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Have you ever wanted to turn the tables on your boss and “manage your manager”? Today, Vicki speaks with one of the authors of The Drama Free Office, written to help you deal with an overbearing ‘office saboteur’! Also today, learn how teaching your children resilience will help them be prepared for life in a challenging world.

Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg wrote Letting Go with Love and Confidence to help parents “let go”- in other words, raising children in such a way that they are prepared to navigate a difficult world on their own, while still recognizing the importance of a healthy family relationship. The book offers tips and strategies that apply the principles of resilience to guide children towards independence, and answers the tough questions that challenge every parents, such as when is it appropriate for a child to go to the mall alone, get a cell phone, or (gasp!) go on a first date! Dr. Ginsburg is a pediatrician who specializes in Adolescent Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He also serves as Director of Health Services at Covenant House Pennsylvania, which serves the homeless youth of Philadelphia.

Along with Jim Warner, Kaley Klemp is the co-author of The Drama-Free Office: A Guide to Healthy Collaboration with Your Team, Coworkers, and Boss. The pair have spent over 15 years researching and conducting intense, candid sessions with over 3,000 senior leaders in executive teams, government, partnerships, family businesses, elite sports teams and other environments. They have determined that almost all drama-laden personas can be distilled down to the antics of four sabotaging roles. Diagnosing and directly managing these four roles is the gateway out of drama. Klemp earned degrees in International Relations and Sociology, with a focus on Organizational Behavior, from Stanford University.

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Out of prison and nowhere to go? Author and attorney Laura Caldwell’s Life After Innocence Project examines the difficulty of re-inventing a life once a debt to society is paid. Also today, VIcki chats with returning guest Jen Marlowe regarding A Life in the Balance: Examining the Troy Davis Case, about a condemned man with a compelling case of innocence.

Laura Caldwell began the Life After Innocence Project at Loyola University Chicago School Of Law where she is a Distinguished Scholar in Residence and professor. The goal of the project is to recognize that a person’s legal issues continue once they have served their sentence, and it is oftentimes a struggle to get their criminal records expunged from the public records. In her spare time, Caldwell has managed to churn out another exciting new read featuring plucky heroine attorney Izzy McNeil. Claim of Innocence is a tautly paced thriller inspired by Caldwell’s chilling first-hand look at our legal system.

Returning guest Jen Marlowe, an author, activist, and filmmaker, has recently been working closely with Amnesty International on the four part video series A Life in the Balance: Examining the Troy Davis Case. While the execution date for Troy Davis is expected to be announced this month, there is compelling evidence for clemency, based on serious questions regarding the original investigation, how and why the case against him has unraveled, and how difficult it is to prove innocence within the confines of the legal system’s appeal process. The series, which can be seen in it’s entirety on AIUSA’s Youtube playlist, is intended to not only educate, but to inspire concerned individuals to take action to prevent the execution of a man who may be innocent.

Finally, Vicki welcomes the founder of the wildly popular design site DesignSponge.com, Grace Bonney. DesignSponge.com demonstrates step-by-step tips to give your living space that “it” factor, regardless of your style, usable space, or budget! Bonney’s site began as a tiny blog, and has grown into a worldwide phenomenon getting over 1 million hits a month by people looking for easy, chic ways to personalize their homes!

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Happy Labor Day!! Enjoy this encore presentation of the fascinating story of how Kurt Timmermeister turned a four acre patch of overgrowth and rusted out cars into a 13 acre farm producing fine cheeses right in our own backyard!

Born in Seattle, Kurt Timmermeister travelled internationally and earned a degree in International Affairs from the American College in Paris. While there, he decided to abandon government work as he realized his true passion was in food service. After serving in virtually every capacity in the restaurant industry, he branched out on his own at the tender age of 24, opening his own cafe. For 18 years he expanded his cafe empire, all the while studying small scale farming techniques. Purchasing a small acreage on Vashon Island, Kurt established Kurtwood Farms, one of the finest cheese processing and dairy farms in Washington. Learn more with Kurt’s book, Growing a Farmer, How I Learned to Live Off the Land.

Today Vicki also chats with business coach and mentor John Schuster, author of The Power of Your Past.

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Nelson Demille calls the latest book by Andrew Gross, Eyes Wide Open, a “rare and menacing psychological thriller that works on every level.” But first, if you ever find yourself a victim of addiction and procrastination, Kristin Moeller can help you stop waiting around and let your life begin!

