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According to studies, people tend to be happier, healthier, and more successful when they have a balance of the “Big Five” personality traits:  Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. But can we change our personalities to suit? Olga Khazan is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic covering science, health, and psychology. In her book ME, BUT BETTER: The Science and Promise of Personality Change, she reveals the science behind lasting personality change, and how anyone, at any age, can seize the reigns of their destiny.

This year's National Assessment of Educational Progress shows only 31% of New York's fourth graders are reading at grade level.  It's a dismal number mirrored in many states—and one that drops significantly for students from economically disadvantaged communities. In response, New York City's Public Schools and other districts have increasingly embraced "The science of reading” instruction model—in part, a throwback to earlier decades of teaching. Our guest is Dr. Katie Pace Miles co-founder of CUNY Reading Corps and The NYC nonprofit The Reading Institute providing teacher training and resources.

Founded by Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman, The Flag Award For Teaching Excellence recognizes and celebrates extraordinary New York City public school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. Our guests are 2025 Flag Award Winners Alhassan Susso, a Social Studies teacher from International Community High School in The Bronx, and Emily Chandler a special education teacher at District 75 school, PS 371K Lillian Rashkis in Brooklyn. For more on this year's winners and applications for 2026, visit flagaward.org

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Guns are the leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 1 through 17. Dr. Katherine Hoops talks more about the dangers and what you can do to promote gun safety, even if you don't own a firearm. For more, visit The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

For Pride Month, we feature A PLACE FOR US, by medical doctor and author Patricia Grayhall. Her book is LGBTQ+ romance set against the backdrop of the 1980s and early 2000s, which draws on her own quest to find a country where she could legally reside with her British partner – long before the U.S. extended immigration rights to gay couples. For more, visit patriciagrayhall.com.

Is your smart phone a useful tool, or a colossal waste of time? What does long term freedom from your phone really look like—and is it sustainable for people with… you know… jobs? Based on his experience of a year's sabbatical from his smart phone, Richard Simon is author of UNPLUG: How to Break Up with Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life. Richard Simon directs the website strategy at Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C., and is a former reporter and webmaster at Baltimore's The Daily Record.

As Lincoln Center's Summer In the City Series continues through August 7, we preview free public events and performances with David Dorfman Dance, from June 25-27, including the ever-popular Silent Disco. For more, visit DavidDorfmanDance.org and lincolncenter.org.

One in four adults has some form of arthritis, and osteoporosis-related fractures affect one in two women over fifty. Yet very few resources bring together the full picture of how to prevent and treat these conditions through everyday choices. Our guest is Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University School of Medicine, specializing in sports medicine and co-author of THE COMPLETE BONE AND JOINT HEALTH PLAN: Help Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis and Arthritis.

We're in an election season, where the word debate most likely will make you think about a politician taking cheap shots. But in the classic sense, speech and debate are about articulating ideas and analyzing complex issues with clarity, confidence and purpose. In an educational setting, it's meeting students where they are, and guiding them on how speak up on issues that matter to them. Our guest is KM DiColandrea, a.k.a. DiCo, Co-Founder/Executive Director of Brooklyn Debate League, which provides affordable access to coaching and competitions for students speech and debate students. For more, visit brooklyndebateleague.org.

The New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud exists to educate everyone about different types of insurance fraud—from medical fraud to workers comp fraud—and it's enormous cost to every New Yorker.  This year, our conversation with Frank Stzuk centers on rear-end accident scams. For more, visit FRAUDNY.com.

City Year New York is a trailblazing, youth-powered organization, now expanding their partnership with SUNY—State University of New York—to prepare more young people to enter an increasingly competitive job market for bachelor's degree holders. Our guest is Executive Director Annie Kessler for details on the expanded partnership, and how they are pivoting following federal budget cuts as an Americorps program. For more, visit www.cityyear.org/new-york/.

