities leaders shaking up business, community, and culture. Whether it's pushing past politeness or unpacking the quiet power behind real change, Conversations with Chanda is where leadership gets real — and personal. This is not just a listen. It’s a call to lead.
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172 Episodes
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Steve Grove, a former Google executive and current Star Tribune leader, joins Chanda Smith Baker on 'Conversations with Chanda' to discuss his new book, 'How I Found Myself in the Midwest.' Listen as Steve dives into his personal journey of reinvention, the challenges and triumphs faced in his career transitions, and the unique community dynamics in Minnesota. Discover how local stories of hope and innovation can inspire broader societal change.
Guests Danielle Mkali and Lavasha Smith of Nexus Community Partners, and recipient Tari Sudduth, join Chanda Smith Baker to unpack the $50K Open Road Fund. Seeded by a $50M Bush Foundation grant, it’s redefining wealth, honoring Black futures, and repairing harm through direct investment in descendants of the transatlantic slave trade.https://nexuscp.org/2025 applications are now open! Apply by July 21, 2025, 11:59 pm CT.
In this episode, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan shares her inspiring leadership journey and discusses the influences of her upbringing by strong women. She highlights the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in public service, the power of community, and the role of hope and activism in sustaining democracy. Flanagan also explores the challenges of motherhood and balancing personal and professional life while emphasizing collective action and storytelling.Mentions:Representative Esther AgbajePaul WellstoneTrista HarrisRena Moran Senator Bobby Joe ChampionV3 SportsAscension ChurchGeneral MillsJim WallaceGovernor Walz
Join Chanda Smith Baker in a powerful conversation with Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton—a seasoned HR executive, author, and transformational leader. Raised in Minnesota, Tonya reflects on her family legacy, including her grandfather’s founding of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, and how it shaped her belief in the power of storytelling. She shares what it means to lead as a Black woman in corporate America, the importance of diverse mentorship, and key insights from her book The Myth of the Fearless Leader. This episode explores how acknowledging fear can strengthen leadership, build trust, and drive authentic growth.To purchase book:https://a.co/d/2BqlKM3https://www.drtonyajackmanhampton.com/IG @drtonyajackmanhampton_authorhttps://conversationswithchanda.com/ IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda
In this powerful episode of Conversations with Chanda, former Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria “Rondo” Arradondo joins Chanda Smith Baker for an unflinching and deeply personal conversation about leadership, justice, and the weight of public service. As the first Black police chief in Minneapolis, Chief Arradondo reflects on his decades-long career, the crisis of George Floyd’s murder, and the decisions that defined his legacy — including the extraordinary choice to testify against an officer in his own department.Together, they explore the personal cost of doing what’s right, the limits of reform from within, and the role of moral clarity in moments of national reckoning. Drawing on their long-standing partnership in community, Chanda and Chief Rondo go beyond headlines to examine what it means to lead with humanity when everything is on the line.To Pre-Order Book: Out on May 13th! Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floydhttps://conversationswithchanda.com/ IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda
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 Books: https://luvvie.org/books/ https://conversationswithchanda.com/ IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda Twitter/X: @chandasbaker
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/
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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 reimagining government that will challenge everything you thought you knew about survival. Centre for Public Impact: https://centreforpublicimpact.org/ www.conversationswithchanda.com IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda Twitter/X: @chandasbaker
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.ppl-inc.org/
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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. Inspired by the legendary Gladys Washington—who embodied unapologetic leadership, mentorship, and radical love—this episode is a blueprint for systemic transformation, told by a leader who has fought and won battles most never see. Learn: * How to turn institutional barriers into strategic opportunities * The art of influencing power structures from within * Authentic allyship beyond performative gestures * Why incremental change requires patience and persistent vision
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/
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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.conversationswithchanda.com IG @chandasbaker & @conversationswithchanda Twitter/X: @chandasbaker
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 PolicyLink's Vision:
https://www.policylink.org/vision
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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.
https://www.lorealthompsonpayton.com/
To purchase book: https://a.co/d/9gn9gIA
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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 education system is flawed and rooted in oppression. But he offers a radical alternative that embraces hip-hop culture's creativity, rhythm, and critical thinking.
https://chrisemdin.com/
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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://voicevisionvalue.org/listen
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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/
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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 philanthropy can create lasting impact for marginalized communities.
https://voicevisionvalue.org/listen
https://www.wfco.org/
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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 keeping kids in school, but launching careers and transforming lives. Find out how this innovative model could reshape education across America.
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www.hsra.org/
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, rehabilitation, and community-based solutions. Her insights on the importance of early intervention, restorative justice, and empowering the community to engage with the legal process will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the role of a prosecutor.
www.hennepinattorney.org
YT: @HennepinAttorney
www.conversationswithchanda.com
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