Category

Non Fiction

Non Fiction, Psychology, Social Issues

Mar 25: The Culting of America with Daniella Mestyanek Young

What Makes a Cult & Why We Love Them

The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them with Daniella Mestyanek Young

You’re probably in a cult. You just don’t know it yet.”

Last time we spoke with Daniella Mestyanek Young it was about Uncultured and Daniella’s escape from the insidious Children of God cult. But not all cult-like situations are the same (think corporations, groups, organizations, clubs) and recognizing you’re in a high-control situation is half the battle.

Today we discuss Daniella’s new book, The Culting of America: What Makes A Cult & Why We Love Them. We share what makes cults dangerous, how to recognize the signs of high-control before it’s too late, and why we get sucked into them.

We explore the difference between cults, groups, and fan clubs. And look at a couple of well-known organizations fitting the “10 criteria framework” of all cults. Daniella’s driving force in her work: Why do we give ourselves over to groups — and how do we get our power back?

Meet Daniella Mestyanek Young

Daniella Mestyanek Young is a cult survivor, U.S. Army veteran, Harvard-trained organizational psychologist, and the author of two books about high-control groups—her critically- acclaimed memoir Uncultured. And her latest, The Culting of America. Born into the Children of God—the infamous sex cult known for weaponizing religion, sexuality, and isolation—Daniella escaped at fifteen, only to join another high-control institution: the United States Army. She became one of the first women to serve on an integrated ground combat team in Army history, while working as an intelligence officer who studied terrorists for a living. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, identity, group psychology, and coercive control.

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History, Nature, Non Fiction, Science

Mar 18: Metamorphosis with Professor Oren Harman

From butterflies to art & the meditation of a father-to-be, how metamorphosis informs us about ourselves, change, & interconnectedness

Metamorphosis: A Natural and Human History with Professor Oren Harman

Professor Oren Harman‘s latest book, Metamorphosis: A Natural and Human History, tackles one of biology’s oldest and most wondrous riddles: Why do three-quarters of all animal species on earth undergo some form of metamorphosis?

Part science history, part memoir, part philosophy, and part meditation of a father-to-be, the stories in Metamorphosis take us from Aristotle to Darwin, and the cutting edge of molecular biology and humanity.

We explore how metamorphosis has inspired centuries of philosophers, artists, writers, and culture. We also discuss why a caterpillar must dissolve and rewire it’s brain to become a butterfly. Freud’s obsession with eel testicles (yes, you read that right!) Why ‘Benjamin Button’ jellyfish grow younger in the ocean’s depths.

And, what metamorphosis teaches us about the human self, connection, and change.

Meet Professor Oren Harman

Professor Oren Harman has written numerous acclaimed books including: The Man Who Invented the ChromosomeRebels, Mavericks and Heretics in Biology; and The Price of Altruism, which won the 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Book of the Year in Science and Technology. It was also a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and was nominated for the Pulitzer prize. Professor Harman is Senior Research Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, and teaches at the Graduate Program in Science Technology and Society at Bar Ilan University. Trained in history and biology at the Hebrew University, Oxford, and Harvard, Harman is a historian of science and has written widely for popular and professional audiences on genetics, evolution, history and philosophy of science, altruism, biography, and science and mythology. Today we discuss Professor Harman’s latest work Metamorphosis: A Natural and Human History.

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Conservation, Environment, Nature, Non Fiction

Mar 11: Less Work, More Nature. Rewild Your Garden & Ditch Your Lawnmower for Good with Danae Wolfe

What if the most impactful conservation effort you can make begins with your own backyard?

Grass Isn’t Greener: The Everyday Conservationist’s Guide to Bringing Nature to Your Yard with author Danae Wolfe

In Grass Isn’t Greener: The Everyday Conservationist’s Guide to Bringing Nature to Your Yard, photographer and conservationist Danae Wolfe shares how you can make your garden less work and more enjoyable.

Among the things we discuss today: The real benefits of ditching your lawnmower, and how to simplify your outdoor space, while making it more beautiful by inviting butterflies, birds. bees, and wildlife to visit

Danae shares how to create a simple butterfly puddle-station. Why invasive plants are more problematic than you think. And, we discuss some of the small changes that can save you time and energy, while reaping big conservation rewards.

Meet Danae Wolfe

Danae Wolfe is a macro photographer and conservation educator. Wolfe’s new book – full of color photos and quick, easy ways to support nature and rewilding – is Grass Isn’t Greener: The Everyday Conservationist’s Guide to Bringing Nature to Your Yard. In 2015 she founded Chasing Bugs and teaches others about the beauty, diversity, and importance of insects and spiders through photography, public speaking, and writing. Danae’s work has been featured in various outlets including CNN, The American Gardener magazine, and Nature Conservancy magazine. In 2022 Danae received the Garden Communicators International Emergent Communicator award.

