Celeste Headlee
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Celeste Headlee

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Celeste Headlee is an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and author of bestselling book 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, to be released in October of 2026. 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. Close to 50,000 talks have been given at 10,000 events since the TED program launched in 2009, and Celeste’s talk is one of the 10 most-watched talks posted on TED’s homepage. 

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, and on the award-winning investigative podcasts "Big Sugar" and "Freeway Phantom."

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, and too many plants.

Celeste’s work and insights have been featured on TODAY, Psychology Today, Inc., NPR, Time, Essence, Elle, BuzzFeed, Salon, Parade, and many more. She has presented to over 100 companies, conferences and universities including Apple, Google, United Airlines, Duke University, Chobani and ESPN, and received the 2019 Media Changemaker Award.
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Do Nothing

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The Best Fiction Podcasts for Listeners Who Love a Good Story

You can’t beat a good story. Luckily, humans are great at storytelling, and the best fiction podcasts are all the proof that the modern listener requires. Get the popcorn ready; it’s storytime.

Featured Article: The Best Fiction Podcasts for Listeners Who Love a Good Story

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  • We Need to Talk cover art
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    $27.70 or free with 30-day trial

  • Do Nothing cover art
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    • Do Nothing

    • How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
    • Written by: Celeste Headlee
    • Narrated by: Celeste Headlee
    • Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
    • Release date: 2020-03-10
    • Language: English
    • 80 ratings

    $21.97 or free with 30-day trial

  • Speaking of Race cover art
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    $31.52 or free with 30-day trial

  • La importancia de no hacer nada [The Importance of Doing Nothing] cover art
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    $34.37 or free with 30-day trial