Bestselling author, spokesperson, personal coach, national speaker and popular radio show host, Kristen Moeller, received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and has been a personal development professional for over 20 years. Kristen first discovered her passion for personal development after recovering from her own serious eating disorder, and addiction to drugs and alcohol as a young adult, and then subsequent realization of the transference of addiction to the ‘Self-Help’ world, as told in her bestselling book, Waiting for Jack; Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie.

The Associated Press calls Eyes Wide Open “intense and compelling”, while Westchester Magazine says it is “… a terrifying descent into madness and obsession. The ending still haunts me.” Andrew Gross draws on the death of his nephew and his own teenage encounter with Charles Manson to craft a richly personal, yet utterly terrifiyng tale of two brothers that should be read in a well lit room in a place you feel the safe and secure. The conclusion is like a nightmare come to life. Gross has appeared on the NYT bestseller list both on his own, and at the top spot five times as a co-author with James Patterson. Eyes Wide Open is widely considered his best, most chilling work to date.

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Learn how to set yourself apart from the crowd in this “whatever” world! Later, have you ever felt isolated or alone? It’s a much more common social anxiety than you think. Dr. Jeff Brantley’s body of work can help you discover new possibilites and escape the perception that you are alone.

No one is born, fabulous. But every person has it within themselves to acheive that exclusive membership into the domain of the fabulous! In her new book The Essentials of Fabulous, Ellen Lubin-Sherman show how passion, enthusiasm, attitude, manners, and your own personal style can catapult you into the realms of the admired! In addition to executive coaching and running her own consulting company, LAUNCH, Lubin-Sherman is a highly sought after speaker for many companies and groups!

Even with technology producing things like cell phones and social networking, providing instant contact with anyone worldwide, there is substantial evidence that people feel more isolated and alone than ever before. Research has shown that people who overcome the painful vulnerabilities associated with loneliness live healthier, happier, and longer lives. In True Belonging, Dr. Jeff Brantley offers a resource for liberation from being disconnected, and ways to discover new joys to bring you back into the fold. Dr. Brantley is a bestselling author of Calming Your Anxious Mind and the Five Good Minutes series. He is a consulting associate in the Duke Department of Psychiatry and founder and director of the stress reduction program emanating from Duke University’s Center for Integrative Medicine.

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Put an end to Sunday night anxiety and start your work week off right with the advice of Ford R. Myers. Later, Dr. Debra Mandel returns to help us continue our month-long 4th anniversary celebration!

If you have ever spent a Sunday night thinking about the dreaded return to work the next morning, Ford R. Myers can help. He has developed a six step guide to help overcome the Sunday night anxiety that many of us experience and have a fresh approach to each Monday morning! Ford R. Myers is the president of Career Potential LLC, helping people take charge of their careers. In his work as a career coach and consultant, he has done presentations at numerous universities, and has appeared on many radio and tv programs. He is the author of Get the Job You Want Even When No One’s Hiring.

Are you chronically unhappy at work? Do you ever experience trouble with co-workers, or find your boss impossible to deal with? Your not alone, and returning guest Dr. Debra Mandel can help! In her book Your Boss is Not Your Mother, Dr. Debra helps you analyze exactly what makes your workplace experiences so miserable, and how you can transcend the drama and develop a sense of humor about workplace stress! Dr. Debra is a reknowned psychologist and relationship expert who has appeared on many tv shows, and hosted her own popular weekly radio program in Los Angeles.

Today Vicki also welcomes technology expert Michael Surkan. Michael will talk about how he used podcasting and social media on his path to re-invention after being let go from Microsoft in 2009.

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Tosca Reno returns to Conversations Live this week to share the secrets that allow her, at age 52, to compete against 20 years olds in body competitions! Hear about her new TV show on Oprah’s network! And Alexandra Paul of Baywatch fame speaks out on population control, environmental issues, and child-free living!

Alexandra Paul is the star of over 75 films and TV shows including sun drenched mega-hit Baywatch. She has put her fame to use supporting environmental and social causes with enough impact to receive commendations from the United Nations; as well as being arrested for protesting at a Nuclear site in Nevada and trying to save the electric car! One of her biggest causes is population control, and she made the difficult personal decision to remain child-free to help ease pressure on our over-burdened planet. Paul co-wrote and produced the award winning educational film on overpopulation Jam Packed.

As middle age crept up on her, Tosca Reno found herself in the same boat as millions of Americans… overweight and unhappy about it. Deciding to do something about, she developed the Eat Clean Diet, and the results inspired her to help change millions of lives around the world! In her 12th book, The Eat Clean Diet Stripped, Peel Off Those Last 10 Pounds, Reno reveals a 28 day “Strip” that will trick your body and show you how to use the same secrets as top fitness models. She debunks myths, helps you conquer cravings, and shares tricks of the trade to help you look lighter right away! She also shares over 50 brand new Eat Clean recipes. In addition to being a NYT bestseller, Reno is also a motivational speaker, wellness consultant, and media personality with a new TV show on Oprah’s network.

