Author, Speaker, Psychologist

Dr. Shefali Tsabary

We interview Dr. Shefali Tsabary the author of The Conscious Parent (with a forward written by the Dalai Lama) and her new book Out of Control which questions why and how we discipline children. Some of the issues we discuss with Dr. Shefali: – What are the first steps we can take to become a more conscious parent? – What prevents us from being the parent that we want to be? – Why most discipline strategies don’t work. How parenting our children can help us heal our past wounds. – How to release guilt when we recognize our parenting challenges are less about our children issues and more about our issues. – Can our children be an instrument for our own personal growth? – How do we release the power of natural consequences?  Click here to read the full podcast post.

Other Episodes with Shefali
Dr. Shefali Tsabary discusses her new book “Out of Control

Psychologist, Author, Life Coach

Dr. John Duffy

Todd and Cathy welcome back Dr. John Duffy and his wife Julie to discuss why so many people are dealing with undue anxiety. They process why it’s difficult to discuss, where it’s coming from, and why we need to talk to our kids about it. They discuss Dr. Duffy’s new podcast called Undue Anxiety, Bruce Springsteen, and why communication and connection are the keys to feeling less alone.

Dr. Duffy is a highly sought-after clinical psychologist, best-selling author, certified life coach, parenting and relationship expert, and proud husband and father. He has been working with individuals, couples, teens, and families for nearly twenty years. Dr. Duffy’s refreshing and unique approach has provided the critical intervention and support needed to help thousands of individuals and families find their footing.

Author, Speaker, Teacher

Annie Burnside M. Ed.

We speak with Author Annie Burnside about her book “From Role to Soul: 15 Shifts on the Awakening Journey” From her work with many who have awakened, Annie has learned that what it takes for us to finally quit trying to awaken, and simply awaken, is highly individualized.

A modern bridge between relative and absolute truth, Annie Burnside, M.Ed., is a soul nurturer, award-winning author, public speaker and teacher specializing in helping others to embrace a soul-to-soul approach to life through self-awareness. Burnside’s teachings inspire others to listen to the voice of their own soul to increase the authenticity and joy in ordinary living.

Other Episodes with Annie
What is Soul to Soul Parenting?

Author, Speaker, Founder-Date Safe Project

Mike Domitrz

Todd and Cathy talk with Mike Domitrz, Founder of The Date Safe Project and 2018 Zen Parenting Conference keynote speaker. They discuss they #metoo movement and what comes next – how does this change our behavior? How will this impact our relationships and society overall? How can it influence our parenting? Mike offers his expertise and support as we all navigate this ever-changing and uncertain time.

Mike Domitrz has been inspiring individuals with his hilarious sense of humor and his uncanny ability to draw hard-hitting emotion from audiences. Mike founded and is currently the Executive Director of The DATE SAFE Project. Through interactive presentations, creative educational resources, and unique national initiatives, The DATE SAFE Project is committed to being the nation’s leading organization for creating healthier dating environments, a clearer understanding of “consent” and for raising awareness on the many issues surrounding sexual assault.

Other Episodes with Mike
Building a culture of consent and respect: A discussion with Mike Domitrz from the Date Safe Project Podcast #347

Clinical psychologist, Author

Dr. Alexandra Solomon

Cathy and Todd talk with Dr. Alexandra Solomon, author of Loving Bravely: 20 Lessons of Self-Discovery to Help You Get the Love You Want. They discuss why the past shows up in love relationships, the challenges of hookup culture, and how to listen with the “third ear”. They also discuss why self-awareness is essential, and why offering compassion to yourself and your partner are keys to connection. If you are in a marriage or partnership, or if you are interested in having a healthy partnership, this is a must-listen episode.

Alexandra is a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University and a clinical assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Northwestern University. She received her PhD in Counseling Psychology and a graduate certificate in Gender Studies from Northwestern University.

Writer, Coach, & Personal Growth Teacher

Tara Mohr

Cathy and Todd talk to Tara Mohr, an expert on women’s leadership and well-being. She is the author of Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message, and she’s the creator of the Playing Big leadership program for women. Cathy first heard Tara Mohr at an Emerging Women conference, and she fell in love with her message and book. Listen as Tara talks about why women get blamed for not playing big, the two kinds of fear that hold us back, and why our inner mentor is our greatest guide. Find Tara at http://www.taramohr.com/ and read her viral blog post, 10 Rules for Brilliant Women.

