Health & Wellness, Nature, Non Fiction, Psychology

DEC 02: Sue Stuart-Smith on The Restorative Power of Nature

December 2, 2020

The Well-Gardened Mind

Connecting with nature is vital to long-term physical and mental health, and in her new book, Sue Stuart-Smith delves into why and how. She combines insights from the latest neuroscience, with personal stories, and her own experiences as a mental health professional.

We discuss what Sue means by a well-gardened mind, and how to cultivate one. We explore why nature inspires many successful artists, and helps unleash creative inspiration. How our brains change when exposed to beauty. And how we can use our natural green surroundings to allow nature to nurture and heal mind, body, spirit.

The book was published just months before COVID hit our shores and — with mental health issues at an all time high in the US — today is a perfect time to revisit our  conversation.

About Sue Stuart-Smith

She’s a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author of THE WELL-GARDENED MIND: The Restorative Power of Nature — a Sunday Times Bestseller. Dr. Sue Stuart-Smith teaches at Tavistock Clinic in London, and is a consultant to the UK DocHealth Service.

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Non Fiction, Personal Development, Psychology

NOV 25: Slay Your Dragons with Compassion with Malcolm Stern

November 25, 2020

10 Ways to Thrive Even When It Feels Impossible

Many people struggle to find their life purpose. And with so much unrest and uncertainty in the world, some even say, why bother! But when things seem impossible, that’s when we need to dig deep, and Malcolm Stern shares 10 ways to thrive in his new book.

We discuss why he dabbled with hallucinogenics and what that did for him. How grief, after the suicide of his daughter, forced him to question everything and face his dragons head on. What he means by “breaking the spells that bind us” and why he says, with compassion, “the only heart worth having, is a broken heart…”

About Malcolm Stern

As a psychotherapist, Malcolm Stern has worked with individuals and groups. He teaches internationally, and is the cofounder and codirector of Alternatives at St James’ Church in London. His new book is a distillation of 30 years in the therapy room, SLAY YOUR DRAGONS WITH COMPASSION – 10 Ways to thrive even if it feels impossible. 

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Career, Non Fiction, Personal Development

NOV 18: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking with Michael Gelb

November 18, 2020

8 Secrets to Transform Fear and Supercharge Your Career

Michael Gelb says the #1 skill you can develop to strengthen your career and boost your confidence is public speaking. But it’s also our #1 fear. In fact, 74% of Americans suffer from glossophobia, the fear of public speaking.

So how can you learn to harness that fear and make it work for you? We discuss tips and tools used by professional speakers and actors – including mind mapping, The Alexander Technique, and Standease.

About Michael Gelb

Michael J. Gelb is a professional public speaker known for his life-changing presentations on creative leadership, genius thinking, and conscious business. He’s served as an executive leadership and presentation coach to major  companies such as AT&T, DuPont, and Nike. And has authored many books including the bestselling How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.  His latest is Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: 8 Secrets to Transform Fear and Supercharge Your Career.

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Inspirational, Non Fiction, Self-help

NOV 11: Overwhelmed & Over It – Christine Arylo Has Solutions

November 11, 2020

Embrace your power to stay centered & sustained in a chaotic world

If you’re feeling stretched too thin, frazzled, and overwhelmed, Christine Arylo says “It’s not your fault … the systems we live and work in are built for burnout.”

We discuss ways to get grounded. What your feminine heart can teach you. How to reclaim your power. And most importantly, how to create and sustain a structure, rhythm, and way of working and living that supports and sustains you.

About Christine Arylo

A transformational leadership advisor, Christine Arylo is the author of three bestselling books including Overwhelmed & Over It. She leads workshops globally and is the host of Feminine Power Time. Christine’s new book is Overwhelmed & Over It: Embrace Your Power to Stay Centered & Sustained in a Chaotic World.

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Biography, Journalism, Non Fiction

NOV 04: Sarah Smarsh with She Come by it Natural

November 4, 2020

Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs

“Country music…is how we talked to each other in a place where feelings aren’t discussed” writes Sarah Smarsh.

We discuss what Dolly Parton means to working class women living in poverty. Why Sarah describes Ms. Parton as the ultimate “woman of paradox.”  And why, despite her huge success as a sex symbol, creative genius, and philanthropic juggernaut, Dolly Parton does not consider herself a feminist. 

