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In The West we share a common world history: A perspective that puts The West and Christianity at the center of the world. But, what if the center of the world is the Islamic heartland? How does world history look from there? And how does the history from there, influence how all of us got here? We mark the month of Ramadan with our guest Tamim Ansary, author of DESTINY DISRUPTED: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes. First published in 2009, Tamim Ansary's 2025 edition traces the story of Islam from the time of Mohammed in the 6th Century, through the fall of the Ottoman empire to the events of 9/11 and beyond. Tamim Ansary is an Afghan American, world traveler, lecturer, writer and editor. His other books include THE INVENTION OF YESTERDAY, ROAD TRIPS, and GAMES WITHOUT RULES:  THE OFTEN INTERRUPTED HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN.

For over 40 years, the New York City-based organization CaringKind has been dedicated to supporting everyone impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Our guest President and CEO Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh announces the launch of 100 Women of Impact: A national movement for women to lend their voice, influence and expertise to advancing the conversation about brain health, equity and quality of life. 

According to AARP estimates, 26% of NYC residents are caregivers to a spouse, family member, or other loved one. Ahead of National Caregivers Day on February 20, our guest is Aisha Picott, social work care manager at Elderplan/HomeFirst, part of the not-for-profit MJHS Health System to talk about self-care for caregivers. MJHS has many free resources on their website, and bite-sized videos on their YouTube Page, covering on a wide range of questions and topics for caregivers.

Since 1977, Encore Community Services has served many thousands of older adults in Midtown and Manhattan's West Side with food, fellowship and social connection. Now, Encore is at a critical moment as demand continues to rise and current public funding for their services isn't enough. My guest is Marcus Jackson, Manager of Advocacy, Community, and Government Relations with Encore Community Services.

How do the things that happen to us and the choices we make when we are young impact us later in life? How do our parents, our friendships, and our careers define our lives and contribute to where we end up? My guest is author Andrea Simon with “DID YOU HAVE THE LIFE YOU WANTED”, an insightful tour of over 50 years of American cultural history as seen through the eyes of a Jewish feminist in New York City. Andrea Simon is the author of five award-winning books, including the historical novel ESFIR IS ALIVE and the memoir BASHERT: A Granddaughter's Holocaust Quest.

The NYC Bird Alliance, (formerly NYC Audubon), is a non-profit organization protecting urban birds and strengthening biodiversity across New York City. Director of Advocacy and Engagement Saman Mahmood talks about bird counts, volunteer opportunities and free programs, and details some of the best sites for bird watching across the five boroughs.

It's estimated that up to 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point during their lifetimes -- and winter conditions are a frequent trigger. My guest is Dr. Brian McHugh, a Long Island based board-certified neurosurgeon, for a conversation about common issues related to snow shoveling and falling on ice, proper shoveling technique, and avoiding injuries.

While transgender athletes only account for 1% of all sports participants, hundreds of bills banning trans athletes have been introduced by politicians in recent years, and the US Supreme Court is preparing to hear two cases on the issue. Ellie Roscher, writer, former coach, and co-author of the forthcoming book, FAIR GAME: Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports addresses the myths and fears behind trans athletes' exclusion from organized sports with the latest data and research, and with interviews from 20 trans athletes.

From NY Times bestselling author Dr. Ian Smith, THE LAST 15: SAY GOODBYE TO THOSE MOST STUBBORN POUNDS breaks down how metabolism adapts, why quick fixes backfire, and offers a seven week strategy to finally overcome the hardest weight to lose. Dr. Ian Smith is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books, SHRED: THE REVOLUTIONARY DIET, and SUPER SHRED: The Big Results Diet, BLAST THE SUGAR OUT, and numerous other books. Dr. Smith was appointed by President Obama to the prestigious President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. He is currently the medical contributor and co-host of the nationally syndicated television show The Rachael Ray Show.

