You may know Jamie from the Martha Stewart Show, The Today Show, and as New York Magazine’s “Best Baby Gear Expert.” Not only is he a childless gay man leading conversations about breastfeeding and baby wearing, but he’s also built a rabid and devoted social media following of hundreds of thousands of people who tune in for his thoughts on cocktails and horror films. During our talk, he tells his coming out story, which really moved me. We also got into the theme of authenticity came up over and over as the stepping stones to his success. I’m so honored to be his friend and the first girl to buy his booze.
Women Running The Cannabis Industry: With Leslie Siu (Women & Weed Series Part 2)
Periods & Hormones: With Dr. Sherry Ross, M.D. (Women’s Health Series Part 1)
Well-Adjusted Child Stars: With Christine Lakin
Christine Lakin was the first child star I met as an adult. Like a lot of kids of the 90’s, I spent every Friday watching ABC’s TGIF lineup including Step By Step, the show that launched her career. When we first met about 15 years ago, I remember being surprised by how NOT crazy she was (and is). Christine is instantly likable and self-aware.
Broadway Baby: With Ilana Levine
To my knowledge, Ilana Levine is the only actor who learned she could sing AFTER she was cast in a Broadway musical. Her path as a performer has been anything but typical, and in her latest incarnation as the host of her own podcast, Little Known Facts With Ilana Levine, she’s doing things differently again.
Surrogacy: With Erica Schroepfer
It never really occurred to me people would actively oppose surrogacy, but I guess that was naive given the incessant focus on controlling women’s bodies especially with regard to fertility, birth, abortion, etc. Part of the reason I wholeheartedly support surrogacy is my relationship with Erica Schroepfer, a friend of mine who has successfully birthed twins as their surrogate. In this episode, Erica tells me all about her experience carrying children who aren’t her own and how she’s doing it again for a different family.
Pioneering Space & Motherhood: With Dr. Anna Fisher
Dr. Anna Fisher gave birth to her first daughter on a Friday and was back at NASA for a work meeting on Monday. Let that sink in for a moment. Dr. Fisher is exceptional in so many ways. She was one of the only women in her medical school class at UCLA.
Winning At Feminism: With Beth Newell
If you haven’t already, spend some time perusing the Reductress website. Go ahead, check out headlines like “We Drew These Disney Princesses As Size 10s And Now They Are All Being Harassed On Twitter” or “4 Ways To Make Life Easier For Yourself, and Harder For Everyone Around You.”
Autism Support: With J-Jaye Hurley
In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States. This surveillance study identified 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD).* One of the first families in my life to deal with severe ASD and a host of other rare and challenging diseases are the Hurleys.