The Kathryn Zox Show

Sex is a natural part of life, yet many parents struggle to talk openly with their children about it. Without these important conversations, children, adolescents, and young adults may be uninformed and more vulnerable to sexual abuse, warns Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, a nationally recognized child welfare and sexual health expert. In the fully revised and updated edition of her book, The Sex-Wise Parent, She gives parents practical guidance for helping their children develop safety, confidence, and healthy attitudes toward sexuality. "Raising a sexually safe and healthy child starts at home—with you," she writes. A sex educator since 1979, when she joined one of the nation's first child sexual abuse prevention programs, she has served as Vice President for Programs at Prevent Child Abuse America and on the board of the National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. She has appeared on Good Morning America and The Today Show.

Laurel Woods offers an intimate, unflinching look at growing up inside her father's strip club and the unexpected path her life took as an adult. After an injury ended Michael Woods' career with the California Highway Patrol, he entered the adult entertainment industry, opening the Jet Strip Club with his partner, Horace Joseph McKenna Jr. (Big Mac). Their business flourished, leading to multiple clubs and millions of dollars in success. Twelve years later, Big Mac was found shot to death in his limousine outside his ranch, and Michael became the prime suspect. Eventually arrested and convicted, Michael's imprisonment left Laurel to manage the family's strip club empire while fighting for her father's freedom. Along the way, she built her own career, working with Playboy, Lucasfilm, and MTV Networks, while confronting the complicated legacy of her family.

For millions of women, television wasn't just entertainment; it was an instruction manual, teaching us what relationships should look like, how ambitious women should behave, and how much of ourselves we should sacrifice to be accepted. As conversations around toxic relationships, beauty standards, mental health, and women's empowerment continue to dominate the cultural landscape, Doménica Feraud poses a provocative question: What if the stories that raised us got it wrong? Funny, insightful, and deeply relatable, she revisits the iconic characters and storylines that defined a generation to uncover the hidden lessons behind "dream men," makeover culture, workplace ambition, female friendships, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. She is a first-generation Ecuadorian writer, producer, and actor from New York City. Her groundbreaking play Rinse, Repeat, which she wrote and starred in, premiered at the Signature Theatre in 2019. Feraud's performance was heralded as "excellent" and the play was a NY Times Critic's Pick.

Building a successful career and leaving a lasting legacy requires more than just business achievement. Drawing from his distinguished trajectory as an entrepreneur, CEO, professor, and prominent business school leader, James G. Ellis offers a comprehensive roadmap for leaders at all stages.Ellis shares actionable principles for navigating career transitions, cultivating resilience, and fostering deeply meaningful relationships. His perspective on leadership was forged through pivotal encounters—including meetings with John F. Kennedy, guidance from Harvard Business School professor Anthony Athos, and mentorship from legendary Motorola CEO Bob Galvin. A graduate of Harvard Business School and the University of New Mexico, Ellis has earned top honors for teaching and mentorship, including USC's Golden Apple Award. Ultimately, his insights demonstrate how to build an impactful life and a legacy that extends far beyond corporate success.

For millions of therapists—and millions of people in therapy—the experience is familiar: shortness of breath, a racing heart, and sweaty palms. When we perceive a threat, our bodies naturally activate fight-or-flight responses, both physically and behaviorally. This protective fear system is simply the nervous system doing what it is designed to do. When a client's fear system goes into overdrive, the therapist responds, resonating with what is happening in the room, much like strings on an instrument. The question is not how to prevent this response, but how to use it. Michael Guilding shows how understanding, rather than suppressing, our own fear responses can make us better healers. Clear, jargon-free, and grounded in clinical experience, his book is written for therapists but speaks to anyone who cares for others or wants to live with less fear and greater freedom. He has worked as a counselor and psychotherapist for 30 years.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. Watching a loved one experience dementia can be heartbreaking, but Teri Roche Dropnick offers a unique and hopeful perspective in her memoir about her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis. Through her father's longtime best friend of 80 years, she discovers stories and memories that help her reconnect with the father she feels she is slowly losing. Their unexpected friendship becomes a meaningful source of comfort, understanding, and connection throughout her father's journey. Dropnick brings a valuable perspective to the experience, having served as a Volunteer Community Educator for the Alzheimer's Association and worked as a clinical social worker in the medical field.

