Conversations about finding your voice and building a life on your terms.
Building the Foundation for a Well-Lived Life
We're going to sit down with Dr. Cynthia Cuffie, MD and hear about her early academic experiences and how those paved the way for her career success as a physician, as a corporate executive and as an executive coach. We'll also learn how she managed to find the time to be an engaged mom of three, while giving back to her community. And if you're a lover of all things home renovation, then listen closely toward the end, because I think you may find that you have a show or two in common with her.
Writing our Lives
Heather Lanier is an essayist, memoirist, poet, professor and TED speaker whose talk, “Good and Bad Are Incomplete Stories We Tell Ourselves” has been viewed over three million times and translated into 18 languages. I had the good fortune of meeting Heather back in 2009 when we were roommates at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. It was great to catch up and talk about a number of things including: writing and spirituality, staying attuned to our dreams, making space for more honest emotions including vulnerability, grief and joy, finding community and connection with other writers, and the challenges of writing about the people closest to us.
Seeing the Forest and the Trees
Becky Moon is many things; she’s an artist, a philosopher and an admirer of ants. So, you can imagine when we got together, we had a lot to talk about around all of these intersections, but most importantly about the spirit of generosity that Becky brings to her work, her life and her practice. So, if you’re someone who is interested in questions like: What does it all mean? Why am I here? Now what do I do? then stay tuned.
Mastering the Art of YOU
Dana Bernstein is a conflict resolution author, speaker, consultant and Principal of Dare to Live Brave. With over 2500 coaching hours and more than 100 clients, Dana specializes in de-escalation, negotiations, contracts, project management and high stakes situations. In 2025, Dana published “It’s the Thought That Counts: Mastering the Art of YOU vs. you,” an interactive book helping individuals resolve internal conflict to better navigate external challenges. Dana also generously did some live coaching with me, shared her thoughts on how quiet the outside noise so you can tune into your true inside voice and at your own pace, had some wild adventures and musical experiences to share, and somehow did all of this without missing a beat - even when we got disrupted briefly by a technical glitch. If you want to witness someone living their values out loud and in service of helping others, if you want to learn how to navigate in this fast paced world, or if you’re just curious about my least favorite food, then I think you’re really going to like this conversation.
Honor Your DNA
Leelila Strogov is the Founder and CEO of AtomicMind, where she works with high-achieving students navigating some of the world’s most competitive institutions. But this conversation is less about admissions than it is about formation: how people learn who they are, how confidence develops, and what happens when ambition is either nurtured or imposed. We talk about honoring identity early, why joyful ambition matters, and how pressure can distort both learning and self-trust. We also explore technology, attention, mentorship, parenting, and the discipline required to protect time, trust, and humanity in an always-on world. Throughout the conversation is a deeper question:
What does it mean to build lives, relationships, and institutions that expand possibility rather than constrain it?
Settling into the Hug of Friendship
This episode feels like a late-night call — the kind you don’t want to end. I’m talking with Amy, a friend from my early years in Essex County, New Jersey, and we go deep into what it means to grow, drift, and return to the people who’ve known every version of us. This one’s audio-only, intentionally — I wanted it to feel like the kind of conversation you lean into, where you can just listen. The pauses, the laughter, the quiet — they’re part of the story too. We talk about how friendship can be a kind of home — a mirror, a soft landing, and a reminder that connection isn’t about proximity but about presence. If you’ve ever had a friend who helped you find yourself, this one will feel like an exhale.