International bestselling author Steve Berry stops by for a chat about his latest Cotton Malone thriller, The Atlas Maneuver. We find out if Steve is a plotter or a pantster, if his characters talk to him, and whether Yamashita’s gold from WWII exists or not. We chat about his researching, where his ideas come from, and why remembering history is so very important. Plus - why we SHOULDN’T write about what we know!

How happy are you? Do you battle anxiety and depression, and wonder if your life has meaning? Enter Joy Strategist author Grace Harry to help change your life! Grace had an illustrious 30-year career as an exec at Def Jam and Jive Records, she managed Usher, and she’s worked with some of the top names in the music and entertainment industry. And now she’s turned her mind and heart towards helping people find joy. We’ll find out what we can do to start the process of finding joy, and how doing the thing that scares us the most might just be the thing to change our life.

So how much do you really know about money?  Do you know the best way to pay down your debt? Do you have a budget? It’s fair to say that most of us have a complicated relationship with money.

Enter Berna Anat! The author of Money Out Loud shares with us all the financial stuff that no one taught us. In our chat today we learn our money habits are directly connected to what we experienced as young people, (starting at age 7!), why paying just the minimum on our credit cards is just putting us in debt hell, and how we can make budgets work for US!

Listen in to our lively and informative conversation about how to become the CEO of our own lives and create a YES Plan to give us financial stability.

Are you ready for a masterclass from the premier Hollywood acting and success trainer? Whether you’re a performer or not… we’ve got you covered!  Bernard Hiller shares insights from his latest book, The Revolutionary Guide to Acting: A Transformational Journey to Achieving Success in Show Business and Life. We learn how to become unstoppable, how to create “wow” in an interview or audition, and why Al Pacino has gone to an acting coach weekly for 35 years.

Plus, he shares the three stages of success, the secret of life, and tells us that we may be wearing the wrong coat!

Get a pen and paper because there is so many gems packed into this interview. AND he gives us homework!

How much do you understand about the economy? Do you know how it really affects your life? Most of us don’t know more than what we’re told by people we are told are experts.  But should we trust economists? And what’s the biggest misunderstanding people have about the economy?

When I ran across a book written by economist, attorney, and NYU professor Howard Yaruss called Understandable Economics – Because understanding our economy is easier than you think – and more important than you know, I thought - this I have to hear! I’ll agree it’s more important than we know… but easier than we think?!?

So in our chat, we find out why the economy is more like psychology than civics, what inflation is, and why we are supposed to stop spending when businesses need us to spend to survive. Why do we give corporations bailouts to help them survive, but not the little guy? And who decides how much money is worth anyway? And oh yeah… Bitcoin?!?!  I promise, you will have a much better understanding of the economy after you hear this interview!

Have you ever wondered about cults? How do you get into one? How do you get out? Why don’t you leave when things get abusive? Why do people stay? Spencer Schneider is a former member of a Manhattan Cult, who finally got away after 23 years in the cult.

His new book “Manhattan Cult Story” covers the journey from how he got in, to how he got out, and all the sordid details in between. In our chat we learn how people were targeted, some of their internal vocabulary they use, and how he came to doubt himself. We talk about gaslighting, mind games, and how relationships were regulated. Plus, how Spencer finally was able to leave.

It's a rare insider view to the world of cults and how they work, with a strong dose of hope at the end.

Bellen Woodard is 11 years-old and the CEO of More Than Peach, but her story started when she was 8, and everyone in her class kept asking for the Skin Color crayon, meaning the peach crayon. But Bellen isn’t peach-colored. And she knew a lot of other kids weren’t either.

Now, at 11, she is the CEO of the world's first multicultural art brand and Kid/Woman/Black-owned business. She’s the world’s first Crayon Activist, and has transformed an entire industry with her global movement. And she’s also the author of the children’s book "More Than Peach."

In our chat we get her advice on how to handle things when you get discouraged, and what some of the challenges are that she faces as an entrepreneur. Plus - how a major brand changed their product in the wake of Bellen’s activism, why she wrote the book, and what she’s working on for the future.

In this very vulnerable interview, actor Michael O’Neill shares insight into his characters and how it can affect an actor’s mental health when a job is finished.

In this interview taped right before the filming of BOUND, we find out how he felt about Council of Dads getting cancelled, why he went into therapy after one of his roles, and what it’s like to work with Shonda Rhimes. Plus, why he liked the character of Butterfield on West Wing so much and how HE says I bring out the worst in him!

When my friend Richard suggested I read the book The Desecrated, I was a little hesitant because it had a supernatural bent and I’m a pure detective fan. But when he told me it was written by John Gray – I knew I had to open it up!  John Gray – the creator of the hit series The Ghost Whisperer. The director of Martin and Lewis with Sean Hayes and Jeremy Northam. The director of a ton of Grimm and Reckless episodes... Yeah, THAT John Gray.

And I’m glad I did! I raced through the book that was set in a morgue and got caught up in all the twists and turns and quirky characters. I recoiled at some of the descriptions and laughed at some of the situations. All in all – I got caught up in the book that made me start thinking “this sounds like a great movie!”

In our chat with John we find out why he delves into the supernatural, how he scared himself on a morgue set, and where he came up with some of his characters. Plus - we learn about the ghosts in his OWN home, how he turned the negative of the pandemic into a creative idea for a film, and what to expect from him next. Bonus pearl of wisdom – why it’s so important to ask yourself: “Am I leading my career, or is my career leading me?”

You’ve seen Mike Pniewski in everything from The Sopranos to The Good Wife/Fight, Law and Order (just about every incarnation!) and now Hightown on STARZ. He’s a face you don’t forget. 

He’s also a writer and an author. And calls fellow actor Michael O’Neill one of his best friends.  So it was only natural that they would want to do a project together. When nothing right came along, they decided to create their own! Pniewski wrote the script for a 10-12 minute short film that featured just the two actors.

In our first interview with Pniewski, we found out how dissecting human cadavers changed his career trajectory, how he found out he got a part on The Sopranos, and how people sometimes respond to him in public!

Plus, insight into his character Ed on the show Hightown, a rapid-fire round of shows he’s been in, and a question from listener Rebecca Griffith. Oh – and what it’s like to act next to a Spit Bucket!

Anyone who is a spy history buff will know that American Intelligence caught three high-profile Russian spies in the 90s: Aldrich Ames and Edward Howard from the CIA, and Robert Hanssen from the FBI.  But did you know that there have always been rumblings that there was a fourth man?

Bestselling author and intelligence analyst for CNN, (one of the most accomplished officers in CIA history), Robert Baer says it’s time to talk about The Fourth Man (which happens to be the name of his new book!) – someone who may be the greatest traitor in American history – and who may still be alive.

In our chat we find out how the intelligence organizations discovered the three moles within, and why there is credible belief that there was a fourth mole – the Fourth Man - and how these spies allowed Putin to come to power. In addition, we discover why people become spies, what the state of US spycraft is today, and what is the biggest danger in the world today. Plus – how he made ME part of the spy story!

What makes a book so hot that there are 11 publishing houses bidding in an auction for it? Today we find out as publishing professional and debut author Ebony LaDelle shares her experience as the author of a new YA novel - Love Radio. She tells us what actually makes a YA novel, and why music and Toni Morrison figure so prominently in the book. Plus – we talk about high school angst, the missing genre of books that her Love Radio fills – and why Shonda Rhimes needs to be dialing her up post haste!

