Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair

So when the going gets tough, what do the tough do? They Keep Going! Creativity expert Austin Kleon returns with his latest book to share ways to stay creative in good times and bad. Find out why this “writer who draws” describes himself as a mongrel, and how that benefits his work. Why he says life is for art, and not other way around. How burnout can strike even if you love what you do. And, the big question, can you separate the art from the man, and the man from the art? Austin Kleon’s New York Times bestselling books include Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work. Are you a stargazer? Andrew Fazekas is. So much so, that his passion for stargazing developed into a star-studded career, earning him the alias “The Night Sky Guy”. Today, he shares fun science facts, such as what causes the elusive “green flash” at sunset. And sheds light on his partnership with National Geographic to take the world’s first open-air, augmented-reality planetarium, to a global audience. Exciting times in Backyard Guide to the Night Sky. A science writer, speaker, and broadcaster Andrew Fazekas writes the StarStruck for National Geographic, and is the author of Star Trek: The Official Guide to Our Universe. Ending today’s show, if you’ve ever been cheated on, you might find it confusing when the cheater claims they are also confused. You may not even believe them–but according to sex therapist Dr. Tammy Nelson, they’re probably telling the truth. Dr. Nelson returns to Conversations Live to help unravel confusion on both sides of the cheating situation. She’ll offer tips on how to stop cheating if you’re the guilty party, and ways to move forward in When You’re the One Who Cheats: 10 Things You Need to Know. Tammy Nelson, PhD is a sex and relationship expert, international speaker, author, and licensed psychotherapist. She has 30 years of experience working with individuals and couples.

Young boys are taught to be bold and adventurous, young women are taught to be prim, proper, and demure. Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder by Reshma Saujani shows you how to end your love affair with perfection and rewire yourself for bravery. Reshma began her career as an attorney and activist., surging onto the political scene in 2010 as the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress. She is Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national non-profit organization. Next, while the squeaky wheel gets the grease, remove the quiet wheel and the bike becomes useless. Jane Finkle knows firsthand the unique challenges and obstacles introverts face. Her new book, The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide: From Landing a Job, to Surviving, Thriving, and Moving on Up, provides the tools to creating a path to a more fulfilling life. Jane has 25 years of experience as a career coach for universities and has run her own career counseling firm since 2002.

Your highest goals and deepest desires are well within reach, the trick is unlocking your self-empowerment. Today, we will demystify tapping into your hidden ability to navigate life’s hurdles, reduce stress, improve sleep, overcome addiction, get fit, and achieve career goals. Stars and political power brokers alike have used the techniques found in Subconscious Power: Use Your Inner Mind to Create the Life You’ve Always Wanted. Kimberly Friedmutter is a UCLA Health Systems Board Member, Certified Master Hypnotist, Spiritual Counselor Specialist, Medical and Dental Specialist, and board-certified on the American Board of Hypnotherapy among other organizations. She has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The Doctors, TLC, CNN, and more. “Love stories and scary stories are flip sides of the same coin. They each tap into the most basic human drives: to survive and to mate.” From high in the Wasach Mountains of Utah comes Victoria Helen Stone, formerly known as Victoria Dahl. Why the pseudonym? Find out today as she discusses her latest novel False Step. Victoria Helen Stone, formerly writing as USA Today bestselling novelist Victoria Dahl, has left the lighter side of fiction under her former guise and continues her bestselling ways with a turn to dark suspense.

Known as the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman returns to Conversations Live today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose. The new revised edition includes key spiritual laws to overcome life’s hurdles, how to live in harmony with the nine-year cycles of your life, and more. Dan is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor. He has authored 17 books, and delivers keynotes, seminars, and workshops to people from all walks of life. Next, nature writer Susan Hand Shetterly takes you on a journey from her native Maine, to Canada, Wales, Japan, the Philippines, and beyond, as she reveals the hidden world of nature’s most abundant resource. Her latest book, Seaweed Chronicles: A World at the Water’s Edge comes out in August. An award-winning author of nine books, Susan has also written for several magazines, including Down East, Yankee, and Audubon Magazine. She was a contributing writer for Maine Times for many years, writing essays and articles on wild lands and wildlife, and the people who work with them.

Today, we pollinate your mind with a buzzworthy guest … literally. Meredith May learned some of life’s most pivotal lessons about community, loyalty and survival from one of nature’s most fragile and important creatures. Raised by her fourth generation beekeeper grandfather while her mother’s mental state slowly deteriorated, Meredith found everything she needed to know about family was buzzing right there in the hive. Her new memoir is The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees. Meredith spent sixteen years at the San Francisco Chronicle, where her narrative reporting won the PEN USA Literary Award for Journalism and was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize. She is a fifth generation beekeeper. Later, frustrated by how little has changed in the 20 years since first writing about sexual assault in her groundbreaking, award-winning novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson reveals her personal history as a survivor of sexual assault and her journey to healing in her new book SHOUT. Today, she’ll discuss solutions to this ongoing problem, sharing key insights from among the thousands of women she has interviewed over the last two decades. Laurie is a New York Times bestseller whose writing spans young readers, teens, and new adults. In addition to combating censorship, she regularly speaks about the need for diversity in publishing and is a member of RAINN’s National Leadership Council.