Decades after Lucinda Barrows comes to Palm Beach she has everything she set out to claim: a  seat at every elite table and three stunning daughters raised in the shelter of privilege. Yet beneath the family's renown, Lucinda's life is in turmoil. Out of nowhere her carefully constructed legacy is being threatened. While discretion is offered—the price is steep. As the sisters uncover what has the means to destroy the Barrows family, they become the mirror for the far-reaching consequences of a devious plan. Suddenly they are forced to choose between their mother and the truth. Who will prevail ... and who will fall from grace? Susannah Marren is the author of four novels. As Susan Shapiro Barash, she has written fourteen nonfiction books on women and gender, and taught gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College and creative nonfiction at Sarah Lawrence College for over two decades.

More than 48 million Americans live with substance use disorder, and relapse remains a common and often deadly reality for those seeking recovery. While statistics illustrate the scale of the crisis, they rarely capture its personal toll. Matt Grace offers an unfiltered account of addiction through lived experience. He pulls readers into the chaos of addiction with unflinching clarity — compulsive behavior, broken relationships, escalating consequences, and the psychological spiral that nearly killed him. He does not soften the damage inflicted on himself or others. Instead, he offers a stark, human portrait of addiction stripped of cliché or excuse. With more than twenty years of sobriety, a bachelor's degree in Addiction Studies with a focus on Integrative Healing, and over 10,000 hours mentoring individuals and families, he has become a trusted guide to both the highly privileged and the deeply overlooked.

Award-winning novelist, environmental advocate, and climate communicator Julie Carrick Dalton examines how storytelling can strengthen our connection to the natural world and motivate meaningful climate action. Inspired by the childhood loss of a cherished forest, she reflects on the personal experiences that shaped her latest novel, The Forest Becomes Her. She discusses the ties between women's lives, generations, and the landscapes they inhabit, while exploring the lasting influence of Concord's Transcendentalist tradition. A former organic farmer and beekeeper, she explains why fiction often reaches people in ways scientific data alone cannot, transforming complex environmental issues into deeply human stories. Her novels have appeared on Most Anticipated lists from CNN, Newsweek, USA Today, and Parade, and her journalism has been featured in The Boston Globe, BusinessWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, Orion Magazine, Electric Literature, and many other publications.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, leaders across industries are confronting profound questions about human identity, purpose, and professional value. Kari Zeller explores this challenge through the concept of "ontological vulnerability," the uncertainty that emerges when traditional sources of meaning, contribution, and career security are disrupted. Rather than viewing AI as a force to fear, she presents it as an invitation to intentionally redefine our roles by embracing the uniquely human qualities that technology cannot replicate—wisdom, ethical judgment, presence, discernment, and the ability to create meaning. A U.S. Air Force combat veteran and respected executive advisor, Zeller works with CEOs and leadership teams navigating complex transformation, strategic change, and disruption. Her perspective equips leaders to move beyond the fear of replacement and toward a future where human strengths become their greatest competitive advantage.

Much of the nation is having severe heat this week that could last several weeks.  It will be in the 90s with humidity added to the mix driving the heat index up to 100.  Heat advisories are being issued.  We all know some of the health issues that heat waves can have and how deathly it can be.  But one thing many people do not realize is that severe heat and sun in the summer can cause permanent hair loss that is not noticeable until winter. Dr. Keith Kantor, Trichologist, explains how  the summer heat and being out in the sun is one of the leading causes for hair loss and hair thinning.  He can explain why this happens and what you should do if you are out in the sun to prevent hair loss. He is Clinical Director of Regen Therapeutic.

We are living through a loneliness epidemic. Dating apps have made it easier than ever to swipe, and harder than ever to meaningfully connect. Millions of people are doing everything right on the outside, yet still feel deeply alone. This is not a love problem. It is an inner wholeness problem. Allana Pratt, Emotional Intimacy Expert, shares her raw, personal truth that the real work is NOT about finding the right person. It is about becoming one within yourself first. With grounded vulnerability and rare directness, she reveals how to invite love to not only arrive, but stay. She is an Ivy League graduate and a Certified Master Coach with over 7M viewers on YouTube. She has been featured on Huffington Post, People Magazine, Forbes, CBS, ABC, FOX, TLC, iHeartRadio and more.

Roger Love is widely recognized for coaching some of the world's biggest stars, helping them transform their voices for award-winning films, recording projects, concert tours, and high-stakes public appearances. Yet his most impactful work may be taking place far beyond Hollywood. His upcoming documentary, Find Your Voice, tells the inspiring story of a man who spent most of his life believing his severe stutter could never improve until achieving remarkable progress through Roger's innovative vocal methods. As millions of Americans face speech disorders, communication anxiety, and the emotional challenges that often accompany them, He presents a powerful new perspective on the relationship between voice, confidence, identity, and authentic self-expression. His Academy Award-winning film coaching credits include Walk the Line, Crazy Heart, and A Star Is Born.

