Ruthless Compassion With Dr. Marcia Sirota

Patricia Roos was a professor of sociology at Rutgers University when in 2015 her 25-year-old son Alex died from a heroin overdose. Her training as a sociologist led her on a quest to better understand what happened to her family. Building on her professional and academic perspectives, she wrote a sociological memoir, Surviving Alex: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Addiction, published in May 2024 by Rutgers University Press. Web page: patroos.com (https://www.patroos.com/) Instagram: roos.p (https://www.instagram.com/roos.p/) New book: Surviving Alex: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Addiction Published May 17, 2024

Tracey Yokas creates stuff. When she isn't writing about mental health and wellness, she can be found playing with paint, glitter, and glue. She shares about her family's journey with mental illness so others will know they are not alone. She is dedicated to supporting women in the journey towards authenticity, and fulfills her mission by creating safe spaces where art, words, and vulnerability meet in dynamic community. Tracey earned her master's degree in counseling psychology from California Lutheran University and lives in Newbury Park, CA, with her family. You can find her on Facebook (@traceyyokascreates) and Instagram (@traceyyokas) or on her website, www.traceyyokascreates.com. Her memoir: Bloodlines: A Memoir of Harm and Healing. (Pub date: May 7, 2024)

Michael Tennant is the Founder, and CEO of Curiosity Lab, a purpose-driven venture studio and consultancy that builds products and experiences that teach empathy, creator of the empathy card game, Actually Curious, and author of The Power of Empathy, described by Inc. as "effectively balancing a self-help approach with a practical explanation of how we can use empathy as a tool". Michael and his work has been featured by the New York Times, Beyoncé, the Today show, Good Morning America, and many others. In his role as CEO, Michael creates and incubates businesses to help values-aligned individuals and organizations use empathy to live happier and healthier lives, and to nurture inclusive and innovative environments. In 2022, Curiosity Lab received an investment from Pharrell and the Black Ambition Prize. Relevant Social Media Handles:  Instagram: @michaeltennantnyc / @actuallyc_rious / @c_riositylab  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michael-tennant  Digital course: https://fivephasesofempathy.com 

Anita Nowak, PhD, is an empathy evangelist, author, TEDx speaker, podcaster, award-winning educator, certified coach, and founder of Purposeful Empathy by Design, an advisory firm that helps purpose-driven organizations create cultures of empathy and social impact. Passionate about mentoring the next generation of changemakers, she teaches Leadership, Ethics in Management, and Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation at McGill University in Montreal. And this fall, she's excited to teach a new course about purpose, happiness and well-being. She's also on faculty with the McGill Executive Institute. Her debut book, Purposeful Empathy: Tapping Our Hidden Superpower for Personal, Organizational, and Social Change was published in 2023. Her podcast/YouTube series (also called Purposeful Empathy) is dedicated to amplifying the voices of people from across the globe who understand the world needs more empathy - and are doing something about it. Website https://bit.ly/4dbD7Dm Book https://bit.ly/3A81W4g LinkedIn

Jessi Kneeland (they/them) is a queer and non-binary body image coach, speaker, and author of the book BODY NEUTRAL: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Body Image Issues. Through a concept called body neutrality—the practice of consciously stripping our bodies of all false or inflated meaning, biases, and moral significance—Jessi is committed both to helping individuals feel more empowered, worthy, and confident in themselves, and to advancing collective liberation and healing from systems of oppression. Instagram, tiktok, facebook, and twitter: @jessikneeland  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessiKneeland  Podcast- This Is (Not) About Your Body: https://rss.com/podcasts/jessikneeland/  Website: jessikneeland.com

Award-winning author, Alysson Foti Bourque, began her career as a teacher after graduating from University of Louisiana Lafayette with a degree in Elementary Education. She earned a law degree from the Southern University Law Center in 2007. After practicing law for six years, it was time to trade in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. Alysson enjoys speaking with children and teachers at school and library visits with the life-size Alycat mascot and hopes to inspire people to believe in themselves, their work, and to keep writing stories.  Alysson is releasing her newest book in the award-winning series on March 18. - Alycat and the Sunday Scaries Website: www.alycatseries.com  Facebook: @thealycatseries  Instagram: @thealycatseries  X: @AlyssonFBourque

Dr. Leslie Dobson is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in California. She has over 20 years of psychology experience. She has worked in maximum security settings with individuals who committed violent felonies and were found to have a severe mental illness. Over the past three years, Dr. Dobson has primarily focused on civil law. She is an expert in psychological evaluations to determine the truth. Through a variety of assessment measures, she determines the truthfulness of claims regarding emotional distress, especially sexual abuse allegations. In her clinical practice, she focuses on trauma, and also empowering clients to set interpersonal boundaries. Dr. Leslie spent years with psychopaths, and she is passionate about educating and empowering clients, especially women, to live their best life and set boundaries with toxic people, preserving their energy. Dr. Dobson's first book, The Friend Cleanse: How to Identify Energy Vampires, Set Boundaries & Balance Your Glass of Life, was published

