Life. Reimagined. with Stacey Ray

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons of the FDNY sits down with host Stacey Ray to reflect on her groundbreaking career as the first woman to reach the rank of Deputy Chief in fire operations.   From growing up in a legacy firefighter family to navigating the cultural resistance women faced entering the fire service, Michele shares what it took to ris...

In this powerful and emotional episode, host Stacey Ray sits down with Darlene Lekowski for a deeply honest conversation about trauma, truth, and the lifelong journey of healing.   Darlene shares her experience of surviving sibling sexual trauma and abuse (SSTA), revealing how a childhood that appeared outwardly perfect concealed years of pain and silence. After decades of keeping her story hidden...

In this inspiring and deeply personal conversation, Stacey Ray sits down with Scottish-Egyptian duo The Ayoub Sisters, violinist Laura and cellist Sarah to explore their extraordinary journey from childhood curiosity to international acclaim.   Raised in Glasgow in a traditional Arabic family with strong expectations around medicine and academia, the sisters candidly reflect on navigating cultural...

“What if, instead of sensationalizing the crime, we paused long enough to truly understand the woman behind it?” In this deeply human and eye‑opening episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey Ray sits down with feminist criminologist Dr. Kathryn Whiteley for a powerful conversation about women, violent crime, and the stories we rarely hear. With decades of qualitative research conducted inside pri...

“This is not about politics. This is about human rights, justice, and whether we are willing to protect the most vulnerable among us.” In this urgent and unflinching episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey Ray is joined once again by attorney and victims’ rights advocate Micha Star Liberty for a wide-ranging conversation about the Epstein files, systemic cover-ups, and the profound harm caused w...

"No one would design this system if we were starting again today." In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey is joined by Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, physician, journalist, and author of An American Sickness. Together, they dive deep into the broken U.S. healthcare system, exploring how it became a profit-driven behemoth that fails patients of every demographic. From...

You don't get shot in the head and come out the same person—but you can come out stronger.” In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Stacey welcomes Jackie Pflug, a hijacking survivor, motivational speaker, and author, who shares the harrowing story of being shot in the head during the 1985 EgyptAir Flight 648 hijacking—and the incredible journey of healing, resilience, and reinvention that fol...

 "I thought I was a victim of child identity theft—until I discovered the truth: my own mother had stolen my identity, my future, and my trust." In this deeply compelling and emotionally charged episode, Stacey sits down with Dr. Axton Betz-Hamilton, a professor, author, and survivor of one of the most personal crimes imaginable: identity theft at the hands of her own mother. From an idyllic child...

"You deserve a seat in the driver's seat of your financial future — not as a passenger, and definitely not hitchhiking." In this eye-opening and empowering episode, Stacey welcomes Lorie Jones, a Certified Financial Planner and the founder of Fearless Financial Advisors, to discuss the fears, myths, and realities surrounding women and money. With warmth and humor, Lorie shares her personal journey...

 "No one else was going to push me, so I pushed myself." In this moving and wide-ranging conversation, retired U.S. Army Major General Mari K. Eder joins host Stacey to share her journey through a 36-year military career, her lifelong pursuit of purpose, and her mission to spotlight the unsung heroes of history. From her beginnings as a public relations specialist in the military to becoming one o...

"What happens after you survive the unthinkable? For Jessica Buchanan, surviving survival became the hardest—and most transformative—journey of all." In this deeply powerful and emotionally resonant episode, Stacey sits down with Jessica Buchanan, humanitarian, educator, and New York Times bestselling author, to unpack her harrowing story of being kidnapped by Somali pirates and held hostage for 9...

"When you take away the skin, we are all the same. Everyone deserves respect in life—and in death." In this riveting episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey welcomes Dr. Joye Carter, the first Black female chief medical examiner in the United States, for a powerful and eye-opening conversation. Dr. Carter shares the extraordinary journey that led her to forensic pathology—from a childhood medica...

"Real justice isn't about money—it's about being heard, believed, and seen." In this emotionally powerful episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey Lindsay sits down with renowned civil rights attorney, activist, and entrepreneur Micha Star Liberty. Micha shares her deeply personal journey from witnessing devastating loss as a teenager to dedicating her career to fighting for survivors of sexual v...