2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of the National Dance Institute. Founded in NYC by the late, renowned dancer and teacher Jacques d'Amboise on the belief that every child should have access to learning in and through the arts, NDI impacts the lives of thousands of children in New York City and worldwide. Our guests are Executive Director Jermaine Jones and Artistic Director Kay Gayner. For more, including details on their Father's Day weekend performances open to all, visit nationaldance.org.

It's a staggering statistic: One in three adults and nearly half of families with children experienced food insecurity in 2023. While food pantries are one of the main resources for those in need, those food pantries are serviced by food banks. Our guest is Greg Silverman, CEO of the non-profit West Side Campaign Against Hunger, on how food banks are combining resources to respond to challenges such as increased demand and inflation.  For more, visit WSCAH.org.

Whether you believe the U.S. is on it's way to becoming great again, or things are going terribly wrong, most of us would agree, we're having trouble talking to the other side. Yet, our guest has strategies to do just that:  Gabriella Timmis is Director of Communications at Braver Angels, a non-partisan organization with a mission of bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. For more, visit braverangels.org.

A Fair Shake for Youth is the city's longest-running therapy dog program in public schools in Brooklyn, The Bronx and Manhattan.  For their 15th anniversary, founder Audrey Hendler talks about how the idea took root with a prison rehabilitation program, and how NYC dog owners can volunteer for kids alongside their own pets. For more, visit afairshakeforyouth.org.

If you're watching the news, you know thousands of workers in the federal government are being laid off.  But some are leaving their jobs voluntarily—stepping down from responsibilities, often in protest of specific policies and new rules. Whatever your job or role, what is the ethical red line that might cause you to leave? What is the balance between financial needs and moral considerations? Our guest Dr. Anne Klaysen is Leader Emerita at The New York Society for Ethical Culture. For more, visit ethical.nyc.

What do NYC's best after school programs offer and how can they help tap into a child's potential?  Our guest is Sheila Duke, Chief Executive Officer of Roads to Success, a nonprofit that empowers future leaders by helping young people discover their potential and pursue their dreams.  Founded in 2001, Roads to Success serves over 7,000 youth and young adults annually. For more, visit roadstosuccess.org.

Our guest is Sarah March, Program Director of Samaritan Daytop Village's Young Mother's Program, where women who are in recovery have the opportunity to keep their children with them—a program model proven to improve recovery outcomes. For over 60 years, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers, serving over 33,000 people annually at more than 60 facilities. For more, visit samaritanvillage.org.

Ballet Hispanico, the nation's largest Latine/x/Hispanic dance organization and recognized by the Ford Foundation as one of America's Cultural Treasures, presents Gustavo Ramírez Sansano's masterwork CARMEN.maquia at New York City Center from May 29-June 1, 2025. Our guest is Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro.  For tickets and more, visit ballethispanico.org and nycitycenter.org.

May 4-10, 2025 is Survive Stroke Week: An annual event to educate Americans about the symptoms of stroke and the lifesaving treatment options available. Stroke is the fifth most common cause of death in America and the leading cause of adult disability. In 2025, The focus is on the Hispanic Community in the U.S., where stroke ranks as the fourth leading cause of death for Hispanic men and the third for Hispanic women. Our guest is Dr. Adrienne Moraff, a board-certified neurosurgeon in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and is Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Dartmouth. For more, visit getaheadofstroke.org, founded the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS). 

Now in it's 10th Year, The Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival hosted by the New York City mental health and advocacy non-profit Community Access, features short films that explore timely mental health themes, including anxiety, bipolar disorder and more. Our guests are Jordyn Rosenthal, the Director of Advocacy at Community Access, and Simone Thomas-Rowe, whose film “Before My Eyes” is one of ten being screened at the event on May 17 at Village East Cinema.  For more, visit mentalhealthfilmfest.nyc and communityaccess.org.