The affordable housing crisis in New York City is about more than the price of rent. How did we get here, what is happening in housing right now, and what are ways that nonprofit developers are trying to close the affordable housing gap? My guest is Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of Fifth Avenue Committee, a Brooklyn-based development nonprofit, serving thousands of low- and moderate-income New Yorkers each year. Michelle De La Uz brings more than 25 years of public and community service experience and has held prominent civic leadership roles, including service on the New York City Planning Commission and appointment to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Community Advisory Group.

Across the country, Catholic schools are facing serious enrollment challenges—and many have closed—including seven New York City schools last year. How are surviving Catholic schools evolving, and even thriving, despite trends? Our guest is Livia Angiolillo, president of The Mary Louis Academy in Queens, a 90-year-old Catholic School that has strengthened enrollment, in part, by expanding access to all-girls education and appealing to families from a wide range of backgrounds.

Nearly 80 years after its founding, the internationally acclaimed Georgian National Ballet “Sukhishvili" made it's Carnegie Hall debut in January with a one-night-only performance at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. With a return planned to our area this fall, our guest is the event's producer, Salome Liluashvili-Parks, to discuss the landmark event and the Georgian Diaspora in NYC.

New Year, new you? According to our guest lasting change requires not only intention, but a sustained practice of making conscious choices that have impact. Jon Rosemberg is a is UPenn-trained positive psychologist and author of the book, A GUIDE TO THRIVING: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning. Through his personal story, Jon Rosemberg has learned firsthand that growth begins when we courageously reclaim our agency. Jon is co-founder of Anther, a firm dedicated to transforming uncertainty into possibility. He previously led high-impact initiatives at Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Indigo, and GoBolt. Jon holds an MBA from Cornell University and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

With both affordability top of mind, and the elderly population growing faster than any other age group—including in New York—our guest is Gayle Horwitz, the new CEO of JASA, The City's go-to non profit supporting older New Yorkers. We discuss how affordability and housing demand is impacting older residents and what retirement looks like for low-to-moderate income New Yorkers. Founded over 50 years ago, JASA is NYC's largest nonprofit manager of senior affordable housing, and a leading expert and innovator in aging services.  

All at once, it seems as if AI and Music are intertwined: It's being used for everything from restoring old recordings, to generating entire songs from prompts. For musicians, is AI a tool or a rival? Emmy Award-winning composer and producer, Lucas Cantor Santiago was commissioned by one of the largest technology companies in the world, to collaborate with artificial intelligence in an experiment to finish Franz Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. The project led him to question his long-standing assumptions about music, technology, and how both evolved together through history. Lucas Cantor Santiago's book is UNFINISHED: The Role of the Artist in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

How does music connect to people even with dementia, and allow them to connect with memories that they might not otherwise recall? Our guest is Dr. Kendra Ray, a renowned expert and the dementia program director of the not-for-profit MJHS Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. MJHS is the last not-for-profit Jewish nursing home, providing short-term, subacute rehabilitation and long-term nursing care. For more, visit mjhs.org. 

By 2035, the number in the people in the US over the age of 65 will outnumber the people under 18 for the first time history. As our population is rapidly aging, one of the greatest challenges of aging is being socially isolated. In HEALTHY TO 100: How Strong Social Ties Lead to Long Lives, longevity expert Ken Stern reveals the key components that globally contribute to longer, more enriching lives. Ken Stern is a nationally recognized expert on longevity and aging. He is the founder of the Longevity Project and hosts the popular “Century Lives” podcast from the Stanford Center on Longevity.

NYC Pride, the organization most notable for producing The New York City Pride March in June, has a new executive director. Im Lynde talks about the significance of Pride for him, what's in store for 2026, and how they're responding to the significant challenges facing DEI projects and the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Christmas has arrived early at Catholic Charities in Paterson, NJ, with two recent ribbon-cuttings:  A new location for Murray House, the longest running group home in the state for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a new state-of-the-art drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, Straight and Narrow.  Our guest is Scott Milliken, Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson. 

