Beloved bestselling author and scientist Brené Brown has spent the past two decades researching courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Her newest book, Atlas of the Heart, draws on that research and provides a map to capture the nuanced language of human emotion. In conversation with Chief Booklover Heather Reisman, Brown explains that the book came together through thousands of interviews and real-life examples. She also shares how new research completely changed how she thinks about humiliation and shame.

Author and historian Timothy Snyder’s 2017 book, On Tyranny, caught the attention of the masses with 20 lessons on how to combat the rise of tyranny. Here, he talks about the attention-capturing force of social media and what happens when you lose local news. Listen to hear three surprising things that we can all do to strengthen democracy.

Renowned researcher Dr. Dale Bredesen is an expert on neurodegenerative diseases. He’s also the founding president of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and the chief science officer at Apollo Health. His book The End of Alzheimer’s was an Indigo and New York Times bestseller. His latest book, The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s, features stories from real patients who have followed his protocol and improved cognitive function and quality of life. So what’s the secret? Well, there are things you can start doing today to fight against Alzheimer’s, a disease Bredesen says is on the rise among younger people. Listen in to find out more.

Award-winning author and performer Ivan Coyote has spent decades on the road, telling stories to audiences. From these experiences came letters — lots of them. For years, Ivan held onto those special communications, and when the pandemic cancelled tours worldwide, they had the opportunity to actually answer them. Their latest book, Care Of: Letters, Connections, and Cures, is a love letter to human connection. Listen in to hear Ivan’s poignant thoughts on the reciprocal nature of mentorship, the importance of having many trans narratives, the fallacy of vulnerability, and what it means to be a community leader.

Alex Johnston is a CEO, women’s advocate, policymaker, and lawyer. She’s also a mother of three children, but her journey to parenthood was rife with fertility challenges. She’s championing a call to action about reproductive health, and speaks to us about why we need to be having conversations around infertility more urgently.

Poet, speaker, and educator Najwa Zebian has gained a loyal following online for her authentic and moving poems. The Lebanese-Canadian author’s Insta-poetry rose in popularity during the #MeToo movement and her Ted Talk on building solidarity has been viewed thousands of times. Her latest book, Welcome Home, is her first work of non-fiction. “I'd been building my sense of identity outside of myself. And that's what led me to writing Welcome Home,” she tells us. Listen in to hear her thoughts on how to build a home within yourself and develop self-acceptance, and learn more about her transformative experience with writing and journaling.

Dr. Jen Gunter has been called the Internet’s most fearless advocate for women’s health. The OB/GYN, a.k.a. Twitter’s Resident Gynecologist, has a knack for debunking misinformation and empowering women. Her latest book, The Menopause Manifesto, is a followup to her No. 1 bestseller The Vagina Bible. “I couldn’t write about menopause without making it a feminist work, because up until really now, menopause has been viewed through patriarchal eyes,” she says. Gunter speaks to us about challenging the narrative that women’s parts are “dirty” and offers tips on how to find information online from reliable health sources. Listen in to find out how she’s using social media to educate the public.

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of five critically acclaimed New York Times bestsellers—The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, and David and Goliath. He’s known for his entertaining, well-researched narratives that provoke readers to see the world in different ways. His seventh book, The Bomber Mafia, tells the story of a Dutch inventor, a group of young military men at a forgotten U.S. air force base, and the unintended consequences of breakthrough inventions. Listen in to learn more about his new book, how new ideas take hold in the real world, and what attracted him to this subject matter.

Two-time Olympian Perdita Felicien is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. Literally, as a 10-time National Champion hurdler, but also figuratively, as a memoirist with a story to tell. Perdita shares with us what it was like to write about the intimate details of her mother’s life, her fierce determination in pursuing her big dreams, and what it’s like when you finally get there.

Governor General's award-winning writer Thomas King speaks to us about the high wire act of mixing humor and tragedy and how an inherent respect for the material goes a long way in storytelling. Plus, how his experience filmmaking posed completely different creative challenges compared to writing.