"You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable, because that’s where the opportunities live." In this inspiring episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey sits down with the trailblazing Captain Kate McCue — the first American woman to captain a megaship and now the captain for the upcoming ultra-luxury Four Seasons Yachts. From her early dreams of being a cruise director to navigating a male-domi...

 "Archeology isn't just about digging up the past—it's about understanding the present, empowering local voices, and uncovering the stories that shape our shared humanity." In this thought-provoking and delightfully human conversation, Stacey sits down with Dr. Smiti Nathan, an archaeologist, educator, and storyteller who is redefining how we connect with history. Dr. Nathan shares her unexpected...

"We don’t go on vacation. We go on adventures. And every adventure just revs us up for the next one." In this extraordinary episode, host Stacey chats with the inspiring best friends Sandy and Ellie—aka "The Traveling Nanas"—about their unforgettable journey around the world in 80 days at age 81. What started as a whimsical idea became a viral sensation, leading to TV appearances, a book deal with...

💙 Important Note: Today’s episode contains conversations about suicide. If this topic is sensitive for you, please take care while listening. If you need support, call 988 in the U.S. or reach out to crisis resources near you. "When you hand your child the world through social media, you're also giving the world access to them." In this heart-wrenching yet empowering episode, Stacey sits down wit...

"When a woman finds her strength and continues to go, she will eventually succeed." In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Stacey sits down with Wendy Alexander—career coach, activist, and survivor—to explore her extraordinary life journey. Born and raised in apartheid-era South Africa, Wendy shares how early encounters with racial injustice shaped her spirit of resistance and ultimately forg...

"Big and small dreams are worth paying attention to – everyone deserves joy, however they choose to find it." In this deeply moving and empowering episode, Stacey reconnects with her cousin, Alison Krupnick, whose life story unfolds across continents, careers, and challenges. From her time as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer working on the frontlines of refugee resettlement, to navigating multiple c...

“Caregiving isn’t about perfection—it’s about doing your best, choosing to care, and finding ways to keep your own tank full along the way.” In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Amy Goyer, AARP's National Family and Caregiving Expert, shares her decades-long journey of caring for multiple family members while also working full-time. From supporting her grandparents with Alzheimer's to nav...

Hollywood, Hormones & Reinventing Life After 50 In this poignant and wildly engaging episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey sits down with the ever-insightful and endlessly witty Constance McCashin. Best known for her role as Laura Avery on the long-running primetime soap Knots Landing, Constance opens up about her bold pivot from Hollywood actress to licensed therapist. Together, they expl...

"It’s never too late to find your marvelous." In this inspiring and laugh-out-loud episode, Stacey sits down with Felicia Madison, stand-up comedian, comedy booker, and the force behind the West Side Comedy Club and FUNY (Funny University of New York). Once a stay-at-home mom who felt like something was missing, Felicia took a leap in her 50s to try stand-up comedy—and never looked back. From her...

"Photography creates legacy on both sides of the lens. When it captures your essence, it proves that version of you exists." In this inspiring episode of Life. Reimagined., host Stacey chats with internationally awarded Master Photographer, educator, and creative entrepreneur Cat Ford-Coates. From a bullied teen to a global visual storyteller, Cat shares her unconventional journey into portrait ph...

"From academic death sentence to unstoppable resilience, Ellen Busch reveals how she rewrote her life story." In this powerful and transformative episode, host Stacey sits down with Ellen Busch—author, coach, speaker, and survivor—to explore her remarkable journey of overcoming dyslexia, surviving an abusive marriage, and forging a life of empowerment. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a time when it was...

“Reinvention isn’t about starting over—it’s about evolving into the fullest version of ourselves.” In this illuminating episode of Life. Reimagined with Stacey Ray, Stacey sits down with two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and creative powerhouse Shannon Malone-deBenedictis. Known for her heart-stirring documentaries like Penguin Town, Secrets of the Whales, and Inside the Mind of a Cat, Shannon...