A season closer — and a pause before what’s next.
Before heading into Season Two, I’m reflecting on the first season of I’m Here Too — where we explored how we grow, create, and stay connected while everything around us keeps moving.

Through some favorite moments and voices from Season One, I revisit reflections about purpose, belonging, becoming, and the everyday practice of finding home wherever we are.

Thank you for listening, and for being here too.
Off we go, enjoy.

Hi everybody, this episode feels like a late-night call — the kind you don’t want to end. I’m talking with Amy, a friend from my early years in Essex County, New Jersey, and we go deep into what it means to grow, drift, and return to the people who’ve known every version of us.

This one’s audio-only, intentionally — I wanted it to feel like the kind of conversation you lean into, where you can just listen. The pauses, the laughter, the quiet — they’re part of the story too.

We talk about how friendship can be a kind of home — a mirror, a soft landing, and a reminder that connection isn’t about proximity but about presence. If you’ve ever had a friend who helped you find yourself, this one will feel like an exhale.

Off we go. 🎧

CHAPTERS

(00:00:06) Opening: A Call Between Old Friends

(00:01:32) The Work of Friendship: Staying When It’s Hard

(00:03:35) What Deep Friendship Feels Like

(00:05:24) You Are a Relief: Finding Calm in Each Other

(00:06:37) Learning to Let Yourself Be Seen

(00:11:07) Settling into the Hug — Presence as Practice

(00:12:36) Holding the Whole of Someone: The Good, the Awkward, the True

(00:20:01) When We Leave, When We’re Left — and What Remains

(00:22:10) The Invisible Thread Between Us

(00:22:50) Imagination as a Bridge in Friendship

(00:28:00) Sitting with the Uncomfortable and Staying Open

(00:30:54) Where Energy and Empathy Intersect

(00:32:39) The Inner Game of Friendship

(00:34:05) Until Next Time — The Pause That Holds Connection

💬 Who’s a friend that still feels like home to you? Share your thoughts with me on Instagram → @im_here_too_podcast or @i_am_here_too______.

🎧 Home Is a Verb — two conversations about purpose, friendship, and belonging.

With old friends Gene and Amy, exploring how we stay connected to ourselves and others as we keep moving.

Listen next:

👉 Taking the Fork in the Road — with Gene Gurkoff

Hi everybody, in this episode, I’m talking with my old friend Gene Gurkoff, founder of Charity Miles. We grew up together in Essex County, New Jersey, and this is a conversation about what it means to keep moving — literally and figuratively — and to build a life that feels true.

We talk about taking the road that isn’t always straight, about purpose as something we practice rather than find, and how staying in motion can create its own kind of belonging.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to live a life aligned with meaning — even when you can’t see the whole map — this one’s for you.

Off we go. 🎧

Chapters

(00:00:06) Opening: Purpose in Motion

(00:02:10) From Big Law to Big Meaning — The Leap to Charity Miles

(00:07:28) Building Impact: How Charity Miles Works

(00:09:25) Becoming a Podcaster While on the Move

(00:12:45) Why Every Step Tells a Story

(00:15:20) Many Miles, Many Stories — Purpose as Practice

(00:16:40) Talking Style Canoeing with Seth Godin: Ideas in Motion

(00:21:45) No Days Off — Redefining Rest and Routine

(00:22:49) What It Means to Live an Integrated Life

(00:24:48) The Fork in the Road: Choosing with Courage

(00:27:49) Habits, Rituals, and the Stories That Shape Us

(00:32:47) Naming Your Superpower

(00:35:00) Impact Starts Small: How to Begin Today

(00:37:18) Culture, Curiosity, and Creative Fuel

(00:40:35) Closing: The Miles Ahead

💬 What does “purpose in motion” look like for you?
Share your thoughts with me on Instagram → @im_here_too_podcast or @i_am_here_too______.

🎧 Home Is a Verb — two conversations about purpose, friendship, and belonging.

With old friends Gene and Amy, exploring how we stay connected to ourselves and others as we keep moving.