Working to bring women’s voices fully into our world. Advancing the idea that compassion is a form of wisdom. Author of Playing Big (Penguin)

Other Episodes with Tara
Tara Mohr – Callings and Communication- Podcast #279

Executive Director NAMI Chicago

Alexa James

We talk with Alexa James, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Chicago. She explains the importance of sharing our stories to de-stigmatize mental health, and how language and perspective can shift our thinking. We discuss the myths and challenges around mental health for adults and children, and how we can shift our focus to care, recovery, and hope. NAMI Chicago’s mission is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those whose lives are affected by mental illness, providing information and referrals, education, support, advocacy, and active community outreach.

Alexa James, a licensed clinical social worker, has devoted her professional life to serving people living with mental illnesses. In 2013, Alexa assumed the leadership of NAMI Chicago as Executive Director. In the 10 years preceding her appointment as Executive Director, Alexa worked with children and adults living with mental illness as well as those impacted by poverty and trauma. She earned her Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Loyola University and in Child Development from Erickson Institute. Alexa’s passion is to see that our community is equipped to support those in need of mental health support and to end the crippling stigma that attaches to those living with mental illness.

Social Philosopher, Empathy Expert, Author

Roman Krznaric

We talk with Roman Krznaric, author, cultural thinker, and empathy expert. He has been named one of Britain’s leading popular philosophers, and he’s the founder of the Empathy Museum and the Empathy Library. Over half a million people have watched his RSA Animate video The Power of Outrospection (it’s a much watch!). Roman talks to us about the golden rule vs the platinum rule, how to raise empathetic kids, and why empathy has the power to change the world.

Roman Krznaric is a social philosopher whose books, including Empathy, The Wonderbox and How to Find Fulfilling Work, have been published in more than 20 languages. His latest book, Carpe Diem Regained, has been described by George Monbiot in The Guardian as “brilliant – one of those rare books that forces you to ask what the hell you’re doing with your life.”

He is the founder of the world’s first Empathy Museum and of the digital Empathy Library. He is also a founding faculty member of The School of Life and a Research Associate at the Design Against Crime Research Centre at Central Saint Martins college of art and design in London.

Author, Award-winning Journalist

Brigid Shulte

Cathy and Todd talk with Brigid Schulte, award-winning journalist for The Washington Post, and author of Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time. She shares why busyness has become the new status symbol, why moms are still the default caregivers/home managers, how kids are absorbing our stress, and why we should find more time for the present.

“Brigid Schulte is the author of the New York Times bestselling book on time pressure, Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play when No One has the Time, which named one of the notable books of the year by the Washington Post and NPR, and won the Virginia Library Association’s literary nonfiction award.

She has spoken all over the world about time, productivity, the causes and consequences of our unsustainable, always-on culture, and how to make time for Work, Love and Play – The Good Life – by rethinking how we work so that it’s effective, sustainable and fair, by re-imagining gender roles for a fairer division of labor and opportunity at work and home, by rewiring social policy, and instead of seeking status in busyness, by recapturing the value of leisure. She was an award-winning journalist for The Washington Post and The Washington Post Magazine and part of the team that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize.

Psychiatrist, CEO of Comprehensive Clinical Services

Dan Martinez

Todd and Cathy talk with Dr. Dan Martinez, Director of Comprehensive Clinical Services and licensed physician and surgeon who is Board Certified in Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry. Dr. Martinez shares his experience with treating anxiety and ADHD, how it typically affects kids and adults, and what parents need to understand about both diagnoses.

Dr. Martinez provides psychiatric evaluations for children and adults as well as medication monitoring and education for his patients and their families.

He is greatly involved in educating the community. He provides trainings to colleagues and lay individuals. His areas of interest include ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, public and cultural issues in psychiatric treatment.

Dr. Martinez shares his experience with treating anxiety and ADHD, how it typically affects kids and adults, and what parents need to understand about both diagnoses.

Sleep Medicine Specialist

Darius A. Loghmanee, MD

We speak with Darius A. Loghmanee, MD Attending Physician, Sleep Medicine; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. We cover all the bases from infants to adults. Is a sleep routine good, and if so what’s the best way of going about it. Dr. Darius shares with us why it’s not okay to tell your child to “go to sleep” and what you should say instead. You can learn more about Dr. Darius by going to https://www.luriechildrens.org/en-us/care-services/find-a-doctor/Pages/Loghmanee_Darius_2699.aspx

Dr. Darius Loghmanee, MD is a sleep medicine specialist in Chicago, IL and has been practicing for 15 years. He graduated from U Of Buffalo SUNY Sch Of Med & Biomedical Sci in 2003 and specializes in sleep medicine.

