Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Dan Harris is an author, podcast host, and journalist.  Harris worked for ABC News for more than 21 years and currently hosts the 10% Happier Podcast. His journey of self-discovery began in 2004, after suffering a panic attack while live on-air.  In the aftermath of that episode, he turned to meditation to confront his drug use, his effort to cope with covering the post-9/11 war zones across the middle east. Harris opened up to Hoda on the power of meditation, self-improvement, and how to quiet your mind in a chaotic world.

Sara Blakely is the founder of Spanx and Sneex and opens up about believing in her products and trusting her gut. She created her revolutionary brand after identifying a problem in her wardrobe: what undergarments could she wear with white pants? Blakely's answer to that question started a shapewear revolution. She used the money she earned selling fax machines to launch her products, which soon started flying off the shelves of department stores and became a wardrobe staple for millions. She sold her majority stake in Spanx in 2021 after more than twenty years at the helm. Blakely opened up to Hoda on her journey to success, embracing failure, and trusting her intuition.

Dr. Judith Joseph is a New York-based psychiatrist, studying happiness. Throughout her life, she's been a high-achiever, graduating from medical school at Columbia and opening her own clinical research institute. She now says she was "pathologically productive" to try to mask feelings of inadequacy. Through her research, and her own experience, Dr. Joseph identified what she refers to as "high-functioning depression". On the outside, she had it all, but she was wrestling with fatigue, poor concentration, and restlessness. In her new book “High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy”, she shares what she's learned with Hoda.

Businesswoman and entrepreneur Emma Grede has launched some of the biggest brands in fashion. Known as the powerhouse behind companies like Skims and Good American, Grede says she takes issue with the phrase "self-made". Raised by a single mom in East London, Grede worked her way up through the fashion world, but she says her partners and mentors helped get her to where she is today. She opened up to Hoda about her childhood, and balancing motherhood with her career.

Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas is an acclaimed Hollywood agent and film producer, recognized for working with stars like Jennifer Lopez. She discusses her transition from talent agent to novelist with her book, Climbing in Heels, delving into the challenges women faced in the 1980s entertainment industry. Elaine shares personal stories about grief after losing her mother, the importance of female support, and overcoming her breast cancer diagnosis. Her journey highlights resilience, ambition, and the vital bonds that shape women's lives and careers in Hollywood.

Suzy Welch is an award-winning professor, best-selling author, and entrepreneur. She teaches “Becoming You: Crafting the Authentic Life You Want and Need" at NYU Stern School of Business, and helps people discover their purpose by understanding their values. Welch also believes that happiness is not an end goal, but an outcome of a meaningful and productive life.  She talked to Hoda about how to understand your values, and what she's learned from the death of her late husband, Jack Welch. Her latest book, Becoming You, comes out May 6th.

Dwyane Wade, NBA legend and philanthropist, discusses his journey from basketball star to family man and community advocate. He shares heartfelt stories about his love for the game and the importance of support from family and community during his rise. Wade opens up about his battle with cancer, resilience in difficult times, and the lessons he's learned in parenting and self-discovery since retirement. He emphasizes the legacy of love and kindness, proving that true greatness extends beyond the court.

Big Sean has been topping the charts for nearly fifteen years. The Detroit-born rapper says he knew from an early age that he would make it, even when his peers said his dream was impossible. In addition to his award-winning music career, he released a book this year called Go Higher: Five Practices for Purpose, Success, and Inner Peace. He opened up to Hoda on his struggle with fame, and why he's not afraid of losing it.

Actresses Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler have spent decades in the spotlight, with iconic roles on "Married With Children" and "The Sopranos". They've taken on a different role in recent years as the public faces of multiple sclerosis. Sigler was diagnosed when she was just 20 years old, but didn't publicly share her diagnosis until 2016. Applegate received her diagnosis less than four years ago. The two opened up to Hoda about the pain and triumph that has bonded them. 

Vicky Nguyen is the NBC News chief consumer investigative correspondent. In her new memoir, "Boat Baby", she shares her family's harrowing story of fleeing Vietnam in 1980, five years after the fall of Saigon.  Along the way, Nguyen's family relied on smugglers, encountered pirates, and eventually lived in a refugee camp on a beach in Malaysia, all while she was less than a year old.  Her family ultimately immigrated to the U.S., and she says her parents embraced the opportunity to give her a "great American childhood".  Nguyen opened up to Hoda about her decision to share her story. Through all the ups and downs of assimilation,  Nguyen says her book is "a love letter to America" - and to her parents.