The ALL NEW Big Wakeup Call with Ryan Gatenby

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Joanna Ho joins our 3-Timers Club as she calls in to talk about her newest book Eyes that Weave the World's Wonders. Joanna was joined by her co-author Liz Kleinrock.

Joanna Ho is the New York Times bestselling author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, Eyes that Speak to the Stars, Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma, The Silence that Binds Us, and One Day. She has been an English teacher, a dean, a vice principal, and a professional development mastermind. Her passion for equity in books and education is matched only by her love of homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids. Visit her at www.joannahowrites.com.

Liz Kleinrock is an author, antibias antiracist educator, consultant, and facilitator for schools, organizations, and companies across the country. A transracial adoptee, Liz was born in South Korea and grew up in Washington, DC. She is the author of Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community and Come and Join Us! 18 Holidays Celebrated All Year Long, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat. She resides in Washington, DC, with her partner and two bunnies and advocates for a more equitable world through her work with Teach and Transform. You can learn more about her work at lizkleinrock.com. 

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Our Best of 2023 shows continue as we re-visit my chat with Comedy Bang! Bang's Scott Aukerman about “Comedy Bang! Bang! The Podcast: The Book,” and “Comedy Bang! Bang! the Podcast” (not the book), including a history of "The Backyard Era" and helpful hints on being a part of the show through the "open door policy."

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After being away from our show for nine years, Claire Robinson returned just three months after her October appearance to share some fun & helpful tips about holiday food and entertainment.

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From December 22, 2017: Comedian, actor, and friend of the show Ben Gleib called in for our end of the year program to share some personal highlights of the past year.

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This holiday season, we continue our annual tradition of playing Dylan Brody‘s “A Child’s Christmas In Brief.”  Gather the family and enjoy this modern-day holiday classic!

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Sharon Cameron made her first appearance on the show for a lively and informative chat about her new book Artifice.

Christine Platt & Catherine Wigginton Greene called in for a discussion about their co-authored entertaining and insightful social satire novel, Rebecca Not Becky.



Sharon Cameron is the author of the international bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick The Light in Hidden Places and the critically acclaimed thriller Bluebird. Her debut novel The Dark Unwinding was awarded the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Sue Alexander Award for Most Promising New Work and the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award and was named a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. Sharon is also the author of its sequel, A Spark Unseen; Rook, which was an Indiebound Indie Next List Top Ten selection, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, and a Parents' Choice gold medalist; and The Forgetting, a #1 New York Times bestseller and an Indie Next Pick of the List selection, as well as its companion novel, The Knowing. She lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee, and you can visit her online at sharoncameronbooks.com or follow her on Instagram at @sharoncameronbooks or on Twitter at @CameronSharonE.

CHRISTINE PLATT writes literature for children and adults that centers African diasporic experiences—past, present, and future. She holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in African and African American studies as well as a juris doctorate in general law. She currently serves as Executive Director for Baldwin For The Arts.

CATHERINE WIGGINTON GREENE is a writer and filmmaker whose storytelling focuses on strengthening human connection and understanding. Her feature documentary I’m Not Racist . . . Am I? continues to be used throughout the US as a teaching tool for starting racial dialogue. A graduate of Coe College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Catherine is currently pursuing her doctorate from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development. 

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On this episode, we're once again chatting with authors!

Don Winslow is a #1 International Best-Selling author.  We discussed his new novel, "City on Fire."

A.F. Steadman's debut Young Adult novel, "Skandar and the Unicorn Thief," has already been picked up for a movie deal!

Alyssa Davies is the founder of the two-time award-winning  personal finance blog, "Mixed Up Money."  We talked about her new book, "Financial First Aid."

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In this episode, we chat with two best-selling children's book authors!

Lily LaMotte, brilliant author of the graphic novel Measuring Up, an ALA Top Ten, has written her debut picture book about a special Lunar New Year feast, perfect for fans of Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin and I Am Golden by Eva Chen.  CHLOE’S LUNAR NEW YEAR is a tender, warm, and uplifting holiday story about tradition and the importance of being with those you love. There are educational facts about the Lunar New Year celebration in Taiwan and a fun recipe for a delicious fortune cake!

Karen Edwards has worked for over 20 years in educational publishing. She started her career as a writer and editor of Prekindergarten through Grade 6 textbooks. She then branched out into creating print and digital resources for children, parents, and educators. Karen joined Workman Publishing in 2018 as senior editor to work on the cornerstone brands Brain Quest and Big Fat Notebook and to develop educational titles that support and excite students on theirs journey through school.  Karen discussed the first board books of the Brain Quest series.

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Chef and author Chadwick Boyd called in to share some holiday recipe ideas, including the mind-blowing Canela Caramel Eggnog.

Jennifer Weatherhead is a travel expert who talked about ways to save on travel for the holiday season.

Chadwick Boyd brings his lifelong passion for food and community to his company, Chadwick Boyd Lifestyle. Like other food media and lifestyle entrepreneurs, such as Martha Stewart, Ina Garten and Nate Berkus, Chadwick juggles running his business and playing multiple roles – TV host, author, magazine contributor, speaker, and executive brand strategist. Since the early 2000s “celebrity chef” Chadwick turned his culinary savvy and enduring relationships into a dynamic set of business channels.

Jennifer Weatherhead is an on-air travel expert racking up air miles around the world for the past 12 years--even during a pandemic!

Along the way Jennifer has been chronicling her adventures and with her time-saving, stress-free tips for making travel as easy and joyful as possible. A fixture on TV and radio, Jennifer has appeared on Marilyn Denis, CTV, FOX, ABC, CW and CGTN, she fills the public in on travel deals, trends, news and always gives inspiration for their next getaway. She also explores travel trends and shares inspiration in The Globe & Mail, Refinery29, TinyAtlasQuarterly, Unearth Women, FLARE, and more. 

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I've been a fan of "America's Test Kitchen" for years, so it was great to speak with Lisa McManus about the new ATK book AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN’S KITCHEN GEAR: THE ULTIMATE OWNERS MANUAL.

John Lehr is a member of our 5-Timers club and I'm always happy to welcome him back to talk about the great work being done at the Parkinson's Foundation.

Lisa McManus is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, host of Cook's Illustrated's Equipment Review videos, and a cast member—the gadget expert—on TV's America's Test Kitchen. A passionate home cook, sometime waitress, and longtime journalist, she graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and worked at magazines and newspapers in New York and California before returning like a homing pigeon to New England. In 2006 she got her dream job at ATK reviewing kitchen equipment and ingredients and has been pretty thrilled about it ever since. Her favorite thing is to go somewhere new and find something good to eat.

John Lehr leads the Parkinson's Foundation as president & chief executive officer.  He has nearly three decades of nonprofit fundraising and management experience, with a strong focus in the voluntary healthcare and medical research sectors.