Over 40 million adult are effected by anxiety disorders. These are not limited to only panic attacks or debilitating fears, but include milder fears and anxieties. With , Corrine Zupko EdS, LPC, shares her unique three step healing process to help you manage panic attacks and overcome anxiety once and for all. Corinne is a licensed counselor and keynote speaker who has helped thousands of individuals through her one-on-one counseling, and weekly meditation classes for corporations. She co-founded Miracle Share International, through which she hosted the largest ACIM conference in the world. Later, while the song says you can’t hurry love, you can certainly make sure you are ready when the right one comes along! Find out how to be prepared for that moment in Seeking Soulmate: Ditch the Dating Game and Find Real Connection. Author Chamin Ajjan, MS, LCSW, ACT, is a licensed clinical social worker who has been in private practice since 2004. She has blogged extensively about mindful dating, and developed a mindful dating model that she uses in her practice.

originally aired 12-10-18 “John de Graaf is one of the good guys in our world, always right there with the next important, life-affirming idea,” says The Giraffe Project’s Ann Medlock. The late 70’s gave birth to John’s award-winning documentary film career that continues to this day. Today, we’ll explore John’s career as a filmmaker and activist, and find out why he does what he does. We’ll hear about his latest film, REDEFINING PROSPERTIY, and some of the activism he’s engaged in. We’ll discover how John chooses projects, and how he navigated his own prolific creative path while still making a difference in people’s lives. “I’m an author, filmmaker, speaker, and activist with a mission to help create a happy, healthy, and sustainable quality of life for America,” reads John’s mission statement. With over 40 documentaries and countless short films to his credit, he has received over 100 regional, national, and international awards for filmmaking. 15 of his films have been broadcast nationally in primetime on PBS, and he has taught filmmaking at the University of Washington, Evergreen State College, and Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

Despite a car accident that left him in a coma for 8 days, #1 New York Times Bestseller Greg Iles, much like bandmate Stephen King, rejoined the legendary and notorious lit-rock band The Rock Bottom Remainders. Described as the William Faulkner of the Breaking Bad generation, the incident left Greg no stranger to adversity. Today we’ll discuss how his body of work has helped put his homestate of Mississippi on the map. Born in Germany in 1960, where his father ran the US Embassy Medical Clinic during the height of the Cold War, Greg spent his youth in Natchez, Mississippi, graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1983. His novels have been made into films, translated into more than twenty languages, and published in more than thirty-five countries worldwide. His latest is Cemetery Road. Later, while Glen Hamilton’s novels always begin and end in rain-soaked Seattle, Mercy River never leaves the Pacific Northwest as the central plot sees our hero race on a mysterious journey to the arid high desert of central Oregon. A Seattle native and award-winning author, Glen returns to Conversations Live to discuss the fourth installment in his popular Van Shaw series. Glen is the current President of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America. He is a winner of the Anthony, Macavity, and Strand Magazine Critics Awards. A resident of California, he frequently returns to Seattle to soak up the rain.

Almost 70% of Americans take a form of prescription drug regularly, and 450 people a day die due to the side effects caused by them. Do You Really Need That Pill: How to Avoid Side Effects, Interactions, and Other Dangers of Over-Medication discusses which popular drugs are being overprescribed, and offers tips on how to speak to your doctors about your medication regimen. Jennifer Jacobs, MD. practiced family medicine in Seattle for 25 years, was on the advisory board of the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine, and is a clinical assistant professor in epidemiology at the University of Washington. Later, Sarah Anne Shockley learned about chronic pain through personal experience. Rather than succumb to the incapacitating effects of it, she met the pain, worked with it, and overcame debilitation. You can benefit from her experiences by reading her new book, The Pain Companion: Everyday Wisdom for Living with and Moving Beyond Pain. Sarah is a columnist for the Pain News Network and contributes to online community for pain sufferers, The Mighty. She has lived with debilitating nerve pain for over a decade.

