Jodi Kantor
Born: April 21, 1975 – New York City, New York, United States
Jodi Kantor is an American investigative journalist and author who writes about power, politics, gender, and institutions. A New York Times reporter, she coauthored She Said and wrote The Obamas. Her reporting with Megan Twohey on Harvey Weinstein helped ignite the #MeToo movement and contributed to a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation.
Biography & Author's Journey
Jodi Kantor’s path to journalism was indirect, but the detours became part of her method. A native New Yorker, she has described growing up in Staten Island and New Jersey in a household where the arrival of newspapers and magazines felt consequential. At Columbia, where she studied history, she wrote for the student paper, then left with a bruising lesson after being removed from it as a senior. Two years later she entered Harvard Law School, only to realize during her first semester that legal work was not her calling. Dropping out was risky and, by her own account, mortifying, but it was also the decision that allowed her to become what she had already been practicing: a close reader of power, language, and institutions. ((https://magazine.columbia.edu/print/pdf/node/13421))
Quotes
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Community Voices
"Connie Schultz called Jodi Kantor "a meticulous reporter" attuned to "the import of unspoken truths."
— Connie Schultz
"Chicago Tribune said Jodi Kantor's writing is "insightful and evocative, rich with detail."
— Chicago Tribune
"Susan Faludi said Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey crafted a "seamless and suspenseful" reportorial journey"
— Susan Faludi
"Ezra Klein said Jodi Kantor's The Obamas is "among the very best books on this White House."
— Ezra Klein
"Ashley Judd said Jodi Kantor's "hard work and impeccable journalism" changed attitudes, norms, laws and policies"
— Ashley Judd
"Carlos Lozada called Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey's She Said "an instant classic of investigative journalism."
— Carlos Lozada
"David Remnick said Jodi Kantor "nails her story."
— David Remnick
"Rich Lowry called Jodi Kantor's Weinstein investigation "the single most influential piece of journalism I can remember."
— Rich Lowry
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