Imagine New York City without the activists who fought for it. Wages stuck at the federal minimum. Police stop-and-frisk without public oversight. No public hospital system, no rent control, no free school lunch, no right to shelter. As Nicholas Freudenberg writes at the opening of Fighting for New York: it would be "a less healthy, less just, more polluted, and less safe place to live." The book's central argument is expansive: health is not just a medical issue. It is shaped by wages, housing, food access, policing, incarceration, and climate. Every fight for a more just city is, at its core, a fight for health. And history shows those fights can be won. He is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the City University of New York School of Public Health.

For many high-achieving professionals, success has come at a devastating cost. They have built impressive careers, earned the titles, and achieved the goals they were told would bring fulfillment. Yet behind the polished résumés and outward accomplishments, many are exhausted, emotionally disconnected, and unable to stop working — even when work is damaging their lives. Clinical psychologist Dr. Angélica Pérez-Litwin reveals why achievement never seems to be enough — and how to break the "Career Distress Response" cycle that traditional solutions fail to address. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University, an MBA from Clemson University, and a BA from Columbia University. Her work has been featured by The Today Show, NPR, CNN, Forbes, PBS, and other national media outlets.

Claire Shipman once had the life everyone envied: a respectable marriage, a beautiful home in Manhattan, and a future that seemed perfectly planned. But after a painful separation leaves her starting over, she returns to the Nantucket island she once called home - now a single mother to a teenage daughter and facing the unexpected reality of a surprise pregnancy. As she settles back into the island's familiar rhythms, Claire reconnects with family, old friends, and the community she left behind. Pamela Kelley shares this story about resilience, reinvention, and the transformative moments that lead to life's most meaningful second chances. She is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends.

We've all been there: you finally arrive at your vacation destination, but instead of heading straight to the beach, you're searching for ibuprofen. Between the "economy-class origami" of cramped airplane seats and the "highway hip" that comes from hours in the car, many travelers arrive stiff, sore, and ready for relief instead of relaxation. Dr. Sherry McAllister shares practical tips to help prevent travel-related aches before they start. She explains the ideal seat angle to protect your lumbar spine during long trips, why looking down at your phone can strain your neck and back, and simple strategies to keep your body feeling its best wherever you travel. Dr. McAllister is president of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to advancing awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care through research and education.

Struggling with writer's block this spring? Award-winning author April Dávila offers a practical, mindful approach to getting unstuck. Drawing on Insight Meditation, personal experience, and her expertise as both a writer and mindfulness teacher, she shows how mindfulness can help overcome common creative obstacles like writer's block, self-doubt, and distraction through practical exercises grounded in neuroscience. She is a certified mindfulness meditation instructor through the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Her debut novel, 142 Ostriches, was published by Kensington Books in 2020 and won the 2021 WILLA Award for Women Writing the West.

After contributing to nearly $1 billion in sales at Oracle, Hilary DeCesare left the corporate world to explore why so many high-performing women still experience burnout and a sense of being stuck. She is now a Master Certified Neuroscience Coach who uses brain-based methods to help women break through what she calls the "identity ceiling"—the invisible limit that keeps them operating below their full potential. A three-time international bestselling author, speaker, and identity and energy strategist, she integrates neuroscience, psychology, and more than 25 years of consulting and coaching experience. Her work focuses on helping women move beyond reactive patterns, shift their internal state on demand, and lead with greater clarity and confidence. DeCesare has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, and Entrepreneur, and appeared on ABC's "Secret Millionaire."

Vamoose: Stories is a vibrant, fast-paced collection by acclaimed author Kathy Anderson, blending humor, heart, and literary depth. These interconnected short stories center women who claim their own narratives and shape their own futures. Part literary fiction, part queer celebration, and part darkly comic exploration of modern womanhood, the collection explores loss, reinvention, and the unexpected freedoms that come from letting go. Across shifting moments of change, the stories feature surprising love, resilience, and emotional clarity, often delivered with sharp wit and insight. Before becoming a full-time writer, Anderson worked for more than 25 years as a librarian in small-town public libraries. She has been long listed for The Story Prize, which the NY Times says, recognizes the best story collection to be published each year.