It’s easy to succumb to a bad mood, but it can be just as easy to snap out of it if you know how. Joseph Cardillo, PhD, returns to tell us how to control of our energy and reverse harmful moods before they take hold. Dr. Cardillo is an inspirational speaker and expert on energy teachings. His latest book is Body Intelligence: Harness Your Body’s Energies for Your Best Life, and he’s written numerous other bestselling books on health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology. He’s also co-written several books for Harvard Health Publications. Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT-S, specializes in infidelity and addictions in relationships and how to navigate intimacy in the digital and social media age. His latest book, Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, is a “Learn it or lose her!” primer for men caught cheating. Consider it, says Weiss, a “roadmap for rebuilding trust, restoring intimacy, and salvaging a damaged relationship.” Today he’ll addresses how men think about sex, cheating, and relationship intimacy. And we’ll share healing techniques for the partner who was cheated on.

originally aired 06-03-19 If you have ever been guilty of claiming vacations are too stressful, you will fall behind if you take time off, you end up working on your days off, anyway … it’s time for you to get away from it all. Helene Segura returns to Conversations Live with The Great Escape: A Vacation Planner for Busy People Who Want to Take a Real Break from Work and Life. Known as The Inefficiency Assassin, productivity expert Helene Segura has authored four books and been the featured organization expert in over 200 media interviews. Later, now that you’ve decided to take that vacation, there might be one more obstacle … a fear of flying. Captain Tom Bunn, LCSW, is a licensed therapist who routinely addressed flight panic during his years as an airline pilot. His methods of overcoming your anxiety and stress extend beyond the threshold of the airplane gate to everyday life. Tom is the author of Panic Free: The 10-Day Program to End Panic, Anxiety, and Claustrophobia, and is a regular contributor to Psychology Today.

“This is my story of growing up in and escaping a cult, only to find myself chasing adrenaline and drugs in hopes of finding a shred of self-worth before finally landing in a remote community where I lived in silence, quieted my demons, and found the courage to love myself.” Wholly Unraveled is activist Keele Burgin’s memoir on survival and self-discovery. Keele is an entrepreneur, activist, mother of three, author, and filmmaker. She has served in leadership roles on the boards of multiple non-profit organizations that empower women. To end our show, we invite you to join us in celebrating 12 years of Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair! Vicki’s brought you more than 1,000 guests over the years, on topics ranging from psychology and self-help, to creativity and designing the life you choose, memoir, fiction, adventure, and the latest in health and science.

The power to achieve your highest goals and deepest desires resides inside of you, the key is unlocking your self-empowerment. Today, we will demystify how to tap into your hidden ability to navigate life’s hurdles, reduce stress, improve sleep, overcome addiction, get fit, and achieve career goals. Stars and political power brokers alike have used the techniques found in Subconscious Power: Use Your Inner Mind to Create the Life You’ve Always Wanted. Kimberly Friedmutter is a UCLA Health Systems Board Member, Certified Master Hypnotist, Spiritual Counselor Specialist, Medical and Dental Specialist, and board-certified on the American Board of Hypnotherapy among other organizations. She has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The Doctors, TLC, CNN, and more. “Love stories and scary stories are flip sides of the same coin. They each tap into the most basic human drives: to survive and to mate.” From high in the Wasach Mountains of Utah comes Victoria Helen Stone, formerly known as Victoria Dahl. Why the pseudonym? Find out today as she discusses her latest novel False Step. Victoria Helen Stone, formerly writing as USA Today bestselling novelist Victoria Dahl, has left the lighter side of fiction under her former guise and continues her bestselling ways with a turn to dark suspense.

You might be the type to have a few close friends, or you might be a social butterfly with acquaintances coming out of the woodwork, but in either case, you have to admit friendship is full of complexities. Poet and novelist Rosalind Brackenbury takes a deep dive into friendship in her new book Without Her. Today, we’ll explore why friendships last or don’t, why it gets more difficult to find lasting friendships with age, and how to spot red flags of a toxic relationship before it’s too late. Award-winning writer Rosalind is a former writer-in-residence at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and has also served as poet laureate of Key West, teaching poetry workshops

If life is knocking at your door, demanding more satisfaction while maintaining inner authenticity, a dose of wisdom from some of our great literary icons can bring clarity to aging gracefully. Dr. Joseph Cardillo returns to Conversations Live to help you dive into midlife with peace of mind rather than a crisis. Dr. Cardillo is the author of Body Intelligence, a book designed to help you swing your moods into constant positive energy, as he discussed last time he joined us. He is an inspirational speaker and has written several national bestsellers in the fields of health, mind-body spirit, and psychology.

If you’ve ever wanted firsthand access to some of the extraordianary thinkers of our time, look no further than I’m Right and You’re an Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean it Up. Author and communications expert James Hoggan shares their insights on how our will is manipulated through tribalism and misinformation, and how open-mindedness, empathy, and dialogue are crucial to our strength and unity. Over the past two decades, James has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for ethics and integrity in public relations, a field in which he is regarded as one of Canada’s leading professionals. He is president of the PR firm Hoggan & Associates and chair of the David Suzuki Foundation board.