Perhaps 40% of the everyone in the world has headaches, but they're remarkably under-studied and misunderstood. Tom Zeller Jr. is author of THE HEADACHE: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction and a Search for Relief, a deeply reported journey into the world of headaches and an exploration of what it means to live with severe, unexplained, and recurrent head pain. Tom Zeller Jr. is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Undark, a nonprofit digital magazine exploring the intersection of science and society. Previously, he was a reporter and columnist at the New York Times, an editor at large for National Geographic and a Knight Science Journalism fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Joining us to celebrate Hanukkah is writer and former New Yorker, Jean Meltzer - also known as - “The Queen of Jewish Romance.”, for her new book THE EIGHT HEARTBREAKS OF HANUKKAH. Jean is also announcing a groundbreaking first-ever 3-day event called Jewish Joy Con, celebrating the best in Jewish pop-culture, storytelling, and creativity, scheduled for next March in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Prior to becoming an author, JEAN MELTZER studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch and built a successful career in television, earning multiple accolades including a National Daytime Emmy Award. She is the recipient of several writing honors, a Booklist Top Ten Romances for 2023, a starred review in Kirkus, a starred review in Booklist, and LibraryReads.

Ready or not, AI has arrived. Rather than avoid it, how can we embrace it, and use it to our advantage? For the next few minutes, we talk about AI in the classroom, and how can it can help teachers amplify — not replace — human coaching. Carolyne Quintana is the new CEO of Teaching Matters and former Deputy Chancellor of Teaching and Learning at the NYC Department of Education. Teaching Matters works with schools to enrich professional learning for educators that is evidence-based, culturally responsive, and proven to increase teacher effectiveness.

Dr. Devorah Heitner's book, GROWING UP IN PUBLIC: Coming of Age in a Digital World, is designed to help caregivers, educators, and kids navigate growing up in a world where nearly every moment of their lives can be shared and compared. Dr. Devorah Heitner's writing on kids and technology has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Fast Company and others. She earned a PhD in Media/Technology and Society from Northwestern University.

New York State has one of the largest populations of adults over 60, and the older adult population is growing faster than any other group.  AARP-NY State Director Beth Finkel returns to discuss accessing benefits, caregivers, and while it's a year-round topic, during the holidays it's especially important to talk about scams and fraud prevention for seniors.

The Fresh Air Fund is a New York City institution, a 150-year old nonprofit known for summer adventures for urban kids with their signature Volunteer Host Family programs and free sleep-away camps. Among their year-round programs is the College Connections Program for high schoolers which hosts workshops to help students with the college application process. Bentley Gordon is the Director of the College Connections Program.

EPIC Players, New York's leading neuro-inclusive theater company, led by Founder and Executive Artistic Director Aubrie Therrien, presents the world premiere of the original play “BUM BUM (or, this farce has Autism)”, by award winning playwright Dave Osmundsen, Dec 4 - 14 at Here Arts Center in Manhattan. Epic Players is a nonprofit, neuro-diverse theater company dedicated to creating professional performing arts opportunities and supportive social communities in the arts for Neurodivergent and Disabled artists.

While healthcare is top of mind for so many, we speak with a New York State organization focused on children's health. Kayleigh Zaloga is the president and CEO of the New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health, a statewide association of children's service providers. CCBH represents 50 provider agencies with 21,000 employees who serve nearly 200,000 children and families. We discuss the fight for access to behavioral health services, and the reality of mental health services for children in New York State.

iHeartRadio NY is once again teaming up with WhyHunger for Hungerthon. Hungerthon is an annual radio tradition, organized by Why Hunger to educate and raise funds to confront the root causes of hunger in America, and defend the right to nutritious food for all. You can take action, donate or bid on exclusive iHeartRadio auction items at Hungerthon.org now through Dec 9th. WhyHunger works with community-based organizations across the country that are tackling the systemic injustice at the root of hunger through creative, local solutions. Our guest is Denny Marsh, Executive Director of Neighbors Together, a Brooklyn based soup kitchen, social service and community advocacy center that Why Hunger has been proud to work alongside for over a decade. 