First published in 2006, Girlbomb quickly received critical acclaim for its unflinching honesty and fast-paced storytelling, offering a rare, female-centered perspective on youth homelessness, addiction, and the complex relationships shaped by friendship and first love. Janice Erlbaum's distinctive voice—wry, resilient, and unmistakably Gen X—helped establish the memoir as both a compelling coming-of-age story and a vivid cultural snapshot of its era. Nearly twenty years later, Girlbomb remains strikingly relevant for its exploration of mental health, homelessness, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. Erlbaum is a former editor at BUST Magazine, and her work has appeared on MTV and been featured in Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair. Her writing has also earned praise from the The NY Times Book Review.

The science already exists. PrEP is highly effective, and antiretroviral therapy can reduce HIV transmission to effectively zero. Yet in 2022, approximately 31,800 Americans acquired HIV, while millions remain disconnected from consistent care due to homelessness, incarceration, untreated mental illness, substance use disorders, stigma, and other structural barriers. Dr. Tyler Evans, CEO of the Wellness Equity Alliance and a physician practicing street medicine, is helping lead efforts to end the HIV epidemic by focusing on individuals often left behind by modern healthcare systems. He discusses why addressing the "last mile" of HIV care requires meeting patients beyond traditional clinic settings. Dr. Evans has held senior leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations, including serving as New York City's first Chief Medical Officer during the COVID-19 pandemic and leading infectious disease programs for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Victoria, forty-three, is a confident, career-driven woman who never planned on kids—until she falls for Ace, a man twenty years her senior. Liz, thirty-two, has longed for motherhood but faces failed romances and anxiety; an unexpected pregnancy with her elusive boyfriend Chase turns her life upside down. The two meet in a parenting class, alienated from other expectant mothers, and form an unlikely bond. Leaning on each other through their pregnancies, relationships, and life choices, they experience the first deep female friendship of their lives. But as they grow stronger together, a shocking event forces them to confront love, motherhood, and the resilience of their bond. Laura Lekkos has contributed her screenwriting talents to many film and television projects, including Universal, Sony, MGM, Netflix, and Lionsgate.

Sonia and Graham Starr seem to have it all: wealth, success, and a beloved four-year-old daughter, Roxie. But when Roxie disappears into the Pacific Ocean on a perfect summer afternoon, their lives are shattered. Months later, Roxie's former nanny, twenty-one-year-old Colleen, returns to the Starrs' beach house, burdened by guilt and unanswered questions. On her first night back, she glimpses a child who looks remarkably like Roxie. When she calls out, the child vanishes. Convinced Roxie did not run into the ocean on her own, Colleen sets out to uncover the truth, even if it means confronting her deepest fears. Carol Snow, author of contemporary and young adult fiction is a graduate of Brown University. She has worked as a freelance writer and editor whose writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books,  Park City Magazine and Salon.

Inspired by the true story of women at Dublin Correctional Facility in California, Jean Trounstine's novel follows Nettie, a correctional officer who suddenly finds herself on the other side of the prison system she once enforced. As she awaits trial, Nettie confronts the inhumane conditions of incarceration while grappling with her abusive marriage, her career, and the life she believed she understood. A renowned leader in prison reform, Jean co-founded the women's branch of the innovative alternate sentencing program, Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL). She is a tireless advocate for incarcerated women, known internationally for her vivid, empathetic writing that illuminates the struggles of those wronged by the criminal justice system. She also contributes journalism on prison and parole to outlets including the Boston Institute of Nonprofit Journalism, Truthout, and Boston Magazine.

In a world shaped by war, economic uncertainty, climate change, and social upheaval, maintaining balance and clarity can feel increasingly difficult. Lee Klinger Lesser argues that mindful practices are more essential than ever, helping us cultivate resilience, purpose, and joy. Through reconnecting with our breath, senses, and bodies, we can respond to life's challenges with greater calm, creativity, and intention. Lesser offers practical, step-by-step exercises that readers can use anytime to foster peace, awareness, and presence. She also shares inspiring stories from her work, including a wrongly convicted man on death row who became a justice advocate and mentor, and a military veteran who overcame addiction and trauma to become a lawyer. She holds a master's degree in education from Bank Street College and co-founded Veteran's PATH, a nonprofit serving veterans through mindfulness, community, and nature-based programs.

