Dying To Ask: Recent Episodes

dyingtoask

Have you ever wondered, "How did they do that?" Well, I have too! I'm Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Dying To Ask is the podcast that gets me off a TV news set and into candid conversations with authors, entrepreneurs and influencers I've been dying to talk to. So, brace yourself for a verbal gut check about what it takes to go from idea to reality. And who knows, maybe along the way we'll get some answers to the questions that you've been dying to ask.

Saying Chris Lillis is a details guy is like saying he kind of wants to win another Olympic gold medal.

Lillis won gold in mixed team aerials at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

Making a second Olympic team in his discipline of freestyle skiing is arguably more mental than physical.

Tracking the details of how he eats, sleeps, trains and recovers is crucial to unlocking what does and doesn't work for him as an athlete.

The data helps shape his mindset training. The key to mental preparation is visualization.

Chris says, "Visualization can just be like a kind of mental imagination, whether it's in the first person or the third person. You really just imagine yourself doing that jump."

Aerialists are like acrobats on skis. They ski down a ramp, launch themselves in the air and complete a series of flips and twists while maintaining enough spatial awareness to land on on snow.

Jumps last seconds. But Chris says the time in the air feels a lot longer than that because of how in tune he is with every small move his body makes.

Just making the 2026 Olympic Team isn't enough.

"It's different when you've won before because the only question anyone has for you is, are you going to win again? My answer is always the same. It's yes," says Chris.

On this Dying to Ask:* What it's like to live your life with that much attention to detail * The move Chris had to make to follow his Olympic dream and how he spends his summers * Going from newbie to veteran. The importance of mentoring the next generation of Olympians * And how to master the art of visualization like an Olympic athlete

From grit to glam. The women of Team USA are flipping the script on what longevity looks like the winter edition of Women's Health.

Amanda Lucci is the director of special projects for Women's Health. Editors created a mirrored set to evoke icy, wintry vibes and Amanda says the athletes turned models understood the assignment.

"They just turned it on the second they got on set and it was so much fun," says Amanda.

The Olympics issue celebrates longevity.

"We really wanted to explore what it takes to be an athlete for actual decades, while also living a lot of life outside of that," says Amanda.

Snowboarder Jamie Anderson is an Olympic gold medalist. She took three years off since the 2022 Winter Games to have two kids. Her Olympic push for Milan Cortina involved a lot of multi-tasking.

Amanda says, "She's still talking about how she's still getting into her flow of how she's training and also being a mom but at the same time, she's so much stronger."

Cover model Chloe Kim left the last Olympics with more than a gold medal in the halfpipe. She describes extreme burnout and what she's done to work through it and fall in love with snowboarding again.

Peak performance means new things. It's not just medals. It's mental health, motherhood, rest, and redefining success.

On this Dying to to Ask:* Proof it's never too late to pivot careers, even as an athlete * How female athletes are fitting in or making backup plans for kids * Redefining what's a win. Advice on giving yourself some grace to work on your grit * Behind the scenes of the Olympic shoot. How Women's Health made Team USA's top female athletes feel like super models

It's one thing to grow up with Olympic spirit. It's another to grew up in it like long track speedskater Casey Dawson did.

Casey grew up in Salt Lake City. His hometown hosted its first Winter Games in 2002 and in some ways, the Olympics never left.

"I grew up here, so I was surrounded by it. So ever since I was born, pretty much," says Casey.

Casey was 2 years old during the 2002 Games. He and kids he grew up with benefitted from the Olympic venues. Most, like the Utah Olympic Oval, are still in existence today and serve as both elite training grounds and community recreation centers.

Kids get into Olympic sports like speedskating through after school programs. Casey took an "intro to speed skating" class at the age of 10 and got hooked.

Casey says, "I got coached by Olympians when I was 10 years old. I think that's what kept me in sports. I could go speedskating and go to ski in the mountains."

Casey went from that intro program to the national team in just seven years.

He made his Olympic debut in 2022 and won bronze in team pursuit at the 2022 Beijing Games. Milan-Cortina will be his second shot at Olympic gold.

On this Dying to Ask:* What Utah does to get kids into Olympic sports at a very early age * Why the Utah Olympic Oval is known as the fastest ice on earth. * And we'll start with a funny, yet kind of gross story about a badge of honor for U.S. long track speed skaters. Find out what it takes to make Coach Ryan Shimabukuro's Instagram page!

Living life in threes is paying off for freestyle skier Kaila Kuhn.

"All of the men in the world are competing triples. Whereas a maximum [of] eight to 10 women on the Olympic year are actually competing [in] triples," Kuhn said.

"Triples" refers to the complexity of an aerial skier's jump. It's an elite-level move, and Kuhn successfully performed a full-full-full to win a recent World Cup event. The full-full-full involves three flips with 360-degree twists.

Kuhn admits that "it's dangerous. It's scary. And there's a reason why not many of us do it."

Triples are a standard maneuver for male aerial skiers. But Kuhn predicts only eight to 10 women at the Olympics will attempt one. She sees triples as key to winning gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Kuhn was the youngest American to win an individual world title in aerials at the age of 21.

She finished eighth in her Olympic debut at the 2022 Games. She transitioned from doubles to triples following her first Olympics. Perfecting triples puts her in line for gold in Milan at the age of 22.

On this Dying to Ask:* Harnessing fear. The role fear plays in preventing injuries and creating an edge * How Kuhn mastered triples. How she perfected a complex move in water before trying it on snow * The two stars of American aerial skiing are a real-life couple. How they've supported each other in this Olympic journey * And read anything good lately? It's Olympic book club time. Why Kuhn is Team USA's go-to for a book recommendation

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Time is currency. And freestyle Olympic skier Quinn Dehlinger cashed in on an opportunity he earned last June.

That's when Quinn got a call from his coach that he'd made the 2026 U.S. Winter Olympic Team.

Quinn narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2022 Olympics. Qualifying eight months before the Olympics in Italy was a game changer.

"Going into the competitions this year, if I got sick or had a minor injury it lifted a little of the weight off the shoulders," says Quinn.

Aerial skiing is a freestyle discipline. Athletes are often compared to acrobats on skis.

The team trains year-round at its home base in Park City at the Utah Olympic Park where skiers spend all summer perfecting tricks in a pool.

But Quinn grew up in Cincinnati which has become a pipeline for aerial skiers. Four skiers on the Olympic team have ties to the Cincinnati area and they credit the smaller hill for high reps they did on rails and jumps.

On this Dying to Ask:* The greatest advantage of making the Olympic team so early. * How did Cincinnati become a pipeline for Olympic aerial skiers? * Why fear is a good thing when you you're an acrobat on skis * And what it's like to pursue an Olympic dream when your girlfriend is also an Olympian

How do you know when it's time to walk away from an Olympic career? Mia Manganello says it's a feeling.

But that's where is gets tricky. Most of the time, those feelings are because an athlete's results aren't what they used to be.

Mia is still very much on top in the world of long track speedskating. She just qualified for her third Olympic Team in team pursuit and mass start.

At 36, she just feels ready to do something else and she's determined to finish her skating career with as much grace as she has grit.

"This is also going to be my last Olympics. That was hard to say," admits Mia.

Mia describes the Olympic journey as addictive.

"When you get a taste of the Olympics, it's so addicting and just pushing yourself to that limit and and working hard every single day and having someone around you, the team atmosphere, the whole thing is intoxicating," says Mia.

Intoxicating and in Mia's case, fancy. Her skate bag has a Chanel logo and she gets a manicure every four weeks!

Mia says, "We spend all day, every day in spandex. So I like to feel like a girl. So I get my hair done and my nails done, and I like my my nice things!"

On this Dying to Ask: The Road to Milan-Cortina:* What makes the grueling Olympic journey so addictive * How an athlete weighs the end of a career, especially when they're still on top * The lessons Mia learned working in her family's Italian restaurant that define her as an athlete * The link between feeling cute and feeling fierce

The U.S. Olympic Long Track speedskating roster is set and it's a mixture of up and comers and veterans like Brittany Bowe.

Bowe has won two Olympic bronze medals and she have very clear goals for the 2026 games in Milan-Cortina.

"I'm still chasing that ultimate dream of becoming Olympic champion. I want nothing less than to step on the top of that podium," says Bowe.

Long track pits skaters against the clock and each other on a 400 meter track. It's the same distance as a high school running track.

Competitors race distances ranging from 500 meters to 5-thousand meters. It takes extraordinary physical and mental endurance.

The 2026 Winter Games will be Brittany's fourth Olympics. She grew up in Florida and made the transition from inline skating to speedskating in 2010.

At 37, she's a veteran athlete. That requires training smarter not harder. Brittany credits tools like hypnotherapy for her continued success. And, her outlook this Olympic run is different. She's operating from a true sense of gratitude.

Brittany says, "I'm going to enjoy the process. I'm going to enjoy everything it takes to set myself up for success, to be an able to perform on the highest level, to have the opportunity, to chase that gold medal."

On this Dying to Ask:* What it's like to plan your life in four year increments like longtime Olympians do * How Brittany and Olympic hockey player Hillary Knight became an Olympic power couple * Learn how to train your brain Olympian to increase mental endurance

Imagine all your dreams coming true at the age of 18. It's a real possibility for snowboarder Hanna Percy.

The athlete from Truckee, California, is the youngest member of the U.S. female snowboard cross team.

Typically, elite snowboarders earn a place on the U.S. Development Team before moving to the Pro Team and then onto an Olympic Team.

Hanna's results were so good that she skipped the development level and went straight to the pro team. Now, at 18, she has a shot at representing Team USA at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Hanna says, "We have six girls competing for three spots right now."

Hanna's parents were pro snowboarders in the 1990s. Their daughter's talent and need for speed showed up early.

Her mother, Kim Percy, remembers "she was probably 10 when she passed me on the hill. It's like her board is a connection to her feet."

Hanna left Northern California when she was 16 and enrolled at the prestigious Gould Academy, where her snowboarding results soared. The small co-ed academy in Western Maine is a favorite for winter sports athletes with Olympic ambitions.

The move paid off. The environment allowed her to finish high school while launching her pro career.

In person, Hanna is incredibly likable and friendly. But on the snow she's known for a grit and fierce need to win that's propelling her career at record speed.

"I just like, kind of have to win," Hanna admits.

But there a playful side too. And, it's evident in every start gate where she Macarenas to loosen up and lessen the stress!

On this Dying to Ask - The Road to Milan-Cortina:* How to fuel your own competitive spirit * How an 18 year old rose so quickly in snowboard cross and who taught this Gen Zer to Macarena? * How Hanna stays grounded when life and it's possibilities seem endless right now * And my favorite attribute: grit. Where Hanna's comes from and the mentor who taught her how to dig in

Jamie Anderson defies gravity and stereotypes in her latest push to make an Olympic team.

Jamie is a 3-time Olympic snowboarder and 3-time Olympic medalist. She has two golds and a silver.

She grew up in South Lake Tahoe and is one of eight children. She started snowboarding at the age of nine after being introduced to the sport by her two older sisters.

Jamie competed in her first X Games at the age of 13. At 35, she has the most the most X Games hardware of any woman in history and the second-most winter medals of any athlete.

She's a 5-time ESPY female action sports award winner.

Jamie acknowledges she was pretty untouchable for years.

"There were years that I was like winning with my eyes shut and there wasn't a lot of competition," says Jamie.

She took a three year break to have two daughters with her fiancée, fellow pro snowboarder Tyler Nicholson. Five months after the birth of their second daughter, Jamie became the 2025 Big Air National Champion. And she's breaking new ground as a working mom in her sport.

Jamie says, "Just having the opportunity to go for a fourth Olympics with my family, my two little ones, and my partner feels like very special."

On this Dying to Ask: The Road to Milan- Cortina:* How Jamie is blazing new trails in her sport as a working mom * The biggest change she's seen in more than 20 years of competing in how snowboarders prepare for the Olympics * And the pure joy she's experiencing taking her family on this Olympic journey

It takes a village to raise an Olympic hopeful. And sometimes, that village has to change ZIP codes.

Brooklyn DePriest is a snowboarder for Team USA, hoping to make his Olympic debut at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. He competes in slopestyle.

Brooklyn grew up in Northern California in a Sacramento-area suburb called Rocklin. The DePriests spent their winter weekends in Tahoe. Brooklyn's snowboarding talent quickly became apparent as competitions would result in him standing on podiums.

By the time he was 12, his parents were advised that their son had the potential to go pro and maybe even go to the Olympics.

The catch? He'd need to move for more specialized coaching.

The problem? The entire DePriest family loved their home and neighborhood in Rocklin.

"There were probably about 10 families involved in the neighborhood," Brooklyn DePreist said. We would ride to school on our bikes and skateboards every single day. We all played the same sport, so we were on the same sports teams."

Neither of Brooklyn's parents came from a winter sports background.

"The coaches are telling us, like, he has real talent, but we're like, does he? I don't know," Courtney DePriest, Brooklyn's mom, said.

The DePriests made the tough decision to relocate to Vail, Colorado, where both their sons could attend a good school while Brooklyn pursued his Olympic goals.

Seven years later, Brooklyn DePriest is a contender to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

This is one of the most candid conversations I've ever had with an athlete's parents about the sacrifice entire families make to follow Olympic dreams.

On this Dying to Ask: The Road to Milan-Cortina:* How the DePriests made the call to go all-in on Brooklyn's snowboarding future when he was only 12 * The pressure young athletes feel to perform when their parents sacrifice so much * How Olympic hopefuls handle the mental health challenges of injuries * Learn tricks to calm your brain while your body is healing * And did they or didn't they? The DePriests reveal whether they purchased Olympic tickets before knowing whether or not their kid has made the team

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Olympic skier AJ Hurt is the ultimate "bring your kid to work" success story.

Her dad is on the ski patrol at Palisades Tahoe resort and AJ grew up hanging out with her dad on the mountain.

AJ competed for Palisades Tahoe before making it onto the U.S. Ski Team as a teenager.

"I was 16 when I raced my first World Cup. No one knows what they're doing at 16!" says AJ.

But AJ figured it out quickly. She's an eight year member of the U.S. Ski Team, a three-time U.S. Alpine champ, and competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

She's as dedicated to her studies as she is her efforts on the snow. AJ studied engineering at Dartmouth. And, she's an accomplished musician as well. Fellow U.S. ski team members rely on her piano skills for impromptu singalongs on the road during the ski season.

We caught up with AJ during off-season training in Tahoe to talk about how to maintain life perspective while competing at such a high level.

On this Dying to Ask, The Road to Milan- Cortina:* What AJ does in the summer to get ready for an Olympic year * The role music plays in relaxing her brain * And we'll enjoy an impromptu concert in an history Olympic Valley, CA chapel from AJ

"Head first" isn't a choice for Kendall Wesenberg. It's a job requirement.

The skeleton slider has also turned it into her life mantra. And her grit to push through life and it's challenges is becoming legendary.

The 2018 Olympian is working toward qualifying for her second Olympic Team. But she's already put in a gold medal worthy effort just trying to qualify for the 2026 Winter Games.

Kendall grew up in Modesto, California, playing a variety of sports. She graduated from CU-Boulder and in 2010 watched the sport of skeleton for the first time during the Vancouver Olympics. She thought, "I wonder if I could do that?"

She attended a sliding athletes combine and discovered she had an irrational need for speed and the innate talent to get good at one of the most niche Olympic sport.

Skeleton athletes slide head first on their stomachs down the same icy track the bobsleds go down.

Athletes use their shoulder sand knees to steer.

Kendall explains, "There are anywhere from 12 to 20-something curves that you try and cover in about a minute, usually less."

She's gone as fast at 86 miles per hour on a track. And, she competed in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

But she failed to make the 2022 Olympic Team. It turns out she had an undiagnosed spinal injury that had gone untreated for three years. It explained the immense pain she'd experienced training and competing.

"The things that hold your spine in place snapped off of my back. And when it didn't get diagnosed, my vertebrae just slid out of my spinal column. So it was like fully pinching my nerves. I couldn't feel my legs," says Kendall.

Her surgeon recommended a spinal fusion, a surgery with a very long recovery.

Kendall jokes, "The playbook's pretty thin on a return to sport post spine fusion."

But her doctor didn't close the door on a return to the sport she loved. Kendall spent three months in a back brace, seven months barely walking and couldn't start serious physical therapy until 10 months post surgery.

600 days later she returned to the ice describing her return to a track as "awesome."

A year later, she's earned a spot on the U.S. World Cup Skeleton Team and she's actively trying to qualify for that second Olympic Team.

On this Dying to Ask: The Road to Milan- Cortina:* Advice for anyone trying to heal from a major injury * How Kendall stays positive despite spending years healing her body * Kendall's wife did some sliding...into her DMs. How being married has added balance to her athletic life

Whoever said quitters never win never met Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu.

Liu quit figure skating after the 2022 Winter Olympics. At age 16, she was burned out and wanted to be a normal teenager.

"I was done a year before I quit. I knew I wanted to be done way before I actually announced my retirement," Liu said.

For two years, Liu embraced life as a teenager, making up for lost time she'd spent on the ice. She got a driver's license, drove her four siblings to school, stayed up late and hung out with friends. She traveled for fun instead of competitions and even hiked in the Himalayas.

She enrolled at UCLA and even took up skiing, a sport she'd never had time to try as an elite figure skater.

She loved the feel of the cold air on her face when she was skiing. It reminded her of skating and two years after retiring, Alysa went to a local rink with a friend.

Alysa started skating for fun, and it wasn't long before she got the itch to skate more seriously. She called a former coach, Phillip DiGuglielmo, and asked him what he thought about her coming out of retirement. At first, he wasn't a fan.

"I said, 'Please don't. I really did.' I said, 'Please don't. Respect your legacy,'" DiGuglielmo said. "We had a Zoom call for two hours. The story is I had a lot of glasses of wine over those two hours. And she talked me into a comeback."

The two started training together, and seven months later, Liu won a world title in a sport she left as a child but returned to as an adult.

On this Dying to Ask, The Road to Milan-Cortina:* The power of taking a break * Re-thinking how we look at the role age plays in sports like figure skating * A frank look at what young teen athletes give up to be the best in their sport and the impact that can have long-term on mental health * And why Alysa's coach thinks she could pull off a two-year gap in training and emerge stronger than ever

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Bryce Bennett has a new title, and it's his favorite one yet: dad.

The two-time Olympic skier is going for his third Olympic Team. Bryce is 33 and has spent nearly half his life on the U.S. Ski Team.

Bryce and his wife, Kelley, welcomed their first child, a daughter, this spring.

"You have this thing that is totally dependent on you," Bennett said. "You're in total love with it. And you will do anything to give it as many opportunities as you can."

One of those opportunities will be a front row seat to her dad trying to make his third Olympic Team after 14 years of competing with the U.S. Ski Team around the world.

"Kelley is going to come over, and we're going to rent an apartment and spend a lot of time in Europe this winter. The little baby is going to come over, and we're just going to live life and figure it out," Bennett said.

Bryce grew up in Tahoe City, CA, and skied at Palisades Tahoe as a kid. He was a teenager when he made the U.S. Ski Team. In the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, he finished 17th (Super G-Men) and 19th (Downhill - Men). In the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, he finished 16th (Downhill - Men) and 17th (Super Combined - Men).

His goal for 2026?

"My ideal year this year would be have an insane season, which is doable. Win the Olympics, take your trophies, and put them deep in the basement. And then go on and live your life," Bennett said.

Bryce is known for a few things off the snow. One, he has a lot of hobbies, including fishing. You'll see as many "big ole fish" pictures on his Instagram feed as you do ski runs. The second is his incredible sense of humor.

And that's why I picked Bryce to lead off our launch of Dying to Ask: The Road to Milan-Cortina.

Get ready to laugh out loud as Bryce describes what it's like to be a pro skier when you're 6 feet 7 inches tall. Find out why being a parent as a winter Olympic athlete is like being a unicorn on the U.S. Olympic Team. And get some perspective on why being in tunnel vision with a goal is pointless.

On this Dying to Ask: The Road to Milan-Cortina:* How rare it is to be a parent on the U.S. Olympic Team * The edge Olympians say parenthood gives them * How Bryce stays motivated after spending nearly half his life on the U.S. Ski Team * The value of having hobbies outside your day job

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Stressed out? Try drinking a glass of water.

Dehydration can mimic the symptoms of anxiety.

Being properly hydrated is good for your energy, fitness and skin. It's just as important for your stress levels.

A recent article in Women's Health broke down a study on the effects of being under-hydrated on anxiety and future health.

Abigail Cuffey is the executive editor of Women's Health.

"The researchers ultimately found that those who were drinking lower levels of fluids, lower levels of water — they had a bigger reaction to stress, and they put them through various stress tests. And those who were less hydrated had a bigger reaction, had a more powerful reaction to stress," Cuffey said.

We've always known proper hydration is key for good energy, fitness and skin. Now we know it can impact mood. Think of your water bottle as another tool, like meditation, to control stress.

"Now, is it going to magically take away all of your problems? I wish it could remove all the stress. But it really can help, and these really simple, easy things that we do also just make us feel like we're in control," Cuffey said.

On this Dying to Ask:* The link between being properly hydrated and stress levels * Why dehydration mimics anxiety * A simple way to know if you're drinking enough water * How dehydration impacts your future health * How much water should we drink daily?

Audiobooks are booming in popularity and they are a fun way to boost mental health.

A calm voice can actually lower your stress hormones just like meditation does.

Publishers Weekly reports the audiobook industry grew 13% in revenue last year, marking more than a decade of double-digit growth. Americans are listening more than ever while while commuting, working out, or just winding down at night.

Lonely?

An audiobook can be surprisingly comforting. There's something about having a voice in your ear, telling you a story, that is intimate. That sense of connection is can really impact your mood.

Need to improve focus?

Stop scrolling and start listening. Give your busy brain a break.

On this Dying to Ask:* 5 ways listening to audiobooks is good for your mental health * 5 places to get audiobooks, including one that is 100% free

Stressed out? A recent Gallup poll shows one in two Americans is stressed out every day.

The poll found it's affecting how much and how well we sleep. And women are slightly more stressed than men.

Dealing with that level of negative emotion is exhausting. But it doesn't have to be.

You can lessen stress in just minutes with a few resets to your routine and lifestyle.

On the Dying to Ask:* 3 simple stress resets for when life gets overwhelming * The science behind why they work * And a blueprint on how to fit them into your day when you're turning into a stress ball

What would you do if your whole life changed in one moment? Robert Paylor can actually answer that question because it happened to him.

He's defying odds and inspiring people across the country.

His new book is called Paralyzed to Powerful. It's equal parts memoir and motivation and tells the story of what happened after he suffered a catastrophic injury in a televised college rugby match in 2017.

Robert Paylor was a rugby star at Jesuit High School who went on to play for Cal Berkeley. His injury happened during an illegal play during the 2017 National Championships.

It left Robert a quadriplegic.

Paylor says, "On day one, I was told I'd be lucky if I could feed myself, so what I'm doing today is just sort of miraculous. And I'm taking everything I can get."

Paylor went through years of grueling rehabilitation and credits his athlete's mindset, faith and support from family and friends for all that happened next.

Paylor graduated with a business degree at Cal, became a motivational speaker, got married and is expecting his first child.

Life looks a lot different eight years later.

"I can walk 500 yards in my walker now. I've had about 80% return in my upper body and it continues to progress here 8 years out," says Paylor.

Get ready for a mindset masterclass.

On this Dying to Ask:* The impact of mindset in any physical recovery * The question Robert asks himself to push through hard days * How to find purpose in life's darkest challenges * And a reality check on who really benefits when you forgive someone

Want an instant pick me up? The simple phrase "tell me something good" can dramatically change your day.

What happens when someone tells you something great doing on in their life?

Unless you're the jealous type, it probably makes you feel good too. You get a little hit of dopamine just by hearing another person's excitement.

But why is that?

The answer is something scientists call emotional contagion. It's the idea that moods spread, for better or worse. Contagions typically aren't good. But, in this case, catching someone else's joy can actually lift your mood.

If you've ever been dragged down by a "Debbie Downer," you know how powerful negative energy can be. The flip side is true too: get around someone who's celebrating, grateful, or just genuinely happy, and you'll likely feel lighter yourself.

It's a concept called freudenfreude and you can read more about it at this article I reference in the episode.

That's the power of asking the simple phrase: "Tell me something good."

On this Dying to Ask:* Why sharing good news is so powerful * Three ways it impacts your connection with others * And what happened when I asked some of my KCRA colleagues at the station to tell me something good

If you’ve ever felt a little anxious as summer winds down and routines ramp up, you’re not alone. You might have a case of the September Scaries.

My morning show partner, Teo Torres, is my co-host on this episode, where we talk about this end-of-summer phenomenon.

Think of it as the seasonal cousin of the Sunday Scaries.

The September Scaries are not an official diagnosis. But psychologists say they're the real deal, and re-framing your view of September can help.

On this Dying to Ask:* Teo and I will break down what the September Scaries are and what it isn't * And we'll offer you a five-step plan to give it a try

Disclaimer: We also get off topic A LOT because, well, we're us.

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Have you been walking wrong all your life? According to TikTok, the answer is probably.

If you’ve scrolled through TikTok or Instagram lately, chances are you’ve seen videos about the Japanese walking trend. Some posts call it a weight-loss miracle. Others say it’s the secret to why people in Japan live longer, healthier lives.

What's real and what's really just hype?

The Japanese walking trend is a combo of basic habits a lot of Japanese people share. It involves mindfulness, breathing patters and purposeful movement. People in Japan have been living that way for hundreds of years.

But TikTok has now discovered what a lot of people are calling the ultimate health hack.

Bottom line, giving the trend a try isn't going to hurt you. In fact, it will probably make you feel more calm, energized and happy.

The best part? You can try it anywhere. You don't need a gym or fancy equipment. You can even try it while pacing your living room!

On this Dying to Ask:* What the Japanese walking tend is and isn't * A 5 step plan to try it out * And why it makes a lot of sense that Japan leads the way in living long and happy

Denise Austin is one of the original fitness influencers. And she's as passionate about getting America moving as she was in the early 1980s.

Denise got her TV start as the first fitness correspondent on the Today Show. She was a natural and quickly became a household name.

That led to a daily 30 minute exercise show that aired for more than 20 years. She went on to sell more than 25 million exercise VHS tapes and DVDs. She authored 12 best selling books.

More than 40 years later, Denise is still sharing workouts on social media and YouTube. And, her daughter Katie is a popular fitness influencer for Gen Z and millennials.

How'd she stay passionate about her job for more than four decades?

"You go to meet the people, you feel the love . You think, yeah, this is why I'm doing it. They tell you their stories, and how much better they feel," says Denise.

In this episode, Denise shares how she maintains her positivity no matter what obstacle life throws her way. We're going beyond fitness and getting advice on growing a business, growing a family and growing older with her community.

On this Dying to Ask:* Find out how Denise cold-called her way into becoming the first fitness reporter on the Today Show * How she turned that opportunity into a 40 year empire * How she keeps up her famous energy * Why she still believes 30 minutes a day is the key to aging well * And how her daughter Katie is following in her footsteps as a Gen Z and Millennial fitness influencer

You are what you eat. And if you're stressed or depressed, you might be able to blame your lunch.

Dr. Candice Seti is the author of Shatter the Yoyo. She's a food psychologist. She studies the brain-body food link.

"It's the idea of nutritional psychiatry and the idea of connecting how food makes us feel. And there are certain foods that make us feel better than others," says Dr. Seti.

Omega 3 rich foods like salmon are great for brain health. Fruits, veggies and seeds? All good.

But other foods can be a torpedo to your mental health. No surprise, it's anything sugary or processed.

Dr. Seti says, "People don't always make the connection that when your brain is healthy your body tends to be healthy, and when you're lacking these things we're more likely to be depressed."

Understanding the why might be exactly what you need to make better choices. And shifting your behavior can really help in stressful times.

On this Dying to Ask:* Foods to boost your mood * Foods most likely to bum you out or increase anxiety * How your food choices impact your mental health * Ways to make the mind-body connection between what you eat and how you feel * And a deep dive into the field of food psychology

Need a pick-me-up? Skip the coffee and try a movement bite.

Jessica Schatz is a celebrity trainer and biomechanics and ProACTIVE Aging expert. She's trained professional athletes, Broadway stars and Hollywood actors for decades.

Those athletes and performers need to maintain energy to perform.

Jessica says the key to maintaining energy and aging well isn't destroying yourself in a two-hour gym workout. It's a lot easier than that. It's incorporating five-minute exercise breaks frequently into your day.

Even 30 seconds of jumping jacks, pushups or squats can go a long way.

Jessica calls them movement bites.

"They increase your blood flow. They increase your heart rate. And they start to release these proteins, these Myokines, and they also release a protein called BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor. It's like fertilizer for your brain," Schatz said.

It's good news for anyone not crazy about chasing the elusive runner's high. Creating a positive neurfeedback loop doesn't have to leave you exhausted. It just needs to be consistent.

"You're literally teaching yourself to foster a relationship with movement that's positive," Schatz said.

Follow Jessica:

Facebook: @thecoreexpert

Instagram: @TheCoreExpert

YouTube: @TheCoreExpert

On this Dying to Ask:* A deep dive into the science of hope molecules * 5 movement bites you can do sitting in your car or at your desk * How to plan your own "pick-me-ups" to improve mood and energy * And what it's like to be a celebrity trainer to stars like Ashley Olsen and NBA players

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

A summer bucket list is like a personal manifesto of fun in the sun.

It's a list of ideas, big and small, of things you'd like to do or accomplish over the summer.

The goal is to collect your thoughts in one place so you can seize the day when you find free time.

Writing down your list improves the likelihood you'll actually follow through on those activities and not just scroll Instagram!

And it's a great way to spend time with your family and friends while ditching your screens.