Economist Mark Carney led Canada out of the global financial crisis during his time as governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013. He then served as governor of the Bank of England, and now, he’s the UN special envoy on climate action and finance. His new book, Value(s): Building a Better World for All, is a sweeping look at the relationship between what we create, buy, and invest in, and our long-term wellbeing. He speaks to us about what the market even is, how our values as a society influence the market, and vice versa, and the invisible value of avoiding tragedies on the horizon, including financial, health, and climate crises. Plus, he shares why he’s actually optimistic about the future.

Harvard-trained neuroscientist and bestselling novelist Lisa Genova speaks to us about how the brain forms memories and the best way to sustain brain health (spoiler: sleep and exercise are extremely important).

Suleika Jaouad penned her Emmy award-winning New York Times column “Life, Interrupted” from her hospital bed after being diagnosed with cancer at 22. Her memoir, Between Two Kingdoms, was an instant New York Times bestseller and is one of Indigo’s best books of the year. She speaks to us about the four years she spent in the kingdom of the sick and how she found her place among the “living” again after emerging from treatment. “I wasn't a cancer patient anymore, but I had no idea who I was and no idea how to move forward with my life.” Listen to find out how she’s continued on and inspired people around the world in the process.

Renowned journalist Katie Couric is taking over hosting duties on this special episode of Well Said. Indigo CEO and Chief Booklover Heather Reisman and environmental advocate and award-winning filmmaker Laurie David talk about their new book, Imagine It!: A Handbook for a Happier Planet. They share simple lifestyle shifts you can start today to make a difference, like reducing plastic consumption and avoiding food waste. Plus, they give tips on raising an environmentalist.

We’ve all heard the dreaded term “burnout.” But what does it actually mean? In this episode, we are joined by Emily and Amelia Nagoski, authors of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. The twin sisters talk about their personal experiences with burnout and how emotions are explicitly linked to physical wellbeing. “The cure for burnout is not self-care. It’s all of us caring for each other,” Amelia says. Plus, they offer tips on how to complete the stress response cycle, like having a big ol’ cry, getting a good night’s sleep, moving your body, and seeking connection with others.

CNN host and award winning journalist Fareed Zakaria speaks to us about the political, social, technological, and economic trends that are unfolding at a rapid rate due to the pandemic. Plus, the direct connection between the coronavirus pandemic and a decades long disregard for our planet.

Award-winning author Rebecca Carroll understood the allure of storytelling very early in life. Today, she has an extensive resume as a journalist, cultural critic, WNYC radio producer, and podcast host. She’s written several critically acclaimed books on race and racial identity in America. Her latest, Surviving the White Gaze, is a powerful memoir about her experience growing up as the sole Black child in an all-white community. She speaks to us about the art of crafting a memoir, the moment she first heard the term ‘white gaze’ from Toni Morrison herself, and her family members’ reactions to the book. Plus, how writing the memoir helped to release painful memories from her body and contributed to her overall wellness.

New York Times bestselling author and food expert Mark Bittman talks about the history of human food consumption and how industrial agriculture has serious impacts on pollution, racism, and water degradation. Plus, he shares the first steps we can take to move away from destructive practices.

Bestselling author and organizational psychologist Adam Grant is challenging us to think again. Actually, he wants us to think more like scientists and remain open to new knowledge. He shares powerful ideas from his new book, Think Again, around the power of lifelong learning, challenging your beliefs, healthy debate, and the fascinating difference between asking “why” and “how.” Plus, he talks about which questions to ask if you find yourself debating conspiracy theories.

In 2005, New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert set out to answer an important question once and for all: is climate change real? Her three-part series revealed that, yes, it is real. But that didn’t exactly settle the debate. Today, Kolbert is a pioneer in climate change journalism, exploring the many ways we have tried to face the consequences of our environmental actions. She speaks to us about her reporting journeys and the pressing need to fundamentally examine how we live and consume energy. Plus, she shares how her taste for dark comedy has seeped into her latest book, Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future.