Odds are you probably know someone in your life who deals with anxiety, or bipolar disorder.  Maybe someone who deals with delusions, or hears voices.  And maybe it’s even you. For example, I get panic attacks when I drive on the freeway. But we haven’t always done a good job in dealing with mental issues. We are only now starting to talk about it in any kind of meaningful way. It used to be that we only talked about it in whispers, or in private conversations, but never out in the open.

Bestselling author Daniel Bergner says it’s time to talk about the mind -and its mind of its own- and he does just that in his new book The Mind and the Moon. In our chat he talks about what we used to do to people dealing with mental challenges, what we know about drugs being used today (not much), and what exactly happens in a lobotomy. It’s an eye-opening discussion that hopefully will encourage you to start a conversation with friends and family about mental health.

Lt. Bill Harris was a WWII hero you probably haven’t heard of. Award-winning author and retired fighter pilot Dan Hampton plans to change that. His new book VALOR introduces us to the Saga of One Man’s Defiance and Indomitable Spirit in a style that reads like an adventure novel.

We chat with Dan about Lt. Harris, the power of resilience, why he thinks Ukrainian President Zelensky is so successful, and why the US Air Force is the best in the world. Join us for this fascinating and inspiring chat.

He's one of the most respected character actors in Hollywood, taking a one-day stint on The West Wing and turning into a 6-season job. MIchael O'Neill is one of those actors you see on the TV or movie screen and say "Oh, THAT guy!"

We have a delightful chat talking about the very unusual way he was "discovered," what his two requirements were before he took on the part of the crazed gunman on Gray’s Anatomy, and how he still lives with the insecurity of the acting business. Plus... his sex scene in Rectify, and how he didn’t recognize Matthew McConaughey on the set of The Dallas Buyer’s Club movie. You will LOVE this guy!

Do you feel like your life is messy? That things are often in chaos and sometimes life just seems so unfair?

Cy Wakeman wrote a book to give us hope. Titled Life’s Messy, Live Happy, she tells us that we are often the source of our own suffering, and how we can flip the switch from suffering to self-reflection. The subtitle is even more inspiring: Things Don’t Have to Be Perfect for You to Be Content.

We’ll talk about how we’re NOT a self-help project, she’ll give us tips on avoiding the roller coaster of emotions, and we’ll hear the story of Good, Bad, Who Knows? It’s a fun chat with lots of good info tucked in to help you Life Happy, even if life IS messy!

When I was a little girl, all the astronauts were men. We would watch TV shows about Dr. Leakey, the archaeologist. And of course, we loved watching the shows with Jacques Cousteau.

These were amazing people.  But where were the women? We never saw role models at the time in science and exploration to inspire us. Could we even BE scientists and explorers?

Fortunately, now we are starting to hear more of the stories of the women who pioneered the way in those areas. And for young women, and girls, National Geographic brings us “No Boundaries… 25 Women Explorers and Scientists Share Adventures, Inspiration, and Advice.”  It’s a wonderfully colorful book, filled with bits and pieces of wisdom, and backstories on these women scientists.

In this episode, we talk with Gabby Salazar, one of the authors, and a nature and conservation photographer and social scientist, who has traveled the world, living in tropical rainforests and on tropical islands. We’ll ask her how they chose the women to be included in the book, which story inspired her, and what she hopes girls and young women will take from this book. It’s a conversation sure to inspire you – and the young girls in your life!

When you get on a plane to fly somewhere, do you think much about the pilots in the cockpit?  I mean, sure, you hope this isn’t their first flight, and that their eyesight is good. But do you wonder if the pilot is white or black?

Back in the 60s, you wouldn’t have to wonder because the pilots were all white. That is, until David Harris came along.

Pulitzer prize-winning author Michael H. Cottman takes us through the story of Harris, the first black commercial pilot, in his new book Segregated Skies: David Harris’ Trailblazing Journey to Rise above Racial Barriers..

Written for young adults, the book is a good read for all ages. In our chat, we learn some of the things that David experienced as a black man in the military and at American Airlines in the 60s. We learn about David’s tenacity, persistence, and doggedness and how he eventually became a role model for all pilots at American Airlines. Plus, how his swagger helped him change the status quo!

In our chat, we also talk about how Michael himself was racially profiled, run off the road and called names. Listen in as we talk about an aviation pioneer, and find some life lessons we can ALL take from this book.

Of the 600+ people charged in the 1/6 insurrection, 12% had some sort of military experience. Both leading up to and in the wake of 1/6, a series of reports called attention to the potential threat posed by extremists in the military. Dr. Megan McBride, a research analyst on both domestic and international terrorism, co-wrote a CNA report about racial extremism in the military, and what needs to be done. How big is the problem? How does the culture of the military fit in to solving this problem? What needs to be done?

Dr. McBride shares some surprising insight and reminds us that the sexual harassment/assault issue in the military hasn't been solved - but we can learn from the approach the military is taking.

If you're worried about racial extremism in the military, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Explorer, oceanographer, and field scientist, Dr. Sylvia Earle has been advocating for the health of our ocean for decades. The author of National Geographic's  Ocean – A Global Odyssey, Dr. Earle navigates the deep for us and shares stories about everything from the personality of fish to what it was like to be an Aqua-Naughty!

Former Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -  NOAA (the first female to hold that job), the designer of underwater submersibles, and the founder of Mission Blue, Dr. Earle is Time’s very first Hero for the Planet and is a pioneer for females in the study of oceanography. We talk about her time under the sea, why this book is so very important, and what over-fishing is doing to the ocean.

Many of us are intrigued with history and lost cities. National Geographic editor and archaeologist Ann Williams is one of those people who digs around and writes about discoveries from the past. She’s often been on-hand to witness important discoveries – some that she talks about in the new book from Nat Geo called Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs… 100 Discoveries that Changed the World

This book is a feast of pictures and information about astonishing discoveries – from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Lost City of the Monkey God.

In our chat, we find out how technology affected archaeology, (we even get an explanation of how LIDAR works!)  accidental discoveries, amateur archaeologists, and the woman who tried on the jewelry of Troy. Plus -  how exciting it is to make “snapshot of a moment” finds.

Dr. Kara Cooney returns to discuss her new & provocative book The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World. The book covers 5 Egyptian pharaohs – or kings, if you will – and discusses the concepts surrounding power: how is it earned, who controls it, and why the many often give up power to the few.  Oh… and does any of that correlate to our modern life?

Dr. Cooney tells us how authoritarianism starts, how that power is maintained, and if she is seeing signs of it in the world today. Plus - what people gain from aligning with corrupt leaders and why cognitive dissonance is important to allow corrupt leadership to continue.

We also discuss how in the past women had equal power to men in some areas (would you believe Los Angeles, 300 years ago?!)  And why we are starting to ask what is power, what is value, and why is there so much sexual abuse.

So. Much. Fascinating. Information.  Dr. Cooney will give you lots to think about, I promise.

Can you believe we are already 21 years into the new century? National Geographic is celebrating that with a beautiful new coffee table book - The 21st Century: Photographs from the Image Collection. We chat with NatGeo Editor in Chief Susan Goldberg about this fabulous book that is set up chronologically with 250 photos in 400 pages. We talk about some of the amazing photographs that are products not only of traditional photography, but also images from the innovations of digital, drone and smartphone photography. The book also answers our questions about what the photographer was thinking when he shot the photo and what the backstory is.

