HIListically Speaking with Hilary Russo

For decades, entrepreneur and diabetes advocate Howard Steinberg appeared successful by every measure. But beneath the accomplishments was a relentless inner critic, childhood wounds, intergenerational trauma, and a deep longing to understand who he really was. In this powerful conversation, Howard shares the deeply personal journey behind his memoir, Confessions of a Problem Seeker: My Lifetime J...

Many women reach midlife and feel a powerful inner urge to reinvent themselves. But how do you choose a new path when your entire life has been shaped by responsibility, relationships, expectations, or even life in the public eye? On this episode of HIListically Speaking, Hilary Russo welcomes author, activist, philanthropist, Deborah Santana.  From growing up as the daughter of a pioneering inter...

Do you have the right to die? Hilary sits down with Erica Baccus, author of A Promise Kept , to share the intimate and complex story of her husband John's battle with dementia and the decision they made when faced with what she calls the "dementia catch-22." Together, they explore love, autonomy, caregiving, grief, and the ethical gray areas surrounding end-of-life choices. This is not a conversat...

Feeling stuck? You might be closer to flow than you think. In this episode of  HIListically Speaking , Hilary sits down with flow and creativity expert Laurie Smith, author of The Flow Habit: Creating Peace, Passion, Purpose, and Everyday Miracles , to explore how everyday moments of joy, curiosity, and presence can become powerful catalysts for transformation. Together, they unpack the truth abou...

What happens when a child is handed a trash bag instead of a sense of belonging? And what if that child grows up to change the system that failed him? In this powerful and special Podcasthon episode of HIListically Speaking , host Hilary Russo sits down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, to talk about trauma, resilience, and what it really means to restore dignity to children in foster car...

What if stress isn't the enemy… but the signal? In this episode, host Hilary Russo sits down with Brett Cotter, founder of Stress Is Gone, to explore what it really means to release emotional pain instead of powering through it. We talk about nervous system exhaustion, the layers underneath jealousy and fear, supporting veterans and first responders, and the often-overlooked impact of secondary tr...

What if the simplest way to shift your life… started with a pen and a blank page? In this expansive and joy-filled conversation, Hilary sits down with internationally respected intuitive, author, and artist Colette Baron-Reid to explore how intentional art can rewire the brain, regulate the nervous system, and open us to synchronicity in ways vision boards alone can't. From celebrating 40 years of...

What happens when you've spent years camouflaging your identity for someone else's career and suddenly it's time to reappear? In this episode of HIListically Speaking , Hilary sits down with Heather Sweeney, author of Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage , for a raw and honest conversation about life after military marriage, divorce, and rediscovering who you really ar...

January has earned a difficult nickname in legal and mental health circles: Divorce Month. But what's really happening when the holidays end, and so many women begin questioning their marriages? In this episode of HIListically Speaking , Hilary Russo is joined by Oona Metz, therapist of 30 years and author of Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women . Together, they unpack why couples ofte...

What if simply *looking* at art could help regulate your nervous system, calm your mind, and restore emotional balance? In this deeply moving episode of HIListically Speaking, host Hilary Russo sits down with LeeAnn Heltzel, multidimensional artist, conscious explorer, and creator of MetaArt; frequency-infused abstract artwork designed as portals for ocular (eyes-open) meditation. They discuss the...

Meditation is more than just sitting in silence. It offers a powerful means to cultivate peace, unity, and compassion. The world is at a tipping point. So imagine what would happen if we came together on one day for a global pause for peace, presence, and possibility. On this special episode of the HIListically Speaking Podcast, Hilary welcomes   Millions Meditating Alliance co-founder Lauren L'Am...

Ever wonder why you keep attracting the same kind of relationships that leave you feeling unseen or unsafe? In this episode of HIListically Speaking , licensed psychotherapist and bestselling author Jessica Baum reveals how understanding your attachment style is the key to breaking those old patterns. We talk about her new book SAFE and how to build more secure relationships—starting with yourself...

Ever felt like life's unexpected turns were trying to tell you something? In this powerful episode of HIListically Speaking , filmmaker-turned-author Kimberly Warner returns to share her deeply personal journey behind her acclaimed memoir, Unfixed that's touching hearts around the world.  After being diagnosed with a vestibular disorder (non-motion triggered oscillatory vertigo) , Kimberly's life...