Drawing on neuroscience, child development research, clinical practice, and his own experience as a father and grandfather, Dr.Kenneth Barish addresses the questions that keep parents and grandparents up at night: How do we protect our children's emotional health in an era of rising anxiety, depression, and loneliness? How do we support a genuine love of learning rather than a fear of failure? Dr. Barish offers comprehensive, multi-step guidance on all of it—written with the clarity and warmth of someone who has sat with thousands of families and knows exactly where the hard parts are.He is Clinical Professor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine and Visiting Professor at Tongji Medical College in Wuhan, China. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. .

Internationally celebrated style and beauty expert David Kibbe has spent more than 40 years championing his philosophy of "Love-Based Beauty," a transformative approach that encourages women to value themselves beyond unrealistic beauty standards. Throughout his career, he has challenged traditional ideals that rely on external validation, believing they damage confidence and self-worth. His empowering message emphasizes that personal style is a powerful expression of individuality and a meaningful way to connect with others. Selected for RuPaul's Love Yourself Book Club, his work inspires readers to embrace authenticity and self-acceptance. Kibbe's influence has reached audiences worldwide through appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Today, CBS This Morning, CNN, PBS, and major publications including the Wall Street Journal, London Times, and USA Today.

Step into your strength, embrace your brilliance, and rise—no matter the challenges life presents. This is Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble's heartfelt message to every young person seeking healing, hope, and belonging. Drawing on 30 years of research, clinical experience, and community work, she leads a journey of self-discovery and growth, blending practical guidance with culturally grounded science rich in heart, history, and humanity. This is a living toolkit for thriving. Dr. Breland- Noble, a psychologist, scientist and mental health thought leader is founder of The AAKOMA Project and one of Melinda French Gates's Leaders, championing innovative solutions to advance the health and wellbeing of women and girls worldwide. She's a regular media contributor to The Grio, Today Show, The Breakfast Club, the NY Times and others.

Dawn Smith, a veterinarian tech living in rural South Carolina, catches her new, hot boyfriend in a series of lies and abruptly ends their relationship. He is not happy. He begins to stalk and harass her, forcing Dawn to seek a restraining order. Undeterred, he launches a deeply personal attack —inventing a false scenario to sue for guardianship and conservatorship of Dawn's infirm mother. And just when Dawn thinks things can't get any worse, she is faced with an impossible choice: rekindle the relationship or lose her mother forever. Liz Lazarus' riveting thriller is based on her own harrowing experience battling for the guardianship of her 88-year-old mother. Liz has an engineering degree from The Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Sheila Yasmin Marikar delivers a sharp, "White Lotus"-style satire set at a luxury Maldives resort. Celebrating their fifth anniversary, Sarah Shetty and Sam Gupta escape their failing marriage and stalled careers with a lavish vacation funded entirely by points and miles. At the resort, they become entangled with an older, wealthy couple whose generosity masks troubling inconsistencies. As Sarah imagines the opportunities this friendship could bring, tensions rise and hidden motives surface. When a body is discovered beneath the resort's overwater bungalows, paradise quickly unravels. With wit and emotional precision, she explores marriage, ambition, disappointment, aging, and the fragile illusions people create to survive. Marikar's travel writing, culture chronicles and feature-length profiles have appeared in such prominent outlets as The New Yorker, The NY Times, The Economist, and Vogue.

It is London in the early 1960s, a city shedding postwar restraint as fashion, art, and youth culture ignite the Swinging Sixties. Amid shifting sexual politics, women still face rigid expectations. Evelyn Westbrook, a young model trapped in a fragile marriage, begins psychoanalysis to regain stability while resisting her husband's pressure to have children. The newly introduced contraceptive pill promises freedom but also invites secrecy, stigma, and fear. As Evelyn's sessions intensify, the relationship with her therapist grows increasingly unsettling, blurring professional boundaries and leaving her uncertain whether her distress reflects illness or genuine danger. Drawing on personal experience, Lucy Ashe explores mental health, power, consent, and the dismissal of women's intuition with striking authenticity and emotional depth throughout the novel. Ashe trained at the Royal Ballet School before changing course to study English Literature at Oxford University, where she graduated in 2010.

Drawing on a deeply rooted family legacy—five ancestors who fought for American independence and another, a Hessian soldier who sided with the British—Sharon Virts brings uncommon authenticity to her fiction. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and owner of SELMA, a historic Virginia estate she carefully restored, Virt channels her passion for early American history into layered stories of honor, deception and desire, all inspired by real events. Can historical fiction serve as a bridge between the past and the present? Virt maintains history is not just a record of events but a conversation between generations. She is recognized as one of Washington Life Magazine's philanthropic 50 in 2020 and is a 2024 Loudoun History Award honoree.