We find out how Susan chose only 250 photos from almost 65 million images in the national Geographic Image Collection, and what makes an image iconic. Plus, we also talk about the NatGeo Instagram account – that has over 190 MILLION followers! (they are the largest brand on Instagram)

A pioneer in the LGBT community, and lead plaintiff in a groundbreaking ACLU Federal lawsuit for gay marriage rights in Florida, Arlene Goldberg shares her story from her book Simple Human Dignity, a personal and touching memoir. We hear firsthand about growing up gay in the late 50s and 60s, having to lie to the people most important in her life, and how she felt she let her parents down. 

Arlene shares what areas we still need to work on, the surprising issues facing older LGBT Americans, and what allies can do to help the LGBT community.

I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much in an interview – especially one that included carbuncles, cannibalism, and Thomas Jefferson’s rear end. Bestselling author Michael Farquhar shares More Bad Days in History and reminds us that history is not all black and white – that complexities exist – and that we are all pretty much the same. 

Michael tells us how General Patton’s widow put a Hawaiian curse on her husband’s mistress, how Joe DiMaggio gave Florence Kotz a doozy of a day, and how Colonial Massachusetts had some terminal consequences for disobedient children.

Having a bad day? You won’t feel so bad after listening to our chat!

How do you go from the crazy world of Wall Street to the chicken coops of Montana, and write a sweet book for children, after you have a bestselling novel for adults? 

William C. Pack explains why he wrote "Never Kiss a Chicken" after the success of his adult novel "Bottom of the Sky."  We talk divisiveness, niceness, kindness (both active and passive) and why one should never kiss a chicken.

And, it turns out, we both speak chicken! A delightful conversation with an interesting man.

At one time or another, we’ve all wished that somehow we could change our human capabilities,  whether it be ways to make the blind see again, get rid of diseases like cystic fibrosis, or simply just be taller or more athletic.

Those wild and crazy science fiction ideas may not be that far away. We could, in effect, become superhuman - and in the near future! At least so says David Broyles!

Director of Special Activities and Intelligence Teams at the Center for Naval Analyses, David shares the latest info and implications of AI, bio-tech, and genetic engineering. Fascinating for all who are interested in the future!

In our chat with Viral BS author Dr. Seema Yasmin, we learn the difference between mis-information and dis-information, why people believe crazy medical ideas, and why facts DON’T change our mind. We learn about cognitive biases, why education level isn’t a good measure of who might believe false information, and how group-think figures in. Plus, how a little bit of truth can be a bad thing, how communication is key, and how social media plays into the spread of bad information.  Oh – and the covid-19 vaccine WON’T change your DNA.         

If you’ve seen the inspirational film Hidden Figures, you know a little of how women, especially black women, were treated during the 50s and  60s,  especially in male-dominated industries. The stories of  Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughn, and  Katherine Johnson helped us to understand what challenges women faced.  Katherine was the NASA mathematician whose calculations were critical to manned space flights, from Project Mercury with John Glenn, all the way up to the moon flights and space shuttles.

Before she passed away at 101 in February of 2020, Katherine and her two daughters – Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore -- wrote a children’s book about her life and the racism and misogyny she faced.  Published by National Geographic, One Step Further: My Story of Math, the Moon, and a Lifelong Mission is a deeply personal portrayal of female empowerment, women in STEM, and the breaking down of racial barriers across generations.

It’s a wonderful book that will inspire little girls for generations to come!

We talked to Katherine’s daughter Katherine Moore, and got some insight into their lives. We talked about growing up in the 50s and 60s with Jim Crow in full swing, what kind of an impact her mother had on the space program, and what she hopes children will take from this remarkable book.

Ohio has picked the winner of the presidential election 29 out of 31 times since 1896… so they must be on to something. David Giffels traversed the state to find out what the people of Ohio were thinking about the election and what challenges they were facing. He put his discoveries down in his book Barnstorming Ohio, To Understand America.

There are 5 distinct different areas of Ohio, which makes it the cross-section of America, and gives us some insight into what the people of our country are thinking. In our chat, David explains what issues each area deals with, how Amazon is changing the landscape of Ohio, AND America, by taking over decaying malls, and how farmers are trying to survive despite the trade wars and bad weather.

Will Ohio get the presidential election right this time? No matter if they do or not, we’ll have a better understanding of America and Americans, by Barnstorming Ohio with David Giffels.

Most of us in society today are pretty fed-up with how a lot of businesses are operating. Is there a way for companies to be more socially responsible and not be so focused on shareholder profits? Dr. Christopher Marquis says there IS and it’s called a B-Corp.

A professor at Cornell and the author of Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism, Dr. Marquis explains what a B Corp is and what it means to businesses and consumers. What are the benefits and what are the motivations for a business to become socially responsible?   

We learn which companies are already on board as B Corps, how it has affected their profits, what open hiring is, and what greenwashing is.

What really IS hypnotherapy? Will you start to quack like a duck if you try it? Certified master hypnotherapist and NLP trainer Kimberly Friedmutter shares how we can use our subconscious minds to empower ourselves and create the life we really want.

The author of Subconscious Power: Use Your Inner Mind to Create the Life You've Always Wanted, Kimberly chats with us about how the words we use really matter, what a personal drought is, and how the word “cancel” can bring us freedom.

Plus - she even gives us a little moment of guided relaxation (don’t listen while driving!)

Can we change how our genes act? Do genes influence behavior and personality? Does the environment actually change our genes? We tackle these topics and more with professor of microbiology Dr. Bill Sullivan, author of the book Pleased to Meet Me.

We also cover epigenetics, gene editing, methylation and the microbiome. Bill tells us how our socio-economic position affects our genes, how DNA is getting tweaked in the womb, and how dopamine affects eating and alcohol use.

Plus – find out what Iceland is doing to combat violence, how our bacteria affects our happiness, and how the brains of conservatives and liberals are different!

Back with us for another chat, Sandra Brown talks Thick as Thieves, her latest bestseller. She tells us what sparked the idea the book, how her characters create themselves, and how the story already exists – it’s just her job to excavate it.

She also shares a surprising struggle she deals with (it will be familiar to many of us), how she builds her plots and twists and turns, and how her subconscious theme has always been the abuse of power.

It’s her most vulnerable interview with us to date.

Do all diseases originate from animals?  Did covid-19 escape from a lab in China? Are airplanes safe to fly during these pandemic times? Dr. Michael Greger, the author of How to Survive a Pandemic answered those questions and more in our recent conversation.

Plus – we have a lightning round covering UV light, whether any medications work, herd immunity and why distancing is so important.  And he tells us why he’s worried about mask-wearing (spoiler-he DOES believe they work!)

We all want to feel safe in this crazy world! But how do we go about doing that? The best people to ask about protection and safety are the experts who do it every day in one of the most stressful, and important, jobs in our nation – the Secret Service.  Former agent Evy Poumpouras is just the person to ask.  Not only has she guarded presidents and heads of state, she was awarded the prestigious Medal of Valor for Her bravery on 9/11and was an investigator for the Department of Defense’s elite Polygraph Unit.

In our chat with Evy, we find out how we all can create more courage in the world and less fear, and how being fearless isn’t a goal we should reach for. We also learn why Evy says we should WANT someone to hit us, how we have to create a shield to be our own gatekeepers, and how to get out of the problem and into the solution.

Evy also offers real coping mechanisms, and actionable steps towards being safer, in addition to sharing some tips on how to determine if someone is lying. She also busts some big myths about how to tell if someone is being untruthful. We learn about priming language, how using someone’s name changes brain chemistry, and why preserving dignity is so very important. 