Disclaimer: We were having difficulties with our audio. We apologize for the poor sound quality. Loretta Breuning, PhD, is Founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and Professor Emerita of Management at California State University, East Bay. She is the author of many personal development books, including Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin and Endorphin Levels. As a teacher and a parent, she was not convinced by prevailing theories of human motivation. Then she learned about the brain chemistry we share with earlier mammals and everything made sense. She began creating resources that have helped thousands of people make peace with their inner mammal. Dr. Breuning's work has been translated into sixteen languages and is cited in major media. Before teaching, she worked for the United Nations in Africa. Loretta gives zoo tours on animals behavior, after serving as a Docent at the Oakland Zoo. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Tufts. The Inner Mammal In

Dr. Paul Zeitz is a preventive medicine physician, epidemiologist, author, and award-winning champion of global justice and human rights. He has been on the front lines of the global AIDS movement, climate transformation, racial and gender equity, authentic democracy, sustainable development, and child welfare in the U.S. and around the world. Often when the odds against success appeared to be insurmountable, with Dr. Paul’s leadership and support, barriers fell and victories arose. Through his many challenges and experiences, he also learned to fail forward! Dr. Paul is sparking personal and global conversations to heal and repair ourselves, our relationships, and awaken political imagination and stimulate a new vision of peaceful, revolutionary transformation. His committed work over the past thirty years reveals a deep truth: When we look within and approach our personal healing work with self-compassion and love, we strengthen ourselves and are better able to extend a hand and heart of peace to others—to

Liza holds a master's degree in counselling psychology and a PhD in general psychology. She conducts research, teaches and writes in an attempt to spread awareness and knowledge beyond the four walls of her therapy practice. A passionate believer in social equality and social justice, Liza serves on the board of ALFREDS, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and communities. You can also hear Liza on CBC's Here & Now where she addresses listeners' parenting issues. Website: lizafinlayassociates.com

Writer, historian, and educator Rebecca Wellington teaches at the University of Puget Sound in the School of Education. She has taught high school social studies, as well as undergraduate courses and graduate level courses in education history and curriculum and instruction. Her higher-education teaching adventures have taken her to universities across Western Washington, including University of Washington and Seattle University. She holds a doctorate in Education History from the University of Washington, where she taught in the undergraduate program of the College of Education. Rebecca's career in education started on the ocean, sailing around the world on a traditionally rigged tall ship. Through this two-year global circumnavigation Rebecca trained for a US Coast Guard captain's license and went on to work in non-profit outdoor education, teaching kids to sail on the Charles River in Boston and later on the Puget Sound of Washington State. Rebecca's scholarly articles have been published in The History

Judith Orloff, MD is a psychiatrist, an empath, and author of the new book The Genius of Empathy (Foreword by the Dalai Lama), which offers powerful skills to tap into empathy as a daily healing practice in your life and relationships. She also wrote The Empath's Survival Guide and Thriving as an Empath. Dr. Orloff is a New York Times bestselling author and a UCLA clinical faculty member. She synthesizes the pearls of conventional medicine with cutting edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality. Dr. Orloff specializes in treating highly sensitive people in her private practice. She has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times. Learn more about empaths and empathy at www.drjudithorloff.com  Her new book The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Your Sensitive Self, Your Relationships and the World was released on April 9, 2024. (https://drjudithorloff.com/the-genius-of-empathy-description/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJudithOrloff/  Twitter:

Jodie King is a professional artist, educator, and entrepreneur on a mission to unleash your inner power, freedom, and joy! With 20 years of art experience and a playful, spiritual approach, Jodie connects with audiences from around the world. She is known for her high-demand innovative online art and business courses as well as national and international workshops. After suddenly arriving at the canvas almost two decades ago, Jodie King has set herself on a mission to help others discover the healing power of art as well as to educate and empower artists around the world to turn their passion into a thriving business. Social Media:  Instagram: @jodie_king_ TikTok: @jodie_king_  Facebook: Jodie King Art Website: https://jodieking.com/

Colin Campbell is an Academy Award nominated writer and director for theater and film. He teaches theater and film at Chapman University and Cal Poly Pomona University. When his two beautiful and brilliant teenage children, Ruby and Hart, were killed by a drunk driver in 2019, Colin fell into a terrifying chasm of aching and hopelessness. He drew strength and inspiration from the mourning rituals of his wife's Jewish traditions and learned to lean into the pain of grief. His book, Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss With Hope and Purpose, was published by Penguin Random House in March 2023. His solo show, Grief: A One Man ShitShow, premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2022 where it won a Best of Broadwater Award. Social Media Handles:  Instagram: @colincampbellwriter  Website: www.colincampbellauthor.com Book: Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss With Hope and Purpose (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696849/finding-the-words-by-colin-campbell/)

