Season 5

Listen to The Heinz Endowments’ “We Can Be” podcast and experience intimate, candid conversations about the big issues of the day with some of the most accomplished, caring and action-oriented individuals in the social change arena. Season 5 of “We Can Be” is hosted by Endowments President Chris DeCardy, and explores the often moving, revealing and always inspiring accounts of how these leaders came to believe that together we can be a more just region, state, country and world.

"We Can Be" is produced by the Endowments and Treehouse Media, with theme music by Josh Slifkin. Guest and host photos by Josh Franzos unless otherwise noted.

How to listen:
Visit this page each week for new episodes and explore past episodes in our Podcast Archives.

Visit iTunes, Podbean, Google Play, Spotify, Amazon Music and all other major podcast sites to download an episode, or subscribe so new episodes are automatically in your feed each week. Use search term: heinz we can be.

Season 5, Episode 8

Facing the root of climate change with new – and better - values

Colette Pichon Battle is a Heinz Award for the Environment honoree and the vision and initiatives partner for the climate justice nonprofit Taproot Earth. She was inspired to shift her career from corporate law to environmental activism after her family’s experience in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina nearly two decades ago.

Season 5, Episode 7

Bringing everyone into the light of solar energy

Sharon Pillar, Pennsylvania Solar Center founder and executive director, is continuing the solar energy advocacy started nearly a half-century ago by former President Jimmy Carter, who recently marked his 100th birthday.

Season 5, Episode 6

Leading the charge for lessening voter suppression and strengthening democracy

VoteRiders CEO and Executive Director Lauren Kunis is clear about what is at stake when it comes to those who are using false claims of voter fraud as the basis for enacting overly stringent voter ID laws. The laws affect 35 million voting age citizens – a majority of whom are first time voters, low-income, people of color, and/or differently-abled.

Season 5, Episode 5

Narrowing the racial gap in maternal and infant health helps everyone

Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, Allegheny Health Network’s first chief clinical diversity, equity and inclusion officer, wrote in a widely shared 2023 op-ed: “It is perilous to be Black and pregnant in America. We need to do better.”

Season 5, Episode 4

Overcoming barriers and adversity through the power of food

Jen Flanagan is founder and executive director of Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, an employment-based social enterprise that empowers people through food service training and life skills mentoring. With an impressive 93% placement rate in professional kitchens for those who complete their training programs, she and her team are giving brighter futures to hundreds who find themselves struggling to overcome systemic barriers at the margins of society.

Season 5, Episode 3

With power and dignity, the next generation of Black and brown farmers is reclaiming their relationship to the land

Leah Penniman, “Farming While Black” author, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm and Heinz Award for the Economy honoree has a deep commitment to sharing regenerative farming best practices and land stewardship with Black, Indigenous and people of color. Addressing racism and injustice in the food system is a central focus of her work.

Season 5, Episode 2

Fearless champion for cleaner air Dr. George Thurston, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Dr. George Thurston, internationally respected scientist, professor and pioneer in the study and communication of the effects of air pollution’s impact on human health joins the “We Can Be” family.

Season 5, Episode 1

Uplifting the beauty, depth and vision of Black artists and culture

Endowments President Chris DeCardy takes the wheel as host of this new season of “We Can Be,” welcoming guest Kilolo Luckett, founding executive director of ALMA I LEWIS, for an engaging conversation about the joys and challenges at the intersection of art and equity.