Priest, Author

Rev Ed Bacon

Cathy and Todd had the honor of talking with Rev Ed Bacon, author of the 8 Habits of Love and host of Oprah’s Soul Series on XM Radio.  They discuss everything from forgiveness, to self awareness, and why choosing love over fear is an essential decision when it comes to your partner, your kids, or even yourself.  In true ZP style, they even talk about the best movie, the best candy bar, and who Rev Ed would love to work with.  This one-hour podcast is one special show.

“Priest, guest on Oprah Winfrey’s Soul Series, and author of the book, 8 HABITS OF LOVE.
For the past seventeen years Ed Bacon has been the Rector of All Saints Church in Pasadena, with over 4,000 congregants. He has been a guest on Oprah Winfrey’s Soul Series on Oprah & Friends Radio, discussing 21st century spirituality, and has been a guest panelist in the Spirituality 101 segment of The Oprah Show’s “”Living Your Best Life”” series. His first book, 8 HABITS OF LOVE, was published in September by Grand Central Life & Style.”

Author, Lecturer, Human Behavior & Parenting Expert

Alfie Kohn

Our guest Alfie Kohn, author of The Myth of the Spoiled Child, says that the negativity thrown at parents and the supposedly narcissistic kids they are raising is unfounded. Kohn says parents should work to raise kids with high self esteem, and that the fashionable belief that kids must develop grit and self-discipline through failure and suffering is unproven and often counterproductive.

A few of the topics we discuss with Alfie:

• Warm responsive parenting is often confused with over indulgent and permissive parenting
• Punishment and rewards don’t work
• Competition is uniquely counterproductive
• We want to raise “reflective rebels”

Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. He is the author of twelve books and hundreds of articles. Kohn has been described by Time Magazine as “perhaps the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades and test scores.” He has appeared twice on “Oprah,” as well as on “The Today Show,” NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” and on many other TV and radio programs. He spends much of his time speaking at education conferences, as well as to parent groups, school faculties, and researchers.

Founder, CEO of Changing the Game Project

John O’Sullivan

We speak with the Founder of Changing The Game Project John O’Sullivan. Their mission is to ensure that we return youth sports to our children, and put the ‘play’ back in ‘play ball.’ For every Tiger Woods and Andre Aggassi, there are thousands of others who are in it for the fun (until the adults take the fun out of it.)

John started the Changing the Game Project in 2012 after two decades as a soccer player and coach on the youth, high school, college and professional level. He is the author of the #1 bestselling books Changing the Game: The Parents Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids and Is it Wise to Specialize? John’s work has been featured in The Huffington Post, CNN.com, Outside Magazine, ESPN.com, Soccer America and numerous other publications. John is an internationally known speaker for coaches, parents and youth sports organizations, and has spoken for TEDx, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, US Lacrosse, IMG Academy, and at numerous other events throughout the US, Canada, Asia and Europe.

Other Episodes with John
Can Youth Sports Be Fun AND Competitive? John O’Sullivan Says Yes Podcast #287 (Replay)

Founder & Executive Director of Let it Be US, Adoption Expert

Susan McConnell

Cathy and Todd talk with Susan McConnell from Let It Be Us about foster care in Illinois and throughout the country. They also talk with Kyle Osterhues and his mom Carolyne about his experience in foster care and their experience with adoption. This touching show sheds light on the importance and impact of foster care, and how so many great kids are waiting for their forever family.

Susan McConnell, Founder and Executive Director of Let It Be Us, brings attention to causes through media creation. Her work has raised millions for philanthropic projects and has won numerous awards. She is most proud of the congressional award for her 12 year commitment to children in foster care through the Heart Gallery of Illinois. She sits on the Statewide Foster Care Advisory Council and is also a Board Member for Barrington Family Service of Lake County.

Open Water Marathon Swimmer, Investment Banker

Doug McConnell

There are 7 billion people walking the earth right now. There have been 5,000 people who have successfully summited Mount Everest. Just over 1600 human beings have swam the English channel- Today’s guests are Doug and Susan McConnell. Doug is only the 48^th person over the age of 50 to successfully swim the English Channel. But he could not have done it without his team led by his wife Susan. In this two part interview- Doug shares with us how the idea came up as a gag over a few glasses of wine to a commitment that changed the direction of his life. He tells us about the obstacles namely sharks, hypothermia and how he navigated past each one of them and he sets the record straight of the old wives tale of whether or not it helps to pee on a jelly fish stings. To learn more about the MCconnell’s effort to raise awareness about ALS, please visit http://www.alongswim.com/

Doug McConnell, with the help of his A Long Swim Team, became only the 48th person over age 50 to swim the English Channel, in 14 hours that were divided between heavy waves and pitch black darkness.