Imagine a winter’s day alone in the mountain’s, the silence runs deep, the wind chills your bones, yet you feel the warmth of joy from this solitary moment. Award-winning poet and author Karen Auvinen has spent decades living alone at 8500 feet, and shares her experiences in her new memoir, Rough Beauty: 40 Seasons of Mountain Living. Karen is a mountain woman, life-long westerner, and accomplished writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Lithub, Real Simple, and Westword, as well as numerous literary journals. Later, psychologist and former Buddhist monk Donald Altman returns to Conversations Live to share how love, kindness, and compassion help overcome fear and negativity. Hear his original interview on mindful living here. Donald is a psychotherapist, award-winning writer, former Buddhist monk, and teacher. He served as adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and is an adjunct faculty member of the Interpersonal Neurobiology program at Portland State University.

Julie Berry joins us to discuss Lovely War and what it would like to be a young girl in love with a soldier during the Great War. Julie holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College in writing for children and young adults. In the decade since she published her first novel, she has won numerous awards for her young adult fiction. Next, if you are ever confused by conflicting information regarding diet, exercise, and nutrition, Detox Professor David Getoff joins us to clear up some common misconceptions. David Getoff is a board certified clinical nutritionist- internationally recognized expert in nutrition, diet, the use of nutritional supplements and detoxification. He has lectured at dozens of scientific medical, nutritional, dental and agricultural conferences across the United States and is the author of Abundant Health in a Toxic World.

The most productive people in the world realize the importance of recharging and rebooting. If you are guilty of claiming any of the usual tropes … vacations are too stressful, you will fall behind if you take time off, you end up working on your days off, anyway … it’s time for you to get away from it all. Helene Segura returns to Conversations Live with The Great Escape: A Vacation Planner for Busy People Who Want to Take a Real Break from Work and Life. Known as The Inefficiency Assassin, productivity expert Helene Segura has authored four books and been the featured organization expert in over 200 media interviews. Later, now that you’ve decided to take that vacation, there might be one more obstacle … a fear of flying. Captain Tom Bunn, LCSW, is a licensed therapist who spent many years addressing flight panic as an airline pilot. His methods of overcoming your anxiety and stress extend beyond the threshold of the airplane gate to everyday life. Tom is the author of Panic Free: The 10-Day Program to End Panic, Anxiety, and Claustrophobia, and is a regular contributor to Psychology Today.

Depression. Lower life expectancy. Misogyny. Suicide. These are just the worst of the societal consequences of toxic masculinity, failing both men and women. The Man They Wanted Me to Be doubles as a memoir and cultural analysis, told from the point of view of Jared Yates Sexton, who was raised with strict expectations that are outdated in our current cultural climate. Jared is a contributing political writer at Salon, and his political writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New Republic, and elsewhere. He has authored three collections of fiction and a crime novel, and is an associate professor of creative writing at Georgia Southern University. Next, capture the flavors and modern cooking techniques of Appalachia and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Smoke, Roots, Mountain, Harvest. Author Lauren McDuffie joins us to share some tales from Appalachian country and her favorite recipes, including Drunken Short Ribs and Baked Pork Chops with Cran-Apple Moonshine compote. Lauren admits she is not a chef, but a passionate and curious lover of food, and writes the award-wining food blog Harvest and Honey. Later, Jodi Helmer has a love of tea that developed as a young child. While her palate and tastes have changed, her passion for tea has remained. In Growing Your Own Tea Garden, she shares tips for turning your garden (or windowsill) into a mini tea plantation.. Jodi’s writing has appeared in publications like Sierra, Entrepreneur, NPR, National Geographic Traveler, AARP, and more, and she has authored six books. She lives on a small homestead in rural North Carolina where she grows flowers and vegetables, keeps bees and raises chickens, goats and one very spoiled donkey.

Today’s first guest will help you find success through embracing failure. Karen Rinaldi joins us to discuss how resilience is born from discovering the freedom of sucking at something. It’s Great to Suck at Something: The Unexpected Joy of Wiping Out and What It Can Teach Us About Patience, Resilience, and the Stuff that Really Matters reveals the joy in the pursuit rather than the goal. Karen has worked in publishing for over two decades, and is the founder of the imprint Harper Wave at HarperCollins. She has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah.com, Time, LitHub and other publications. Next, Laura Schroff was a busy sales executive when she befriended an 11 year old homeless boy, both of them embarking on a life-changing journey of hope, kindness, adventure, and love. An Invisible Thread is her memoir, showing how the power of fate can help you find your way. Laura is a former advertising executive who helped launch three of the most successful start-ups in Time Inc. history— In Style, Teen People, and People Style Watch. She has been a keynote speaker at over 300 schools, libraries, charities and bookstores..

