SheSez with Linda Grasso

Shaina Feinberg experienced the struggle that so many women face: being a mom of two kids and having a career as a filmmaker. In recent years, she felt she was failing at both and wondered if she gave one up, would she be more successful at the other? But, when it came to her career, she had a monkey on her shoulder: Shaina's mother had given up her career aspirations to be a full-time mom and she'd always expressed regret about it. Then—while working on a freelance job—Shaina met Joan Darling, a 90-year-old, retired TV director. Joan was an Emmy-winning pioneer with successes like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, MASH and Magnum PI to her credit. While Zooming with Joan, Shaina felt an inexplicable connection, and she was driven to meet the TV veteran in person. Shaina took her camera and flew from New York to Joan's home in Maine. In this episode, Shaina shares the beautiful story of how the two connected over the 3-day visit—and how Joan helped Shaina think thru her struggles while boosting her self-esteem. Tapping on everything from grappling with parents' regrets to holding on to a dream that, at times, feels futile, this episode both thought provoking and touching.

When you see Stephanie Koenig on the screen, you might do a double take. You might have seen her before on the TV series The Flight Attendant or The Offer. But with her role in the upcoming Apple+ series Lessons in Chemistry (debuting October 13), you'll soon not just recognize the face but the name as well. Indeed, Stephanie is a star on the rise and defeating the odds of being a working actress in Hollywood (you all know how much I love it when people defy odds). But the real thing that made me ask her to be on the show: she is a Michigan native (both parents work in the automotive industry) who is earthy, self-deprecating and funny. And she doesn't have a self-important bone in her body. She's a girl's girl who I think you'll enjoy getting to know—before everyone else does.

34-year-old Anna Todd, author of the best selling fan fiction series After, shares the story of how she went from being a military wife, working a minimum wage job with a special needs son, and living in Ft. Worth, Texas to a best selling author and movie producer in Hollywood. 

A heartfelt and personal discussion as Linda talks with her sister-in-law Ginge Cabrera about how she turned her pain over her mother's battle with Alzheimer's Disease into a passion for advocacy. Ginge's grandmother was struck with the disease at age 75; and then—in a cruel twist of fate—her mom years later, at the exact same age.  Ginge recounts how helpless and despondent she felt at not being able to help her mother. The relief—coupled with an intense desire to make a difference—only came when she began working with her local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to get more money for research, better laws on the books and better, more effective and accessible drugs for the estimated 6 million Americans who have the disease. Ginge, who receive the Passion Award by the Connecticut chapter of the Association this past spring, touches on the latest pharmaceuticals that have been approved by the FDA, and offers numerous resources for families and caretakers of patients including: *the website Alz.org *the help line: 1-800-272-3900 In addition to raising funds, chairing events, and attending Alzheimer's Association regional conferences, Ginge has also volunteered to take part in clinical trials. Anyone interested in doing that can go here for more info.  

There's a little question being tossed around among my girlfriends right now: are you going to stick to injectables? Or—at some point—do you think you'll consider a a facelift? The consensus seems to be: why go under the knife, when you can achieve the same results with injectables? But can you really? And from a cost standpoint, does a facelift—particularly the popular lower aka mini-facelift—make more sense? In this episode, I interview Dr. Carolyn Chang to shed some light on the comparison.  Dr. Chang is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in San Francisco. Her areas of expertise include the natural SMAS facelift and preventative facial surgery for the younger patient. She also specializes in breast surgery and body contouring and currently performs one of the largest volumes in the area of: post-pregnancy rejuvenation, short scar breast lifts and reductions, as well as breast augmentation. For more go to drcarolynchang.com    

A deep dive into that strange phenomenon known as fight-or-flight—when you have all the physical signs of stress and anxiety but are in no immediate danger. Research has shown that repeatedly having the fight-or-flight response is bad for your health. In this episode, Dr. Kim D'Eramo, founder of The American Institute of Mind Body Medicine, breaks down the how and why—and offers some concrete advice for controlling it.  Dr. D'Eramo is a physician and author of The Mind Body Tool Kit. At The American Institute of Mind Body Medicine she assists individuals and practitioners all over the world to resolve illnesses and achieve optimal health.  

Award-winning writer and science journalist Donna Jackson Nakazawa shares what she has discovered in her new book: Girls On The Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression and Social Media. Armed with an extensive amount of research, Donna examines the alarming increase in numbers (1 out of 4 adolescent girls reports suffering from symptoms of major depression; suicide attempts have recently increased 51% among girls) and the reasons that account for the rise. She also shares some well supported suggestions and counsel for parents with a child who is suffering.