The success of the English Channel swim has inspired the A Long Swim Team to continue with marathon swims, including the 24-mile length of Tampa Bay, the 21-mile distance of the Catalina Channel in California, and a 29-mile circumnavigation of Manhattan Island in New York City. The swims of the English Channel, the Catalina Channel and Manhattan Island make up the “Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming,” of which Doug was the 89th person to complete, and only the 15th person to complete all over the age of 50.

Other Episodes with Doug
A Long Swim Part 2- An Interview With Doug & Susan McConnell Podcast #339

Blogger, Speaker & Miscarriage & Stillbrith Awareness Advocate

Erin Kuhn-Krueger

We speak with Aaron Krueger and Erin Kuhn-Krueger about their experience with multiple miscarriages and stillbirth. In this moving and inspiring interview they share their challenges, coping tools, and their strength and determination to become parents. This show is a must if you have experienced pregnancy or infant loss, or if you know someone who is trying to navigate the grief associated with baby loss. This is Part 1 of a two part interview with the Krueger family – Part 2 will air Friday, June 13th.

Erin Kuhn-Krueger is a 5x miscarriage survivor (including a daughter, Baby K, at 16 weeks 6 days in April 2010), and a 2x stillbirth survivor (twins, Benjamin and Sarah, at 20 weeks 5 days in October 2012). Erin and her husband, Aaron, live in the suburbs of Chicago, and are parents of three sons: C, by way of domestic adoption (May 2013), and J (August 2014) and E (September 2017), after successfully carrying two pregnancies to term.

After her 4th loss, Erin created the blog and resource portal, Will CarryOn, for those experiencing baby loss, and learning to live and survive life after loss. She writes from the heart, touching on oft-taboo subjects, showcasing the struggles, determination and hope that have kept her (and her husband) together, and moving forward. She believes the more people talk about baby loss, the less alone those walking a similar path will feel.

Other Episodes with Erin
Grief and Hope: Surviving pregnancy and infant loss- Part 2

Entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker

Jodi Bondi Norgaard

Cathy and Todd talk with Jodi Bondi Norgaard, founder of Dream Big Toy Company and the creator of the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line of dolls and books for girls encouraging healthy and active play over fashion and body image. Jodi is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, activist, consultant, and founding member of The Brave Girl Alliance, a think tank of girl empowerment experts.

Jodi Bondi Norgaard is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, consultant, activist and founder and creator of the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls line. #BeBoldForChange

Educational Leadership Coach, Advisor

Annmarie Chereso

Cathy and Todd talk with Annmarie Chereso, founder of Bring It! Home, an organization that offers programs to increase wellbeing and conscious leadership in the home and school. They talk mindfulness, parenting, partnership, and share why self-awareness and connection are the keys to deeper contentment. Bring It! Home is based in Chicago and is a Zen Parenting Conference sponsor.

Annmarie Chereso works with parents, educators, leaders who are willing to take responsibility for creating conscious relationships with themselves and the children they influence.

Annmarie coaches parents, families, and groups, teaches mindfulness in schools, hosts events, leads online courses, and speaks to groups about the importance of mindfulness, consciousness, and presence.First and foremost a parent, Annmarie has spent the past 18 years perfecting the art of parenting imperfectly while balancing career and relationship. Annmarie understands that the most valuable tool we have is our (relationship to) presence. She masterfully guides parents, educators, and children to help cultivate presence in every moment.

Author

Charlie Donlea

1st time author Charlie Donlea shares his experience of bringing his dream of being a pubished author of his own suspense thriller into reality. His journey began all the way back in 2001 when he started his first manuscript. Perservering through many failures, obstacles, and challenges, Charlie never gave up on his dream. In this provactive interview, we explore inside the mind of Charlie to find out why he kept going even though all signs told him to quit.

Charlie Donlea lives in Chicago with his wife and two young children. He spends a part of each year fishing with his father in the far reaches of Canada, where the roads end and lakes are accessible only by floatplane. These majestic trips to “God’s Country” inspired the setting for Summit Lake. With so many choices of entertainment, and countless other books to choose from, he thanks you for spending your time and treasure on his creation

Author, Speaker, Founder-Date Safe Project

Devorah Heitner

Cathy and Todd talk with author Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise about appreciating the benefits of technology in the home while monitoring overuse and inappropriate content. They also discuss why not all tech-time is created equal, what it means to be a tech-positive parent, and why parents hold the wisdom that children need when they use their devices.

To purchase Devorah’s amazing book you can go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Indie Bound

Devorah Heitner founded Raising Digital Natives to help families and schools nurture a culture of responsible digital citizenship and empathy. Her new book Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in Their Digital World is a warm, smart and insightful guide to mentoring your kids in the digital age. Mayim Bialik liked it! Devorah is a frequent speaker at conferences like TEDx, SXSWedu and ISTE as well as schools all over the United States and the world.

