The necessity and relevance of art is a conversation needed today given that we live in tumultuous times, not unlike the 1960s. And if we are going to have this conversation, Lisa Channer is a voice that must be heard. She is a director, producer, dancer, performer, educator, wife and mother.

Mary Poppins dispensed medicine with a spoonful of sugar (and a really fun sing-along with the kids “in the most delightful way”) to make it easy for her young wards to swallow. That’s what it feels like when you read a book by Nora Zelevansky. Tough wisdoms and truths wrapped up in smart language, articulate characters and magical, invisible jets that can take you from Paris to New York in a matter of minutes (see Semi-Charmed Life). 

Enter Cassandra Worthy. She is a global keynote speaker, author and consultant who is the CEO and optimistic mind behind Change Enthusiasm. Her three-step method of “Signal. Opportunity. Choice.” provides a blueprint for organizations in transition as they help their employees accept inevitable changes by embracing what she calls the growth mindset. What distinguishes Cassandra’s approach is that a significant part of her pedagogy is based upon the acknowledgement and leveraging of the employees’ emotions in this change process.

Dr. Bryan Williams is a determined executive coach, author, husband and father. But most of all he is a man of faith. And he has used that faith to propel him through the unimaginable journey of his life and career. He reminds us that faith is the essential ingredient required to let go of what we are holding onto in order to grasp the unforeseen and unknown gifts of greatness that lie before us. As he himself says, his life story is predicated on “an interesting mix of anxiety mixed with supreme confidence and supreme faith.” Thank you for sharing this lesson, Bryan. We are better for it.

I have known Tembi Locke (writer and producer of the Netflix Limited Series From Scratch) for most of my life. Thirty-seven and a half years to be precise. But more than knowing her, she has been a friend, and taught me a valuable lesson: Find a way no matter what. It’s that attitude, that tenacious spirit in her that comes from her ancestors that has helped her pave an unconventional path to her life, her career and to love. Her successes are many in the unrelenting world of Hollywood, but what Tembi wants to talk about, as she puts it, is a question she learned from her parents, “How do I do what I need to do? How do I serve my community AND preserve the essence of who I am as a person?” Thank you Tembi, for engaging in the conversation.

In her very thoughtful way, Claudia Zelevansky speaks a powerful truth about living today. We are at a time in human history when we must question the very relevance of long-standing conventions, beliefs and norms. And if we find them lacking, we must be brave enough to change them. As she keenly states, we have to put the context first and not the result.

My conversation with Hugh was a reminder about what life and careers can look like when we are genuinely who we are and when we approach our time on the planet without the label making machine and just explore the many facets of our lives. Underneath Hugh’s laid-back persona is a quiet and inquisitive strength that we can all learn from. Hugh, thank you for your time and your heart centered wisdom.

Jane Cho is a powerhouse. In this riveting and unafraid conversation, she calls us all to the task of stepping into the unknown spaces, the complex spaces and claiming who we are. She reminds us that the barometer for success is tied to how emotionally, spiritually, attuned and aligned we are. Thank you, Jane!

In my conversation with Toby Poser - actress, producer, writer, director - the themes of family, the importance of finding your own creative voice and celebrating all of the things that unite us as human beings shine through. She reminds us of the importance of storytelling, not just for entertainment, but for survival. And she extols the virtues of having fun in your life and your work. She leaves us with this simple yet meaningful prayer or challenge – she says to us “You can find creativity in everything” even in the rising and setting of the sun. What beautiful gifts Toby gives us.

In our conversation about the state of business affairs today, Seth Mattison provides specific and elucidating examples of how the priorities of workers have shifted. He leaves us with necessary pieces to consider as we think about how we shape our next chapters – work is no longer a singular enterprise. Many of us will wear different hats and pursue multiple work existences. And we will all have to lean into becoming agile learners and be comfortable with the discomfort of learning new ways of being.

Sometimes you have to walk through doors that open for you. It sounds simple enough, but as Keiko Anderson points out, sometimes a closed door can be more comforting than an opened door. At least with a closed door you know what it is. An opened door means that you have to take the risk and step across the threshold into the unknown. How does Keiko recommend you proceed when standing on the precipice of the mysterious and the unfamiliar? Have faith and know that sometimes you have to make a decision and not back down.

There is a lyric from the Broadway musical, “Once on this Island” – “And if the gods move our feet, we dance.” The gods have certainly moved Skyler Maxey-Wert’s feet for almost 20 years. From studying at the Jacqueline Kennedy Oasis School of the American Ballet Theater, to performing with the SemperOper Ballett in Dresden, Germany he has learned some valuable life lessons: you have to have the tools to maneuver through the rigorous training and expectations of the dance world with grace and kindness towards yourself, you must breathe into the space of being an artist as opposed to just trying to be perfect all of the time, and most importantly, there is room at the ballet bar for all types of people and body types. Skyler certainly has wisdom beyond his years.

It is clear when you talk with Adrienne Carter that she stands in her truth. She has used her life and all of its beauties and complexities as a roadmap to leaving behind self-judgment in order to create opportunities for herself that she rightly deserves. And as she tells us, it’s never too late to start on your path to greatness, you just have to be clear about your intentions. Thank you for those powerful words, Adrienne.

With his honest telling of his struggle through profound prescription drug and alcohol addiction, Quentin Vennie gives us soul stirring life lessons. We can turn our traumas into our triumphs. We all have to receive forgiveness and extend it to people who hurt us, even when we don’t want to. And in a world where society often strips people of humanity, when we have the courage to tell our stories to one another honestly, that’s when we can feel and see each person we meet through a lens of empathy and compassion.

Spending time with Kathryn Hahn, Marvel Universe’s Witchy Woman Agatha/Agnes Harkness from WandaVision and now Claire Debella in Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion: Knives Out 2,” always brings me such joy because we have an ease of conversation and sharing of ideas that comes with longstanding friendships. In this conversation she leaves us with some powerful nuggets of wisdom – we don’t have to allow ourselves to be defined by other’s adjectives, there is power in defining your own expectations and finally “you can’t exist within your own bubble… You can’t harden the boundaries.”

Dennis’ journey to meeting his son is a lesson for us all that we have to construct new futures for ourselves when our plans don’t work out as we have dreamed. In his calming and assuring manner, Dennis encourages us to keep knocking on the doors believing that the answers we are looking for will soon appear. His is the perfect story to contemplate as we prepare for Thanksgiving. You can also see his journey and update on fatherhood on ABC’s The Parent Test.

Regina’s life and work have been a series of incredible victories based upon her ability to stand in the present reality of her life and take firmly in her hands the opportunities before her. Her immense creativity and critical mind are on full display in our conversation. She reminds us all that we must courageously ask ourselves the questions what is the goal of our hearts? and what secret desires move us? And when the answers come, you have to move joyfully in the direction of your soul.

What struck me the most about my conversation with Gamal Palmer was the message that pervades his life and his work. You can help people just by allowing them to be who they are, even if you disagree with them. What a profound thought for a time when adherence to your group’s thoughts and opinions is valued above even rational thought. And I was personally moved by his story of being viewed as a good black person and all that means. His words are a good reminder that as we shape our individual lives, you sometimes have to simply spread your wings and soar.

In my wide-ranging conversation with the brilliant Rachana Garg, I was reminded that the antidote to chaos is not a staid peace, but rather a radical dose of empathy, detachment, and curiosity. Empathy is the vehicle to build community with the people in our world. All people. Not just our cohorts or political comrades. Not only those whom we go to church with on Sunday morning, or synagogue on Saturday night, or no church at all.