On this Dying to Ask: * A three step plan to starting your summer bucket list * How to make it a summer tradition with your kids * And how to create one as an adult that focuses on fun and productivity * Where to find pre-done bucket lists for families with little kids

Stop the summer brain drain by getting your kids hooked on reading this summer.

This is part two of the 10th annual KCRA summer beach reads series. Last week, we took a look at the best summer beach reads for adults with Tina Ferguson, owner of "Face in a Book" bookstore.

This week, we're focusing on books for kids of all ages. Tina says the key to getting a kid to put a screen down is to offer a book that's more compelling than any video. And there are lots to choose from.

Have a reluctant reader? Tina says it's helpful to let your child drive the book bus. Let them pick out what interests them.

Graphic novels continue to be a huge trend for kids who aren't naturally drawn to reading.

Her favorite this year is a book called "The Cartoonists Club."

"I chose this one because graphic novels are great for reluctant readers. A lot of parents might think graphical novels aren't what they would choose for their child. But graphic novels actually have great vocabulary," Tina says.

Titles mentioned:* "The Secret Letters," Margaret Peterson Haddox * "Rebellion 1776," by Laurie Halse Anderson * "The Cartoonists Club," by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud * "El Nino," by Pam Munoz Ryan * "A Wolf Called Fire," by Rosanne Parry * "Sharks Unhooked," by Patricia Newman

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

It's time for our annual "Summer Beach Reads" episode on Dying to Ask. The 2025 summer titles will not disappoint.

Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book bookstore, is back as our guide to all things literary.

Tina and I have been doing a beach reads segment or podcast episode for 10 years now. And her pics this summer are a delightful blend of non-fiction and fiction.

But our episode starts with a reality check on what the publishing industry looks like these days. Are people reading as much as they were during COVID-19 after they finished Netflix? Are romance sales as steamy as they were last year? Is Mark Twain about to follow in Hamilton's steps and be the next great musical thanks to a hot new offering from Ron Chernow?

Don't miss this episode and please be sure to share it with your bookish friends and book clubs!

Titles mentioned:* "Headshot" * "Glorious Exploits" * "River of Lies" * "We Solve Murders" * "Mark Twain" * "Tartufo"

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

Feeling blah? Head outside. Mother Nature may be the ultimate mood booster.

Science has long backed the health benefits of the great outdoors.

In this re-release, we're looking at how spending time outdoors impacts your physical and emotional health. Going outside can fight depression and lower blood pressure.

Feel cranky after a long day indoors at school or work? A 10 minutes walk outside soaking in some sun can radically change how you feel and ultimately perform.

Can't think?

Go outside.

Feeling down?

Go outside.

Can't sleep?

Go outside.

You get the idea.

On this Dying to Ask:* The viral video from Finland prompting more interest in the health benefits of spending time outside. * The vitamin you'll increase naturally by soaking up some sun. * And the link between your eyes, age, sun and sleep.

Can you fidget your way to fitness? You can if you're a NEAT person.

We're not talking about the organized type of neat.

NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis.

It's the energy you burn when you're moving about the day and *not when you're in a purposeful workout at the gym.

It's things like walking to your car, folding the laundry, pacing on a phone call, taking the garbage cans out, and yes even fidgeting.

Those are the calories a lot of us aren't burning enough and they are crucial to weight management and longevity.

A Mayo Clinic study found people who sit at a job for six or more hours a day have a 35-40% increased risk of shorter lifespan.

You can offset that by moving more.

The key is being active in small spurts all day longer and not just an hour in a workout class.

On this Dying to Ask * How to figure out if you're not moving enough * And easy ways to burn more calories by simply living your life

Move over, hustle culture. An Ivy League school says we're not lazy enough.

Yale University researchers studied stressed-out students. They discovered that a scheduled day of doing nothing had powerful health benefits. Read more about the study here.

Students reported improvements in mood, sleep, and anxiety almost immediately.

Love being productive? That's great.

But scheduling some downtime might make you happier, healthier and ultimately more motivated to get things done.

On this Dying to Ask:* Why laziness (in scheduled doses) could be a superpower * And a 4-step plan to doing nothing

Say this, not that. Knowing what to say in the heat of the moment is key to defusing workplace drama.

Karin Hurt and David Dye should know. They wrote the book on it.

Karin and David are leadership experts and the founders of Let's Grow Leaders. They surveyed 5,000 people in 45 countries to gauge the most common forms of workplace conflict.

The results aren't good. Workplace conflict is more complicated than ever before, thanks to an uncertain economy, remote work and a changing workforce.

"And so that is all of that really combines to make complex conflict cocktails," says David.

Karin Hurt and David Dye are the authors of "Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict."

It offers 300 phrases to diffuse everything from micromanagers to bullies to passive-aggressive types.

"Well, the first thing you do is don't call them passive-aggressive," says Karin. "One of the most important things that you can do there is to start with a connection, you know. So start, you know, making the human connection. 'You know, hey? I know we both want the same thing here.' And then you give the thing."

It's like having a script for difficult people. The advice works for a workplace and your personal life, too.

David says, "sometimes people will say, well, you can't script a whole conversation, can you? And no, you can't, because we're human beings and we're messy. But if we can open the door with connection by introducing clarity and getting curious about the other person's perspective, then we can land on a firm commitment that opens the door to a meaningful conversation."

On this Dying to Ask:* Why workplace conflict is up * What to say to bullies, micromanagers, and passive-aggressive types * Why these phrases work so well * How to avoid what Karin and David call a "conversation cocktail." * How to tell a boss you're not happy with something without coming off as lazy or a whiner * And how Karin and David found the perfect partnership in work and in real life

None

Have you ever kept up a streak? A mini streak is a great way to start a new habit.

A mini streak is a short period of time of intense focus on a behavior you hope to make a long-term habit. It's a bite sized commitment that can be easily attainable and perhaps inspire bigger, more meaningful change at a later date.

In this re-release of a "5 with Fitz," episode, we're looking at three ways to try out a habit mini streak.

Grab a timer and get ready to say goodbye to procrastination.

The Pomodoro Method is a data-backed way of getting stuff done.

The time management technique is named after Francesco Cirillo. He was an Italian student in the 1980s who struggled with procrastination.

Francisco had a tomato-shaped kitchen timer on his desk. Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato.

He set it for 25 minutes and committed to focusing on his work until the timer went off. Then he took a five-minute break.

Timing work and break intervals had a remarkable effect on his productivity and mood.

And the Pomodoro Technique was born.

It's easy to try and very effective with getting work, homework and even household chores done.

It's easy to try and very effective with getting work, homework and even household chores done.

On this Dying to Ask:* How pomodoro intervals work * Why this procrastination technique is effective * What happened to Francisco Cirillo after he developed this time management method

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

All I need is three more hours in the day and life would be great. I've told myself that a million times.

But Laura Vanderkam says it's not the number of hours in a day that's the problem. It's how you use them.

This episode is a re-release of one of my favorite author experts to follow on social media. Vanderkam is a time and productivity expert.

Vanderkam is the New York Times best-selling author of eight books on time management and host of the daily productivity podcast Before Breakfast.

Her books include "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast" and "168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think."

"We all have 24 hours in a day," she said. "And many of the things we think are happening in our lives are based mostly on impressions."

Vanderkam says the easiest way to unlock free time is to keep a time log of what you actually do in a day. Often, we think we're busier than we are and can change our relationship with the clock. Vanderkam has tracked every minute of her day for years.

"People track their time, and they tend to realize well, maybe I do have some free time. It's probably not as much as I want, but it's some. And then once you realize that you're like well, let's figure out ways to work with this," says Vanderkam.

In this Dying to Ask:* Where we tend to waste the most time * How to keep a time log * Why Fridays are the best day to plan your next week * What is "effortful fun" and why it's worth planning some

Mentioned in the episode:

Want to see our documentary 'Always Remember Your Name?'

Watch in 4k on YouTube here.
Watch on KCRA.com and see lots of web extras about the Bucci family here.

Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley's workout secret? ChatGPT.

"You can be like hey, give me a give me a six week routine for getting ready for skiing that Olympic champion Hannah Kearney would do. And it just like spits out stuff that they used to have whole departments for at the U.S. Ski Team," says Moseley.

Moseley is a two-time Olympic freestyle skier who won gold in moguls at the 1998 Nagano Games.

He transitioned easily into a TV career. Decades later, he's still active in his sport and mentors the current team of mogulists hoping to podium at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Decades after winning gold, Jonny approaches health and fitness in a totally different way than he did as a pro athlete.

"I do like high-intensity stuff. But now I have to prioritize a lot of stuff. Like the yoga comes first. Otherwise, I pay for it!" Moseley said.

On this Dying to Ask:* How the Olympic mindset still shapes Moseley's health and fitness views * Why restorative and mobility exercises are critical as you age * A funny, not funny story about an injury Jonny got shooting a promo for the U.S. Freestyle Championships * And how to use ChatGPT to hack your health like an Olympian

From burned out to fired up. Maryam Sharifzadeh takes the woo out of corporate wellness.

Maryam is a corporate wellness consultant.

Companies hire her to create and implement wellness strategies to improve employee mental and physical health. Healthy employees tend to be happier employees. Happier employees tend to clock in and be productive.

"There's a lot of good research coming out that when we feel good we do better. Our work is better. We're more productive. The research is out there," says Maryam.

Maryam founded a company called Office Yoga 10 years ago. That program went global and was used in more than 475 companies around the world including Amazon, Oracle and Twitter.

The pandemic changed everything. Employers are turning to wellness programs to reinvigorate staffers and build engagement.

But, it goes both ways. Taking advantage of wellness programs can energize an employee to better manage and enjoy their personal life too.

Maryam's latest company is ZaaS. It stands for Zen-as-a-Service.

And she's sharing some simple work wellness hacks that can make a day at the office feel like a day at the spa. Kidding. But, you will feel a mood and energy boost with just a few minutes of conscious stretching or focusing.

85% of American companies offer some kind of a wellness program. If you're not taking part, you're missing out.

Maryam is an entrepreneur and endurance athlete. She's the first woman and only the second person to swim around San Francisco. And she even swam across the English Channel.

She's done big things by focusing on little things that matter. And you can too.

On this Dying to Ask:* The true cost of burnout * The link between mental health and the bottom line * The number one reason corporate wellness programs fail (heads-up bosses!) * The two minute break you can take at work that will give you energy and improve your mood

Springing forward got you down, or up? Check out this re-release of our episode with U.S. News & World Report sleep expert Julia Forbes.

Can't sleep? You're not alone but getting some good ZZZ's could be one hack away.

The U.S. News & World Report annual survey on sleep is out. Survey says: 75% of us are too stressed out to get a good night's sleep.

Julia Forbes is the magazine's sleep editor. She says there's a lot keeping us up.

"Life stressors. You have work. You have kids. There are big world events that are top of mind that we also cover in our sleep survey," says Julia.

Julia's journey to becoming an expert on all things sleep is fascinating. And, she reports getting nine hours of sleep a night so she practices what she preaches.

Bad sleep is linked to everything from health issues to mood problems.

That phrase "everything is better after a good night's sleep?" It's legit.

Want to increase productivity? You need to sleep.

Want to be in a better mood? You need to sleep.

Having issues with your partner? Try sleeping with or without that partner.

Sleep divorces are on the rise for the third year in a row and Julia says some sleep honesty can be great for relationships and she makes a great pitch for a sleep split.

"I'm not sleeping well, I don't think you are either. So here is something. We can try to fix that," says Julia.

On this Dying to Ask:* How Julia became a sleep expert * A simple hack to get better sleep tonight * Why mattresses matter and how to pick a good one * A deep dive into the sleep divorce trend * And advice for people like me who work non-traditional hours on how to feel better when nine hours isn't an option

Go to bed. Saying night-night to your devices at the same time every night could do wonders for your sleep and overall happiness.

It's called a digital sunset and the new trend is easy to try.

Start by setting an alert on your phone or iPad to remind you to wind down. That's your cue to put the phone or any other device away for the night.

The goal is to set it at the same time every night at least 30 minutes before you want to be in bed.

Next, start whatever bedtime ritual you need to relax and nod off.

Yes, it's just like putting a kid to bed.

And double yes, going through your *own routine can make a big impact in your life.

On this Dying to Ask:5 reasons you should embrace a digital sunset and a plan to pull it off

How much attention do you give to your financial wellness. The answer is likely "not enough."

Jean Chatzky wants to change that.

Jean is the CEO and creator of Her Money, a personal finance brand that teaches money through media. It's a website, newsletter, podcast and more designed primarily for women, by women.

You likely know Jean from her more than 20 years as the financial editor of the "Today" show. She went out on her own a few years ago to help women embrace taking control of their finances.

Jean has a knack for breaking down complex economic ideas into simple, digestible facts. And, she has empathy and insight for some of the curves life can throw your financial situation.

In this Dying to Ask:* How Jean became a financial expert on TV * What it was like leaving the Today Show and launching her own media brand * How to build wealth at any age * Why female wealth is growing faster than ever

Is it just me or is making new friends as an adult harder than when you were a kid?

There are entire Reddit boards dedicated to helping people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond make new friendships.

The reality is we form new connections differently as we age. Some of it is location based. College students have built in opportunities to meet new people through classes and shared living arrangements.

But, things change when you graduate and move into the real world. Get married or become a parent and they change again. You find yourself in new environments and those opportunities to form new connections shrinks based on your responsibilities.

But having good friends is key to managing stress and happiness. But it's definitely harder to meet new friends as an adult.

I met Cindy Muchnick, an educational consultant and co-author of The Parent Compass, during the pandemic when I interviewed her on Zoom. We found ourselves chatting about all kinds of things after the interview. Years later, we've only seen each other in person one time. But, we now exchange Christmas cards!

Cindy recently moved and has gone all-in on cementing her friend circle. In one case, that meant trying to re-establish a friendship with a college classmate turned Facebook friend she hadn't talked to in 30 years!

"One day I just sent her a private message, and I said, hey, do you want to Zoom? I haven't talked to you in like 30 years. I'm super embarrassed, but I'd love to hear what your life has been since college, and she said, yes," said Cindy.

On this Dying to Ask:* How your age impacts your friend circle * How to reconnect with an old friend * Where to find new friends * And the 'Real Housewife' Cindy reconnected with through an email

It's easy to leave a job when you're miserable. It's way harder when you're happy. And David Wise loves his day job.

And that's why the 34-year-old freeskier has decided to push to make his fourth Olympic Team despite being one of the older competitors in freeskiing.

"I still love going out there and grinding and doing this day in and day out, and so I don't want to stop before I feel like I'm done," David said.

David is a three-time Olympian who has won two gold medals and a silver in ski halfpipe.

His trophy case is full of titles and awards he's won since he was a teenager. At 34, he's a veteran of his sport. But that's not the only thing that makes him stand out.

David is also married and a father of two. That's unusual in his sport and he's always said having a family has given him a balance many athletes lack. His daughter homeschools and sometimes travels with him to training and competitions.

"Now, my daughter's 13 years old," Wise said. "She has teenager problems."

On this Dying to Ask: * How to know if you're really happy at work * The question David asked himself and his family when deciding to go for a 4th Olympic Team. * What David is not willing to do to stay in his job * And advice on how to achieve work-life balance from an Olympic dad

Check out my TV story on David Wise here:

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

Where's your battery level? It might be the best question you can ask to gauge your mental health.

That's the advice from David Ko.

His new book, Recharge, challenges readers to give their mental health the same attention they give their cellphone battery.

"Everyone looks at their phone battery. Some people want to keep it charged all the time at like 90%. Some people will take it all the way down or put it in the yellow. And so we wanted to give you some tips and techniques in terms of making some of those parallels," says David.

David is the CEO of the Calm meditation and wellness app. You'd think he'd be the master of all things Zen. He's not. He's a guy with a big tech job, a family and all the stressors of normal life.

He overheard a friend ask her kid "how's your battery" rather than saying "how are you" and the power of the analogy struck him.

David says, "People look at their phone over a 150 times a day at a minimum. They're constantly looking at it. And so every once in a while, check on yourself when you pick up that phone, and if you need to take a break, take a break."

David's book features interviews with everyone from rapper Macklemore to former Apple CEO John Sculley to to former NFL player Carl Nassib.

You'll learn practical strategies to top off a low mental battery and develop mental resilience.

On this Dying to Ask:* How the concept of a mental battery works * How to recharge your mental battery * Why stress isn't always a bad thing * Advice for talking to your friends and family about mental health * How being transparent about low mental battery days has transformed David as a leader and a dad.

Willpower is great until it isn't. You need to plan to make habit changes and goals stick.

And Michael J. Lopez is the man with the plan.

He's a transformational expert who helps companies and individuals develop strategies to follow through on goals. Lopez has worked with everyone from DoorDash to Chlorox to Meta.

The former football player-turned-coach says everyone needs a set of systems to pull off productivity and self-growth.

"The first thing I tell people is the same brain that got you into the habits that maybe you want to break isn't the same brain that's going to get you out of it," Lopez said.

Lopez's new book is called "Change: Six Science-Backed Strategies to Transform Your Brain, Body and Behavior." Michael offers practical and actionable ideas to make transformation stick.

Understanding why your brain doesn't want to do the hard work is critical. It can be as simple as re-framing how you look at an effort vs an outcome.

"We know that the brain is at its best when it's striving," Lopez said. "And so if I'm pursuing an effort as the goal instead of an outcome, I actually will keep my motivation a lot higher."

Want a promotion at work? Listen to this.

Need to lose weight or change your health? Listen to this.

Want to simplify how you approach big tasks? Listen to this.

On this Dying to Ask:* How Michael became a transformational expert * Why willpower is not a plan * How to change your relationship with stress and use it to your advantage * How to reset after setbacks and why failure is your friend

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

Do you hear that? If your answer is "no, I hear nothing," your mental health may be better than most.

There are a lot of brain benefits to the sound of silence. Science backs improvements to health and creativity.

The easiest way to find some peace and quiet? Drive in silence. That's just one of the hacks we're exploring in this week's episode.

Have high blood pressure? Take a minute and sit in silence. Can't figure out a solution to a problem? Give yourself the gift of being still and quiet and see if those ideas get flowing.

The challenge is we live in a very loud world. There's noise and stimulation everywhere from AirPods to constant steaming to endless Zoom calls.

But finding ways to sneak in some silence can impact how you feel and perform.

On this Dying to Ask:* The scientific benefits of silence * How silence helps mental blocks and improves focus * Four ways to sneak more silence into your day

Two words. Don't quit. Easier said than done, especially on Quitter's Day.

The second Friday of January is known as Quitter's Day.

It's the day you're most likely to give up on a New Year's resolution or goal. Most resolutions are health and fitness related.

Strava is a social network for athletes. It tracks more than 800 million user generated workouts annually. User data shows a sharp decline each year by the second Friday in January.

So, how can you not be a statistic?

On this Dying to Ask:* 3 ways to not become a Quitter's Day statistic * What I'm resolving to do this year after being shown up by my 85-year-old mother

Mentioned in the episode:Learn about the power of mini streaks here.

How to road test a goal before you start it here.

Have you ever kept up a streak? A mini streak is a great way to start a new habit.

A mini streak is a short period of time of intense focus on a behavior you hope to make a long-term habit. It's a bite-sized commitment that can be easily attainable and perhaps inspire bigger, more meaningful change at a later date.

In this 5 with Fitz, learn three ways to try out a habit mini streak.

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher
CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify

Jill Martin is coming off one of those "what's next" kind of years. And, she says she's kinder and more grateful because of it.

"I mean this year. First it's breast cancer, and you know, through the kitchen sink then a divorce. A new company. But it's it's turning around," says Jill.

For 18 years, lifestyle host Jill Martin has dazzled Today Show fans with her style and energy. Her trademark 'Steals and Deals' segments carved a niche in morning television that's been replicated all over.

But Jill's uncanny ability to tap into trendy products she believes in have set her apart.

Life was going great until it wasn't.

Last year she dealt with breast cancer and a divorce while launching a new company.

"I would go and do Steals and Deals and then go for chemo, and then lay in bed for the rest of the time," says Jill.

A product from that new company was just named to Oprah's Favorite Things. Her health and personal life are back on track.

And Jill is sharing her journey about how kindness and gratitude have helped her emerge stronger than ever with a new purpose.

She's using her platform to encourage women to test for the breast cancer gene.

Jill says, "I am so grateful that I told it because I've saved so many lives, and like that is what I feel. God has put me on this earth to do. I really do feel like that. And I wasn't. I didn't speak like that prior to this, but that's what I believe.

On this Dying to Ask: How Jill balanced chemo and her Today Show duties * Why launching a company while going through the worst year of her life ended up being a great thing * The role kindness and gratitude played in her physical and emotional recovery * And Jill takes us behind the scenes of "Steals and Deals"

Is a phone call an act of aggression? The answer is it depends.

The latest digital trend recommends texting before calling someone and it's a dividing people based on their communication preferences.

Diane Gottsman is the founder of the Protocol School of Texas. She coaches professionals across the county on modern etiquette which often comes down to communication styles.

"My best advice is to read the room," Diane says.

Not sure how your boss wants to communicate with you? Ask.

But what about the rest of us? Is it really bad to call a friend who crossed your mind? What about a friend who rapid-fires text missives like they're wiffle balls?

It's a digital minefield out there!

On this Dying to Ask:* How phone calls became so polarizing. * How to end an endless text exchange. * Why you should never leave a voicemail. * What to do when your teens ghost you for hours but expects you to answer immediately.

Can't sleep? You're not alone but getting some good ZZZ's could be one hack away.

The U.S. News & World Report annual survey on sleep is out. Survey says: 75% of us are too stressed out to get a good night's sleep.

Julia Forbes is the magazine's sleep editor. She says there's a lot keeping us up.

"Life stressors. You have work. You have kids. There are big world events that are top of mind that we also cover in our sleep survey," says Julia.

Julia's journey to becoming an expert on all things sleep is fascinating. And, she reports getting nine hours of sleep a night so she practices what she preaches.

Bad sleep is linked to everything from health issues to mood problems.

That phrase "everything is better after a good night's sleep?" It's legit.

Want to increase productivity? You need to sleep.

Want to be in a better mood? You need to sleep.

Having issues with your partner? Try sleeping with or without that partner.

Sleep divorces are on the rise for the third year in a row and Julia says some sleep honesty can be great for relationships and she makes a great pitch for a sleep split.

"I'm not sleeping well, I don't think you are either. So here is something. We can try to fix that," says Julia.

On this Dying to Ask:* How Julia became a sleep expert * A simple hack to get better sleep tonight * Why mattresses matter and how to pick a good one * A deep dive into the sleep divorce trend * And advice for people like me who work non-traditional hours on how to feel better when nine hours isn't an option

Planning on making a goal for 2025? Don't set it until you road test it.

The start of a new calendar year seems like a great time to start a new challenge or resolution. But is it?

In this Five with Fitz, we're making the case for road testing a personal challenge in December. Listen to this short episode for hacks on how to make sure that resolution is worth setting.

A recent poll finds Americans are getting more comfortable with AI. But, they're still worried about it.

The survey was done by Bentley University and Gallup. You can check it out here. 56% of people polled say AI's influence is equally good and bad in society. Two out of three of us say we're learning more about it. But only one in 10 describes themselves as knowing a lot about artificial intelligence.

David Pogue has forgotten more about AI than most of us will ever know. He's one of the top science and tech reporters in the country and a popular keynote speaker on everything from climate change to crypto.

"All people want me to talk about these days is AI," David told me when I moderated his appearance at the Sacramento Speakers Series.

David's main message? New technology is scary to humans. Always has been. Always will be. But resisting change is pointless. And you might be surprised at some of the upsides of artificial intelligence.

On this Dying to Ask:* Why you need to understand and embrace AI * How historically we tend to react to major tech advancements from the steam engine to elevators * The impact AI is having on everything from how we learn to how we cure disease * And David is known for his optimism and positivity. Where does that come from and how we can all share his spirit?

Think you're busy? Try telling that to time and productivity expert Laura Vanderkam.

Vanderkam is the New York Times best-selling author of eight books on time management and host of the daily productivity podcast Before Breakfast.

Her books include "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast" and "168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think."

"We all have 24 hours in a day," she said. "And many of the things we think are happening in our lives are based mostly on impressions."

Vanderkam says the easiest way to unlock free time is to keep a time log of what you actually do in a day. Often, we think we're busier than we are and can change our relationship with the clock.

"People track their time, and they tend to realize well, maybe I do have some free time. It's probably not as much as I want, but it's some. And then once you realize that you're like well, let's figure out ways to work with this," says Vanderkam.

In this Dying to Ask:* Where we tend to waste the most time * How to keep a time log * Why Fridays are the best day to plan your next week * What is "effortful fun" and why it's worth planning some

Mentioned in the episode:

Want to see our documentary 'Always Remember Your Name?'

Watch in 4k on YouTube here.
Watch on KCRA.com and see lots of web extras about the Bucci family here.

Being bored at the Olympics is a good thing if you're Dr. Marcy Faustin.

Faustin is a co-head team physician for USA women's gymnastics. Paris will be her second Olympics.

The delayed Tokyo Games were her first Olympic experience. She thought protecting her athletes from COVID-19 and injury would be her main challenge.

Instead, she found herself thrust into one of the most seismic moments in sports when superstar Simone Biles had to withdraw from competition to take care of her mental health.

"What Simone was able to do is show that you need to take care of yourself first even if she feels the external pressure of the gymnastics community, the Olympics and the world needing her to be the face of the Games. It allowed other people to say, 'I'm not doing OK right now and I'm having a hard time,'" Faustin said.

"The Simone effect" rippled through the Games and the world, giving other athletes the freedom to admit the mental toll training and competing takes.

Protecting the mind is as important as protecting the body, according to Faustin. Athletes work with sports psychologists. The USOPC provides additional mental health help during the Games.

At USA Gymnastics, Faustin and Dr. Ellen Casey share the responsibility of taking care of the athletes and supporting personnel and their families. It's a holistic approach centered on making individuals feel safe, comforted and supported.

Faustin said, "Everyone who is a part of the team knows we have to do that physical aspect, but we also have to do that mental aspect. Whatever that is for that individual person."

Faustin is a former college athlete. Her primary job is working for UC Davis Sports Medicine in Sacramento taking care of non-Olympic patients and giving sports medicine lectures. Her love of sports and competitive nature make her a perfect medical ally and personal hype woman for Team USA.

On this Dying to Ask:* How do you become an Olympic Team Doctor? * How Simone Biles destigmatized mental health for athletes and everyday people * What will a day in Paris look like for the medical team? * Why female gymnasts are older and stronger than ever in 2024 * Dr. Faustin's phone-free hack to relieve athletes' stress during the games

Experience matters. And, it may be the U.S. men's water polo team's greatest asset heading into Paris.

Ten of the 13 guys on the roster competed on the Tokyo Olympic team, including three-time Olympian Alex Obert.

"There is a huge difference between your first Olympics and your second Olympics, the kind of nerves just knowing what you're going to go through every single day," Obert said.

Obert grew up in Loomis, California. He played for the University of the Pacific, the U.S. National Team, played overseas, and competed in two Olympics.

He retired after the Tokyo Olympics and took a finance job. Then came the call asking him if he'd come out of retirement for one more go at gold.

His wife and employer said go for it.

And, Obert made the cut, joining his third Olympic water polo team.

Obert says, "Even in retirement, I still had that itch to compete at the highest level. I didn't know if I was going to be able to make the comeback. But obviously I was able to make it enough to come back and help the team, and that's all I want to do is help the team compete and win."

On this Dying to Ask:* How hard it is physically to come out of retirement * How being a dad changed Alex as an athlete * Advice for parents on how to best support your teen athletes * The advantages of having 10 guys with Olympic experience on a roster of 13

Robyn Stevens walks faster than most people run and is on track to make her second Olympic Team.

Stevens is the fastest female race walker in the country.

Growing up in Vacaville, she said a high school track coach suggested she try race walking. Stevens did and instantly fell in love with the sport.

"It's super technical it's what drew me to it," Stevens said.

Women compete in the 20-kilometer distance in the Olympics. The sport relies on precision and power.

"With race walking, you have to land with one foot on the ground at all times. You have to land with [a] straight leg that stays straight until it passes beneath the hip," Stevens said.

Judges line the course watching for foot infractions and rely purely on what they see. There is no video review.

Athletes walk faster than most of us can run.

"In a 20k race, I'll average anywhere from a 7-minute to 7:15 a mile," Stevens said.

She contemplated retiring after the delayed Tokyo Games where she finished 33rd out of 58 competitors.

Two things kept her in the sport: One, she'd like her mom to see her compete at an Olympics in person. Fans weren't allowed at the Tokyo Olympics because of pandemic restrictions.

The second is that at age 41, she's still the fastest American race walker.

And that's despite having her 2023 training year disrupted severely by long-haul COVID-19 symptoms.

On this Dying to Ask:* Why Robyn wants an Olympic do-over * The impact long haul Covid has on endurance athletes * How she's changed her Olympic mindset to balance her personal and professional life * What it's like to train for hours a day on your own * And we break down the mechanics of race walking

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

From grit to glam. Women's Health is celebrating female athletes with its first-ever Olympics issue.

Liz Plosser is the editor-in-chief of Women's Health magazine.

The July-August issue is a global celebration of women's sports and athletes and spans 10 editions of the magazine worldwide.

"We really wanted to focus on women who would share their stories vulnerably, and let us into who they are as human beings, as advocates in their community, as moms as role models. In addition, they're sharing how they train and compete and perform at the top of their game," Liz said.

Women's Health drew on the colors of the Olympic rings for inspiration and then took the women out of the gym and into iconic settings for their photo shoots.

"We put them in a really epic-like superhero environment because they are superheroes to us," Liz said. "We also wanted to show them an action and reflect."

Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin- Levrone (track and field) is on the cover.

Six other athletes are featured in the issue including boxer Jajaira Gonzalez, breaker Sunny Choi, para-triathlete Hailey Danz, water polo goalie Ashleigh Johnson, pentathlete Jess Savner and rugby star Llona Maher.

All the women shared what they're doing to get their bodies and minds ready for the Paris Games. Several expressed the role mental health takes on an athlete's journey and share what makes them mentally tough.

On this Dying to Ask:* How you get top Olympians runway-ready * What inspired the photo shoot locations and wardrobe * What were the athletes like on set * Olympic mental health hacks

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

Keana Hunter spends most of her day upside down, trying to avoid getting kicked in the head while hiding from the sun. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

The 20-year-old first-time Olympian will represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer.

Team USA hasn't qualified in the Olympic artistic team event since 2008. It last medaled in the sport formerly known as synchronized swimming with a bronze at the 2004 Athens Games.

Head coach Andrea Fuentes is getting a lot of credit for turning the team around. Fuentes is the most decorated artistic swimmer ever for Spain and won four Olympic medals.

Keana and her teammates relocated to Los Angeles for a year, putting their lives on hold to train for 10 hours a day, six days a week. Eight of those hours are in the water.

Artistic swimming is considered one of the toughest sports in the Olympics because of its blend of physical strength, flexibility, and performance.

"You're upside down in the water looking at your pattern and making sure you're in the right spot. But you're also traveling. So everything has to come together to make it like this beautiful routine. But there are so many pieces that like take hours and hours to fix," Keana said.

Coach Fuentes recently announced her Olympic roster of eight athletes. A squad of 12 swimmers qualified the U.S. for one of 10 Olympic spots but only eight athletes can compete in Paris.

Only one swimmer in the final eight has Olympic experience. The rest are first-time Olympians like Keana.

On this Dying to Ask:* An update on Bill May, the 45-year-old artistic swimmer who'd hoped to become the first man to represent Team USA in the Olympics * Keana breaks down what it's actually like underwater for an artistic swimmer * Find out how swimmers protect themselves from the sun when they're in a pool for 8 hours a day * How do you maintain passion for a goal despite that much training and sacrifice

Katrina Young has unfinished business and she wants to get it done in Paris.

The two-time Olympic diver will compete in the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials in Knoxville, Tennessee, from June 17-23. She'll compete in both solo and synchronized events.

Katrina grew up in the Pacific Northwest, graduated from the University of Florida with a music degree in 2015 and competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Games. She didn't medal in either.

Her third Olympic push has focused heavily on mindset.

"You do have to go through this series of moments where the pressure feels very heavy. And I don't think that I've ever gotten into the zone at the Olympics where I've gotten through the pressure," says Katrina.

Going for a third Olympic team meant doing things differently.

The 32-year-old is a newlywed. She and her husband relocated to the West Coast.

Katrina moved to Los Angeles last year to train at the USC pool and pursue her other passion as a singer-songwriter. The change in scenery and shakeup in training are paying off.

Katrina says, "Shaking up where I live and my day-to-day routine has really opened my eyes to different sides of myself."

And, it's provided the elusive balance so many Olympians and the rest of us crave.

On this Dying to Ask:* Athletes thrive on routine. How did Katrina decide to flip her life upside down in her push for Paris? * Advice on defining what balance means to you * The unexpected value in pursuing two passions at the same time

They say good things come in threes. Maggie Steffens hopes they come in fours.

Steffens is the team captain for the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team.

The team has won three straight Olympic gold medals. Winning a fourth would make history as no team, men's or women's, has won four straight gold medals.

We caught up with Steffens and her team at a sold-out exhibition game at Long Beach City College. The crowd was packed with female teenage club players.

"I was once that little girl on a pool deck looking up and seeing role models and saying, that's something I want to do," Steffens said.

Steffens' team is a team is a mix of veterans and first-time Olympians. She leads with an Olympic mindset grounded in gratitude with an eye on mentorship for the next generation of players.

Steffens says, "Going into this Olympics gratitude is one of my biggest things. How cool is it I get this opportunity and how can I make this torch a little brighter for the future of our sport?"

Coach Adam Krikorian says his team tries not to focus exclusively on winning gold again.

"The reality is this team has never won a gold medal. And we have people that have never been Olympians before. So this is their first experience," Krikorian says.

Bottom line: leadership and experience will matter greatly this summer in Paris.

On this Dying to Ask:* Why leading with gratitude works * How a spirit of gratitude fosters mentorship * Advice on how to get different generations to work together toward a goal

35 years is a long time to wait for a dream. But Bill May says it's worth it.

Bill was 10 years old when he started artistic swimming. He fell in love with the sport and dreamed of going to the Olympics.

"Every time someone would tell me no, I'd say watch me. You're going to see me at the Olympic Games. You're going to tell me no and I'm going to say yes. They're going to say that person followed his dreams and there he is at the Olympic Games," says Bill.

The problem? Artistic swimming (formerly synchronized swimming) didn't allow men in Olympic competition.

Bill quit competitive swimming after watching his teammates win the 2004 Olympic bronze in Athens and put his aquatic talents to work in other ways.

He joined the cast of Cirque Du Soleil's "O" and spent 18 years touring with the production. But he never gave up advocating for men to be allowed to compete in his sport at the Olympics.

In 2022, the International Olympic Committee announced a rule change that allows up to two men per team in the artistic team competition starting this summer in Paris.

Bill says, "I think now that men are allowed, it's only going to open the doors for men to be in the sport and just from our families and people around the world to say, okay, this sport is inclusive."

This year, Bill was one of 12 Team USA swimmers to qualify for the Olympic team competition for the first time in 18 years. But only 8 swimmers can compete in Paris.

Head Coach Andrea Fuentes calls upcoming team cuts "heartbreaking." In this episode, you'll hear from Bill May and then Coach Fuentes on how committed she is to bringing a mixed team to the 2024 Summer Games.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Bill stays in peak mental and physical shape to compete at 45 with teammates half his age
Why gender equity matters in artistic swimming
How Bill is using his platform to inspire the next generation
What was it like being in Cirque Du Soleil for almost 20 years
How to stay true to a dream for decades
The tough choice Coach Andrea Fuentes has to make by June 8

A trip to Paris would be the ultimate revenge after getting dumped for Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb.

Both are veteran beach volleyball players and both got dumped last year by their prior partners.

The timing couldn't have been worse.

Crabb says it often takes three to four years of playing with a partner to create the kind of chemistry it takes to qualify for the Olympics.

"We're one of the older teams on tour. I'm 34 he's 38 . We've been through the partner changes and stuff before," says Crabb.

That experience let them get to work while getting to know each other.

"As an elder statesman in the sport, I've seen good teams win tournaments who hate each other's guts and don't talk and teams that love each other that can't get it done. All that matters is scoring points," says Brunner.

The Paris Olympics will feature 24 teams, of each gender, playing under the Eifel Tower.

Team USA has already qualified two women's teams. Countries can qualify a maximum of two pairings per gender and so far no U.S. men's teams have met the qualification. The main qualification period ends on June 10.

On this Dying to Ask:* Why Trevor wasn't an obvious partner choice for Theo * How far down the list of potential partners Trevor was for Theo * The advantage of being an older, experienced player in a new partners * Advice on how to get along with anyone

The girls in the boat are heading to Paris and Folsom's Michelle Sechser has Lake Natoma to thank.

Sechser is a two-time Olympic rower in lightweight double sculls. She fell in love with the sport at age 14 after following her older sister to Capital Crew.

That rowing club is based at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma and has produced multiple Olympic champions.

"When I started at Capital Crew, never in a million years that I think I will be a two-time Olympian," Sechser said.

She started seriously pursuing the National Rowing Team after grad school and came in 5th at the Tokyo Olympics.

Lightweight sculls feature athletes much smaller than those found on the eight-person boats. That leads to races being won (or lost) in the blink of an eye.

At 37, Sechser is older than a lot of rowers. She'd already planned on Paris being her last Olympics. Then the International Olympic Committee announced her event would be dropped from the Olympic lineup after 2024.

Sechser predicts an epic final saying, "I know every girl on that starting line will be having the exact same thought, which is I've got nothing to lose, cause this is it. It's all or nothing."

On this Dying to Ask:* The Zen of rowing * How rowing with a partner is like being in a marriage * How to build physical and mental endurance and push through boredom

Sagen Maddalena has a literal shot at gold this summer at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

Maddalena is a two-time Olympic shooter and will compete in two air rifle events at the summer games.

She grew up in Groveland, California. She was homeschooled in the small mountain town and was introduced to her sport through a 4-H gun safety class.

She got hooked and went on to become an eight-time All-American collegiate shooter at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

That led to a career as a sharpshooter in the U.S. Army and these days, Sgt. Sagen Maddalena is a member of the elite World Class Athlete Program, which allows members to train and compete in sports on an international level while representing their country.

You might think shooting is a sport of perfectionists. Maddalena says perfectionism actually works against her as an athlete.

"I think that's one of the things that makes me so good at it is is that I've put in a lot of hours of work and discipline. I've been stubborn to make sure I follow that discipline and that work ethic to be as I can be without being perfect. Having that mentality that would be overwhelming," Maddalena says.

On this 'Dying to Ask':* Few people guess Maddalena's sport correctly. The sport they think she does. * How to achieve mental clarity and avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism. * How Maddalena is inspiring kids in small towns to dream big.

The American dream and the Olympic dream collide in Johanna Garton's new book, "All in Stride."

All in Stride: A Journey in Running, Courage and the Search for the American Dream is about Olympian Shadrack Kipchirchir and his wife, Sgt. Elvin Kibet, two American professional runners.

Both competed in February's U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Shadrack competed for Team USA in the 10,000m at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.

Johanna Garton is a longtime Colorado-based endurance sports writer who met the married couple in Denver.

All in Stride tells the story of how the runners independently made their way from Kenyan villages to American colleges, the military and professional running.

Their American dream turns into an Olympic dream as each pushes to represent their new country. Their adjustment to American culture isn't easy and includes brushes with bigotry and intolerance.

"I heard about this program that was part of the U.S. Army based in Colorado Springs. It was soldiers in the U.S. Army who also were training to become world class athletes. I went down and spent time at one of their workouts, and I happened to meet Shadrack, who's kind of the main character in this book," says Johanna.

Johanna Garton started her career as an immigration lawyer. But her love of distance running won out career-wise. She transitioned to sports writing and writes mainly about endurance sports. Johanna ran for Syracuse University as a walk-on. She's run more than 20 marathons including five Boston Marathons . And, she even made it to Everest Base Camp in 2022.

On this Dying to Ask:What it's like when the American dream and the Olympic dream collide

The role the US Army plays in helping athletes get to the Olympics

The special role Team USA's immigrant athletes play in the Olympic experience

None

Kali Wilding and Shelley Oates-Wilding are on the ultimate Olympic mother-daughter road trip that hopefully ends in Paris.

Kali is one of Team USA's top sprint kayakers. Shelley is a two-time Olympian for Team Australia and the current U.S. National Coach in canoe-kayak.

Kali grew up in Hawaii surrounded by water and her mother's Olympic legacy. But Shelley says she was careful to not push her sport on her kids. Kali started out as a gymnast but couldn't resist the water.

She recently won the K-2 sprint kayak event at the U.S. Olympic Canoe Kayak Team Trials at the CSUS Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma, California. The next and final step in becoming an Olympian is competing in the Continental Olympic qualifier in Sarasota, Florida, in April.

An Olympian being coached by a parent who is also an Olympian is rare. And, Kali and Shelley hope to make that dream happen this summer at the Paris Games.

"We get to travel so much together. It's crazy fun having a mother as a coach, best friend, travel buddy. It's a dream come true," says Kali Wilding.

Shelley Oates-Wilding says, "Representing your country at the Olympics is one of those things. You're being the best you can be in your chosen profession. It's the journey going toward what your Olympics is."

On this Dying to Ask:* The growing sport of sprint kayaking * What it's like growing up with an Olympian for a parent * What Shelley did to not force her sport on her kids * What it takes to pursue an Olympic dream while going to a school like USC

Get to know Olympic hopeful gymnast Riley Loos as he tumbles with Fitz through a round of FIVE WITH FITZ.

Five rapid fire questions with a bonus question.

Stanford alum Riley Loos hopes to put some Cardinal red into the red, white and blue for Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer.

Loos graduated from Stanford in 2023 and has stayed on in Palo Alto to train with his former college team and Stanford head men's gymnastics coach Thom Glielmi.

Nearly half the U.S. Men's National Gymnastics Team has a Stanford connection. The school is known as an unofficial feeder to the National Team. The school has won the last four NCAA Championships. And Coach Glielmi served as the 2020/1 U.S. Men's Gymnastics coach at the delayed Tokyo Olympics.

Riley was ranked number three on the team after the recent Winter Cup competition. He grew up in El Dorado Hills, California, and has dreamed of being an Olympian since he was a kid. He credits Stanford for supporting his quest.

"Stanford is basically the feeder system to Team USA Men's Gymnastics . We've created this team atmosphere and culture. It's intense but super friendly and brotherly. So we basically have created a culture through the head coach where nothing goes undone and nobody gets away with not doing what has to be done and we lift each other up all the time," says Riley Loos.

On this Dying to Ask:* A deep dive into Stanford Gymnastics' culture of tiered accountability and how you can incorporate the concepts into your team * Learn how to make people feel comfortable and safe enough that you can call them out when they're not giving their best. * How male gymnasts feel about the attention and sponsorship opportunities female gymnasts enjoy * How a viral video made Riley a big deal on TikTok and how he's monetizing his celebrity to fund his Olympic dream

Jason Newton may be a newbie to Olympic coverage. But his hometown already knows how to support someone at the Olympics.

Jason is an evening news anchor at WBAL-TV in Baltimore, hometown of Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps.

Jason is also a native of Baltimore. And while his wingspan isn't as broad as Phelps, his knowledge of all things Olympic will be by this summer's games.

This is the third in our MEET THE TEAM episodes as we get to know members of the Hearst Olympics Team ahead of this summer's coverage at the Paris Olympics.

On this Dying to Ask:* What Jason thought he wanted to be when he went to college (spoiler: it wasn't working as an Olympic reporter) * The new Olympic sport Jason is especially excited to cover * How Jason's hobby is likely to benefit Fitz' Instagram feed during the Olympics

Imagine having a stunt double at work. Fletcher Mackel basically does in his role as a sports anchor at WDSU-TV.

That's because the guy often sitting next to him on the anchoring desk doing the news is his identical twin brother Travers.

The Brothers Mackel have share a lot of experiences together. They grew up playing baseball in New Orleans. Both attended college and played baseball at Loyola University. And they both signed on at WDSU more than 20 years ago where Fletcher jokes "we're now a package deal and you're stuck with both of us."

Soon, the guys will have something else in common as both will have worked on the Hearst Olympic Team. Fletcher is looking forward to adding Olympic experience to a resume that already includes Super Bowls and college championships.

Fletcher's family has been in New Orleans for generations and civic pride fuels both his work ethic and passion. His energy is off the charts and if you like an inspirational quote, grab a pen because he drops them like crazy!

On this Dying to Ask:* What it's like to work with an identical twin (should probably ask the staff of WDSU about that) * How his hometown fuels his work ethic and passion * And the sports guy makes a prediction on who's going to own Beach Volleyball in Paris

Team USA will rely on an Olympic Trials process to pick most of its 2024 Summer Olympic Team. But for how much longer?

Some worry it's not sustainable to stage "mini-Olympics" in host cities to select athletes due to rising costs and expectations.

Freelance writer Erin Strout raises the issue in her most recent article for Outside Online where she investigated whether the popular US Olympic Marathon Trials needs a reboot.

You can read the article here.

Americans love Olympic Trials. They're exciting and showcase the depth of underdog talent like marathon record breaker Fiona O'Keeffe. It's like a mini-Olympics with only Americans taking part to determine who will represent Team USA at an Olympics.

But the downside of the Trials process is that they're money losers for a lot of cities.

Most countries rely on selection committees to pick Olympic teams. Would a selection committee have picked Fiona O'Keeffe to represent her country in marathon? Probably not.

On this Dying to Ask:* Arguments for and against the Olympic Trials process * What a recent US Olympic Marathon race organizer told Erin about the cost of hosting a Trials and why he says his city couldn't do it again * Who pays for what at an Olympic Trials? The answer may surprise you

Check out FIVE WITH FITZ with Olympic marathoner Fiona O'Keeffe.

Five rapid fire questions with Team USA's speediest female marathoner.

If the Olympics gave out a medal for fan geekdom, Mike "Domi" Domalaog would get gold every time.

Domi, as he's known around KCRA 3 and the Hearst Olympic Team, is an encyclopedia of all things Citius, Altius, Fortius, Communiter. (That's the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger-Together if you were not blessed with FOUR YEARS of high school Latin as I was.)

In our first MEET THE TEAM episode, I'll explain how the Hearst Olympic Team works and the long history Domi and I have of traipsing the world chasing athletes, telling stories, and testing the limits of sleep deprivation.

Paris will be Domi's 11th Olympic trip. His work history goes back to the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. But, his love of the Olympics started decades ago as a kid growing up in Salinas, CA.

Domi is one of the smartest people I know and his recall for athletes and their achievements is equal parts impressive and frightening. He's a member of the prestigious Emmy Awards "Silver Circle," awarded for 25+ years in television news. And, he's been a photographer at KCRA for 38 years.

In this Dying to Ask:* How Domi became an Olympic reporter * The responsibility he feels telling young athletes' stories * What he's looking forward to the most in Paris

Season 11 of the Dying to Ask podcast is here and it's giving us Emily in Paris vibes.

We're heading to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics!

In our Season 11 trailer, Deirdre Fitzpatrick has a look at what to expect over the next few months as we highlight athletes, coaches and all those behind the scenes who support Team USA.

From touchdowns to acquisitions — NFL legend Steve Young's second act may be more exhausting than his former career.

Young was a quarterback for 15 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers.

He's a two-time MVP (1992/1994), and he's a three-time Super Bowl winner.

But Young says he started working on his post-retirement plans long before he left the game.

He earned his law degree from BYU while playing for the 49ers and now runs HGGC, a successful private equity firm in the Bay Area.

Young spent years downplaying his football past in his new career. But he has fully embraced the magic and nuance of his two worlds.

In 2016, Young published his memoir, "QB: My Life Behind the Spiral."

Young is married and the father of four children, two boys and two girls.

His daughters have shown the greatest interest in playing football.

On this Dying to Ask:* Advice on crafting a second act * How the future Olympic sport of flag football created an incredible bond between father and daughters * And Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Steve Young has thoughts. The empathy he has for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

Feeling blah? Head outside. Mother Nature may be the ultimate mood booster.

Science has long backed the health benefits of the great outdoors.

Spending time outdoors impacts your physical and emotional health. Going outside can fight depression and lower blood pressure.

Feel cranky after a long day indoors at school or work? A 10 minutes walk outside soaking in some sun can radically change how you feel and ultimately perform.

Can't think?

Go outside.

Feeling down?

Go outside.

Can't sleep?

Go outside.

You get the idea.

On this Dying to Ask:* The viral video from Finland prompting more interest in the health benefits of spending time outside. * The vitamin you'll increase naturally by soaking up some sun. * And the link between your eyes, age, sun and sleep.

New year, new you? Why not?

The calendar change is a great time for a habit refresh.

This week I'm sharing three things I'm doing this year to capture the spirit of a fresh start while also reflecting on the people who enriched my 2023.

Ready to kick your year into gear?

Mentioned during this episode:

Get motivated with entrepreneur Jesse Itzler.

Plan your 24 in 24 with happiness expert Gretchen Rubin.

Clear the digital clutter with tech expert Jennifer Jolly.

On this Dying to Ask:* Why you need to sit down and write some good old-fashioned letters in January * How to craft a 24 in 24 list * And the easiest way to clear digital clutter

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

Overwhelmed this holiday season? Try a brain break.

It's my secret to doing all the things and trying to be in the moment while I'm doing them.

A brain break is the act of giving yourself a mental time out. That mental rest can boost your mood, increase productivity and make life more enjoyable.

In this episode, we'll identify how to spot your noggin needs a break. (It's not as obvious as you think.)

And, we'll go through a 4 step plan to perfect a brain break. It's a great practice to work on over the holidays.

Also in this episode, we'll review this year's top 10 Dying to Ask episodes.

Mentioned in this episode:Stolen Focus: Why you can't Focus and How Think Deeply Again

Eat Pray Love and get creative with Elizabeth Gilbert

Should you get in on the giant water bottle trend?

The power of the happily ever after with Brenda Novak

The big benefits of little luxuries

What do Terry Crews, Dwyane Wade and MMA star Cat Zingano have in common? They're giving away money on bold.org.

The site is a go-to for college students to win scholarship money to pay for school.

Dror Liebenthal is bold.org's founder and CEO. The site's goal is to match people and organizations who want to give away scholarship money with students who need cash for college.

It's often difficult for students to find opportunities. But, Dror found it can be just as difficult to give money away!

Dror says, "Often you were spending as much or more to manage the scholarship as you were awarding in the scholarship itself, and what we allow on our platform is allow anybody in any company to easily create a scholarship in minutes with the confidence that 100% of your tax deductible donations going to go towards deserving scholarship winners."

The site has drawn attention (and cash) from companies, individuals and celebrities.

Worried about paying for college? Listen to this one and make sure to tell us if you or any of your family members win a scholarship!

On this Dying to Ask:* Find out how bold.org's founder came up with the idea. * Why it's difficult logistically to give away scholarship money. * How the algorithm matches students with opportunities * Learn about some of the more random scholarships on the site * And see what drives celebrities like Terry Crews and Dwyane Wade to pay it forward through scholarships

Sick of being sick? A "Hamilton" musical star won't miss his shot when it comes to boosting immunity.

Darnell Abraham is starring in the international touring show as George Washington.

Abraham may play a founding father but he also doubles as a wellness guru when it comes to health. He's sharing the health hacks that keep him on stage night after night.

It starts with the basics.

Eat well, exercise and get sleep.

But there are immunity boosters he swears by including a near-daily drink he doesn't really like but feels has made him healthier.

"Immune health begins in the gut and kombucha, it's packed with probiotics, prebiotics depending on what type of kombucha that you get, and I have actually found it to be really helpful. I drink it like every other day," Abraham said.

He travels with a medicine bag of herbs, teas, and vitamins and he's basically spilling it out so we can make it through the cold and flu season too.

He even has a photo tip to minimize exposure to germs without missing those Instagram moments.

On this Dying to Ask:* How Abraham made the decision to accept the offer to tour internationally with "Hamilton." * A performer hack to stop a sore throat quickly * Two appliances he swears keep his airways clear * Why he will never use your pen * The bougie throat lozenge Abraham says is worth every penny

Sick of work drama? You can diffuse most conflicts with three simple steps.

Richard Birke is the senior vice president of JAMS Institute, a conflict resolution company.

He's a master mediator. Things have to be really bad before he heads into a workplace and usually the goal is to avoid litigation.

But we all deal with conflict in our lives. Maybe it's someone who gets under your skin at work? Maybe it's someone who lets everyone else do all the work. Or, it's someone who knows exactly the wrong thing to say.

Unsettled conflict hurts your mood and impacts both creativity and productivity. The person who suffers the most when you don't deal with drama is you.

Richard has a three-step plan to diffuse conflict. You'll change your mindset and actually get a script of what to say (or not say) to someone annoying you. Think of this as your playbook to reduce drama in your life!

On this Dying to Ask:* How to shift your mindset when you're in the middle of a conflict * What you need to know about your communication style to effectively deal with others * And a 10-second tip to change the tone of an interaction

Gratitude is an attitude. And, it might be the easiest way to boost your happiness.

This week, we're revisiting the role gratitude plays in our physical and mental health. The holidays are a great time to hit a "reset" and reflect on what's really important in your life.

My colleague Edie Lambert just produced an incredible story on the science of happiness and a new way it's being taught through gratitude at Sacramento State University.

Dr. Meliksah Demir is Sac State's very first "endowed professor in happiness."

He teaches a class called The Psychology of Happiness.

"When you practice gratitude, it has the potential to give you the sense of peace, comfort, which is likely to help you say before bedtime, to breathe easily and then comfortably sleep. Perhaps this could be one reason as to why we are observing those benefits in the sleep domain," says Dr. Demir.

And his students are impressed by what they're learning.

"If you practice gratitude, happiness, you make more money, sleep better, better health. I've been surprised at how many benefits there are," says Amanda Rose.

You can check out Edie's story here.

On this Dying to Ask:* The impact gratitude makes in mindset * How to play the "gratitude game" this holiday season * What you can learn about a person by asking them what they're grateful for * And what happened when I asked my colleagues to tell me what they're thankful for right now

Here's a genius move. Immerse yourself in a few more interests and watch yourself grow intellectually.

That's the advice from biographer Walter Isaacson. And he should know as he's often considered the genius biographer.

Isaacson is a bestselling author. He's written biographies about people including Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Jennifer Doudna.

He's a former editor of Time Magazine and served as the CEO of the Aspen Institute in addition to teaching at Tulane University.

His latest book may be his most controversial due to his subject, Elon Musk.

Isaacson spent two years with Musk with what he describes as unfiltered total access.

He thought the book would primarily focus on electric cars and space travel. Then came the Twitter sale in the middle of his writing project.

Now, Isaacson's Elon Musk is out and he's facing criticism from some in the tech world for taking hit too easy on a controversial leader. Isaacson says his job is to be a storyteller and it's a reader's job to reach conclusions on his subjects.

On this Dying to Ask:* The unusual deal Walter Isaacson struck with musk before writing the book * How Isaacson found out Musk had accepted his offer to do the book * How the Twitter sale impacted his research and book * Why broadening your interests helps you think bigger

Move over spring cleaning. Fall organization may have an even bigger impact on mindset, stress levels and happiness.

Kim Salisbury is a personal organizer and the creator of Home Method Co. She says a lot of people get a burst of energy when the cooler weather starts. She recommends using that energy to get your house ready before the holiday season.

Want to thrive instead of survive the holidays? The key is getting the holiday to-do's done now, not later.

"I always say to try to get as much done as you can in October and November before Thanksgiving. Make a list of everything that you need to do before the holidays," advises Salisbury.

The holidays are stressful because of all the extra demands on your time. Those opportunities should be fun. Don't resent them. Just prep for them.

Take our Fall Organization Challenge and give yourself the gift of decompression!

On this Dying to Ask:* The psychology behind fall organization * Why your fridge and pantry deserve your time and Clorox wipes * How an organizing binge will save you money this holiday season * The gift hack to reduce waste and increase happiness * How to make a master holiday to-do list that will keep you accountable

Sophia Ruan Gushee is one of the least toxic people you'll meet. That's probably because she wrote the book on it.

She's the author of "The A to Z of D-Toxing" and the host of the Practical Nontoxic Living podcast.

But Sophia isn't a scientist and didn't study harmful plastics in school.

Becoming a mom for the first time forced her to look at her environment in a whole new way. That led her to question the impact of products she used on her family's health.

The questions turned into answers and, ultimately, major lifestyle changes to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals. Her book reads like an encyclopedia and is like a bible for families trying to reduce toxic exposure.

Along the way, Sophia became the go-to expert in all things toxic. She left her dream job to become a practical, nontoxic lifestyle expert.

In her passion, Sophia found her purpose.

The good news?

Leading a less toxic lifestyle doesn't have to be hard. A few simple swaps can lower your exposure and ultimately let you feel better about harmful toxins that are seemingly everywhere.

Sophia is smart, kind and essentially a non-toxic cheerleader for those of us who would like to do better but really don't need it to feel like a lot of work!

On this Dying to Ask:* Sophia's unlikely path from finance to nontoxic lifestyle expert * The role convenience plays in our lifestyle choices * 3 simple swaps you can make today to live a cleaner lifestyle * And, how did Sophia decide to go all-in on her new career?

Have something you need to do but can't find the motivation? Join the club.

Sometimes it's just hard to get yourself going, even if you're normally a disciplined person.

It's normal and it's really annoying!

This week, we're looking at where motivation comes from and why it's hard to jumpstart sometimes.

And we have a 4 step action plan to fire up your motivation to get more out of life.

On this Dying to Ask:* Defense of the word "busy" * The difference between "have to's and want to's" * Why your "want to's" get put off first * A 4 step plan to get motivated

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

This summer, Paris will become the second city to host three summer Olympics. This week, we're merging history and the Olympics on the "Dying to Ask" podcast.

Bill George is the author of a new book called "Victory in the Pool."

Decades before Team USA celebrated names like Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, Sacramento was the center of U.S. swimming, and its aquatic leader was a guy named Sherm Chavoor.

Chavoor coached athletes, including Debbie Meyer, Mark Spitz and Mike Burton, to win Olympic gold medals between 1968 and 1972.

Chavoor coached at the Arden Hills Swim and Tennis Club.

But he wasn't a swimmer himself.

And Sherm Chavoor wasn't even his real name.

"He didn't publicize it. His real name was Izikiel Correa and he was a poor kid from the Oakland area. He came to Sacramento as a swim coach and became famous as Sherm Chavoor. Everybody knew him as Sherm Chavoor. I think even his swimmers never really realized his real name," George said.

On this Dying to Ask:* How Sherm Chavoor became Sherm Chavoor. * How he started a swimming dynasty that defied race, religion and social status. * And how a natural knack for marketing led underdog swimmers and a green coach to greatness.

As doppelgangers go, Talakai is the ultimate winner. And now he can credit his likeness for his latest opportunity.

Talakai is a 34-year-old singer from Sacramento. He turned chairs with his rendition of Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" during the blind auditions on "The Voice." Then, he turned heads with his uncanny resemblance to judge John Legend.