Cathy and Todd talk with author Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise about appreciating the benefits of technology in the home while monitoring overuse and inappropriate content. They also discuss why not all tech-time is created equal, what it means to be a tech-positive parent, and why parents hold the wisdom that children need when they use their devices.

An expert on young people’s relationship with digital media and technology, Devorah’s mission is to cultivate a culture of empathy and social/emotional literacy. Dr. Heitner’s work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, TIME magazine and Education Week. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own digital native.

Consultant, Educator, Speaker, Author

Dr. Therese Rowley, PH.D

Does your child seem intuitive, gifted, or sensitive? Cathy and Todd talk with Dr. Therese Rowley, author, consultant, skilled intuitive and innovative educator who challenges us to see sensitive children through a new lens. This is part one of a two-part interview.

Therese Rowley, Ph.D., is passionate about supporting global leaders to operate in full power, high energy and clear focus that supports their meaningful engagement in business and in life.

Entrepreneur, Kids in the House Founder

Leana Greene

Todd and Cathy talk with Leana Greene, Founder of Kids in the House. After becoming a mother of three, Greene decided to focus on raising her family and developed a strong passion for parenting and education. She spent her time reading parenting books and attending lectures to gain as much knowledge as possible. Realizing that many parents were busy like her, Greene strove to create a comprehensive resource that was quick and easy to use. In 2013, after spending years doing research and filming over 450 parenting experts, Greene launched Kids in the House. With over 8,000 videos, the website is now the world’s largest parenting video library. It also serves as a tool to raise awareness on issues like bullying through social campaigns such as #EndBullying, which launched in 2014 and was publically supported by figures such as Beyoncé, Jeff Probst, and Brook Burke-Charvet.

Founder of Cancer Support Community, Cancer Survivor

Jonny Immerman

Help is on the way! We interview a truly inspirational person- Jonny Immerman. At 26 years old, Jonny was diagnosed with testicular cancer and began his fight against the disease. Throughout his experience, Jonny was lucky enough to have loving support from his family and friends but had never met anyone his age who was a cancer survivor. He wanted to talk to someone just like him, someone who truly understood, and was intimately familiar with his experience. In short, he was looking for someone who had already beaten the same type of cancer. This was the beginning of Jonny’s vision and in 2003, it became a reality when he founded Imerman Angels.

Imerman Angels provides personalized connections that enable 1-on-1 support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers. Listen in and become inspired.

Jonny Imerman is the founder of Imerman Angels. While fighting cancer at 26 years old, Jonny had loving support from family and friends, but never met anyone his age who was a cancer survivor. He wanted to talk to someone just like him, someone who truly understood and remembered – someone who had already faced the same type of cancer.

Founder and CEO of FamZoo.com

Bill Dwight

We interview Bill Dwight, the Founder of Famzoo.com. Famzoo is an online family banking designed for kids, teens, and parents. With this amazing resource, it makes it easier for families earn, save, budget , and spend. We’ve been utilizing Famzoo for several months and have loved it. Listen in to help teach your children the power of money.

Founder and CEO of FamZoo.com – a “Virtual Family Bank” that integrates prepaid card accounts with family finance software to help parents and kids develop responsible money habits through hands-on experience. We sell our solution directly to consumers as well as through partners such as credit unions, banks, financial advisors, and other financially oriented organizations.

Inventor, Family Business Owner

Jay Smith

Todd and Cathy talk to Jay Smith, creator of the MacGill First Aid Kit. While planning for an upcoming vacation, Jay has trouble finding a kit with all of the essential emergency supplies – so he MADE one. It’s an ideal holiday gift, and you can use coupon code zencode for a discount (Cathy and Todd have already bought three!). Jay also asks a question about his daughter’s recent jealously of her stepmom, and Cathy and Todd offer some support.

If you’re interested in ordering a family first aid kit, don’t forget to enter the coupon code ($5.00 off and free shipping), by entering “ZENCODE” upon checkout.

Todd and Cathy talk to Jay Smith, creator of the MacGill First Aid Kit. While planning for an upcoming vacation, Jay has trouble finding a kit with all of the essential emergency supplies – so he MADE one.

Advocate for Working Woman

Amy Duffin

We sit down with Amy Rodgers Duffin as she explains her tactics for striking that elusive balance of career/mom/wife. Some of the things she explains in this conversation…

I am not sure who came up with this term, but to most women, it’s something we dream about, but find it difficult to have. As valuable as a winning lottery ticket, achieving work life balance means that we would actually have the time to meet the expectations of our career AND have enough quality time for ourselves, our families and our hobbies so that we feel “balanced”.

