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The SALA Series Podcast
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Welcome to the SALA Series Podcast – bringing together purpose-driven leaders and ideas that matter. Hosted by Dalen Cuff and Monica McNutt, SALA celebrates diverse voices and highlights a commitment to community and individuals who are driving positive change across the interrelated worlds of sports, entertainment, corporate and nonprofit.
62 Episodes
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Marlon Marshall leads The City Fund, a national organization committed to ensuring that every child—no matter their zip code—has access to a high-quality public education. A veteran of the Obama White House and one of today’s most influential voices in school reform, Marshall brings both political insight and deeply personal conviction to one of America’s most pressing challenges.In this conversation, he reflects on his upbringing in St. Louis, where his mother taught in public schools and his father worked as a custodian—experiences that have shaped his lifelong belief in the transformative power of education. Marshall discusses the urgent need for accountability in our schools, the tensions between policy and practice, and the often fraught politics of curriculum and choice.Ultimately, this episode examines how public education—and those who lead within it—will shape not just the future of learning, but the future of American democracy itself.
Sean O’Brien, the fiery and plainspoken President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, leads one of the most storied labor unions in the United States—representing more than 1.4 million workers across logistics, transportation, and countless essential industries.In this conversation, O’Brien reflects on a lifetime shaped by the labor movement—from growing up in a Teamster family in Boston to becoming one of the youngest leaders in the union’s history. He discusses what it means to lead during a period of deep economic change and political polarization, and how the resurgence of organized labor is reshaping corporate America.O’Brien talks candidly about the role of unions in the age of automation and AI, and his vision for a future where the dignity of work is once again central to the American story. More than preparing workers for an economy in transition—O'Brien is holding corporations and politicians accountable. Part history lesson, part call to action, this episode offers an unflinching look at the state of the labor movement—and what purpose-driven leadership looks like.
Faith, community and a calling. In leading New Pilgrim Baptist Church on Chicago's west side for over three decades, Reverend Marshall Hatch serves the community from the pulpit. Meanwhile, his son, Marshall Hatch Jr., also an ordained minister, leads from a grassroots level in the same West Garfield Park community as Executive Director of The MAAFA Redemption Project. In a remarkable discussion between father and son, the Hatches reflect on ways the spirit of fellowship has shaped their lives and their ministry. For both, the church has served as a sanctuary and a launchpad for systemic change. Reverend Hatch Sr., looks back on decades defined largely by struggle and hope while Marshall Jr. shares his vision for carrying the legacy forward and serving the next generation. Whether discussing Lincoln, the church, or the evolving spirit of the SALA community, listeners are brought into a deeply human conversation about mentorship, belonging, and the redemptive power of faith.
Homelessness: A Public Health Crisis Recent data shows that every night, in communities large and small across the United States, over 750,000 people experienced homelessness. Behind every number is a life interrupted, families displaced, people struggling not just to survive, but to reclaim stability, dignity, and hope. To better understand issues ranging from hands-on outreach to leadership roles shaping national strategy, Jeff Olivet, the former Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), hosts a conversation with two of the foremost practitioners and thought leaders on the issue: Dr. Howard K. Koh, former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health and Professor of Public Health Leadership at Harvard, and Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO of Two Elevate and former leader of Los Angeles’s homelessness response. Together, they explore how homelessness and its impacts - and why prevention and compassion must guide national action. Through research, lived experience, and deep humanity, they reveal what it will take to create a society where everyone has a safe place to call home.
Currently, Senior Advisor to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Initiative on Health and Homelessness, Jeff Olivet, has worked in homelessness, behavioral health, and public health for more than three decades. On this episode, Olivet sits with Imani Perry, National Book Award–winning author of South to America and Professor of African American Studies and Gender Studies at Harvard University, to reflect on the meaning of home, history, and identity. They explore their shared southern roots, the grief and memory tied to place, and the moral power of writing to preserve culture and challenge stereotypes. Spanning music, storytelling, race, and resilience, their conversation chronicles their respective personal journeys while also offering broader context to our nation's on-going struggle between injustice and the pursuit of freedom.
