About 38 million people have diabetes in the United States. 1 in 300 Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime; 1 in 15 with a family history of the disease.  Inexplicably, cases of Type 1 diabetes in America are on the rise. In recognition of National Diabetes Month, this week’s episode features a group of extraordinary women who are working to raise funds and awareness to put diabetes out of business: Allison Aston, Dr. Natasha Leibel and Lynn Starr.   Allison Aston is a...

Last week, I had the distinct honor and pleasure to interview Jean Becker on her new book Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush. I wanted to interview Jean as soon as I heard about Character Matters. I am writing this email on election day knowing this episode will be released tomorrow, November 6th.  No matter the outcome of the election, half of our country will be distressed and demoralized by its outcome. The example of the life and service of President...

In the United States alone, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and women have a 1 in 43 chance of dying from the disease. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so before this month ends, Leslie sits down with Dr. Vandana Abramson, superstar breast cancer specialist.  Dr. Abramson is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of Breast Cancer. She is a Professor of Medicine, holds the Donna S. Hall endowed chair, and co-leads the Breast Cancer Research...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...