The demands of work in this electronic, 24-7 iphone world are intense. Many jobs are not just 8-5 anymore, but open for business whenever our phones are turned on. Whether your career is managing a household or a role in Corporate America, achieving balance is more challenging than ever. However, there are ways that we can work to have a more balanced life so that we feel satisfied. Here are some tips to help:

We sit down with Amy Rodgers Duffin as she explains her tactics for striking that elusive balance of career/mom/wife.

I am not sure who came up with this term, but to most women, it’s something we dream about, but find it difficult to have. As valuable as a winning lottery ticket, achieving work life balance means that we would actually have the time to meet the expectations of our career AND have enough quality time for ourselves, our families and our hobbies so that we feel “balanced”.

Human Doing Good, Photographer

Erin McCarthy

“Leukemia messed with the wrong girl in November 2011 – my then almost two year old daughter, Maddy. That was when my family’s journey with leukemia began….”~Erin and Dan McCarthy

Last month, Maddy became a SURVIVOR, after 2+ years of treatment. It was brutal – Maddy had 3 surgeries, over 50 rounds of outpatient chemotherapy (as well as hundreds of chemo meds at home), 10 spinal tap chemo injections, 4 blood transfusions, 12 ER visits, hair loss, 16 body scans, numerous inpatient admissions, and on and on..

Dan & Erin share their 2-year experience with their daughter’s Leukemia and take us through all of the ups and downs of diagnosis, chemo, and what it means to be a survivor.

Leukemia messed with the wrong girl in November 2011 – my then almost two year old daughter, Maddy. That was when my family’s journey with leukemia began….”~Erin and Dan McCarthy

Last month, Maddy became a SURVIVOR, after 2+ years of treatment. It was brutal – Maddy had 3 surgeries, over 50 rounds of outpatient chemotherapy (as well as hundreds of chemo meds at home), 10 spinal tap chemo injections, 4 blood transfusions, 12 ER visits, hair loss, 16 body scans, numerous inpatient admissions, and on and on..

Dan & Erin share their 2-year experience with their daughter’s Leukemia and take us through all of the ups and downs of diagnosis, chemo, and what it means to be a survivor.

Blogger, Adoptive Parent

Jenny Zabrocki

Our friend Jenny Zabrocki shares her personal stories about her modern family. Jenny and her husband Jon had three biological children and then decided to adopt. They adopted a son, Mesfin, from Ethipoia and a daughter, Iris, from China. She helps us understand the challenges and celebrations surrounding the adoption process. Jenny’s very honest and grounded way of sharing her story is an inspiration, and a reminder of how much each of us has to give.

Click here to read Jenny’s “Live by Family” blog.

Our friend Jenny Zabrocki shares her personal stories about her modern family. Jenny and her husband Jon had three biological children and then decided to adopt. They adopted a son, Mesfin, from Ethipoia and a daughter, Iris, from China. She helps us understand the challenges and celebrations surrounding the adoption process. Jenny’s very honest and grounded way of sharing her story is an inspiration, and a reminder of how much each of us has to give.

Survivor, Philanthropist

Trish Williams

This is a follow-up interview from a podcast we did in October of 2014 titled Setting Boundaries With Love (Interview begins @ the 21:00 minute mark) At the time, Rick’s wife Trish was battling with a rare form of Hydrocephalus and in need of exposure to raise funds for the medical expenses that came with this journey. We were happy to oblige.

Fast forward to February of 2016 and we pick up where we left off in October of 2014- only this time Trish was able to join us for the interview. It’s a heartfelt interview of the miracles of medicine as well as faith.

Trish Williams, an Elmhurst resident of 17 years, devoted wife, and mother of four wonderful children began showing symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) in July of 2013. She was officially diagnosed with NPH and received a shunt in August of 2013.

After a long summer, this shunt seemed to have almost cured Trish. However on February 27th 2014, Trish began suffering from blurred vision. Doctors assumed the shunt was malfunctioning and began to make adjustments accordingly. None of these adjustments seemed to help, and Trish’s symptoms rapidly spiraled out of control and her condition worsened. Trish lost her ability to walk, talk, and see. Doctors at Elmhurst Hospital and in the Chicagoland area were baffled by her case; her family was left with no answers.

Trish’s dedicated husband, Rick, was determined to find a cure. Rick and Trish journeyed to Mayo clinic to find answers.