The grit and resilience-filled comeback story of Geralyn Ritter who was critically hurt in a 2015 Amtrak train accident that killed 8 people and injured more than one hundred others. At the time, the mother of three was a senior VP at the pharmaceutical company Merck & Company—an A-type essentially— used to moving fast and getting things done. Here she shares with Linda her journey over the past 7 years, including how she has kept her chin up through an emotionally challenging time at a residential rehab center and endured more than 30 surgeries. She also talks about how tapping her "spiritual side" helped her cope with pain and despair. Plus, the life lessons she has learned and how they have inspired her to change her life—everything from how she now deals with her girlfriends and her kids—and why she accepted a position at a new company. Geralyn is the executive VP at Organon & Co., a Fortune 500 healthcare company aimed at women and the author of Bone by Bone: A Memoir of Trauma and Healing.

Journalist Rina Raphael puts the four trillion dollar wellness industry under the microscope with her new book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop….and the False Promise of Self-Care. From charcoal-infused cheddar cheese to crystal-infused water to multi-week cleanses, Rina explains why we fall for products lacking substantive scientific evidence supporting claims; how and why seductive marketing specifically targets women–and how our longing for human connection has us opening up our wallets like never before.

Gina Schaefer shares the story of how she went from working in software tech to founding a successful chain of Ace hardware stores in the DC metropolitan area, and why she started hiring recovering drug addicts as employees. Not only have they turned out to be some of the best employees she's had in the nearly 20 years she's been in business, Gina says she's learned invaluable lessons from them about how to be a great leader. Gina, the first female to sit on the Ace Hardware Corporation board, is the author of Recovery Hardware: A Nuts and Bolts Story About Building a Business, Restoring a Community and Renovating Lives.  More at ginaschaefer.com.

Charmaine DeGraté, co-executive producer and writer on HBO's  Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon talks with Linda about working on the hit series, her amazing career trajectory and her philosophy of being truthful about what you know and what you don't when taking a new job (she's not a believer in faking it until you make it). The Texas native, who is 33, also shares about some of her other TV projects including working on the upcoming Reese Witherspoon series Daisy Jones & The Six for Amazon and the critically acclaimed sci-fi show The 100 on Netflix.

Want to live healthier and longer? Shift your mindset about aging says Yale University professor Dr. Becca Levy. Examining various cultures and outliers around the world, Dr. Levy has conducted research, concluding that if we can shift our attitudes about aging, it will foster positive beliefs which will, in turn, improve our health in later years and quality of life—as well as lengthen lifespan. Her new book, Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Live, also shows that a positive mindset can counter dementia as well as some cardio issues.

Journalist Jessica Yellin, founder of News Not Noise, a rapidly growing social media platform aimed at delivering the news in a  calm, unbiased, factual manner that won't leave viewers feeling yelled at and anxious, but rather more informed and equipped to form intelligent opinions. The award-winning journalist shares with Linda how she worked in news for 17 years, working at the local level and then at several national cable outlets. She felt like she'd reached the top when she became chief White House correspondent for CNN. But in 2018, after 8 years at CNN, Jessica was dissatisfied at the way the media delivered the news, focusing on conflict and rarely providing any backstory or context. She left the network in 2018, wrote a book, Savage News, and then found News Not Noise. After a shout out from celebrities like Jennifer Garner and  Amy Schumer—News Not Noise got on the map. Jessica currently has a dedicated audience of 800,000. To put this in perspective: more people watch her today than when she was at CNN.  Follow Jessica on Insta and FB @jessicayellin; more at newsnotnoise.com 

Dr. Katie Lawlor, a trained trauma psychologist who specializes in pet grief and loss, on the mental health crisis facing vets. A 2019 study shows vet professionals are experiencing the highest rates of suicide among all medical professions. And those numbers were noted before the pressures of the pandemic, during which 23 million people adopted pets. Plus, why we experience such profound (and sometimes surprising) grief over losing our pets. Katie is the co-founder and Director of the Veterinary Mental Health Initiative (VMHI) at the Shanti Project, which is aimed at providing counseling and other mental health services for vets and vet techs.