“Wait until you see his face,” Legend told Niall Horan and Gwen Stefani as the other coaches turned their chairs following Talakai’s performance.

Twinning with a superstar is nothing new for Talakai. He can't go anywhere without someone saying something. The thing is, Talakai can sing. Like, really sing. And now the world, and John Legend, know it.

Talakai stopped by the KCRA 3 studios in his now signature "Legend" jacket and charmed everyone he met. He's as likable as he is talented and is enjoying every minute of what he calls "the best week of my life."

He is seizing the moment and has advice on how you can, too.

On this Dying to Ask:* What it's like to have a famous doppelganger * How to take advantage of a natural edge * How to be in the moment when it happens

What if I told you the key to personal growth could be forgetting everything you know? It's called a beginner's mind, and it's worth mastering.

It's the idea of approaching something with a 100% fresh perspective or like you've never done it before.

Do you remember the thrill of riding a bike? How about learning to read? Speaking another language and actually having someone understand what you're saying?

Beginner's mind is a little like the social media trend, "I was today years old when..."

It's a powerful tool.

Mastering a beginner's mindset can pay off big time for your physical and mental health.

And it's linked to boosting creativity and overall happiness.

On this Dying to Ask:* The areas of your life that can benefit from a beginner's mindset. * Three ways to develop a beginner's mind.

The Korean Wave continues and it's coming after your pores. Korean exports of beauty products have surpassed smartphones.

Elise Hu is the author of "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital."

Hu is a journalist and podcaster who currently is the host of "Ted Talks Daily."

Flawless is inspired by her years working as an NPR bureau chief in Seoul, South Korea.

The book examines how South Korea's pervasive beauty culture spread globally as the latest ripple of a Korean Wave of entertainment and tech.

"Six out of 10 of all Netflix subscribers in the world have watched some sort of Korean content. When it comes to Korean beauty, Korea is now exporting more cosmetics and skin care and skin care tools than it exports in smartphones," Hu said.

Hu's book is part memoir, part international investigative reporting, and well-researched.

Fun fact: Elise and I are both graduates of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, and our former professor connected us for this interview!

On this 'Dying to Ask':* How Korean beauty culture seeped into and then dominated beauty culture around the world * What is technological gaze, and how it impacts your feelings about yourself * How Zoom forever changed and blurred the visual and virtual world * Why is glowy skin a thing? * A reality check on how much beauty costs in terms of time and money * And how do we get to a better balance in our lives where we're more accepting of who we actually are?

Growing up on the internet may not be as bad as we thought.

The first generation of kids exposed to a fully digital childhood is coming of age.

Their childhoods have been radically different than their parents' childhoods.

That's led a lot of parents to instinctively want to control kids' access to things like screen time and social media by installing limits and trackers on phones.

It's like a digital tug-of-war between parent and child with sometimes unintended consequences.

Dr. Devorah Heitner is an expert in all things family and tech and she has spent years looking at the impact of screens on kids.

Her new book, Growing Up in Public, examines the good and bad about growing up in a digital world.

Her message is non-judgmental and in many ways, she's more positive about teen screen exposure than their parents are.

In fact, a lot of teens are expressing frustration with their parents after, in some cases, discovering how much of their childhood was shared on social media.

Heitner says parents often express frustration with how much their kids share online. But, in her experience, kids often have a better grasp of online privacy than kids do.

Heitner says, "I have met so many kids who are so embarrassed by things that their parents are posting. When I go into schools, I'll ask kids to step in a circle if their friends have posted something that's embarrassing, and about half the kids will step in. Then, if I say step in if your parents have ever posted something embarrassing, and 100% of the kids will step into the circle."

On this Dying to Ask: * What it's like to grow up in public. * Why Heitner emphasizes mentoring over monitoring. * Two things parents should do before posting about their kids on social media. * A warning for schools and families when it comes to education apps that track assignments and grades. * Why Heitner isn't a fan of tracking apps like Life 360.

It's back to school time and that means back to anxiety for a lot of families. But four easy tips could lessen stress for kids and parents.

Jenn Curtis is an educational consultant, the founder of FutureWise, and co-author of "The Parent Compass." She says back to school stress is normal. But, going into the school year with a plan can help.

The school year is a natural reset for families and a great time to shake up habits, both in and out of the classroom.

Jenn has four tips to help improve academic success for kids. The funny thing? Those tips are applicable to all ages!

It starts with setting out some goals and then setting your kids (and yourself) up for success.

On this Dying to Ask: * How to set goals with your kids for the school year * Why you need a "family meeting" at the start of the year * How to form a "what if" plan in case kids run into trouble academically * 4 tips to set your kid (and yourself) up for success this school year

Making a mark without leaving a digital footprint. It's tough to do, but debut novelist Elizabeth Castellano is pulling it off.

Elizabeth, or Liz as she goes by, is the author of "Save What's Left."

In a field where a strong digital footprint is often a predictor of professional success, Liz is defying the odds.

Her book is one of the most buzzed-about titles this summer. People Magazine called it one of the best books of the summer.

You can credit a lot of things for Liz's success, but a strong social media presence isn't one of them.

Liz has a three-line bio on her website and doesn't do social media.

"I got off social media a couple of years after college. I just decided not for me. I don't like it. I think there's more harm than good. I just felt better being off of it, and so it just stuck, and you do miss things," says Liz.

On this 'Dying to Ask': * What pushed Liz off social media, and how that impacted her mental health and creativity. * How unusual it is for a "creative" not to use social media to promote a product. * What it's like to be an "overnight success."

Other places to listen CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

Been there, done that. I've never been so glad to say that covering a one-year countdown to an Olympics.

It's been a few years since that milestone didn't involve significant talk about the pandemic.

This year felt, dare I say it, normal.

I had that realization while doing an interview with 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Gabe Gardner. I covered Gardner's golden moment in Beijing and we've been friends ever since. Gabe is still active with Team USA. He's worked as an athlete liaison and Board Member for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Endowment.

Gabe is one of my go-to interviews as we hit the one-year mark to an Olympics. In the last couple of Olympics, we've focused on pandemic protocols, masking, testing and all things COVID-19.

This year, we talked about the fun stuff. It was deliciously normal. And we both remarked after the interview that it felt good to get back to something we'd done before. Been there, done that.

On this Dying to Ask: * A challenge to all of us to recognize and appreciate these moments as they come up post-pandemic * And I'll play the full Q&A I did with Gabe with his thoughts on the one-year countdown to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

Three words: less is more. That's the advice from professional organizer Kim Salisbury of Home Method Co when it comes to packing up and moving into a college dorm room.

Kim has helped families organize college dorms for years. This year, she'll take her own advice when her oldest child heads to college this fall.

"The most important thing that I can say is, don't bring too much, because that's what we have found. That's happening over and over again. You don't need to, much less is more," Salisbury said.

Easier said than done. But, studies show an organized living space is key to focus, productivity and happiness. Creating a welcoming and simplified space can go a long way in boosting mental health.

See the full top 10 list of must-have dorm items on Kim's blog.

And listen to this week's conversation with Kim goes over what to pack while unpacking the complex emotions parents feel when their kids leave the nest.

On this Dying to Ask: * What to pack and what *not to pack * The most overrated thing kids put on their beds * A paperwork checklist before you even step foot on the campus * The inexpensive space saver parents might want to add to their bedrooms

Want to feel less stressed? Try cleaning out your junk drawer.

Decluttering may be the simplest path to destressing.

Research has shown eliminating unneeded or unused things and organizing is good for focus, self esteem and mood.

You can actually lower your cortisol stress hormone by purging areas in your home, especially the places where you spend the most time.

Professional organizer Kim Salisbury is the owner of Home Method Co. She studied psychology in college. And, she says she uses the psychology background every day in her work helping families clear the clutter.

"When you are living in spaces that are calm and organized, it brings your blood pressure down, it brings your anxiety down. It brings your stress level down," says Kim.

Kim says the goal is to make your home feel like a sanctuary and it doesn't have to take a lot of time or money to make it happen.

Do you geek out on all things organization? Check out Kim's blog here.

On this Dying to Ask: * How Kim became a professional organizer. * The mental health benefits of decluttering your space. * How negative space impacts your mood. * The room you need vertical space in. * And the top five spaces you should declutter first.

Other places to listen CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

Need cash? Maybe you need a side hustle.

Inflation has a lot of people looking for ways to bring in more money.

Getting a raise in the job you have now is likely not an option. But adding a part time job might be.

Small business startups aka "side hustles" tend to boom during very specific times.

Tightening job markets, recessions, and inflation inspire fiscal creativity. But it's not always about the money.

Sometimes people road-test a new career by starting a side hustle.

Sometimes people just want something fun to do in their free time!

But how do you maximize money while limiting the additional work hours?

You need a plan and today's guest has some great advice.

Frank Vella is the CEO of the marketing platform Constant Contact.

Frank says new entrepreneurs often run into the same problem.

"My advice to the small business owner is do what you do well and leverage tools to to get done what you don't have time or don't do well," says Vella.

In other words, be realistic.

On this Dying to Ask: * How to find a side hustle. * How to launch your new gig. * Some Business 101 advice, the do's and don'ts of a small business. * Why the greatest gift of your side * And Frank and Fitz even talk parenting.

From big law to big adventure to big-time author. Jaclyn Goldis' new book is called "The Chateau" and the thriller is topping summer beach reads lists.

But Jacyln's personal story has some interesting chapters too. And it starts with quitting a prestigious and lucrative job.

She quit her job in Chicago as an estate planning lawyer right to travel the world. And, she quit that job after seven and a half years, right around the time most attorneys make partner.

The decision was met with a 50/50 reaction from friends and colleagues.

She brought two small backpacks and the hope that she could realize her dream of life as a fiction writer.

It worked. The trip unlocked creativity and fueled her soul in a way her more linear career path was not.

Seven years later, she's settled in Tel Aviv, Israel, lives two blocks from the beach and is living a lifelong dream because she took a chance.

"I had so many fears of how it was going to work and where it was going to end up, and how the writing thing was going to go. And you know, there were a lot of stress in terms of that. But ultimately, I'm so happy I took that risk and I'm really happy where I ended up," Goldis said.

On this Dying to Ask: * How Jaclyn knew to trust her gut and quit her lawyer job. * What her colleagues said when she left law right around the time she was about to make partner * A reality check on what quitting a job and traveling the world as a single adult is really like. * What did she pack in the two small backpacks on her trip around the world? * Where Jaclyn ultimately ended up settling and what her new life as a buzzed-about author is like. * The quote that guides her life.

How's that New Year's resolution going for you? Yeah, me too. Maybe we need a summer reset.

It's like a resolution do-over so your future self doesn't have to be irritated by your past self and your current self can lose some anxiety. It's very meta.

80% of New Year's goals or resolutions are a memory by mid-February.

Only one in 10 people will follow through for a solid year on a resolution.

On this Dying to Ask: * Why you might be able to blame the weather for tanking your New Year's goals * 3 reasons why a summer reset makes a lot of sense * How to re-frame how you look at the calendar in goal setting

Need a new podcast to binge? Here's a link to Scamanda, which I mention on the show.

The "Dying to Ask" podcast is marking its 200th episode in a most luxurious way.

We're talking about how simple luxuries can have a big impact on your mood and mindset. Think cheap and easy. This is not a heavy lift.

My colleague and dear friend Edie Lambert joins me as co-host.

Both Edie and I are huge fans of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast. Rubin is the best-selling author of The Happiness Project. A few months ago, she published an episode highlighting the value small luxuries have in daily life.

Edie and I loved it and did a deep dive into the little things we do to make a tough day feel a little less horrid. And we each asked our Facebook communities to weigh in too. The result is this episode.

And this is the "Dying to Ask" podcast's 200th episode! This show starts with a quick discussion of how podcasting has changed since our debut and answers a few questions listeners have asked about the success of "Dying to Ask." Thinking about starting a podcast? You're not alone, and the info may give you insight into the podcasting industry before you get started.

Back to luxuries.....

On this 'Dying to Ask': * The big impact of small luxuries. * We share KCRA viewers' suggestions on little things that make their lives feel fancy. * And Edie and I share 10 of our small luxuries.

Go read a book! It's like a summer anthem for parents but the dividends are worth the nagging.

Research continues to prove that summer reading helps kids avoid the brain drain that often occurs during summer break.

Summer reading improves reading skills. Reading fluency is key to academic success in all subjects.

Kids + summer reading = a winning combo.

That said, it's sometimes a tough sell with kids. That's why it's critical to find something that grabs a kid's interest and reflects their individuality.

Tina Ferguson is the owner of Face in a Book bookstore and my co-host on our annual "Summer Beach Reads" show.

In part 2, Tina suggests titles for kids that are rich in inclusivity and imagination. Have a reluctant reader in your home? Tins suggest parents be open to graphic novels, whose popularity has exploded.

"There are things you can do with illustrations along with the vocabulary in the book that really works together to get a beginning reader to really keep going and to really enjoy what they're reading," says Tina.

On this Dying to Ask: * How the publishing world is meeting the need for more inclusive books * Tips to get a reluctant reader hooked on books * The number one thing parents can do to encourage reading * Tina's top 10 pics for summer books for kids

Tina's picks for kids:

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels/Beth Lincoln

The Sour Grape/Jory John and Pete Oswald

The Agathas/Kathleen Glasgow

When You Trap a Tiger/Tae Keller

Dog Man #11: 20,000 Fleas Under the Sea/Dave Pilkey

Big Tree/Brian Selznick

Where You See Yourself/Claire Forrest

The Windeby Puzzle/Lois Lowry

Judy Moody & Friends: Jessica Finch is in Trouble /Megan McDonald

Once Upon a Book/Grace Lin illustrated by Kate Messner

Read anything good lately? Your answer will be YES after checking out our annual summer beach reads episodes.

We have so many book pics this year that we're breaking it up into two episodes. Part 1 will cover adult titles. Part 2 will cover kid picks from preschool to young adult (YA).

Our literary guide is Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book bookstore.

This summer, Tina says romance is still hot, so to speak — but she's also seeing a trend in "feel good" books.

"I think that feel-good books are trending because we just need some uplifting in our day. And so that's been a really nice thing to see as well. And then I see a lot of like speculative fiction, a little bit of sci-fi coming back, too," Tina said.

Tina's picks:

"When Women Were Dragons"/Kelly Barnhill

"Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club"/J. Ryan Stradal

"Yellowface"/R. F. Kuang

"The Midnight Library"/Matt Haig

"You Could Make This Place Beautiful"/Maggie Smith

"Happy Place"/Emily Henry

"The Covenant of Water"/Abraham Verghese

"The Wager"/David Grann

Finley Donovan Series/Elle Cosimano

"Trust"/Hernan Diaz

On this 'Dying to Ask':* The book trends emerging for the summer of 2023. * How to fit more reading into your life. * Tina's top 10 books to bring to the beach this summer.

How's your energy level these days? Doing a personal energy audit could be the key to preventing burnout.

A personal energy audit is like a home energy audit.

It's an evaluation of when and where energy is strongest and what drains it quickest.

Being honest about your energy level can impact performance, outlook and overall health. Constantly pushing through a low energy level can lead to chronic stress, depression and a sense of unhappiness.

On this Dying to Ask:* A 3-step plan to do a personal energy audit * How to stack your day based on your energy levels * The impact planning around your energy level can have on your physical and mental health

Get an A+ in modern etiquette by following some do's and don't this graduation season.

Diane Gottsman is back on the "Dying to Ask" podcast busting some manners myths for grads, their parents and the friends and family who want to celebrate their achievements.

Diane is a modern etiquette expert and the founder of the Protocol School of Texas. She specializes in working with companies on navigating workplace etiquette. She helps executives and want-to-be execs present themselves in a way where people want to work for them and with them and that in turn is great for career advancement.

She also advises college students on how to handle themselves in business situations. Graduation is the first big test of how one shares their celebrations. And, that might mean grads asking their parents to pull back a little on the celebrating!

You'll find out the difference between an announcement and an invitation and when each should be sent out. When do you give a gift? What should you give?

"People are moving to new apartments. They're going into a new dorm. You may not know what to buy them, so if you send a check, or if you give them a gift card to a store where they can buy a variety of things, they're really going to appreciate it," says Diane.

What about cash? We're covering all things graduation in this episode.

On this Dying to Ask:* The difference between an invitation and an announcement * Who should receive invitations and announcements and when should they be sent? * The gift rules on if receive an announcement * Graduation gift ideas at different price points * And is it rude to gift cash?

From lawyer to a New York Times bestselling author. Jasmine Guillory found her "happily ever after" writing happily ever afters.

Vogue Magazine calls Jasmine the "queen of the modern-day romance."

Literary fairy godmother Reese Witherspoon's book club has featured her work too. Her book, "The Proposal," was the first romance ever picked for Witherspoon's club.

Jasmine's books feature accomplished Black women navigating romantic complications.

Jasmine is a Stanford Law grad who worked as an attorney for years before giving fiction a try as a hobby.

She found the creative outlet exhilarating and soon was spending lunch breaks, evenings and weekends writing. An online novel writing challenge provided the push to finish her first book.

But she didn't quit her day job. And Jasmine credits that decision for a successful professional pivot.

Eventually, Jasmine secured a multi-book publishing deal and spent five weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

Eight books later, Jasmine writes the kind of books that Publisher's Weekly describes like this: "The lush background and Guillory's signature blend of sexy, sweet, and funny keep the pages flying."

Her other hobby? Yoga.

Jasmine has a 2,000-plus-day yoga streak! The practice has a significant impact on her health and creativity. We'll dive into the impact a health streak can have on all aspects of your life.

On this Dying to Ask:* How Jasmine knew it was time to quit her day job * What "research" looks like when you're writing romantic fiction * The impact Reese Witherspoon's attention has on an author's life * How a non-work creative outlet adds value to your personal and mental health * And the backstory on Jasmine's 2000+ day yoga streak and how it impacts her physical health and creativity

Fine is just fine.

That's the premise of a book and podcast taking aim at the self-development and wellness industries.

Marketresearch.com estimates the self-improvement industry is worth more than $10 billion a year. It exploded virtually during the pandemic.

Jolenta Greenberg, a comedian and self-described reality TV historian, and Kristen Meinzer, a culture critic, lived by 100 self-improvement books. They evaluated the good, the bad and the truly ridiculous.

Their adventures were the basis for a podcast called "By the Book."

Their big conclusion? Being fine is just fine.

Greenberg and Meinzer went on to write the book "How to be Fine" and now co-host a podcast by the same name that offers advice to listeners while tackling other wellness trends.

"Look at the credentials of who is giving you advice. That's my first pointer, and the first thing I sort of learned to do once I started really reading some advice that was out there. Look at the source. Is the person a doctor? Is it an honorary doctorate? Did they actually go to school to become a doctor? Just make sure the person who's giving you advice is someone you actually trust before you jump all in," Greenberg said.

On this Dying to Ask:* The danger of "positive thinking" your way out of jams. * How to evaluate a motivational speaker. * Techniques to critically evaluate whether a self-help program is worth your time and money * Jolenta and Kristen's picks for the worst self-help books on the NY Times Best Seller's List (hint: you'll recognize a few!)

Running saved Alison Mariella Desir's life. Now she wants to save running from itself.

Alison's new book, "Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport that Wasn't Built for Us," is a memoir.

It simultaneously tells her personal story while uncovering the historic reasons why distance running is a predominantly white sport, tracing it to the origins of the running industry, racial discrimination and white supremacy.

Alison decided to train for a marathon to fight depression. It worked. But, she quickly realized her experience as a Black female runner was drastically different from white women.

She wrote an op-ed for Outside Magazine called "Ahmaud Arbery and Whiteness in the Running World" that went viral and ultimately led to her book.

She is the founder of Harlem Run and Run 4 All Women movement to support women's reproductive rights. She's an advocate, a brand ambassador and most recently, the TV host and producer of "Out and Back with Alison Mariella Desir."

Well + Good named her one of its "Changemakers of 2023" and Women's Running Magazine calls her one of the "Power Women of 2022."

Running While Black is unlike any other book I've read. It will make you think, make you laugh, and likely make you look at a start line with different eyes.

On this Dying to Ask:* Who inspired Alison to start running and what she noticed instantly * What happened after she started her own running club in Harlem and only one person showed up * The historic reasons distance running and the running industry lack diversity * Why movement is a powerful agent for social change * And the unusual opportunities that have come Alison's way since her memoir came out

Connect with Alison Mariella Desir:

On Instagram

On Twitter

Harlem Run Retreat.

Alaska Retreat.

Brenda Novak is the queen of the HEA. Happily ever after. And, she wouldn't have it any other way.

"We've been through some rough years for sure. I think that that is just so enjoyable to see two people overcome whatever challenges they face to find a happy ever after," says Novak.

Novak will publish The Seaside Library, her 75th book, in April. She's known primarily as a romance novelist. But, in recent years, she's pivoted to writing romantic suspense and women's fiction.

The Seaside Library is the perfect beach read. And, she'll kick off a two month tour in an Airstream trailer retrofitted to function as a bookstore and coffee shop on wheels. Check out her "bookstream" here.

Novak's introduction to writing sounds like one of her plot twists. She was working as a loan officer and caught her babysitter drugging her kid with cough syrup.

She looked around for a job she could do at home and settled on writing books. She had no experience. But, she had an incredible imagination and work ethic.

Novak quickly realized she'd need to publish frequently to make the money she needed and settled on the romance genre.

She's averaged three novels a year ever since and has a legendary connection with her fans. She's a mother of five and has been married for nearly 40 years to her husband Ted, her real-life happily ever after.

On this Dying to Ask:* What it's like to have written 75 books * How Brenda pivoted from romance to suspense and women's fiction * Why we all need an "internal editor" and how to follow it * What publishing has in common with Netflix * Relationship advice from the queen of romance

Other places to listenCLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

In a rut? Want to be more creative? Author Elizabeth Gilbert finds inspiration in a box of crayons.

Really.

Gilbert is the author of seven books, including the New York Times Best Seller "Eat, Pray, Love."

But even she feels stuck sometimes. And that's saying something considering she wrote a book about creativity called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear."

Her hack? Crayons.

"Lots of times, all I do is just make baked giant circles. It was something that soothed me when I was 3. It soothed me when I was 8. It soothed me when I was 11, and it soothes me now when I'm 53," Gilbert said.

In this bonus "Dying to Ask" podcast episode, author Elizabeth Gilbert shares her favorite hack to spark creativity and the specific type of crayon that makes the big magic happen.

Here is where to find the crayons Liz talks about.

Eat, pray, love and get creative.

Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of "Eat Pray Love" is taking on creativity these days.

"Eat Pray Love" has sold more than 13 million copies. It inspired a movement. It also, depending on who you ask, inspired a lot of divorces.

Julia Roberts starred in the movie adaptation in 2010.

Gilbert's memoir tells the story of how she rediscovered who she is and who she wants to be on a solo trip around the world following a divorce.

More than 15 years later, the story is reaching a new generation of readers but its core message hasn't changed.

"I always think, as women, we forget that we belong to ourselves. I think 'Eat Pray Love' was this giant celebration of that. I think that book is a giant permission slip that reminds women to change their lives, leave their lives, and most of all remember their lives belong to them," says Gilbert.

"Eat Pray Love" is Gilbert's biggest book. But she's a prolific writer.

Gilbert is the author of seven books of fiction and nonfiction. Her book, "Big Magic," offers advice on how to cultivate creativity. It offers ways to get unstuck if you're feeling mentally blocked.

On this Dying to Ask:* What the reaction from readers is like more than 15 years after the release of "Eat Pray Love." * What it's like to be primarily known for one book when you've written lots of books. * Advice on how to unlock creativity and why we all need a "thing." * Her connection to the movie "Coyote Ugly."

"Who's in your five?"

That T-Mobile ad was onto something.

In part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Ivan Misner, we're talking about the 5 types of people you need to know.

Dr. Ivan Misner was nicknamed the "Father of Modern Networking" by both CNN and Forbes. He's the founder of Business Network International (BNI,) a business networking organization with more than 10, 000 chapters globally.

His colleagues call him "the people scientist." He's an expert in workplace dynamics and relationship building.

His latest book is a deep dive into your five, as the T-Mobile commercial says.

"Who's in Your Room? The Question That Will Change Your Life" is a metaphor that asks the reader to evaluate their relationships.

Did your friend circle shrink during the pandemic?

There's a reason for that.

Your inner circle, whether professional or personal, has a great impact on your mental health and mindset.

In this Dying to Ask:* How to evaluate your inner circle * The types of people you need to know * The types of people you don't need to know * How to have a tough conversation with a toxic person * How to be the type of person other people want to hang out with * How to authentically re-establish contact with a friend you've lost touch with over the years

Other places to listen

CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes
CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

Small talk gets a bad rap. But small talk can lead to big payoffs if you do it correctly.

Dr. Ivan Misner was nicknamed the "Father of Modern Networking" by both CNN and Forbes. He's the founder of Business Network International (BNI,) a business networking organization with more than 10, 000 chapters globally.

His colleagues call him "the people scientist." He's an expert in workplace dynamics and relationship building.

Misner says networking has changed a lot since the pandemic and the increase of work-from-home jobs. It's more important than ever to initiate face-to-face conversations with colleagues or others in your community. Those small moments can lead to job opportunities or deeper connections with friends.

Want to get to know someone better or expand your social circle? Initiate some small talk.

But conversation can be tricky. Say the wrong thing and you might end the connection. Say nothing and you might lose an opportunity to expand your network.

Misner has hacks to increase your comfort level in any social setting.

Don't know what to say? You will after listening to this episode.

On this Dying to Ask:* Why small talk equals big opportunities * How COVID-19 and work-from-home gigs have impacted networking * How to start a conversation with anyone * The best follow-up question to deepen a business conversation * How to network without feeling like an idiot * How to re-start a friendship with someone you've lost touch with over the years

Struggling to form a habit? Temptation bundling could boost your willpower.

Temptation bundling is the concept of bundling a behavior you don't want to do with an activity that you do like to do. The idea is that by pairing the two actions, you're more likely to follow through on the harder habit.

The habit hack can give willpower a boost. And it can make everything from working out to cleaning the house a little more enjoyable.

On this Dying to Ask:

The psychology behind temptation bundling
Ideas on how to bundle fitness and tough family conversations

You SHOULD stop saying the word SHOULD immediately if you want a near-instant boost to your mental health and creativity.

That's the recommendation from psychotherapist Dr. Ron Alexander.

Dr. Alexander is a go-to mindset shifter for clients including Apple, Universal Pictures, Sony Entertainment and Microsoft.

He's also the author of Core Creativity: The Mindful Way to Unlock your Creative Self.

The American Psychological Association says 27% of adults report being so stressed they can't function in everyday life! Read the report here.

Dr. Alexander has a simple tip that provides a lot of us relief.

Stop saying the word should.

He calls it the most stressful word in the English language.

Dr. Alexander says the word should is harmful because "it implies you are wasting time or doing things that aren't important instead of what you 'should' be doing."

You can stay out of the stress zone and get a near-instant positivity boost by using different self-talk.

On this Dying to Ask:* How the word should impacts mindset * What you can say instead of should to reduce stress * What the second most stressful word is that you likely use all day long * And how quickly your stress levels decrease by dropping the word should

An extortion note. A statewide manhunt. The most complicated bomb in history.

It's not the plot of a movie. It actually happened.

It's the subject of the first collaboration between Hearst Television's KCRA and Very Local.

And it's also a great example of what can happen when someone who likes their job decides to spread their wings within their current workplace.

Dave Manoucheri is the producer and director of "Bringing Down the House."

The documentary explores the bombing of Harvey's Casino in South Lake Tahoe in 1980.

No one died. No one got hurt.

But a 1,000-pound bomb did go off and blew up part of the casino.

It's the stuff Hollywood movies are made of, yet few people really know what happened.

Dave and KCRA 3 photojournalist Victor Nieto spent a year tracking down everyone from the lead FBI agent, to the bomber's son, to the grandson of casino owner Harvey Gross.

In this BONUS Dying to Ask:* What drew Dave Manoucheri to the backstory of the Harvey's bombing * Who on the KCRA 3 staff got tasked with building a bomb (non-working) for a re-creation * The lengths Dave and photojournalist Victor Nieto went to for the show to have an authentic 80s vibe * And the personal benefits Dave got out of tackling this year-long assignment

Are water bottles the size of a toddler the key to better health? TikTok says yes and giant water bottles are having a moment.

Social media is filled with influencers touting the health benefits of downing large amounts of water each day.

Increased water intake gets the credit for everything from better skin to lower weight to increased energy.

That's led to an entire industry of giant water bottles. Water prophets are filling social media feeds linking increased productivity thanks to increased water consumption.

And, it's made companies that make those bottles like Stanley and Hydroflask household names.

But how did giant water bottles become a lifestyle trend?

And, is it a trend you should jump on?

On this Dying to Ask:* How giant water bottles became a trend * Why some people are addicted to lugging them around and what it's like to chug from one all day long * Can increasing water really improve your skin and help you lose weight? * And a reality check on how much water you really need in a day

This week's podcast recommendation: Listen to "Can you really trust your gut" on Ten Percent Happier here.

Want to feel more refreshed when you wake up tomorrow? The secret lies in what you do today.

That's the conclusion of a sleep study that looked at the neurological reasons of why it's hard to wake up and why some people feel less energetic after the alarm goes off.

UC Berkeley researchers teamed up with European counterparts and analyzed sleep data from roughly 800 people.

They tracked how much participants exercised, ate and slept. They then monitored the participants' alertness when they woke up.

You can read the full study here.

The big conclusion? What you do today significantly impacts how you will feel when you get up tomorrow.

Raphael Vallat, the lead author of the study, is my guest this week.

Raphael will break down three basic things you can focus on to improve how you feel tomorrow morning.

In this Dying to Ask:* How to figure out how much sleep you really need * The best breakfast to eat today to wake up better tomorrow * Why workouts impact sleep quality

This week's podcast recommendation: Listen here for "This Organized Life"

Getting in shape is the number one New Year's resolution. But 80% of people have failed their goals by February because they haven't figured out how to make fitness habits stick.

Solidifying habits can be hard. But there are hacks putting actions and behaviors on autopilot.

Keystone habits are the things you do that you don't have to think about.

When fitness isn't on autopilot, New Year's health goals don't stand a chance.

Just do, don't think.

That's the advice from researchers at the University of Scranton. In a study called "The Resolution Solution," they studied when our New Year's goals lose steam. They confirmed eight out of 10 New Year's resolutions fall apart by February.

"The problem is that people have great intentions. They get started, but they don't really have a plan on how they're going to execute it is that why we tend to fall into that statistic of 80% of the people drop off by February," says personal trainer Ty Rendlich- Texidor.

This week, we're doing a deep dive with three experts who've made working out work for them.

You'll learn how they plan their week. Find out how to use Instagram as an accountability partner versus time suck. And, if you're a data geek? It might be time to go streaking.

On this "Dying to Ask":* Sobering stats about how little willpower we have to follow through on fitness goals * A planning technique that increases your probability of following through on a workout * How KCRA 3 Meteorologist Tamara Berg finds self-motivation through selfies * Why the best workout starts in your closet the night before * Four ways to make 2023 the year you follow through on fitness goals

This week's podcast recommendation: Listen here for Ali on the Run.

Do you have a work best friend? New research says work besties are the key to professional and personal happiness.

The Gallup organization tracked workplace relationships (non-romantic) and found having a work best friend is good for morale and good for the bottom line. The research showed those relationships are good for employee engagement.

Having a work best friend is proven to raise morale, increase productivity and help with employee retention.

Most interesting, the need for strong work connections has gone up since the pandemic thanks to an increase in remote work and a decrease in worker satisfaction.

Bosses: want to hang onto your people and make them happier without spending money? Create a supportive environment that encourages colleagues to interact beyond the scope of their jobs.

Employees: want to enjoy the place you likely spend the bulk of your day? Find a friend and enjoy life on the job together by vesting in each other's personal and professional lives.

The research is so overwhelming that wellness writer Jancee Dunn included the importance of work friends in Day 5 of the NY Times Wells series, the "7 Day Happiness Challenge."

My KCRA 3 colleague and work bestie Edie Lambert joins me in this episode to explain how we forged a deep relationship despite the fact we've never worked in the same room at the same time.

And we'll offer a four-step plan on how to find a friend at work.

In this week's "Dying to Ask" podcast:* Why workplace friendships are more important since the pandemic * Four ways to get and be a work best friend

This week's podcast recommendation: Listen here for Ali on the Run

Want an easy way to improve your health? Add an activity snack into every hour.

An activity snack is a short break where you get up and move. A "snack" as small as five minutes can have a big impact on how you feel and perform. And science has proven it.

Dr. Keith Diaz, an associate professor of behavioral medicine at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, conducted the study.

Dr. Diaz researched the harmful effects of sitting. Participants took part in "activity snacks," usually simply leaving a desk and walking for a few minutes.

You can read the results here.

Bottom line, moving is life-changing.

Move as little as five minutes and you will likely impact things like blood pressure, diabetes and mental health.

On this Dying to Ask:* How we got to a point that we have to remind ourselves to get up and move. * The unexpected business benefits to getting your people walking more. * Come along on an activity snack with my friend and colleague, Eileen Javora

This week's podcast recommendation: Before Breakfast with Laura Vanderkam.

Want to be more productive? Stop multitasking and master the lost art of singular focus.

Singular focus is loosely defined as doing one thing at a time.

That might seem like a colossal waste of energy in a world where we wear busyness as a badge and treat spinning plates as an Olympic sport.

But research continues to show that multitasking isn't as effective as we think. And, it's harming our mental health by increasing stress and anxiety.

Constant interruptions to your attention are bad for business too in terms of lost productivity.

How you do one thing is how you do everything. And, if you can re-learn singular focus, you might find you have more time on your hands and more to show in general for your effort.

But it's surprisingly hard to do one thing at a time after years of doing 17 things at once. We're breaking it down into three steps you can implement today.

New this episode? Don't miss "what I'm listening to" at the end of the show for recommendations to other podcasts worth listening to.

On this Dying to Ask:* What singular focus is and why worth mastering * The big lesson I learned when I was forced into singular focus * 3 ways to improve your focus

This week's podcast recommendation: 23 in 23 on the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast

Laurie Gelman got fired from a volunteer gig as a class mom. Then she wrote the best-selling book series "Class Mom" and wrote her personal next chapter as an author.

Chances are you've seen Laurie Gelman from time to time on "Live with Kelly and Ryan." Her husband Michael Gelman is the show's producer.

Gelman worked in TV as well as a news anchor, reporter and TV host. She left TV after the birth of her daughters and threw herself into raising kids and volunteering at their school.

An invitation to be the class mom led to firm advice from Live's host Kelly Ripa, who warned that the volunteer gig was to be avoided at all costs. Laurie ignored Kelly's advice and jumped into the job with enthusiasm and humor.

She infused sarcasm and humor into emails with parents to get their attention about school activities. It was a huge hit with parents until it wasn't. A mother complained about Laurie's approach and Laurie got fired as class mom. Yes, you can get fired from a volunteer school position.

"It was my agent who said, when I was complaining about getting fired as class mom, 'that's your book, you know.' That's and it just poured out of me. I didn't expect to write sequels. I didn't expect anything to come of it, because it took me three years to write it, and literally, nobody on this planet was waiting for a book from Laurie Gelman. It was a happy accident," Gelman said.

"Class Mom" is now a four-book series and tells the story of Jenn Dixon, who navigates parent politics with humor, as Laurie did in real life.

It's irreverent. It's well-written. And, it turned into a total midlife career pivot Laurie Gelman never saw coming.

On this week's Dying to Ask:* The backstory on what it takes to get fired as a class mom * How to see the humor in universal experiences like volunteering at your kids school * What real-life class moms think of Laurie's books * And what its been like for Laurie and her husband to raise their family behind the scenes on on-air of "Live with Kelly and Ryan"

Andrew Herr wants to make you a better human. A better performing human that is.

Herr is a human performance expert.

He claims he can get rid of 95% jet lag with protocols designed to optimize sleep, light exposure and what you eat and drink.

His most recent high-profile client? Team USA's men's soccer team and its performance at the World Cup indicates the guys are feeling good.

The U.S. Army has twice named Herr a "Mad Scientist" for his work in optimizing rest protocols for fighter pilots.

Among his early "lab rats?" Navy Seals.

Herr's early work with the military transitioned to an entrepreneurial effort called Fount.

Fount creates protocols and products to help you feel and perform your best.

FlyKitt is his most recent creation. The app-based program controls how you feel post-flying by dictating what you do before and during a flight.

But you don't have to be an elite athlete or a frequent flier to improve your daily performance. Herr's unique take on our "humanness" has takeaways for all of us.

On this Dying to Ask:* How the Department of Defense found Andrew and what it asked him to do. * How controlling inflammation is the key to feeling good and performing better. * How Andrew made the entrepreneurial leap with Fount. * The easiest lifestyle hacks you can make to feel better today.

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed?

Join our holiday gratitude challenge. Commit to focusing on what you're grateful for every day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.

Gratitude is an attitude. It's also the quickest way to improve your mental and physical health.

Science backs that up.

There is a lot of research that supports that being thankful can lower stress and improve your sense of well-being.

And it doesn't take long to start seeing results.

This week, we're taking a look at the power of a simple gratitude practice and encouraging you to join our Gratitude Challenge.

Try one of our three tips each day and see how the

In this Dying to Ask: * A 30-second way to make gratitude a habit * The gratitude hack that can stop your kids from fighting in the car * And the two words that will keep you engaged in The Gratitude Challenge

'Tis the season to get stressed out. But, what if we made a game plan to thrive and not just survive the holidays?

This year, I'm treating the holidays like I would an endurance race.

I'm developing a strategy, making a plan, and I'm going to stick to it in order to get to the finish line.

That finish line? A less stressed holiday season that focuses on the meaning behind the season and being in the moment.

And, that could be tricky this year since all your holiday favorites (and not so favorites) are back after their pandemic hiatus.

In this episode, we'll identify three ways you can lower your stress level without missing out on holiday fun.

But the "work" starts now. We're frontloading the holiday chore list and making decisions about what we will and won't do right now.

The goal is to make being truly in the moment doable and allow you free time to be spontaneous with the people you care about.

In this Dying to Ask: * 3 ways to reduce holiday stress * How to put the "no" into November * And a reality check on family traditions

What's your "why?" Mark Goldman's "why" for being an Ironman is simple. "I can because they can't."

They are the 13 Americans the Ironman athlete competes in honor of in the 13 for 13 Heroes Mission.

Goldman said, "13 for 13 Heroes is simply a mission to complete 13 Ironman, full distance or half distance races in honor of each of the 13 service members who we lost on August 26th of withdrawing from Afghanistan after our 20-year presence there."

Goldman is a husband, father and businessman from Minneapolis. He's a recreational athlete who turned to Ironman racing to test his personal limits and improve his health.

The Ironman is a 140.6-mile endurance race featuring a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles of cycling and a 26.2-mile run.

The explosion that took the lives of the 13 service members at the Kabul Airport made Goldman think his athletic efforts could bring attention to the sacrifice military families make.

Each of his races takes place near where one of the heroes grew up. Goldman races with an American flag tucked into his wetsuit, his bike jersey pocket and on a flag pole he carries while he runs the marathon.

Goldman's mission will be spread out over three years.

Race number 4 is Ironman Sacramento where Goldman will honor the life of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, who grew up in Roseville.

Sherri Juels, Gee's aunt, will be at the race cheering Goldman on and will greet him at the finish line. Juels said, "It's just nice knowing that there are people like Mark who to crazy extent 140.6 miles to honor her is insane. I'm so honored by him doing this to keep her name alive."

In this Dying to Ask: * The logistics of the 13 for 13 Heroes Mission * Goldman's training secrets to stay fit and healthy to meet the goal * How to train to run with a flag pole for 26.2 miles * The role Goldman's personal health journey played in coming up with the idea * How families of the 13 service members reacted to his plan * How the experience has already changed him as a man and the surprising trait he says is heightened because of the mission

From an act of meanness to an act of kindness. A bully's note changed Michelle Bandur's life forever.

Michelle Bandur was working as a TV reporter in Omaha when she got a card with a dollar in it from a viewer.

The card instructed her to "accept the gift and use it wisely. 50 cents for those bags under your eyes and 50 cents for your big, fat nose. You need the help." It was signed, "A viewer."

The note was devastatingly mean and triggered insecurities she'd felt being teased as a kid.

That, despite the fact Bandur is an award-winning and accomplished investigative journalist.

The reality is female newscasters are frequent targets of physical criticism. Usually, we ignore it.

This time, Bandur decided to expose the bully and start a movement to empower young girls.

She took the bully's dollar, asked for more dollars from the community and started Ironhawk Juniors Triathlon Club. The club teaches girls 8-14 how to swim, bike and run with the goal of completing a triathlon. It's 100% free, and the club even finds free bikes for girls who don't have one.

Bandur never did find out who sent the mean card and dollar.

"I do want to say thank you because think of all the girls that we've helped. Think of the message that's out there. Turning, taking a negative and turning it into a positive and uh really helped kind of change the lives of so many people teaching girls how to love themselves, giving them the self-confidence, knowing they can accomplish something that they've set out to do, and they finish it. That's so rewarding and so satisfying. So, hey bully, thanks appreciate it," said Bandur.

Bandur's "big fat nose" card resulted in a TED Talk that's been viewed thousands of times and landed her on the cover of Triathlete Magazine.

In this Dying to Ask: * What receiving the mean card and dollar triggered in Bandur that she hadn't felt in years * The hilarious advice her news director gave her when Bandur showed her the note * How quickly the Ironhawk Juniors Racing Club came about and how many lives have been changed in the process * And we do a lightning round of "Ask Michelle" and get advice on everything from moving across the country in mid-life to feeling confident at any age

Brooke Siem went from winning "Chopped" to writing a memoir.

But her book isn't about cooking. It's about perfecting the recipe for living her life.

"May Cause Side Effects" is the story of what happened when Siem went off antidepressants after being on them for 15 years, having started them at the onset of depression after the sudden death of her father.

Siem's journey off antidepressants started with a question her psychiatrist couldn't answer. "What would I be like and how would I feel without antidepressants?"

At 30, she'd been on the same drugs she'd been prescribed as a teenager. At 30, she still had suicidal ideation and felt unhappy.

Under her doctor's supervision, Siem decided to find out what her true "baseline" for mental health, and life in general, was without medication.

What she didn't realize was how physically and emotionally hard antidepressant withdrawal can be or how long it can take.

The opportunity to go on "Chopped" happened at a time when Siem assumed the drugs would be out of her system. Instead, she was in the depths of withdrawal and no one on the show or in the audience knew. And then she won.

"May Cause Side Effects" is one woman's story of what withdrawal looked and felt like for a solid year. It's about rebuilding a life while appearing on national TV and then traveling the world.

It's raw.

It's poignant.

It's funny.

And it will make you think about your own mental health and what you are doing to take care of yourself in a whole new way.

On this Dying to Ask: * Siem's turning point that led to the decision to stop antidepressant use after 15 years * The question that never came up in Siem's mental health appointments * How Siem ended up on the show "Chopped" * Questions Siem recommends we all ask our doctors about mental health * And Siem debunks myths about competing on a TV cooking show

Take a rest.

Learning how to unplug with purpose is a superpower worth developing. Science will back you up on that.

Being chronically tired is linked to hormonal imbalances and mental health issues. It creates or worsens physical problems too.

Americans are overtired, overworked and overwhelmed. Taking a rest, even a short one, can help you recharge in a hurry.

But, why does the concept of rest seem so elusive to so many of us? Why is taking a break seen as a break in productivity versus a badge of honor?

Taking a brain break often leads to an increase in creativity, productivity, and overall well being.

And, you don't have to crawl in bed for the afternoon to see results.

A few well-timed "rest breaks" can revive you enough to feel a boost that will carry you to bedtime.

In this Dying to Ask: * Why rest is so hard for some people * The science that backs the importance of quieting your mind * Hacks to build short breaks into your day without shirking responsibilities * Easy habit stacking tools to change your outlook in minutes

You are how you live and how you live should be fabulous. That's Lauren Makk's motto and the best part is you don't have to break the bank to live her vision.

Makk sprung to TV design fame on "Trading Spaces."

Her TV career has included stints on shows like "Drill Team" on A&E, "FABlife" alongside Chrissy Teigan and Tyra Banks, "Home Made Simple" on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and "Design Star: Next Gen" on HGTV.

Makk grew up in Oklahoma watching her mom flip houses. Her design career took off after college in Los Angeles designing model homes.

By 2005, the real estate bubble popped. Answering a Craigslist ad changed the trajectory of Lauren's life.

Her penchant for affordable luxury is at the core of her message that everyone deserves to love the feel and look of their home.

And, she firmly believes that you can change your mood and outlook by freshening your personal space.

On this Dying to Ask: * The backstory of how Lauren got her big break on "Trading Spaces" * How Lauren constantly re-invents herself and pivots for professional opportunities * Two home design changes you can make this weekend that will lift your mood without breaking the bank * The lifestyle change Lauren made that keeps her energy high and her personal life on track * And learn a lifechanging #Makkhack to remove stubborn price stickers from candles and gifts bought at discount stores

What time did you get up today? What time did you intend to get up today?

This week on the podcast, we're doing a deep dive into how to wake up early even if you're not a morning person.

Sounds simple. Set an alarm clock and then get out of bed when it goes off.

But we all know it's tougher than that. Americans are more sleep deprived than ever before.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one in three Americans isn't getting enough rest.

That makes getting up with that alarm clock tough, if not impossible, some days. And the reality is that the alarm is set for a reason. You have kids, work, school and life to get to!

But what if we told you there are ways to make getting up earlier a little easier?

You might not feel like a million bucks. But you won't feel the added stress of running late because you snoozed 14 times.

The only thing worse than sleeping poorly is waking up miserably. Improve your outlook by improving how you start the day from the second you open your eyes with wake-up tips courtesy of the KCRA 3 morning team, experts in all things early.

In this Dying to Ask: * Why getting up early is one of the top productivity hacks * How the morning news team gets up hours before sunrise * Why your inability to wake up might be your alarm clock's fault * And learn the quirky ways the KCRA morning team gets going long before sunrise

Is your house quiet? Do you keep buying more food than you can eat in a week? Is your laundry basket empty for the first time in decades?

If you answered "yes" to any or all of those questions, then you might be an empty nester!

Kids are off to college. And, if you are finding yourself with fewer heartbeats at the dinner table, don't worry if you're finding it unsettling.

Empty nest syndrome is legit.

And, it makes sense. You've been a caretaker of another human being for at least 18 years. It's going to take a while to get used to a new normal.

Many people experience fear, anxiety, depression and flat-out confusion during this time.

In this BONUS episode of the podcast, Amy Schmidt shares her personal experience of having kids leave home for college and adulthood. And, she's honest about the conflicting feelings parents have when kids take off. She also explains the term "gray divorce" and why relationships face new challenges during this time.

Amy is an entrepreneur and the creator and co-host of the Better Than Gossip streaming show and podcast.

Don't have college-aged kids? Don't worry. The advice is applicable to anyone facing a big lifestyle transition.

In this Dying to Ask:

6 tips to embrace an empty nest
Why it's time to lose the predictability in your life
The importance of rediscovering hobbies and developing new interests

Want to get something done? Consider finding an accountability partner.

Accountability partners can be friends, work colleagues or even strangers at first.

They agree to help coach each other toward goals, personal or professional. They can be a really effective tool in setting and reaching milestones.

But, there are dos and don'ts to finding and being a good partner.

Amy Schmidt, the co-host of the Better than Gossip podcast, is back on the show with how she relies on accountability partners.

A good partnership can help you reach goals faster. And, isn't it more fun to work hard with the support of a friend?

In this Dying to Ask:

How to choose an accountability partner
How to structure the relationship so that both sides are getting something out of it
Why bluntness is important in the relationship
How accountability partners add purpose and enrich our personal and professional lives

How can I become a runner? Easy. Start running.

It sounds a little flip, but it's actually the truth. Goals don't become reality until you take the first steps.

If your goal is running, those first steps are quite literal.

Running consistently is a goal a lot of people struggle to meet. Why? Running is hard. It's tiring. It can be painful. It's annoying at times. You know, kind of like life.

And that's why conquering a running goal is a powerful confidence booster for so many people.

This episode came from a listener's suggestion.

Listen if you have a goal of becoming a runner.

Listen if you just like talking about goals period. The hacks are applicable to any fitness goal or life challenge.

In this Dying to Ask: * A three-step plan to get your feet moving and your brain cranking this fall.

Feeling blah?

Dr. John Whyte has a prescription to feel and look better with three tweaks to your day.

No drugs. No supplements — and best of all, no copay!

Whyte is the Chief Medical Officer of WebMD. It's his job to make sure the medical info on the site is factually correct. He's a medical storyteller with a background that includes stints at the Food and Drug Administration and time as the chief medical expert at Discovery Channel.

The good news heading into fall? Whyte is positive about our ability to manage COVID-19 without the world shutting down and needing to mask mandates.

The bad news? We have some work to do on our mental health. Like a lot of work.

This episode starts with some good news about the pandemic.

Then, Fitz and Whyte have some fun breaking down five medical myths. Spoiler alert: Fitz isn't on board for two of them!

Think it's gross when someone doesn't shower every day? That person may have a health edge. Pop a lot of Vitamin C when you get a cold. Skip it. Get irritated when your family members don't make the bed? Get over it.

Finally, Whyte has three hacks to improve your health, physical and mental. You can implement them today and he'll be surprised if you don't feel different quickly. They'll cost you nothing. They don't take much time. They're backed by science.

On this Dying to Ask: * Why showering daily is overrated * The health benefits of not making your bed * Why Vitamin C is probably a waste when you're sick * Three changes you can make today to improve your health dramatically in days

Sorry, not sorry.

Know someone who is horrible at apologizing for a mistake? Or, for those self-actualized among us, maybe you're that person?

Quickly taking responsibility for messing up has a near-instant impact on your mental health and well-being.

Blaming others for your own mistakes is a one-way street to sabotaging your mental mindset.

So, what if you commit to accepting responsibility for screwups quickly? It could be a lifestyle hack that could change how you perceive the world and how it perceives you.

In this episode, Fitz shares a personal story about a podcast guest scheduling mistake she recently made. It left a CEO stranded solo in a Zoom waiting room while Fitz ate breakfast at the TV station. She shares how she handled it that preserved the relationship with the CEO's company and how it allowed Fitz not to beat herself up about the error.

On this Dying to Ask: * The surprising mental health benefits of apologizing for mistakes quickly * The link between responsibility and anxiety * Fitz' "Triple A" method of saying sorry and actually meaning it

We're going back to school in this week's episode of the Dying to Ask podcast. Not a la Rodney Dangerfield in the 1986 comedy. More like a time hop to a time that may seem just as foreign.

Colleges expect this school year will be the most "normal" year for students since the pandemic started.

It might be normal by today's standards for young people. But if it's been a while since you moved into a dorm, wait until you hear what the college experience is like these days.

Jenn Curtis and Cynthia Muchnick, authors of "The Parent Compass," are back on the show this week.

And we're talking about everything from the HGTV-ization of dorm rooms to how phone dumps work and why your family needs one.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, buckle up, and get ready to go back to school, Dying to Ask-style. And yes, there will be a pop quiz for anyone who fails to leave a rating or review.

On this Dying to Ask:

The emergence of college trends like professional dorm decorators
Why you need a "proof of life" plan with your kid
The pros and cons of a "phone dump"
How to ease the transition to college for parent and child

Hunger plus anger equals hanger. It's a thing. And science now backs that up.

You could be one snack away from sabotaging your relationships and career. An exaggeration? Only slightly.

A new survey on hanger proves the phenomenon exists.

That "hanger" is actually fluctuating blood sugar that leads to impulsive decisions, words you don't mean (or shouldn't say out loud) and interactions you might regret.

Dr Neha Pathak is part of WebMD's medical team. Her job is to make sure the site's articles and videos are medically sound. She says the hangry study confirms what moms have known forever.

"Absolutely, so I think what we've known for a long time, is when we have low blood sugar it puts us up higher risk of being irritable getting angry and being impulsive. So this new study kind of adds to that, by showing us that when we're hungry, we also are at higher risk of negative emotions on a day to day basis," Pathak said.

The takeaway?

You might make some really bad calls in life because you needed a snack.

Think about that. You could be a handful of almonds away from setting your body and mind up for a blowup or for success.

One snack!

On this Dying to Ask: * How scientists studied hanger * A simple explanation of why you get cranky when you get hungry * The time of day you should probably never schedule an important meeting * Dr Pathak's pick for the number one food to treat hangriness fast * And what it's like to be a WebMD doc

Feeling blah? Three words: take a walk.

Walking is having, as they say, a moment.

Walking is the simplest thing we do each day and it may be the most instantly impactful when it comes to our mental and physical health.

In this solo episode, Fitz takes a walk on the not so wild side to explain how adding frequent walk breaks to the day had a positive impact on stress and creativity.

You'll learn the science behind why "moving mindfulness" works and you'll get easy hacks to make walk breaks a powerful reset button in your day.

Feeling stuck? Take a walk.

Feeling down? Take a walk.

Feeling frustrated or tired? Say it with me, take a walk.

Up for taking our walk challenge? Take a selfie and post it on social media with #walkwithfitz and she'll share your pics to motivate the Dying to Ask community.

On this Dying to Ask: * How to sneak walking into your work or school day to improve productivity * The hidden benefit to taking your kids on a lap around the block * The science behind why walking impacts mood, depression and anxiety * Five ways to make a walking habit stick

Want to be more confident? Maybe you need to practice more.

That's the philosophy of author, TedX speaker, podcast and TV host Amy Schmidt.

Amy's "why not me and why not now" philosophy has made her an expert in mid-life reinvention.

Amy co-hosts the Better Than Gossip podcast and streaming TV show. The show's tagline, ageless advice for timeless women, promotes the idea that most problems are solvable with help and empathy from friends.

She says she's noticed many people complaining about a loss of confidence after everything we've been through in the last few years.

Her advice?

Recruit a good friend/ accountability partner and ask them a simple question: "what am I good at?"

"When you really dig into that conversation with someone you really trust that accountability partner and they say, 'you know what, I admire your confidence around public speaking. I love the way you can just, you know, go to a PTA meeting, and you can stand up and take charge. Or, I love the way when you walk into a yoga class, you kind of are this light.' You find out these things about yourself and you're like, 'wow I should do more of that.' That is the stepping stone to building more confidence."

On this Dying to Ask: * Three ways to boost your outlook when you're feeling flat * How to know it's time to make a personal or professional pivot when things are actually going OK * What Fitz said on Amy's podcast that turned out to be controversial * The power of having a word of the day

What's your purpose?

The pandemic forced all of us to reflect on where we are and where we're going. The Great Resignation is full of people who've redefined their life purpose and made professional and personal changes based on those evaluations.

Latrice Currie didn't need the pandemic to redefine her life's purpose. Life dealt her a curveball in 2019 and she's been on a different path ever since.

Latrice is a longtime, respected news anchor at WRCB-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She's a wife and a mom. She's active in her community.

She also survived a life-threatening health scare she never saw coming.

Latrice suffered a blood clot. Quick thinking saved her life. Careful reflection changed her life after she spend six months off the air in rehab.

Everything changed one Sunday morning when Latrice suffered the blood clot out of the blue. She woke up three weeks later unable to speak and walk and comprehend how much her life had changed.

Her new book, My Journey: Finding God's Purpose and Power, tells the story of what happened before and after LaTrice's turning point. The good news? You don't have to live through a blood clot to live a bigger, more satisfying and impactful life!

It's equal parts raw and inspiring. And, it's a road map to identifying and following through on pivoting to one's true purpose.

On this Dying to Ask: * What LaTrice did while barely conscious that gave her a shot at surviving a blood clot * What she advises all people to do to better their chances of a freak health problem * What it was like to BECOME the story instead of TELL the stories * How we can all find our purpose when life deals us a bad hand

Go read a book.

Those four words summarized my mother's constant summer refrain in my childhood and I find myself parroting her words as a mom myself!

Part 2 of our annual summer beach reads episode focuses on books for kids and young adults, or YA readers. But, here's the thing. YA is actually for all ages.

Do you just love a quick, fun read? Listen for some great YA reads that will inspire and entertain.

Have a reluctant reader at home? My guest Tina Ferguson has some great hacks to get kids lost in the pages of a great book.

Tina is the owner of Face in a Book bookstore in El Dorado Hills, California.

Titles mentioned in show:

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
The Peach Rebellion by Wendelin Van Draanen
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa

In this Dying to Ask: * How to get a reluctant reader interested in reading * Why graphic novels are a powerful reading motivator * How Disney and TikTok are inspiring great children's literature * The rise of inclusivity and diversity in children's lit * Why YA books are for all ages * And, stick around to the end for the backstory on how Dolly Parton and James Patterson teamed up for one of the most popular books of the year

Read anything good lately? Your answer will be 'yes' if you pick up any of the titles in our annual summer beach reads show.

We've broken the show into two parts. Part one covers titles for adults. Part two has suggestions for kids and young adults.

Our guide to all things literary is Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book Bookstore in El Dorado Hills, California.

This summer's picks include:

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
The Divorce Colony by April White

In this Dying to Ask: * How pre-sales factor into authors making the New York Times Best Sellers list * The influence of groups like Reese's Book Club and Jenna's Book Club on book sales * How authors are referencing the pandemic in fiction set in COVID-19 years * Fitz and Tina share their favorite titles for a great summer read

Can you hack your way to better health? The creator of "Fit Girl Hacks" says absolutely.

Monique Christian is the trainer behind the social media community "Fit Girl Hacks." She has worked in the fitness industry for more than 20 years. Her big conclusion after training hundreds of people? Working out and eating well don't have to be so complicated.

She's sharing her shortcuts to better health in weekly hacks including:

Don't think too long or you'll talk yourself out of a workout
Start the day with a win and see how the rest of the day goes
Go to farmer's markets and learn the growers' names since they are generous with their friends

Simple but effective.

Listen to this episode on a workout and I'll bet you'll burn a few extra calories!

On this Dying to Ask: * Christian rapid-fire breaks down more than two dozen fit girl hacks * How friends can help or hinder your fitness goals * Why your brain is your biggest workout enemy * A summer grilling hack that will change how you look at meal prepping * And Monique shares what it's like to embrace life as a fitness influencer at 50

Stressed out? Maybe it's time to dig in the dirt.

A recent study highlighted in Agweek confirmed gardening has tremendous benefits for reducing stress and improving mental health.

Struggling to relax or focus?

Try planting some seeds and watching flowers grow. Or, bury a tomato plant and watch half of a Caprese salad sprout before your eyes.

The experts at WebMD confirm the correlation between time spent around plants and a sense of peace.

And more Americans than ever are sowing the seeds of sanity as they give backyard gardening a try.

In this solo episode, I'll share how I got into gardening and how it's kept my mind clear during some of life's most stressful times.

On this Dying to Ask:

The science of why gardening is good for mental health
Why watching things grow is good for focus
How to get started even if you have a small space and limited budget

Gotta get away?

Good luck getting away from toxic people this summer.

Summer travel is predicted to hit pre-pandemic rates and you'll need to pack more than patience to make it to your destination with your cool intact.

Diane Gottsman is a modern etiquette expert and the founder of the Protocol School of Texas.

If you think people are edgier and crankier than ever, she says you're right! And those dicey interactions are spilling into many aspects of daily life.

Pandemic anxiety lingers and crowded airplanes are often where passengers who don't see eye to eye on virus precautions get into it.

Internships are back. But, employers and interns may be out of step on expectations on everything from communication to wardrobe.

The labor shortage has made shopping in some stores difficult because of inexperienced workers. It's easy to get frustrated. It's easy to say something you shouldn't. And it's often difficult to calm conflict.

So, how can you diffuse a hot situation?

Diane has a script for that and she's going to coach you on how to tricky situations and difficult people.

On this Dying to Ask: * How to diffuse conflict in places like planes or stores * How to extract yourself from a gossipy conversation * Two ways to instantly improve your interactions with people

Why is our relationship with money so complicated?

Financial insecurity creates anxiety. The best way to fight that anxiety? Become more confident in your money knowledge.

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley is the author of "Financial Adulting: Everything You Need To Be a Financially Confident and Conscious Adult."

She wrote the book she says she wishes she had as a young adult struggling to manage a personal budget. That says a lot considering she majored in finance and worked as an investment banker! A career change led to a pay decrease and Ashley quickly found herself living beyond her means.

Sound familiar? People of all ages are struggling with mounting debt and inflation.

She challenged herself to get a better grasp on her finances and started blogging about everything from 401(k) accounts to buying a house. That website, The Fiscal Femme, launched a career as a money coach, speaker and author of "The 30-Day Money Cleanse."

Financial adulting challenges readers to learn about everything from 401(k) accounts to buying a house in simple and often humorous ways. You'll learn about how insurance works and what kinds are important at different stages of life. And, you'll see how re-branding common financial terms like "saving" to "investing" is a useful way to change a money mindset.

And, Fitz and Ashley get into the challenges of teaching money values to kids in our increasingly cash-free society.

On this Dying to Ask: * Why you should throw yourself a money party * The power of using the word "investing" instead of "saving" * And three changes you can make today to change your money mindset

Ever had a great idea but didn't know where to start?

That's called being an entrepreneur.

The successful ones start somewhere and often end up with a company or product that seems to have followed a linear path. The reality is that business journeys rarely make sense.

But there are some hacks to launching products that tend to work and Pallavi Golla is sharing those secrets in this Dying to Ask podcast episode.

Pallavi is the founder of Lark Adventurewear. Lark makes breathable activewear for kids.

Pallavi's son was 4 months old when she noticed he'd get really sweaty in his cotton onesies. She looked for more breathable materials to dress him in and struggled to find any that met her family's needs.

So, she created it.

But, designing activewear for kids wasn't easy. Most adult workout clothes contain chemicals to make them "breathe" during sweaty workout sessions. That fabric wouldn't work on a little kid's skin.

Pallavi had zero background in fashion or textiles.

But, in six years, she's created and trademarked a fabric called Softek and is the driving force behind a seven-figure online kids clothing company that is expanding to adult clothes too.

In this episode, Pallavi shares how she used knowledge from a background in hedge funds and the wine industry to propel Lark Adventurewear to success.

On this Dying to Ask: * Pallavi Golla's advice for entrepreneurs coming out of the pandemic * Why she's against quitting your day job to follow a dream * How she gives herself grace to make mistakes * How to mine your resume for hidden skills that might help you start a business * And how to handle the people in your life who think you've lost it when in fact you might be about to find your next big thing

They say good things come in threes.

And a lot of people suspect author Colson Whitehead may become the first person this century to win three Pulitzer Prize awards in fiction.

Only three other novelists, William Faulkner, John Updike and Booth Tarkington, have won two Pulitzers for fiction.

Whitehead was recognized for "The Underground Railroad" and "The Nickel Boys." Both books use prose to draw attention and insight to systemic racism in America.

| RELATED | Colson Whitehead talks about his new book 'Harlem Shuffle'

But Whitehead's latest novel, "Harlem Shuffle," his eighth, takes a detour and tells the story of Ray Carney, a lovable crook in 1960s Harlem.

On this Dying to Ask: * Why "Harlem Shuffle" is such a diversion from Colson's previous two novels * How he found out he'd won a Pulitzer Prize and how it changed his life * What it's like to write a crime caper and why listening to our parents can save us a lot of time

What is your life's purpose?

Sometimes we feel passionate about going in a direction. Other times life itself seems to send you down a path.

Maura Horton's life trajectory changed when her husband, college football coach Don Horton, was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

She watched Don struggle to do basic things like button his shirt as the disease robbed him of his mobility.

That loss of independence was crushing.

Maura looked for clothing with snaps that were easier to close.

She couldn't find any, so she invented it and patented a magnetic closure system to make dressing easier for people with limited mobility.

MagnaReady specializes in adaptive fashion and fills a gap whose importance most people don't recognize until an illness or injury impacts their ability to do something as simple as getting dressed.

The clothing line is sophisticated and trendy enough that it's popular with people who don't need adaptive features.

Amazingly, Maura Horton did all of this without any prior experience in fashion or entrepreneurship.

On this Dying to Ask: * How Maura started a company with zero experience in fashion * How to recognize something has become a life purpose * Maura's advice on overcoming grief

Are you old enough to remember the before times? Before times — as in before the internet.

If you are, then this is the interview for you. If not, then this is the interview for you.

Pamela Paul is the author of "100 Things We've Lost to the Internet."

It's a collection of 100 essays about things we no longer do or no longer need because of the internet. She writes about everything from Rolodexes, to answering machines, to struggling to remember the name of an actor on TV before you could google it.

Pamela recently took on the role as a full-time opinion writer for the New York Times after working as the editor of the Book Review and overseeing the Times' book coverage.

The idea for "100 Things" sprang from an essay she wrote about the lost art of boredom titled "Let Children Get Bored Again."

The result is a fun walk down memory lane for some and a true history lesson for others. Either way, it's a great reminder of how much our lives have changed in a reasonably short period of time.

On this Dying to Ask podcast:

The viral NY Times article that sparked the idea for this book
Pamela's takeaways about our connections with the internet
Why acknowledging your relationship with the internet is a powerful tool to bridging generational differences

Getting into college. It's complicated.

Navigating this year's college acceptance season is tricky thanks to some emerging trends.

There are record numbers of applications. But class sizes haven't increased and that means more kids than ever aren't getting into their target schools.

It's made talking about college plans challenging for a lot of families.

Jenn Curtis and Cynthia Muchnik are the authors of "The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen's Wellness & Academic Journey in Today's Competitive World."

Both have worked as college counselors for years and have been troubled about trends they were seeing in their offices. Kids who couldn't speak for themselves and parents who can't stop talking about their kids' college dreams.

Post-Varsity Blues Scandal, they say the spotlight is heavily on who gets in and who doesn't get into select schools.

The pressure is greater than ever for high school seniors, and sadly, a lot of parents add to the stress.

On this Dying to Ask * The do's and don'ts of college acceptances * Why Curtis and Muchnik would like to ban the word "rejection" from college-talk * Why parents should refrain from celebratory social media posts * And a lot of adults joke that they'd never get into their alma maters today. Is that actually true?

Procrastination isn't new. But it's getting worse, especially with kids.

Why?

Because there's a lot of stuff we'd rather be doing than the stuff we should be doing.

And that is basically the definition of procrastination.

The difference these days is that we have so many digital distractions to monopolize our attention.

You think you have a tough time focusing on a task at hand? It's way worse for kids.

Patrick Quinn is a parenting expert at the online homework help site, Brainly. Before that, he worked as a middle school teacher in Brooklyn.

The father of three is also a viral video star and the creator of one of the greatest time wasters of all time, the Cheerio Challenge.

His sense of humor combined with his understanding of how kids' brains work make for a powerful combo in his role at Brainly. And, he has some time (and dad) tested ideas of what's fueling our ever-growing tendency to procrastinate and more importantly, what we can do to get more stuff done.

On this Dying to Ask: * How Patrick went from making viral dad videos to becoming a parenting expert * Advice for parents and kids on how to avoid procrastination * How creative outlets like blogging turn into careers

Do you Venmo as a side hustle?

If your answer is "yes," there's a decent chance you could be breaking the law if you’re not aware of recent tax changes related to selling goods and services.

Tech expert Jennifer Jolly is on the podcast this week with a heads up for anyone who provides a good or service on a cash app.

For more than 15 years, Jolly has been one of the top tech journalists in the country.

Her website Techish is a landing place for all things consumer tech. It's a go-to place for unbiased and unsponsored product reviews.

Jolly's stories have appeared in The New York Times and USA Today. And, you've likely seen her consumer tech segments on NBC's "Today" show and on KCRA 3.

Recently, she made a huge personal pivot and moved herself and her business out of the heart of Silicon Valley.

Why? Because she could thanks to, wait for it, technology.

Jolly explains how she made the decision to join what's become known as the Great Relocation.

On this Dying to Ask: * Who is and isn't affected by cash app tax changes * How to make your phone battery last longer * The piece of tech you should slip into a moving truck before it pulls away with your stuff * And how to decide whether a big move across the country should be in your future

Feeling helpless over the situation in Ukraine?

Share a tweet or this podcast link and potentially change a life.

In this bonus episode of the Dying to Ask podcast, learn about a program that is helping ensure Ukrainian refugees' important documents are safe.

Article 26 Backpack is named after Article 26, the Universal Declaration of Human Right to education. But, people forced to flee countries often have to leave without documents like diplomas and other professional certifications.

That can make continuing a college education or pursuing your career path difficult.

Article 26 Backpack allows users to create a safe place in the cloud to store documents free of charge. The program is run by UC Davis professor Keith Watenpaugh and requires just a cellphone and email.

"Americans, we always think our documents will never be lost always be stored and we know that's not the case even for us," said Watenpaugh.

More than 2,000 people, including many Ukrainians, are using Backpack.

But, as the situation in Ukraine becomes direr, the push is on to make sure even more Ukrainian students and professionals get access.

That's where you come in.

Share a tweet from Article 26 Backpack or this podcast and spread the word.

It's an easy ask that could literally change the trajectory of a life.

In this Dying to Ask: * How Article 26 Backpack was created * The lessons Article 26 Backpack learned this summer during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan just a few months ago * How powerful retweeting is to the Backpack mission

My sister gave up social media for 30 days. And it didn't kill her.

But her personal and professional lives suffered some unexpected hits.

A recent Forbes article cited a new survey from USwitch that found Americans spend about 1,300 hours a year on social media.

My sister, Siobhan Fitzpatrick Kratovil, wrote about her 30-day detox of Instagram and Twitter for a parenting magazine.

Social media isn't a technical addiction. But going cold turkey off posting sure sounds a lot like giving up other addictive substances.

Siobhan describes a twitching for her phone that never really went away. And, she was surprised to find out how many school and work opportunities she missed because they were only communicated on social media sites.

On the flip side, her productivity as a writer skyrocketed and she read six books.

Her conclusion?

It might not be practical to live a life off social media anymore.

Maybe, we should strive for a more balanced relationship with our favorite sites?

On this Dying to Ask: * How to realistically evaluate if your time on social media is out of control * The pros and cons of taking time away from your online persona * How to reduce your social media time without a true detox

You've heard the phrase you are what you eat.

Turns out, you are where and how you live too.

The key to living a healthy, balanced and happy life might be in designing a healthy, balanced and functional home.

It sounds expensive. But it doesn't have to be.

Shiree Segerstrom is an interior designer and wellness expert who specializes in designing restful homes.

She intuitively realized the healing powers of her home after the sudden loss of her husband more than 10 years ago.

She sought refuge in her garden and in the design of her home and discovered carving out specific spaces to relax, cook healthfully and exercise cemented her healthy routines and improved her outlook.

Most of us have spent more time at home in the last few years than ever before because of the pandemic.

Feeling blah after two years of pandemic life?

Maybe it's time to freshen up your living space and see if it changes your mood. Shiree will teach you how to "undecorate" before you decorate.

On this Dying to Ask: * How our environment impacts our biology * Why we all need a quiet space * How to make the most out of a small space and small budget * Which paint colors tend to ease anxiety * How to give your home a wellness makeover in one weekend on the cheap

Joy.

It's as fleeting as it is elusive.

Olympic skiers like Travis Ganong earn their living from doing something others do recreationally. It's their day job. And, anyone's day job can get old.

So, what did this pro athlete do hours after returning from the 2022 Beijing Olympics?

He went skiing.

Why? Because it brings him joy.

"Contrary to the belief that as a pro skier we get to ski a lot, when we're racing, we're not skiing that much. When we're racing, we're going up and inspecting the hill and we're resting a lot. And we're doing our race runs so we're doing two or three runs a day to conserve energy and trying to stay healthy and saving a lot for the race run. During the whole season, I can't wait to get home and ski for myself and for the joy of skiing without the pressure and the stress," Ganong said.

For this two-time Olympian, home sweet home means home sweet snow.

On this Dying to Ask: * Behind the scenes of the Beijing bubble * Why athletes are leaving the Olympic Village before the games even end * How to keep your joy for a sport or a hobby alive

Could you survive 21 days in a hotel room by yourself?

Bruce Welton did and he's sharing his secret to developing mental toughness in unfamiliar circumstances.

It's always interesting to find out how people do life. It's especially interesting to find out how they handle their lives being turned upside down.

That's the case for anyone competing in or working at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Bruce Welton is a ski patrol member at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, California.

He took on a prestigious assignment working as a ski patrol trainer for the 2022 Beijing Games. His job? Train his Chinese counterparts in the nuances of mountain rescue and then work as a patroller during competition.

The catch? He had to go to China in November and he had to quarantine for 21 days in a hotel room by himself.

Twenty-one days alone.... and hopefully COVID-19-free.

On this Dying to Ask: * How Bruce developed a plan to stay sane during his Olympic quarantine * The logistics of teaching mountain rescues to people with a major language barrier * His advice for anyone who finds themselves in a strange place in need of a new routine

When was the last time you got out of your comfort zone?

Like, really OUT of your comfort zone?

Team USA Olympic Skier Winter Vinecki is a pro at being comfortable being uncomfortable.

And, with a name like Winter, how could she not have ended up in the Winter Games?

She's a first-time Olympian in aerial skiing.

But she ended up in her sport in a strange way.

At the age of 11, Winter set two world records. Once, for being the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents and the second for being the first mother-daughter duo to achieve that feat.

She started a foundation called Team Winter to raise money for prostate cancer. While accepting an award, she met Olympic aerialist Emily Cook and the rest is history.

On this Dying to Ask: * How marathon running gave Winter the skills to be successful in aerial skiing * How she made the decision to leave her family at a young age to pursue a new dream * What it's really like in the Olympic Athletes Village in Beijing right now * And some easy ways to get out of your comfort zone for our 21-Day Challenge

Need a one-woman hype squad?

Call Olympic silver medalist Shannon Bahrke.

Shannon is our 21-Day Challenge cheerleader for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Here's the ask.

Make a commitment to adopt a renewed focus on physical health and personal growth with the 21-Day Challenge. Each day for 21 days, athletes and other experts will be sharing tips for workouts, nutrition, mental health hacks and more.

Shannon Bahrke is a two-time Olympic medalist in freestyle skiing. She won silver at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and bronze in 2010 at the Vancouver Games.

Her trademark pink hair and energetic personality quickly made her a fan favorite during her 12 years on the US Ski Team.

Post Olympics, Shannon settled in Salt Lake City, Utah.

She's an entrepreneur, a ski ambassador at Deer Valley Ski Resort, a children's book author, and the founder of Team Empower Hour, a collaboration of Olympic motivational speakers.

In March, she'll launch a new online motivational platform called The W.I.L.L. Program aimed at helping women build confidence while helping companies retain top talent.

On this Dying to Ask: * Shannon's expert advice for anyone taking the 21-Day Challenge * How the mantra "just one more" helped Shannon achieve her dreams * How Olympians like Shannon find focus and mental toughness * How you can sign up for "The W.I.L.L. Program" and why Shannon believes it can help companies retain top talent

Please join our 21-Day Challenge!

This time we’ve made a printable calendar if anyone wants to participate and keep track of their goal.

Also, please consider sharing what you’re planning to do or your progress on our interactive bulletin board.

You can submit your challenge here or tweet or post on Instagram using the hashtag #kcrachallenge.

It's time to flip the script on acts of kindness.

Instead of doing something kind for someone else, how about doing an act of kindness for yourself?

My colleague Edie Lambert is back on the show and we're building on some concepts that came up in a recent episode about "pandemic brain."

It's the feeling of overwhelm and foggy thinking that a lot of us have after two years of pandemic life.

Psychologist Dr. Hillary Van Horn-Gatlin encouraged us to slow down, get outside, sleep and stop multi-tasking to get some mental relief.

Turns out, it's harder than you think.

Many listeners struggled to figure out how one could live a life of solo focus.

My conclusion? Start small and do what you can.

Edie's conclusion? Be kind to yourself.

Edie has come up with an efficient way to get a brain boost each day.

And there's an accountability hack that's one text away.

It works. We've tried it and we want to share our "kindness challenge" with you.

On this Dying to Ask: * Why an act of self-kindness is powerful * How to make sure you stick with the challenge * And the surprising response to our pandemic brain episode

It's the number one resolution Americans make each year.

Get in shape.

It's not an easy resolution to keep.

Add in a pandemic and the latest COVID-19 surge and it can feel just about impossible.

Personal trainer Ty Rendlich-Texidor has a new appreciation for her clients who struggle to find energy to make it to the gym.

She's been working as a fitness professional for 20 years. But, she's only been a recovering COVID-19 patient for a month.

And, she's not afraid to say the virus kicked her butt.

"It absolutely wiped me out. It was similar to when I had my baby. I did not expect it," Rendlich-Texidor said.

She says it's been a heavy lift, figuratively and literally, to regain her energy and stamina to resume training.

So, she came up with a three-step plan on how to resume working out after recovering from the coronavirus.

It's a plan anyone can use post-injury, post-illness, or after a long break from working out for any reason.

It starts with a hard look in the mirror and ends with a balanced and reasonable plan to set yourself up for fitness success.

On this Dying to Ask: * A reality check on what COVID-19 can be like even if you're fit and healthy * Ty breaks down her three-part post-COVID-19 training plan * And why a break in working out isn't always a bad thing

Feel like you're losing your mind?

So do I.

It's time to do something about a new phenomenon called pandemic brain.

"Pandemic brain" isn't an official disorder. But it's a real thing, according to Dr. Hillary Van Horn-Gatlin, a Kaiser Permanente psychologist.

Her office is filled with patients complaining of feeling foggy ever since the pandemic started and their work and home lives were turned upside down.

An article in Glamour Magazine went viral with the headline "Pandemic Brain is Real- And it Explains Why You Can't Focus."

The article predicted relief was right around the corner as vaccines were about to end the pandemic. That article was published in March of 2021 and you know what happened, or didn't happen, next.

Bottom line, pandemic brain is worse.

Van Horn-Gatlin said, "You know I can't tell you the number of patients I've talked to you recently that will say I will forget what I'm talking about in mid-sentence and I don't even know what I'm doing. We're seeing those behaviors and issues related to the pandemic."

Harvard medical researchers are studying the impact the pandemic is having on our brains as we reach its two-year mark.

It's not good.

They're noticing a neural inflammation caused by stress that's likely leading to what we're calling pandemic brain.

The bad news?

The pandemic isn't ending soon.

The good news?

Van Horn-Gatlin said there are five things we can do right now that could lead to a sense of relief (however small) in as soon as a week.

On this Dying to Ask: * The science behind why you can't focus * 5 things you can try to regain mental clarity * And KCRA 3 anchor Edie Lambert joins me to talk about our shared experience of pandemic brain and what we're doing about it

Finding clarity through pandemonium — that's what a school principal did in a new kids' book about the pandemic.

Annette Roberts-Murray is an elementary school principal.

She is one of the most positive, hopeful people I've interviewed on this show.

In this episode, she'll share her hacks for hopefulness.

One of those hacks is to be of service to people who need help.

A Zoom call with her nephew about his experiences of pandemic life mirrored frustrations Annette was already seeing in her school.

Annette wrote Pandemonium to make kids feel seen and heard and also to let them know they are not alone in how they feel.

The reality is that adults draw on decades of life experience to get through hard times.

Kids don't have that luxury and skyrocketing rates of pediatric depression and anxiety prove they're struggling to process two years of pandemic life.

Feeling a little down these days? Struggling as a parent? Annette Roberts-Murray will get you back on track.

On this Dying to Ask: * How Annette decided to write her book and her goals for Pandemonium * A reality check on what she's seeing in schools and her hacks for staying hopeful. * And what Annette does in her free time helps her mental health and might make her the coolest principal ever.

It's not you, it's me. Oh wait, it's me too.

People are really weird these days and there's a good reason for our social awkwardness.

Diane Gottsman is a modern etiquette expert and the founder of the Protocol School of Texas.

She specializes in corporate communication strategies. She helps employers and employees interact in productive, meaningful ways and helps identify behaviors that typically lead to conflict at the water cooler.

Diane says nothing has changed modern etiquette quicker than the pandemic.

Normal work-home boundaries are non-existent. Zoom is great until it's not. And The Great Resignation is exposing big obstacles in building culture for companies hiring people who may never step foot in an office.

Collaboration? Don't get her started.

That's why Diane and her expertise are in high demand as companies try to avoid conflict and business interruptions because people no longer know how to behave with each other.

Maybe you've noticed the weirdness in your personal life as you've reconnected socially with people you haven't seen since the pandemic started?

There's a social awkwardness in get-togethers. Diane explains the science fueling our interactions and provides a few hacks to help you and those around you feel at ease.

On this Dying to Ask: * Find out why so many people find it difficult to be in groups again * How to handle toxic personalities that didn't improve during the pandemic * Why we all need a "word of the year"

Want to get your kids to be more grateful? Turn it into a competitive sport.

That's what I did during the pandemic with my boys and it's turned into my ultimate #parentinghack.

There's no disputing the science behind a gratitude practice. Expressing thanks and recognizing the good things in your life can boost mood and improve physical health.

The UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center studied gratitude extensively and confirmed results that suggest gratitude is a game-changer for most people.

A recent Rolling Stone article called gratitude the ultimate door opener in a conversation.

But telling your kids to be more "grateful" is a conversation non-starter in most households.

That's why I gamified gratitude during the pandemic.

Hear me out.

I'm a #boymom. My kids absorb life lessons through movement and quite often, competition and making a mess in the kitchen.

So, I started the "gratitude game" during the pandemic.

Yes, I gamified gratitude.

We play it in the car. It's a rapid-fire, round-robin declaration of all things good.

It takes just a few minutes and it's changed our family dynamic during some of the most challenging days of the pandemic.

My guest this week is my 12-year-old son who happened to be home sick from school on the day I was recording this episode.

Buckle up. He's a handful.

On this Dying to Ask: * The science behind gratitude and the impact it has on mood and health * How to play the gratitude game * And what my younger son says he gets out of our family gratitude practice

Amy Schmidt is a reinvention specialist and her own guinea pig.

Schmidt's journey for her next big thing started five months before her 50th birthday. Her kids were heading to college, she'd recently lost a parent and she had just moved back to the United States after living in Germany for six years.

Answering the questions "who am I now?" and "what do I want to do next?" are daunting at any age.

However, there's something about midlife that forces a hard look at how you want to spend your time.

Her path of self-reflection and personal reinvention resulted in a book, "Cannonball: Fearlessly Facing Midlife and Beyond."

She gave a Ted Talk, created a podcast and is about to host a new TV show.

That feeling of being "stuck" is a familiar one, regardless of age, for many people in this lingering pandemic.

Schmidt's simple strategy for reinvention will resonate with anyone craving personal and professional change and it starts with six words.

Schmidt said, "Get up, get dressed and get going. There's power in those things, every day, get up get dressed and get going it's about that momentum again."

On this Dying to Ask: * Why procrastination and perfectionism are a toxic combo * How to create a personal highlight reel and what to do with it to find your next thing * And why everyone needs a compliment jar

Tamron Hall is the ultimate utility player, a brand new author and the master of the pivot.

It's not easy to transition between serious breaking news and lifestyle segments on a TV show. But Tamron found a new niche in daytime TV after a nearly 30-year career in news.

Tamron got her start working in local news in Dallas and Chicago.

Then she spent 20 years at NBC News hosting the third hour of the "Today" show and anchoring "MSNBC Live with Tamron Hall."

She has also hosted "Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall" on Investigation Discovery since September 2013.

Tamron left NBC News to launch the "Tamron Hall Show" in 2019.

Then came the pandemic, working from home and a near-daily pivot to create daytime television relevant for an ever-changing audience.

Season 3 of the "Tamron Hall Show" is underway and this season's guests are a reflection of the challenges the host and her viewers are facing in the fall of 2021.

Also, Tamron wrote her first fiction book during lockdown. "As the Wicked Watch: The First Jordan Manning Novel" is inspired by real-life crimes she covered early in her career that never left her mind.

On this Dying to Ask:

What Tamron figured out during the pandemic while working from home that changed how she approached Season 3
How to use your personal life experience to navigate changes at work because of the pandemic
And the real-life inspiration behind Tamron's first work of fiction

Can you prevent cancer?

WebMD's top doc says the answer is "yes" in many cases.

Dr. John Whyte is the Chief Medical Officer of WebMD.

His new book is called "Take Control of Your Cancer Risk."

Whyte wrote the book during quarantine in between home-schooling his kids and working from home.

He says 1 million Americans get a cancer diagnosis each year. Whyte says it doesn't have to be that way.

"The reality is only about 30% of cancer is due to genetics, the rest or 70% is influenced by lifestyle," he says. "What you eat, how you sleep, your level of stress level of physical activity, and that means you have the control to take control of your cancer."

On this Dying to Ask:

What you should and shouldn't be eating to stay healthy
Why adding spice to your life is a good thing in many ways
And Whyte has a reality check on what it's going to take to get out of pandemic life

Are the kids all right?

The answer is yes and no as kids have returned to in-person learning after virtual learning in the pandemic.

Cindy Muchnick and Jenn Curtis are college advisers and the authors of "The Parent Compass."

Both say they're seeing some concerning trends in high schools.

Some kids quickly adjusted to in-person school. But many others are struggling to make social connections and get their education back on track.

Body clocks are out of whack after 18 months of pandemic life.

"Kids and parents are saying, 'You know, the kids were vampires during COVID and now they're trying to just reset that clock.' It's almost like they forgot the energy that it does take to interact and go to school and be face to face. But that energy is sort of what's normal, that's what kids should be doing, and they used to have the stamina and it seems like that's gone way down," Muchnick says.

On this Dying to Ask:

A reality check on how in-person school is going for teenagers.
The social disconnect many of them feel after a year on screens.
The impact sleep deprivation is again having on mood, anxiety and happiness for families.

"You are an Ironman."

One of sports' most iconic phrases will be heard thousands of times at the inaugural Ironman California in Sacramento.

Legendary race announcer Mike Reilly coined that signature phrase 30 years ago.

That simple declaration is what finishers crave hearing after what's known as the toughest one-day race on the planet.

The Ironman Triathlon is 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling and a full marathon. Athletes have 17 hours to finish the 140.6-mile race.

It's Mike's job to welcome them to the finish line.

You could say it's his calling. He is equal parts cheerleader, hype man and finish line friend. He has the unique ability to make the last finisher feel like they won the race.

"I say their name and the you (part of the phrase) comes out and you see them straighten up, no matter how much they're hurting," he said. "They look up almost to the sky because they know it's coming and it's that exclamation point on who they are, what they did."

On this Dying to Ask:

What Mike has learned about life and human nature in 30 years of announcing Ironman
How Mike practices the names of thousands of athletes
Why so many people are drawn to events like Ironman coming out of the pandemic

How does a middle-aged mom go viral on TikTok?

Accidentally.

Duh.

The more interesting question is: What does she do with that viral opportunity?

If you're Erin Azar, you keep on posting and keep on going viral.

Erin Azar, aka Mrs. Space Cadet on TikTok, has more than 670,000 followers on the video-sharing site. She started posting videos two years ago after she started running following the birth of her third child.

The raw, candid and very funny videos found an audience overnight. Her first video got 1 million views.

And that's how "Mrs. Space Cadet" became a "thing."

She's appeared in The New York Times and on the "Today" show. She has a Cameo account and even runs webinars to inspire runners and content creators.

Two years later, Azar is the exact opposite of what most people think of as a running influencer.

Her pictures are perfectly imperfect. She's equal parts self-deprecating and inspirational. And she's making money with her alter ego.

In fact, she recently left her marketing job to do Mrs. Space Cadet full-time.

On this Dying to Ask:

What happens when a middle-aged person goes viral on TikTok
What you consider before going "all in" and capitalizing on a viral moment
What it's like to have that much attention when you're used to a normal life
How to care less about what people think of you online and in real life

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has four gymnastics moves named after her.

She's the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) despite what she went through in Tokyo. And to many, she's the greatest because of what she did in Tokyo.

Simone Biles' greatest legacy may be the fact that she went public with her mental health challenges brought on by the pressure of the Olympics and the public attention of the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal.

Biles let people everywhere know that it's OK to not be OK.

In doing so, she started a global conversation on mental health and anxiety that clearly needed to be had after the world has shared in a brutal pandemic experience.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates four in 10 adults this year are dealing with anxiety or a full-blown depressive disorder.

And that's just the people who've reached out for help. The reality is likely much higher given the stress of pandemic life.

Biles proved sometimes you have to step back in order to step back in. And, say it with me, that's OK.

This fall, Biles and many of her teammates and gymnastics friends are touring the country with the "Gold Over America Tour." She's proving you can move forward, despite any challenges you face.

She and her Tokyo teammate Jordan Chiles are my guests in this week's episode.

On this Dying to Ask:

How to keep going when the whole world knows your business
How to live forward when the world wants to look back
And what it's like to be on a tour bus with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles

It's like someone took their finger off pause and finally pressed play on life.

That's how I've been describing how things feel in the fall of 2021.

The thing is it feels like they pressed play on a scratched CD that starts, stops and skips just when the song hits the verse you know by heart.

Kids are back in school in person. But, it still feels weird.

Most adults are back in person at offices, at least a little. But, it still feels weird.

Running races, sports, and festivals are back. But, say it with me, it still feels weird.

Life isn't exactly how we expected it to be post-vaccine. Vaccines were supposed to get us back to "normal."

That hasn't exactly happened. The delta surge created a whole new set of worries and a feeling for a lot of people that this COVID-19 era won't end.

A lot of people describe a never-ending sense of overwhelm and anxiety.

The result is a lot of us feel stuck.

It's hard to make plans. It sometimes feels fruitless to make goals. And, for some people, the ongoing stress of living through a pandemic makes it tough to feel joy.

In this season of the "Dying to Ask" podcast, we're looking at ways to hit the restart on life, no matter what curveballs coronavirus throws us.

In this solo episode, Fitz sets up what to expect in Season 8 and explains why getting back to "life" is tricky.

You could call the 2020 Tokyo Olympics the ultimate date for Robyn Stevens and Nick Christie.

They are one of a handful of real-life couples competing at the Tokyo Olympics.

But, it almost didn't happen.

Both Robyn and Nick won their respective USA Olympic Race Walking Trials in June. Robyn made the Olympic Team instantly.

But Nick found himself ranked 51st in the world with only the top 50 getting invited to the Olympics.

One agonizing week later, Nick got the call that changed his life.

On this Dying to Ask:

What had to happen for Nick to get his Olympic spot
What it's like to head to the Olympics with the person you love the most
And what Robyn and Nick have learned about the Olympics and themselves during the unusual lead-up to their Olympic dream

"We never saw it coming."

That's what Roxanne Mefford said about her son Bryce Mefford making his first Olympic team.

Roxanne Mefford has been the head coach at Glen Oaks Swim Club for 35 years. She's coached thousands of kids. Only one has made it to an Olympics and it's her son.

But Roxanne and her family won't be in Tokyo to cheer Bryce on in the backstroke. No fans are allowed at the 2020 Olympics. It will be hard for this mom who has never missed a big meet in her son's long swimming career.

That's why her Glen Oaks Swim Club family is making sure Team Mefford feels supported during the Olympics. Members are planning viewing parties and have given the club an Olympic makeover.

On this Dying To Ask:

What it's like to be an 2020 Olympic parent
Why Bryce making the team was such a shocker to his family
Roxanne's advice for parents who have Olympic dreams for their kids
How she's supporting her son when he's in Tokyo

If I asked you to name one Olympic or national team doctor, you could probably only name one and it's Larry Nassar.

You know his name because of the sex abuse scandal that was revealed shortly after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Larry Nassar is the former face of the medical staff at USA Gymnastics who was accused of rampant sexual abuse masked as medical treatment.

Hundreds of athletes came forward, including one of the stars of the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles.

He will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The scandal revealed the inner workings of a program that emphasized winning above all, including the physical and mental health of athletes.

It forced a massive cultural change in coaching and in how medical services are handled for athletes.

Dr. Marcia Faustin is part of that change. She is one of two USA Gymnastics Women's team doctors who will tend to athletes in Tokyo and beyond.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Dr. Faustin's background prepared her for this unique and high-profile role
What the 2020 Tokyo Gymnastics Team needs from her and her co-doctor, Dr. Ellen Carey
Why being bored is a sign of a good day at work at the Olympics

"Get a new phone now."

That was the advice from the Tokyo Olympic Committee for Olympic coaches like Mike Sayers.

Sayers is responsible for Team USA's cyclists at the 2020 Olympics. It's the third time he's held the Olympic coaching gig.

But, it's the first time an Olympic organizer suggested a major tech upgrade to handle the six tracking apps needed to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols at the games.

Mike is a former professional racer and World Tour rider. In his more than 30-year career, he's worked as a team director and Olympic coach.

In Tokyo, he'll oversee road, track, BMX and mountain bikers.

On this Dying to Ask:

The silver linings Mike found in life at home vs. on the road during the pandemic
What he says is his No. 1 job as a coach at the Olympics
How Olympic athletes and coaches will be restricted during their time in Tokyo
Learn a great hack for staying in shape in a hotel

Over the last 20 years, I've covered the last 10 Olympics alongside my partner, Mike "Domi" Domalaog.

Then came the pandemic and the end to one of the greatest streaks in TV news. Domi and I aren't going to be in Tokyo during the games.

Instead, we'll be tracking Northern California athletes from home. And, that got us thinking: How can we bring our Olympic passion to our viewers in NorCal in a whole new way?

Answer: The 21-Day Challenge.

I'm teaming up with 2008 Olympic gold medalist Gabe Gardner to inspire Northern Californians during the Tokyo Summer Olympics to adopt a renewed focus on physical health and personal growth.

The challenge will feature workouts, nutrition tips and health hacks from athletes competing in Tokyo, as well as Olympic and Paralympics alums.

The challenge starts July 19 and continues until the Closing Ceremony on Aug. 8.

Viewers will be invited to share their personal challenges on our various social media platforms.

On this Dying to Ask:

Gabe's thoughts on how COVID-19 protocols will impact the Tokyo Olympic experience for athletes
How we came up with the 21-Day Challenge
Why even Olympic gold medalists like Gabe struggle with motivation
Why we all need a physical and mental reboot coming out of the pandemic
How easy it is to take part in the challenge and what Gabe will do if you finish it

The streak had to end sometime, but it took a global pandemic to do it.

Mike "Domi" Domalaog and I have had the privilege of covering the last 10 Olympics together. That's 20 years of planes, trains and automobiles and lots of adventures and passport stamps.

This year, like a lot of Olympic journalists, we've had to re-imagine how we cover Olympic athletes on their journey to Tokyo.

And, when our company had to cancel our Olympic trip, we challenged ourselves to keep our own Olympic spirit going even though we're not technically going anywhere.

On this Dying to Ask:

Hear some of our favorite memories from the road and what we have in store for viewers during the Olympics.

When we last checked in with Team Wesley for the Dying to Ask podcast, August and Anthony were waiting on a wildcard berth to wrestle at the Tokyo Olympics. (episode here)

The Wesleys are a father-son wrestling duo who hoped to represent the small island nation of Cabo Verde.

August Wesley is an American wrestler and coach. He's coached high school and college athletes. He's the most decorated Greco-Roman wrestler to have come out of Sacramento. And, his cousin, Anthony Amado, represented Team USA in wrestling at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

His son, Anthony Wesley, made national teams as a high school athlete and went on to compete at Iowa State University.

The father and son have dual citizenship with the tiny island nation of Cabo Verde, also known as Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa.

The Wesleys have spent the last year pursuing a dream of representing Cabo Verde at the Olympics. Their Olympic berth hung on a wildcard.

And in this Dying to Ask, we find out whether the IOC said yes or no and where Team Wesley will be in July.

Want to live like an Olympian? There's a book for that.

Dr. Naresh Rao is an osteopathic physician, the team doctor and COVID-19 liaison officer for the U.S. Olympic Men's Water Polo Team.

He's also the author of "Step Up Your Game: The Revolutionary Program Elite Athletes Use to Increase Performance and Achieve Total Health."

The book is the culmination of what Dr. Rao learned in more than 10 years of guiding the physical and mental health of Olympic athletes as a team doctor.

Dr. Rao spent the last year doing everything possible to reduce the possibility of his athletes contracting the coronavirus during international competition. His entire team stayed healthy and is now vaccinated and ready to head to Tokyo.

In this episode, Dr. Rao will outline habits that create champions. They are habits athletes spend lifetimes developing, nurturing and putting to the ultimate test in Olympic competition.

The best part? Many of these habits are relatively simple and can make a major impact in your life too.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Dr. Rao got the gig as an Olympic team doc
Hacks to make your mental game as strong as your physical game
And the COVID-19 restrictions athletes will have to deal with while they're in Tokyo even though virtually all of them will be vaccinated

The boys on the boat are heading to Tokyo.

The U.S. men's rowing team will kick off competition on the same day as the Opening Ceremony, July 23.

The guys have called Oakland, California, home for the last few years. They're based out of the Cal Berkeley boathouse on the Oakland Estuary where athletes credit straight, flat water for getting them in shape for the games.

But, the pandemic posed big challenges for this team.

Rowing isn't social-distance friendly. The guys went months without training in their boats and had to get creative with their quarantine workouts.

They also had to face personal decisions about whether they could delay careers for another year after the 2020 Olympics got pushed back.

On this Dying to Ask:

How athletes made the decision to delay careers one more year to compete in Tokyo
Why they describe being an Olympian as a selfish act
And how much fun it is to get up before the sun to hang out with your friends on the water

Hey, Disney: I have your next Olympic-themed movie.

It's "Cool Runnings" meets "Miracle on Ice."

A 49-year-old American father and his 23-year-old son represent an island nation few have heard of at an Olympics delayed by a worldwide pandemic. #yourewelcome

I love this podcast episode.

August Wesley is an American wrestler and coach. He's coached high school and college athletes. He's the most decorated Greco-Roman wrestler to have come out of Sacramento, California. And, his cousin, Anthony Amado, represented Team USA in wrestling at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

His son, Anthony Wesley, made national teams as a high school athlete and went on to compete at Iowa State University.

The father and son have dual citizenship with the tiny island nation of Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde.

Cabo Verde is off the west coast of Africa. It's one of the most developed democratic countries in Africa. But, it's never had much luck developing an Olympic team.

Until now.

On this Dying to Ask:

What August Wesley is going through physically and mentally to become an Olympic wrestler at 49
What has to happen to get Cape Verde's wrestling team to Tokyo
And how August Wesley kept his personal Olympic dream alive for decades

There's no crying in baseball. But, the truth is a lot of tears were shed when the Olympics dropped baseball and softball from its sports lineup after the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.

Each host city has the opportunity to add sports to their Olympic schedule.

Japan loves baseball. So, baseball and softball are back for the first time in 13 years.

That was great news for Team USA softball players who have struggled to make a living in the sport since 2008.

The return of softball is also the return of legendary player Cat Osterman.

She's one of two members of the U.S. Olympic Softball Team with any Olympic experience. Osterman came out of retirement for a shot at another Olympic gold.

"It was full circle. I went to the youngest to the oldest (on the team) now but, yeah, there was a 13-year gap between the last Olympics and this one. It's been a sport that I think has been missing the Olympics. I know, specifically I have missed being in the Olympics," said Osterman.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Cat Osterman made the decision to come out of retirement for Tokyo 2020
What she plans to do when she re-retires after the Summer Olympics
The work habits you need to stay at the top of your profession for an extended period of time
How to stay engaged in your job when you've done the same thing for a long time

"Absolutely not."

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin can't make it any clearer that she has zero intention of coming out of retirement for another shot at Olympic glory.

Franklin was only 17 when she became an Olympic darling at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. She won four golds and a bronze in swimming.

But, back spasms became challenging just two years later at the Pana Pacific Championship.

She went on to make the 2016 Rio Olympic team and won gold in the 4 x 200-meter relay.

Franklin retired in 2018.

At 26, she's newly married and expecting her first child this summer. She's embraced her role as a mentor to Team USA's younger swimmers and is passionate about spreading awareness about water safety to prevent accidental drownings in backyard pools.

On this Dying to Ask:

How athletes know that a sport's mental toll is as great as the physical toll
The advice Missy is giving to Olympic hopefuls during the pandemic
And what it's like to be in your Chapter 2 at the ripe age of 26

Hannah Roberts could become the youngest U.S. Olympic cycling medalist since 1912 this summer at the Tokyo Olympics.

At 19, she'd also be the first woman in her teens to win an Olympic cycling medal.

Roberts is used to doing big things at a young age.

She's a two-time world champion in BMX freestyle. The sport is making its Olympic debut this summer.

It's one of two BMX disciplines in the Olympic schedule. Freestyle riders compete similarly to park-like skateboarders and get scored on how well they execute tricks.

On this episode of 'Dying to Ask':

How the pandemic brought on the lowest point in Hannah Roberts' life
How she dug deep to rediscover her motivation and get the Olympic dream back on track
How becoming a newlywed changed her athletic outlook
How Roberts says she'd use the platform that comes with an Olympic gold medal to increase pay equity in her sport

You probably don't know Yin Rani by name. But, I'll bet she's made you reach for a glass of milk.

Rani is the creative genius behind this year's Got Milk Olympic ad campaign.

Got Milk? That's the question that launched one of the most iconic ad campaigns in the 1990s.

Rani gave Got Milk a modern makeover in time for the Tokyo Olympics. The year delay turned out to be a campaign game-changer.

The new ads feature the Olympics' newest sports like skateboarding, karate, BMX freestyle and softball.

On this Dying to Ask:

What producers did to keep Olympians safe from COVID-19 on set
The tone Olympic sponsors need to strike coming out of the pandemic
What Rani learned about athlete mindset and resilience after working with Olympians for the first time

The king of the backstroke has no intention of relinquishing his crown at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Ryan Murphy is one of the biggest names in swimming. He's been breaking pool records since he was 5 years old.

He made his Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games. He swept the backstroke events and won a third gold medal in the 4 x 100m medley relay. His leg set a world record.

The former UC Berkeley swimmer went pro in 2017 and has had his eye on defending his Olympic wins ever since.

The pandemic delayed the games, but not the dream.

Fellow swimmer Nathan Adrian opened lanes in his newly purchased swim school to swimmers like Ryan when the lockdown started.

"To kind of take things day by day, that was something I struggled with at the beginning. But as I, as this kind of kept on going on and kept on going on, I really got used to being flexible day to day, and I think that's a really valuable skill," Murphy said.

Murphy continued his training in Berkeley in his college pool and has fine-tuned his mental game an unusual way. He creates pressure to deal with pressure.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Ryan Murphy finds a competitive edge by living with constant pressure
Why he feels a need for speed at all times
And why it's better to embrace than fight flexibility

Chances are you took a lot of walks during the pandemic.

But, we'll bet you didn't walk with the same purpose Nick Christie and Robyn Stevens did.

They're America's top race walkers and they're speeding toward spots to represent Team USA this summer at the Tokyo Olympics.

They're also a couple in real life and they've spent virtually every minute of the pandemic living and training with each other.

Nick and Robyn avoided all contact with the outside world in fear that catching COVID-19 would ruin their athletic careers.

As endurance athletes, they worried the long-term effects would negatively impact their respiratory systems.

So, they moved to the middle of nowhere. The Mohave Desert, to be exact.

They committed to coaching each other and emerged from quarantine for their first race in February and won their respective U.S. Championships.

On this Dying to Ask:

The extreme lengths Robyn and Nick went to in order to not get COVID-19
How little contact they've had with anyone but each other
How to dig deep and find happiness when you don't have a lot of control over your life
Robyn's mental health hack that could be an instant game-changer in your life

Five new sports will debut at this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

Skateboarding is one of them, and Maurio McCoy wants to bring home gold for Team USA.

Skateboarding features two events: park and street.

Park competitions take place in a bowl and emphasize athlete flow and tricks. Street competitions feature a course that creates real-world obstacles like stairs and rails.

McCoy is a street skater and he can thank his big brother for his Olympic dreams.

His brother handed him a skateboard at the age of 4 and the rest is history.

McCoy moved to Los Angeles from Pennsylvania right before the pandemic. He spent quarantine skating and falling in love with his new hometown.

"I don't have to deal with weather — sunny here for the most part. I like that it's been good for my skating," said McCoy.

On this Dying to Ask:

What skateboarders think of their sport joining the Olympics.
How skateboard "attitude" helps McCoy handle life stress.
What life is like as a pro skateboarder (spoiler: it's pretty awesome and McCoy knows it).

Making a third Olympic team isn't easy.

Add in a pandemic and a yearlong Olympic delay and it creates challenges for Olympians like Kim Conley.

Conley represented Team USA in distance running at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The UC Davis grad and New Balance-sponsored athlete was on track to qualify for her third Olympic team in the 5000m when COVID-19 struck.

Runners were fortunate when the lockdown started since running wasn't canceled and doesn't require a practice facility in proximity to other people for training.

But distance running in your 30s isn't always easy. Recovery takes long. Injuries can happen at any time.

But Kim was feeling healthy and made the decision to double down on her commitment to making that third Olympic team.

That led to a major life decision to leave Northern California and relocate to Flagstaff, Arizona.

And she's reaped both physical and mental benefits ever since.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Kim made the call to leave her support system in Northern California and move to Flagstaff, Arizona
How athletes avoided COVID-19 this past year
What Kim feared might happen to her career if she tested positive for coronavirus
And how to fine-tune your own grit when your life plan goes sideways

Ariel Torres is a real-life Karate Kid and Team USA's best chance at a medal in karate at this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

Karate joins judo and taekwondo as the third martial art to enter the Olympic lineup after Japan named it one of five sports debuting at this summer's games.

Torres started karate at the age of 6 at the suggestion of a pediatrician to control his endless energy.

Like Daniel LaRusso in "The Karate Kid," he fell in love with the sport. Like Daniel LaRusso, he's from New Jersey. Unlike Daniel LaRusso, he loves "Cobra Kai."

The hit Netflix show is giving the sport a rebirth just in time for fans to cheer on athletes like Torres in Tokyo.

Torres is ranked number 10 in the world in his sport and is a featured "Got Milk" sponsored athlete.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why Ariel says the Olympic postponement is the only reason he has a shot at competing in Tokyo this summer.
What happened to him during quarantine that changed him as a man and as an athlete.
How the Netflix show "Cobra Kai" is fueling karate's growth as a sport.
And how you can be a more disciplined person by utilizing a few tricks from Ariel's training.

Delayed.

Delayed.

I never thought it was possible to delay an Olympic Games. It turns out it is very possible to put the world's biggest sporting event on hold.

It turns out you can press pause on a lot of life when there is a pandemic.

But now, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (in 2021) seems to be on track to actually happen this summer.

In this season of the "Dying To Ask" podcast, we'll continue our deep dive into how to fine-tune your mindset by learning mental hacks from some of the toughest bodies and brains around, Olympians and Olympic hopefuls.

Here's a preview of what to expect and a recap on why I'm obsessed with all things Olympics.

Read anything good lately? The answer is always yes when you ask independent bookstore owner Tina Ferguson.

Tina started her independent bookstore, Face In A Book, nearly 10 years ago. Nothing prepared Tina and other bookstore owners for the challenges of selling books in a pandemic.

But, books were definitely essential for a lot of us over the last year.

They provided an escape from the realities of pandemic life. They inspired us. They distracted us. And, most of all, they entertained us.

Now, it's the summer of 2021. Vaccination rates are creeping up and a lot of people are craving travel and vacations again.

Have a pen handy as you listen and get great suggestions from Tina on what to pack book-wise.

It's our annual "Summer Beach Reads" show, and this one will keep your attention until "The End."

On this Dying to Ask:

The trends bookstores are seeing coming out of the pandemic
Six books Tina says deserve your attention this summer
Tina's trick to get kids reading more over the summer

I'm good at a lot of things. I'm great at one thing: My morning routine.

After doing morning news for more than 20 years, I am an expert in finding ways to streamline getting out the door.

A good morning ritual can be a time saver. It can be a sanity saver. And, it can lessen stress in unusual ways by boosting productivity and raising your self-esteem.

But, here's the reason most morning routines fail: Morning routines don't actually start in the morning. They start at night.

I probably should have thrown in a "spoiler alert" before that one.

In this solo episode, I'm breaking down the ridiculously easy things I do to make getting up hours before the rooster crows possible.

Prepare to be dazzled by the seemingly mundane. But, give it a try, and I'll bet you see results.

In this Dying to Ask:

Why you should develop a morning routine
How to figure out what should and should not be in your morning routine
Why I think most morning routines fail

Zibby Owens is on her way to becoming one of the most important people in publishing.

The publishing world is starting to view her in the same way it views Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon. And she was named New York City's top "book-fluencer." (Yes, that's a thing.)

Zibby's "Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books" podcast is a play on the fact that moms need to make time for themselves. Reading is the escape many women turn to for motivation, inspiration and an escape from the stresses of life. And, as a divorced mom of four kids, Zibby practices what she preaches.

In just three years, Zibby's daily, 30-minute podcast has become the show NY Times best-selling authors fight to get on to keep their status. And, it's become the place aspiring authors hope to appear to launch their careers.

She recently published "Moms Don't Have Time To: A Quarantine Anthology." The book is a collection of essays from authors who have appeared as guests on her podcast.

On This Dying to Ask:

How Zibby went from never having listened to a podcast to hosting a top-rated show.
How Zibby is growing her "Moms Don't Have Time" brand to cover everything from weight loss to grief to sex.
And learn Zibby's ultimate time hack to create space to pursue your non-family-related passions and goals.

Have you seen "Operation Varsity Blues" on Netflix yet? It's one of the network's most-streamed shows these days and it's full of Sacramento connections.

It's shocked viewers for two reasons.

One, it's still hard to believe Aunt Becky did what she did. Two, it's truly sad to find out how much stress high school kids face trying to get into the college of their dreams.

And, that was pre-pandemic.

Now, kids have spent the last year in isolation spending more time alone and on screens.

Wellbeings.org tracked 1,000 teens last fall. The results are shocking.

Half said their mental health is worse or somewhat worse than it was pre-pandemic. More than 50% said their social life is worse or somewhat worse. And 72% feel coronavirus will put their generation at a disadvantage for a long time.

It means the relationship between parent and teen has never been more important.

The problem is it's now more complicated than ever.

That's why Cynthia Muchnick and Jenn Curtis wrote "The Parent Compass: Navigating your Teen's Wellness & Academic Journey in Today's Competitive World."

Neither Muchnick nor Curtis knew families were taking fake rowing pics to scam their way into prestigious schools. But they did know that something awful was brewing in how families pursued college acceptances overall.

Both have worked as college counselors for years and were troubled by what they were seeing in their offices. Kids who couldn't speak for themselves. Parents who can't stop talking about their kids' college dreams.

Muchnick and Curtis say now is the time to reboot how you parent and see your kid for who they truly are, and more importantly, who they truly want to become. Failing to do so can have disastrous results.

On this Dying to Ask:

How to be a more effective parent during the teen years.
What the college process is really like right now.
And why pandemic parents need to give themselves a timeout and learn how to listen.

Episode 100 of the Dying to Ask podcast begins with a question: How do you want to spend your time post-pandemic?

Many people say the silver lining of quarantine-life has been extra time spent with family. But will we still spend this much together time once lockdowns and masks are a memory?

Maybe it's time to take a self-inventory.

That means taking a critical look at how you're wired and what you really want to be doing, or more importantly, not doing.

Business and life coach Renee Dineen's describes herself as a recovering "doing addict" and workaholic.

She left a seven-figure job in biotech for a shot at doing more meaningful work.

That work turned into research into why so many of us are addicted to our to-do list and endless goals at the expense of our health and personal lives.

Renee's TED Talk called "Authentic Inaction" has more than half a million views. And, she believes the art of doing nothing every once in awhile can manifest in everything.

In this Dying to Ask:

How the pandemic revealed how many of us are addicted to "doing"
The power of knowing your enneagram number and how to use it once you know it
Three simple ways to simplify your life and free up your time

Be honest. How happy are you?

Americans are the least happy they've been in almost 50 years, according to a recent University of Chicago poll.

There's a lot to be unhappy about these days between an uncertain economy and a lingering pandemic.

But, being unhappy can lead to being unhealthy.

That's why Dr. Joan Neehall says it's time for a happiness reboot. She's a psychologist, an international happiness expert and the author of "Happy is the New Healthy."

If you read one book this year, make it this one.

On this Dying to Ask:

How psychologists define happiness
Simple tweaks to improve your level of happiness almost instantly
Why remaining unhappy is bad for your health

Can you "positive think" your way to a more enjoyable life? Yes, you can. (See how positive I was?)

Meaghan Murphy is the author of "Your Fully Charged Life." Her new book is a roadmap to flipping the switch on negativity. Meaghan is a positivity pro now. But, she wasn't always so optimistic.

Her nickname was Grumpy as a kid due to her perpetual negativity on everything from going to Disneyland to playing soccer.

A tragic experience as a teenager sent Meaghan down a career path in journalism as a magazine writer.

She's currently the editor-in-chief of "Woman's Day," one of the most popular magazines on newsstands that reaches 18 million readers a month. Previously, she worked at magazines including "YM," "Teen People," "Cosmopolitan" and "Good Housekeeping."

Meaghan says it's not about looking at the bright side. It's about looking at ALL sides.

On this Dying to Ask:

What it means to live a fully charged life
The tragic life event that sent Meaghan down her career path
How Meaghan practiced what she preached when she recently caught COVID-19

It's time to get ready for life post-pandemic. Seriously, it's going to end. Someday.

And, it's time to start preparing ourselves, both physically and emotionally, for life on the other side.

Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer for WebMD, says transitioning to a maskless world where you can actually hug your friends may not be as easy as you think.

He, and other medical professionals, worry about the mental beating our brains have taken over the last year. And he says we all need to prepare ourselves and our families for some PTSD upon re-entry to "normal."

Whyte has three-step plan of things we can do now to be ready to truly enjoy the freedom of life post-pandemic.

In the last 20 years, Whyte has gained a reputation for being as good a medical storyteller as he is a doctor. He spent 10 years at the Discovery Channel as the chief medical expert and traveled the world seeing how diseases affected people in different countries.

He's also worked in government as the director of Professional Affairs for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Now he's at WebMD because he thinks there's nothing wrong with diagnosing yourself as long as you get a second opinion from someone who went to medical school.

On this Dying to Ask:

Three things to do right now to be ready to live happier and healthier post-pandemic
The WebMD search that we're looking at seven times more than we used to before social distancing became a thing
The question he asks patients knowing they've been googling their symptoms
And who hooked Whyte up with his first TV gig

How are your relationships doing after a year of living through a pandemic? If you've broken up with a friend or romantic partner, you're not alone.

Maybe it's time to start looking at relationships the way you might look at a house for sale.

Holly Parker is our guest this week. She's one of the top-selling real estate agents in New York City. The "Million Dollar Listing" type of agent. She's sold more than $8 billion of luxury real estate.

Her new book is "Back on the Market: A Realtor's Guide to Love and Life." It's Holly's personal story of emerging from divorce while applying a lot of the concepts she's learned through real estate.

This is the book Carrie Bradshaw would have written if she did open houses.

On this Dying to Ask:

How the real estate principles of staging and marketing can be applied to your relationships.
What it's like on shows like "Million Dollar Listing" and why you're likely to see Holly on her own show soon.
And how to kickstart your hustle as an entrepreneur if you find yourself dragging as the pandemic drags on.

I purposely didn't do a "goals" episode in January. I mean, 2020 was hard enough without the pressure of resolutions. But then, I started thinking maybe goal setting is EXACTLY what we need, despite the pandemic.

The utter loss of structure from commutes, distance learning and working from home has left a lot of people struggling to find motivation to think about goal setting. But life coaches and time-management experts say the act of setting goals can ground you in a world that keeps on spinning.

The ultimate goal-setter is back on the podcast this week.

Tim Collom first appeared on "Dying to Ask" at the beginning of 2020 to talk about his 20-year habit of forming 100 goals every year. Many of you have asked: "What happened to that goal guy?"

Many assumed Tim ditched the list given the pandemic.

Nope! He doubled down on the goal list, and wait until you hear what happened next.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why you need to write down some 2021 goals
10 topics to focus your goal setting
How to know a goal is worth putting on your list
The goal Tim just crossed off the list that's seriously ruining his sleep

Are you thriving or surviving? Most of us are the latter these days as we near the one-year anniversary of the term "social distance."

Maybe we all need to schedule more fun into our calendars?

Really, schedule the fun. Plan your happy.

That's been Carmen Micsa's secret for 20 years. Carmen is a successful real estate agent, mom of two and burgeoning rapper.

She starts each week by scheduling fun things first and then everything else. It's like having dessert before dinner.

And, you know what? Carmen is having one of her best years yet personally and professionally, despite the pandemic.

On this Dying to Ask:

The skills Carmen learned growing up in a Communist country that made living through the pandemic easier
Why Carmen started scheduling fun first and the instant impact it had on her mental health
Tips to rearrange your calendar for optimal energy and better weeks
How a middle-aged mom became a rap star

How do influencers make money? I scroll Instagram and am borderline obsessed with knowing how girls posing with purses are paying their bills.

Spoiler alert. Most aren't paying the bills.

In this episode, we're getting a rare behind-the-scenes look at the world of influencers with @nycfitfam, aka Jamie Hess.

Jamie worked for nearly two decades in the fast-paced world of public relations in New York City. She especially loved working with health and fitness clients. She started the @nycfitfam page on Instagram to document her fit lifestyle with her husband.

@nycfitfam became a thing. A big thing. Soon, health and fitness brands were approaching Jamie to try their products and post links to their companies.

Jamie left public relations to turn her side hustle into a full hustle. Two years later, she's carved out a lucrative career in front of the camera on social media and on TV, as a QVC fitness expert.

Jamie credits two things for her success as an influencer.

