5 - 2026 - Marianne Schnall

‘They’re Taking Our Humanity Away’: Kimberlé Crenshaw on Her Memoir, America’s Future and Why the Fight for Justice Requires ‘Backtalking’

"If you know yourself, you’re gonna shine and radiate and other people are going to be drawn to you.”

As we remember the life and legacy of Dolly Parton - whose extraordinary talent, joyful spirit and enormous heart made her one of the most beloved figures in American culture - it seems especially fitting to draw on some of her own timeless words of wisdom. Here’s a selection of some of the lessons and insights she shared with me when I had the great pleasure of interviewing her in 2016.

What came through in our conversation was everything people loved about her: her warmth and humor, but also her thoughtfulness, resilience, faith, generosity and profound belief in our capacity to make life better for one another.

I look forward to sharing more of our conversation in a special ShiftMakers podcast tribute episode coming soon.

#DollyParton #legend #wordsofwisdom #ShiftMakers #DollyPartonTribute

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"If you know yourself, you’re gonna shine and radiate and other people are going to be drawn to you.”

As we remember the life and legacy of Dolly Parton - whose extraordinary talent, joyful spirit and enormous heart made her one of the most beloved figures in American culture - it seems especially fitting to draw on some of her own timeless words of wisdom. Here’s a selection of some of the lessons and insights she shared with me when I had the great pleasure of interviewing her in 2016.

What came through in our conversation was everything people loved about her: her warmth and humor, but also her thoughtfulness, resilience, faith, generosity and profound belief in our capacity to make life better for one another.

I look forward to sharing more of our conversation in a special ShiftMakers podcast tribute episode coming soon.

#DollyParton #legend #wordsofwisdom #ShiftMakers #DollyPartonTribute

Like so many people around the world, I was deeply saddened by the passing of the incomparable Dolly Parton. I had the great honor of interviewing Dolly several years ago and felt compelled to revisit some of the wisdom, warmth and humanity she shared with me then in a @ForbesWomen tribute piece (link in bio).

When I asked Dolly what she thought the world needed most, her answer was simple and profound: more love, acceptance, understanding, forgiveness - and more listening. Her words feel especially poignant today, and perhaps more needed now than ever.

I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to interview her and to now be able to pass on some of her inspiring insights.

I’ll also be posting a special ShiftMakers video tribute to Dolly soon, featuring more of our conversation and her timeless words of wisdom.

Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the joy, the generosity - and for being such a shining light in this world. ✨

#DollyParton @dollyparton #RememberingDollyParton #ShiftMakers

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Like so many people around the world, I was deeply saddened by the passing of the incomparable Dolly Parton. I had the great honor of interviewing Dolly several years ago and felt compelled to revisit some of the wisdom, warmth and humanity she shared with me then in a @ForbesWomen tribute piece (link in bio).

When I asked Dolly what she thought the world needed most, her answer was simple and profound: more love, acceptance, understanding, forgiveness - and more listening. Her words feel especially poignant today, and perhaps more needed now than ever.

I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to interview her and to now be able to pass on some of her inspiring insights.

I’ll also be posting a special ShiftMakers video tribute to Dolly soon, featuring more of our conversation and her timeless words of wisdom.

Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the joy, the generosity - and for being such a shining light in this world. ✨

#DollyParton @dollyparton #RememberingDollyParton #ShiftMakers

What does bravery actually feel like?

In this moment from my conversation with Reshma Saujani on ShiftMakers, she talks about what it means to be courageous at a time when so many people feel overwhelmed, scared, or uncertain about speaking up - and why we need to do it anyway.

As Reshma puts it: “The cost of not doing it is too high.”

Watch or listen to our full conversation - where we discuss her powerful documentary No Country for Mothers and so many other timely topics - on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio.

@reshmasaujani @momsfirstus @nocountryformothers
#ShiftMakersPodcast #ReshmaSaujani #NoCountryForMothers

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What does bravery actually feel like?

In this moment from my conversation with Reshma Saujani on ShiftMakers, she talks about what it means to be courageous at a time when so many people feel overwhelmed, scared, or uncertain about speaking up - and why we need to do it anyway.

As Reshma puts it: “The cost of not doing it is too high.”

Watch or listen to our full conversation - where we discuss her powerful documentary No Country for Mothers and so many other timely topics - on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio.

@reshmasaujani @momsfirstus @nocountryformothers
#ShiftMakersPodcast #ReshmaSaujani #NoCountryForMothers

Activist and Moms First CEO Reshma Saujani shared so many powerful insights with me on the latest episode of my ShiftMakers podcast. We talk about her new documentary ‘No Country for Mothers,’ the structural and cultural obstacles standing in the way of fixing a broken system, and how we can move beyond the divides that keep us from creating real change. As Reshma told me, once we come together, “we’re unstoppable on every issue.”

We also talk about how to push back against algorithm-driven rage bait and culture wars, what bravery looks like in this moment, why women’s voices and leadership matter more than ever, the critical role women must play in shaping the future of AI and technology, and much more.

Watch the full video episode on Spotify or YouTube (link in bio), or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit MomsFirst.us to learn about ‘No Country For Mothers’ 🎬

@reshmasaujani @momsfirstus @nocountryformothers #ShiftMakerspodcast #nocountryformothers

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Activist and Moms First CEO Reshma Saujani shared so many powerful insights with me on the latest episode of my ShiftMakers podcast. We talk about her new documentary ‘No Country for Mothers,’ the structural and cultural obstacles standing in the way of fixing a broken system, and how we can move beyond the divides that keep us from creating real change. As Reshma told me, once we come together, “we’re unstoppable on every issue.”

