I'd Rather Be Reading

Not just some of us, but ALL of us need a strong, effective personal brand. The good news is? My guest today can help you build just that. Not only is this book fantastic, but so is our guest, Aliza Licht -- she has enough experience to take a personal branding novice or a personal branding professional to the next level. Listen and prepare to learn! On Brand: Shape Your Narrative, Share Your Vision, Shift Their Perception by Aliza Licht

We have another memoirist on the show today! As you'll hear me say in the introduction, after reading Maggie Smith's book, I was flummoxed as to how I would ask her MORE questions about her life after she wrote such a candid, raw, vulnerable memoir. Hadn't she already given me enough on the page? But off the page, Maggie is just as dazzling, as you'll no doubt hear for yourself. A poet and a memoirist, Maggie doesn't shy away from honesty and transparency about some difficult topics she has faced. It's how we all should be -- brave, courageous, bold. You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

What we think of as self-care might not be self-care at all. In fact, what we've come to know as "self-care" -- think expensive wellness retreats and fad diets and juice cleanses and creams and serums and the like -- is part of a gigantic self-care industry that makes its profit on making people, and especially women, feel terrible about themselves. That is not self-care. In fact, REAL self-care, as our guest today tells us, does the opposite of making ourselves feel terrible: It honors ourselves, uplifts ourselves, and celebrates ourselves. Not only that, but it's an inside job -- not something we can attend or purchase or obtain. Such a meaningful conversation that I hope you enjoy and get something out of. Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included) by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin

Resiliency has become a problem in our society. If something gets too hard, we abandon it -- after all, there are many, MANY other options we can choose from that maybe won't be so difficult. The "swiping" culture -- think shopping online and dating apps -- has become habitual online but offline, too, meaning we continually disengage and never finish what we start. This has a human cost, and we're talking about it today. Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start by Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey

The title of Dr. Henry Cloud's latest book is simple: Trust. But its subtitle (and the concept itself) is much more complex -- Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken. Whew! Trust is vitally important in all of our lives, and Dr. Cloud gives a masterclass on it in today's episode. It's truly a must listen episode and a must read book for everyone. Trust: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken by Dr. Henry Cloud

I never planned for it to be this way, but we finally have our first male guest of season seven! It has been girl power thus far. And Dr. William Li comes with the masterclass in health and wellness today, specifically about metabolism -- get ready to learn so much. We cover the gamut, from metabolism to intermittent fasting to one takeaway we can do today to start righting our metabolism and getting to a healthier us. Listeners, you know health and wellness episodes are some of my favorites these days, and this one does NOT disappoint! Eat to Beat Your Diet: Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, and Live Longer by Dr. William Li

Sensitive people often get a bad rap, especially sensitive men. But today I talk to an author who says sensitivity is a superpower, and that sensitive people are filled with gifts that bring so much to the world. Plus, we reveal the legendary rock star that self-identifies as a sensitive person -- and who it is might surprise you. Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too Much World by Jenn Granneman and Andre Solo

The United States may well have had its first female president already. The problem? Nobody knew it. After President Woodrow Wilson suffered a devastating stroke in October 1919, his wife, First Lady Edith Wilson, became acting president until his second term ended on March 4, 1921. Today we talk about that decision and the woman who was Edith Wilson, who was acting president before women even had the right to vote. Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson by Rebecca Boggs Roberts

We have made it to our 100th episode! I could not be happier to reach this milestone, and to reach it with all of you, talking about nonfiction books. I have an extra special guest on the show today, Cyndie Spiegel, and we are talking about how to find joy no matter what you're facing in life right now. I realize that some of my episodes apply to only certain people -- but I chose this book for our centennial because this topic applies to ALL of us. Sit back and prepare to be enriched by this meaningful conversation. And THANK YOU, listeners, for helping us reach this special day! Microjoys: Finding Hope (Especially) When Life Is Not Okay by Cyndie Spiegel

I love a good fashion episode, and this is definitely a good fashion episode! Today on the show I've got Maggie Bullock -- a writer for Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Cut, and more -- and we're talking about J. Crew, the original lifestyle brand. From its founding 40 years ago to now has seen the company go from the highest of highs to filing for bankruptcy in 2020. How did this happen? And how is J. Crew doing today? We dig into it all in a book Vogue calls one of its most anticipated books of 2023. The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J. Crew by Maggie Bullock