About Sarah Smarsh

Sarah Smarsh is a journalist who’s covered socioeconomic class, politics, and public policy for The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, Harper’s. She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs is Smarsh’s second book. Her first, Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, was a New York Times Bestseller, and a finalist for the National Book Award.

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Non Fiction, Social Issues

OCT 28: MIT’s Justin Reich with Failure to Disrupt

October 28, 2020

How distance learning impacts school kids

The United States continues to debate, juggle, and deal with school closures and distance learning because of COVID-19.

While learning technology can carry a high cost economically and culturally, maybe a more important question is how it impacts our kid’s education and social skills. Today Justin Reich joins us to discuss some of the issues and benefits of distance learning and technology.

About Justin Reich

Justin Reich is Mitsui Career Development Professor of Comparative Media Studies and Director of the Teaching Systems Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He hosts the podcast TeachLab. And has written about education and technology for Education Week, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Science. Justin Reich’s latest book is Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can’t Transform Education.

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Humor, Memoir, Non Fiction

Oct 21: #1 NYT Bestselling Author Teresa Rhyne with Poppy in The Wild

October 21, 2020

A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres Of Wilderness, And The Dogged Determination That Brought Her Home

Known as the pack-leader of heartfelt, funny, original dog memoirs, Teresa Rhyne is upfront about her books having happy endings—important when we’re talking about our furry ones.

Today we hear the tale of Poppy, a beautiful beagle rescued from China’s meat trade, only to vanish in 1500 acres of wilderness. Teresa shares how she became involved as a foster mom. Common mistakes that dog owners make when their dog is lost.  And how her own dog helped her through breast cancer.

About Teresa J Rhyne

Teresa Rhyne’s debut memoir The Dog Lived (and So Will I) reached #1 on the New York Times Nonfiction and E-book bestseller lists twice, #1 on the Wall Street Journal Nonfiction bestseller list, and #6 on USA Today’s Top 100 books in the USA. Poppy In The Wild: A Lost Dog, Fifteen Hundred Acres Of Wilderness, And The Dogged Determination That Brought Her Home is Teresa’s third book. When not writing bestselling memoirs, she is a fulltime estate planning attorney in California.

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Fiction, Short Stories, Writers on Writing

OCT 14: #1 NYT Bestseller James Rollins with Unrestricted Access

October 14, 2020

James Rollins discusses his first-ever anthology of short stories

Featuring stand-alone stories, some familiar characters, and a brand new novella, James Rollins latest book includes an introduction to each story, sharing a little background that highlights his writing career.

Today we explore some of James’ research into story locations and the myths surrounding them. We discuss the differences between short story and novella writing. And James tells us why — when the legendary George R R Martin invited him to write a short story featuring a warrior — he chose to develop a four legged warrior in The Pit.

About James Rollins

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than 40 languages and has sold more than 20 million books. Unrestricted Access is James Rollins’ first book of new and classic short fiction, and includes a new novella, Sun Dogs.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

OCT 07: Lisa Unger with her Latest Psychological Thriller

October 7, 2020

Lisa Unger’s fascination with sociopaths, narcissists, and what makes people tick, has served her storytelling well. She’s known as a master of suspense and psychological thrillers, and returns to Conversations Live with her latest novel.

Confessions on the 7:45

We discuss body language and why people lie. How some of things we believe about liars aren’t true. We explore what con-men look for when choosing their target — and why we often don’t recognize we’re being conned until it’s too late. Lisa also shares tips on staying productive as a busy author during these chaotic times.

About Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 18 novels, including Confessions on the 7:45 — an October 2020 Indie Next Great Read pick. Unger’s critically acclaimed books have also been voted Best of the Year or Top Picks by the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, and others.

 

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Creativity, Inspirational, Non Fiction, Self-help

SEP 30 : Find Your Purpose, Ignite Your Creativity with Diana Rowan

September 30, 2020

Creative Alchemist, Diana Rowan, says everyone has creative talents. Today we discuss how to tap into your creativity, no matter how hidden it currently is.

Free the creative within and overcome creative blocks

We explore creative practices and why it’s important to embrace mistakes. Why solitude is necessary; and how creativity and connection are synonymous. Diana also reviews the 5 steps to free your inner creative. And why fulfillment is essential to sustainable creativity.

Diana Rowan is the founder the Bright Way Guild, and author of The Bright Way: Five Steps to Freeing the Creative Within. She holds an MM in classical piano performance and a PhD in Music Theory. As a  musician and composer, Diana Rowan performs and teaches in San Francisco and around the world. Show first aired March 2020.

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