For more about interviews with fascinating people, go to www.ACloserLookRadio.com

Michael O’Neill is one of the most consistently GOOD actors you will see. His portrayal of Gary Clark in the season 6 finale of Grey’s Anatomy was a masterpiece. He became a show favorite in West Wing. He had an important part in Scandal’s final season. He plays a heartbreaking part in the Sundance award-winning film Clemency. Now he is in what is predicted to be a major hit – Council of Dads.

We talk with Michael about the new show, where he plays AA sponsor Larry, and why he loves the part so much. We also chat about the award-winning film Clemency, how it personally affected him, and how wonderful Aldis Hodge was in it. And how that role on Grey’s Anatomy changed him personally

Plus, how Michael felt about Sons of Anarchy and Sea Biscuit, and what he appreciated about Al Pacino. You will love this guy… I promise!

Have you ever wondered how you could make a bigger impact in the world, but you weren’t sure how to start? CEO, entrepreneur, documentary film executive   and author Anne Devereux-Mills has some ideas for us! The founder of Parlay House, Anne shares why the Parlay Effect (also the name of her book) can help us make connections and change the world.

She also shares how we can make those painful transitions in life a little easier, what to do about our fear of not being perfect, and how small things can make a big difference. Plus, she’ll also tell us how to start our OWN Parlay House!

Check out www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating interviews.

Are we the only beings in the universe?  You know you’ve thought about it. For decades the American public has postulated that beings from other planets or galaxies have come to earth and lived among us.

 Unearthing Nazca: The Complete Story, is a new documentary produced by Gaia that just premiered on their site. It’s about controversial mummies that were found in Peru and covers the latest findings – and controversies  --  and what the experts are saying.  Could these be beings from another planet?

 Our guest, Melissa Tittl, is the executive producer of the documentary, and the Director of Original Content for Gaia. We’ll ask her about how these mummies were found, what medical and forensic experts are saying about them, and if they could be a hoax.

 Plus – are there more mummies out there? Why is the Peruvian government hindering their investigation, and what we can expect from Gaia in the future.

When it comes to human consciousness, spirituality, and the science of medical intuition, there is no one more recognizable and respected than Caroline Myss. We talk about her new series on the Gaia network – Sacred Power: Mastering the Nature of Your Soul, and her live event at the GaiaSphere theater in Boulder, CO August 16-18.

Carolyn explains how we all are intuitive, how we have to be careful about giving away our power to others, and how everything we do affects others. She also shares how to find trust, why we need to walk our talk, and how we have to tip the world towards compassion and empathy and not towards violence and evil by beating evil at its own game.

Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki returns to chat with Pam Atherton about how we got suckered into paying back the guys who ripped us off in the bank debacle, how the student debt crisis is bigger than the 2007 sub-prime crisis, and how parents might start moving in with their kids. As outspoken and controversial as ever, the author of FAKE talks about the gold standard, mistakes he has made, and the living liability that you may not have considered!

For more interviews, visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com

As we begin to fully understand all the ins and outs of the current administration, a big question is – who really are Jared and Ivanka Kushner? Who are the people behind the façade? Acclaimed author and investigative journalist Vicky Ward draws back the curtain and gives us some insight into Kushner, Inc., which happens to be the title of her NYTimes bestselling  book.

We find out how Jared and Ivanka’s fathers inform so much of their lives, and how Jared’s father thought his family was just like the Kennedy’s.  We’ll also understand why Jared bears so much animosity towards Chris Christy, and what his 3-point plan was to rehabilitate the family name and reputation.

Plus – Vicky tells us how dependent Ivanka is on her father’s approval and how Jared and Ivanka have an authenticity problem.  We didn’t have near enough time to ask everything we wanted, but here’s our chat with Vicky that will be leaving you wanting to know more about Kushner, Inc.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas broadcast and journalism teachers Melissa Falkoswki and Eric Garner discuss the Parkland tragedy and how it affected them, and their students, why they encouraged the journalism students to write about it, and what they see in these kids that others might be overlooking. They discuss the book that came from those student essays: We Say #NeverAgain. Powerful and emotional, the chat was recorded the morning after the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California.

Several years ago we took on the concept of Extreme Ownership with Navy Seal co-authors Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.  We learned that if you’re in charge – you better own it!  

Now these two leadership experts and co-founders of Echelon Front  have a new book out called The Dichotomy of Leadership – and maybe because some people took their original advice to the EXTREME!!

We talk with Jocko Willink--- former Commander of Seal Team 3 – Task Unit Bruiser (which, by the way, was the most highly decorated US Special Ops unit of the Iraq War), about this dichotomy.  What can we learn about balance – and why it’s important.

Plus - when it’s time to fire someone… how to know when to back off… and why humility is so important. 

Thanks for listening!

With the onset of the new year, the thought on many minds is to lose the fat they've put on over the holidays. Neurologist and bestselling author of The Grain Brain, Dr. David Perlmutter explains the myth of fat and how we've been persuaded to change our diets in an unhealthy way. He tells us how good fats have been substituted with sugars and fillers, which have devastating effects on our bodies.

Learn how a shift in your diet perspective can ward off diseases like Alzheimer's and diabetes. Frequently overlooked as well are the benefits of vitamins, supplements, and gut biotics. Dr. Perlmutter's latest book The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan will give you information on how to eat better, reduce internal inflammation, and ultimately feel better. For more information, stop by www.drperlmutter.com. And don't forget to visit www.acloserlookradio.com for more fascinating interviews!

It was a big step when Cookie Johnson finally wed superstar sports icon Magic Johnson. Imagine her surprise when she found out 45 days later he was HIV positive. Their entire world changed as they believed this was a death sentence for him and she was newly pregnant.

Author of Believing in Magic: Believing in Love, Overcoming Adversity, and Keeping the Faith Cookie talks about tackling this issue as a couple bound by their faith, and what it took to move them forward, making Magic the face of HIV/AIDS in order to educate the world in the early 1990s.

Cookie's desire to be a fashion designer was challenged as well because just having "the name" wasn't enough to launch her business, especially when she marketed her jeans for curvy women. To learn more about this Cookie, visit www.cookiejohnson.com. And be sure to stop by www.acloserlookradio.com for more fascinating interviews!

Whether we realize it or not, the actions and behaviors of people around us affect us and OUR behaviors more than we know! Wharton School Marketing professor Jonah Berger has some profound insight into our patterns of behavior and wrote Invisible influence: The Hidden Forces That Shape Behavior to explain this phenomenon.

Jonah discusses important concepts of group thinking, designated dissenters, and individualism. And what do cockroaches have to do with successful marketing/negotiating strategies? To find out more, please be sure to visit www.jonahberger.com. Don't forget to check out www.acloserlookradio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

#1 New York Times bestselling author and TV host of Decoded on the History Channel Brad Meltzer joins us again with his new thriller House of Secrets. With a literal foot in the door of government agencies Brad has insight like no other concerning conspiracy theories and possible terrorist strategies.

Brad speaks about collaborating with Tod Goldberg on House of Secrets and what each writer brought to the table. He also describes why he chose a female heroine to be the protagonist for this story. And speaking of stories, Brad now offers live readings on Facebook - bringing back the art of storytelling on a Sunday night.