Listen next:

👉 Settling into the Hug of Friendship — with Amy

Hi everybody!

Welcome to this episode of I’m Here Too: Mastering the Art of YOU, a conversation with Dana Bernstein.

Among many things, Dana is a conflict resolution author, speaker, consultant and Principal of Dare to Live Brave. With over 2500 coaching hours and more than 100 clients, Dana specializes in de-escalation, negotiations, contracts, project management and high stakes situations. 

In 2025, Dana published “It’s the Thought That Counts: Mastering the Art of YOU vs. you,” an interactive book helping individuals resolve internal conflict to better navigate external challenges. 

Dana and I got to know each other as part of the Rutgers Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance program and it was a real treat to get to sit down with her. As I think you’ll learn during the conversation, Dana has a way with words and I asked her to elaborate on a number of quotes that resonated with me after reading her book and listening to some of her other podcast appearances including: 

Off we go, enjoy!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:05)  Introduction

(00:02:30) ‘Dare to Live Brave’

(00:04:01) How do we trust ourselves?

(00:05:32) Moving to France without knowing (much) French

(00:08:45) Wherever we go, there go our values

(00:11:13) Do we have to live in the fast lane?

(00:14:22) Building connection with others and showing them they matter

(00:15:03) Becoming your best and most intentional self

(00:18:40) What’s your ideal emotion?

(00:19:56) Writing “It’s the Thought That Counts”

(00:24:30) Curiosity, Play and Leadership

(00:27:21) “The words that make you tick are the words that tick you off”

(00:31:30) “Sometimes the mountains are there for a reason”

(00:32:57) “If you’re not vulnerable, you don’t have the stickiness to grow”

(00:35:50) “You get to choose your hard”

(00:38:45) A diverse career journey and finding joy in work

(00:42:20) Handling stress and navigating when “something happens”

(00:43:55) Preoccupations

(00:46:35) Superpowers

(00:49:32) Be good to yourself

(00:51:13) Binge watching and mosh pits

(00:56:53) Closing

About Dana Bernstein

Dana Bernstein is a Conflict Resolution author, speaker, consultant and Principal of Dare to Live Brave.

In 2025, Dana published “It’s the Thought That Counts: Mastering the Art of YOU vs. you,” an interactive book helping individuals resolve internal conflict to better navigate external challenges.

Dana has a Master’s in Dispute Resolution from Montclair State and is a court-appointed volunteer mediator. She is an ICF NJ Board Member, Co-Director of Programs with a PCC Credential. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).

An avid volunteer, Dana has been working with the Girl Scouts and the Girl Scout Service Unit Leadership Team for 15 years. She is a strong supporter of women advocating for informed health choices for those who have breast cancer.

Dana helps people use their voice in managing conflict. Dana offers a vast portfolio of business accomplishments with a proven track record of leadership and successful outcomes.

Hi everybody!

Welcome to this episode of I’m Here Too: Writing Our Lives, a conversation with Heather Lanier. Heather is an essayist, memoirist, poet, professor and TED speaker whose talk, “Good and Bad Are Incomplete Stories We Tell Ourselves” has been viewed over three million times and translated into 18 languages.

I had the good fortune of meeting Heather back in 2009 when we were roommates at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. It was great to catch up and talk about a number of things including: writing and spirituality, staying attuned to our dreams, making space for more honest emotions including vulnerability, grief and joy, finding community and connection with other writers, and the challenges of writing about the people closest to us.

And make sure you stick around for the lightning round where Heather reveals the secrets to thrifting, among other interesting facts. If you’re a writer, a reader or someone who’s just looking to build connection in an ever changing world, then stay tuned because I think you’re really going to like this conversation.

Off we go, enjoy!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:06) Introduction

(00:02:04) Writing as a Spiritual Practice

(00:07:55) It All Belongs: Joy, Grief and Wholeness

(00:12:22) Finding Creative Community

(00:17:55) Lessons from Teaching and Staying Put

(00:27:02) “Good or Bad, Hard to Say”

(00:31:48) Writing About the People We Love

(00:37:28) Parenting, Memoir and Presence

(00:39:56) Protecting Energy and Finding Rest

(00: 42:24) The Lightning Round: Preoccupations, Superpowers and Building Connection

(00:53:47) Closing

About Heather Lanier

Heather Lanier is an essayist, memoirist, and poet. She’s the author of the memoir, Raising a Rare Girl, along with two award-winning poetry chapbooks. Kirkus Reviews called her full length poetry collection, Psalms of Unknowing, “a powerful poetic reckoning with motherhood and religion.” Her nonfiction has appeared in The Atlantic, TIME, Salon, The Sun, Longreads, The Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere. A recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, a Vermont Creation Grant, and a New Jersey Artist’s Fellowship, she works as an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Rowan University. Her TED talk, “‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Are Incomplete Stories We Tell Ourselves,” has been viewed three million times and translated into 18 languages.

Hi everybody!

Welcome to this episode of I’m Here Too: a bonus feature with Hilary Harkness and Becky Moon.

Many of you may know Hilary is my wife, but more importantly, she is a wonderful artist. In 2023, she had a solo show at PPOW Gallery in New York City. Upon hearing about this, Becky actually decided to take a flight from St. Louis where she was a student at Washington University. Becky landed in Tribeca and came to the closing day of the show. This was actually the first time Hilary and Becky met in person.

When Hilary heard that Becky and I were having a conversation, she said, “I’d love to drop in and talk to Becky for a little bit.” And so here is some of that conversation. I think it will be very helpful for artists, but also people who wonder what artists do when they talk to each other, artist to artist.

Off we go, enjoy!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:06) Introduction

(00:01:04) Hilary’s tips for being a mentor and giving feedback

(00:02:30) What Becky learned about maximalism and painting

(00:03:37) Finding love and inspiration

(00:04:07) Closing

About Hilary Harkness

In her meticulously rendered small-scale paintings, Hilary Harkness (b. 1971) fuses traditional techniques with a distinctly contemporary sensibility to explore power struggles inherent in sex, race, and class systems on an uncensored stage.

Working in episodic series that take years to complete, Harkness wields unparalleled skill and imagination to elevate the stories and intersectional experiences of women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ people. Harkness earned her BA from UC Berkeley and her MFA from Yale University.

Her work has been featured in exhibitions at FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain; American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, NY; Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, OR; and Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT; among others. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY; Yuz Museum Shanghai; Mead Art Museum, Amherst, MA; and the Seavest Collection, New York, NY; among others.

In 2017, she received the Henry Clews Award and participated in the inaugural Master Residency Program at the Château de La Napoule, France. She has lectured widely at leading academic and cultural institutions. In 2014, she co-curated Roy Lichtenstein: Nudes and Interiors at FLAG Art Foundation. Harkness’s first solo exhibition with P·P·O·W Gallery, Prisoners from the Front, was on display in fall 2023. 

Co-published by Black Dog Press and P·P·O·W, Hilary Harkness: Everything for You is the first comprehensive monograph on the artist’s work and features new texts by Lynn Tillman, Dr. Ashley Jackson, as well as an interview with American painter Ivy Haldeman.

Harkness was represented by Mary Boone Gallery in New York City from 2003 until the gallery closed in 2019. She is currently represented by P·P·O·W Gallery in New York City.

About Becky Moon

Becky Moon (b.2002) is an artist based in New York City who comes from a half North Korean and half South Korean heritage. She paints the imagined structure of the invisible human mind through the arrangement of fictional objects. In this limitless world built from meticulous brushstrokes, each thought transforms into a branch, rock, or snail shell. 

She is pursuing her MFA in Visual Arts at Columbia University. Previously, she earned a BFA in Art with a Second Major in Philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis and attended Yale Norfolk School of Art. She has also worked as an education associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Museum. Her most recent solo exhibitions were held at Bruno David Gallery in St. Louis, MO, and at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. 

Hi everybody!

Welcome to this episode of I’m Here Too: Seeing the Forest and the Trees, a conversation with Becky Moon. Becky is many things; she’s an artist, a philosopher and an admirer of ants.

So, you can imagine when we got together, we had a lot to talk about around all of these intersections, but most importantly about the spirit of generosity that Becky brings to her work, her life and her practice. So, if you’re someone who is interested in questions like: What does it all mean? Why am I here? Now what do I do? then stay tuned, because I think you’re really going to like this conversation.

Off we go, enjoy!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:06) Introduction

(00:01:05) Becky’s Artistic Journey

(00:03:11) The Ig Nobel Awards Connection

(00:06:36) Isolation and Connection

(00:09:59) Art and Feminist Philosophy

(00:19:30) Interconnectedness of Art, Science and Philosophy 

(00:30:52) 10,000 Trees, Swiss Cows and Ant Power

(00:37:34) Influence of Parents

(00:42:50) Humor in the Creative Process

(00:50:51) Building a Community of Artists

(00:55:44) Preoccupations

(00:56:53) Superpowers

(00:58:53) Finding Joy in the Smallest Things

(01:00:31) Neko Case and Fish Sense

(01:01:35) Closing

About Becky Moon

Becky Moon (b.2002) is an artist based in New York City who comes from a half North Korean and half South Korean heritage. She paints the imagined structure of the invisible human mind through the arrangement of fictional objects. In this limitless world built from meticulous brushstrokes, each thought transforms into a branch, rock, or snail shell. 

She is pursuing her MFA in Visual Arts at Columbia University. Previously, she earned a BFA in Art with a Second Major in Philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis and attended Yale Norfolk School of Art. She has also worked as an education associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Museum. Her most recent solo exhibitions were held at Bruno David Gallery in St. Louis, MO, and at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. 

Hi everybody!

Welcome to this episode of I'm Here Too: Raising a Creative Kid, a conversation with Sheryl and Roger Tucker. This episode goes out to my fellow creatives and all of the people who love us.

During this conversation, we dive into a number of topics including, what does it mean to both be a creative kid as well as be the parent of one? How do you know when you should let go, get out of the way or engage even when it might be uncomfortable? We also talk about things like living authentically and what it looks like to thrive versus survive.

And all along the way, we have a ton of fun, because that is what characterizes all of the conversations when we get together. Our family group chats are pretty epic, and I'm looking forward to giving you a chance to jump in and join us on this one.

So off we go, and I hope you enjoy!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:06) Introduction

(00:01:32) Career Pivots and Reinventions

(00:03:49) Education vs. Experience and the Power of Career Whisperers

(00:07:04) Giving Effective Career Advice

(00:09:26) Focusing on Strengths over Titles

(00:10:12) Ara's Career Path: Not So Obvious to her Parents

(00:15:42) Understanding What Makes Your Child Happy and Motivated

(00:21:09) Intersectionality, Identity and Unexpected Champions

(00:39:20) Ara's Storytelling: Too Close to Home?

(00:42:35) Art Changes Minds

(00:45:40) Living Authentically Changes Minds

(00:47:30) Joy, Excellence and Storytelling

(00:50:51) Lessons Learned from Ancestors

(00:59:05) There Once Was a Boy Named Pierre...

(01:02:32) Where Did Ara's Sense of Humor Come From?

(01:06:26) Roger's Hopes for Ara's Novels

(01:08:20) Are Too Many Choices Fueling Our Anxiety?

(01:11:33) Sheryl and Roger's Superpowers

(01:18:22) Knowing When to Get Out of the Way to Encourage Creativity

(01:19:42) Death of the Author, Silent Agreements and Atomic Habits

(01:25:29) Closing

About Sheryl and Roger Tucker (brief bios below)

Sheryl Hilliard Tucker leverages her extensive executive, media and nonprofit board experience to help for mission-driven organizations develop innovative strategies and solutions to achieve greater impact. Tucker’s distinguished career showcases her versatility as a result-oriented critical thinker.

Tucker currently sits on the board of The Teagle Foundation. She is a trustee of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey.  She is a Trustee Emerita and Presidential Councillor of Cornell University.

Tucker received her M.S. degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, B.A. from Cornell University, and attended New York University’s Heyman School of Philanthropy.

Roger C. Tucker III is Founder and Director of Tucker Contemporary Art. TCA works with collectors and institutions interested in acquiring, exhibiting and promoting the work of emerging contemporary artists. Leveraging extensive experience in fine art, marketing and education, Roger advances the careers of African American and other underrepresented artists – academically trained or outside the mainstream.

Roger, a Newark native, is the host of the “⁠What's Newark Got To Do With It?⁠" Podcast, where he interviews artists, historians, authors, curators and other cultural thought leaders from/of Newark, NJ about the cultural impact and life-long influences the Brick City has, and continues to have, on their lives and careers.

Roger recently concluded his service as Board President of GlassRoots, a nonprofit, glass art center in Newark, NJ.

He received his BFA from The Cooper Union, MS from Pratt Institute and Professional Certificate in Art Business from New York University.​

Hi everybody!

Welcome to this episode of I'm Here Too: Building the Foundation for a Well-Lived Life, a conversation with Cynthia Cuffie, MD. I'm really excited for this one. We're going to sit down with Cynthia and hear about her early academic experiences and how those paved the way for her career success as a physician, as a corporate executive and as an executive coach.

We'll also learn how she managed to find the time to be an engaged mom of three, while giving back to her community. And if you're a lover of all things home renovation, then listen closely toward the end, because I think you may find that you have a show or two in common with her.

So I mentioned that she found the time to be an engaged mom of three, and yes, you may notice the resemblance…she is my mom.

I'm really excited and really grateful that she took the time to sit down. So looking forward to sharing this conversation with you.

Off we go, enjoy!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:06) Introduction

(00:01:08) Childhood Challenges and Family Support

(00:03:52) Early Academic Experiences and Influences

(00:07:55) Finding Musical Inspiration and High School

(00:10:03) College Years at Cornell University and the Road to Becoming a Physician

(00:19:50) Influencing Children's Education and Ambition

(00:25:10) Passing Educational Values to Grandchildren and the Power of Empathy

(00:31:11) Learning Through Professional Experiences

(00:37:47) Impact of Travel on Professional Perspective

(00:40:49) Purpose and Integrating Family and Career

(00:46:00) Leadership and Community Service

(00:54:15) Hopes for the Next Generation

(00:55:04) The Importance of Education and Not Limiting Yourself

(00:56:27) Cynthia's Superpowers

(00:57:45) Cynthia's Ask of the Audience

(00:58:33) Cynthia's Love of All Things Home Renovation

(01:00:59) Parting Words: Enjoy Life, Keep it Broad

About Cynthia Cuffie, MD

Cynthia is an endocrinologist with more than 25 years of experience in global pharmaceutical clinical development. As a corporate executive, she led strategic and operational cross-functional teams in global research, developed and executed leadership development programs for emerging leaders, and led a regional employee group mentoring program during organizational restructuring. During these years, she also maintained patient contact and student teaching responsibilities as an attending physician and clinical instructor at university hospitals.

As an executive coach, Cynthia leverages her corporate leadership experience and clinical training. She provides executive and career coaching, leadership development, and candidate selection guidance to individuals, teams, and organizations. Cynthia is also an experienced course facilitator. A certified assessor of a variety of assessments such as leadership, conflict and change management, team, and 360 feedback, she offers comprehensive customized services.

Cynthia completed an endocrinology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. She received a MD degree from Rutgers University and a BS degree from Cornell University College of Human Ecology. She is an International Coaching Federation certified executive coach with a certificate in career planning from New York University.

She has served on various boards, including the American Heart Association of Central New Jersey, the Cornell University Board of Trustees and The Pingry School.

I know, I know.

Everyone and their cat has a podcast. But I was one of the masses who had a blog and we had fun, right? Okay, so in less than 90 seconds, here’s why I’m taking the podcast (aka chatting with people I admire and enjoy) plunge and why I think you’ll want to join me on this journey; sporadic and scrappy as it will definitely be. Thanks for listening!