You Matter!

Today I welcome Clara Kim, Vice President of Consulting Services at RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense....

Today I welcome Ashley Smith; Ashley is a mental health advocate living with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, a parent, and the creator of the blog Overcoming Schizophrenia. Ashley is the author of two books related to Schizophrenia, What's On My Mind, A Collection of Blog Entries Related to Schizophrenia, and What's On My Mind, Coping Takes Work.

Today I welcome Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Ann Murdoch. Lt. Col Murdoch is a recipient of the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star and served in Afghanistan. During Lt. Murdoch's entire military career, in fact her entire life, she harbored a secret that could have cost her career, family and even her life. Although she had a male body, and by all appearances she was a married father of two children,...

Today I welcome Ken Daniels, play-by-play announcer for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings and father of Jamie Daniels who, on December 7, 2016 at the age of 23, lost his battle with Substance Use Disorder. Ken is here to share the story of his son's life and the legacy created in his memory, the Jamie Daniels Foundation.

Emma Benoit, from Prairieville, Louisiana, was just 16 years old when she survived a suicide attempt. Today, she is a powerful motivational speaker who's miraculous story and message of hope inspires audiences of all ages.

Today I welcome Brandon Farbstein. Brandon is a motivational speaker and author who inspires millions of people across the globe with his universal message of living life on your own terms and building the framework for self-acceptance. Diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism at the age of 2 (metatropic dysplasia), Brandon has turned his life experience of suffering, isolation, and victimhood into...

Today I welcome Rafael Rodriguez, NYU's first Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, to celebrate our 100th episode of You Matter!

Susan A. Gibson, Special Agent In Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Jersey Division. SAC Gibson is here to talk about the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, an event that aims to provide a safe, convenient, and anonymous means of disposing of prescription drugs.

Today I welcome Keisha Greaves. At 24 years-of-age, Keisha was diagnosed with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy; she later started the Girls Chronically Rock clothing line to inspire others with chronic illnesses to have confidence and not let their disability define who they are. Keshia is a motivational speaker, has a Master's in Business Management, and is the Massachusetts State Ambassador for th...

Today I welcome Shea and Sidney Gomez, sisters and hosts of The Real Sisters of Sobriety podcast, a podcast about being sober in a booze obsessed world. Shea and Sidney are going to share their personal stories that led to their journey to sobriety, how they are trying to destigmatize the conversation about excessive alcohol consumption and how being boozeless today brings them much joy and happin...

Today I welcome Randy Grimes. Randy was an NFL player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ten years; while playing for the Buccaneers and to treat his football-related injuries, Randy considered painkillers to be a "necessary evil". Upon Randy's retirement from the NFL, he spent the next 20 years in the depths of addiction - losing friends, homes and almost his wife Lydia. Lydia stood by him through...

Today I welcome Marie Sander; Marie was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer in September 2013, and today, is in remission. Marie has become an advocate for colon cancer awareness and is here to share her story from discovery to diagnosis to recovery, and how cancer has impacted her life. (Note: this episode will air in March for Colon Cancer Awareness Month)

Hayley is an actress, curve model and body confidence activist who appeared on such shows as Baywatch, Huge, Pair of Kings and Why Women Kill. Hayley also graced our screens to give us fashion tips as the resident style host for Good Morning America's Strahan, Sara and Keke. At the age of 14, Hayley made her fashion debut by signing with the world-renowned modeling agency Ford Models; today, Hayle...

Today I welcome Jody Plauche, a child sexual abuse and kidnapping survivor, and the author of The Jody Plauche Story - Why Gary Why?, the question asked by Jody's father as he shot and killed Jody's abuser, Jody's childhood karate instructor. As an adult, Jody educates parents regarding the tactics predators might use to manipulate their children in an effort to keep children safer.

Karen speaks with Professor Dalton Conley, the Henry Putnam University Professor of Sociology at Princeton University and affiliate of the Office of Population Research and the Center for Health and Wellbeing. Professor Conley talks about his bestselling book, The Pecking Order, Which Siblings Succeed and Why, which asserts that birth order does not determine success but instead, success is influe...

Maura and Eric talk to Karen about Maura's mother, Mary Joy Scherlach. Mary was a school psychologist at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut; on December 14, 2012, Mary gave her life protecting her students when someone entered the school and fatally shot 26 people and injured one. Following this nightmare, Mary's family and friends created Mary's Fund to honor Mary's legacy.

Monroe France, NYU Senior Associate Vice President for Global Engagement and Inclusive Leadership and Chris Woods, Director, LGBTQ+ Center at NYU. Monroe and Chris talk about the ways in which the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation is dedicated to developing strategies to enhance the lives of all members of the NYU community.

Ali is an alumna of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and a groundbreaking performer who made history as the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway. Ali won a Tony for her performance in the revival of Oklahoma! and earned a Barrymore Award nomination for starring in The Twenty-Fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In addition to her work on and off-Broadway, she has soloed at the Kenn...

In this episode, Karen speaks with Claire Tietgen and her father Charles. Claire is 18 and the survivor of bullying as well as several suicide attempts. Claire is on a mission to share her story to normalize the conversation about bullying, depression and suicide.

Dr. Robert J. Ackerman is Professor Emeritus from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an author, and the previous Director of the Mid-Atlantic Addiction Research and Training Institute. He is the co-founder of the National Association for Children of Addiction and the previous Editor of Counselor: The Magazine for Addiction and Behavioral Health Professionals, and currently the Chair of the Adviso...

Claire Bidwell Smith is a renowned grief expert and author. After losing both of her parents at a young age, Claire was drawn to helping others navigate the grief process. A former therapist in private practice for over a decade, she has counseled thousands of people and written three books about grief and loss. Claire speaks and lectures widely; she is passionate about advocating for advancement...

Angela Kennecke is a seasoned investigative journalist and news anchor at the South Dakota CBS affiliate KELO in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Angela was working on a story on drug overdoses the day she got the news that her 21-year-old daughter Emily died of an overdose. It was later revealed that Emily died of fentanyl poisoning after having obtained what she thought was heroin. Angela is on a miss...

Cheryl Thomas was a student at Florida State University in 1978 and a member of the FSU dance team. Cheryl was alone in her apartment when serial killer Ted Bundy broke in, viciously attacked her and left her for dead. Unbeknownst to Cheryl, Bundy had just murdered two FSU classmates who were members of the Chi Omega Sorority and brutally attacked two other sorority sisters. Cheryl is here to shar...

Stephanie is the author of 37 Seconds: Dying Revealed Heaven's Help. In 2013, when Stephanie was pregnant with her second child, she began receiving mysterious but strong premonitions that she would die during delivery. Stephanie did everything that she could to inform physicians and her family about what she knew was coming; no one believed her. When Stephanie gave birth to her son, she flatlined...

Brandy is an actress, dancer and former model. Clean & sober since 2012, Brandy speaks candidly and regularly about her addiction to drugs & alcohol and her recovery from trauma. A prominent member of the community, Brandy is on several Boards including the Red Songbird Foundation and is involved in numerous fundraising events for various causes.