THE PERIOD BRAIN:  THE NEW SCIENCE OF WHY WE PMS AND HOW TO FIX IT, by research psychologist, professor, leading advocate for women's health Dr. Sarah E. Hill, answers questions about the hormonal changes that regulate women's bodies, and what's true and not true about PMS.    

Dance/NYC is a service organization for the dance industry promoting the appreciation, practice, and knowledge of dance in the NYC metropolitan area. Interim Executive Director Sara Roer details their new fund providing direct support to freelance dancers.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about hospice and palliative care and celebrating the professionals and volunteers who provide this essential care. Our guest is Dr. Linda Valentino, Chief Nursing Officer at NY City-based Calvary Hospital. Calvary is the country's only hospital dedicated to providing hospice and palliative care to adult patients with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illness.

The Street Vendor Project, a program of the Urban Justice Center, advocates for New York City's 20,000+ street vendors, championing the rights of vendors as small businesses to earn a living and contribute to the culture and life of New York City. SVP's Managing Director Mohamed Attia talks about the organization's initiative to improve air-quality for both vendors and residents, via The Street Vendor Electrification Project, with a goal of converting carts from gas-powered generators to rechargeable batteries. 

Every year, thousands of women are sold into child marraiges. SONITA: My Fight Against Tyranny and My Escape to Freedom, by acclaimed rapper and activist Sonita, is a young woman's first-hand account of growing up in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, being sold into marriage twice, and eventually escaping to the U.S. to graduate from Bard College and become a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England.

Our guest is Maria Mora of the Nassau County SPCA for a preview of the Humane Hero Awards on Thursday, November 6:  A reception to raise funds and recognize supporters of Nassau County's SPCA's effort to rescue, care for, and place abused animals. To find out more and support their work, visit nassaucountyspca.org.

Metro Plus Health is a not-for-profit insurance plan based in NYC, serving over 700,000 New Yorkers at over 34,000 sites across the five boroughs. Roger Milliner, Chief Growth Officer at MetroPlus Health, talks about their role in the health insurance landscape, options during the Medicare open enrollment period and explains upcoming Medicare health care changes.

Just days away from election day on November 4, we're joined by Tim Hunter, representing the NYC Campaign Finance Board, and the landmark NYC campaign finance program that provides public funds to candidates for city office.

The fastest-growing brain disease in the world is almost entirely preventable. So why are cases of Parkinson's Disease skyrocketing?  In THE PARKINSON'S PLAN, leading neurologists Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Michael Okun explore how chemicals — including those banned in dozens of countries but still used widely the in U.S. — are fueling a hidden Parkinson's epidemic.  Dr. Ray Dorsey is Director of The Center for the Brain and Environment at Atria Health and Research Institute in NYC, and Dr. Michael Okun is Director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at The University of Florida Health.

One of the most iconic neighborhoods in New York is geting a glow up:  The Village Alliance Business Improvement District (BID) has announced the launch of Project Green, a five-year, $2 million fundraising campaign to dramatically increase greenery across one of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods, Greenwich Village. Our guest is Scott Hobbs, Executive Director of the Village Alliance, leading the organization's first comprehensive streetscape initiative in over 20 years.

Uptown Voices: An Uptown Story is a multi-media exhibition in development designed to document Harlem's history through intimate large-format portraits and oral histories of residents who have lived in the community for 30 years or more. The brother and sister team behind the project, photographer Wil Pierce and curator Joyous Pierce, have launched an open call for nominations—inviting New Yorkers to put forward family, friends, or neighbors whose Harlem stories should be preserved.

While gig work is wide ranging and offers plenty of freedoms, being an independent worker often means no access to traditional employment protections or benefits, such as healthcare, retirement or paid leave. Rafael Espinal, Executive Director of Freelancers Union, visits to talk about the growing independent workforce and portable benefits. Freelancers Union is the largest organization representing independent workers in the U.S., with over 500,000 members nationwide. Membership is free and open to all U.S.-based freelancers.

