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Conversations with Chanda

Chanda Smith Bakerconversationswithchanda.com
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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Episodes

The Data Behind Mass Shootings: A Conversation with Jillian Peterson (Re-Release)

In light of the recent mass shootings in America, including those in Uvalde and Buffalo, we are resharing this episode with Jillian Peterson, the Co-founder of the Violence Project. Chanda and Jillian sat down together in 2020 to talk about the psychology of mass shootings, the best ways to prevent this violence, and the power of human connection during times of crisis.

Jun 03, 202250 minEp. 82

Meeting the Moment: A Conversation with Adair Mosley

Adair Mosley is the president and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities—a community impact agency working to co-create enduring change toward a just society. Chanda and Adair share their thoughts on the ins and outs of leadership, why community engagement never stops, and what it means to meet the moment.

May 20, 20221 hrEp. 81

It’s All Community: A Conversation with Robert Ashcraft

Dr. Robert Ashcraft is the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation Executive Director at Arizona State University. Chanda connected with Robert to talk about nonprofit leadership, community building, and the direction of philanthropy.

May 06, 20221 hr 1 minEp. 80

The Cost of Segregation: A Conversation with Heather McGhee

Heather McGhee is the author of the New York Times bestseller "The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together." Chanda sat down with Heather to unpack the effects of segregation and how we can work together to combat inequality in America.

Apr 22, 202252 minEp. 79

Art and Revolution: A Conversation with Cara Deanes

Cara Deanes is the owner and CEO of the ROHO Collective, an arts organization that strives to embrace, support, and nurture artists of color. Chanda and Cara explore the importance of authentic representation and true diversity in the arts. They also examine why art and revolution go hand in hand.

Apr 08, 202250 minEp. 78

The Liberation of Being Yourself: A Conversation with Caroline Wanga (Re-Release)

Minneapolis is hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four next weekend, and we can’t wait to celebrate women’s sports and be part of some seriously joyful energy in downtown Minneapolis. We are also excited that Essence Magazine will be in town for the Final Four, joining our whole community as we showcase the best of Minneapolis for a national audience. To celebrate, this week we’re revisiting an oldie-but-goodie from our podcast archives: Chanda’s conversation with Caroline Wanga, a charismatic power...

Mar 25, 202253 minEp. 77

The Push For Better Policing: A Conversation with Tracey Meares

This episode of Conversations with Chanda dives deep into policing with Tracey L. Meares, the Walton Hale Hamilton Professor and Founding Director of the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School. Chanda and Tracey discuss the challenges police departments face as they work to ensure public safety while also building public trust.

Mar 11, 202254 minEp. 76

Reimagining the Future: A Conversation with Bo Thao-Urabe

Bo Thao-Urabe founded the Coalition of Asian American Leaders in 2013. After almost a decade of leading the organization, she's taking a step back to find a new path. Chanda sat down with Bo to talk about moments of transition, the keys to measuring impact work, and the systematic approach needed in anti-racism work.

Feb 25, 202250 minEp. 75

We Are the Work: A Conversation with Repa Mekha

Repa Mekha has more than 30 years of experience in community building and systems change work. Currently, he is the President & CEO of Nexus Community Partners. In this episode, Chanda talks with Repa about the weight of leadership, the critical moments in his life, and their work together on the Philanthropic Collective to Combat Anti-Blackness & Realize Racial Justice.

Feb 11, 20221 hr 4 minEp. 74

Nurturing Your Spirit: A Conversation with Patrice Relerford

We are flipping the script for this episode of Conversations with Chanda. Instead of hosting, Chanda answers questions from the Minneapolis Foundation’s Senior Director of Impact and Collective Giving, Patrice Relerford. Chanda opens up about her personal story, approach to philanthropy, and what the podcast has meant to her.

Jan 28, 202256 minEp. 73

The Energy of Equity: A Conversation with Brett C. Carter

Brett Carter, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer and Innovation Officer at Xcel Energy, believes that within a growing economy there is an abundance of opportunity in which everyone should have the chance to participate. Chanda also spoke with Brett about critical wealth building in diverse communities.

Jan 14, 202248 minEp. 72

A Look Back at 2021

The last year was a time that forced many of us to reflect on ourselves, the world, and what it means to be strong. In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, we look back at 2021 with some of our dynamic guests who helped us bring some sense into a year that felt so senseless. Hear from the family of George Floyd, Eddie Glaude Jr., Kim Foxx, and many others as we remember our past in order to better understand our future.

Dec 17, 202149 minEp. 71

Philanthropy in Focus: Conversations with Philanthropy Experts

As we continue into the season of giving, we wanted to look back at guests whose work is centered around transforming systems and thinking critically about the power of philanthropy. Hear insights from our episodes featuring Jen Ford Reedy, Toya Randall, Isaiah Oliver, Vu Le, and Shannon Smith Jones. Each guest has dedicated themselves to improving their community and the lives of others.

Dec 03, 202148 minEp. 70

Building a Bold Future: A Conversation with Tonya Allen

Tonya Allen, president of the McKnight Foundation, is all about being bold. Chanda spoke with Tonya about building and sharing power, and how that relates to one’s ability to rewrite the rules.

Nov 19, 202144 minEp. 69

Unleashing Human Magic: A Conversation with Hubert Joly and Piyumi Samaratunga

Hubert Joly, former CEO of Best Buy, and Piyumi Samaratunga , a partner at the law firm Constangy, believe that diversity is a business imperative. In this episode, Chanda connected with these two business leaders to talk about the importance of diverse and inclusive teams, the dangers of tokenism, and the power of leading with purpose.