Dr. Marilyn Howell has written a heart-wrenching account of losing her 32-year-old daughter to colon cancer. Unlike other medical dramas, however, Honor Thy Daughter has a highly controversial element: Dr. Howell turned to psychedelic therapy to ease her daughter’s final days. Boston-based Howell was trained as a biologist and earned a doctorate in education from Harvard University. She taught high school for three decades, during which time she created and developed the first Mind/Body course in public education.

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Gripping, no-holds barred thrillers are the specialty of Vicki’s first guest today as she welcomes New York Times bestseller list mainstay Steve Berry! Vicki also welcomes back noted speaker and author Daphne Rose Kingma. Join us as we celebrate the 4th anniversary of Conversations Live!

Go on a slalom course of thrills piloted by genre master Steve Berry in his latest book, The Jefferson Key. Berry is a proven master of combining suspense with solid historical fact. Returning hero Cotton Malone is back in the United States for his first domestic adventure and his most daunting challenge yet, as he tries to unravel a mystery dating back to the days of the Founding Fathers, and finds a shocking clause in the Constitution that makes a notorious group of modern day pirates known as the Commonwealth unstoppable! Berry is a fixture on the NYT bestseller list and has over 12 million books printed in 40 languages and spanning 51 countries. He has a writer’s workshop coming to Seattle at MOHAI on August 6th.

Also joining Vicki today is returning guest Daphne Rose Kingma, to discuss her new book, The Ten Things to Do When Your Life Falls Apart. Kingma is an undisputed expert on matters of the heart, having authored over a dozen books on love and relationships. She is a repeat guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and brings her healing across the United States and Europe as a highly regarded keynote speaker and conductor of workshops.

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“She was called ‘that awful woman’ by her neighbors” and slandered in the national press as “an atheist mother”. Emmy winning producer/filmmaker Jay Rosenstein brings us the story of Vashti McCollum as she stood strong against society for what she believed in. Later, McKay Jenkins shares his story to help create awareness of potential chemical exposure in surprising places.

In 1945, a young mother of three from a small central Illinois town filed a lawsuit that would forever change the relationship between public education and religion in America. Vashti McCollum received up to 200 letters a day, many of which were death threats not only against her but her husband and children as well. She and her husband were nearly outlawed by the State of Illinois from working at the state university again. She was branded a communist and many of her friends turned their backs on her. In the face of such overwhelming adversity, McCollum stood by her convictions and her lawsuit led to a decision that still resonates over 60 years later. Jay Rosenstein brings her story to the small screen in The Lord is Not on Trial Here Today, airing on PBS throughout the summer. The film has won two Emmy awards, a Peabody award, and recently won a Silver Gavel award from the American Bar Association. The film recounts McCollum’s “three years of headlines, headaches, and hatred,” and shows the extraordinary courage an otherwise ordinary woman in altering our country’s history.

“Jenkins has written a ‘Silent Spring‘ for the human body” according to New York Times bestselling author Richard Preston. With the revealing What’s Gotten Into Us: Staying Healthy in a Toxic World, McKay Jenkins shares a frightening story that could happen to anyone at any time. After discovering an orange sized tumor in his abdomen, he was startled by some of the examples of ways he could have been exposed to dangerous chemicals that may have caused it. Just a few of these were weed killers, glue, detergent, and plastic meat wrap. His new book examines some of these everyday items that can make you sick, and shows how to make wiser, healthier choices. Jenkins has been penning books for over 25 years, and is currently a professor of English and Director of Journalism at the University of Delaware.

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Enjoy an encore broadcast of Conversations Live, and have a great Independence Day!!

How do you define adventure? Today’s guest says: “…it’s pushed me to pedal into the homelands of South Africa when everyone around me told me I’d lose my life …” It pushed his cultural limits in small Indian villages. Challenged him to visit Bosnia while troops and tanks were the norm. And prodded him to spend three months in Cuba when his government said he couldn’t.

Writer, photographer, and speaker Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine and a traveling commentator for KUOW public radio. His articles on adventure travel earned him gold and bronze Lowell Thomas Awards from the American Society of Travel Writers. Weir speaks at schools, universities and events around the country, advocating the bicycle as the world’s best travel vehicle–as well as a vehicle for social and environmental change. He’s the author of Spokesongs and his latest book, Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist. More about Willie Weir.

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