LA-based divorce/custody attorney Lisa Helfend Meyer a.k.a. “the pit poodle” shares what it is like to be a high-profile litigator for the uber wealthy and famous. As founder of Meyer, Olson, Lowey & Meyers (all the partners are women), over the past 35 years Lisa has represented the ex-wives of Dr. Dre, Caesar Milan and Tony Danza. Having been immersed in the details of so many bad relationships, Lisa also shares what she believes makes a strong marriage and why it is important to make a move when you realize it is over.

Two NIH researchers—Dr. Sarah A. Rudzinskas and Sarah Spector—on studies they are helping conduct for a new drug aimed at helping women in midlife who suffer from depression-typically for the first time in their lives. An estimated 20% of American women have depression at some point during menopause; and 38% experience depression in late menopause. The researchers are exploring the link between low levels of estrogen and how it impacts the brain—which this new drug, manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lily,  addresses.   Women interested in being part of the NIH study can click here for more information.  

Best-selling author and illustrator Alessandra Olanow, whose drawings and musings, shared on Instagram as @aolanow, have attracted a highly engaged community of 372K followers, including celebrities such as Katie Couric and Jennifer Garner. In 2019, dealing with a divorce, Alessandra started drawing her feelings at her kitchen table each morning, posting her illustrations and simple phrases to Instagram. The audience they generated led to her first book, I Used to Have a Plan which topped the Barnes & Noble bestseller list. Published by Harper Collins in 2020, and featuring more than 75 illustrations, the book chronicles the breakup of her marriage and her journey through pain and heartache towards self-love and acceptance. Alessandra is also an entrepreneur. She developed an all-over body oil called A.OK which can be purchased at feelingaok.com. Her new book, Hello Grief, in which she grapples with the death of her mother, will be published in late 2022.

Fasting Coach Laurie Lewis on the do's, don'ts and health benefits of intermittent fasting. Laurie, who owns and operates Fast Forward Wellness, details how not eating for an extended period of time each day puts our bodies in restorative mode, allowing us to regenerate and better fight off disease (there is, by the way, scientific research that supports this). She credits intermittent fasting to how she lost 50 pounds, got rid of brain foggy-ness and regained her energy—all of which she experienced when becoming menopausal.

Monica Wyatt shares her journey from top TV producer (Providence, My So Called Life, LA Law) to being an accomplished mixed media artist who reimagines unexpected and overlooked materials, transforming them into intimate assemblage sculpture. The challenging delivery of her second child was the breaking point for Monica. "I was physically exhausted from the birth and I knew I couldn't go back to doing those days where you work until 10 or 11 at night. With one child, we managed but I knew I couldn't give it my all anymore." So Monica did something that earlier in her life she never could have imagined: she took herself out at the peak of her producing career. She dove into caring for her family, only to discover that something was missing. Monica gets candid sharing the details of how rediscovered her confidence and found fulfillment and purpose through being an artist.              

Charlotte Hanna shares the story of how she pulled off her dramatic mid-life pivot, moving from successful careers on Wall Street and real estate to founding the innovative cannabis company Rebelle. Plus, how part of her mission is to change the perception of cannabis from that as a dirty, nefarious habit to that of a mindful, elevated experience—one that is widely accepted as simply a way of enhancing mood.        

The story of how, at the age of 40, Christine Morrison walked away from her long and successful career as a fashion executive and beauty marketer (at the time she was a VP for Calvin Klein in NYC) to become a freelance writer. A lifelong fashion aficionado (think Carrie Bradshaw here, ladies) Christine had dreamed of a career as a writer when she younger; she'd even majored in journalism. But life intervened. Christine's is a story of relentlessly and methodically working your way back to your passion. Today, Christine (@writinginblackandwhite) is a working fashion and beauty writer based in Atlanta. Her articles have appeared in, publications including The Washington Post and The Boston Globe. She has also lent her copywriting expertise to brands including Calvin Klein, Juicy Couture, and Lumity skincare.   The mom of twins is currently on working her memoir—a collection of essays reflecting the meaning behind and the humor in what she wore while forming her identity, navigating her way to true love, and discovering her authentic self.

Emmy-winning voiceover actress Nancy Cartwright on her remarkable 30-year plus career as the voice of a 10-year-old boy— Bart Simpson on The Simpsons TV show.   With her hallmark humor and earthy personality, Nancy shares with Linda the story of how she originally auditioned for the role of Lisa Simpson but wound up getting the role of Bart; how listening to her gut has contributed to her success and happiness; how she has found ways to blossom amidst the limitations of COVID and what her next chapter looks like.  Nancy has just released an updated version of her memoir I'm Still A 10-year-old Boy. The audible story chronicles Nancy's life from growing up in Kettering, Ohio to being at the focal point of the longest running scripted TV show of all time.  

