Conversations with Joan

Many people today are struggling with anxiety, depression, and burnout. Dr. Greg Hammer contends that there is a path toward personal resilience that can be implemented by anyone, anywhere, in just a few minutes a day. He talks about his GAIN method for self care that he says can improve mental, emotional, and physical health. Dr. Hammer is a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, a...

Roughly a quarter of American children experience complex trauma resulting from abuse, neglect, catastrophic illness, or other adversity. Traumatic experiences can initiate emotions and physical reactions that can persist long after the event. Dr. Donna Bevan-Lee knows first-hand the devastating impact of childhood trauma. She suffered through years of abuse that had profound and lasting consequen...

The human body is designed to fight disease. And with the right fuel, this hidden power can be amplified. Dr. William Li believes that each of us has an enormous opportunity to take charge of our lives using food to transform our health. He talks about the new science of how the body heals itself. Dr Li  is an internationally renowned physician, scientist and author of the New York Times bestselle...

Life has a way of throwing challenges at us — some we expect, and others that completely upend everything we know. How we choose to navigate those moments often defines who we become. Jackie Pflug knows this truth more than most. Jackie survived the 1985 hijacking of EgyptAir Flight 648, an event that forced her to confront trauma, resilience, and reinvention in the deepest sense. Now, with her ne...

What happens when the place that once inspired you almost becomes the reason you walk away—and how do you turn that moment into a mission instead? Billy Pinckney shares his journey from batboy for the New Jersey Jackals to becoming an author and speaker dedicated to inspiring the next generation. Through his story, Billy reveals how challenges in the game he loved led him to a greater purpose—empo...

Fear, trauma, and the instinct to protect ourselves are deeply human experiences, yet conversations around PTSD, self-defense, and the realities of the criminal justice system are often complex and overlooked. Liz Lazarus talks about surviving trauma and empowerment. Liz is the author of the psychological thriller Dawn Before Darkness, a gripping novel inspired by real-life events. Through her sto...

We all have limitations - it’s what you do with them that matters. Jim Abbott was born without a right hand but that did not stop him from fulfilling his dream of becoming a major league baseball pitcher. Jim was an All-America hurler at Michigan; won the Sullivan Award in 1987; was the pitcher for the Gold Medal Olympic Team in 1988; and threw a 4-0 no-hitter for the New York Yankees. He played f...

Healing, faith, and the mysteries of the mind-body connection are questions that challenge both science and belief. Can the human body and spirit recover in ways that defy conventional medicine? What role do faith, prayer, and mindset play in actual physical healing? Dr. Joshua Brown shares his journey from a life-threatening cancer diagnosis to a remarkable recovery that defied conventional scien...

Death is one of the few experiences every one of us will face, yet it remains one of the most difficult to talk about. When someone we love is dying, we’re often left navigating not only grief, but uncertainty—unsure of what to say, what to expect, or how to provide comfort in a moment that feels anything but clear. And yet, within that space, there can also be profound connection, meaning, and ev...

Suzanne Giesemann knew how to live in a left-brained world as a Navy commander and aide to the head of the US military, but the death of her pregnant stepdaughter catapulted her on a journey leading to a very different destination. Suzanne believes that seeing from the eyes of the soul is the key to a joy-filled life. She discusses how we live from the soul’s perspective where she contends the hig...

With constant demands on your time and attention it’s easy to neglect your romantic relationship. The spark may be gone and you may feel disconnected from each other. Carolyn Sharp offers a solution for relationships that are struggling, feeling stale, or just in need of a little extra care. Carolyn is a couples therapist who helps people build vital, vibrant, and secure functioning relationships....

High-control religion can shape identity, silence intuition, and leave lasting trauma—especially when faith, purity culture, and authority collide during adolescence. Darls Centola is a trauma therapist who explores how navigating faith under intense control shaped her path out of religious trauma and into healing. Darls shared a teenage friendship with Michael Jackson inside the Jehovah’s Witness...

