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In a city known as a haven for art and artists, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music stands out as an institution offering hands-on musical experiences in neighborhoods traditionally under-served by New York City Cultural Institutions. Our guest is Chad Cooper, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. At the helm of their hundreds of events every year, the Conservatory’s legendary House Party is coming for one night only, Thursday, November 9. For more, visit BKCM.org.

Amid all of the recent strikes, protests, and the ongoing fight for dignity inside and outside of the workplace, our guest is Harvard sociologist and dignity expert Michèle Lamont, author of SEEING OTHERS: How Recognition Works and How It Can Heal a Divided World. Michèle Lamont is a Professor of Sociology and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, where she is also the Robert I. Goldman Professor of European studies. For more, visit MicheleLamont.org.

We're happy to welcome back Doug Wirth, President and CEO of Amida Care, which celebrates it’s 20th year as New York’s largest Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan, providing comprehensive care to New Yorkers affected by HIV. As New York’s larges Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan, Amida Care serves over 9,000 New Yorkers affected by HIV. For more, visit amidacareny.org.

THE KNOWLEDGE GAP: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System and How to Fix It, by Natalie Wexler, is a deep dive into the root cause of America’s education crisis. Natalie Wexler’s articles and essays on education and other topics have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and elsewhere.

Visions and Pathways, a nonprofit based in Bridgewater, NJ, has provided housing, education, and counseling for many of NJ’s homeless kids and kids aging out of foster care for over 50 years. Our guest is CEO David Walker, as they raise funds for their new residential center, Bridge House II. For more, visit visionsandpathways.org and streetsmartoutreachorg.

Entrepreneur, researcher, and advocate Maxine Bédat's new book is UNRAVELED: The Life and Death of a Garment. Her research is a groundbreaking chronicle of the birth--and death--of a pair of jeans, that exposes the fractures in our global supply chains, and our relationships to each other, ourselves, and the planet. Maxine Bédat is the founder and director of New Standard Institute, a think-and-do tank dedicated to turning industry into a force for good. She is a former lawyer and the cofounder of ethical fashion brand Zady.

Board certified health and Nutrition Coach Daryn Mayer decodes the NYC Public School menus to find the healthiest choices and best kid-friendly snacks. Daryn Mayer is a Board Certified Health and Nutrition Coach, and owner of New York based Daryn Mayer Wellness. DarynMayerWellness.com

There’s no question today’s students face unprecedented pressure to succeed. But how do we teach our kids to strive towards excellence without crushing them? Our guest is award-winning reporter Jennifer Breheny Wallace, for her new book NEVER ENOUGH: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It. Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and social commentator covering parenting and lifestyle trends for the last decade. Her website is jenniferbwallace.com

The Entrepreneur Space is a food & business incubator in Long Island City that has been helping people build and develop their new businesses for over 20 years. Managing Consultant of Entrepreneur Space, Katherine Gregory, talks about trends in today's emerging small businesses. For more, visit entrepreneurspace.org.

EXTRA LIFE: A Short History of Living Longer by Steven Johnson is a fascinating look at the milestones of human progress and a deep dive into how human life expectancy has been doubled in just one hundred years. Steven Johnson is the bestselling author of thirteen books, including Where Good Ideas Come From, Farsighted, and The Ghost Map.

This year’s New York City budget was marked by a lack of funding and cuts across the board. At the same time, New York State is losing out on an estimated $4.4 billion in economic stimulus because residents aren’t enrolled in benefits they qualify for. Our guest is Beth Finkel, State Director of AARP New York, with a plan to make it easier to search for those over 50 to find and apply for public benefits. For more, local.aarp.org/new-york-ny/

Current events find us talking more and more about the experiences of women and young girls, but what about the experiences of our sons and young men? How can we ensure that our sons are well-prepared and well-launched to manhood? How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Raise Good Men, by Dr. Michael Reichert, focuses on this question as a foundation to what we are missing when it comes to raising our sons.

Every year, The US Open is an epic sports event in sports, tennis and Queens. Kicking off the tournament, this Tuesday, August 22 to Sunday, August 27 is US Open Fan Week! The USTA’s Nicole Kankam, Managing Director, Pro Tennis Marketing and Entertainment, has details on the free events for all The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. For more, visit USopen.org.

Our guest is Madeleine Kleven of FOOD ANIMAL CONCERNS TRUST (FACT), for a conversation about the use and consequences of antibiotics in the food we eat, protecting ourselves, and supporting humane farming. Before joining FACT, Madeleine worked in a laboratory setting, researching infectious organisms and their impacts on public health. She completed her graduate degree in public health at UC Berkeley with an emphasis in infectious diseases and vaccinology.For more, visit foodanimalconcernstrust.org.

Merle Saferstein has worked closely with hundreds of Holocaust survivors, helping them to write and pass along their personal thoughts and histories. Now she’s helping others share their lifetime stories with legacy journaling, through her book LIVING AND LEAVING MY LEGACY, VOL II.

As one of America’s leading cultural ambassadors, NYC based Battery Dance connects the world through dance by building bridges through international cultural exchange programs--to date, in over 70 countries. In summer, Battery Dance plays host to dancers and companies throughout the world, via the Battery Dance Festival. Our guest is founder and Artistic Director of Battery Dance, Jonathan Hollander. For more, visit Batterydance.org.

Given the number of boarded up retail spaces across New York City, it may not be a surprise that retail jobs are down—there are fewer of most the accessible jobs. What does that mean for the City? Are those jobs coming back, and what needs to happen to insure that New Yorkers are prepared for the jobs the economy is creating? Our guest is Jonathan Bowles is the Executive Director of The Center for an Urban Future, a think tank that serves as a catalyst for smart and sustainable policies to reduce inequality, increase economic mobility, and grow the economy in New York City. For more, visit nycfuture.org.

In THE CONFIDENCE MAP: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity, behavioral economics pioneer Peter Atwater explores the hidden role of confidence in the choices we make and why events described as being unprecedented are often entirely predictable if we know what to look for. Peter Atwater is an Adjunct Professor of Economics at William and Mary, and President of Financial Insyghts, a consulting firm that advises on how social mood affects decision making, the economy, and the markets.

The FLAG Award For Teaching Excellence, founded by Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman, recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. 2023 Grand Prize Winners Zachary Rosch from Tottenville High School in Staten Island, and Sarah Slack from I.S. 223 in Brooklyn, talk about their unique STEM programs and bringing real world experiences to students. For more details, including information about 2024 entries, visit flagaward.org.

Christian Madsbjerg new book is LOOK: How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World, an exploration of how we pay attention, why it matters, and how we get it back. Christian Madsbjerg is cofounder of the consulting firm ReD Associates. He writes, speaks, and teaches widely on the practical application of the human sciences.