The story of a Tennessee mother's relentless quest to find the root of her son's health issues after he rapidly went from a case of strep throat to erratic, destructive behavior and then a marijuana habit. While physicians diagnosed Elizabeth Harris' child with a wide-ranging variety of illnesses, prescribing him with all kinds of pharmaceutical drugs, nothing seemed to help and the teenager ultimately wound up at a pricey rehabilitation center (which insurance would not cover). Elizabeth strongly believed there was an underlying medical condition and, turns out, she was right. A pediatric neurologist ultimately diagnosed her son with the auto-immune disease PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). In this episode, you'll learn the symptoms PANDAS, why doctors often miss it, and how the disease can be diagnosed with a simple test. This is also a cautionary tale about the importance of being proactive about health and finding solutions when doctor advice and remedies aren't working. Elizabeth Harris is the author of What's Wrong With My Child? For more, go to whatswrongwithmychild.com

While most of us quickly dismiss our dreams moments after awakening, 45-year dream analyst Tayria Ward, who has a PhD in depth psychology, believes we should pay attention to them—especially reoccurring ones. In this episode, she shares what we can learn from dreams (even the weird ones) and how finding the hidden messages can, in some cases, impact our lives. For more on Tayria, go to tayriaward.com

Beauty industry journalist and critic Jessica Defino shares what she has uncovered interviewing scientists about the long-term effects of using anti-aging products including two of the most highly touted: retinol and hyaluronic acid. The clean beauty proponent and minimalist also shares the four products she routinely uses on her own skin. Jessica's articles have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Allure.  Jessica's career was born out of her experiences working as an app content creator for two of the Kardashian sisters. The job required Jessica to frequently sample products sent to the sisters, and she believes all the skincare products—loaded with chemicals and other harmful ingredients— caused her to get a terrible case of dermatitis that topical steroids couldn't even heal.

An enlightening conversation with two women who will make you less afraid of getting older: 63-year-old Susan Feldman and 53-year-old Wendy Euler. Both women unabashedly put themselves out there as the face of their brands—both of which aim to stop age shaming. Both women experience life to the hilt and are constantly taking on new, challenging experiences—undaunted by age. In this episode, we learn the how and why—plus some things they truly love about being in their 50s and 60s. Susan Feldman is the co-founder of One Kings Lane, which she sold a few years ago, the founder of her current passion: In The Groove. It is a platform for shining a light on age-defying women, while offering advice on how to stay current on everything from tech to fashion.   Wendy Euler is a self-described “age activist and style enthusiast” and the founder of the Goodbye Crop Top platform. Wendy keeps followers entertained on Instagram with her aspirational advice on creating your own person style, regardless of age or trends. She is also a host of the 5-minute podcast, Cropped: A Midlife Minute.

An enlightening conversation with two women who have made it part of their life's mission to give people a better understanding of women who choose not to have children—and to dispel some of the myths that surround those decisions (Gosh, she must have had a terrible childhood...) Dr. Amy Blackstone is Professor of Sociology at the University of Maine. Her book Childfree by Choice (Dutton, 2019) offers a definitive investigation into the history and growing movement of adults choosing to forgo parenthood.  Meghan Daum is the author of five books, including the New York Times bestseller, Selfish, Shallow & Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers On The Decision Not To Have Kids. She has written for  magazines including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic.  Meghan also hosts The Unspeakable Podcast.

10-time Emmy nominee Jerilynn Stephens, who heads up the hair department for The Voice (NBC) and Legendary (HBO Max), doles out advice on that thing we care so ridiculously much about: our hair. Topics include styles and remedies for thinning hair; advice for coloring your own hair; the best non-dye products for covering up grey; the latest in weaves and extensions; and the most comfortable, natural looking wigs. Jerilynn, who is a cancer survivor, also shares what she hopes will be a cautionary tale. When Jerilynn's health began to fail, she (and her doctor) thought she was just experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, when her symptoms were actually due to ovarian cancer.

