The Kathryn Zox Show

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.

Former Olympic boxer and professional champion Danny O'Connor delivers a searing, deeply personal memoir that confronts one of sport's most overlooked crises: eating disorders in male athletes. From high school wrestling to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team and a decade-long professional career, O'Connor lived in a world where extreme weight-cutting—starvation, dehydration, purging and physical collapse—was common practice. What began as discipline slowly became self-destruction, culminating in a public failure to make weight for a world title fight and a private medical emergency that nearly cost him his life. He turned professional in 2008 and competed at the highest levels of the sport for more than a decade. He compiled a professional record of thirty-one wins. Over the course of his career, he fought on major televised platforms, including ESPN, Showtime, CBS Sports, and Fox Sports 1, and competed in prominent venues across the United States.

In a memoir rich with human drama, hard-earned wisdom and enduring life lessons, Ed Hajim recounts the astonishing journey of his life. Kidnapped by his father at the age of three, he drifted through foster homes and orphanages, facing instability and hardship while struggling simply to survive. Despite rejection and deep family trauma, he refused to be defined by deprivation and adversity. Through resilience, discipline and unwavering determination, he rose to achieve the American dream, becoming a successful Wall Street executive, devoted family man and generous philanthropist. Through the Hajim Family Foundation, he has made generous donations to organizations that promote education, health care, arts, culture  and conservation and in  2015 he  received the Horatio Alger Award given to Americans who exemplify the values of initiative, leadership and commitment to excellence and who have succeeded despite personal adversity.

When a teenage student from Manhattan's elite Dearborn Academy dies on a class trip, three mothers must face the darkest secrets lurking beneath the surface of their lifestyles, their friendships, their children and themselves. As the investigation turns to murder, it becomes clear that everyone—the women, their kids and the school itself—is hiding something. The mothers discover they can no longer trust their own children, the school or each other. Emily Listfield threads together the power of female friendships, the secrets that shake a community and the challenges of parenting. She is the former editor-in-chief of Fitness magazine and executive editor of Parade's HealthyStyle. Her writing appears frequently in Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Allure, The NY Times and other national publications.

Divorce isn't just the division of assets. It's the unraveling of a shared life, and the decisions made in the process that can shape a woman's future for decades. Seasoned divorce expert Beth Kraszewski shares the ten critical minefields women must avoid, from entering negotiations without a post-divorce plan to overlooking tax consequences or assuming a 50-50 split guarantees fairness. She explains how to build the right legal and financial team,  how to understand what truly qualifies as a marital asset, and how to use the marital balance sheet as a strategic tool. She also offers guidance on staying grounded during conflict and navigating a toxic or controlling ex-spouse. She maintains that when women align financial choices with long-term goals, they reclaim clarity, confidence and power. She's had multiple appearances on Forbes' Woman Wealth Advisors Best-in-state list, honors from Working Mother Magazine and has received the Raymond James Woman of Distinction Award.

What does it really mean to choose the single life on purpose? Drawing on research from more than 20,000 people, Bella DePaulo PhD explains why many who are "single at heart" experience deep fulfillment, joy and psychological richness outside romantic partnerships. She shares evidence that some singles grow happier with age and may even navigate aging more successfully than those whose lives center on marriage. She also explores the stereotypes aimed at single people and why society's obsession with loneliness often overlooks the profound rewards of solitude and the resilience of those who intentionally choose single life. She's written the column "Living Single" for Psychology Today since 2008; and has been published by the NY Times, the Washington Post and Time magazine. She's been interviewed on The Today Show, CNN American Morning, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning and Anderson Cooper 360.

Lena Fein was raised in madness by a violent and controlling mother, obsessed with household cleanliness and the beauty of her porcelain dolls. To survive, she perfected the art of dissociation, racing through school with straight A's, becoming a top producer at a high-tech company, and clicking through two marriages without ever slowing down long enough to fully experience life. At fifty-one, she looks into the eyes of her dying mother, and her warped mirror finally shatters. She begins to experience life in a new way. She learns to feel and forgive, shedding her armor and embracing life.  Her story is a testament that healing is possible at any age — and that wholeness is priceless. Lena is an UC Berkeley engineering graduate and a philanthropist based in San Francisco.