Returning guest Robyn Carr has met with tremendous success writing multiple New York Times bestselling novels for her Sullivan’s Crossing series, but today she comes to us with a standalone book, The View from Alameda Island. Today, she’ll reveal the rationale behind her decision to depart from a sure thing and take a break from her series. Robyn is a prolific author of romance and women’s novels, repeatedly making appearances on the New York Times bestselling list, often in the number one spot, and having sold tens of millions of books. Her novels have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries. Later, A.F. Brady has worked in mental healthcare for many years, a career which has undoubtedly influenced her first two novels, The Blind and Once A Liar. She joins us today to talk about the latter, in which a high-powered sociopath meets his reckoning when he’s accused his mistress’ brutal murder. A.F. Brady is a New York State licensed mental health counselor/psychotherapist, and a proud native New Yorker who has turned a lifelong passion for writing into her first two novels.

Today’s show kicks off with a buzz-worthy guest … literally. Meredith May learned some of life’s most pivotal lessons about community, loyalty and survival from one of nature’s most fragile and important creatures. Raised by her fourth generation beekeeper grandfather while her mother’s mental state slowly deteriorated, Meredith’s found everything she needed to know about family was buzzing right there in the hive. Her new memoir is The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees. Meredith spent sixteen years at the San Francisco Chronicle, where her narrative reporting won the PEN USA Literary Award for Journalism and was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize. She is a fifth generation beekeeper. Later, frustrated by how little has changed in the 20 years since first writing about sexual assault in her groundbreaking, award-winning novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson reveals her personal history as a survivor of sexual assault and her journey to healing in her new book SHOUT. Today, she’ll discuss solutions to this ongoing problem, sharing key insights from among the thousands of women she has interviewed over the last two decades. Laurie’s is a New York Times bestseller whose writing spans young readers, teens, and new adults. In addition to combating censorship, she regularly speaks about the need for diversity in publishing and is a member of RAINN’s National Leadership Council.

Even the strongest relationships encounter shaky ground … the key is keeping those tremblors from becoming destructive and devastating relationship earthquakes. Loving Through Your Differences: Building Strong Relationships From Separate Realities explores how your unique emotional reality influences your interactions with the world. Today, Dr. James Creighton offers tips on how to keep combustible situations in check through expressing your feelings while minimizing blame and accusation, and how the five minute rule can improve your relationships. Dr. Creighton is a psychologist and relationship consultant who has worked with couples and conducted communications training for more than 50 years. Later, if you’ve ever frustrated yourself by acting (or reacting) in a way that defies your better judgement, take solace in the fact that we are all hardwired in infancy to act the way we do. Dr. Ronald J. Frederick joins us today to reveal how to rewire our brains to achieve healthy, secure relationships. Plus, you’ll learn your attachment style … secure, avoidant, anxious, or fearful-avoidant. Dr. Frederick has provided innovative and experiential therapy to individuals and couples for over twenty years and actively teaches and trains psychotherapists. His new book is Loving Like You Mean It: Use the Power of Emotional Mindfulness to Transform Your Relationships. Finally, to eliminate negative behaviors, you have to find the root and extract it. “It is our minds that drive the eating bus,” writes nutritionist Carly Pollack in her new book, Feed Your Soul: Nutritional Wisdom to Lose Weight Permanently and Live Fulfilled. We’ll discuss how to change your story and find the courage to look deep and heal from the inside. Carly is the founder of Nutritional Wisdom, a thriving private practice based in Austin, Texas. She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist with a master’s degree in holistic nutrition.

What do the tough do, when the going gets tough? They Keep Going, which just happens to be the name of Austin Kleon‘s new book where he shares 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad. We’ll find out why this “writer who draws” describes himself as a mongrel, and how that benefits his work. Why he says life is for art, and not other way around. And, the big question that many have asked over the past few months in light of scandalous celebrity behavior, can you separate the art from the man, and the man from the art? Austin Kleon’s New York Times bestselling books include Steal Like an Artist, and Show Your Work. Want a fun, educational, and free activity to enjoy with your kids? Try star gazing. Andrew Fazekas, aka the “Night Sky Guy”, turned his life-long passion into his career. Today, he shares fun science facts such as what causes the elusive “green flash” at sunset. He also discusses his partnership with National Geographic in taking the world’s first open air augmented-reality planetarium to a global audience. Explore the cosmos with him in Backyard Guide to the Night Sky. A science writer, speaker, and broadcaster Andrew Fazekas writes the StarStruck for National Geographic, and is the author of Star Trek: The Official Guide to Our Universe. Sex therapist Dr. Tammy Nelson returns to Conversations Live to help unravel confusion and make sense of unfaithful behavior. She’ll offer tips on how to stop cheating, and share advice for those still involved in an affair with When You’re the One Who Cheats: 10 Things You Need to Know. Tammy Nelson, PhD is a sex and relationship expert, an international speaker, an author and a licensed psychotherapist with almost thirty years of experience working with individuals and couples.