Photographer Sherry Rain Barnett has captured some of the most iconic legends in music— from rock to pop…from disco to punk: Prince, Sting, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor, Judy Collins, Janis Joplin—the list is endless. In this episode, Sherry shares some of the stories of behind the images she's taken at live music venues over the past 50 years, and about her new book Eye of the Music: The Photography of Sherry Rayn Barnett: New York to LA, 1969-1989.  A visceral trip down memory lane, it is a stunning collection of more than 200 images of performers, all shot on film, some of which have never been seen.

Relationship expert Liz Pryor joins Linda for an exploration into the notion of having and being with a soul mate. Is there such a thing? How do you know if you are with yours? And: how to find one. Plus how to cultivate a soul mate-like relationship with your partner.

Everyone, it seems, is using powdered collagen these days. Jennifer Aniston, the face of one of the more popular brands, glows in the ads. Nutritionists and social media influencers wax about its merits. But where is the proof—the research—that says edible collagen works for anti-aging? In this episode, Linda tries to find out, journeying from the National Institute of Health all the way to the University of Washington, where she discovers an expert in the field of collagen as it relates to the human body: scientist/biochemist David M. Hudson. Also discussed: topical collagen.

Tips and coping strategies for The Sandwiched Generation— middle-aged adults who are caring for both their aging parents and their own children—from Laurie James, author of  Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding on and Letting Go. Laurie shares about her journey of raising four teenagers, while at the same time, caring for her mom who suffered from dementia. Laurie touches on the importance of support groups; how to choose a caretaker (and let one go); that delicate task of helping your parents get their affairs in order; dealing with siblings who have different opinions—and more. .

For most of her life, actress Shannon Kenny Carbonell was on a mission: trying to become a famous actress. Though she underwent extensive training and education and ultimately became a successful working actress, she never quite achieved the status that she envisioned. And when, as the wife of actor Nestor Carbonell (Lost), she had two kids, everything changed. Shannon essentially lost her career drive. In this episode, Shannon candidly shares her struggles—the juggle of motherhood vs. career, the regret over taking herself out of the career game and how she finally came to terms with her decision, crafting a new story for herself—with new dreams—as a devoted wife and mother and an author. Shannon has written a new book based on her experiences:  All is not LOST: How I Friended Failure on the Island and Found a Way Home.  

Five-time Emmy award-winning costume designer Marina Toybina shares about her journey as the child of Russian immigrants who taught herself to sew at the age of 8—to becoming one of the most sought-after behind-the-scenes professionals in Hollywood. Marina dishes on everything from designing dazzling couture ensembles for the likes of Carrie Underwood and Britney Spears to her current gig: creating the elaborate, celebrity-concealing costumes for the FOX reality TV show The Masked Singer.

Megan Retterath, Chief Medical Officer of Next Health shares about the progressive practice of ordering and paying for your own diagnostic tests—tests which can assess things like vitamin deficiencies, gut health, micronutrient levels, diet issues, cortisone levels (stress) etc.  She also details some cutting edge treatments like stem cell injections, hormone therapy and IV therapy.   Next Health, which has outlets in New York and Los Angeles, typically treats people who aren’t getting relief or answers from traditional medicine. Or they simply want more  knowledge about their body and their overall health;  they don’t want to wait until they get sick or are in the ER to find out something is wrong with them. 

After a successful TV producing career which included co-creating The Daily Show, as well as Emmy and Peabody Awards, Madeleine Smithberg walked away from it all to follow her heart—literally. With a lifelong passion for food, Madeleine did something she'd dreamed of: she kicked off her own cooking show, Mad In The Kitchen, which seamlessly weaves together her love of cooking with her keen sense of humor. During the pandemic, she also moved from New York to Seattle to marry a man she hadn't seen in 20 years, the love of her life who broke her heart back in her twenties.  Madeleine also dishes on the early years of producing all those funny cooking segments for Late Night With David Letterman (remember those hilarious ones with Julia Child?); how she persuaded Jon Stewart to host The Daily Show; and how she helped discover several of today's biggest names in comedy like Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell.  Mad In The Kitchen has been featured on numerous national outlets including The Today Show. You can view and subscribe to it on YouTube here.   

The Varsity Blues scandal blew the lid off the college admissions process two years ago this month. For many parents, the scandal underscored what they already were feeling: the process of getting your kid into a good college is not only challenging, it can be unfair — and even corrupt. With deferrals, postponements and no standardized testing, COVID has made the process even more challenging.  In this episode, college admissions experts Cynthia Muchnick and Jenn Curtis address how to best support your child through the  process as well as how the scandal and Covid have impacted it.  Cynthia and Jenn are the authors of The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen's Wellness and Academic Journey in Today's Competitive World— named the number one Best Parenting Audiobook in 2021 by Book Authority.    