Feeling invisible can quietly erode our sense of worth, but being seen is often where healing begins. Oneika Mays is a meditation teacher who’s helped people from yoga studios to Rikers Island find compassion and resilience through mindfulness . She discusses how mindfulness and meditation can help us manage stress, build self-worth, and create healing spaces for those who feel forgotten. Oneika i...

When a woman decides to choose herself, everything changes. It’s a moment that invites her to reclaim her voice, her truth, and her life after years of living according to expectations that no longer fit. Deborah Santana’ s journey goes from a life shaped by heritage, to marriage to legendary musician Carlos Santana , to a spiritual and personal rebirth. She discusses why the fire meant to consume...

Some stories really challenge how we think about justice, silence, and the courage it takes to finally speak your truth. Darlene Lekowski was sexually assaulted by her two oldest brothers. She kept that secret for decades, building a successful life while carrying the heavy weight of shame and unresolved trauma until she finally began to heal and reclaim her voice. She talks about what happens whe...

Some voices have shaped history by speaking truth to power and fighting for equality. In this episode, we’re joined by two extraordinary women whose lifelong activism has touched lives around the world. Gloria Steinem, pioneering feminist organizer, writer, and advocate, and Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize-winning peace activist and women’s rights leader from Liberia, discuss their powerful colla...

In a culture where love is often romanticized but rarely taught, many people find themselves repeating relationship patterns they don’t fully understand. We long for closeness and safety, yet struggle when conflict arises or connection feels threatened. The good news is that secure relationships aren’t reserved for the lucky few—they can be learned.   Julie Menanno talks about what secure love rea...

In a world where growth is often forced, over-managed, or prematurely pruned, some companies manage to scale with strength, longevity, and purpose. What separates the organizations that thrive for decades from those that stay small — or break under pressure — often comes down to how leaders think about growth, technology, and decision-making. Nicolas Darveau-Garneau has been at the center of the b...

Some stories don’t just recount history, they help us understand who we become in the aftermath of trauma. Today’s conversation. Mimi Nichter was just 20 years old when her flight from Israel to New York was hijacked and diverted to the Jordanian desert. It took Mimi more than 50 years to find the courage to tell this story. She invites us to reflect not only on trauma, but on the resilience requi...

With one-fifth of Americans living in chronic pain - and countless others carrying pain that is temporary, emotional, or unseen - Darcy Steinke invites us to reconsider something most of us try to avoid. She shares why she believes pain shapes not only the body, but the soul. Darcy has taught at Columbia University, NYU, Princeton, and the American University of Paris, and is the author of nine bo...

Relationship conflict can feel frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes impossible to resolve. But what if the path to real connection didn’t require complicated strategies but rather, just one simple, powerful question? Annmarie Chereso explores how even the most challenging relationship dynamics can shift from reactivity to understanding. AnnMarie, is a #1 International Best-Selling author, consci...

Near-death experiences exist at the meeting point of mystery and spirituality, offering powerful insight into consciousness beyond the physical body. For many, they awaken a deeper understanding of meaning, purpose, and connection that continues long after the experience itself. Jacob Cooper’s life was forever changed by a near-death experience at just three years old. He talks about his profound...

In grief, trauma, and life’s darkest moments, a single experience of awe can spark resilience, hope, and connection. Val Walker shares a deeply personal story showing how awe grounds us, renews our spirit, and breaks the isolation of trauma. As a rehabilitation counselor, group facilitator, and survivor of complex trauma, Val illuminates the path from darkness to light through the contagious power...

Changes to your body and brain are normal as you age. And while it may feel like it’s out of your control, research shows that there are things you can do to help slow any decline in memory and lower your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other brain issues. Dr. Tommy Wood discusses how you can improve focus and cognition at any age. Dr. Wood is an assistant professor of Pediatrics and Neu...

Life has a way of throwing challenges at us — some we expect, and others that completely upend everything we know. How we choose to navigate those moments often defines who we become. Jackie Pflug knows this truth more than most. Jackie survived the 1985 hijacking of EgyptAir Flight 648, an event that forced her to confront trauma, resilience, and reinvention in the deepest sense. Now, with her ne...