Ruthless Compassion With Dr. Marcia Sirota

Shannon Moroney is the author of two bestselling memoirs: Through the Glass and Out of the Shadows. She is an internationally recognized advocate of restorative justice and travels extensively--in person and virtually--to lead transformative forgiveness workshops and retreats for people and communities overcoming trauma, and to keynote justice and mental health conferences. She is a registered social worker and trauma therapist specializing in treating survivors of sexual assault and trafficking, and the family members of people who offend. Shannon is the clinical director of Shannon Moroney and Associates, "supporting your journey to post-traumatic growth", and creator of the Heal for Real Foundation. She lives in Toronto with her twin daughters. You can find Shannon online... Website: www.shannonmoroney.com Instagram: @shannonmoroneyauthor Originally published 01/13/22

Dr. Marcia Sirota celebrates her 100th episode of the Ruthless Compassion Podcast by sharing her New Year's resolution for 2022: becoming a kindness warrior. Being a kindness warrior enables you to be authentic, loving, and intimate without the potential drama, codependency, frustration, and resentment that can come from people-pleasing and being too nice. She shares tips and words of inspiration about how to become a kindness warrior, and encourages listeners to follow her on her journey. Website Twitter Instagram

Dr. Jelena Kecmanovic ("Dr K.") is a clinical psychologist, the founding director of the Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute (ABTI), and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) expert with over 25 years of experience as a therapist, teacher, mentor, researcher, author, and presenter. Dr K. is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, and her work also has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Business Insider, and Salon, among others. She also writes a Psychology Today blog “From science to practice,” and has been quoted and interviewed widely, from the New York Times to NPR. You can find Dr. Jelena Kecmanovic online... Twitter: @DrKPsychologist LinkedIn: Jelena Kecmanovic - Dr K. Originally published 01/06/22

Christina Crook is a pioneer and leading voice of digital well-being. As the author of award winning The Joy Of Missing Out: FInding Balance in a Wired World and the leader of global (#)JOMO movement, she regularly shares her insights in major media outlets and interviews other mindful tech leaders as the host of the JOMO podcast. Her commentary on technology and daily life have appeared in The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, BBC.com, Harper’s Bazaar, NPR, Times of India and Glamour. She lives with her family in Toronto, Canada. You can find Christina online... Website: www.christinacrook.com Twitter: @cmcrook Originally published 12/23/21

Lydia Denworth is an award-winning science journalist and a sought-after speaker. She is a contributing editor at Scientific American and the author of Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life's Fundamental Bond, which was named one of the best leadership books of 2020 by Adam Grant and called "the best of science writing" by Booklist. She has written two other books of popular science: I Can Hear You Whisper and Toxic Truth. Her work has also appeared in The Atlantic, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time and many other publications. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. You can find Lydia online... Twitter: @LydiaDenworth Website: https://lydiadenworth.com/ Originally published 12/09/21

This is Part 2 of this podcast episode. Listen to Part 1 here. Dr. Gabor Maté is a retired physician who, after 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of four books published in twenty-five languages, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing, he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. You can find Dr. Gabor Maté online... Website: www.drgabormate.com Twitter: @drgabormate Originally Published 11/25/21

Dr. Gabor Maté is a retired physician who, after 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of four books published in twenty-five languages, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing, he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode. You can find Dr. Gabor Maté online... Website: www.drgabormate.com Twitter: @drgabormate Originally Published 11/18/21

Dr. Robert Barrett has spent much of his life studying behaviour, group dynamics, and organizational culture and is the author of the bestselling book Hardwired: How Our Instincts to Be Healthy Are Making Us Sick. His primary focus is on why we do the things we do and the underlying forces that shape our lives. This intriguing theme has taken Robert to some of the world’s most fascinating research and work environments. Dr. Barrett has traveled to rural Nigeria to interview recruiters and leaders of death squads on how they indoctrinate fighters, he helped build Canada’s first ever Patient Safety Officer program for Canadian hospitals, lectured on intercultural negotiation to NATO officers deploying to Afghanistan, and was lead researcher on a unique program designed to investigate ways to mitigate astronaut crew conflict in space for future Mars missions. Robert’s work on motivation and team dynamics is also supported by 13 years as an elite athlete. Robert has written for the Huffington Post and has appeare

Nya Abernathy, founder of The Dignity Effect, is a public educator, curriculum designer, and peacemaker focused on social-emotional learning and living for adults. Her aim is to help people reconnect with themselves and others with grace, accountability, and hope. You can find Nya online... Instagram: @thedignityeffect Website Originally Published 10/28/21

Julie Lythcott-Haims believes in humans and is deeply interested in what gets in our way. Her work encompasses writing, speaking, mentoring, and activism. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult which gave rise to a popular TED Talk. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American, which illustrates her experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. A third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, has been called a “groundbreakingly frank” guide to adulthood. Julie is a former corporate lawyer and Stanford dean, and she holds a BA from Stanford, a JD from Harvard, and an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts. She currently serves on the boards of Common Sense Media and the Black Women’s Health Imperative, and on the advisory board of LeanIn.Org and Parents magazine. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her partner of over thirty years, their itinerant young adults,

Michael Ungar, Ph.D., is a Family Therapist and Professor of Social Work at Dalhousie University where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience. His ground-breaking work is recognized around the world for its emphasis on how to use the theory of resilience to increase both individual and community agility during crises, with numerous communities, organizations and businesses adopting his concept of resilience as a negotiated process that enhances people's wellbeing when facing adversity. Dr. Ungar has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on the subject of resilience and is the author of 17 books for mental health professionals, researchers and caregivers. These include Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success, a book for adults experiencing stress at work and at home, and Multisystemic Resilience: Adaptation and Transformation in Contexts of Change, an open access edited volume with contributors from a dozen diverse di

