Telling Stories That Matter with Soledad O'Brien

Before she became one of America’s most recognizable journalists, Soledad O’Brien was a young woman growing up on Long Island—the daughter of immigrants who faced housing discrimination and defied the odds. That early experience shaped a lifelong commitment to telling stories from the margins.In this episode of Running to the Noise, Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar sits down with O’Brien—award-winning journalist, producer, author, philanthropist, and Oberlin parent—for a candid conversation about race, representation, and the high-stakes work of covering uncomfortable truths. From navigating newsroom politics to launching her own production company and foundation, O’Brien shares how she’s built a career amplifying stories others overlook—and what keeps her hopeful in a polarized world.What We Cover in This EpisodeThe Oberlin Connection: Why O’Brien is proud to be an Oberlin parent, and how her own children’s college journeys mirror deeper themes of identity and belonging.Outsider’s Integrity: How being “both in and outside” mainstream culture sharpened her journalistic perspective.The Myth of Objectivity: Why centering marginalized voices is not activism—it’s just good reporting.Latino in America, Black in America: The behind-the-scenes story of how O’Brien pushed back against early editorial decisions—and reshaped CNN’s approach to identity-based reporting.Newsroom Blind Spots: What happens when no one in the room understands the communities being covered.Building Her Own Platform: Why O’Brien left traditional networks to found her own company—and the power and responsibility that comes with it.Her Foundation’s Mission: The personal roots of the PowHERful Foundation, which helps underserved young women get to and through college.The Case for DEI: How inclusion isn't just the right thing—it's smart business.Soledad O’Brien has spent her career asking tough questions, telling hard stories, and creating space for voices too often ignored. This is a conversation about courage, clarity—and why sometimes, the most powerful way to run toward the noise is to simply stay in the fight.Episode LinksOberlin College & ConservatorySoledad O'Brien ProductionsMatter of Fact with Soledad O'BrienThe PowHERful FoundationCNN's Black in America SeriesCNN's Latino in America SeriesThe Perfect Neighbor Documentary