Relationship Empowerment Specialist, Podcaster

Josh Becker

We interview Josh Becker, a teacher for Breakthrough for Men and host of the I Simply Am podcast. Breakthrough for Men is dedicated to making real change in the quality of men’s lives. We discuss why it’s much more difficult to gather a group of men (vs. women) for the purpose of self exploration. Josh helps redefine the definition of manhood – society encourages men to be strong and not vulnerable, intelligent and not thoughtful, powerful and not beautiful. And men are using unhealthy coping mechanisms (alcohol, drugs, sex, gaming, gambling) to to deal with their unrecognized feelings and challenges. Josh can be found here and information on Breakthrough for Men can be found here.

After hitting my proverbial “rock bottom” I found a place of love and support that took me back to my past. Back to all of my pain and struggles from a child and young adult. Through the pain of that self-exploration I found my inherent nature, I found love.

To the best of my ability, I now live my life aware of my false beliefs but in alignment to my inherent nature. I’ve found this to be the path to living in expression of my Authentic Self.

Physician, Founder of Modern Med Recovery

Kenji Oyasu

Cathy and Todd talk with Kenji Oyasu, Executive Medical Director of the Brightside, a clinic dedicated to the treatment of prescription drugs and heroin addiction. He offers new insight to why this addiction is so deadly, why it can be a challenge to treat, and the new model of recovery that is offering hope and changing lives.

Dr. Kenji Oyasu is a physician executive and founder of ModernMed Recovery. He actively manages and provides physician oversight for the medication-assisted treatment of patients struggling with opioid addiction. Dr. Oyasu’s 20 years as an emergency room physician exposed him to the growing epidemic of opioid addiction, along with the lack of treatment resources, so he felt the need to create a practice where patients are treated by caring physicians with professionalism. He has a special interest in linking the success of in-patient detoxification with long-term meaningful recovery.

Writer, Speaker, Editor

Deborah Shouse

Taking care of our parents: A discussion with Deborah Shouse, author of Connecting in the Land of Dementia

Todd and Cathy talk with Deborah Shouse and her brother Dan about what it means to be a “care partner” for parents or loved ones with dementia. They offer how we can bring greater understanding and hope to an undeniably challenging time. They share the power of being present, why appreciation and going with the flow are essential, and how creativity and music can offer a brand new perspective.

Deborah Shouse is a writer, speaker, editor and creativity catalyst. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, Reader’s Digest, Newsweek, Woman’s Day, Hemispheres, Family Circle, Spirituality & Health, The Chicago Tribune and Unity. Deborah has been featured in many anthologies, including more than four dozen Chicken Soup books. Deborah also writes a weekly column on love for the Kansas City Star.

Author, Speaker, WiseInside Founder

Heather Criswell

Well, you’ve come to the right place. In our very first bi-monthly “Conversations with People we Love”, we talk with Heather Criswell, author of “How to Raise a Happy Child” . Crawl inside the mind of Heather, a noted “kid whisperer”, and see how she discovered (through 25 years and 30,000 children) what works with every child, in every situation, every time. Heather also shares some of her own struggles and she discusses how language can be particularly important when talking with your child, especially around issues such as body image. Heather is an inspiring person that you should know!

Author, Speaker, Parenting Coach and Mom with a passion for sharing tools and strategies to bring out the brightest in you and your child.

Valuing the inner wisdom of both parents and children, Heather has helped thousands of families create more harmonious relationships.

She’s taken 25 years of experience with children and created programs, games and online courses to teach parents practical strategies for better communication and cooperation with their kids.

Non-Profit Co-founder, Career Coaching

Monisha Lozier

Have you ever heard of Kawasaki Disease? Chris and Monisha Lozier’s daughter Mae was a healthy and happy 4 year old until she got swollen glands and a fever. They found themselves living in a hospital for the next 9 days and eventually discovered their daughter had Kawasaki Disease. This is is an immune disease in which the medium-sized blood vessels throughout the body become inflamed. It’s cause is unknown, and it’s largely seen in children under five years of age. It affects many organ systems, and it’s rarest and most serious effects are on the heart – it can cause fatal coronary artery aneurysms in untreated children.

Chris and Monisha takes us through their experience with Mae and how they eventually arrived at this diagnosis. They talk about advocating for your child in a hospital, misdiagnoses, and the blessings that can arise from such a challenging experience.

No worries listeners, the story ends well (Mae just received a completely clear heart scan, she’s doing great!), but it is an important and interesting story that will keep us better informed. We hope you enjoy.

Monisha Lozier is a co-founder and partner at Promise54. She is also a co-founder of Bellwether Education Partners, where she leads the Executive Search practice. Her 15-plus years of executive search and career coaching experience include roles at her own search firm, Cobbe Place Consulting, as a managing consultant in AT Kearney’s education practice, and as a client partner in Korn/Ferry International’s education practice.