Last but not least learn about the relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold. Was it all that it seemed? To find out much more about what Brad has to offer for both adults and children with his books please stop by www.bradmeltzer.com. And don't forget to visit www.acloserlookradio.com for more fascinating interviews!

As a former US Olympic cyclist, renowned chiropractor, international lecturer and Life Coach to the Stars, Dr. Jeff Spencer knows what it takes to overcome obstacles. We discuss his observations while participating in the Olympics as well as what he learned as a coach on multiple Tours de France.  He shares insight on the edge that separates those attempting to succeed from those who actually make it, and succeed on a regular basis.

Creator of the Champion's Blueprint, Dr. Spencer notes what world-class achievers intuitively do without even realizing it and breaks it down into component parts. In our interview Jeff tells us that there are are skills anyone can learn, and gives us strategies and straightforward advice to follow.  In addition, we get his firsthand experience of the tragedies at the 1972 Olympics, when he was on the US bicycling team.

For more information be sure to visit his site www.drjeffspencer.com and check out his book Turn It Up!. There are many more fascinating interviews to listen to as well on www.acloserlookradio.com so please stop by!

They said it couldn't be done. The Soviet Union was an indomitable beast in the world of ice hockey. Jim Craig, goalie of that Olympic "Miracle Team, describes the challenges the US Hockey Team faced AND conquered during the Lake Placid Winter Olympics of 1980. In addition, we talk about how Jim takes those winning strategies and dynamics and helps others apply them not only to sports but to daily life as well.

Author of Gold Medal Strategies Jim shares stories from that fabled match on the ice, as well as giving us tools and resources to find success in our own lives. To learn more about Jim and his Gold Medal strategies, please stop by his site www.goldmedalstrategies.com. And don't forget to check out other fascinating and informative interviews on www.acloserlookradio.com

Katrina Radke's passion for swimming and excellence led her to a position as a competitive swimmer in the 1988 Summer Olympics. In our chat, Katrina shares something that most people are not aware of - that following her peak achievement, she hit a debilitating low that took twelve years out of her life as she struggled to overcome the effects of Mononucleosis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

We talk about how she found herself setting her sights on learning to achieve the same level of success she found in swimming, in her everyday life. She not only went on to recover, but she wound up breaking world records once she was back in the game!

We also discuss her book Be Your Best Without the Stress, and how she has a passion to help others focus and create their own dream life. For more information please visit Katrina's site at www.katrinaradke.com. And for more fascinating interviews don't forget to stop by www.acloserlookradio.com

Dr. Carol Apovian is currently one of the premier weight loss experts in the US. She's been the nutrition consultant to NASA as well as the medical advisor on the Dr. Oz show. Professor of medicine at Boston University she also directs the nutrition and weight management program there. Author of The Overnight Diet Dr. Apovian offers a powerful new way to get your body into peak shape.

In our chat we discuss her Overnight Diet that offers a one-two punch of power-up and fuel-up, and what makes that schedule unique. We talk about insulin and how to retain your muscle mass while burning fat. She also tells us that we all experience shrinking muscle syndrome after age 30 and how we can help retain a more invigorated metabolism. Be sure to stop by Dr. Apovian's site as www.drapovian.com for more information. And don't forget to visit www.acloserlookradio.com for more informative interviews!

Samuel Adams beer founder Jim Koch joins us over a beer to share a fascinating look into the world of business and brewing. Author of Quench Your Own Thirst: Business Lessons Learned Over a Beer or Two Jim has many tales to tell about successful brewing, marketing, and bringing a vision to fruition.

Beginning with only two employees Jim's goal of achieving success within five years wound up realizing that goal in only five months!  We discuss the attributes for keeping a company successful and find out what program Jim has in place for giving back to the community.

Finally if you haven't heard about nitro beer you'll want to check it out for sure! For much more information about his brewery please stop by www.samueladams.com. Don't forget to also visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more informative interviews!

There's no denying, we are fascinated by the Kennedy clan. Perhaps you haven't heard much about "Kick" Kennedy though. NY Times bestselling author Barbara Leaming shares insights from her latest book Kick Kennedy and details the brief but stellar life of the favorite daughter of the Kennedy household.

Find out why it was necessary for Kick to leave the US to get out from under the shadow of the powerful male Kennedys, and to pursue her dreams in Great Britain. Plus, Barbara's descriptions of pre-war Britain in 1938 will surprise you, as she  documents the life of the aristocracy and the attitudes of young men and women at that time. Learn how Kick achieved her dreams (with no help from her parents), only to meet a tragic end. And her mother Rose wouldn't even attend her funeral. Hooked? There's much more information to be found in this riveting book!

Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating interviews.

Bestselling author and journalist Chris McDougall is on tap chatting about his latest book Natural Born Heroes. Among the ideas we discuss is what Chris describes as the three qualities that intrinsically make up a hero.

And have you ever considered that you're outsourcing your physical fitness? Chris details the living natural art of movement that is Parkour, and points out why it's helpful to watch children and dogs at play.

For much more information be sure to stop by Chris's site www.chrismcdougall.com. And be on the lookout for Born to Run as a feature film starring Matthew McConaughey coming soon! Don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and inspiring interviews!

Cheryl Townsley is back with more terrific advice on feeling better, finding your energy, and looking younger. Author of fifteen books Cheryl's latest Cooking for Life helps get you on track to throwing off the brain cloud that surrounds you and getting control back of your life.

Cheryl will rock your world when she discusses the benefits of good fats and how much you should actually be consuming. Find out how the best way to make life changes is to make them simple, simple, simple. Cheryl has much more information available on her site www.cheryltownsley.com. Be sure to also stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more informative interviews!

America's only tequila journalist Mike Morales offers a class in Tequila 101. It doesn't have to be Cinco de Mayo to break out the good stuff for that perfect margarita. Mentored by former members of the Mexican Tequila Academy Mike discusses the history of the beverage, the process of making it, and everything else that makes this unique drink the “Spirit of Mexico.”

For much much more information be sure to stop by www.tequilaaficionado.com. Don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Queen of suspense bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark is feted by Simon and Schuster for four DECADES of thrilling readers around the world! Her latest work All Dressed Up in White continues her Under Suspicion series. Mary discusses how she's been able to shift and adapt to reader's changing tastes over the many years.

Mary's Under Suspicion series also nudges readers imaginations by tasking them to consider how they would fare if they suddenly found themselves in a difficult situation. Crack open her latest novel and prepare yourself for a thrill! Be sure to check out Mary's website www.maryhigginsclark.com for more information. And don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Communications expert and former CNN reporter Carmine Gallo shares insight from his latest book The Story Teller’s Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don't.  Carmine discusses in depth the difference between a speech and storytelling and who he finds to have mastered this art, as well as sharing the integral components to a presentation that will capture and captivate audiences.

In this chat, Carmine discusses death by Powerpoint and why campfires have been so much more than just providers of heat for millennia. And he explains that in this day and age of marketing, facts are not enough anymore. You'll find more about Carmine and communication skills on his website www.gallocommunications.com. And don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

New York Times journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit. is back for another interview! In this chat were we talk about his latest release Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business,  and the skill sets that successful people incorporate into their lives.