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Conservation, Humor, Memoir, Nature, Non Fiction, Wildlife

Feb 11: Return of the Osprey with NYT Bestselling Author David Gessner

Where is home? And how do we get there?

Return of the Osprey with David Gessner

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary Edition of Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight and Wonder.

David Gessner writes with passion, humor, and a reverence for the natural world that spills into our conversation about Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight and Wonder.

We discuss David’s personal journey as he immersed himself for an entire nesting season in the lives of Cape Cod’s ospreys. Why did they almost become extinct? How did conservation efforts revive them? And what currently threatens their existence?

We learn what did David Gessner discovered about these beautiful creatures – and himself. And how, with so much research and studying, he approached writing Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight and Wonder.

Meet David Gessner

David Gessner is a professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the literary magazine, Ecotone. His writing has been featured in the New York Times Magazine, OutsideSierra, AudubonOrion, and many other publications. Awards include a Pushcart Prize and the John Burroughs Award for Best Nature Essay for his essay Learning to Surf. He’s also won the Association for Study of Literature and the Environment’s award for best book of creative writing, and the Reed Award for Best Book on the Southern Environment. In 2017 he hosted the National Geographic Explorer show, The Call of the Wild. He’s the author of 14 books that blend a love of nature, humor, memoir, and environmentalism, including the New York Times bestselling, All the Wild That RemainsReturn of the OspreySick of Nature and Leave It As It Is.

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Historical, Journalism, Memoir, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Feb 04: Money, Ambition, Succession, Power, & Dark Family Secrets

John Seabrook reveals the true story behind The Spinach King

The Spinach King – The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty with author John Seabrook

You might wonder why John Seabrook, a successful author and New Yorker staff writer “felt an obligation” to turn his investigative reporting skills towards his own family and its American legacy.

But when you hear the true story – with the fiction-like twists and betrayals behind the legacy facade – the question then becomes, how did John Seabrook manage to stay objective while writing THE SPINACH KING: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty.

We dive into that question with John, as we expose some of the greed, corruption, and dark family secrets behind The Spinach King. To John he was just Grandfather. To Japanese Americans who worked at Seabrook Farms, following internment, he was God-sent. But to most, he was Charles Franklin Seabrook, a man you did not cross. A man so powerful, he was named the Henry Ford of Agriculture.

Meet John Seabrook

John Seabrook is a prominent American journalist. He’s written for The New Yorker for more than three decades and is known for exploring the intersection of pop culture, technology, and commerce. John Seabrook has also authored several notable books, including The Song Machine (2015) and Nobrow. And has contributed to publications such as Vanity Fair, Harper’s, and The Village Voice. Today, John Seabrook joins us to discuss his 2025 family memoir, The Spinach King: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty.

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Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Self-help

Jan 21: Miracle Morning After 50 with Longevity Expert Dwayne J. Clark

A Proven Path to Joy, Vitality, and Purpose for Aging Adults

The Miracle Morning After 50 with Dwayne J. Clark

Aging isn’t about slowing down. It’s about optimizing, accomplishing, and celebrating life’s next chapter. It’s about finding renewed energy to spark a life you can get excited about.

Dwayne Clark says our perspectives on aging are broken. His mission is to overhaul the standard way of thinking of aging, and to empower people and prove that your best days are to come. And you don’t have to completely overhaul your life … just a few small changes every morning will make a significant difference. It’s not about intensity. It’s about consistency.

Dwayne Clark partnered with Hal Elrod to create a simple, easy to follow, blueprint in The Miracle Morning After 50: A Proven Path to Joy, Vitality, and Purpose for Aging Adults. And that’s what we discuss today!

Meet Dwayne J. Clark & Coauthor Hal Elrod

Dwayne J. Clark is the chairman, CEO, and founder of Aegis Living. With nearly 40 years of senior living experience, Dwayne is nationally known for redefining the industry. ​​With his wife Terese, Dwayen has traveled to over 84 countries exploring different healing modalities—from working with doctors and alternative health specialists to engaging in mind, body, and spirit practices. These discoveries inspired his Amazon bestselling book 30 Summers More, which provides longevity and health tips. He’s a writer, speaker, coach, playwright, and documentary producer.

Dwayne coauthored The Miracle Morning After 50 with Hal Elrod, the bestselling author of the original Miracle Morning movement. Hal Elrod is the bestselling author of 12 books, including The Miracle Morning, the revolutionary book that has transformed the lives of millions of people worldwide. An internationally renowned keynote speaker, he helps organizations and teams fulfill their collective potential.

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Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Science, Self-help, Women's Issues

Jan 14: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Cervical Cancer

“Cervical cancer is highly treatable and almost 100% preventable,” says Dr. Linda Eckert. So why are women still dying from it?