The news is saturated with heartbreak, yet for many Americans injustice is familiar, and so is resistance. Political strategist Atima Omara contends that guidance and inspiration can be drawn from those who have endured and challenged the nation's darkest eras: Black women. She reclaims the label "instigator," once used to malign them, and argues that no group has more experience defending liberty and expanding democracy. As progressives seek direction, she offers a roadmap grounded in her career and in the legacy of leaders past and present, whose lessons show how to build power, organize communities and create lasting institutions. Omara has appeared on CNN, PBS, Fox News, BBC, CBC, NPR, and MSNBC including Joy Reid's The ReidOut. She was named one of one hundred notable Black Americans by EBONY Magazine.

From thoughtfully designed college campuses that encourage lifelong connections to workplace environments that can subtly undermine autonomy, the spaces we inhabit have a profound impact on our behavior, yet this influence is often overlooked in traditional self-improvement advice. Leidy Klotz joins us to explore this hidden dynamic. Drawing on research across science, history, psychology, and urban planning, he reveals how changing the setting of a negotiation can influence outcomes, why our fascination with home improvement is rooted in evolutionary instincts, and how learning becomes more lasting when tied to new environments. He has contributed to major outlets like The Washington Post, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review, published in leading journals including Nature and Science, and appeared on podcasts such as Hidden Brain and Freakonomics.

Stepping into leadership after excelling as an individual contributor can feel overwhelming. Tess Fyalka explores the common challenges new leaders face, from self-doubt and team conflict to navigating difficult conversations with former peers. She shares practical tools to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and resilience. Learn how to communicate effectively, manage emotions under pressure, and turn tension into teamwork. She breaks down strategies to reduce turnover, delegate without burnout, and build a unified, high-performing team culture. Whether you're new to leadership or still finding your footing, this conversation offers actionable guidance to help you grow into a leader your team trusts and respects. Tess  has worked with leaders in multiple industries and is the founder of Angle Coaching and Communication. Her passion is helping leaders at all levels develop the essential tools they need to cut through challenging team dynamics.

What if luck isn't random at all? Tina Seelig PhD reframes what we call "luck" as something you can actively create. Fortune grows from the choices you make and the risks you take when opportunity appears. Drawing on insights from her renowned TED Talk, she shares simple, practical strategies to help you build your own momentum—strengthening your mindset, surrounding yourself with the right people, and taking purposeful action. Through compelling stories and research-backed ideas, she explains how to turn setbacks into progress and challenges into breakthroughs. She has taught at Stanford University for more than 25 years and is Executive Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, a highly selective leadership program for 300 graduate students across Stanford University.

In her captivating memoir, Deborah K. Shepherd examines her first great love, with a man thirty-four years her senior. In 1968 and at age 21, she ditched college in Tucson for hippie life in New York. When that soured, she found a low-level corporate job, where she met Bill Shepherd, an unhappily married, 55-year-old senior executive. That they had a fling is unsurprising for the time. What is surprising is that they stayed together, for twenty years and two children, despite their age gap, differing religions, and society's expectations. With today's perspective, and the benefits of both age and hindsight, she revisits her past, scouring old letters and asking tough questions, of herself and about romantic love, religious roots, judgement from others, and feminism. Deborah's essays have appeared in Oldster Magazine,Fauxmoir,  Motherwell Magazine,  Herstry,  Eat Darling Eat, Persimmon Tree and more.

Racism and how it has developed over the years is constantly evolving, shaped by shifting social norms, political power, and the everyday assumptions people often take for granted. Ainsley LeSure PhD offers some powerful insight on how  racism since the end of the civil rights era has fundamentally weakened our ability to fight it. She explains how we got from the Obama era to Trump's openly racist politics--and why our current frameworks made this trajectory not just possible, but predictable. She offers a different approach and insight about what it would actually take to combat racism: a democratic politics grounded in observable reality that makes equality something people can act on in their daily lives, not just an abstract ideal. LeSure is the Richard and Edna Salomon Assistant Professor of Political Science and Africana Studies at Brown University.