Dr. Dale Atkins, author, former Today Show expert and psychologist is best known for sharing guidance on how to navigate life's complicated questions and uncomfortable feelings. Now, she has a new mission: to help generations connect and experience the joy of being present. In her new book, Grandma Sylvia is an enchanting figure who embodies the spirit of a vibrant butterfly. She's warm and welcoming, fearless, and curious about everything. Her granddaughter, Victoria, often finds her belly fluttering when faced with new things and uncertainty. Woven throughout the story is the healing power of nature, offering gentle lessons about resilience and renewal. The butterfly becomes a luminous symbol of transformation, teaching young readers how to navigate loss, embrace shifts, and find hope in all life's cycles.

If you're a well-intentioned man—or care about one—who sometimes becomes impatient, distant, or tense under pressure, bestselling author and psychologist Len Felder PhD, offers a smarter path forward. You'll learn effective, real-world strategies to strengthen mindfulness and build creative cooperation at home, at work, and in your most important relationships. Avoiding abstract theory and empty jargon, he shares practical methods for responding to everyday tension with greater compassion and creativity, deepening intimacy and playfulness in your love life, preventing costly missteps with people you care about, and repairing misunderstandings before they create lasting distance. He has written over one hundred published articles, along with appearing on more than two hundred podcasts, radio interviews, and television programs including The Today Show, CNN News, CBS, NPR, ABC talk radio, Oprah Winfrey, BBC and Canada A.M.

Most people freeze when asked "How are you?" especially when they are not OK. Owen Marcus explains why this seemingly simple question triggers anxiety, how body awareness helps produce grounded, honest answers, and why context matters when choosing what to say. He outlines three practical levels of response that allow people to be truthful without oversharing or overwhelming others. He also explores the cultural pressures that encourage people—especially men—to hide distress. Marcus is the Founder and CEO of MELD (Men's Emotional Leadership Development) demonstrating the transformative potential of evidence-based peer support. He is also  a founding member of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy and a member of Division 51 of the American Psychological Association.

In a time when personal safety is increasingly top of mind, author and former CIA officer and security expert Tim Beard launches a groundbreaking new series of three books designed to give readers the practical tools and mindset to stay alert, aware and protected in their everyday lives. He shows readers how to stay safe at home and at work, from identifying vulnerabilities to mastering basic precautions that greatly reduce risk. The book also offers step-by-step advice for navigating ordinary outings — what Tim calls Out in Town — including running errands, using ATMs and moving through public spaces confidently and safely. He earned a Master of International Policy and Practice from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Auburn University.

When a family member passes away, emotions run high and finances can quickly get complicated. In some cases, grief meets greed, and the legacy someone worked a lifetime to build can be lost through mismanagement or misconduct. Don Ford, a Board Certified probate and estate attorney and Managing Partner of Ford and Bergner LLP is here to explain how estate plans fall apart, why executors sometimes fail in their duties, and what families can do to protect their inheritance before assets disappear. A Baylor-educated attorney with backgrounds in accounting, taxation, estate planning, and business planning, he began his career as a tax attorney for an international consulting firm before dedicating his practice entirely to probate and estate matters.

Drawing from his background as an educator, theater teacher, improvisation coach, and stay-at-home father, writer Christopher Mannino adapts proven methods from improv and method acting and applies them to parenting. His approach helps families deepen connection, spark imaginative play, and support emotional regulation for both children and adults. Known for helping parents and kids truly engage, he has been featured in Parenting Today, Business Insider, Newsweek, and PBS. Today, he travels internationally with his wife and two children while writing fiction and nonfiction for audiences of all ages, blending creativity, empathy, and real-world parenting insight rooted in experience and joyful collaboration daily.

The daughter of Parisian shopkeepers, Adélaïde dreams not of marriage or titles but of earning a place among the masters of French art. With Queen Marie Antoinette on the throne and a spirit of change in the air, anything seems possible. But as revolution brews and powerful forces conspire to deny her success, Adélaïde faces an impossible choice: protect her life or fight for a legacy that will outlast her. Inspired by the true story of one of the first women admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, Janell Strube shares this evocative portrait of ambition, courage, and resilience in the face of history's fiercest storm. She is an author and poet who enjoys writing about resilience with unflinching honesty. Her poetry has appeared in the San Diego Poetry Annual and A Year in Ink.

Trauma therapist and parenting specialist Maggie Nick examines how well-behaved, emotionally compliant children often mature into anxious, uncertain adults. By clearly explaining relational shame trauma, she shows how "good kids" learn to suppress feelings, crave approval, and worry about being a burden—habits that frequently follow them into adult life. As a self-identified recovering "good kid," she brings personal insight to the subject, demonstrating how these pressures accumulate and how healing is possible. Grounded in research and extensive clinical work with adult "good kids," she provides practical guidance for parents and adults alike to recognize damaging patterns, interrupt generational cycles of harmful parenting, and build self-compassion, emotional security, and genuine, connected relationships that support lasting growth, resilience, and healthier family dynamics. She founded Camp Lovable, a self-compassion–focused healing community and is widely known for her popular Instagram and TikTok accounts, @maggiewithperspectacles.

Anita's journey into adulthood begins in 1968, when she graduates college, leaves her Brooklyn family home, and settles in Greenwich Village at a moment of cultural upheaval. Against a backdrop of school strikes, the Stonewall and Attica uprisings, and the rise of second-wave feminism, she navigates gang violence, restricted career opportunities, entrenched gender expectations, and the quiet damage of family secrets. Over time, Anita reflects on love, ambition, and loss, posing a difficult question to herself and her friends: "Did you have the life you wanted?"—one that elicits unexpected and painful truths. Spanning five decades from 1968 to 2019, Andrea Simon honors the women of the 1970s, the legacy they left their daughters, and the enduring power of female friendship. She is an award-winning writer and photographer based in New York City.  She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the City College of New York and has mentored many writers.

Patricia Martin, host of the Jung in the World podcast, explores the challenges that tech and the internet impose on the human psyche and offers a revelatory adventure through the processes that make us who we are. She argues that 24/7 online connectivity reshapes not only our sense of self, but erodes our very ability to form our identities. We form identity in three ways: how we see ourselves, how others see us and our will to shape ourselves. But, with the internet that world has been blown completely open, its boundaries obliterated. The once contained arenas where our identities formed—the neighborhood, school or workplace—have been radically expanded to the entirety of the digital realm, including the dark web and mainstream platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Martin's work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Huffington Post, The NY Times, Slate and Psyche Magazine.

Drawing on her personal experiences—including a serious medical diagnosis and a home invasion—Rachael Schmidt shows us how breath, awareness, and intuition can restore calm in crisis. She introduces her "theory of volatility," a framework explaining how energy management determines whether life feels chaotic or calm. She teaches readers to transform life's jolts into growth. Schmidt argues these practices are urgently needed in a modern "connection crisis," where people rely too heavily on external validation. Ultimately, she calls for reclaiming one's inner compass, proposing that personal alignment can spark a broader cultural shift toward authenticity, connection and collective well-being. She is a mindfulness-based self-development coach, mentor and educator who has worked with Fortune 500 leaders and is the founder of the consultancy Common Sixth.

As daylight fades and temperatures drop, many people feel their energy and mood dip, too. The darker months can quietly influence mental health, subtly disrupting sleep, motivation, and emotional balance in ways we don't always recognize. Author Johanna Laurent explains that a simple mindset shift can make all the difference, offering words to heal, ground, and inspire. She teaches that true healing begins when we take ownership of our energy, reconnect with ourselves, and intentionally create joy from within. Johanna regularly shares her insights with her community of over 47k followers on TikTok, and her thoughtful guidance has been featured on media outlets such as The Daily Flash, WGN Chicago, and KATU Portland.

With daylight savings right around the corner and the winter months to follow shortly after, many are gearing up to take on the "Winter Blues." And though many adults are equipped with the knowledge and experience to accommodate for the shorter and darker days that lie ahead, most children and teens are unprepared for the psychological changes that can take place during the colder months. Thankfully, Dr. Greg Hammer has made it his mission to educate and prepare parents, guardians, and educators with resources and strategies to best support the mental health of the younger generation especially through the winter time. He is a recently retired professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, pediatric intensive care physician, pediatric anesthesiologist, and wellness lecturer.

Through the stories of sixteen families from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, Gabrielle Oliveira paints a vivid picture of what immigrating families face: the fear, the uncertainty, the hope, and the incredible determination to build a safer, brighter future. She shares why so many families from Latin America risk dangerous journeys to the U.S.—and how education becomes their "currency of love," the thing they're willing to sacrifice everything for. She also talks about the teachers on the front lines who are helping children heal from trauma while navigating a system that's become increasingly hostile to immigrants. She is Jorge Paulo Lemann Associate Professor of Education and Brazil Studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Discover a refreshing perspective on aging with David Cravit, co-author of The SuperAging Workbook and a leading voice behind the SuperAging News Network. Now in his 80s, David—along with co-author Larry Wolf—brings a practical, inspiring approach to thriving in your 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.  He breaks down the Seven A's of SuperAging—Attitude, Awareness, Activity, Accomplishment, Autonomy, Attachment, and Avoidance. This simple, powerful framework helps listeners stay mentally and physically active, maintain independence, build meaningful connections, and avoid common aging pitfalls like scams and ageism. Their work has been highlighted by major outlets including Fox News Health and the New York Post.

In an age dominated by quick fixes, viral wellness trends, and one-size-fits-all solutions, a quieter truth is reclaiming its place: food remains one of our most powerful forms of medicine. There is a growing return to what ancient healing traditions have always understood—that nourishment is not just fuel, but a force capable of restoring balance, vitality, and even hope. Internationally recognized Certified Nutritionist Donnie Yance has long explored this connection. His work reveals how nourishing foods can activate protective genes, while poor dietary choices may switch on those linked to disease - shaping health outcomes over time. Central to his philosophy is the belief that a healthy relationship with food fosters a healthier relationship with ourselves. Yance is widely respected for his pioneering contributions to botanical and nutritional medicine, particularly in integrative cancer care.

In this second installment of The Ghost Table trilogy protagonist Josie learns that every haunting begins with the need to be heard. She becomes a messenger of long suppressed truths - ones powerful enough to change lives. Buchwald is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Manhattan and considers New Orleans her second home. She's written for Gotham Magazine, LA Confidential, the websites of Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster, The New York Daily News, and Page Six, where she frequently covered the restaurant world and the antics of celebrity chefs. She is co-host of the podcast People Who Do Things, a series of conversations with writers and creators about the creative process.

At a moment when college students—and their parents—are scrutinizing the "return on investment" of humanities courses, Carlo Rotella opens the door to a classroom full of wary first-year students. He follows thirty-three students through a required literature course and captures the transformation unfolding on both sides of the seminar table. Their initial doubt—"How will this get me a job?"—slowly shifts as they grapple with demanding books, exchange ideas, sharpen their thinking, and form a genuine community. Along the way, they discover how to make meaning from the world around them—an indispensable life skill. Warm, vivid, and deeply humane, this book offers a rare look at what students truly encounter in college and why it matters. Carlo Rotella is a Professor of English at Boston College, a regular contributor to the NY Times Magazine,  and writes about cities, boxing, music, and literature.

It may seem fun to jump on the ChatGPT bandwagon and use it as a quick fix for mental health questions, but you shouldn't take shortcuts to heal, according to distinguished licensed marriage, family, and child psychotherapist Dr. Nicki J. Monti. While it can offer reflection and information, it cannot understand your full emotional context, detect crises, or provide personalized clinical care. Misinterpreted advice may worsen mental-health struggles or delay real treatment. She details her own journey with childhood trauma, addiction, violence, divorce, and widowhood in her memoir, The Divine Traumedy of Nicki Joy: A True Grime Tale. Dr. Monti has been featured on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Millionaire Matchmaker and more.

Forget everything you think you know about women in midlife. Angela Burk's raw, unfiltered, and fiercely passionate book shatters the glossy, sugar-coated stories we've been sold about 'aging gracefully.' This isn't a manual for doing midlife perfectly—it's a companion for doing it honestly. She dives into everything from career reinvention to the three waves of menopause—rage, wild symptoms, and all—with unapologetic candor. After divorcing at 45 and raising three young sons, she scrapped the life script she'd been following and rebuilt from the ground up. The result? A long-distance love, a blended family of seven, and a trove of hard-earned wisdom about sagging knees, vanishing eyebrows, and the unapologetic confidence that only midlife can bring. She is an award-winning marketing  strategist, mother of three, bonus mom to four, and fierce advocate for women reclaiming their stories at midlife. Follow Angela on Substack or at realgirlsguide.com.  

Studies consistently show that when employees feel safe to voice concerns, share ideas, and acknowledge mistakes without fear of judgment, they become more innovative, more productive, and more committed to their organizations. In Laurie Cure PhD —who has spent more than three decades helping leaders and teams cultivate healthier workplace cultures—shares practical strategies for building psychological safety, strengthening collaboration, and creating an environment where people can truly thrive, beyond financial rewards. She is a leading voice in executive coaching and serves as the CEO of Innovative Connections. Her expertise has been showcased in publications including Fast Company, Business Insider, and BuiltIn.

As communities search for more effective ways to support people returning home from prison, one unexpected solution is taking center stage — literally. Theater programs are emerging as powerful tools for restoring confidence and helping the formerly incarcerated reconnect with society. That transformative potential is the focus of Broadway, Bars, and Fortune, an award-winning 40-minute documentary from director and producer Shuvendu Sen.  "Broadway has become an emotional point of rehabilitation" says Sen.  "This film shows how theater both inside and outside prison walls, can serve as a powerful healing tool— one that reduces trauma, crime and recidivism" The film chronicles the work of The Fortune Society, one of the nation's most respected reentry organizations, and the life-changing impact of its theater programs, where storytelling becomes a pathway to healing, empathy and employment. Sen has been featured on CNN, PBS, CBS and many other media outlets.

Just in time for the bustling holiday season—when guests, gatherings, and gift wrap tend to take over—Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong share simple, uplifting strategies to create welcoming, clutter-free spaces. But their approach goes far beyond seasonal sprucing. They dive into how small, intentional habits can transform your home into a calm, joyful environment all year long. They are the brilliant minds behind The Tidy Home Nashville. These two sisters have seen it all and have helped countless clients tackle their living spaces and create peaceful and practical homes using a non-judgemental, empowering approach and a sense of style. Instastagram, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok are the main marketing vehicles used by The Tidy Home. They began their Instagram account in April 2019 and now have 26K followers, a feat they attribute to the generosity of ideas they provide their followers. Their Pinterest account has some 10K monthly viewers. The sisters want to provide ideas that all followers can do at home whether they hire them or not.

Former successful trial attorney and one of Houston's most elite sought-after professional photographers, Chris Gillett exposes how a poorly crafted headshot can silently sabotage your professional image. He explains that first impressions often hinge on subtle cues—like posture, eye contact, and micro-expressions—that convey confidence or insecurity within seconds. He discusses why AI-generated portraits, despite their polish, often fail to capture authentic human warmth and credibility. Today, he works with attorneys, executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders—helping them to project, leadership, trust and approachability in a single frame. He shows us that an effective headshot isn't about vanity—it's a vital career tool that communicates your personal brand before you ever speak.