POISONING THE WELL: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America takes a look at the toxic chemicals PFAS, and how they've become permanently embedded in our soil, our water, and our bodies. Authors Sharon Udasin and Rachel Frazin discuss the controversy and consequences. Sharon Udasin is a staff reporter for The Hill, covering Western climate and policy. She was the recipient of a 2022 SEAL Environmental Journalism Award, and spent nearly a decade in Israel, reporting on environment, energy, and agriculture for The Jerusalem Post. Rachel Frazin covers energy and environment policy for The Hill. Her work has also appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Beast, the Tampa Bay Times, and elsewhere.

The Limón Dance Company launches their celebration of the company's first 80 years with a program at The Joyce Theater honoring eight decades of revolutionary modern dance, from October 14-19, 2025. Our guest is Artistic Director Dante Puleio.

The Find Your Light Foundation is dedicated to ensuring every student has the chance to experience a quality arts education. To date, the organization founded Tony®, EMMY®, and five-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist Josh Groban has funded nearly 200 programs, in 33 states. With support for the arts needed more than ever, Josh Groban hosts the 2nd Annual Find Your Light Benefit Concert for Arts Education, October 8th at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Ronald E. Richter brings an unparalleled perspective to child welfare. With a career that spans over 35 years as a legal aid attorney, family court judge, former commissioner of New York City's Administration for Children's Services (ACS), and as CEO of JCCA, a 200-year-old nonprofit that supports more than 17,000 children and families across New York each year, Ron has seen the system from every angle. After serving the last ten years as CEO, Ron Richter will step down from his role at JCCA in October. We'll discuss what's working in child welfare, where we're still falling short, and stories that have stayed with him.

Most Americans would agree that our transportation infrastructure—from highways, to roads and bus and train lines—needs an upgrade. As governments plan for rebuilding and repairing, our guest takes a historic look at how much of our existing infrastructure was built to reinforce economic and racial divisions. Deborah Archer is an eminent legal scholar, the president of the ACLU, and author of DIVIDING LINES: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality.

Approaching it's first anniversary, The Bronx Music Hall is the first independent music performance venue in the borough in more than 50 years, and the new home of WHEDco's Bronx Music Heritage Center. Co-Artistic Directors Elena Martínez and multi-Grammy nominated percussionist Bobby Sanabria talk about their mission to celebrate Bronx artists past and present. 

New York State has one of the largest populations of adults over 60, and the older adult population is growing faster than any other group. For the first time, New York State has proposed a Master Plan for Aging, as a roadmap to address a range of issues and challenges for older New Yorkers. For details, our guest is Jeremy Kaplan, the Executive Director of Encore Community Services, a 2024 Nonprofit Trailblazer, and a vocal advocate for older adults and the care workforce that supports them.

For most people, it's hard to imagine life without access to a computer or broadband. And yet, according new a study by The Center For An Urban Future, tens of thousands of Bronx residents remain cut off from these basic tools for work, school, and everyday connectivity. Jonathan Bowles from the Center for an Urban Future talks about tackling the digital divide in the Bronx. 

While never ending policy debates about the mental health and homelessness crisis in the Subway persist, our guest is on the front lines every day with solutions that work. Melissa O'Brien is Medical Director of Psychiatric Services at Project Renewal, one of New York City's largest providers of comprehensive health services to homeless individuals. We'll talk about what she sees on the ground and what gets in the way of getting people the help they need.

The New York City based Indo-American Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an awareness of arts and artists of Asian Indian heritage. From September 18-21 in Manhattan, IAAC presents the Erasing Borders Dance Festival, featuring classical dance from India. Our guest is Deepsikha Chatterjee, Festival Director. 

Every year around the country, many thousands join the fight to end breast cancer, fund research, and support survivors through the Susan G. Komen Walks & Races. Sunday, September 7, Susan G. Komen celebrates the 35th year of Race for the Cure in New York City! For more on the event and the advancements made possible through decades of work and support, our guest is Stacie Spitzkoff, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen.