Dr. Marcia Sirota MD hosts Ruthless Compassion

Jowita Bydlowska is the author of Unshaming (March 2026). She is also the author of Monster (September 2024), Possessed, the best-selling memoir Drunk Mom, and the best-selling novel GUY. She's also a prolific short-story writer, journalist and a mentor. Her favourite review on Goodreads is a review of Possessed, which reads, "Jesus Christ." Her other favourite review is a one-star review of Monster, "If someone is interested in the sexual adventures of a mentally ill woman, this book is for them."

Instagram: @jowitabot 

www.jowitabydlowska.com

Mark A. Michaels belongs to the first generation of test tube babies, as so-called sperm donor offspring were known in the 1950s. He has published in a variety of fields, from law to ornithology to self-help, and has written for theater and film. He came of age at CBGB and Max's Kansas City in the 1970s. He is coming of age again at 66. Recent work has appeared or will be appearing in The Brussels Review, The San Antonio Review, Bitter Melon Review, Closed Eye Open, Quarter(ly) Review, and TrashLight.

https://instagram.com/markamichaels/

Doug Noll, JD, MA is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, the world's most prestigious mediation organization, and recipient of IAM's Syd Leezak Award of Excellence. Named California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (2012) and Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year (2013), he was as a Purpose Prize Fellow for pioneering the Prison of Peace program, teaching emotional literacy to violent offenders in maximum security facilities over 10 years (2010-2020). As Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (ranked #1 in the nation), Doug teaches graduate courses on decision-making under stress and conflict resolution. Doug is the author of four books, including the bestselling De-Escalate (45,000+ copies, translated into five languages). Doug will be delivering a TEDx talk entitled "How to Listen Someone into Existence" at TEDxApex in Apex, North Carolina on April 18, 2026.

Website: https://dougnoll.com/ 

YouTube: @DouglasNollPeacemaker ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtAHXdBT1Y0Pl7SGrM_HcFw ) 

Facebook: @doug.noll.52 ( https://www.facebook.com/doug.noll.52 ) 

Instagram: @douglasenoll (https://www.instagram.com/douglasenoll/)

Promoting: Doug is promoting his book "De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less"

Link to Book: https://www.amazon.com/Escalate-Calm-Angry-Person-Seconds/dp/1582706557/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26I0P2YY0VUN8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KVkOHqUANXteSdM0uyY0ufzI4KVTqesyn86T82LqWa_UOEgcJz-hr7gOJp9_nICswaH9J3gDieAovc_Ju_JXUyFbbGGjAwxCTd6QaPK4CqWqxjIR9JgIpJqy4htL2b88NBRXmnPq4d9tTduIPOYRgMGW_fcdR-MbS-P1Ro13GfU.fiZO4TYsSTU80FsM2Dc1q9b0vKN3T2t_egkekaWoy4M&dib_tag=se&keywords=doug+noll&qid=1735287953&sprefix=doug+noll%2Caps%2C323&sr=8-1

MATT YOUNG: For the past 15+ years, I have earnestly studied the peak performers of both mind and body and been fortunate enough to have been coached by some of the worlds leading coaches. My background spans from having been a professional footballer for 8 years, playing with full England internationals, Premier League superstars and International managers to running 17 x Ultra Marathons (5 of which were 100+ miles) and 18 x marathons. I have studied, researched and ultimately succeeded in gaining numerous qualifications and certifications in the field of human psychology, human behaviour and anatomy. Throughout all of my experiences, my goal in life has been to add incomparable value to those I have come into contact with and leave positive lasting change with those I work with. To help people free themselves from what holds them back mentally and emotionally. My experiences in life have shaped me to where I am today. The mental, physical and emotional challenges I have overcome have lead me to become someone who lives with the mission in mind of being able to help transform people's lives. I help people revolutionise their life, from the one they live currently, to the one they crave. My life's ambition is to serve, to coach and inspire others to live life how its meant to be lived. There is a very clear mission in which I am looking to fulfil - To empower millions to UNLEASH THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.