Every year The Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk, benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, by raising awareness of suicide and depression, raising money for research and education, and providing assistance and a safe outlet for survivors of suicide. Our guest is Mike Lamma, EVP and COO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, for details on the New York City Walk on June 21. For more, visit afsp.org.

North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest and longest-running no-kill rescue and adoption organization, kicks off their Global Pet Adoptathon on May 1. More than 2000 shelter partners and rescue groups participate in the annual event, which helped adopt over 40,000 pets last year. Our guest is Mike Spiotta, Associate Director of Operations for NSALA. For more, including details on financial incentives for adopting in May, visit animalleague.org.

Our guest is Ann Toback, CEO of the Workers Circle, a leading Jewish organizing involved in democracy protection. Ann and members of the The Workers Circle have recently returned from Selma, Alabama for the 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday.  We'll also talk about the organization's historic past and ongoing fight for voting rights. For more, visit circle.org.   

April is Autism Awareness Month. And while we rightly celebrate diversity, we often shy away from discussing the unique challenges faced by families and those raising autistic children. Our guest is Julie Mower, executive director of The Phoenix Center, an accredited, not-for-profit school serving students with autism, multiple disabilities and intellectual disabilities in Nutley, NJ. For more, visit thephoenixcenternj.org.

Since April 1, the New York City Department of Sanitation has begun enforcing strict rules on separating food waste and yard waste from trash—issuing fines of up to $300 to property owners who don't comply with the law. Our guest is Samantha Maldonado, a senior reporter for THE CITY, with an overview of composting guidelines for landlords and residents from her article How to Compost in NYC: A Guide. Samantha Maldonado is a senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development at thecity.nyc.

We discuss congestion pricing, young activists and the impact of anti-climate mandates with John Opperman, Executive Director of Earth Day Initiative. Their Annual Earth Day Festival is a free, public event during a pivotal time for climate justice. For more about the event in Union Square on April 17, visit earthdayinitiative.org.

As immigration and LGBTQ+ rights take center stage in national debates, The People's Theater, Latinx Playwrights Circle, and Boundless Theatre Company present the world premiere of "Domino Effect." Onstage at A.R.T. / New York Theaters through April 20, the play explores the triumphs, sacrifices, and resilience of immigrant and queer communities. Our guests are playwright Marco Antonio Rodriguez and cast member Shadi Ghaheri. For more about the play and tickets visit thepeoplestheater.org.

As spring arrives in NYC, the annual Greenest Block in Brooklyn Program is on! It's Brooklyn's friendliest competition, hosted by the Brooklyn Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The contest is free and open to all residential blocks, commercial blocks, and community gardens in Brooklyn. Our guest is Community Program Manger Jibreel Cooper. For more, visit bbg.org/community/greenestblock.

With the New York City Mayoral Primary on June 24, we're joined by Tim Hunter, representing the NYC Campaign Finance Board. New York City's landmark Campaign Finance Program provides public funds to candidates for city office via their matching funds program, empowering small donors and candidates of all backgrounds. For more, visit nyccfb.info.

Amid the stresses of daily life and the uncertainty of the world around us, having a peaceful place to reflect and unwind can make all the difference. For participants in Project Renewal's horticultural therapy program, that sanctuary is the rooftop garden at one of the nonprofit's supportive housing sites, Bedford Green House. At heart of this healing space in the Bronx, is our guest Jonelle Green, Project Renewal's horticultural therapist. For more, visit projectrenewal.org.

Whether you are a novice when it comes to money or a confident investor, financial advisor Frank Buchholz offers a proven blueprint for sustainable wealth building through small, consistent actions in THE INVESTOR'S GOLDEN PLAYBOOK: 12 Rules for Achieving Real Wealth. Frank J. Buchholz is a retired senior vice president and financial advisor with over 40 years of experience. During his career at Merrill Lynch, he earned prestigious accolades like the Directors Circle and Circle of Excellence.

