Host Nan Whaley sits down with Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, for a candid conversation about her unexpected path into national leadership, the complexity of steering an organization under constant attack, and the delicate balance between long-term vision and daily crisis response. The dig into the emotional toll of crisis leadership, the importance of mental health compartmentalization, the rising influence of younger generations in the progressive movement, and the mentors and moments that keep Alexis grounded – including a memorable visit to Ohio.
Their conversation covers:
Guest Bio
Alexis McGill Johnson is the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, leading the nation’s most trusted provider of sexual and reproductive health care and education, which serves more than 2 million people each year through nearly 600 health centers nationwide. A longtime champion for social and racial justice, she has spent more than 15 years in Planned Parenthood leadership and has guided the organization through major challenges, including exclusion from Title X and the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. A respected thought leader on reproductive freedom, racial justice, and implicit bias, Alexis is a founder of the Culture Group and the co-founder and former co-director of the Perception Institute, bringing a researcher’s lens to movement-building and justice work. She is a frequent commentator and keynote speaker and serves on the boards of Color of Change and the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights.
Resources Mentioned
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
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Produced by: Collective Change Communications — Kelly Sakalas & Jeni Keeler