As a former candidate for U.S. Senate (Ohio) and founder of the non-profit Columbus Stand Up, our friend and SALA member Morgan Harper knows a thing or two about politics, nonprofits and building an inclusive democracy. During this session, Harper welcomes Dr. Basil Smikle Jr., Professor of Practice and Director of the M.S. program in Nonprofit Management at Columbia University and a frequent MSNBC political analyst. With three decades in public service and leadership roles ranging from Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party to senior aide to Hillary Clinton, Dr. Smikle shares insights on civic engagement, education equity, and the evolving role of nonprofits in shaping democracy. Among other things, this conversation between two remarkable purpose-driven leaders offers a powerful look at how political strategy, grassroots advocacy, and academic leadership intersect to drive meaningful change.
Host and faculty member at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Mori Taheripour brings together two extraordinary leaders in mental health: Dr. Matt Biel, Director of the Thrive Center at Georgetown University, where he is Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and holds the Marriott Endowed Chair in Child, Adolescent and Family Health, and Dr. Harold Koplewicz, one of the nation’s leading child and adolescent psychiatrists and the founding president of the Child Mind Institute. Together, they unpack what it means to lead with empathy in a mental health system too often defined by stigma and scarcity. With insights that span children’s mental health, public health, education, and family systems, these remarkable guests offer a roadmap for a more compassionate and connected future - including valuable lessons for leaders from a range of backgrounds and industry sectors.
With five years at the helm of the New Orleans Pelicans and a twelve-year playing career in the league, Willie Green talks about how his leadership style has evolved and the prioritized elements of his approach - notably a combination of empathy, faith, and service. He shares how he handles challenges out of his control, what it means when talent doesn’t fit, and why leadership starts with listening. From mentoring players like Josh Hart to navigating the weight of a national platform, Coach Green opens up about what guides him, what grounds him, and what makes a great leader in today’s NBA.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Trymaine Lee joins the SALA Series for a powerful conversation about truth-telling, justice, and the enduring weight of history. From the front lines of Hurricane Katrina to the streets of Ferguson, Trymaine has dedicated his career to spotlighting the voices and stories often ignored by the mainstream — with a deep focus on race, inequality, and Black life in America. In the midst of a book tour promoting his recent work: A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America, Lee shares his numerous provocative insights, including the importance of storytelling during an age of disinformation, and why truth and accountability matter now more than ever.
When it comes to understanding terrorism, intelligence, and the ever-evolving global security landscape, few voices carry more authority than Peter Bergen. As CNN’s national security analyst, author of multiple definitive books on Osama bin Laden and jihadist networks, and a seasoned journalist who produced the first television interview with bin Laden himself, Bergen brings unrivaled insight to today’s most pressing geopolitical challenges. In this remarkable episode, Peter takes us deep into the post-9/11 evolution of extremist movements—from al-Qaeda to ISIS to emerging digital radicalization—and explores how the new era of AI, cyber warfare, and great-power competition is reshaping the security playbook.
Emmy Award-winning journalists Juju Chang and Byron Pitts join the SALA Series to discuss the vital role of storytelling in American life. As co-hosts of ABC News' Nightline, Juju Chang, a 30-year veteran of broadcast journalism and Byron Pitts, former chief national correspondent for CBS Evening News, reflect on the power of journalism to foster empathy, elevate underrepresented voices, and hold power to account. With decades of experience covering breaking news, social justice, and human resilience, Chang and Pitts share their insights on fact-finding and in-depth reporting in a polarized world—and why stories still matter.
Marcia Chatelain, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, historian and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is one of the nation's foremost experts on the intersections of race, capitalism, and social change. From her work on the civil rights movement to her exploration of corporate influence in Black communities, she uncovers the forces that shape economic and social power in America. In this episode, she discusses the challenges and political realities we currently face, and the broader implications of race and business in today’s society. With deep insight and sharp analysis, Chatelain unpacks the historical roots of inequality and what it means for the future of economic justice and opportunity.
