Celeste Headlee is an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and author of bestselling books We Need To Talk, Do Nothing, Speaking of Race, You’re Cute When You’re Mad and It Starts with Self-Compassion. Her newest book is Freedom's Daughters and will be released in October. She teaches journalism at Morgan State University.
Her TEDx Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation, has been viewed more than 40 million times. It is one of the 10 most watched talks at the TED website. She has delivered keynotes and led workshops for more than 250 organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, universities, and governmental institutions, talking about communication, human behavior, inclusivity, and productive teamwork.
In her 25-year career in public radio, Celeste has anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, from PRI and WNYC. Celeste has also anchored programs for PBS, and contributed to The Detroit News, American Scholar, The Huffington Post, Slate, and many other publications. She has served as a managing editor and mentor for the Next Generation Project, training up-and-coming journalists around the country.
Celeste is also the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to organizations through science-based training, and she serves on the board for the National Center for Race Amity. Celeste is the granddaughter of composer William Grant Still, known as the Dean of Black American Composers and she is a trained operatic soprano. She lives in the DC area with rescue dog, Samus.