Described as the William Faulkener of the Breaking Bad generation, #1 New York Times Bestseller Greg Isles is no stranger to adversity in a career spanning nearly three decades as an author. Following a car accident that left him in a coma for 8 days, Greg, much like bandmate Stephen King, rejoined the legendary and notorious lit-rock band The Rock Bottom Remainders. Today we’ll discuss how his body of work has helped put his homestate of Mississippi on the map. Born in Germany in 1960, where his father ran the US Embassy Medical Clinic during the height of the Cold War, Greg spent his youth in Natchez, Mississippi, graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1983. His novels have been made into films, translated into more than twenty languages, and published in more than thirty-five countries worldwide. His latest is Cemetery Road. Later, while Glen Hamilton’s novels always begin and end in rain-soaked Seattle, Mercy River stays in the Pacific Northwest as the central plot sees our hero race on a mysterious quest to the arid high desert of central Oregon. A Seattle native and award-winning author, Glen returns to Conversations Live to discuss the fourth installment in his popular Van Shaw series. Glen is the current President of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America. He is a winner of the Anthony, Macavity, and Strand Magazine Critics Awards. A resident of California, he frequently returns to Seattle to soak up the rain.

Today, Vicki chats with three authors who weave historical twists with fictional tales to create suspenseful page turners! First, returning guest Steve Berry is noted for his mastery of blending fiction and history into a cocktail of intrigue and deception. The Malta Exchange, The latest in his best-selling Cotton Malone series, finds the titular character caught in a web of Vatican intrigue that involves the Knights of Malta and lost documents that could change history. Steve’s novels have been translated into 40 languages with 20,000,000 copies in 51 countries. Next, Kris Frieswick’s 20 years of writing experience didn’t prepare her for the journey as she embarked on her first novel. The Ghost Manuscript is Indiana Jones with a female lead — we see our heroine on a quest to find King Arthur’s tomb that takes readers from Wales, to Boston and eventually to Cape Cod. Kris is a journalist, editor, humorist, teacher and author whose work has appeared in national magazines, newspapers and books for more than 20 years. Finally, Seattle based author Elise Hooper gives readers a peek into the life of photographer Dorothea Lange … the woman who captured the real America … in Learning to See. Elise has taught high school English and history and enjoys highlighting characters in her books who are real woman that have been often overlooked in history books.

Returning guest Debra Gwartney, like many women, struggles with the challenges presented when trying to find that authentic connection with where your roots are … or where you are trying to lay them down. In I am a Stranger Here Myself, Debra weaves frontier history into a personal exploration of womanhood, place, and a sense of belonging. Debra is a Pacific University Professor, journalist, and author who grew up in Idaho and now tries to find a sense of permanence on on the upper McKenzie River on the west slope of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. Listen to her original appearance on Conversations Live here. National Geographic’s Carrie Miller was initially motivated to learn to dive by great white sharks … and her passion and discoveries have led her to raise awareness of the critical changes we need to make to ensure the future health of our oceans. You’ll come away from National Geographic’s 100 Dives of a Lifetime knowing why she calls the ocean the heartbeat of our planet. Carrie has been covering travel for National Geographic since 1998. She is a two-time Lowell Thomas Award winner and acclaimed contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Many of returning guest Pam Jenoff’s historical novels have been inspired in part by her work in international affairs at the Pentagon and for the State Department. Her latest is set during and right after World War II, exploring the story of a group of young women who risked their lives in the defiance of Nazi oppression. The Lost Girls of Paris is an essential and timeless story of survival, loyalty, and the power of sisterhood. Pam is a New York Times bestselling author of specializing in historical fiction. Monty Python Speaks: The Complete Oral History of Monty Python is a no-holds-barred look at the Pythons’ legendary sketches and films, told through interviews with Monty Python’s founding members, actors, producers, and collaborators. Author David Morgan reveals the story behind Spamalot: The Musical, the group’s reaction to their resoundingly successful 2014 reunion, and a touching look at the group without Terry Jones after his 2015 diagnosis of dementia. David is a senior producer for CBSNews.com, and for CBS’ Emmy Award–winning newsmagazine Sunday Morning. He has written about film production and media issues for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Newsday, The Hollywood Reporter.

Today’s show is all about finding peace and prosperity, personally and profesionally. Imagine your life if you had the ability to achieve maximum focus without losing flexibility, got more of the right things done, and added to the ultimate goal of bringing more peace into the world? With his Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen, author Marc Lesser dishes up the tools you’ll need for optimum accomplishment without the stress that comes with it. Marc founded and was CEO of 3 companies, is author of 4 books, and has an MBA degree from New York University. He was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the western world. Later, The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga provides an antidote to the hypermaterialism that poisons our lives. “When prosperity is equated with material wealth attained for its own sake, the word prosperity loses its deep meaning,” writes author Ellen Grace O’Brian. For those who seek the fulfillment of both their souls and their material desires, this book is a wellspring of inspiration and intelligent guidance. Ellen is the director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose, CA, who has been teaching Kriya Yoga philosophy and practice nationally and internationally for over three decades. She is also a radio host, and award-winning poet who weaves poetry into her teachings on spiritual matters, pointing to the mystical experience beyond words and thought.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but remove the quiet wheel and the bike becomes useless. Jane Finkle knows firsthand the unique challenges and obstacles introverts face. Her new book, The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide: From Landing a Job, to Surviving, Thriving, and Moving on Up, provides the tools you need to break free from what is holding you back, creating a path to a more fulfilling life. Jane has 25 years of experience as a career coach for universities and has run her own career counseling firm since 2002.

