Vital Voices Podcast

About Vital Voices Podcast

The Vital Voices Podcast highlights women leaders and change-makers from around the world. Hosted by Vital Voices President and CEO, Alyse Nelson, the Vital Voices Podcast provides a space for extraordinary women to be heard. To learn more about Vital Voices, visit www.VitalVoices.org. Follow us on Twitter (@VitalVoices), Instagram (@VitalVoices) and like us on Facebook (facebook.com/VitalVoices)! You can also donate to Vital Voices by texting VITAL to 41444.

Publisher

Vital Voices Global Partnership

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Aug 2018

Latest episode

26 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 179 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   26 Jan 2026

   Vital Voices Live with Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta and Gary Barker

   After one of the toughest years on record for global gender equality, Vital Voices Live brings together Amb. Melanne Verveer, Amb. Gita Rao Gupta, and Gary Barker to reflect on what happened—and what comes next. The conversation explores global trends, hard-won lessons, and signs of hope emerging around the world. Gary Barker shares insights from his work engaging men and boys as allies, highlighting the power of solidarity in driving change. A candid, hopeful look at the road ahead for gender equality.

2. 

   25 Nov 2025

   Vital Voices Live with Sanna Marin

   In this inspiring episode of Vital Voices Live, we sit down with Sanna Marin, former Prime Minister of Finland and a global advocate for democratic resilience, gender equality, and compassionate leadership. Marin reflects on her historic rise to national leadership, the complexities of governing through crisis, and the values that continue to guide her vision for a more just and inclusive world. She also dives into her new book, Hope in Action, offering a powerful look at how hope can be a strategic force in politics—and in our everyday lives. Marin shares lessons from her time in office, insights on sustaining courage under pressure, and her belief in the power of communities and young leaders to drive meaningful change. Authentic, thoughtful, and forward-looking, this conversation highlights why hope isn’t passive—it’s a catalyst. Tune in for an intimate and motivating conversation with one of today’s most influential changemakers.

3. 

   4 Nov 2025

   Vital Voices Live with "The Cool Girls" Laura Brown, Kristina O'Neill and Special Guest Tarana Burke

   In this special edition of Vital Voices Live, host Norah O’Donnell sits down with editors-turned-authors Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill to celebrate the launch of their new book All the Cool Girls Get Fired: How to Let Go of Being Let Go and Come Back on Top. Together, they unpack their own career turns—from top-tier magazine leadership to the moment of being let go—and share how those experiences became the catalyst for something bigger: a movement to reclaim professional self-worth, rewrite the narrative around job loss, and build resilience. Tune in as they discuss themes from the book (including candid essays from high-profile women), offer practical advice on bouncing back, and open up about redefining ambition on their own terms. This is a conversation about how to turn a setback into a strategic pivot—and why the coolest girls aren’t those who never fail, but those who rise up when they do.

Inside a recent episode

Vital Voices Live: A Conversation with Sara Blakely with Guest Host Norah O'Donnell

Published 6 Apr 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Because I think most 16 -year -olds would have chucked that in the bottom of their closet. I was hurting and I was in a really dark time in high school. My parents were separating. I was sad. I had just been involved in a friend who had a tragic death in high school. So I always say in life, there's always a hidden blessing in the dark moments. You know, there is. And my hidden blessing was I put those cassette tapes in. And then I started to cry because I thought I've just spent 16 years of my life being taught what to think. And no one has ever taught me how to think. And the light bulb was just like, wait, what? […]

Who has been a guest on Vital Voices Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ashlyn Harris
• Tourmaline
• Jen Klein
• Victoria Zitrin
• Breeze Liu

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

38 ratings

Spotify

4.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

91

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Vital Voices Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Vital Voices Podcast