Nya Abernathy is an emotional health educator and the founder of The Dignity Effect. She also writes at her publication Of Earth & Of Stars where readers welcome wonder with their feet on the ground and their eyes to the sky. She also offers emotional health and depth classes for actors. Her new book Welcome, Wonder: A season of practices to curate an awe-filled life is available for preorder now. IG: @thedignityeffect & @nyasabernathy Youtube: @thedignityeffect1281 (https://www.youtube.com/@thedignityeffect) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyasabernathy/

TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast discusses the topic of suicide. If you or a loved one are contemplating suicide please call or text 9-8-8. For the Kids Helpline call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT. Indigenous Peoples call 1-855-242-3310. N'alag̱a / Ḵ'áw kuuna (Avis O'Brien), a Haida/Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw artist and Land Based Cultural Empowerment Facilitator, was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia. She belongs to the Kawaas Sdaast.aas Eagle Clan from the Village of K'yuusda in Haida Gwaii and the Gigəlǧəm n̓əm̓ina sa Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ people of Cape Mudge, one of the 18 Tribes of the Kwakwaka'wakw. Avis offers Community Land Based Healing Workshops that are rooted in Decolonization, Reconciliation, Indigenous Land Based Healing & Breath & Embodiment Practices. Her work aims to highlight the intersectionality of Colonial genocide, Impacts of trauma, residential schools, and how we can utilize Ancestral forms of healing to regain a sense of balance and harmony in body, mind, and spirit. Her work in Indigenous

Celia Landman, MA, is a mindfulness educator offering support to teens and adults. She draws from experiences working with those impacted by trauma, addiction, and anxiety, and creates customized meditation, visualizations, and trainings to reconnect them to their wholeness. She was ordained by Thich Nhat Hahn as a member of the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. She is also a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Her new book, When the Whole World Tips: Parenting through Crisis with Mindfulness and Balance (Parallax Press, Nov. 21, 2023), describes how to find balance while navigating seemingly impossible parenting situations. Learn more at celialandman.com Website: celialandman.com  Social Media:  https://www.facebook.com/celia.landman/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/celia-landman-232185149/  https://www.instagram.com/celiasacct/ Book: When the Whole World Tips: Parenting through Crisis with Mindfulness and Balance (Parallax Press, Nov. 21, 2023)

Boo Trundle is a writer, artist, and performer whose work has appeared across various platforms and publications, including The Brooklyn Rail, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and NPR's The Moth. She has released three albums of original music with Big Deal Records. She lives in New Jersey. The Daughter Ship is her first novel. Website: www.bootrundle.com  Instagram: @bootrundle  https://www.instagram.com/bootrundle/?hl=en Twitter/X: @eliztrundle  Tiktok: bootrundle  https://www.tiktok.com/@bootrundle Facebook: bootrundle https://www.facebook.com/BooTrundle Her debut novel, The Daughter Ship, is out now on Pantheon Books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/713057/the-daughter-ship-by-boo-trundle/

Melanie Brooks is the author of the memoir A Hard Silence: One daughter remaps family, grief, and faith when HIV/AIDS changes it all (Vine Leaves Press, 2023) and Writing Hard Stories: Celebrated Memoirists Who Shaped Art from Trauma (Beacon Press, 2017) She teaches creative nonfiction in the M.F.A. program at Bay Path University and professional writing at Northeastern University in Massachusetts. She holds an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Southern Maine's Stonecoast writing program and a Certificate in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University. She has had numerous interviews and essays on topics ranging from loss and grief to parenting and aging published in the The Boston Globe, HuffPost, Yankee Magazine, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, Creative Nonfiction, and other notable publications. Though her Canadian roots run deep, she lives in New Hampshire with her husband, two children (when they are home from university), and chocolate Lab. Website: melaniebrooks.com Facebook: ht

Kevin Frankish has been a vocal mental health advocate since suffering his first panic attack while on air on City TV Toronto's Breakfast Television. He lives with Severe Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. He now works with The Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby, Ontario and hosts a podcast called The Mental Health Podcast. He works to remove the stigma of mental health encouraging people to reach out because there is HOPE out there for everyone. Learn more: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinfrankish Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinFrankish Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfrankish/?originalSubdomain=ca The Mental Health Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-mental-health-podcast/id1710036842 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KevinFrankishChannel Website: https://kevinfrankish.com/