Nov 05, 20211 hr 11 minEp. 68

The Vibrations of Trauma: A Conversation with Kevin Reese

During Kevin Reese’s 14 years of incarceration, he began addressing the injustices that permeate the criminal legal system. Today, he continues that work as the Executive Director of Until We Are All Free. Chanda connected with Kevin to talk about his dedication to restorative justice, reimagining the prison system, and the importance of healing from unchecked and generational trauma.

Oct 22, 202159 minEp. 67

More Than Just The News: A Conversation with Jason DeRusha

Emmy award-winning reporter and anchor Jason DeRusha has spent his career bringing people the news. Chanda sat down with Jason to discuss the challenges media faced in the wake of George Floyd's murder and throughout the pandemic. They also dive into how he was been impacted personally and professionally by covering pivotal moments in history.

Oct 08, 202154 minEp. 66

Climate Urgency and Action: A Conversation with Sven Sundgaard

In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Minneapolis Foundation President & CEO R.T. Rybak steps in as guest host and speaks with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about the urgency of climate change and what needs to be done. Sven and R.T. explore how to better explain this increasingly pressing issue to children and others with examples from here in Minnesota and around the world. If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the Minneapolis Foundation's YouTube channel.

Sep 24, 202142 minEp. 65

Education in Focus: Conversations with Education Experts

With students once again back in school, it seems appropriate to provide a unique look into what’s being discussed in the field of education here at home and across the country. Over the last two years, Chanda has had a number of engaging and informative guests who are education experts. This episode shares powerful and enlightening clips from previous shows that tie the community to the classroom.

Sep 10, 202138 minEp. 64

Leaning into Business Diversity: A Conversation with John W. Rogers, Jr.

John Rogers 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.

Aug 27, 202142 minEp. 63

Creating Safe, Healthy, and Hopeful Communities: A Conversation with Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith is the Executive Director of Cities United – a national network focused on eliminating violence in American cities related to Black men and boys. In this episode, Anthony and Chanda talk about Anthony’s path to Cities United, the importance of inspiring our youth, and how to build an ecosystem for community safety.

Aug 13, 20211 hrEp. 62

The Art of Philanthropy: A Conversation with Jen Ford Reedy

As president, Jen Ford Reedy helps the Bush Foundation invest in great ideas and the people who power them. Jen sat down with Chanda to talk about philanthropy’s role in transforming systems, the leadership challenges she encountered in 2020, and the art of philanthropic strategy.

Jul 27, 20211 hr 9 minEp. 61

Centering Student Voices: A Conversation with Lisa Pawelak

Lisa Pawelak has more than 20 years of experience serving students and families in Minneapolis Public Schools. Today, she is the principal at Lucy Craft Laney Community School in North Minneapolis. In this episode, Lisa and Chanda talk about their love of the Northside, the lessons Lisa learned during the pandemic, and how Lisa is helping Lucy Laney be a safe, welcoming space where every student need is acknowledged.

Jul 16, 202157 minEp. 60

Doing Philanthropy Differently: A Conversation with Toya Randall

Toya Randall is the curator of Voice. Vision. Value. This digital narrative project celebrates the leadership impact of Black women in philanthropy. Toya connected with Chanda to talk about what it means to be a person of color working in philanthropy, her 2020 experiences, and the benefits and challenges of proximity.

Jul 02, 20211 hr 9 minEp. 59

Defining Blackness: A Conversation with Yaba Blay

Dr. Yaba Blay is an activist, scholar, speaker, and author of “One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race.” Her work focuses on the lived experiences of Black women and girls. In this episode, Chanda and Yaba talk about the complexities of colorism, the history of Blackness, and the politics of race and identity.

Jun 18, 20211 hr 3 minEp. 58

Moving into Action: A Conversation with Barry Friedman

As the Founding Director of NYU’s Policing Project, Barry Friedman is committed to bringing data-driven best practices to policing. In this episode, Barry and Chanda discuss what a holistic view of public safety would look like, why we need to build in more front-end accountability into our policing system, and their upcoming Policing Project partnership.

Jun 04, 202156 minEp. 57

Unapologetically Black: A Conversation with Otis Moss

As a pastor, activist, author, and filmmaker, Dr. Otis Moss III preaches messages of love and justice. Today, he is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. Chanda sat down with Otis to talk about his family’s legacy, why our community needs public health – not public safety, and why it’s important to understand the totality of Black history.

May 28, 202150 minEp. 56

I Can’t Breathe: A Conversation with Angela Harrelson and Paris Stevens

Angela Harrelson and Paris Stevens are the aunt and cousin of George Floyd. Since George’s death, both Angela and Paris have been using their voices to speak up for justice. In this episode, Chanda, Angela, and Paris talk about the global impact of George’s murder, their reactions to Derek Chauvin’s trial, and the courage it takes to fight when you’re in pain.

May 25, 20211 hr 9 minEp. 55

How Racism Mutates: A Conversation with Deborah Archer

As a civil rights lawyer, NYU professor, and President of the ACLU, Deborah Archer works to overcome the systemic injustices in our society every day. Chanda and Deborah connected to talk about how racism affects all aspects of life, the navigational skills you learn as a Black woman, and how the law struggles to keep up with the evolution of racism.

May 14, 202146 minEp. 54

Uprooting Inequality: A Conversation with Jelani Cobb

Jelani Cobb is an award-winning writer for The New Yorker on issues of race, history, justice, and politics. He currently is a part of the Westminster Town Hall Forum’s series, “The Arc Toward Justice: Taking Stock One Year After George Floyd’s Death,” which is sponsored by the Minneapolis Foundation. In this episode, Chanda and Jelani talk about the adultification of Black children, the calculated risks Black people need to consider when interacting with police, and what needs to happen to crea...

May 07, 202135 minEp. 53
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