Choosing Emotions For centuries, emotion has been debated, measured, regulated, and theorized, yet no single work has mapped the full range of everyday emotional experience across disciplines—until now. D. Earl Johnston introduces a groundbreaking reference that defines 272 emotional states, drawing on 3,000 years of thought spanning philosophy, science, linguistics, psychology, art, and spiritual traditions.Expanding far beyond psychology, the work integrates perspectives from seven fields and over 30 philosophical and faith traditions. Organized as an accessible "Emotionary," it also presents three frameworks: emotions as an internal operating system, the gears driving behavior, and a unifying bridge across cultures. Mr. Johnston is a former corporate executive, testifying expert and world champion sailor. Over a multi-decade career spanning banking, private equity and litigation consulting, he developed a sustained interest in language, motivation and emotional definition.

Good Girl Detox Many women are socialized to act as constant caregivers, the "good girls" who prioritize everyone else's needs above their own. However, mental health clinician, professor, and author Dr. Julie Merriman reminds us that you cannot pour from an empty cup. This deeply ingrained "Good Girl" pattern lives within the nervous system. Releasing it requires gentle, manageable steps that avoid overwhelming the body, while rebuilding connection to oneself and embracing small, guilt-free moments of joy. She offers insights and compassionate strategies to help women reclaim balance, energy, and authentic connection in daily life.  With over 30 years of clinical experience and academic leadership, Dr. Merriman has dedicated her career to the science of human helping.    

Autoimmunity and The Good Girls For generations, women have been conditioned to prioritize others, silence their voices, and neglect their own needs. In her latest work, Sara Hirsh Bordo addresses a critical gap in women's wellness: the power of self-permission to speak, transform, and heal. Drawing on more than 50 hours of interviews, she explores why women often minimize their own suffering and health concerns, and offers a path toward self-prioritization. Her new book encourages women to put themselves first, alongside her limited-edition podcast, Behind the Page: Autoimmunity and the Good Girls, launching March 31. Bordo is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Women Rising®, recognized by Inc. for leading a purpose-driven, innovative women-led company. She is currently directing short documentary films for Toyota and ESPN Women, and most recently served as executive producer of the ConnectHer International Film Festival. A Letter Is Better In a world of texts, DMs, and disappearing messages, one woman is bringing back the lost art of the thank-you note, typing over 1,000 letters a year on vintage typewriters, and the results are nothing short of extraordinary. Erica Gerard Di Bona explores why expressing gratitude in writing doesn't just make someone feel appreciated; it strengthens relationships, boosts mental wellbeing, and even opens unexpected professional doors. Erica is a former producer in network news, The Playboy Channel, documentaries, and kids' game shows. She has often received letters and messages back from such notables as Connie Chung, Norman Lear, and Henry Winkler.

A Letter is Better In a world of texts, DMs, and disappearing messages, one woman is bringing back the lost art of the thank-you note, typing over 1,000 letters a year on vintage typewriters, and the results are nothing short of extraordinary. Erica Gerard Di Bona explores why expressing gratitude in writing doesn't just make someone feel appreciated; it strengthens relationships, boosts mental wellbeing, and even opens unexpected professional doors. Erica is a former producer in network news, The Playboy Channel, documentaries, and kids' game shows. She has often received letters and messages back from such notables as Connie Chung, Norman Lear, and Henry Winkler.   Autoimmunity and The Good Girls For generations, women have been conditioned to prioritize others, silence their voices, and neglect their own needs. In her latest work, Sara Hirsh Bordo addresses a critical gap in women's wellness: the power of self-permission to speak, transform, and heal. Drawing on more than 50 hours of interviews, she explores why women often minimize their own suffering and health concerns, and offers a path toward self-prioritization. Her new book encourages women to put themselves first, alongside her limited-edition podcast, Behind the Page: Autoimmunity and the Good Girls, launching March 31. Bordo is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Women Rising®, recognized by Inc. for leading a purpose-driven, innovative women-led company. She is currently directing short documentary films for Toyota and ESPN Women, and most recently served as executive producer of the ConnectHer International Film Festival.

Many affairs happen in relationships that seem perfectly happy. And when betrayal is discovered, it doesn't just break hearts; it shatters a person's identity- their entire sense of who they are in the world. Lora Cheadle's expertise is born from lived experience. When she discovered her husband had been unfaithful for 15 years, she faced a choice: remain a victim or become an architect of her own healing. She chose transformation. The work she and her husband did to repair their marriage—with accountability, integrity, and commitment—became the foundation for her work in betrayal recovery. Lora is an author, TEDx speaker, and leadership wellness coach who specializes in burnout and betrayal recovery.  She has spoken and trained internationally, and hosts the top-rated podcast, FLAUNT! Create a Life You Love After Infidelity or Betrayal.