Enough: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer with Dr. Linda Eckert

ENOUGH: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer could save thousands of women’s live.

Dr. Linda Eckert is an expert in women’s health. Her new book integrates proven science, personal stories, and policy advocacy to inspire readers to take important medical action before it’s too late.

In this episode, we discuss what you need to know, from symptoms to treatment, and prevention. Dr, Eckert dispels conspiracies around vaccines and HPV. She shares who is disproportionately affected by cervical cancer. And how HPV can also affect men. Most of all, Dr. Eckert leaves us with the knowledge we need to stay healthy and help eliminate cervical cancer.

Meet Dr. Linda Eckert

A board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with over three decades of experience in women’s health, Dr. Linda Eckert, is a professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Global Health at the University of Washington. Her clinical practice is centered at Seattle’s Harborview Women’s Clinic. Her areas of expertise include vaginal and vulvar infections, vaccines, cervical cancer screening, and cross-cultural medicine.

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Non Fiction, Personal Development, Psychology

Jan 07: Upping Your Game When It Matters Most with Dr. Dana Sinclair

Performance psychologist helps identify your performance style for work, home, and winning in life.

Dialed In: Do Your Best When It Matters Most with performance psychologist and author Dr. Dana Sinclair

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you! And, as always, thank you for joining us.

Today, we’re not talking about new year’s resolutions – which most of us have abandoned by January 15th anyway. But we are talking about about how you can learn to step up your performance, with Dr. Dana Sinclair – her book, Dialed In: Do Your Best When It Matters Most.

Dr. Sinclair says ” … motivation is overrated”, and we’ll find out why. We discuss how to identify our individual performance style, and the importance of planning. And we bust some of the most common myths and lousy advice.

Why is daydreaming important? Why does character beat out talent? How do you develop helpful habits and routines? How do they differ from superstitious rituals? And how do you overcome the fear of failure, and stop self-sabotaging We share all of that, too.

Meet Dr. Dana Sinclair

Dialed In: Do Your Best When It Matters Most is a 2024 Globe & Mail Bestseller, and still going strong. Author, Dr. Dana Sinclair, is a registered psychologist, specializing in performance psychology for more than two decades. A founder and partner of Human Performance International, Dr. Sinclair is a former athlete, and as a psychologist, has partnered with elite athletes to help them achieve peak performance in professional football, hockey, baseball, and basketball. She is a clinical assistant professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, and also works with surgeons and high-level medical and corporate organizations.

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Non Fiction, Professional Development, Psychology, Relationships, Self-help

Dec 31: Love Without Landmines: Kelli Miller’s Proven Hacks for Happier, Healthier Relationships

More love, less stress in 2026 with Love Hacks

Love Hacks with author Kelli Miller

Whether you want to strengthen a new romance, or deepen a long-term partnership, today’s guest offers tools you can start using today to create a more connected, fulfilling love life.

Author and psychologist, Kelli Miller, takes a deep dive into the 15 most common couples’ issues in Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues.

We discuss how to course correct some of those 15 issues, including cultural differences, our beliefs and the way we were raised, deep-rooted anger, the painful grief of infidelity, and of course, effective communication.

Kelli also shares thoughts around what she terms the four cornerstones of a solid partnership And when it’s time to quit trying and move on.

Meet Kelli Miller

Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW, is a psychotherapist, best-selling author, and television/radio host. She is a three-time award-winning writer, with her most recent book, Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues, offering practical tools for navigating everyday relationship challenges. Kelli’s expertise has been quoted in various publications including Oprah Magazine, Authority Magazine, Wellness Magazine, The Georgetown Current, The Northwest Current, Now It’s Your Turn Mom!, and more. Kelli is also an advisor for Cognitive Leap’s app for ADHD as well as a spokesperson for Brillia.

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Creativity, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Writers on Writing

Dec 24: Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life

Stop making excuses. Stop procrastinating. Matthew Dicks shares how.

Podcast SOMEDAY IS TODAY with Matthew Dicks

What … you’re too busy? You have too much on your plate? You’re too tired, spread thin, and up to your elbows in alligators?

Guessing at some time that most of us have used excuses to procrastinate on what we “say” we really want to do.

Matthew Dicks says: If not today, then when?

He’s a husband, father of six, school teacher, wedding band player, corporate communications consultant, creative coach, Moth GrandSLAM champ, humorist, advice columnist, and more.

We share many of Matthew’s tips, including how to find black holes in your day and go from making excuses to making someday, today!

Meet Matthew Dicks

Matthew Dicks is a multiple-winner of the Moth GrandSLAM Story Competitions. His other books include Stories Sell – podcast. And Storyworthy – podcast. Today we discuss Someday is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life

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