Frank Bruni, a longtime New York Times journalist, bestselling author, and Duke University professor, has spent decades analyzing the forces shaping American politics, media, and culture. From his work as a White House correspondent to his role as an op-ed columnist, he has explored the narratives that define our times. In this episode, he discusses his latest book, The Age of Grievance, examining how resentment has become a powerful force in politics and society. With sharp insight and masterful storytelling, Bruni unpacks the roots of this discontent, its impact on democracy, and what it will take to move forward
As the former Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, acclaimed author and journalist Kevin Merida looks back on a forty-year career as a master storyteller. From covering politics today and yesterday, to tackling hard, thorny issues, Merida discusses the evolving role of the media and its impact. Whether offering unique insights into Kamala Harris’ rise within the broader context of leadership, identity, and politics or in developing new businesses as editor-in-chief at ESPN, Merida has remarkably candid and insightful perspectives to share. He helps us understand both where we’ve come from and where we’re going within the on-going and ever-evolving world of journalism.
Hear from Isaac Saul, the award-winning founder of Tangle; a media company that reaches hundreds of thousands of engaged subscribers from across the political spectrum. In addition to understanding the positions from the left and right, Saul and his colleagues help us understand (and challenge) where (and how) media coverage leads us, while also deftly providing their own balanced views on some of the most polarizing issues of our time.
Co-hosts Monica McNutt and Dalen Cuff carve out time for a pre-holiday catch-up ranging from the day-to-day (hoops and travel) to bigger-picture musings (consumerism, intentionality and self-awareness) - and what it takes to juggle all of it as both evolve their on-air careers (including Monica being featured as part of a cartoon for the motion-enabled, animated NBA Christmas Day broadcast). With all the humor, heart, and refreshing perspectives they're well known for, this is a fun one between friends.
Colleagues at ESPN, our SALA Series co-hosts Dalen Cuff and Monica McNutt, are first and foremost good friends. Former college hoopers, Dalen (Columbia University) says Monica (Georgetown), both have a shared love for highlighting - and understanding - what drives purpose-driven leaders and the 'why' behind the impact they're making. With a shared sense of humor, Dalen says he appreciates Monica keeping him positive. And Monica appreciates the seriousness of Dalen's questioning and insights. Here they catch up after a busy summer and reflect on what lies ahead - both for themselves, the SALA Series podcast and society more generally.
Join us for a special episode featuring Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline, Julian Zelizer, renowned historian, author and CNN political analyst, Eddie Glaude Jr., distinguished scholar, author and political analyst and Anne-Marie Slaughter, former Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department and CEO of New America. This special episode days prior to the election is a timely discussion on the Fragile Nature of Our Democracy. Together, they engage in a thought-provoking conversation about democracy today and the steps needed to safeguard its future.
As CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Jonathan Greenblatt, fights against hate and antisemitism while promoting justice and inclusion. Greenblatt’s work focuses on creating a more equitable society while bridging divides and promoting resilience in these polarized times. With a deep commitment to civil rights and a clear vision for social change, Greenblatt offers insights into the power of leadership and advocacy in today’s world, making this conversation both timely and impactful.
Morgan Harper, a congressional candidate and progressive policy advocate, and Anne-Marie Slaughter, former Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department and current CEO of New America, are both widely recognized for their leadership in addressing systemic challenges. Morgan Harper's work focuses on economic and racial justice, while Dr. Slaughter is one of the foremost experts on global network design and leadership; on gender equality and elevating the value of care for both men and women; and on American renewal. The author or editor of nine books, she is a contributing editor to the Financial Times and a regular columnist for Project Syndicate. Together, Harper and Slaughter bring a wealth of experience and insight on how to foster change, bridge divides, and lead with vision in a polarized world. Their deep commitment to innovation and progress makes this conversation both timely and inspiring.
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