2025 year marks the 10th anniversary of MOVE | NYC |, a leading-edge arts and social justice organization, with a mission to cultivate greater diversity and equity in the dance field and beyond.  Our guests are MOVE | NYC | Co-Founders Chanel DaSilva and Nigel Campbell. For more, including their 10th anniversary performance calendar, visit movenyc.nyc.

COUNTING BACKWARDS is a legal thriller by Jacqueline Friedland following the timelines of two women—one in 1927 and the other in the present day—inspired by the true stories of medical abuse, and women's struggles for their civil and reproductive rights. Jacqueline Friedland is the author of four other titles, including HE GETS THAT FROM ME and TROUBLE THE WATER. She graduated Magna cum Laude from both the University of Pennsylvania and NYU Law School before going on to briefly pursue commercial litigation.

While the national conversation around immigrants and immigrant rights is center stage, First Friends of New Jersey and New York has been working locally for decades with a network of volunteers to provide dignity, support and practical assistance to immigrants impacted by the immigration enforcement system. Our guest is Katy Sastry, Executive Director of First Friends of New Jersey & New York For more, visit firstfriendsnjny.org.

The UK's most celebrated Hip-Hop dance theater company, Boy Blue, presents the U.S. premiere of Cycles at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater, March 27, 28 & 29 at 7:30 pm. Now in the 24th year of their professional partnership, our guests are Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors of Boy Blue, Choreographer Kenrick Sandy, MBE, and Composer Michael Asante, MBE. For more, visit boyblue.co.uk and lincolncenter.org.

Located in the heart of Manhattan's historic Seaport District, the South Street Seaport Museum preserves and interprets the history of New York as a great port city. The exhibition Maritime City, in the Museum's newly restored and renovated historic 1868 A.A. Thomson & Co. building at 213 Water Street, highlights how New York City, as we know it today, arose from the sea. Our guest is Museum President and CEO, Captain Jonathan Boulware.  For more, visit southstreetseaportmuseum.org.

Girl Scout Cookie season has arrived!  This beloved annual event is serious business for thousands of young women as they hone real world entrepreneurial skills. Our guests are Karen Lundgard, Interim CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater New York, and 12-year old Girl Scout Ashleigh F., the top cookie seller in Brooklyn for the 2024 season. For more, visit girlscoutsnyc.org.

The Bloomingdale School of Music, a non-profit music education institution on the Upper West Side, celebrates it's 60th Anniversary!  Executive Director Erika Atkins leads this very special community of 800 musicians of all ages from their historical brownstone on West 108th street.  For more, visit bsmny.org.

Parenting in the first year can be a mix of joy, exhaustion, and confusion—but it doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Vered Benhorin is a licensed creative arts therapist, music therapist, psychotherapist, and mom of three. Her book is WHAT DO I DO WITH MY BABY ALL DAY?!:  Simple Ways to Have the Best First Year Together.

Few things are harder than recovery from substance use disorder.  It can be a challenging, lonely and confusing time. Fortunately, a growing workforce of Peer Recovery Specialists—people drawing on their own lived experiences— provide crucial, non-clinical support to help others navigate their recovery journeys.  Our guest is Breyonna Kelton, Peer Recovery Program Director with New Jersey Prevention Network, providing training courses to meet certification requirements, and support peer professionals.  For more, visit NJPN.org.

Each of us has a different idea of paradise—Is it on earth? Where does the concept come from?  And how do we find peace in our own chaotic world?  Renowned writer and thinker Pico Iyer brings together a lifetime of exploration for THE HALF KNOWN LIFE: IN SEARCH OF PARADISE. Pico Iyer is the acclaimed and bestselling author of more than a dozen books, which have been translated into twenty-three languages. His essays appear regularly in Time, The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, The Financial Times, and more than 250 other periodicals worldwide.

