Conversations at The Salt Line

Welcome to the Conversations @ The Salt Line, a Vassar College podcast. Hosted by Wesley Dixon, this podcast will explore subjects that stimulate, reflect on the world’s grand challenges, and find common ground while embracing diverging perspectives because we understand that pursuing honest dialogue and debate nurtures an intellectual curiosity that leads to understanding and connection.

A Conversation with Naomi Seligman 04/22/2025

A Conversation with Naomi Seligman In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with Naomi Seligman '55, Oracle board member and senior partner at Ostriker von Simson. Wes and Naomi talk about her time at Vassar, the legacy of her mentor, Vassar alum and professor, Grace Hopper '28, and Seligman's own career and experience as a successful entrepreneur in the technology sector. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/36283235

A Conversation w/ Lloyd Braun 04/09/2025

A Conversation w/ Lloyd Braun In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with Lloyd Braun '80 who served as Chairman of ABC Entertainment Group among other roles. Wes and Lloyd talk about the evolution of the entertainment industry and the role of the internet in shaping the media landscape. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/36069725

A Conversation with Michelle Monje 03/10/2025

A Conversation with Michelle Monje In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with Dr. Michelle Monje '98 who is a 2021 recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” award and the Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Wesley and Dr. Monje discuss the intersections of clinical care and research as it relates to pediatric oncology and explore the complex ethical questions associated with Dr. Monje's groundbreaking research. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/35608880

A Conversation with Robert Jones Jr. 02/12/2025

A Conversation with Robert Jones Jr. In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with author Robert Jones Jr. about his debut novel "The Prophets," which served as the first-year common reading for the students in the Vassar Class of 2028. With "The Prophets" as the backdrop, Wesley and Robert discussed themes of humanizing complex individuals, navigating marginalized identities, and experiencing deep love. Tune in for a dynamic conversation about an award-winning novel. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/35172180

A Conversation with Minerva Tantoco 01/21/2025

A Conversation with Minerva Tantoco In this episode of Conversations @ The Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with Minerva Tantoco ’86, who was the keynote speaker at Vassar’s 2025 Sophomore Career Connections program. Minerva has served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for several finance and technology companies and also served as the first CTO for the City of New York. Wes and Minerva explored the intersections between technology, innovation, and equity, and discussed the role of a liberal arts education in an increasingly AI-oriented world. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/34944935

A Conversation with Jonathan Littman 12/17/2024

A Conversation with Jonathan Littman In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon talks to independent television producer Jonathan Littman '85, about his extensive career in television; overseeing hit programs including The X-Files, CSI and The Amazing Race; the richness of television as a medium; and more. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/34395055

A Conversation with Rhiana Gunn-Wright 11/18/2024

A Conversation with Rhiana Gunn-Wright On this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, Wesley Dixon chats with Rhiana Gunn-Wright, a Senior Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute and the policy architect of the Green New Deal. In this conversation, Wes and Rhiana explore the intersections of climate change, sustainability, and capitalism. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/33970977

A Conversation with Jim Kim 11/01/2024

A Conversation with Jim Kim In this special episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, which was recorded live at the launch of the on Friday, October 25, 2024, host Wesley Dixon talks to Dr. Jim Kim, Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity, and the former President of Dartmouth College and the World Bank. Dr. Kim and Wes explore the intersections of Dr. Kim's life in the liberal arts. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/33736712

A Conversation with Marie Solis 10/09/2024

A Conversation with Marie Solis In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon talks to Marie Solis '15, a Style Editor at New York Times. Marie and Wes explore the intersections of responsible journalism, culture, and style. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/33378802

A Conversation w/ Leah Goodridge 09/17/2024

A Conversation w/ Leah Goodridge In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with Vassar alum Leah Goodridge '04, a Commissioner on the New York City Planning Commission. Wes and Leah explore the nuances of housing policy in New York City and New York State and talk about the competing forces that shape the housing landscape. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/32935647

A Conversations Recap ('23 - '24) w/ Wes Dixon 09/09/2024

A Conversations Recap ('23 - '24) w/ Wes Dixon In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon recaps and reviews the episodes from last year and gives some quick reflections and behind the scenes insights from each conversation. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/32935302

A Conversation with Beverly Gage 05/31/2024

A Conversation with Beverly Gage In this episode of "Conversations at the Salt Line," host Wesley Dixon chats with Yale University Professor of History Beverly Gage about her Pulitzer Prize winning biography "G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century." Wes and Professor Gage engaged in an exciting conversation about the history of political movements and the complexities of one of America's most well-known government officials. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/31554597

A Conversation with Allison Abner 05/08/2024

A Conversation with Allison Abner In this episode of "Conversations at the Salt Line," host Wesley Dixon speaks with Allison Abner '87 about her career as an author and television writer on shows such as "The West Wing." During their conversation, Wes and Allison explored the intersections of entertainment and politics, and Allison reflected on her experience as an "outsider" in Washington. Listen in for some interesting insider stories from Hollywood and Washington DC. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/31183657

A Conversation with John Wordock 04/10/2024

A Conversation with John Wordock In this episode of "Conversations at the Salt Line," host Wesley Dixon chats with John Wordock '91 who serves as Executive Editor at Cumulus Media and Westwood One. During their conversation Wes and John chat about the history of podcasts and explore the intersections of media, storytelling, and cultural and political pluralism. As a guest speaker for Vassar's Sophomore Career Connections program, John also reflected on how his experiences as a student at Vassar prepared him for a trailblazing career in journalism. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/30732733

