Conversations with Joan

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...

In a time when so many of us are searching for ways to feel better, stay stronger, and add more healthy years to our lives, the importance of clear, reliable, science-based information has never been greater. We’re surrounded by conflicting advice, quick fixes, and wellness trends that come and go — but what truly makes a difference is understanding the evidence behind how our daily choices shape...

Despite having more comfort and knowledge than ever before, many people struggle with mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Dr. Anders Hansen contends that understanding our brain’s design, which is built for survival and not constant happiness, is key to addressing today’s mental health challenges. Dr. Hansen talks about the brain and offers actionable strategies to cultivate g...

Wm Paul Young, author of The Shack , was raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was Netherlands New Guinea. Paul has suffered tremendous loss in his life and he has struggled to live with an underlying shame that ran so deep that it threatened his sense of sanity. He discusses the potency of love and forgiveness, the road of reconciliation, the surprises...

Anyone who has watched the Holiday Classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, can fondly recall Clarence, the guardian angel sent to earth to aid George Bailey in his time of need. Clarence helped George see the value in his life, and George helped Clarence earn his wings. This touching story has led many to wonder if there really are angels by our side and what their role may be in our lives. Lorna Byrne ha...

Manifestation isn’t just about wishing for what you want, it’s about aligning your energy, mindset, and actions to bring your dreams into reality. Colette Barron-Reed helps people turn intention into inspired action and step into lives of clarity, purpose, and fulfillment. Colette is a spiritual teacher, transformational coach, and intuitive guide. She is the author of the new book, The Art of Man...

David Baldacci has been writing since childhood, He published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996 and it was adapted into a feature film with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. Today. David is an award-winning #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. He discusses his new book, Nash Falls.

One in six women will experience sexual violence in her lifetime. Behind that number are countless untold stories of trauma, survival, and the difficult journey toward reclaiming intimacy. Dr. Vanessa Carlisle helps us understand what that means and how healing is possible. Dr. Carlisle is a renowned expert in sex, sexuality, gender, addiction, and trauma, and the author of Awaken Your Sexuality:...

The holiday season is upon us. For many it can be the most wonderful time of the year, but for others, it can be the loneliest. If you have lost a loved one or suffered a breakup with a spouse/significant other or friend, the holiday season is a constant reminder of the loss. Grief at any time of the year is painful, but it feels especially traumatic during the holidays. Dr. Pilar Jennings talks a...

Many people hunger for success but struggle to balance what they pursue on the outside with what they need on the inside. According to Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa, we can learn how to have our outer success reflect our inner core. He teaches how our five core energies can create outer impact from a place of inner mastery. Dr. Wadhwa is a professor at Columbia Business School and the founder of the Mentora...

Mitch Albom has written books that have made a difference in the lives of millions around the world. He is an internationally renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, broadcaster and musician. Mitch’s books, which include Tuesdays with Morrie , The Five People You Meet in Heaven , and For One More Day , and have collectively sold more than 40 million copies worldwide...