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 Episode

The 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 Links

• Oberlin College & Conservatory
• Soledad O'Brien Productions
• Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien
• The PowHERful Foundation
• CNN's Black in America Series
• CNN's Latino in America Series
• The Perfect Neighbor Documentary