What happens when your safe place becomes a battlefield for your beliefs, your body and your cultural identity?   In this truth-telling episode, author and Stamford University interpersonal dynamics educator Chanchal Gang shares her escape from spiritual and sexual abuse and what she did to reclaim her voice and set boundaries. Chanchal shares how she broke free from cultural and familial expectat...

It's OK to start over. In fact, it's encouraged. In this empowering episode, Cameo Elyse Braun, entrepreneur, musician, former professional bodybuilder, and author of The Reset Button , shares her remarkable journey of hitting reset on her life. From embracing sobriety to navigating motherhood, therapy, and major life transitions, Cameo reveals how she found balance, authenticity, and the courage...

What happens when a life rooted in faith and tradition collides with family scandal? In this powerful episode, renowned author and therapist Rachel Krentzman opens up about her father's arrest, an Orthodox rabbi once respected in the community, and the emotional turmoil that followed. Through her new memoir, As Is , Rachel shares her journey of healing generational trauma with the help of yoga, so...

What happens when the dream of motherhood doesn't come true? After seven years of fertility treatments that ended without a child, Lana Manikowski found herself facing grief, isolation, and the painful question: So now what?  Instead of following a path that didn't feel right, like donor eggs or adoption, Lana built the support system she longed for but couldn't find at her clinic. Today, she's an...

As we launch Season Six of HIListically Speaking, Host Hilary Russo shares how intentional reflection and quiet moments can unlock creativity, clarity, and personal growth. Alongside fresh insights, the new "Where Are They Now?" series revisits past guests, from bestselling authors to everyday changemakers, while diving deeper into the HUG It Out Method®, the expanding Book Nook, and stories roote...

Celebrate 5 years of HIListically Speaking® with host Hilary Russo as she reflects on the transformative journey of nearly 200 episodes, each one a master class in healing, personal growth, and mental wellness. In this milestone episode, Hilary unveils  The HIListically Speaking® Book Nook , a curated collection of books by the inspiring and bestselling authors who have graced the show. Every titl...

How addicted are you to your devices and is your brain paying the price? Cognitive neuroscientist and brain performance coach Dr. Trish Leigh joins Hilary Russo on HIListically Speaking to explore how online habits especially pornography and constant screen time rewire the brain.  Based on her book Mind Over Explicit Matter , Dr. Leigh unpacks dopamine dependency, supernormal stimuli, and the link...

Are we finally ready to talk about mental health and menopause in the same sentence?   Dr. Juliana Hauser joins us for a bold, unfiltered conversation that challenges the stigma surrounding women's mental health, especially during perimenopause and menopause. This episode explores why it's time to move beyond silence and make mental well-being a headline issue. From the intersection of hormones, i...

Diet failed again? Don't beat yourself up!  We've all been there. Even author and health coach Connie Bennett has slipped up a few times. During this inspiring, entertaining, and humorous conversation with Hilary, Connie shares her own story of overcoming sugar addiction, what led her down the "carbage" food path, and the techniques she used to pick herself up and heal on a road to healthy habits...

What happens when awareness isn't enough to save lives? In this powerful episode of HIListically Speaking , Hilary sits down with Adam Bird. Adam is not only military veteran, he's an entrepreneur, CEO of Heroes Media Group and has a passion for amplifying the voices of Veterans, First Responders, and Community Heroes. We dig into the silent struggles facing our military veterans, from PTSD and su...

What if seven simple words could change the way we connect with others on the path to peace? In this powerful episode of HIListically Speaking , Hilary Russo sits down with James Twyman, a New York Times Best-Selling Author (The Moses Code), spiritual teacher, and the "Peace Troubadour" to explore how one profound phrase.   "I Don't Know, Maybe, I Love You." Now the title of his latest book, this...

What if healing your body image started with connection—not correction? In this episode of HIListically Speaking, Hilary Russo and therapist Deb Schachter, co-author of Body Image Inside Out, explore how our early relationships, emotional patterns, and self-talk shape the way we see ourselves. From personal stories to powerful metaphors like the rotary, they unpack how emotions live in the body an...