You Matter!

On this episode, Karen speaks with Brooke Eby; in March 2023, at the age of 33, Brooke was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no cure. Most doctors give a newly diagnosed person 2-5 years to live. With lots of support from family, friends, and co-workers, Brooke turned her fear and grief into laughter by educati...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Dr. Jason Pina. At the time of this interview, Dr. Pina was Vice President for University Life & Global Programs at New York University; he was recently promoted to Senior Vice President for University Life. Prior to his appointments at NYU, Dr. Pina served as Ohio University's Vice President for Student Affairs. Dr. Pina is here to talk about his journey as a hi...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Cindy Liccardo, Esquire. Cindy was diagnosed with lung cancer on June 17, 2021; she had a left upper lobe lung resection surgery in November, completed her treatment in December and in January 2022, the cancer had metastasized to her brain. Following rigorous segmental brain radiation treatment, today, there is no evidence of cancer in her body. Cindy is here to...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Michelle Rotella, Assistant United States Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator responsible for the intake of all child exploitation matters in the 9-county Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Michelle is a subject matter expert in child exploitation and cybercrime and serves on a nationwide committee as Attorney Advisor for national child exploitation an...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Courtney Friel, an anchor and reporter for KTLA in Los Angeles, California, and the author of a memoir, "Tonight At 10: Kicking Booze and Breaking News," which details her ascent in the news business while dealing with alcohol and drug addiction. Courtney is here to share her story and her journey to recovery

On this episode, Karen speaks with a frequent guest of You Matter!, Dr. Gregg McDonald, Chief Deputy Coroner for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and the Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Chair of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. McDonald and I are going to discuss in this educational episode, what DEA Administrator...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Diane R. Button. Diane is a founding partner of the Bay Area End-of-Life Doula Alliance in Northern California, and an instructor for the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate Program. Her latest book, Dear Death, combines the insights gained from her research on "The Four Pillars of a Meaningful Life," with o...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Dr. Adam Hill, a pediatric palliative care physician, author and recovering alcoholic. Dr. Hill openly shares his story of depression, suicidal thoughts and alcoholism while working in the field of medicine; he wrote "Long Walk Out of the Woods" in which he shares his story and lifts the veil of secrecy regarding caregiver mental health.

On this episode, Karen speaks with Sandra Joseph, #1 bestselling author and keynote speaker, and the longest-running leading lady in the longest-running Broadway show of all-time, Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, which spanned ten years and more than 1,300 performances. Sandra has also been seen on numerous national broadcasts, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, The Today Show, Dateline,...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Chairman of the New Jersey State Parole Board, Samuel J. Plumeri. Chairman Plumeri is here to educate listeners about parole as well as share his professional journey that lead to his current position, heading the state's lead reentry organization, ensuring that formerly incarcerated persons return to society as law abiding citizens.

On this episode, Karen speaks with Kim Alexis, author, actress and supermodel who has appeared on the cover of magazines like Sports Illustrated, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Self and Cosmopolitan, and in 1983, was the face of Revlon. Kim is here to share her journey to fame that began at the age of 17 when she was discovered by Elite Talent Agency, and how today, Kim's mission at the age of 6...

 On this episode, Karen speaks with Paul Frase, 11-year NFL Super Bowl veteran, and Alison Rockett, CEO and President and Co-Founder of The Joshua Frase Foundation, the parents of Isabella and Joshua. Joshua was born on February 2, 1995, with an ultra-rare and fatal neuromuscular disorder called myotubular myopathy and passed away on December 24, 2010, at the age of 15. Myotubular myopathy claims...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Daniel "Rudy" Reuttiger; 'Rudy' is an American motivational speaker and author who played college football at the University of Notre Dame and is the real-life inspiration for the iconic 1993 film RUDY. Rudy is here to share the story behind the film as well as his life journey since Rudy was released. 

On this episode, Karen speaks with Michelle Corrao, author of Found, Triumph over Fear with Grace and Gratitude: The Michelle Corrao Story, to share her journey to recovery following her abduction in front of her home in 1996, after which she was sexually assaulted and then forced into the trunk of her car where she was later found by an off-duty police officer, and her life saved.

On the episode, Karen speaks with Daniella DeChristopher, author of Behind Closed Doors A Daughter's Story, the story of a family from Italy that came to America on vacation and never returned to their homeland. When their youngest unwed daughter became pregnant in 1949, her family disowned her; she was seventeen when she gave birth to her daughter. Daniella is her daughter and this is her story.

 On this episode, Karen speaks with Bradi Nathan, the mother of Jack who passed away suddenly and accidentally on July 3, 2020, at the age of 19 after consuming a fentanyl-laced pill. Jack struggled with mental illness during his life and as a result, created HappyJacksWorld, an online safe haven for kids who struggle with mental illness. Bradi is here to share Jack's story and to continue Jack's...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Jessica Plumeri, Chief of Detectives in the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office located in Trenton, New Jersey, the only female police chief in a county law enforcement agency in the State of New Jersey. Chief Plumeri is here to share her journey to the role of top cop in Mercer County as well as the evolution of the role of women in policing.

On the Season 8 premeire of the You Matter! Podcast, Karen speaks with Danielle Elleman, Associate Director, Sexual Misconduct Support Services and Sexual Misconduct Support Services, and April Fellers, Nurse Manager, Primary Care, Student Health Center, the hosts of Good Sex @NYU, a new podcast intended to destigmatize conversations surrounding sex and lighten the load of shame or embarrassment t...

On this episode, Karen speaks with New York Times bestselling author and full-time psychic medium Concetta Bertoldi. Concetta has the extraordinary ability to see and hear things that most people cannot, and has been consulted by Britain's royal family, American celebrities and others regarding relationships, illnesses and coping with loss, to name a few.

On this episode, Karen speaks with Lydia Grimes and her husband Randy, a former NFL player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a return guest to the You Matter! podcast. In our previous conversation with Randy, he shared his story of addiction to painkillers as an NFL player, as well as his 20 - year addiction that followed his retirement from the NFL. Lydia is here to share her story of survival as th...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Sergeants Joe Paglione and Mike Castaldo, supervisors of the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, which is part of the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office located in Trenton, NJ. Sergeants Paglione and Castaldo are here to share the service that their Unit provides to child victims and to educate listeners regarding resources should you have concerns regarding a...

On this episode, Karen speaks with Rachel DeAlto, a mom, lawyer turned author, relationship and communications expert, media personality and speaker. In September 2021, Rachel's book Relatable: How to Connect with Anyone Anywhere (Even if It Scares You) was released; Rachel is here to talk about her book as well as her transition from lawyer to communication expert.

On this episode, Karen speaks with Michelle Lipinski, principal of Northshore Recovery High School, a school with a feature that sets itself apart from most other schools in the country - its students all have a diagnosed substance abuse disorder.

On this episode, Karen speaks with Pam O'Donnell, an advocate, motivational speaker and mother. On February 22, 2016, Pam's life was turned upside down when her husband and 5-year-old daughter were killed by an impaired driver, leaving Pam as the only parent to her 10-year-old daughter. Pam has turned her family's tragedy into action and has since founded the Catch You Later Foundation, which give...