The Team
Robert Reich
Co-founder. Former Secretary of Labor
Robert is the co-founder of Inequality Media. He serves as the writer and presenter of the majority of Inequality Media videos. As a foremost economic thinker and a superb communicator, with a following of over one million on Facebook and Twitter, Robert is ideally positioned to deliver our message.
Robert is the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. He has served in three national administrations, including as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named Robert one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century.
Robert has written 14 books, including the best sellers Aftershock, The Work of Nations, and Beyond Outrage. His new book, Saving Capitalism, was released in 2015, and was number 8 on the New York Times Best Seller List. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic. Robert is also a founding editor of the American Prospect magazine and Chairman of Common Cause.
Emily Paulos
Deputy Director
Michael Lahanas-Calderón
Director of Digital Strategy
Michael manages a variety of operational, developmental, and production processes to ensure the smooth operation of Inequality Media. He also launched Robert Reich’s TikTok, and spearheads much of the short content produced by Inequality Media. Previously, he worked for the New America Foundation, the Scottish Parliament, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In these roles, he completed projects regarding media regulation, endangered historic sites with significance to minority communities, and the expansion of broadband into rural/peripheral communities.
Michael has a B.A. in Political Science, with a concentration in Law & Society from Kenyon College. While at Kenyon, he conducted research on transatlantic information security policy, the use of social media to spread misinformation, and the complicity of states in human rights abuses.
Vishal Shankar
Digital Strategist and Asset Manager
Vishal Shankar is a digital strategist and political researcher who has been with the Inequality Media team since 2017.
He was previously a Senior Researcher at the Revolving Door Project, where his work appeared in The American Prospect and Common Dreams and he was quoted in The New Republic, The Lever, and the Capitol Hill Citizen.
Vishal holds a BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of California-Berkeley.
Anna Ely
Operations Associate
Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse
Executive Director
Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse is the Executive Director of Inequality Media. Previously, she served as Director of Special Projects at UC Berkeley’s Blum Center for Developing Economies, overseeing the $25m Development Impact Lab funded by USAID, and leading the Blum Center’s expansion to all 10 University of California campuses. As Managing Director of Absolute Return for Kids US, Heather developed health and education programs for children in the US and Latin America. She managed and contributed to a body of research on social franchising for health in Africa and South Asia at UCSF and served as Director of Community Outreach for the LA's BEST Afterschool Enrichment Program in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn.
Heather has a Master’s in Public Policy and a Master’s in Public Health from UC Berkeley and a BA in Philosophy and Religion (Islamic focus) from George Washington University.
Daniel Davis
Senior Social Strategist & Writer
Daniel is a writer and digital strategist who joined Inequality Media in 2022 after spending nearly a decade working in the comedy and entertainment industry. In his current role, he oversees script writing for Inequality Media’s explainer video in addition to managing the organization’s presence on various social media platforms.
He brings a passion for storytelling and creating engaging content that helps views understand complex issues and see the world differently. Previously, he served as a Senior Digital Producer for the award-winning Netflix comedy series ‘Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.’ Prior to that, he worked at The Onion, serving in various editorial roles for the satirical comedy publication.
A native of the Midwest and a son of union auto workers, when not focused on doing his part to tackle economic inequality and fight for worker power, he’s either spending time with his family, walking his dog Daisy, or watching the Chicago Bulls.
Naomi Bradford
Digital Strategy Associate
Naomi Bradford has a BFA in Video Production. At Inequality Media, she works alongside the team building on strategies to connect with a variety of audiences and managing and creating powerhouse digital content.
Kyle Parker
Head of Creative
Kyle has worked with Inequality Media since 2015. In his current role, Kyle provides creative direction and manages production of all things video.
Kyle has a diverse background in creating video content, with over 14 years experience as a producer, editor, and motion designer. The short films Twinsburg and Library of Dust, on which Kyle served as Producer/Editor, played at over 60 film festivals and received 13 best picture awards. At Inequality Media, Kyle has helped build the style and tone of our signature explainer videos, like the Shorty Award-winning piece, “How to Prevent Future Trumps.” Bringing his storytelling and technical skills together, Kyle is driven to create videos that cover complex and difficult subjects so that even he can understand them by the end.
Kyle received his BA in Film Studies from UC Berkeley, where he also played tuba for the Cal Band.