Stephen Hawking portended that Artificial Intelligence is likely to be the end of humankind. In Crucible, returning guest James Rollins probes the question: If humans are to co-exist with A.I., what do we need to do to ensure our survival? His answer lies in a much more complex question – what does it mean to have a soul? James is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages, with more than 20 million copies sold. Check out his last CLV appearance here! We'll begin today with another returning guest, Karen Kingsbury, who is launching a new series of books for children, co-written with her son Tyler Russell. We'll discover what prompted them to work together … and how that went. And what makes this series different to many kids' books currently on the shelves. Karen is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, with many of her novels under development as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated to debut fall 2019. And joining us from the UK, USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Morgan. She's known for writing hot, happy, contemporary romance and women's fiction, and has won the prestigious RITA award three times. Her new story begins with a husband who wants a divorce and a solo trip to Paris where she meets someone … but not the someone you might think. One Summer in Paris comes out in April — join us today for an exclusive sneak peek with Sarah!

Can holding a grudge actually change your life for the better? In How to Hold a Grudge: From Resentment to Contentment – The Power of Grudges to Transform Your Life, author Sophie Hannah demonstrates how grudges can work in your favor, protect and inspire you, and even make you more forgiving. Sophie is an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in forty-nine languages and fifty-one territories. How to Hold a Grudge is her first foray into self-help. Next, each year, millions of Americans seek alternative forms of treatment for chronic health problems. Yet even those who have experienced relief often can't explain it. In The Magic Feather Effect: The Science of Alternative Medicine and the Surprising Power of Belief, journalist Melanie Warner brings a critical eye and open mind in her quest to understand some of the world's most popular alternative health treatments, the people who seek them, and the reasons so many of them feel cured. Melanie is a freelance journalist who writes about science and health. Previously, she was a business reporter for The New York Times, a senior writer at Fortune magazine, and a blogger for CBSnews.com.

While very rare, suicide in children is the 10th leading cause of death. What every parent must know w/ Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore Coping with the suicide of a loved one is arguably the hardest thing we face. You search for signs you missed, cope with changes in your own life as a result, and try to come to terms with a question you may never have the answer to. Author A.W. Barnes and his older brother Mike were saddled with the challenge of being gay while raised in a large, conservative midwest family, until tragedy struck, as Mike took his own life. The Dark Eclipse: Reflections on Suicide and Absence is A.W. ‘s collection of personal essays, written to reflect on and share his experiences in what he hopes is a cathartic path to reconciliation by helping others recover from similar loss. A.W. Barnes has a Ph.D. in English Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing. His nonfiction has appeared in numerous publications, and he's the academic author of Post-Closet Masculinities in Early Modern England.

Even with technology (and often because of it) aiding us, most of us are drowning in an endless sea of paperwork, bills, texts, and e-mails, all tedious tasks that become overwhelming if we don't stay on top of them. With Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More, author Elizabeth Emens offers simple ways to reduce the time and effort we spend on these mundane daily details of life. Elizabeth is a legal scholar and an Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law at Columbia University. Lastly, Psychotherapist Dr. Bryan Robinson says “If you are a workaholic, overachiever, or perfectionist, you have permission to stop working and #CHILL�. His new book, #CHILL: Turn Off Your Job and Turn On Your Life, explores how to get out of the trap of working non-stop and achieve a healthy work/life balance. Dr. Robinson is a psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has authored thirty nonfiction books and written for over one-hundred professional journals and magazines.

Robyn Carr began writing novels as a young mother of two, ignoring harsh criticism from a peer suggesting she find another line of work and persevering to become an eleven time New York Times bestselling author. “There's a need for positive drama,� she says, “Not just (a) goody-two-shoes, everything-is-beautiful kind of story, but a kind of story where characters serve as positive role models for women who read the books.� Her new book is the latest in her Sullivan's Crossing series, The Best of Us. Robyn has written over 40 novels, has received a Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, and has a scripted drama with Netflix coming soon.

An old friend returns to Conversations Live today as Vicki is joined by Patti Dobrowolski, who we last heard from six years ago upon the release of her first book, Drawing Solutions: How Visual Goal Setting Will Change Your Life. Today, she'll discuss how you can use visual goal setting to get a jump start on your goals for the new year in a fun and easy way! To help you get started, here is your free goal-setting template map and a free downloadable icon guide! Patti is a TEDx speaker, critically acclaimed comic performer, writer and business consultant, and is a member of the National Speaker's Association known for her innovativevisual keynotes. She is a multiple business award winner and past Broadway performer. Her latest book is 9 Tips to Up Your Creative Genius.

