Ruthless Compassion With Dr. Marcia Sirota

Peter Gray Ph.D. is a research professor at Boston College. He is also is author of Free to Learn (Basic Books) and Psychology (Worth Publishers, a college textbook now in its 8th edition). He has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. His current research and writing focus primarily on children's natural ways of learning and the life-long value of play. He a founding member of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education and a founding board member of the nonprofit Let Grow. You can find Professor Peter Gray online... Facebook

Sean Patrick Kelly is a film blogger and freelance writer based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He graduated with a B.A. in Cinema and Media Studies in 2010. He later expanded his film production knowledge by receiving a continuing education certificate from Ryerson University in 2013. In addition to his writing for his own site, Sean Kelly has contributed as a freelance film writer to the following outlets: MONDOmagazine, TheSubstream, Toronto Film Scene, HuffPost, The LAMB, Screen Anarchy, Rue Morgue Magazine, and Screen Rant. You can find Sean Kelly online... Website

Linda Cook is a digital multimedia journalist/film critic, who worked 35 years at a newspaper before joining the Local 4 team in August 2020. She is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, rottentomatoes.com, Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the American Jail Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and elementary education from Monmouth College, Monmouth, Ill., and a master of criminal justice degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport. She taught criminal justice, English, and other classes at St. Ambrose, Kaplan University, Hamilton Tech, and Brown Mackie for many years.

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Christy co-hosts the film review podcast and YouTube show "Breakfast All Day." She also appears regularly on the Southern California radio shows KPCC FilmWeek and KCRW Press Play. A third-generation Los Angeles native, Christy is a member of the LA Film Critics Association. You can find her on Twitter @christylemire.

Dr. William Li is a world-renowned physician, scientist, and New York Times bestselling author, best known for his role as President and Medical Director of the Angiogenesis Foundation. His work has led to more than 40 FDA-approved therapeutics and devices for cancer, cardiovascular disease, wound healing, and vision loss. Dr. Li examines “food as medicine” through molecular nutrition, which applies biology and biotechnology to understand not only the components of food but how the body responds to what it is fed. You can find Dr. William Li online... Twitter Instagram Facebook Website TikTok

Vicky Stergiopoulos is a Clinician Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Before joining CAMH, she served as the Psychiatrist-in-Chief at St. Michael’s Hospital, leading the development of several innovative health solutions for people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. She has a keen interest in mental health policy, community development, and the redesign of our mental health care system for system improvement. She champions equitable access to high-quality health care for people experiencing social disadvantage, and the inclusion of service users in both service delivery and research.

Leanne Nicolle is a social innovator, changemaker, and advocate for girls and women. She has dedicated her career to driving societal change to improve women’s well-being in athletics, education, and the workplace. Leanne launched the Olympic movement programs with sports organizations and strategic partners, enabling talented athletes to excel in their sport, most recently as the president and executive director of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. As a board member of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport, Nicolle has advocated for advancing women and girls through the power of sport. She is also the founder of Ubuntu Marketing, a collective that puts organizations in touch with humanity.

Jason Anderson is a film programmer, journalist and lecturer in Toronto. He programs for the Toronto International Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest and the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. A former film critic for Toronto's Eye Weekly and The Grid, he writes regularly for such publications as Broadview, Sight & Sound, Uncut and Cinema Scope.

Dr. Xavier Amador is an internationally renowned clinical psychologist, author, and leader in his field. His books, published clinical research, worldwide speaking tours and extensive work in schizophrenia, bipolar and other disorders have been translated into 30 languages. He is also the CEO of the Henry Amador Center on Anosognosia and a family caregiver of two close relatives with serious mental illness. Dr. Amador is a Visiting Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York, and over the course of two decades he was Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology at Columbia University and Director of Psychology at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. His expertise has been called upon by government, industry and the broadcast and print media where he has appeared as a frequent expert for CNN, ABC News, NBC News, NBC Today Show Fox News Channel, CBS 60 Minutes, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Cosmo, Wall Street Journal and many other national and international news outlets. H

Jason Anderson is a film programmer, journalist and lecturer in Toronto. He programs for the Toronto International Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest and the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. A former film critic for Toronto's Eye Weekly and The Grid, he writes regularly for such publications as Broadview, Sight & Sound, Uncut and Cinema Scope. Originally published 1/9/23

David Sax is a writer, reporter, and speaker who specializes in business and culture. His book The Revenge of Analog was a #1 Washington Post bestseller, was selected as one of Michiko Kakutani’s Top Ten books of 2016 for the New York Times, and has been translated into six languages. He is also the author of three other books: Save the Deli, which won a James Beard award, The Soul of an Entrepreneur, and The Tastemakers. He lives in Toronto. You can find David Sax online... Website Twitter Originally published 15/12/22

Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD, is author of The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss. She is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab, which investigates the effects of grief on the brain and the body. O’Connor earned a doctorate from the University of Arizona in 2004 and completed a fellowship at UCLA. Following a faculty appointment at UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, she returned to the University of Arizona in 2012. Her work has been published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, and Psychological Science, and featured in Newsweek, the New York Times, and The Washington Post. Having grown up in Montana, she now lives in Tucson, Arizona. For more information go to https://www.maryfrancesoconnor.com/ You can find Mary-Frances online... Website Instagram Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Originally published 15/12/22

Juan Ayala is an actor, journalist, podcast producer, and host, born and raised in Connecticut. After discovering an early love of performing, he earned his degree in Theater Arts from Housatonic Community College and later studied at the renowned Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City. As an actor he has appeared in network television shows including NBC’s Blindspot and ABC’s For Life, as well as commercials for major brands like Sprint and Blink Fitness. In 2020, Juan launched his first podcast Actors With Issues, which features conversations with actors from across film, TV and Broadway, sharing their stories and breaking down the issues and obstacles that they’ve faced as actors. Juan also hosts the podcast Multicultural TV Talk for MediaVillage.com, where he has worked as an entertainment journalist since 2017, focusing conversations on diversity, inclusion, and representation in entertainment. You can find Juan online... Instagram Twitter Podcast Instagram

In this episode of the Ruthless Compassion Podcast, Dr. Marcia Sirota talks to us about hatred, and why hate only gives us more hate. We might hate because we fear the unknown and something bad happening to us. An easy way to let go of hate is to understand where it's coming from and no longer be afraid of the unknown. Connection and community are the #1 predictor of wellness, and we can't be well if we continue to hate. Website Instagram Twitter

Founder & Managing Director of Bandelli & Associates, Dr. Adam C. Bandelli is an organizational psychologist and seasoned leadership advisor with over twenty years of corporate consulting experience. Adam's calling and purpose in life is to help the leaders identify, embrace, and unleash their true authentic selves. In his latest book Relational Intelligence, he details the five essential skills he has found to create life-changing relationships. Adam received his Ph.D. and master’s degree from the University of South Florida in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Now, he runs Bandelli & Associates where he and his consultants leverage psychological insights to help their clients unleash their true leadership potential. Prior to founding his current agency, Adam was a Partner with Korn Ferry, where he coached C-suite executives. He has been featured in Chief Executive Magazine, SUCCESS, Fast Company, HR.com and more. He hopes that through his work and book, he can help eradicate the stigma that

Megan Bruneau, M.A. Psych is a therapist, executive coach, the bestselling author of How To Be Alone (And Together): 72 Lessons On Being At Peace With Yourself, and the host of The Failure Factor: Stories Of Career Perseverance. She helps entrepreneurs and high-achievers gain the knowledge and tools necessary to pursue their dreams – and to keep their sh*t together in the process. You can find Megan online... Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Mimi Winsberg is a Stanford-trained psychiatrist with twenty-five years of clinical experience. She is a cofounder of the telehealth startup Brightside and has been the on-site psychiatrist at the Facebook Wellness Center. Winsberg appears regularly on Good Morning America, and her work has been featured in GQ, Glamour, Fast Company, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Business Insider. She has a B.A. in Neuroscience from Harvard College. Speaking in Thumbs is her first book. You can find Mimi online... LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

As a Toxic Relationship Awareness & Healing Specialist, Dr. Heidi Brocke has turned her past into her passion as she provides hope, healing, and freedom to those whose lives have been affected by toxic relationships, emotional abuse, and narcissistic behaviors. After 24 years of service in healthcare she has now moved on and uses her life experience and her education to be the person she needed when she herself was trapped in the darkness of an unhealthy relationship. Through education, she presents the understanding needed to empower others to walk through fear and into their freedom. She has been featured in both Forbes and Time Magazines for the dedication given to her clients and for her work in the toxic relationship area. Her podcast reaches clients and followers world wide and her programs are proven to help others regain their lives as her plans to continue her mission to educate as many as she can on the devastating effects of emotional abuse continues to grow. You can find Dr. Heidi Brocke onli

Dr. Jaime Zuckerman is a Pennsylvania-based licensed clinical psychologist in private practice and mental health influencer. She specializes in the treatment of adults with mood disorders, anxiety, relationship stress and psychological symptoms associated with medical illness. She is a frequent speaker on various mental health topics and media contributor to several online publications, TV, radio and podcasts. Dr. Zuckerman also has a weekly podcast, It’s Me, Dr. Z with JB, that focuses on the impact of anxiety and depression in everyday life. She recently released his first book, a mental health workbook titled, “Find Your Calm: A Workbook to Manage Anxiety.” You can find Dr. Zuckerman online... Website Instagram Originally published 09/22/22

As a Relationship Transformation Expert, two-time TEDx Speaker, and host of the Relationship Alchemy podcast, Marie-Elizabeth Mali shows women and couples how to cultivate deeper love and connection in their relationships. Drawing on her Master’s degree in Chinese Medicine and over 20 years of client work, she teaches people how to be real in their relationships and life instead of twisting themselves to fit in. You can find Marie-Elizabeth Mali online... Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Originally published 09/08/22