The Space In Between Podcast

This episode of The Space In Between centers on cancer—a topic that touches nearly everyone and, crucially, reminds us of our shared humanity. When a loved one receives a diagnosis, compassion cuts through ideology: neighbors cook meals, coworkers donate PTO, communities fundraise. Fighting cancer becomes a common cause that unites us in hope. Host Leigh Morgan is joined by Dr. Nancy Davidson—renowned breast cancer oncologist, translational researcher, and executive vice president/chief academic officer at Fred Hutch Cancer Center—to offer a clear-eyed, optimistic update on where oncology stands and where it’s headed. And along the way, they share tips for how bridging divides across cancer benefits us all.

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In this episode, host Leigh Morgan sat down with award-winning journalist and author Laura Pappano to discuss the seismic changes reshaping K-12 education since the new administration took office. This topic is often emotive, as we've seen in PTA and school board meetings across the country.  Leigh and Laura dive into why this is the case, and explore the expansion of school vouchers, the restructuring of federal education policy, and the consequences of an increasing focus of education as a marketplace rather than a public good that centers student achievement. Learning how to talk constructively about these profound changes is essential for bridging the divides that keep communities apart, especially when the future of public schooling affects every neighborhood and family across the political spectrum.

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With our one-year anniversary, we are dropping one of the most popular episodes from last year! The Space in Between as a podcast and framework for daily living is about having the courage to stand in the tension between opposing views, where real growth, connection and innovation happen. In a world that often pressures us to pick a side, this podcast explores what it means to stay present, curious, and open in the face of complexity. It’s a psychic, emotional and mental space that invites deep listening, humility, and the willingness to hold multiple truths at once. While it can be uncomfortable, it’s also where creativity thrives and where more humane, effective leadership is born. The goal is to create spaces — in life, work, and society — where nuance is welcomed and transformative ideas can take root.

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Today’s episode tackles the sweeping shifts in U.S. immigration policy—tightened legal immigration, mass deportation efforts, and the rollback of existing due process protections for legal residents and undocumented workers—while modeling how to debate fiercely held views without dehumanizing one another. Joining me is Maggie Mitchell Salem, a returning guest and one of the country’s leading immigration experts. Maggie is known for her candid, nonpartisan approach and she brings clear-eyed insight on what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how we can have sensible immigration policy. Leigh and Maggie explore how we can bridge divides by creating spaces for good-faith dialogue, separate fact from spin, name trade-offs, and still hold fast to shared American values including dignity, safety, kindness, and the rule of law.

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In this episode, we explore one of the most complex and emotionally charged dimensions of modern health and well-being: health insurance.. Premiums rise, benefits are confusing to understand, and many of us have stories of great frustration with the system. At the same time, those who have insurance know—often from personal experience—the critical role that it plays in our daily lives. Debates about health insurance can also be deeply polarizing, yet this is precisely why we need to make time to listen, learn and look for creative ways to improve the system. My guest, Jamie Williams, brings deep industry knowledge from her years as a well respected executive in the sector. She is also a steady voice of clarity, helping us explore how we got where we are today, what isn’t working well, what is, and how to bridge divides that keep us apart.

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Let’s be honest: an epidemic of lying is infecting public discourse. From political stages to policy debates, from newsfeeds to dinner tables, dishonesty has become disturbingly normalized. Many of us feel caught between exhaustion—burying our heads in the sand under the sheer volume of misinformation—and frustration as we scramble to correct falsehoods that seem endless. But here’s the hopeful truth: this is not inevitable. In this episode of The Space In Between, host Leigh Morgan offers four simple practices to help us turn the tide, strengthen our communities, bridge divides, and nurture a culture of compelling honesty.

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How can sport bring us together across divides? Few voices in basketball carry as much weight, wisdom, and insight as Debbie Antonelli—who offers powerful lessons on leadership, service, and connection. As a trailblazing sportscaster, she has called games across NCAA women’s and men’s basketball, the WNBA, and even the NBA—breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible for women in broadcasting. Beyond her career behind the microphone, Debbie embodies leadership and service: championing the growth of women’s sports, raising millions for Special Olympics, and modeling what it looks like to lead with both grit and generosity. In this engaging episode, Debbie shares lessons from a lifetime in basketball—and how each of us can lead with courage and purpose.

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Indigenous-led conservation isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s one of the most effective strategies we have to protect biodiversity and live in reciprocity with our planet. In this episode of The Space In Between, I speak with Valérie Courtois, director of Canada’s Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI) and one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential climate leaders in 2023. We explore how Indigenous guardianship, land “relationship” planning, and bold cross-sector alliances are reshaping conservation at scale—and how these approaches help us bridge divides and create life-affirming solutions for the future.

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We live in a time when it’s easier than ever to get swept up in outrage, division, and a sense of superiority. But here’s the truth: self-righteousness narrows and isolates, while true righteousness holds potential for grounding and connection - even across dimensions of difference. On this episode of The Space In Between, I explore the crucial difference between these two ways of being, why it matters so much right now, and how four simple practices that can help us stay in a mindset and heart-space where we can hold our convictions firmly while resisting the temptation to diminish others in the process.

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If you want a clear, human view of America’s healthcare crossroads, this episode is for you. Swedish Health Services board chair Diankha Linear joins The Space In Between to unpack why the U.S. spends the most on care yet lags on health and well-being, what “value-based care” really means, and how this model can improve outcomes. We also explore how leaders can stay anchored in mission, navigate headwinds in a fast-shifting healthcare ecosystem, and deal with the impact of Medicaid budget cuts—which will ultimately raise costs for everyone. Diankha offers her take on how faith has sustained her fundamental belief in people, and shares some bright spots in healthcare and practical steps leaders, caregivers, and patients can take to improve outcomes, lower costs, and keep compassion and empathy at the center of care.

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