A Conversation with Ilyse Hogue 03/05/2024

A Conversation with Ilyse Hogue In this episode of "Conversations at the Salt Line," host Wesley Dixon chats with Ilyse Hogue '91, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America and author of "The Lie that Binds." Wes and Ilyse discuss the history of the campaign against women's reproductive rights and explore the lessons that history provides as we seek to understand the current political environment in the United States. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/30197263

A Conversation with Dr. Michael Gomez 02/13/2024

A Conversation with Dr. Michael Gomez In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon talks with Dr. Michael Gomez (Silver Professor of History and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at NYU) about two of his works: "Reversing Sail: A History of the African Diaspora" and "African Dominion: A New History of Empire in Early and Medieval West Africa." Dr. Gomez and Wesley chat about the role of history in a pluralistic society and reflect on how we may rethink the histories of people in the African diaspora. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/29906058

A Conversation with Liza Donnelly 01/10/2024

A Conversation with Liza Donnelly In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly about her career as a cartoonist and the history of women cartoonists at the New Yorker. Wesley and Liza explore the intersections of art and politics, and chat about the importance of observation. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/29410048

A Conversation with Dr. Liz Andrews 12/05/2023

A Conversation with Dr. Liz Andrews In this episode of "Conversations at the Salt Line," host Wesley Dixon speaks to Dr. Liz Andrews who serves as the Executive Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. Dr. Andrews and Wes discuss the Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection exhibition at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar. As Dr. Andrews and Wes discuss this historic collaboration, they explore some fundamental themes of the exhibition (like collage and storytelling) and their broader social implications. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/28810078

A Conversation with Chip Reid 11/07/2023

A Conversation with Chip Reid In this episode of "Conversations at the Salt Line," Wesley Dixon chats with Vassar alum Chip Reid '77 about his time as a White House Correspondent and his new book "Battle Scars," which details his time embedded with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines in Iraq. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/28540217

A Conversations Recap ('22 - '23) w/ Wes Dixon 10/23/2023

A Conversations Recap ('22 - '23) w/ Wes Dixon In this episode, host Wesley Dixon recaps the episodes that aired during the 2022-2023 Academic Year and reflects on some of the highlights of the conversations with the guests. Dixon also reveals some funny (or chaotic) behind-the-scenes moments and previews the upcoming "season" of the podcast. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/28398701

A Conversation with Margaret Hamburg 07/19/2023

A Conversation with Margaret Hamburg On this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon sits down with former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Margaret "Peggy" Hamburg and discusses the intersections of public health and public safety, leadership during moments of crisis, and reconciling with uncomfortable histories. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/27425964

A Conversation With Sasha Velour 06/06/2023

A Conversation With Sasha Velour In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, Wesley Dixon talks to Vassar alum Sasha Velour, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 9, about her new memoir, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag. Wesley and Sasha delve into themes of history and healing as they relate to drag as an art form. They also explore how drag artists and supporters can embrace the art form as a tool for advocacy during politically divisive moments in history—past, present, and future. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/27028404

A Conversation with Susanne Lyons 05/08/2023

A Conversation with Susanne Lyons In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, Wesley Dixon of Vassar College interviews the former chair of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)-- Susanne Lyons. Today, they discuss the historic role of the Olympics as an internationally neutral and “non-political” environment, the current rhetoric and debates about inclusion of trans athletes in the games, as well as the advantages and disadvantages which accompany hosting the Olympics. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/26687472

A Conversation with Stacy London 04/05/2023

A Conversation with Stacy London In this episode of "Conversations @ the Salt Line," Wesley Dixon talks to Vassar alumna, Stacy London '91, former Co-Host of "What Not to Wear" and former CEO of State of Menopause about the fashion industry, how social media has democratized style, and the beauty of aging. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/26458164

A Conversation with David Ambroz 03/15/2023

A Conversation with David Ambroz In this newest podcast episode Wesley Dixon of Vassar College talks with David Ambroz, an alumnus of Vassar and a best-selling author. In this episode, they discuss Mr. Ambroz’s new memoir A Place Called Home. Additionally, they explore topics such as poverty and issues within foster care in the US as well as the importance of individual responsibility of citizens to combat these issues. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/26158020

A Conversation with Jeh Charles Johnson 02/03/2023

A Conversation with Jeh Charles Johnson In this newest podcast episode Wesley Dixon of Vassar College talks with Jeh Johnson, the former Secretary of Homeland Security. In this discussion, the two dive into issues of racism, restorative justice, and immigration. Former Secretary Johnson also allows us a peak behind the curtain of US policy decisions as he recounts several notable experiences in his role with the Department of Homeland Security. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/25817823

A Conversation with Jason Blum 01/12/2023

A Conversation with Jason Blum In this episode of "Conversations @ the Salt Line," host Wesley Dixon has a discussion with CEO and Founder of Blumhouse Productions, and Vassar Alumnus, Jason Blum '91. They discuss the future of the movie and television industries and how the rise of streaming services has disrupted the traditional business model. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/25483539

A Conversation with Judy Joo 12/05/2022

A Conversation with Judy Joo In this episode, Wesley Dixon of Vassar College has a discussion with Chef Judy Joo about her experience with fusing American and Korean meals to create a collection of intercultural recipes. Together, they explore the intersections of fusing food with merging cultures, and they discuss the roots of colonialism inherent in this innovative practice. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/25194129

A Conversation with Eddie Glaude 10/30/2022

A Conversation with Eddie Glaude In this episode, Wesley Dixon of Vassar College speaks to Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. about his book 'Begin Again' which draws lessons from writer James Baldwin about how to understand and transcend moments of stark political divisiveness. Throughout their conversation Dixon and Glaude discuss themes of race, democracy, and hope. /episode/index/show/91c15216-8d80-4330-9503-1589d2aab443/id/24789363

Conversations at The Salt Line

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