Over the past 36 years, The Jazz Foundation of America has grown from a local New York City effort to serve a few dozen musicians, to a national non-profit, assisting nearly 7,000 musicians nationwide.  Our guests are Joe Petrucelli, Executive Director of The Jazz Foundation of America, and reknowned photographer Richard Corman. JFA is proud to present A Wonderful World Exhibition: Jazz and Blues Musician Portraits by Richard Corman, an extraordinary photographic exhibition that celebrates iconic figures of jazz and blues. Proceeds from sales of photos from this exclusive showcase, on display at the Wild Geese Gallery on the Upper West Side through February 2025, will directly benefit JFA's Musicians Emergency Fund, providing critical assistance to artists in need. For more, visit jazzfoundation.org.

Breakups are difficult in so many ways, but also an opportunity to reset and bounce back better! Our guest is John Kim, also known as “The Angry Therapist” and a bestselling author who's latest book is BREAK UP ON PURPOSE: A Catalyst for Growth…where he identifies 8 distinct types of breakups with tailored approaches to healing for each unique situation. John Kim is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles and the author of books including “It's Not Me, It's You” and “Single On Purpose.”

Queens Centers for Progress hosts the 29th annual EVENING OF FINE FOOD on February 25, 2025, in support of adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our guest is Terri Ross, Executive Director of Queens Centers for Progress, an organization committed to providing person-centered services and supports to children and adults who have developmental disabilities.  For more, including tickets, visit queenscp.org.

Suddenly it seems the coldest places on earth—places where the fewest people live and that most of us will never see--are the center of international tensions over natural resources, trading routes and sovereignty. Our guest is Neil Shubin, renowned scientist and explorer, with his new book ENDS OF THE EARTH, a cinematic adventure to The North and South Poles to uncover the secrets locked in the ice, and to expand what we know about the planet and our future on it.

As avian influenza (bird flu) continues to spread among bird populations, it's become apparent that cats are highly susceptible to the virus, and that their human families can be at risk, too. Our guest is Dr. Andrea Y. Tu, a general practice veterinarian and Chief of Veterinary Behavior Medicine at Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group, for facts about the virus and best practices to keep your pets and family safe. For more, visit heartofchelsea.com.

Our guest is Randy Susan Meyers, author of The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone, literary fiction with a timeline that follows the Freedom Summer in 1964 to the early days of the Pandemic in 2020. Her book explores the fraught bond between mothers and daughters, and the sacrifices we make for our own agendas. Randy Susan Meyers is the internationally bestselling author of five novels; for more visit randysusanmeyers.com.

Making Gay History (MGH) is a nonprofit addressing the absence of substantive, in-depth LGBTQ+-inclusive American history from the public discourse and the classroom. For it's 14th season, the acclaimed MGH podcast debuts a 12-episode series delving into the often-overlooked experiences of LGBTQ+ people during the rise of the Nazi regime, World War II, and the Holocaust, shining a spotlight on a vital but under-discussed chapter of history. Our guest is Eric Marcus, author, founder and host of Making Gay History. For more, visit MakingGayHistory.org

Quote: “We are so married, so committed to the illusion that the way life works is for it all to be hard. In truth, it is meant to flow and feel like ease. It is meant to come to you as synchronicity. It is meant to show up as a blessing. Everything you desire is already here, hidden in plain sight. It is already done.”  Cathy Heller's book is ABUNDANT EVER AFTER: Tools for Creating a Life of Prosperity and Ease  Cathy Heller is a transformational coach, spiritual guide, meditation teacher, and inspirational speaker dedicated to helping individuals find ease, joy, and fulfillment in their lives.

The NEW Pride Agenda recently celebrated five years of advocacy and impact for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. In five years, NPA has made significant strides in advancing economic, health, and social justice for marginalized LGBTQIA+ communities. Following the 2024 election and looking forward to a new presidential administration, we speak with Interim Director Kei Williams about NPA's strategy to advance meaningful change. For more, visit newprideagenda.org.