Homeless Youth Supporter

Maureen Blaha

Todd and Cathy talk with Maureen Blaha, Executive Director of the National Runaway Safeline, a support and intervention system for youth and parents. Maureen shares why teens runaway and how families can be more open to the emotional needs of kids. The safeline is based in Chicago but helps kids and families nationwide. http://www.1800runaway.org/

Maureen Blaha is the executive director of the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), the federally-designated national communication system for runaway and homeless youth. Under her leadership the visibility of NRS and awareness of its 1-800-RUNAWAY hotline has grown, while support has steadily increased in both personnel and finances. Several key accomplishments have been realized during Blaha’s tenure including: a program focused on runaway prevention called Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum

Social Worker, Author, & LGBT Advocate

Nancy Mullen

We talk with Nancy Mullen, social worker, author, pastry chef, and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Nancy worked for several years in the HIV/AIDS field and shifted to her work with LGBT youth in 1998 as the executive director of a small, grassroots agency. She is a sought after public speaker on topics such as LGBT Youth and Adolescent Development and Current Trends in Working with LGBT Youth. She is a blogger and author of Urban Tidepool, a memoir that Nancy describes as “Reminiscent of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” with a gay twist, a helping of The Glass Castle and a hint of Erma Bombeck.

Executive Director of @Youth_Outlook, the only agency dedicated solely to LGBTQ youth in DuPage, Kane, DeKalb and Whiteside Counties.

We talk with Nancy Mullen, social worker, author, pastry chef, and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Nancy worked for several years in the HIV/AIDS field and shifted to her work with LGBT youth in 1998 as the executive director of a small, grassroots agency. She is a sought after public speaker on topics such as LGBT Youth and Adolescent Development and Current Trends in Working with LGBT Youth. She is a blogger and author of Urban Tidepool, a memoir that Nancy describes as “Reminiscent of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” with a gay twist, a helping of The Glass Castle and a hint of Erma Bombeck.

Executive Director - Peer Health

Danya Rosen

Cathy and Todd talk with Danya Rosen, Executive Director of the Chicago Peer Health Exchange, an organization that empowers young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources to make healthy decisions. They train college students to teach a skill-based health curriculum (focusing on mental health, sexual education, and overall wellness) in under-resourced high schools across the country. They aim to reduce unplanned pregnancy and substance abuse by offering knowledge, support, and access to resources. The Peer Health Exchange has had a statistically significant positive effect on sexual and mental knowledge, skills, and help-seeking behavior. They are also located in the Bay Area, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York.

Danya has nearly a decade of experience in non-profit management across both the direct service and advocacy sectors. She joined Peer Health Exchange in November 2010. As the Chicago Executive Director, Danya is primarily responsible for the development, management, growth, and evaluation of the PHE Chicago program, raising funds, managing and growing the Chicago Board of Directors, and providing fiscal and organizational oversight for PHE Chicago.

Danya previously served as PHE’s Senior Director of Development in San Francisco, California. Prior to joining PHE, Danya spent over four years at Peace Action West as the Deputy Outreach Director, where she was responsible for overseeing California-based programming. While at PAW, she lobbied for disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation with the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s DC Days, and managed the GOTV efforts for the 2006 CA-11 race through Peace Action

Financial Advisor

David Serrano

Todd and Cathy talk with financial advisor David Serrano about saving for college, tuition, and why including your children in the process makes a difference. They also discuss the magic of compound interest, retirement, and why you should use this website to learn more about your broker. David is a wealth of information, and he’s a principled guy who wants to help people succeed. As Suze Orman says, “When it comes to tackling your financial goals, whatever they might be, there’s no time like the present!” If you want to reach David, you can call him @ (815) 370-3780

Edward Jones is a financial- services firm dedicated to serving the needs of individual investors. Member SIPC.

Teacher, Parenting Coach

Georgia DeClark

Todd and Cathy talk with Georgia DeClark, preschool teacher and parent coach who’s life took a dramatic turn when she decided to come out at 60. She talks about her fear, how her grown children handled the news (we are also joined by her son Greg), and how she finally feels free to be her most authentic self.

They announce the screening of Screenagers at York Theater on Sept 26, 2016. Click here for tickets.

As a PCI ® Certified Parent Coach and professional educator, Georgia DeClark has over 30 years of experience working with children and supporting their parents through the challenges and joys of their lives. As a mother of three grown children, she also has a deep understanding of the demands, struggles and rewards that come from day-to-day parenting and how those challenges evolve over time as our children grow and move toward becoming their true selves.