Charles tells us how approaching goals from a different angle can bring better payoffs, using a military example about motivation.  He also shares how Google and Saturday Night Live have discovered the key to building better teams of employees. Plus, we find out how Disney's Frozen almost didn't make it to the screen, and what it took to finally get there. Check out his website for more information - www.charlesduhigg.com. And for more fascinating and informative interviews, be sure to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com

Known for her role as Elliot's mother in the blockbuster movie ET, as well as a myriad of other characters on TV and silver screen, Dee Wallace is known as a "Scream Queen" in Hollywood. In this interview, we chat about her favorite film role, who'd she'd like to work with, and what ET meant to her, and the the public. Plus,  Dee is now up for a Daytime Emmy for her guest role on General Hospital, so we talk about working on a soap.

We also find that Dee has been a life coach for 20 years, in addition to her acting career! She shares what challenges she sees people face today, and why she created a plus bear named Bupa Lapaloo.

To find out more about Dee, stop by her website www.iamdeewallace.com. And don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more informative and fascinating interviews!

Marketing and advertising expert Kelly McDonald weighs in on the do's and don'ts of successful marketing techniques. Author of How to Market to People Not Like You, Kelly offers precise strategies for multicultural marketing.

In this interview, Kelly discusses how tailoring advertising to Spanish speaking families entails much more than just translating the copy into Spanish. We also learn  what Pink and Shrink marketing is, and hear the story of Harley Davidson's success in marketing to women.  Plus, marketing car insurance to hispanics and how Jones Sodas reached their desired customers. 

For more information, be sure to visit her website www.mcdonaldmarketing.com. And don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

You don't have energy, you feel bloated and ache a lot. You might have Leaky Gut Syndrome. Naturopath, nutritionist, and chiropractor Dr. Josh Axe, author of the newly released Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems and 5 Surprising Steps to Cure discusses this prevalent malady, telling us that up to 80% of the population is suffering in one form or another.

Dr Axe discuses the role of antibiotics in the syndrome, and how they're hiding in places that might surprise you. In the interview we discuss how to combat and offset triggers that lead to leaky gut and offers simple solutions that will have you feeling healthier in no time. For more information please visit www.draxe.com. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

While you may have heard of Amazon, you may not know about it's inception and spectacular growth. AND the drama and chaos behind its beginnings. Brad Stone, senior writer for Bloomberg Businessweek, gives us the inside scoop from his book The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon, and shares an in-depth view of this extraordinary company.

Brad describes how Jeff came up with the concept for Amazon and the trials and errors the company experienced. He tells the story of sneaky tactics used by Bezos and company, which at times helped boost the stores sales but also causes trouble for competitors - just ask Toys 'R Us. He also share the little-known fact that Amazon had a co-founder as well. Stop by www.bradstone.com for more information on both Brad and the book. And don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more informative and fascinating interviews!

We're back with our favorite bestselling suspense author Jeffrey Deaver for his latest installment of the Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs series The Steel Kiss. It's quite unsettling this time as advances in technology prove that truth is stranger than fiction.

Jeffery shares what the impact of cloud monitoring has on your everyday appliances, and how on earth your refrigerator may have been a spambot! He also gives insight into the current skirmish between Apple and the FBI for control of the infamous San Bernardino iPhone and why this time it's different. Also find out why New York taxi services dropped 5% after The Bone Collector movie came out! For more information be sure to stop by www.jeffreydeaver.com. And don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating interviews!

Did you know Andy Warhol was a hoarder? And that Charles Darwin suffered from anxiety disorder? Medical and science journalist Claudia Kalb author of Andy Warhol was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History’s Great Personalities, shares stories of the disorders and maladies of twelve famous people. Her in-depth research brings a lot of new light to these historic figures.

Claudia discusses how super creativity can lead to a myriad of personality disorders, unknown back in the day but now readily apparent. Was President Lincoln clinically depressed, or just sad? What drove Marilyn Monroe to become a classic case of Borderline Personality Disorder? And the never-ending mystery of Einstein's brain. Plus - We discuss Frank Lloyd Wright and his narcissism, and Gershwin and his ADHD. For MUCH more information please be sure to stop by www.claudiakalb.com. Remember to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more informative interviews!

Business consultant, professor, and author Paul Leinwand knows what he's talking about when examining successful business strategies. His latest book Strategy That Works: How Winning Companies Close the Strategy-to-Execution Gap is an excellent guide to leadership methods that will take a business to the top and keep it there.

Paul describes five key attributes of unconventional leadership that ensure a stable, growing business. Find out which two companies rank at the very top of successful strategy-to-execution today. Paul also discusses the importance of culture in a business and cost management that can elevate or sink a business. Plus, why IKEA will survive in any economy.  For more information please sure to stop by his site www.strategythatworks.com. And for more informative interviews please be sure to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

Is it possible to overcome chronic pain, symptoms of Parkinson, MS, and other neurological diseases?  Psychiatrist Dr. Norman Doidge, author of The Brain's Way of Healing, says YES, and explains how new research shows that the brain is far more resilient than ever believed in the past. He explains how not only does the brain regenerate, but that it has the capability of healing itself and redistributing its properties where needed.

Dr. Doidge shares a story of protocols that may help those with chronic pain.  He also explains how energy sources can help sync neurons and get them to fire correctly again. Get more information on the brain and Dr. Doidge by stopping by www.normandoidge.com to learn more. Please be sure to also visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Naturopath, home economist, and author of fifteen books, Cheryl Townsley has tips to help you not only survive any holiday gathering but enjoy it as well. No need to just give up and expect an extra 10 pounds after celebrating good times with friends and family.

Cheryl advises that your food plan has to be easy or you'll sabotage yourself without meaning to. Learn about the real culprit - Inflammation - and how it affects your body, your mind, and your energy. And surprisingly enough, are you hungry or actually thirsty? There is more information available on her website www.cheryltownsley.com and www.lifestyleforhealth.com. Please also stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Renown endocrinologist and researcher at Boston Children's Hospital Dr. David Ludwig's findings have turned standard dietary advice on its head. Author of Always Hungry? Dr. Ludwig addresses a whole new concept for weight loss and maintenance.

Are you fat because you're overeating or overeating because your fat cells are driving you? Dr. Ludwig discusses this Catch-22 and also details the connection between insulin and inflammation. He also discusses why highly processed carbs are so bad for you and good fats WANT you to eat them even though you've been programmed not to. For more information, visit his site at www.drdavidludwig.com and get a new perspective on losing weight. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and information interviews!

Atlanta Hawks co-owner, Marquis Jets founder, and entrepreneur Jesse Itzler decided he wanted to up his game. So he invited David Goggins, a Navy SEAL, to live in his home for one month and turn his life upside down.

In his book, Living with a SEAL, Jesse details both the hilarious and grueling sides of being unable to say "No" to David. In our chat, Jesse shares what life lessons he took away from the experience, including how to find time to get exercising in, pushing past your perceived limits, and why it's important to simplify.  Find out more about this crazy month in his life at www.the100mileman.com. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews.

Wouldn't you like to have the inside track on secrets for health, happiness and longevity? Supermodel Rachel Hunter travels the world as host of Ovation TV's Rachel Hunter's Tour of Beauty in search of a clear definition of beauty as well as tips for achieving both inner and outer beauty.

In our interview, Rachel shares the value of letting go of fear and anxiety, beauty secrets she discovered from the French, and how scents increase well being.  She tells us of creating her own scent in Grasse. (And you won't believe what scent was almost included in her perfume!)  Plus, Rachel shares HER beauty secret! 

For more information visit her site www.rachelhunter.com and be sure to check out her TV show on Sundays. For more fascinating and informative interviews stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com.