DEC 10: Filmmaker John de Graaf “John de Graaf is one of the good guys in our world, always right there with the next important, life-affirming idea,� says The Giraffe Project's Ann Medlock. Beginning in the late 70's, John embarked on an award-winning documentary film career that continues to this day. Today, we'll delve deep into his process, discovering how he chooses projects, lessons he has learned along the way, and how he has navigated his own creative path while still making a difference in people's lives. Find out what the biggest turning points in his career were, which films impacted him the most, and the best – and worst – career advice he has ever been given. “I'm an author, filmmaker, speaker, and activist with a mission to help create a happy, healthy, and sustainable quality of life for America,� reads John's mission statement. With over 40 documentaries and countless shorter films to his credit, he has received over 100 regional, national, and international awards for filmmaking. 15 of his films have been broadcast nationally in primetime on PBS, and he has taught filmmaking at the University of Washington, Evergreen State College, and Boston University's Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

Sara Ruhl is a distinguished playwright and author, Tony award nominee, and two time Pulitzer Prize finalist. In 2012, exuberant and opinionated Max Ritvo took her playwriting class at Yale University, proving himself a highly gifted poet. Max was also in remission from pediatric cancer. Over the course of four years, Sara watched Max blossom as his illness returned and his health declined, exchanging a series of letters with him that changed the way she looked at life, death, and the unexpected connections one makes along the way. She shares these urgency and humor filled exchanges in Letters From Max: A Book of Friendship. Sara's plays have won numerous awards, and have been produced all over the country and internationally, including on Broadway.

She's a writer's-writer. A reader's-writer. And with self-effacing humor, and ruthless honesty, Anne Lamott makes us think about what most of us don't like to think about. She's known for writing and speaking about subjects that begin with Big Capital Letters. Today we'll share her thoughts on Hate, Jealousy, Love, Hope, and preserving one's Sanity. A New York Times bestselling author and recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Anne Lamott has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. She's taught at UC Davis, as well as at writing conferences across the country. Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Freida Mock, made a documentary on her called Bird by Bird with Annie. Anne Lamott's latest book of essays is Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. We'll end today's show chatting with the host of Ciao Italia, the longest-running cooking show on television, Mary Ann Esposito. Find out the secret to the show's success, her thoughts regarding pairing food and wine, and a few of her all time favorites for those who like to put an Italian spin on Thanksgiving. Her latest book, Ciao Italia: My Lifelong Food Adventures in Italy reads as both a cookbook and a love-letter to Italy. Mary Ann's 12 books have helped chefs and foodies understand authentic Italian ingredients and dishes. She created and has hosted Ciao Italia on PBS since 1989.

There are many misconceptions about why a woman cheats on her partner. In The New Monogamy, sex therapist Tammy Nelson, PhD, argues that freedom to have a discreet affair can be empowering, healing, and ultimately improve a marriage. Tammy is a sex and relationship expert, an international speaker, an author and a licensed psychotherapist with almost thirty years of experience working with individuals and couples. Also, if you're one of the many who feel the growing gap between the haves and have nots, it can leaving you feeling left behind, and less-than. Leadership consultants Jennifer Cohen and Gina Laroche say you are enough, you have enough, and there is enough to go around. We'll explore solutions to help you ditch scarcity thinking in The 7 Laws of Enough: Cultivating a Life of Sustainable Abundance. Jennifer is cofounder of Seven Stones Leadership Group and a speaker and author, known for coaching world-class leaders from institutions including Harvard Business School and Simmons. Gina is also a cofounder of Seven Stones Leadership Group and a leading organizational consultant, executive coach, keynote speaker, author and artist.

New York Times bestseller Marie Lu joins Vicki today to discuss her new book WILDCARD: It's Time for a Rematch. She'll share how her experiences in the gaming industry aid her in creating rich and magnificent worlds that appeal to a wide spectrum of readers. Marie emigrated to the US from China at 5, and to learn English her mother would make her take new words she learned every week and write a story with them. She is now a bestselling author with a film deal for her novel, The Young Elites. Next, throughout her career, Lisa Unger has toed the fine line between literary novels and commercial thrillers, all the while staying on the New York Times bestseller lists and earning critical acclaim. Her latest book, Under My Skin, was named one of the most anticipated thrillers of the fall. Lisa is a New York Times and international bestselling, award-winning author of sixteen novels. Finally, award-winning author Lou Berney captures the precariousness of femininity in November Road. His latest novel is a thriller, historical fiction, a love story, a work of feminism — above all it's a compelling piece of storytelling. Lou Berney is the author of three previous novels, and his short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and the Pushcart Prize anthology.