@mattyounglc

www.mattyounglc.com

Florence Ann Romano is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and author, known for her ability to cultivate meaningful connections. She is passionate about helping others create their own community to be seen, heard, and understood. As an acclaimed author, Florence Ann's insights are captured in her book, Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Every Stage of Life (Beyond Words), which has been celebrated as a top 10 in its category. Her expertise and charismatic delivery have earned her features across over 500 national and local media outlets across the country, including SHERRI, ABC/CBS/ NBC and FOX TV affiliates, Home & Family, Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She is also currently a regular expert on over 10 national TV affiliates across America!

Website: https://florenceann.com/ 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/florenceann.romano 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlorenceARomano/ 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/florenceannromano/

Gayle Kirschenbaum is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, photographer, writer, and coach. Her film LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER! premiered on Netflix and has been credited with transforming lives. Her TED talk is "No More Drama with Mama." Gayle co-authored MILDRED'S MINDSET: WISDOM FROM A WOMAN CENTENARIAN with her mother, centenarian influencer Mildred Kirschenbaum. Gayle's memoir, BULLIED TO BESTIES: A DAUGHTER'S JOURNEY TO FORGIVENESS, is now available. Publisher's Weekly calls it "a mesmeric memoir... more than a story of trauma–riveting and beautifully wrought."

Learn more: 

@glkirschenbaum

https://www.gaylekirschenbaum.com/bullied-to-besties

ROBERT J. COPLAN, PhD, is a psychology, researcher, teacher, and author who has been studying solitude for more than thirty years. He is a Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University. Over the course of his career, he has extensively explored the costs and benefits of spending time alone among children, adolescents, and adults. He is the author of the recently published book "The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World".

Learn more:

Website: https://robertcoplan.com/ 

Twitter/x: @rjcoplan, https://x.com/rjcoplan/ 

LinkedIn: Robert Coplan, www.linkedin.com/in/robert-coplan-6a9495270

New book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Joy-of-Solitude/Robert-J-Coplan/9781668053423

Diane Dreher, PhD, is the author of eight nonfiction books including the best-selling Tao of Inner Peace and her new book, Pathways to Inner Peace. She is an award-winning university professor and positive psychology researcher whose work on hope has been recognized internationally. Her books, workshops, and webinars blend the wisdom of the past with powerful strategies from contemporary psychology and neuroscience to help us meet the challenges of our time with greater courage, creativity, and hope. Diane's books have been translated into ten languages and her work has been featured in USA Today, Entrepreneur, Redbook, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Science of Mind, radio and TV talk shows, podcasts, webinars, and web sites on leadership and personal growth. She has a Ph.D. in Renaissance English literature from UCLA as well as a master's degree in counseling, and is a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Her research on positive psychology and hope has been published online and in academic books and journals. Diane is currently professor emeritus and associate director of the Applied Spirituality Institute at Santa Clara University and a lecturer in the Positive Psychology Guild in the United Kingdom.

https://www.dianedreher.com/

Stephen Marche is a novelist and essayist, and the author of, among other works, On Writing and Failure and The Next Civil War. He has written features and essays for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, The Walrus and many others. He has collaborated with artificial intelligence on the first AI-generated novel reviewed in The New York Times, Death of an Author. His most recent novel, The Last Election, was co-written with Andrew Yang.

@stephenmarche

His website: https://www.stephenmarche.com/

His podcast: Gloves Off with Stephen Marche (https://shows.acast.com/gloves-off)

Todd Smith is the creator of one of the most popular podcasts for Highly Sensitive People. He's helped hundreds of HSPs break free from chronic stress and emotional overload using a powerful inquiry-based process that brings lasting peace—without needing the world around you to change.

Website: https://trueinnerfreedom.com/ 

Instagram: hspcoachtodd (https://www.instagram.com/hspcoachtodd/) 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HSPStressManagement/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theworkasmeditation

Podcast: Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People

HSP Stress Test at https://trueinnerfreedom.com/ 

HSP Inner Freedom Program at https://trueinnerfreedom.com/

PROMO: Listeners a 10% discount on the HSP Inner Freedom program if they mention the Ruthless Compassion podcast.