In this episode I visit Le Minou in Beverly Hills, a health & wellness center aimed at improving the sexual experience for women, interviewing founder Leslie Busick and chief medical officer OB- GYN Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz. Leslie, who is 28, founded Le Minou after experiencing painful and dissatisfying sex. Le Minou's "spa menu" includes Votiva vaginal restoration, aimed at decreasing pain and The O Shot, aimed at enhancing pleasure. Also offered: free consultations and live online seminars. For $100 off your first treatment, use coupon code LEMINOUXSHESEZ. 

40-percent of food in the United States goes uneaten and the majority of that wasted food is fresh produce. On this episode, we examine the growing problem of wasted fresh produce and the negative impact on the environment—from wasting our resources to filling our landfills to the dangerous methane gas emissions.  Andrea Collins, a sustainable food systems specialist for the National Resources Defense Council, joins Linda to discuss what  consumers can do to cut down on fresh produce waste—from refrigerator storage strategies to meal planning to composting. 

After 30 years in the beauty industry, during which she founded 5 successful brands, Marcia Kilgore is now running what she believes will be her most successful venture yet. Beauty Pie is a subscription beauty club in which members have access to the highest end cosmetics and skincare products in the world at bargain prices. Members pay a monthly membership fee for backdoor access to some of the world’s best fragrance, skin care and cosmetics factories, many of which supply big-name luxury brands that go on to charge sky-high prices once they are stamped with their logo. By cutting out things like fancy packaging, celebrity endorsements and expensive ad campaigns, Beauty Pie is able to side step the huge mark up.  In this episode, Marcia shares how she came up with the innovative concept, how she sources the products all over the world and her 5 absolute favorite "desert island" skincare and anti-aging products. Plus why at 52, after having sold one of her companies (Bliss Spa) to LVMH for millions, the mom of two continues to push herself into the entrepreneurial arena.  If you want to give Beauty Pie a whirl, Marcia has offered a free one month membership to SheSez listeners. Just use the code SHESEZ.

Naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist Jannine Krause shares what you can do to slow down the aging process on your body. From switching from wine to tequila to eating certain herbs like oregano, Dr. Krause offers strategic suggestions for clean eating, body movement (break out of that exercise routine!) to avoid injury down the road and stress reduction. We also cover some of the latest trends—from juice cleanses to powdered collagen. Dr. Krause is also the host of  The Health Fix  podcast, aimed at encouraging listeners to take charge of their health and well being.        

Whether it is a new job, hobby or project, sometimes we know we need change but kicking it off is downright daunting. In this episode reinvention expert Kathi Sharpe-Ross shows us how to lean into the downtime that most of us are experiencing right now due to the pandemic, break down the effort into bite size pieces and craft an actionable plan for resetting in the New Year.  Kathi is founder, president and CEO of The Sharpe Alliance  consulting agency, which helps brands and businesses reinvent via strategic marketing. She’s also the author of Reinvent Your Life—What Are You Waiting For? For more from Kathi, go to thereinventionexchange.com

Feelings of loss can intensify over the holidays. Whether the loved one passed several years ago or more recently, we can feel melancholy and even stressed out at the prospect of putting on a face of "good cheer." Sometimes we feel like breaking down and crying, yet we feel guilty if we do; explore the pain or ignore the pain? Licensed therapist Melissa Brohner-Schneider expects that, for some of us, this year grief will expand to all the losses due to the pandemic: freedom, jobs, connection etc. Melissa analyzes those feelings and the resulting isolation that often occurs and she offers several coping strategies—things you can do to feel better as well as ways to grieve in a healthy manner. She and Linda also discuss David Kessler's "sixth stage of grief" from his book Finding Meaning, which imparts meaning and peace to loss. 

With the holidays approaching (peak movie watching season), a re-run of Linda's 2017 interview with chick flick movie producer extraordinaire Suzanne Farwell (It's Complicated, The Holiday, Something's Gotta Give).  Listen in on some of the behind-the-scenes action on those classics—plus Suzanne's inspiring story of how she suddenly found herself unemployed at the age of 40 and  overcame her fears, refusing to fall victim to all the ageism in Hollywood—ultimately taking the reins of her career and future.

