Episode #8
Building Community Through Public Media with KERA CEO Nico Leone
How do leaders build trust when confidence in institutions is declining? Host Lili Clark welcomes Nico Leone, President and CEO of KERA, for a conversation about leadership, public media, innovation, and why trust may be an organization's most valuable asset. Nico shares his journey into public media and reflects on leading KERA through an unprecedented period of change, including launching a transformative capital campaign, breaking ground on a new community-centered headquarters, and expanding the organization's impact through strategic partnerships and acquisitions. He discusses how KERA is reimagining public media as both a trusted source of information and a gathering place where meaningful conversations can strengthen communities. The conversation explores the challenges of maintaining trust in an increasingly polarized media landscape, how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism, and why organizations must prioritize authenticity, transparency, and community engagement. Nico also shares leadership lessons learned from navigating change, explains why humility is one of a leader's greatest strengths, and reflects on building organizations where people feel welcomed, valued, and inspired to do their best work. Episode Details Episode: Season 3 | Episode 8 Host: Lili Clark | Vice Chair, The Cary Council; Senior Associate, LH Capital, Inc. / Lyda Hill Philanthropies Guest: Nico Leone | President and CEO, KERA www.kera.org Producer: Dustin Magwire | Digital Media Senior Manager, Southwestern Medical Foundation www.swmedical.org Videography: Brazos Film & Video – www.brazosfilms.com Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open 00:24 – Welcome to Learning From Leaders 00:52 – Meet Nico Leone 02:05 – Leading KERA's Next Chapter 04:02 – Innovation, Partnerships, and Growth 08:24 – Expanding Local Journalism in North Texas 10:35 – Serving a Rapidly Growing Region 15:24 – Building Trust in Modern Media 18:14 – AI, Misinformation, and Public Trust 20:40 – Arts, Culture, and Community Impact 23:13 – Launching North Texas Now 25:00 – Leadership Through Change 29:14 – "Be Our Neighbor" and Building Community 34:34 – The Future of KERA 36:52 – Mentors, Leadership Lessons, and Rapid Fire Disclaimer The Southwestern Medical Foundation Podcast is intended solely for educational purposes. Nothing contained therein constitutes, nor should be interpreted as medical, healthcare, financial or legal advice. Southwestern Medical Foundation strives for accuracy in its publications, including the Podcast. However, due to the nature of the topics discussed, there frequently is not a clear-cut "right answer." Consequently, Southwestern Medical Foundation cannot guarantee the accuracy or sufficiency of any information presented. The views of the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of their employers or affiliated organizations, nor Southwestern Medical Foundation, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, or The University of Texas System. The inclusion of any guest or mention of any product or service does not constitute an endorsement thereof, nor of any company, employer, or organization with which the guest, product, or service is affiliated.