Feeling like you haven't found your purpose? Bishop T.D. Jakes, New York Times best selling author, discusses how to find your the passion in your life, and your destiny, as we discuss his latest book Destiny: Step into Your Purpose.

T.D. clearly defines what destiny is, how to live it, and the pitfalls to avoid while pursuing it. He shares that it is never too late to make new choices in your life and live your passion. T.D. describes the impact of prioritizing your life and how to break the pattern you're stuck in.

T.D. has far more information available on his site www.tdjakes.org to help you find fulfillment in life. Please be sure to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

When Mark Scharenbroich stumbled upon the Harley Davidson company’s 100th anniversary celebration, he kept hearing one thing…. “Nice bike.” More than a passing compliment, it was a phrase that connected people.

And through that experience, Mark found a powerful philosophy to build stronger and more effective teams. Whether you are a team of one, or a team of one hundred, our chat with Mark will reinvigorate your spirit for what you do, as well as enhance an appreciation of what the other team members around you do. For much more information be sure to check out Mark's site www.nicebike.com. Don't forget to start your new year by checking out more fascinating and informative interviews at www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

Employees don't quit their jobs, they quit their managers. Jeff Wolf, founder of Wolf Management Consultants and author of the book Seven Disciplines of a Leader shares insights on leading your business today. In this interview, he focuses on the three generational types of employees - the Boomers, the Gen-Xers, and the Millennials, and how best to lead each group.

Jeff also discusses the Peter Principle of leadership and the reason for lack of adequate training in many businesses. For more information be sure to stop by his site www.wolfmotivation.com. And don't forget to check out our other fascinating and informative interviews at www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

You've seen David Pogue on CBS Sunday Morning, read his columns on Yahoo Tech and in the NY Times. Now he's out with the second in his Basics series of books -  Pogue’s Basics: Life -  Essential Tips and Shortcuts (That No One Bothers to Tell You) for Simplifying Your Day.

David believes that life is complicated enough so we talk about life hacks that have been tested that will make your life simpler, faster and easier to maneuver through. Find out how to extend your key fob reach, how to boost your phone's sound with a household item, and a simple tip to keep your kids safe. This is a book that EVERYONE needs! Find out more about David at www.davidpogue.com and don't forget to visit www.acloserlookradio.com for more fascinating interviews!

When it comes to running a successful business or enterprise it all comes down to leadership. Former Navy SEALS Jocko Willink and Leif Babin have come up with a winning strategy for outstanding leadership and detailed it in their book Extreme Ownership. They've translated these principles from military usage to businesses and home life as well.

Willink and Babin describe the crucial attributes that a leader needs whether in the boardroom or raising your children. You'll find out the consequences of embracing responsibility or shirking it. You can find out more about ending the blame game and taking ownership at their website www.echelonfront.com. For more informative and fascinating interviews please be sure to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com.

Pulitzer prize winning author Geraldine Brooks has taken the oft-told tale of King David and given us an more in-depth exploration of this complicated man in her latest book The Secret Chord. She describes the trigger that fired her up to write the story and the traveling and research necessary to flesh out the man that was David.

Geraldine details the strengths and weaknesses of David and depicts how he would fare against politicians in today's world. She also reveals much about the women of that time and their surprising strengths. Also find out why camels are a no-no in the Hollywood depictions of biblical times. For more information on Geraldine and her books be sure to visit www.geraldinebrooks.com. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and information interviews!

The hottest thing in sports today is Mixed Martial Arts, with the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Challenge) being the top provider of fights. Combat sports and boxing expert Thomas Gerbasi is a top authority on the UFC and an award-winning writer. In our interview, he shares how the sport came into being, nearly vanished, and then rebounded with such an astonishing success that it's now being televised to over one BILLION households worldwide.

Author of UFC: A Visual History, Gerbasi pulls no punches in describing what type of people the fighters really are and how difficult the path was for women to finally climb into the ring. For more informative and fascinating interviews dont' forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com.

Bestselling thriller author Tess Gerritsen is back again with a new page-turner -  Playing with Fire!  A tale that involves Venice and a dark secret from WWII, this latest from Tess is centered around the musical piece Incendio, which Tess herself composed.

Plus, we hear about the smashing success of Rizzoli and Isles on TNT that was created from her characters, as well as her struggle with the studios over her novel Gravity. We also discuss Alzheimer's, a cause that is near and dear to her heart.  Tess shares how we can can participate in finding a cure, while entering to win the chance to name a new character in one of her novels!

For more information please be sure to visit her site www.tessgerritsen.com. And don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating interviews.

She's known for her "Seven Easy Pieces," and was the first to put stretch in the fabric for women's clothing. Fashion Icon Donna Karan is the winner of a slew of prestigious awards and the author of My Journey, a memoir of her life so far.  

In our chat, Donna talks about her astounding position at the helm of Anne Klein at the age of 25, through the startup and successes of the Donna Karan and DKNY lines, to her current passion with the philanthropic Urban Zen. Donna takes us on an amazing journey... her journey.

To learn much more about her endeavors please be sure to visit both www.urbanzen.org and www.urbanzen.com. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Rhodes Scholar and former Tropicana CEO Dr. Willie Pietersen shares how to have a winning strategy for your business. Author of Strategic Learning: How to Be Smarter Than Your Competition and Turn Key Insights into Competitive Advantage, Willie discusses the differences between strategy and planning, and the critical difference between a value proposition and a winning proposition.

Making sense of the tidal wave of information available to businesses now is the new challenge and Willie offers suggestions to drill down to the meat of what your business requires. This interview is jam-packed with lots of valuable business information!  For more about Dr. Pietersen, stop by www.williepietersen.com. Don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for additional informative interviews!

Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon that takes on many faces. Toys, costumes, posters... you name it - somebody has Star Warred it!  Author Ian Doescher has penned six Star Wars stories in iambic Ppentameter in the style of William Shakespeare! This amazing mash-up has found an audience that can now follow Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in a whole new exciting style.

LucasFilm has approved this new venture and has encouraged Ian to see what's out there creatively. Readers are also receiving exposure to Shakespeare's style in a manner that gives them a new perspective of the Bard's influence in writing. Check out Ian's site at www.iandoescher.com for a more in-depth experience! Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews.

Smooth sailing through the business world is rare indeed. Esquire Senior Editor Ross McCammon has a lot of valuable information to help us get ahead in work, and in life. His book Works Well With Others: An Outsider's Guide to Shaking Hands, Shutting Up, Handling Jerks, and Other Crucial Skills covers everything from the initial interview to who pays for lunch, and how to deal with difficult people.

Ross delves into The Imposter Syndrome and what a crucial part empathy plays in dealing with others. He explains why curiosity is critical when you enter a room, why we need to stop “performing,” and his one rule that applies to everything! Plus, we find out the importance of the two-beers-and-a-puppy test. For more fascinating and informative interviews please be sure to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

Every business wants to stay at the top of their game and keep those dollars rolling in. Sales coach Mike Weinberg has simple to-the-point strategies that will lead to increased new sales in your business.

Mike shares how to capture potential buyers with a trio of key words and the secret to a successful sales pitch. There are too many tips to list here so please be sure to find out much more at www.newsalescoach.com.  For more informative interviews don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

You may not know the names Bert and John Jacobs but you've certainly seen their T-shirts everywhere. Co-founders of the Life is Good company, theirs is a story of amazing growth from selling shirts out of a van to a $100 million dollar enterprise - which coincidentally was the name of their van.

