In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with renowned developmental psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman to talk about her New York Times bestselling book, The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Aliza is also the Co-Founding Director of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center , and assistant clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the host of the award-winning podcast Raising Good Humans. Leslie and Aliza talk through each of these principles of...
Oct 23, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with lifestyle expert, parent, author, entrepreneur and old friend, Alexis Swanson Traina. Among all the fabulous hats Alexis wears, Alexis is the Founder and CEO of HiNOTE a free app that allows individuals to text, post and share personalized, digital notes -- everything from invitations to birthday wishes, thank you notes and more in just a few taps…. this service is as unique and glamorous as Alexis herself…so make sure to download it in the App Store. In...
Oct 16, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Today’s episode is all about cannabis ! Have you ever wondered what is the difference between CBD, THC, Hemp, Cannabis? Or why is cannabis legalized in some states and not others? What’s its history? What markets are growing in Europe and worldwide? Today, Leslie has all the answers to these questions and more. Leslie is sitting down with Will Muecke, a real expert in the cannabis investment space. Will is the co-founding managing member and Chief Investment Officer for Artemis Growth Partners ....
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Today, Leslie is sitting down with celebrity interior designer, Vicky Charles. Vicky leads the juggernaut design firm, Charles and Co. Consistently voted as one of Architectural Digest’s TOP 100 Interior Design Firms , with offices in New York, London and Bassano, Italy. Vicky has a flair for producing imaginative and eclectic interiors for both residential and commercial projects worldwide. Having worked as the Design Director at Soho House for twenty years, Vicky’s reputation for defining the ...
Oct 02, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 38
A Harvard survey found that 44% of Gen Z young adults feel like they don't matter to others and 34% reported loneliness. A Gallup survey found that 31% of Gen Zers ages 12 to 26 often don’t feel loved, 35% often don't feel supported, and 30% always or often feel like nobody knows them well. While these statistics are alarming, thankfully there is a movement working to address this crisis. In this episode, Leslie speaks with Dr. Sarah Bennison. Dr. Bennison is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Matter...
Sep 25, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Leslie is thrilled to be back with Part Two of her conversation with the incredibly talented Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, activist, and filmmaker John Forté. In Part 1 John and Leslie talked about his incredible life leading up to his producing the Fugees multi-platinum record, The Score, and his subsequent collaborations with Wyclef Jean. Part 1 ended with John’s arrest at Newark Airport following a drug sting operation. We pick up here in Part 2 where Leslie and John talk abo...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 36
I am very happy to be back after my brief summer hiatus to bring to you a truly inspirational story of someone who has experienced all of life’s highs and lows and has come through it all thanks to grace, resilience, great friends, and incredible talent. Today I am honored to be speaking with Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, activist, filmmaker and friend, John Forte . John is probably best known for writing and producing songs for The Fugees and their multi-platinum record The Sco...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode, Leslie sits down with Tom Seeman, author of the compelling memoir, Animals I Want to See. Tom's extraordinary journey takes us from the projects of Toledo, Ohio, where he grew up as one of twelve children in extreme poverty, to the hallowed halls of Yale and Harvard Law School. Tom's story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the impact of unexpected heroes. From neighbors to teachers, Tom's life was shaped by mentors who saw his potential and guided him...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 34
The hottest topic today for women in their 40s and 50s – both literally and figuratively - is menopause! For something that is one of just two certainties in life for women - menopause and death – it is shocking how little OB/GYNs know about menopause or how few women are getting adequate treatment to relieve some of the crippling symptoms of perimenopause. The statistics are staggering – 80 percent of Ob/gyns are untrained in menopause, 75 percent of doctors are uncomfortable talking to patient...
Jul 24, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Have you ever wondered how celebrities on the red carpet look so amazing ? How do they have the perfect hair that lasts for hours ? Who are the creators behind these magical looks? In today’s episode, Leslie sits down and speaks with “The Hollywood Hitmaker of Hair” – Adir Abergel. Adir is the creative force behind some of the most memorable moments in celebrity hairstyling. His work has been seen gracing the covers of magazines, red carpets, and runways worldwide. Adir’s client list contains so...
Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Tune in for part 2 featuring world-renowned mezzo-soprano opera superstar, Denyce Graves. Denyce has graced all the major world opera house stages and concert halls during her 30+ year long career. From humble beginnings to winning a Grammy for Best Opera Recording, Denyce's talent is unmatched. Leslie and Denyce discuss her greatest mentors, inspirations, the three tenors, and her greatest passion - The Denyce Graves Foundation. Founded in 2021, The Denyce Graves Foundation focuses on edu...
Jul 10, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Tune in for a new episode featuring world-renowned mezzo-soprano opera superstar, Denyce Graves. Denyce has graced all the major world opera house stages and concert halls during her 30+ year long career. From humble beginnings to winning a Grammy for Best Opera Recording, Denyce's talent is unmatched. Leslie and Denyce discuss her greatest mentors, inspirations, the three tenors, and her greatest passion - The Denyce Graves Foundation. Founded in 2021, The Denyce Graves Foundation focuses on ed...
Jul 03, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In honor of the fashion shows in Paris this week, we are reaching into The Interview’s archives to bring you Leslie’s interview with fashion icon, Deeda Blair. The woman Harper’s Bazaar calls, “the very embodiment of style and substance”, Deeda Blair, A Force for Good is a conversation not to be missed. Listen to Episode 13 of The Interview with Leslie and step into the magical world of Deeda Blair — legendary hostess, fashion maven, and a force for good with her extraordinary philanthropic work...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 22 min
As Benjamin Franklin once said, nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. Yet many of us are wholly unprepared for the inevitable. We have a lot of questions… “How can we pass along our estate and protect our assets? Do we need a trust? What if we can no longer make decisions for ourselves? And how can we pass along our assets without tax liability?” There are so many questions surrounding estate planning. In this episode, we have two of the most well-respected experts in estate plannin...
Jun 19, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 29
The number of women who die giving birth in the U.S. each year has doubled in the last two decades. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications, and 80% of maternal deaths in the U.S. could have been prevented. These are just some of the staggering statistics on women’s healthcare in the U.S. Dr. Denise Howard has devoted her career to women’s health care. Specifically, she works tirelessly to help identify ways that health practitioners and hospital syste...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with Lacy Garcia -- Founder and CEO of Willow . Willow is an award-winning platform that connects women, Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z consumers with their ideal financial advisor. Like a dating app, Willow provides a free concierge matching service to individuals, connecting them with the best fit financial advisor who they can connect with on a personal level. Lacy started Willow after her own personal experience of going through a divorce as a young mom and ...
Jun 05, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with Ed O’Keefe — an award-winning TV producer, reporter, and author. While as a Harvard Kennedy School Fellow, O’Keefe stumbled upon some unpublished letters between Theodore Roosevelt and two of the most important women in his life: his daughter Alice and his sister Bamie. As a lifelong admirer of Roosevelt, Ed delved into the influence these relationships had on Roosevelt and his rise to the Presidency in his debut novel, “The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt –...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 26
As we near the end of May, Mental Health Awareness Month, Leslie sat down with Dr. Corinne Catarozoli - a leader in pediatric integrated care at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Catarozoli is an expert in evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety disorders. Her specialties include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pediatric behavioral medicine. Dr. Catarozoli and Leslie talk about the three most common types of mental illness affecting children: anxiety, d...
May 22, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Today, I am very excited to be speaking with architect extraordinaire, Peter Pennoyer. Peter is the founding partner of Peter Pennoyer Architects, New York-based architecture and design firm. He's a member of Architectural Digest AD100, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and the 2024 recipient of the Richard H. Driehaus Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the architecture industry. He's the co-author of six books on 20th Century American Architects and the author of A Hou...
May 15, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode, Leslie sits down with Zibby Owens -- publisher, author, and host of "Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books", an award-winning podcast. Zibby has been referred to as New York City's "most powerful 'bookfluencer." She just released her latest book, Blank: A Novel. She also has two other bestsellers, "Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature" and a children's book called "Princess Charming." On top of her own writing, she is the co-founder and CEO of Zibby Books publishing hou...