We also talk about how to push back against algorithm-driven rage bait and culture wars, what bravery looks like in this moment, why women’s voices and leadership matter more than ever, the critical role women must play in shaping the future of AI and technology, and much more.

Watch the full video episode on Spotify or YouTube (link in bio), or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit MomsFirst.us to learn about ‘No Country For Mothers’ 🎬

@reshmasaujani @momsfirstus @nocountryformothers #ShiftMakerspodcast #nocountryformothers

Wonderful Jersey Shore vacation complete with family time, a red full moon, and ending on a rainbow halo.

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Wonderful Jersey Shore vacation complete with family time, a red full moon, and ending on a rainbow halo.

As today marks 4 years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, my @ForbesWomen piece highlights insights from leaders in business, philanthropy and advocacy who are building cross-movement power to safeguard and expand access to reproductive care and freedom. They share their perspectives on how the rollback of abortion rights has impacted women, workplaces, the economy and democracy – and where they see opportunities for progress moving forward.

Featuring:

*Kavita Nandini Ramdas, philanthropic advisor to the International Planned Parenthood Federation @ippf_global.

* Jen Stark, Director of Human Rights and Inclusive Business at BSR and co-founding member of Don’t Ban Equality (DBE)

* Ann Warner, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity (CGRE)

Link in bio 🔗

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As today marks 4 years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, my @ForbesWomen piece highlights insights from leaders in business, philanthropy and advocacy who are building cross-movement power to safeguard and expand access to reproductive care and freedom. They share their perspectives on how the rollback of abortion rights has impacted women, workplaces, the economy and democracy – and where they see opportunities for progress moving forward.

Featuring:

*Kavita Nandini Ramdas, philanthropic advisor to the International Planned Parenthood Federation @ippf_global.

* Jen Stark, Director of Human Rights and Inclusive Business at BSR and co-founding member of Don’t Ban Equality (DBE)

* Ann Warner, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity (CGRE)

Link in bio 🔗

In my latest @ForbesWomen piece I interview Reshma Saujani about her powerful new documentary, No Country for Mothers, as well as the structural challenges and cultural divisions facing American mothers today, the motherhood penalty, leadership, and what it will take to build a society that truly supports families.

You can read the interview at link in bio. And visit MomsFirst.us for more information about the film and to find a screening near you.

@reshmasaujani @momsfirstus @girlswhocode
#NoCountryForMothers #ReshmaSaujani #MomsFirst #Motherhood #Caregiving

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In my latest @ForbesWomen piece I interview Reshma Saujani about her powerful new documentary, No Country for Mothers, as well as the structural challenges and cultural divisions facing American mothers today, the motherhood penalty, leadership, and what it will take to build a society that truly supports families.

You can read the interview at link in bio. And visit MomsFirst.us for more information about the film and to find a screening near you.

@reshmasaujani @momsfirstus @girlswhocode
#NoCountryForMothers #ReshmaSaujani #MomsFirst #Motherhood #Caregiving

Read more from my in-depth interview with the incredibly insightful Kimberlé Crenshaw in my latest @ms_magazine piece. She discusses her new book *Backtalker: An American Memoir* (which just became a New York Times bestseller!) and shares her thoughts on the high stakes of our current political juncture, why we need “a robust intersectional framework” to address this moment, the importance of embracing our humanity, and much more.

She told me, “The other side doesn’t want us to feel empathy. They are going after the very thing that makes it possible for us to come together and claim injustice as wrong. We’re led to feel weak when we’re sad or when we experience the pain of others, and to look away from it…. We can’t turn away; we have to say, ‘That’s my humanity calling me in.’ I want to see more willingness to embrace humanity.”

Link in bio 🔗

@kimberlecrenshaw

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Read more from my in-depth interview with the incredibly insightful Kimberlé Crenshaw in my latest @ms_magazine piece. She discusses her new book *Backtalker: An American Memoir* (which just became a New York Times bestseller!) and shares her thoughts on the high stakes of our current political juncture, why we need “a robust intersectional framework” to address this moment, the importance of embracing our humanity, and much more.

She told me, “The other side doesn’t want us to feel empathy. They are going after the very thing that makes it possible for us to come together and claim injustice as wrong. We’re led to feel weak when we’re sad or when we experience the pain of others, and to look away from it…. We can’t turn away; we have to say, ‘That’s my humanity calling me in.’ I want to see more willingness to embrace humanity.”

Link in bio 🔗

@kimberlecrenshaw

My latest @ForbesWomen piece features an excerpt from my recent interview with Kimberlé Crenshaw, whose compelling, deeply personal new book *Backtalker: An American Memoir* came out today.

I’m always so honored to speak with Kimberlé and help uplift her wisdom and insights, particularly in this moment when so much is at stake.

As she told me, “I think it’s most important for people to understand right now that the final chapter hasn`t been written - and it won`t get written without us. So this is not something that just passes by. It is something that requires active engagement.”

Link in bio. Stay tuned for more from this powerful conversation coming soon.

@kimberlecrenshaw

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My latest @ForbesWomen piece features an excerpt from my recent interview with Kimberlé Crenshaw, whose compelling, deeply personal new book *Backtalker: An American Memoir* came out today.

I’m always so honored to speak with Kimberlé and help uplift her wisdom and insights, particularly in this moment when so much is at stake.

As she told me, “I think it’s most important for people to understand right now that the final chapter hasn't been written - and it won't get written without us. So this is not something that just passes by. It is something that requires active engagement.”

Link in bio. Stay tuned for more from this powerful conversation coming soon.

@kimberlecrenshaw

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Month: May 2026

‘They’re Taking Our Humanity Away’: Kimberlé Crenshaw on Her Memoir, America’s Future and Why the Fight for Justice Requires ‘Backtalking’

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