The basis of their business? Optimism! Here are entrepreneurs that not only don't advertise because word-of-mouth recommendations keep the sales increasing, but Bert actually operates WITHOUT email. Find out also what's prompted them to donate 10% of their profits to children's endeavors. 

To learn much more about Life is Good, as well as checking out their book by the same name please be sure to visit www.lifeisgood.com

For more fascinating and informative interviews please stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com

Fascinated by art but have no real clue outside of museum viewings? Ovation Channel's reality series ArtBreakers with Miller Gaffney and Carol Lee Brosseau will shed some light on the mysteries of the art world. In our chat with Miller, we discuss the differences between purchasing art for pleasure or for investment, and what you need to keep in mind when bringing art into your home or work space.

Miller has plenty to say about what goes on behind the scenes of the new reality show, what have been the best and biggest challenges for her, and some of the strangest requests she's received from clients. Tune in to hear the fun side, as well as the educational side, of working with art. For more information you can visit www..ovationtv.com/series/art-breakers/. And don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Well-known author Kristin Hannah stepped away from her standard novels to write the acclaimed The Nightingale. It's been a remarkable ride as her tale has swept the popular book lists as a sleeper hit!  Her perspective of WWII through the eyes of women offers rarely explored insight.

Already in the works to become a major motion picture by Tri-Star, the novel tells the tale of two sisters who must make terrifying choices to keep themselves and their loved ones alive. In a story inspired by the real life of a 19 year-old Belgian girl, Kristin asks the hard question: How far would you go to help a complete stranger? 

Take a look at Kristin's site at www.kristinhannah.com for more information. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more informative and interesting interviews!

Hot bestselling author David Baldacci is back to talk about The Keeper - the second in his young adult fantasy series featuring Vega Jane.   Known for his adult thrillers, David takes time to slip into writing YA fantasy, which he considers the ultimate liberation for a writer.

David shares how he intertwines parts of history, religion, and mythology in these YA novels, and how he considers it insulting to write "down" to young people. Don't miss out on part II of Vega Jane. To learn more about all of David's novels stop by www.davidbaldacci.com and check out his selection. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

The author of 14 business books, and counting, Jeffrey Fox is one of the most respected voices in the world of business.  His book How to Get to the Top: Business Lessons Learned at the Dinner Table helps you to get to the top in not only business but in anything!

Discover why it's important to not take too big of a bite at lunch, and the difference between selling value and selling money. Jeffrey has input on character-building for children that will last forever. For more information check out  www.foxandcompany.com. For more fascinating interviews stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com and pick up some great ideas!

New York Times bestselling queen Sandra Brown is back again! Her latest thriller Friction is right off the presses and readers once again must hold on tight as her protagonist - Texas Ranger Crawford - struggles through the twists and turns of the plot.

In addition to the novel Sandra shares with us her passion writing, and what it's like to put a novel together. Not one to cater to complacent readers, Sandra's goal is to keep you on your toes when you're reading this page-turner!

Be sure to visit Sandra's website at www.sandrabrown.net and for more fascinating interviews don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com.

Do you typically look on the bright side, or turn towards the dark? Were you born that way? And if you had a cheerier outlook, would it affect your business and your health?  Psychologist and neuroscientist Elaine Fox has discovered we actually CAN change the way our brains react to fear and optimism. Her research has been journaled in her book Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain: How to Retrain Your Brain to Overcome Pessimism and Achieve a More Positive Outlook.

Elaine's discovery of the optimism gene has paved the way for explaining the psychology behind optimistic people. Can we change? Plus - find out why we like our news bloody and our politics dirty! To learn more about Professor Fox's findings please be sure to visit www.rainybrainsunnybrain.com. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Brad Meltzer, host of History Channel’s Brad Meltzer’s Decoded and Lost History, is also an author of bestselling thrillers, and a prestigious Eisner comic book award winner. Perhaps his favorite task is penning a series of children's books: Ordinary People Change the World.

His latest subject, Lucille Ball, qualifies as someone who started out ordinarily enough but went on to achieve great things. She triumphed despite the many obstacles in her path. Find out what Brad feels took Lucy from ordinary to extraordinary. For much more information and activities for children please be sure to visit www.ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com. Brad has several books in his series and more on the way! Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating interviews.

Publishing exec turned author Eve Karlin joins us to tell the tale of the first recorded murder trial in US history. Taking place in 1799, founding father Alexander Hamilton and nemesis Aaron Burr surprisingly teamed together for the defense. Eve has all the details on this sensational crime story.

Find out what city life was like in New York at the turn of the century and how Hamilton and Burr would actually be called "frenemies" today, as their relationship grew more and more heated until exploding into the infamous duel. To learn much more, be sure to visit Eve's site www.evekarlin.com. For many more fascinating interviews please be sure to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

As with the Kennedy assisination most people remember exactly where they were the day Apollo 11 landed on the surface of the Moon. The world watched in awe as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon.  In this extraordinary interview from 2009, Buzz talks about his flight to the Moon and his life after returning to Earth. His book out "Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home From the Moon" is filled with  fascinating details of Buzz's life

What will surprise you is finding out this American Hero also enjoys writing children's books and even performs "rap" with Snoop Dogg! Listen to the fascinaing interview on A Closer Look and be sure to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more interviews and information.

If you're a History Channel buff you're familiar with Brad Meltzer, host of Brad Meltzer’s Decoded and Lost History. Author of bestselling thrillers and children’s books, and prestigious Eisner comic book award winner Brad stops in to give us the lowdown on his latest political thriller - The President's Shadow.

Find out what it REALLY means when the White House redecorates, why Brad was asked to help Homeland Security, and how he and George H W. Bush (41) became pen pals.  To find out much more about all of this please be sure to visit www.bradmeltzer.com as well as www.ordinarypeoplechangethe world.com. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating interviews!

Restaurant expert Scott Barnett is the founder of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurants. The former CEO of the Rusty Pelican chain described the trials and tribulations of bringing Bubba Gump to life in his book Gumption: Taking Bubba Gump from Movie to Restaurant.

Find out what Scott's successful strategy was in both financing and staffing to create the extraordinary dining experience based on just one movie. How did he deal with Hollywood in order to get the go-ahead for his idea? And how did the award-winning drink paddles come into being? For much more information be sure to visit Scott's site www.gumptionbook.com.  For more fascinating interviews stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

Bestselling geopolitical thriller novelist Nelson DeMille is back with a new John Corey novel hot off the presses. Radiant Angel will thrill you and chill you and have you wondering how close to the truth this "fiction" is! Nelson talks about the FBI, their greatest fear, and whether he's ever been under scrutiny for writing his fact-based stories.

Nelson also describes what a writing day consists of for him and what it was like to have a novel come straight off the presses into the number one slot of the New York Times best seller list. For much more information on this year's ThrillerMaster Award-winner, please be sure to visit www.nelsondemille.net. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for many more interesting and informative interviews!

Fear of public speaking ranks high on everyone's list of fears. Presentation expert Darlene Price joins us to elevate anyone to a position where they can speak comfortably and with authority. Author of Well Said: Presentations and Conversations that Get Results Darlene packs in a wealth of information covering all aspects of speaking.

From the art of opening and closing a speech, to the use of Powerpoint, to describing the three critical pitfalls you'll want to avoid, Darlene leaves no stone unturned. For much more information that we can list here,  please be sure to visit  www.wellsaid.com for more tips and advice from Darlene. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!