May 08, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Today I'm honored to be speaking with Kate Doerge. Kate's daughter, Penny passed away in November 2022 from Neurofibromatosis (NF) - the most common genetic disorder in children, yet one of which there is still no cure. In the wake of Penny's passing, Kate, her husband Chad, their family, friends and Penny's friends founded the Penny's Flight Foundation . The work and mission of this foundation has turned into a national movement to find a cure for NF. All who were touched by Penny have approach...
May 01, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In today’s episode, Leslie speaks with expert pediatrician Dr. Sallie Permar. Dr. Permar is Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine and Pediatrician-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital. Leslie and Dr. Permar talk hot topics in pediatric medicine – ones that are not necessarily making headlines – but issues that are on the minds of America’s top pediatricians…and should be on all of our minds t...
Apr 24, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 21
In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with Ted Giovanis – a person who lives life to its fullest – an expert in Medicaid and Medicare regulation, an advocate, philanthropist, author and race car driver. Ted and Leslie do a deep dive into his landmark court case against the federal government for failing to properly reimburse hospitals resulting in a multibillion-dollar settlement for hospitals nationwide. They talk about the foundation he created following this judgment in his late wife’s honor –...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with world-renowned chef, Daniel Boulud, and the man behind Chef Boulud’s Restaurant Group, Dinex Group CEO, Sebastien Silvestri. Daniel and Sebastien talk about their careers, inspirations, favorite dishes and the secret sauce to their creating and maintaining critically acclaimed restaurants worldwide. Leslie is still pinching herself getting to spend the afternoon with these brilliant, funny and extraordinary talents… If you enjoy The Interview with Leslie...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In Episode 18, Leslie speaks with Shavar Jeffries, CEO of the Kipp Foundation. The Kipp Foundation supports KIPP schools, a national network of charter schools educating more than 120,000 students in grades Prek-12 across 21 states and Washington, DC. Leslie and Shavar talk about his inspirational life story and career, the challenges facing education today, and the incredible impact of KIPP schools and the KIPP Foundation on providing access to a transformative education for underserved childre...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In today’s episode, Leslie speaks with Dr. Scott Small, Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University. Dr. Small is globally recognized as an expert in Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging. He has been researching the disease for decades and his lab has pioneered MRI techniques that have identified areas of the brain most affected by aging and disease. Leslie talks with Dr. Small about his new book, Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering , exploring how forge...
Mar 20, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In this episode, Leslie speaks with bestselling author, Christine Coulson. Christine worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 25 years and left as Senior Writer in 2019. That same year, her debut novel about the museum, Metropolitan Stories , became a national bestseller. In October of 2023, Coulson released her second book, One Woman Show , a groundbreaking novel written almost entirely in museum wall labels. Christine shares insights into her strict writing process, the creation of memorab...
Mar 13, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 16
I am so thrilled to be sharing this interview with renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Doug Steinbrech. Dr. Steinbrech is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and specializes in male aesthetics. He is ranked among the top ten plastic surgeons in NY, with offices on Park Avenue, in Beverly Hills & Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Forbes Magazine calls him the “go to surgeon for men” and Men’s Health says “he is one of the few plastic surgeons in the US who specialize in men.” Dr. Steinbr...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In today’s episode, Leslie speaks with author Lea Carpenter about her latest novel, Ilium . In its recent review, The New York Times refers to this spy thriller as an “unexpectedly moving novel.” Before becoming the author of national bestsellers, Eleven Days and Red White and Blue, Lea had a fascinating career working in publishing for magazines like John F. Kennedy’s George , Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope and The Paris Review . She also had a foray into politics working with Beau Biden when ...
Feb 28, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Listen to Episode 13 and step into the magical world of Deeda Blair – legendary hostess, fashion maven and a force for good with her extraordinary philanthropic work in science and medicine. You may know Deeda a style icon, but may not know about the incredible impact of her life’s work as a healthcare advocate. Join Leslie as she delves into an engaging conversation with Deeda Blair about her extraordinary life. This episode includes wonderful stories about Deeda's days as a socialite and hoste...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 13