For many people who suffer from depression, it's a challenge finding a medication that provides on-going relief. In this episode we zero in on the FDA-approved medical procedure Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in which a magnetic field is used to cause electric current at a specific area of the brain. TMS is prescribed for patients who have not responded to traditional depression pharmaceuticals. It is also used to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and smoking cessation. Dr. Sarah Lisanby, a psychiatrist and medical researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, was instrumental in getting FDA approval in 2008. She addresses when TMS is most effective, why most of us have never heard of it, side effects, how it differs from ECT, why depression is so prevalent in our society and what the next big thing is for treating it.    For more info on TMS: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml#part_152879 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03289923?term=lisanby&recrs=abc&draw=2&rank=4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28541649/  

Because of COVID-19, many of us have postponed elective procedures this year—and that includes mammograms. In this episode, LA-based oncologist Natasha Banerjee discusses the alarming drop in breast cancer screenings since March—and the ramifications. Plus an update on the latest treatments like immunotherapy which utilizes antibodies to boost immunity; who should be getting ultrasounds and or MRIs to screen for breast cancer; how you can tell if you have dense breasts and should be getting ultrasounds; and a rare cancer that has been linked to one type of implants.

Most children with autism are diagnosed before they are 5 years old. But for some kids, particularly high achieving ones, the signs are subtle and parents don’t realize their child has the disorder. In this episode, LA-based licensed therapist Gina Kilberg, who specializes in helping kids with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and their parents, shares some of the nuanced signs of the autistic adolescent. Gina, who has an autistic child herself, also addresses some of the complexities of diagnosing and treating teens with ASD.

A must listen to anyone who is afraid to “go under.” Anesthesiologist Sasha Shillcutt shares what you can do to make sure your experience is as safe as possible, the different types of anesthesiology, what exactly happens when a patient is anesthetized and possible side effects. Plus, the story of how a few years back the physician hit a wall, feeling like—between work and motherhood—she’d lost her sense of self, realizing she didn’t have any friends. Sasha ultimately founded Brave Enough, an organization that provides a platform for women to connect. She is also the author of Between Grit and Grace, in which she shares the stories of 30 formidable women and how they found the confidence to be successful and leaders—but also retain their vulnerability and compassion.

Los Angeles attorney Angela Reddock-Wright has been bridging differences her entire life. As a young girl in the 1970s, she marched in Alabama with her grandmother for better wages from her nursing home employer. Raised by her mother in economically-challenged Compton, Angela crossed town every day to attend The Brentwood School, an elite high school located on LA’s posh westside and attended by children from the city’s wealthiest families. It’s not surprising that Angela ultimately became one of LA’s most well-respected employment and mediation attorneys. Today, at the helm of her own firm, Reddock Law Group, Angela is hired by lawyers to help their plaintiffs mediate workplace violations including wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment. With the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements—coupled with the pandemic— Angela’s phone has been ringing off the hook. In this episode, she shares some of the new challenges people are facing and her passion for what she views as her life mission: to bring about meaningful change in the workplace.

Lorilyn Bridges shares her experience of having a transgender child—from the steep learning curve involved to grappling with her own intense feelings. When Lorilyn’s son Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Teddy Geiger was 29-years-old, he told Lorilyn that he had always felt he was a woman. For the mom of three, the revelation came as a shock. And, as a mother who prided herself on being deeply involved in her kids’ lives, she felt guilty at what she perceived as an integral maternal oversight. How could she not have known? Lorilyn shares how she coped with her guilt and—something many moms will relate to—failed expectations: when our kids turn out differently than we anticipated.

Laurie Gerber, head coach at the Handel Group, shares insight on how to make love in a long-term relationship last. The relationship and marriage coach shares some her counsel to couples and, with candor, she also talks about own her near divorce experience. Laurie was about 10 years into her relationship with her husband when she discovered, although it looked great from the outside, the two had grown apart and were really just going through the motions. Laurie realized the love affair she was really having was with food—sugar in particular—and that she had to stop pretending and look at how her actions had helped cause the rift and how she needed to change to repair the relationship. Laurie has done a TEDx talk and appeared on shows including A&E’s The Marriage Test, the Dr. Phil Show and The Today Show. She also hosts monthly dating and relationship webinars on Match and JDate. The Handel Group is offering a $75 off coupon to SheSez listeners for coach Lauren Zander’s step-by-step online course on achieving and maintaining a successful love match. Use coupon code: SheSez75