Father Martin once thought he’d work in the corporate world, but after a few years in New York City, he realized he hated his life. Now he’s written a new memoir about the many summer jobs he had as a kid and how they prepared him for the priesthood.

Psychiatrist Jennifer Reid on where unreasonable expectations come from, how guilt pulls us away from what really matters, and what it takes to finally give ourselves a break.

Neuroscientist Abigail Marsh on extraordinary altruism—people who risk their lives to help strangers—and its opposite: psychopathy, little or no capacity for empathy.

Salman Rushdie knows more about death than most of us. Decades ago, he lived in hiding after a death threat was issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini following the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses.

Humor, he says, also allows us to be more observant, more vulnerable and more willing to take social risks. He joins us this week to talk about how to find laughter in our not-so-funny world. He’s hosts the podcast How to be a Better Human.

Ezekiel Emanuel is an oncologist, bioethicist, and health policy analyst who wrote a provocative piece for The Atlantic in 2014 titled “Why I Hope to Die at 75.”

In the article, he argued that quality of life matters more than longevity, which results inevitably in decline, disability and disease. He will not turn 75 until 2032, at which point he said he would refuse treatments and tests and live out his natural life.

In the meantime, Emanuel has written a book, Eat Your Ice Cream, about how to live a long and healthy life.

He urges readers to forget the pricey fads and pseudoscientific claims that promise to defy the odds. Longevity, he says, is not a competition to see who can live the longest. Instead, he offers instead six simple rules: avoid unnecessary risks, be socially connected, stay curious and active, sleep well and reward yourself from time to time.

Emanuel joins us to take on the wellness industrial complex and talk about how to get the most out of living.

Do you dread wintertime? Learn how to love it. Psychologist Kari Leibowitz explains how to cultivate a winter mindset to cope with cold days and the dark times in life.

Tim Merrill has been a pastor and youth leadership developer in Camden for decades. He dedicated his new novel, “The Song Sparrow,” to the young people of Camden.

Survivors Annie Farmer and Liz Stein open up about breaking the culture of silence, coping with public spotlight, and combating sex trafficking.

Nedra Glover Tawwab grew up in Detroit in a family with numerous problems, including relationship conflict, addiction, and financial instability. Her way of coping was to become highly independent, relying on herself to meet her needs. Although she was praised for her maturity and self-sufficiency, she often felt bitter and alone. She didn’t know how to ask for help.

Tawwab has since become a highly sought-after therapist who specializes in dysfunctional relationships. She has a large Instagram following and hosts a popular podcast. She’s also written several books: Set Boundaries, Find Peace; Consider This; and the forthcoming The Balancing Act.

She joins us this week on The Connection to talk about how to break old patterns that no longer serve us and how to build a healthier relationship with ourselves.