Mario Cartaya found the inner peace he needed by confronting memories he didn't know he had. Born in Havana in 1951, he left Cuba at age eight, after the turbulent winds of change forced his family to immigrate to the United States. Years passed, and the memories of his childhood were seemingly lost—until 56 years later when he returned to Cuba to rediscover the faded origins of his existence. He offers the universal message that facing the challenges of our past provides the soul the clarity it needs to rest, and then evolve. Mario's life story and award-winning architectural designs were entered into the United States Congressional Record of the House of Representatives in 2019, forever enshrined into the US Library of Congress. An American flag was flown over the US Capitol to celebrate his legacy in 2022. 

Investigative journalist and abortion access correspondent for The Nation, Amy Littlefield had been reporting on reproductive healthcare and abortion for a decade when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Her immediate response to the ruling: "They are going to kill people." Now she provides a deeply reported account critical to understanding the anti-abortion movement's strategy over the past 50 years. Pairing her poignant reporting with her love for murder mysteries, Killers of Roe is an abortion whodunit that introduces unexpected characters, secret killers and suspects, and hidden motives behind the death of a fundamental human right. She set out to investigate the murderers of Roe, and as in every good murder mystery, the killers turn out to be those least suspected, from the disgraced former Congressman obsessed with offshore tax avoidance to the retired grandfather who wrote one of America's most diabolical anti-abortion policies. Plot twists lurk around every corner, as she  meets believers, opportunists, and complicated heroes. Amy is a frequent commentator on abortion for TV and radio news outlets and podcasts, including MSNBC and Democracy Now!.

In an era marked by deep social and political divisions, disagreements can escalate quickly. Tensions surrounding politics, religion, and personal beliefs often lead to hostility, bullying, or emotional confrontations. Doug Noll offers a fresh set of listening and communication strategies designed to help people respond effectively when emotions run high. Through clear steps and relatable, real-world scenarios, he demonstrates practical ways to handle anger, both in others and within ourselves. The techniques focus on strengthening emotional awareness, encouraging empathy, and guiding conversations toward resolution rather than conflict. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, the world's most prestigious mediation organization. Doug was also a Purpose Prize Fellow for pioneering the Prison of Peace program, teaching emotional literacy to violent offenders in maximum security facilities for over 10 years.

As millions begin the new year searching for motivation and direction, author and entrepreneur Joel Steele believes the real transformation starts within.He challenges the idea that change comes from external sources and instead introduces the "life switch", a powerful internal shift that changes how people think, act, and pursue their potential. After facing major personal setbacks, including bankruptcy and possible jail time, he experienced his own life-changing moment that forced him to redefine his purpose.He shares the mindset shifts behind his philosophy and the three steps he believes unlock extraordinary living: realizing your potential, discovering your passion, and defining your purpose—so you can stop simply getting by and start truly getting ahead. He has over 22 years of experience helping people build wealth along with peace of mind.

After a near-death experience as a teenager, Marie Diamond discovered a profound connection between environment, energy, and human potential. That life-changing moment inspired her lifelong mission: helping people transform their spaces so they can live, work, and thrive at their highest level. Marie has redefined Feng Shui for modern audiences by translating an often misunderstood ancient practice into clear, actionable guidance that produces real, measurable results. While her client list includes high-profile names such as Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster, Jason Bateman, and Paula Abdul, her true passion lies in empowering everyday people. Through her teachings, Feng Shui becomes practical, empowering, and even fun. Marie's work has been featured on Good Day New York, Forbes, Architectural Digest, and The Guardian, inspiring millions worldwide.

On September 6, 1970, twenty-year-old Mimi Nichter, wearing her green mini-dress, was returning home on a flight to New York/JFK Airport from a summer spent on a kibbutz in Israel when her airplane was hijacked by armed members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and redirected to a remote desert region in Jordan. The hijacking of Trans World Airlines Flight 741 was the first incident of international terrorism, and one of the most significant events in aviation history. Passengers were held on board for six days in sweltering heat without flushable toilets or running water. Most were sent home, but Mimi—falsely accused of being an Israeli soldier —and thirty-one others, were held hostage in Amman, fearing for their lives as a violent war erupted around them. She is a cultural and medical anthropologist, public speaker, and a professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Arizona. Her essays have appeared in HuffPost, Newsweek, and Brevity.