When Dr. Susan Blumenthal spearheaded a bold effort to move imaging technology from missiles to mammograms, she didn’t just advance innovation—she showed what’s possible when conviction meets creativity and unlikely coalitions.

In this conversation, Leigh sits down with the former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General and global public health leader to explore her decades of bipartisan service across both Democratic and Republican administrations, the deeply personal story that drew her into women’s health advocacy, and what it really takes to build progress across political and institutional divides.

Dr. Blumenthal makes a powerful case that women’s health and women’s empowerment are directly tied to the strength of families, communities, and nations. She also shares practical wisdom for staying grounded in your values when progress feels slow, misinformation spreads quickly, and polarization runs high.

This inspiring episode is about leadership in turbulent times, the courage to look around corners, staying persistent when the path ahead isn’t clear, and how storytelling and lived experience can help all of us build bridges—no matter our role.

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In this episode of The Space In Between, host Leigh Morgan and Dr. Vardit Ravitsky (President and CEO of The Hastings Center for Bioethics) explore what moral courage in practice actually looks like when the choices are thorny, the facts are contested, and the consequences are deeply human. Leigh and Dr. Ravitsky explore how bioethics helps us navigate today’s most charged issues—vaccines and public health, abortion and women’s lives, AI and genomics—without sliding into either performative “dialogue” or hardened certainty. You’ll hear why Dr. Ravitsky insists that “good ethics starts with good facts,” how her team designs inclusive conversations without legitimizing misinformation or dehumanization, and why trust-building relationships are the real engine of progress. If you’re hungry for grounded wisdom on how to stay humane, clear-eyed, and connected in unsettled times—this conversation will both steady you and challenge you.

Check out show notes at www.spaceinbetweenpodcast.com.  

Please send feedback, leave a review and pass the podcast along to your friends and family. 

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What happens when the story of “more is always better” stops working—economically, socially, and spiritually? In this episode of The Space In Between, Leigh Morgan sits down with wellbeing economist and global influencer Gaya Herrington to explore why a 'growth-at-all-costs' mindset and economic system is colliding with real-world limits, and what a healthier paradigm could look like—one centered on human and ecological wellbeing, not just GDP.  Leigh and Gaya discuss how to actually do this at a time of polarization and polycrisis in the US and abroad. Together, they unpack how leaders - and indeed, everyone - can hold complexity without despair, build agency in unsettled times, and bridge divides by talking about what people actually long for: stability, dignity, belonging, and a future that feels livable. Gaya's insights will inspire and help all of us identify ways to center wellbeing in all aspects of our lives. 

👉🏼 The Space In Between is growing! Please leave a review, share with a friend, and check out our website www,spaceinbetween.com.  For inquiries about working with Leigh, check out www.imaginal-leadership.com.  

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In this episode of The Space In Between, host Leigh Morgan sits down with Stephiney Foley—West Point graduate, Army officer, tech leader, proud immigrant and founder and CEO of YuziCare—to explore service-driven leadership, motherhood as a catalyst for systems change, and how we build real connection across political difference in polarized times. Together, they unpack what leadership looks like under pressure, why mission matters, and how small daily acts of care can restore agency and rebuild trust—at home, at work, and in the wider civic fabric. They also dive into Stephiney's lessons from the Presidential Leadership Scholars program and why care and love can indeed become common ground in today's low-trust era.

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In this solo episode of The Space In Between Podcast, host Leigh Morgan introduces a theme we’ll return to again and again this year: staying high agency in unsettled times. With clear-eyed realism about polarization, distrust, and today's often trying times, Leigh offers a grounded reframe: agency isn’t optimism or control—it’s the felt sense that your actions matter, even when circumstances are messy. She shares a powerful metaphor (how stars often flare brightest before collapse), a personal story about resilience and identity after a life-altering knee injury, and advice on how to stay steady without becoming hardened. You’ll walk away with accessible practices—know your boiling points, take three deep breaths, stay in relationship, refuse dehumanization, and hold people accountable without hating—so we can maintain integrity, strengthen connection, and bridge divides when the world needs this most. 

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In this special 2025 EOY solo episode of The Space In Between, host Leigh Morgan reflects on the lessons of 2025—both her personal insights as well as key lessons from 55 podcast episodes this year.  She explores the “quiet shift” that's happening across workplaces, families, and communities: everyday people choosing nuance, integrity, and aliveness over disconnection and certainty. She explores why high agency is the expressed form of aliveness—less about controlling outcomes and more about choosing how we meet the moment—then offers three grounded lessons for 2026: clarity matters more than certainty, courage doesn’t need theatrics, and connection is a practice. She shares personal stories and specific practices that have helped her navigate an incredibly fulfilling - and sometimes unpredictable - year. 

The practices she describes are mainstays for staying grounded and choiceful even amidst a polarized world: know your boiling points, seek other seekers, and tell stories. Join us for another great show, and please leave a review and share if you feel moved!

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Most weeks on The Space In Between, host Leigh Morgan talks with leaders, innovators, and bridge builders out in the world. This week, she invites you into something closer: a candid conversation with her sister, Melinda Morgan Thomas, about the complicated alchemy of sibling relationships—and their slow burn journey from rivalry to real closeness.

Along the way, the Morgan sisters explore how family dynamics shape our assumptions, how trust is rebuilt through “micro-moments,” and why their story has important – and transferable - lessons for anyone trying to create healthier dynamics at home, at work, and in community. This episode is touching, tender, and inspiring!

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In a time of rising distrust and deep polarization, what does it mean to be an engaged citizen—and how is Gen Z shaping that answer? Host Leigh Morgan sits down with Cynthia Lietz, Dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University, to explore how today’s students are navigating trauma, digital overload, and democratic uncertainty while still showing up with conviction, compassion, and a call to serve. 

Dean Lietz urges older generations not to simply hand Gen Z a broken system and say “good luck,” but to model emotionally grounded, courageous leadership and build institutions worthy of their trust. This episode will give you a renewed sense of hope—and responsibility—for standing with young people to reduce harm, expand opportunity, and strengthen our democracy.

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In this episode of The Space In Between, Leigh hosts behavioral science expert Shirin Oreizy—founder and former CEO of Next Step and noted coach to leaders — who shares practical tools for holding firm to our values and bridging divides. We explore behavioral science insights including why fear of loss can loom larger than potential gain, how smart framing of issues can unlock connection, and why building something together first can lower defenses and open honest dialogue. We also explore “above vs. below the line” leadership, and the slow, steady work of cultivating trust over time. Leigh and Shirin share personal examples from their lives and go deep in exploring how to feel empowered during polarized times. Listen for practices you can use today with your team, your family, and your community. 

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In this episode, I reflect on a few powerful moments I’ve experienced as host of The Space In Between. I explore a core theme from Season I: how self-awareness is essential for both taking principled stands on the issues we care about and finding ways to bridge divides. A key concept is understanding our personal 'boiling points'—those moments when we’re so emotionally charged that our ability to engage empathetically with others is limited. Knowing our boiling points gives us agency to make choices about when, and how to dialogue with people who have different views.  Join me as I unpack this important topic!

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