Raymond Van Gobel is Mr Rayz, a kids entertainer and educator with heart on a mission to help kids find their courage and be brave! He also has managed bipolar affective disorder for over 22 years and has learned mental health strategies and ways to courageously battle mental illness with its challenges. He was recently on the board of OBAD.ca ( The organization for bipolar affective disorder) where he is on the team of peer group support specialists, the leading mental health peer group in Alberta. Ray make his home in Calgary and is a divorced single father to three fast growing kids in middle school and high school. You can find Raymond online... `Instagram: @mrrayz Originally Published 09/16/21

Robert Hawke is a comedian, author and speaker. Rob honed his storytelling and comedic skills with The Second City Comedy Troupe. He has shared in a Canadian Comedy Award and Gemini Award Nomination for Best Writing in a Comedy Series. Robert creates riveting virtual keynote presentations that give audiences immediately usable tips and tools to build resilience in these ridiculous times. Rob wrote the books Kicking Cancer's Ass: A Lighthearted Guide To The Fight Of Your Life and Doing Happiness: Uncovering The Hidden Benefits Of Feeling Good. He lives in Peterborough with his terrific wife and ridiculously small dog. You can find Robert online... Twitter: @RobertHawke Website Originally Published 09/02/21

Carlita Victoria is a Raleigh, North Carolina native, she attended The University of NC at Greensboro (BFA Dance Performance & Choreography, K-12 Dance Education). A committed mental health advocate, Carlita founded Darkness RISING Nonprofit for Black mental health to create a safe space and mental health resources for the Black community. National Tour: Chuck Davis & The African American Dance Ensemble, MADAGASCAR LIVE: CHINA, Industrial: Glee Project Promo featuring Darren Criss. (Lead Singer) Regional: THE COLOR PURPLE (Nettie), DREAMGIRLS (Lorrell Robinson), HAIRSPRAY (Little Inez/Dynamite), ROCK OF AGES (Justice), DISNEY’S ALADDIN (Regional Premiere), Urban Bush Women (Apprentice). Carlita is an active performer, certified personal fitness instructor, and mental health advocate. You can find Carlita online... Instagram: @darknessrisingproject Instagram: @itscarlitav Twitter: @darkriseproject Twitter: @itscarlitav Facebook: @darknessrisingproject Website Originally Published 08/19/21

TESS BRIGHAM (MFT, BCC), dubbed the 'Millennial Therapist' by CNBC, is an expert psychotherapist, certified life coach, and public speaker. She specializes in helping millennials discover their unique life path in order to go out into the world and make an impact. Tess' acclaimed one-on-one coaching empowers young adults to gain the confidence they need to create their dream life through concrete and actionable steps. Tess is a vital resource for those who may be feeling stuck, uninspired, or uncertain by where they are in life. She has written the Quarter Life Crisis Handbook, and also works with parents in helping them "launch your millennial". Her keynote speeches and workshops include topics such as: millennials in the workplace and parenting your millennial children. She's worked with companies including: General Assembly, The Bar Method, Newport Academy, and Better Up, to name a few. Based in San Francisco, California, Tess has over 15 years of experience helping thousands of people find their purpose,

As CEO of MI, I am committed to supporting my team in building digital tools that empower better living and faster healing. We blend science and design with internally developed technology that remotely and objectively measures mind and body data (typically via computer vision enabled psychobiometrics). By partnering with medical and academic institutions around the world, we rigorously interrogate the efficacy of our products through multi-centre randomised controlled trials. Our commitment of using science to ensure our tools work and are tailored to suit each individual means you can trust a MI product is the most effective product for you, no matter where you live or who you are. Until 2017, I was a Principal Investigator of the Zurich Neuroscience Centre where my laboratory at the Psychiatry Hospital focused on understanding molecules and neural circuits that give rise to the motivation to explore. This work was a continuation of a discovery I made in 2009 while completing my PhD at Mount Sinai Hospital

Marion Nestle is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University. She teaches and writes about food politics, the role of the food industry in food choice, and how the Coronavirus pandemic affects food systems. You can find Marion Nestle online... Website

Allyson G. Harrison is a clinical psychologist, currently employed as the clinical director of the Regional Assessment & Resource Centre at Queen's University. She also holds an appointment as an Associate professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Queen's University. Her research is dedicated to issues of differential diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders and the cognitive effects of mental health conditions. Originally Published: May 27th, 2021

Described as one of the most sought-after, engaging, thought-provoking, and truly transformative international speakers and scholars in her field, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a multi-award-winning education and psychology instructor and resiliency expert. What sets Dr. Robyne apart is how she learned resiliency from the ground up, as a person who has experienced significant obstacles yet forged her come back. She lives in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada with her husband, Jeff, and their three children: Hunter, Ava Lesley and Jaxson. Robyne runs on coffee, hiking her pups – Apollo and Luna, historical fiction and time with her family! Be sure to check out her new book: Calm Within The Storm – Pre-sales are now open. Official launch date: March 23, 2021 You can find Robyne online... Website Twitter: @rhanleydafoe Instagram: @dr_robynehd LinkedIn: @Dr_robynehd

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian, educator, and commentator on fascism, authoritarian leaders, and propaganda — and the threats these present to democracies around the world. Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University, she is author or editor of seven books and many essays and op-eds in media outlets including CNN, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post. Her newest book is Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present (Norton, 2020), which examines the authoritarian playbook illiberal leaders have used for a century Find her Book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present here You can find Ruth online... Website Twitter: @ruthbenghiat. Instagram: @ruthbenghiat. Originally Published: April 29, 2021