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Cats might have a bad rap for being aloof, cool, and uncommunicative—but maybe that’s because we haven’t been paying close enough attention to see what they’re trying to say. Our guest is cat behavior scientist Dr. Sarah Brown, with her new book THE HIDDEN LANGUAGE OF CATS: How They Have Us At Meow. Sarah Brown gained her PhD on the social behavior of neutered domestic cats while working at the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Southampton in the UK. She has worked as an independent cat behavior counselor, as a consultant for the cat-toy industry, and has conducted research for and worked with several UK animal charities, and is the author of several books.

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Today, as fewer people are going to college, programs are being cut and private colleges are closing. Meanwhile, The Supreme Court banned race-based affirmative action in the admissions process. What does all this mean for the landscape of higher education? Our guest is Dr. Susan Burns, President of the College of Mount St. Vincent, the private, Catholic College based in the Bronx, and recognized on a national level for social mobility, and building an economically diverse student body. For more, visit mountsaintvincent.edu.

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In a world that seems to go to crisis to crisis--whether political, or racial or environmental--everyone has a role to play. But when you feel compelled to stand up for what you care about, how do you do it? How do you focus? And how do you sustain yourself and keep going? Our guest is Omkari Williams, a political consultant and life coach for 30 years, with an emphasis on supporting activists who identify as introverted or highly sensitive. Her book is: MICRO ACTIVISM: How You Can Make A Difference In The World Without A Bullhorn.

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The Hackensack River—one of the great waterways in America, straddling New York and New Jersey—is also one of the most challenged waterways in the country. Since 1997, Hackensack Riverkeeper, Led by Captain Bill Sheehan, has defended the river’s resources through awareness, education and advocacy. Our guests are Executive Director Captain Bill Sheehan and Outreach Coordinator Tyler Tierney. For more, visit hackensackriverkeeper.org.

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These days, very few people graduate college without the help of parents. And very few of us get our first apartment without the help of parents or other family. Why would we expect newly independent, former foster children to be able to do the same, with less? Our guest is Alan Yu, the Executive Director of New Yorkers For Children, for a conversation on financial assistance and guidance for young adults aging out of the foster care system. For more, visit newyorkersforchildren.org.

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Unless you are the child of a celebrity, your kid is likely already more famous than you—internet famous. Bits of their lives are posted online every day…and kids today grow up with far less privacy and control over their public image. Parents are also tracking and following and, also, judging— their kid’s world via their devices, in a way that didn’t exist for their parents. Dr. Devorah Heitner’s new book is GROWING UP IN PUBLIC: Coming of Age in a Digital World, where she shares research-backed advice about caregiving in the digital age. Dr. Devorah Heitner’s writing on kids and technology has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Fast Company and others.

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

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

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

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

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