First, she understands what brands need, thanks to her years in PR. And second, her mom is Joan Lunden. Yes, that Joan Lunden. Jamie says her mother's influence breaking ground in television news on "Good Morning America" laid the foundation for her work ethic.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Jamie turned a side hustle into a full-time gig
Her warning for anyone thinking about trading a traditional job for a life on Instagram
How she turned her home into a TV studio to continue on-camera work for QVC
What it was like growing up on TV during Joan Lunden's 20 years on "GMA"
Why Jamie and her husband left NYC in the middle of the pandemic and never went back
The two words Jamie says at the end of every day to stay on track personally and professionally

The countdown clock to the Olympic do-over is going. In six months, Tokyo will host the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics. It's the first time an Olympics has been rescheduled and it's created worries, frustrations and challenges for athletes, fans and media.

In this episode, Fitz catches up with two-time Olympian and gold medalist Maggie Steffens. Maggie is the captain of the women's water polo team.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Team USA is training during a pandemic
How Olympians shifted their mindset to fine tune their mental edge
And why Maggie and Fitz say the Tokyo Olympics could be the best Olympics ever

"Right now is a lot."

That one sentence sums up life for all of us these days. Dr. Christine Koh, a brain scientist turned lifestyle expert turned influencer, tweeted that gem recently.

It was so good and so dead-on that I reached out immediately to pick her brain about how to calm the overwhelming feelings so many of us are dealing with in 2021.

Christine's take on life in the time of COVID-19 is equal parts helpful and humorous. Her scientific background explains the why behind our overwhelm. Her uncanny knack to connect with people, especially women, provides the how in dealing with all that life is throwing at us these days.

On this Dying to Ask:

The tweet that took me down a Christine Koh rabbit hole
How a Harvard-trained scientist became a lifestyle expert, influencer and podcast host
And the three things you can do immediately to slow the brain drain

It's my first solo episode of the season. And, in this show, I'm talking about a phone call I got from a friend that changed my outlook on everything.

COVID fatigue is legit. A University of Colorado study found 4 in 10 Americans are stressed and/or anxious. Only 4 in 10? This past year has been, well, a lot. In a lot of ways. In ALL the ways.

Living with constant low-level anxiety is the new norm for people trying to work, home-school, not catch COVID-19, etc. And even the most resilient people hit the wall. I did. And, I had no idea it was happening until a close friend called and said, "I'm doing a welfare check."

It was a game-changer and a major reality check.

On this Dying to Ask:

What I did that prompted my friend's phone call.
I outline the "phone a friend" challenge and explain why we need to regularly check in on friends and family.
And the three things that constitute "self-care" in my world these days.

Here's the previous podcast referenced in this week's episode.

Words matter. Now more than ever.

Use a word out of context or a word that is no longer politically correct and you can hurt someone or, in extreme cases, lose your job.

Silicon Valley entrepreneur May Habib is the CEO of Writer. Writer is AI software designed to take the words out of your mouth. Writer's artificial intelligence highlights questionable language and offers more acceptable phrasing. It basically saves you from yourself. And, it protects companies in a cancel culture.

What kinds of words?

Elderly, addict and master bedroom are all controversial words. What's wrong with them and what should you say instead?

On this Dying to Ask:

How May started Writer
How artificial intelligence catches controversial words and phrases and why companies are relying on this kind of protection more and more
Why you should be open to updating the words you use
And May and Fitz bond over the ridiculous fun they had working on college newspapers

If you don't laugh, you'll cry. How many times have you said that in 2020?

Comedian Kerri Pomarolli is known as "Hollywood's favorite good girl." She's a devout Christian and known as a clean comedian. Translation: She doesn't swear in her act and you can play her stuff with your kids in the room.

Kerri earns a living acting, doing standup and giving motivational keynote addresses for Fortune 500 companies.

That all came to an immediate halt in March with the pandemic.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why a sense of humor is as important as a mask in dealing with the pandemic
How Kerri has pivoted a career in comedy while working in her living room
And how she got a gig writing Hallmark movies

Grit: defined as courage and resolve.

That definition should have a picture of Nancy Grace next to it. She is a legal commentator, former prosecutor and TV icon.

She was the biggest name on HLN for 12 years. Some 4.5 million people watched her coverage of the Casey Anthony trial in 2011. And, she's been parodied on "Saturday Night Live." You know you've made it when that happens.

Her interest in the law and obsession with justice started after her fiance Keith was murdered. Since that time, she's dedicated her life to being a voice for crime victims and their families.

Her latest TV venture is "Bloodline Detectives." It shows how modern forensic technology is cracking cold cases.

Nancy's latest book is "Don't Be a Victim: Fighting Back Against America's Crime Wave."

And, like the rest of us, she's spending most of the year in quarantine dealing with kids, nonstop cooking and laundry that never ends.

Through it all, she's managed to grow her grit and maintain her trademark energy and passion.

Guest host Teo Torres and I were dying to ask: "How do you grow grit in a year like 2020?"

How's your creativity these days? A lot of us are finding it tough to focus and tap into the creative parts of our brain.

2020 is a creativity killer for a lot of us. But, it doesn't have to be that way.

Author KJ Dell'Antonia is having one of her best years yet as a writer despite the pandemic.

KJ is a host of the popular writing podcast, #AmWriting, and is the former editor of The New York Times' Motherlode blog. Her parenting book "How to be a Happier Parent" is a staple for new parents.

Her fiction debut, "The Chicken Sisters," landed in bookstores this week. And Reese Witherspoon just named it her December book club pick. Witherspoon's literary blessing is like gold in the book world.

How does KJ spark her own creativity each day? She sets a timer. Yes, a timer.

On this Dying to Ask:

How to use KJ's timer method to spark your own creativity for a big project
Learn other techniques to eliminate distraction and give your brain the freedom to create
And what it's like to try to get a book noticed in the world when you can't travel and do book signings

How's your motivation these days?

What if I told you there are four words that can make an instant difference in how you see your personal and professional challenges?

They're four words Olympian Kendall Wesenberg uses in training and competing as a skeleton athlete. And she was relying on the technique when she joined us while quarantining at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York.

But you don't have to be an Olympic athlete to use this mental hack.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Kendall figured out her "what's next" during a pandemic
How the four words, "control what you can," can instantly change your outlook and lower your stress
What it's like quarantining at the Olympic Training Center
And how Kendall made the decision to come out as a bisexual athlete

What's your personal brand? A personal brand is the modern-day equivalent to a calling card or an elevator pitch. And, if you can't answer the question in a few words, you're selling yourself and your professional and personal possibilities short.

Vince Thompson is the CEO of MELT, a sports marketing company. MELT is one of the largest independent sports and marketing agencies in the country.

Vince has represented companies like Coca-Cola for the last 20 years. And, he's guided companies through sponsorships at events like ESPN College GameDay, The Final Four and the Summer Olympics.

Vince's new book is called "Build Brand You."

On this "Dying to Ask":

Why Vince says developing a personal brand is a requirement to get ahead.
How to develop your personal brand and then put it out in the world.
And how Vince is keeping his creative streak fueled by giving back to others in the pandemic.

Season 6 of the "Dying to Ask" podcast is all about how to live a bigger and better life despite the challenges of 2020.

Struggling to be creative? Lost your motivation? Need to reinvent yourself personally or professionally?

These are conversations that will inspire, motivate and entertain while teaching life hacks and skills to make listeners feel some solidarity in the weird times we're living in.

In this episode, Fitz talks about how she's hacking her way through distance learning and remote work and previews some upcoming guests on the "Dying to Ask" podcast.

Did you do the quarantine clean? Millions of Americans got obsessed with organizing when quarantine started.

Flash forward five months and we're embarking on a whole new organizational challenge. How do you turn your home into a functioning classroom for kids doing distance learning?

Professional organizer Kim Salisbury of Home Method Co. is back on the podcast this week with some tough talk for families trying to balance school and work at the kitchen table. We'll break down the science behind a clutter-free environment and mental health and find out why your kid's academic success may depend on it.

On this Dying to Ask:

Learn what "negative space" is and why achieving it in your home can have powerful results.
The weird organizational trend Kim has seen change every month of the pandemic.
And why Kim's answer to the question, "How are you doing?" created a moment on the podcast I didn't know was coming.

What's more important? Being really smart or being really hard working? Shaan Patel will likely say the latter.

One test changed Shaan's life. That test was the SAT and he got a perfect score. Shaan is in the .02% of people who've gotten a perfect score on the test.

How'd he do it? He cracked the code. Is he a genius? Shaan says no. He's just a guy who likes to figure things out, and that drive has propelled him as an entrepreneur who caught the attention of Mark Cuban on "Shark Tank" after he created "Prep Expert," a test prep program to help other kids crack the SAT too. Years later, Shaan is now a dermatologist and "Prep Expert" is his side hustle.

Shaan's secret? He works hard and he's endlessly curious. Those skills are crucial to keeping your sanity and your business going in a pandemic.

Oh, and he's hilarious.

On this Dying to Ask:

How a kid who grew up in a Las Vegas motel figured out the secrets of the SAT.
The doors that instantly opened up once Shaan got a perfect score and that continue to open years later.
What it's like to have Mark Cuban on speed dial since the two went into business together thanks to "Shark Tank."
And, Shaan's advice on how to keep your sanity and your creativity during the pandemic.

I've had this week circled on the calendar for the last year. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics should be starting this week. Instead, athletes and the rest of us are dealing with a pandemic, the repercussions of which we won't fully grasp for a long time.

But, in the "now," Olympic hopefuls are reflecting on what would have been if COVID-19 hadn't proven to be such a fierce competitor.

This week, I'm catching up with two-time U.S. Olympic distance runner Kim Conley. Kim is a middle- and long-distance runner who represented her country at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. She was primed to make her third Olympic Team when coronavirus derailed this summer's Games.

Hear more about Kim's background in episode 34 of the podcast.

On this Dying to Ask:

What Kim has been doing since the announcement was made to postpone the Olympics to 2021
Why Kim is luckier than most Olympic hopefuls in terms of sponsorships and training opportunity
What Kim discovered about motivation when every single race on her calendar was canceled
And why we all need to "think like an Olympian" when it comes to living through the pandemic

"So what will it be like going back to television as a senior citizen?"

That's the question a reporter asked TV news legend (and KCRA alum) Joan Lunden that launched her latest book.

The book is called "Why Did I Come Into This Room: A Candid Conversation about Aging." It's a frank and funny look at what it means to grow older as a woman.

And it's told with the candor audiences expect from Joan, who spent nearly 20 years hosting "Good Morning America."

Joan got her start in her hometown of Sacramento. Those roots shaped who she is today and the life wisdom she gained living in the public eye that she shares with fans, no matter their age.

Joan is 69 and a mother of seven. Her oldest just turned 40. And she and her husband are raising two sets of teenage twins!

Get ready to laugh and take notes. Joan is HILARIOUS and, clearly, no topic was off limits.

On this Dying to Ask:

We fire up the time machine and go back to Joan's start as the noon news anchor at KCRA. Find out how asking one simple question got her the gig.
Why Joan says the age you FEEL is more important than the age you ARE. And the science backs her up on that.
The odd connection between the aging process and life in quarantine.

You likely don't know her by name. But her footprint is all over Olympic Track & Field.

Jacqueline Hansen is a pioneer in the field of Olympic women’s distance running. She set two marathon records. She won the Boston Marathon in 1973. And she was the president of the International Runners Committee. It was in that position that Jacqueline led the legal fight for women to compete in events like the marathon at the Olympics.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why women had to fight to run
How long and what it took to get the women’s marathon, 10,000m and 5,000m events recognized as Olympic events
How Jacqueline feels about the fact that she never got to compete as an Olympian despite leading the fight for women to run
And get ready for some epic stories from a woman as good at storytelling as she was at running

What's your superpower?

Adrienne Bankert's superpower is kindness. She says it fuels everything in her life from personal relationships to her rise as a network news correspondent. Adrienne, or AB as I call her, is also a former colleague, a good friend and someone I've watched grow with kindness for the last 15 years.

Her new book is called "Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone" and its message couldn't be more timely.

On this Dying to Ask:

How a reputation for being kind led to Adrienne's big break in network TV
The difference between nice and kind and why your goal should be kindness
Why you should schedule kindness into your calendar
And Fitz and AB remember some crazy times on the KCRA news set and reflect on the role mentors have played in both their lives

Nothing has changed modern manners quicker than coronavirus.

Pre-COVID-19, mastering modern etiquette could help you advance in your career. Post-coronavirus, mastering the nuances of interacting with your colleagues (especially on Zoom) and being a team player might save your job.

Diane Gottsman is a modern etiquette expert who runs the Protocol School of Texas. She helps employers and employees navigate productivity with elegance. And, let's be honest, Zoom calls aren't exactly elegant.

On this Dying to Ask:

The link between etiquette and job security.
The mistake you're probably making on Zoom calls.
What to do if you had a wedding or other big event planned this summer.

Sometimes life is stranger than fiction. That's been the case for all of us since stay-at home-orders went into effect.

Working from home isn't easy. But, one profession seems more suited for it than others: writers. Novelist Sarah Jio has worked from home for years. She's a former freelance journalist who wrote for publications like Glamour magazine until she wrote her first fiction book, "The Violets of March."

That was nearly 10 years ago and Sarah hasn't stopped writing since. However, she's now finishing her latest novel while being surrounded virtually 24/7 with a family that includes a husband, three sons, three stepkids and a brand new puppy! #whatcouldgowrong

In this Dying to Ask:

The unusual challenges stay-at-home orders present for writers who crave solitude to be creative
The impact COVID-19 is having on authors with summer release dates
Why olive oil is THE BEST
And Fitz and Sarah share what they're reading these days

Lisa Leonard is the name behind the brand. Lisa Leonard Designs is a multimillion-dollar company specializing in handstamped jewelry.

Leonard, a former teacher, turned the company from a hobby in her house to a brand featured all over Instagram and in national magazines, including "Martha Stewart Weddings."

She's also a best-selling author. Her latest book, "Be You: 20 Ways to Embrace Who You Really Are" explores the personal growth Leonard went through after experiencing a crisis in her marriage and her belief that women can control their emotional and fiscal destinies by changing simple things in their daily lives.

On this Dying to Ask:

How a woman with no business experience created a multimillion-dollar brand.
How Leonard brainstorms the clever sayings and words that make it into her handstamped jewelry line.
And Fitz and Leonard discuss the way COVID-19 has impacted what it means to be a mother.

It's been a longtime dream for working parents consumed with guilt for not spending enough time with their kids. "I wish I could spend more time at home." Well, the pandemic has created a lot of forced together time for families. Shocker, it's not exactly what we thought it would be!

A lot of families are fighting friction as we fight coronavirus. And, if you have teenagers stuck at home, it's likely even more challenging.

Parenting expert Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the author of "The Good News about Bad Behavior." Katherine has some great advice on how to handle conflict the stay-at-home order is creating between parents and kids. And, she explains the silver lining she's found in her own family as she holds down the fort while her husband, a physician, works the front line in another state.

How's homeschooling going for you? It's a position many parents never would have seen themselves in, but coronavirus has thrown everything in life into flux, including education.

Millions of American kids are home from school with no guarantee they'll return to classrooms before the end of the school year.

The only families that aren't hugely impacted by stay-at-home orders? Those who homeschooled before the outbreak started.

Matt Beaudreau is our guest on today's podcast. He runs Acton Academy Placer. The academy is a resource for homeschool families where kids meet to collaborate on projects and activities.

His TED Talk on why traditional American education needs a radical change has tens of thousands of views and launched a successful side career in professional speaking.

He's spoken before Fortune 500 companies on why America needs to educate kids differently to raise individuals better prepared to handle the modern workforce.

Well, here we are. Stuck at home, and a lot of us are turning to homeschooling experts like Matt to lead the way.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why Matt says the first things parents need to do is not panic
Why your kid should lead the way in education while they're home
Where to find free online resources to keep academics moving forward
The silver lining in this unscheduled timeout in American life

Matt's suggested online resources:

Courage To Grow: Free on Amazon for the time being, but about the best book you'll find for a time like this. (Audible is 99 cents right now, too).
Khan Academy
YouTube: Yup, there are actually a ton of amazing resources to learn about absolutely anything on YouTube. The key is intentionality around what you are using it for.
Stossel in the Classroom: Good conversations about important topics have never been more timely. Likely for kids with a little more maturity behind them, but so relevant.
It's a tie between Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, Udacity and Lynda, which have a ton of free content.

Feeling the urge to purge?

You're not alone. Professional organizer Kim Salisbury says she's getting hundreds of messages from people wanting organization advice during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Kim says we're drawn to decluttering because it gives us a sense of control in a time when we don't feel like we have much control over everything.

Plus, we're at home 24/7! So, those piles of junk are really getting on our nerves.

In this Dying to Ask:

How organizing your personal space can change your outlook during the coronavirus crisis.
Simple ways to clear the clutter and free your mind.
And, what it's like to be a professional organizer for the stars, including celebrity chef Cat Cora.

Gyms closing was a real breaking point for a lot of us who rely on boot camps and strength workouts to manage stress and our health.

What's a gym rat to do? Get online. Personal trainers are flooding Instagram with doable home workouts using "equipment" you'll find around your house.

Personal trainer Ty Rendlich-Texidor has converted 100% of her clients to online training in just a week. And, it's working.

On this Dying to Ask:

How to break a sweat while working out at home
The impact exercise will have on your mental health during the stay-at-home order
And Coach Ty gives us all a pep talk on why exercise is more about sanity than vanity these days

Think it's tough having little kids at home during the coronavirus outbreak? Try having college students back unexpectedly. It's a huge transition for students and parents.

Kellie Randle is an expert in navigating parenting college kids. Her popular Instagram page, Empty Nest Mom Life, offers tips for parents whose kids have left the nest.

Now, however, those kids are returning to the nest in a time that's overwhelming, scary and downright maddening for families making a huge adjustment to daily life.

On this Dying to Ask:

How Kellie rapidly adjusted to having three adult children return to her downsized home
Why empathy may be your best tool in the days following their return home
How she set up "spaces" around the house so that she, her kids and her husband can work and study
And, she encourages us to look for the silver lining in forced together time

Kids home + canceled youth sports = nightmare.

Our kids have gone from being scheduled to the minute to having hours with nothing to do. The loss of afternoon sports is huge for kids. Sports burn energy and provide kids with a sense of identity and social interaction.

My colleague, Mike TeSelle, is my guest on this episode. Mike is a dad of two teenage kids who are obsessed with soccer. Mike has been a coach. You've maybe seen him on the sidelines as a ref. And, most recently, he's joined the Positive Coaching Alliance as a board member.

His insight into understanding the loss your kids are feeling from the lack of sports is profound. His advice might help you smooth the transition for your kids while they're home during the coronavirus threat.

How are you sleeping right now? Yeah, me too. We are all living under extraordinary stress because of the impact of COVID-19 on every part of our lives. Dr. Jenni Pottebaum says our greatest weapon in fighting coronavirus, next to social distancing, could be sleep.

Dr Jenni has a bachelor’s in psychology and a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She’s also certified in personal training, health coaching and fitness and sports nutrition. As a former pro athlete, she believes strongly in taking care of mind and body through sleep.

But, let’s be honest. That’s easier said than done these days.

On this Dying to Ask:

The science behind how sleep restores mind and body
How to offset your stress through breathing and exercise
Why we all need to get fresh air, even in the age of social distancing
And, how to get a good night’s sleep when the world feels so overwhelming

The interesting thing about the spread of coronavirus is that scientists can see it coming to an area. We all saw it in Wuhan. Then Italy. Now, Germany is in the middle of its crisis.

And, that means one of my oldest friends is in the thick of it. Brent Goff is the chief anchor of “The Day” on Deutsche Welle News, based in Berlin, Germany. He’s a long way from his roots having grown up in rural North Carolina. Brent and I met at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and were next-door neighbors, too.

Twenty years later, we’re still tight. He joins me in this episode for a frank conversation about what it’s like living and working in Europe right now. German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently predicted seven out of 10 Germans would be infected with COVID-19.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why Americans need to pay close attention to what’s happening in Europe
Why German culture may be a secret weapon against coronavirus
And, you know, a college buddy is going to throw me under the bus, and Brent goes there -- big time.

This episode is for anyone who has ever said: “I wish I could work from home.” Or, “if I just had a week at home where I never left the house.”

Well, here we are. Millions of Americans have been ordered to work remotely at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak. On the one hand, it’s great if you have kids who’ve been sent home from school. On the other hand, if you’ve never worked from home, it can feel a little overwhelming.

My sister, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, is back with tips on how to work at home successfully. Siobhan is a lawyer and mom of four girls, which led to her being known at The Law Mother. She’s done legal work from home for the last 10 years. And, she writes the popular mom blog, The Law Mom.

You may have heard her recent episode about her viral article about why most of our stuff is worthless and why we should get rid of everything. Well, hopefully, you didn’t take your old desk to Goodwill, because you may need it to set up a home office.

From how to structure your day to why it’s worth getting dressed and doing your hair, learn tricks to stay productive while you’re out of the office. And, find out how to communicate effectively with your boss while you’re not seeing each other on a daily basis. Don’t have a job that translates easily to working remotely? She even has some tips on that.

Will the 2020 Summer Olympics happen given the COVID-19 pandemic? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. However, we do know the impact the coronavirus threat is having on Olympic hopefuls around the world and especially those hoping to qualify for Team USA.

Gabe Gardner is a 2008 gold medalist in volleyball. His wife, Lauren Gardner, won bronze in synchronized swimming at the 2004 Games in Athens. The Gardners are still highly involved with their sports, offering mentoring to Olympic hopefuls.

In this "Dying to Ask," the Gardners explain how devastating the virus threat, self-quarantines and anxiety are to athletes who find their entire careers in a holding pattern. We talk about what athletes typically would be doing at this point in the Olympic qualification cycle. And, I ask them to place a bet on whether the International Olympic Committee will pull the plug on staging an Olympics this summer. Let’s just say the Gardners don’t agree on everything.

Oh, and Gabe issues an Olympic challenge to me and Domi, and I’m 100% in.

What has happened? A few months ago, we were ringing in 2020 with chants of the “roaring '20s” heading our way.

Three months later, the world is on a lockdown of sorts and social distancing is a thing. I know we were supposed to be kicking off our ALL OLYMPIC season, but, seriously, what I need now is answers. How do I work from home? What am I supposed to do with my kids now that schools are closed? How can I work out without leaving my house? And, what do I do if I catch this darn virus?

We’re going to use the "Dying to Ask" podcast as a way to hack through life during this, say it with me, unsettling time.

Have an idea for an episode? Email me at dfitzpatrick@hearst.com.

Message me on social media: Instagram: @runreadsip Facebook: @kcradeirdre

Could you give up sugar for a solid year? This week's guest did just that for a magazine assignment, and the changes in his weight, mental health and virtually every other aspect of his life are staggering.

Michael Mackie is a writer for In Kansas City Magazine. He's also a longtime friend and former colleague. Michael and I met more than 20 years ago working at KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa.

I never in a million years thought Michael would survive going sugar-free for a year. Two reasons. One, he has an addictive personality and sugar was one of his biggest vices. And two, sugar is in EVERYTHING!

UC San Francisco researchers just released the bitter results of a study about sweets. The average American consumes an average of 17 teaspoons of sugar a day. The recommendation? No more than 6 added teaspoons for women and 9 for men.

One year after going sugar-free, Michael is down 50 pounds and says he'll never go back to his mindless sugary ways.

On this Dying to Ask:

The near immediate physical changes in his skin, hair and even libido Michael noticed when he eliminated sugar from his diet
The foods and drinks that contain the most hidden sugars. Love Starbucks drinks? You might not after listening to this episode!
And find out what happened when Michael went on a two-week sugar binge after he completed his year-long experiment for the magazine. It got ugly.

What's that saying? You are what you eat? More like you are what you THINK you're eating.

Get ready for a food reality check with Dr. Jonny Bowden. He's known as the "nutrition myth buster," and he's going to change how you look at food in 2020.

Dr. Jonny is a nationally known nutrition expert and psychologist. He's written 15 books and has appeared in publications such as "O, The Oprah Magazine" and "GQ."

But he wasn't always so healthy and he wasn't always a doctor. His career started on the road as a musician where he lived what he describes as, "100% the rock 'n' roll lifestyle." That life was great until it wasn't. And that's when Dr. Jonny discovered that working out and eating well have their merits. He's been singing that song to anyone who will listen ever since.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why if your 2020 resolution was to cut out (fill in the blank food,) you've probably failed already
The good and the bad of popular lifestyles like Keto and plant-based eating
Three foods you should stop eating now and what SHOULD be in your fridge
And, what is the nutrition myth buster's guilty pleasure?

Want to make more money? Want to be better liked? Want to climb the corporate ladder? Of course, you do, and that's why you must master modern etiquette.

Diane Gottsman is the founder of The Protocol School of Texas. Her insight into how our social interactions affect our professional and personal lives has made her a national expert in her field. She makes frequent appearances on the "Today" show and has written articles for publications like Forbes and The Wall Street Journal.

Modern manners go beyond saying "please" and "thank you." Knowing how to navigate negative people and decline invitations that don't interest you is an art. Diane walks us through some everyday situations that can get complicated quickly.

On this Dying to Ask:

Why we all need to take a hard look at how we conduct ourselves with our friends, family and work colleagues
Why etiquette is about building relationships, not sticking your finger out when drinking tea
How Diane became a national expert in modern manners and etiquette

Write a thank-you card. Change a life. Seriously, it's that easy.

New research has proved that sending someone a thank-you note generates an ecstatic response in the recipient. Did you catch that? Ecstatic! It gets better. Writing the note creates a positive response in the sender, too.

On this Dying to Ask:

I chat with KCRA 3's Edie Lambert, a fellow devotee of the thank-you card, about why we're addicted to putting a stamp on saying thank you.
We pay homage to Princess Diana, one of the most prolific thank-you card writers in history.
We break down how two psychologists studied the "thank-you card effect" and why even the psychologists were floored by what they found.
We share when we send expressions of gratitude and how we make it easy to pull off, even for our kids.
And, we invite you to join our "thank you card challenge" in 2020.

Most of what you own is worthless. I'm not being judgmental. It's a fact.

A recent viral article with the headline "Most of What You Own is Worthless: 3 Things You Should Be Doing to Reduce What You Own" explains why a lot of what we hold dear isn't worth the box you're storing it in.

The author of that article? My sister, Siobhan Fitzpatrick Kratovil.

Siobhan is a lawyer and mom of four who writes a legal blog called "The Law Mother."

She wrote this article after she and her husband had to clear her late mother-in-law's home to sell it. The experience radically changed how she looks at all the stuff in her own home. As a mom of four girls, she's got a lot of stuff -- most of it pink. As a lawyer who does a lot of estate planning, she's now advocating for families to look at what they really leave behind when they die.

On this Dying to Ask:

How little (financially) your family heirlooms are worth
Why things like china and so-called brown furniture aren't worth much at estate sales
How to be VICIOUSLY THOUGHTFUL about what things you allow into your house. Wait until you hear how she handles kids' artwork!
And I give my younger sister one shot to publicly hold me accountable for one transgression from our youth. You won't believe what she's been hanging onto for decades. #getoverit

It's a good thing Jeff Rossen and I don't share an office. I'd probably talk his ear off all day long. Jeff is the newly named chief national consumer correspondent for Hearst Television.

He joined Hearst after a decade at NBC News and "The Today Show," where his franchise, "Rossen Reports," exposed scams, tested products and cost big companies big money when it turned out they weren't delivering on their promises.

He's as impossible to ignore in real life as he is on TV. It's an energy that fuels his creative side that even he admits can be exhausting to be around! (I might relate to that.)

On this Dying to Ask:

How Jeff knew it was the right time to make the leap from NBC to Hearst Television and his advice to anyone thinking about pivoting from an established career
The role a chimpanzee played in his rise to getting noticed at a network and, ultimately, created his niche as a consumer reporter and his award-winning franchise, "Rossen Reports"
What Jeff does in his free time that he says creates the only space in his life where he's not thinking about work
And proof Hearst's new chief national consumer correspondent might have a solid second career as a relationship expert!

2020 is the year of self-care for a lot of people. There's no quicker way to calm your mind than by shutting off your phone (after you listen to this podcast, of course) and picking up a book.

But, a lot of us struggle to find time to read. How many times have you said, "I don't have time to read"? Are we really that busy? Or, is it just easier to zone out on Netflix and social media?

This episode of our "Dying To" series on "Dying to Ask" will help anyone dying to read more by outlining three simple ways to fit more reading into your life.

Leslie Guillon is my guest this week. She's one of my closest friends, and last year, she set a goal of reading 12 books in 2019.

Leslie is a single mom of two, an attorney, an ultra runner and the epitome of busy. But she realized she was cheating herself with her choices of how to spend free time. She just finished her "12 book challenge" and she's sharing the three things she changed in her life to pull off the goal.

And, she's getting real about what she noticed in her mental health and overall happiness. Is reading a book the quickest road to self-care? Read between the lines and you'll find out the answer is yes!

Did you know you are 42% more likely to follow through with a goal or resolution if you write it down?

Seriously, just writing a goal down is that powerful.

That's not surprising to Tim Collom. He's been writing 100 goals a year down on paper for the last 25 years. It started as a high school assignment, but it's transformed into a life-changing affirmation of where he's been and where he's going.

Tim credits his financial success in business, his creative success in art and his personal happiness to the fact that he writes down those goals.

Read anything good lately?

Your answer will be a resounding 'YAAASS' after you listen to our annual guide to holiday reading.

Our favorite bibliophile, Tina Ferguson, is back with her picks for both adults and kids to read or gift over the holidays.

On this "Dying To Ask," witness Tina's big confession regarding "50 Shades of Grey," find out why you can expect to see more romance on your nightstand in 2020 and I commit to reading Tina's pick about the zombie apocalypse -- which is surely a sign of the zombie apocalypse.

Show me the money. If getting control of your finances is one of your 2020 goals, you're not alone.

My guest is financial expert Farnoosh Torabi. Farnoosh is the host of the top-rated podcast, "So Money" and the author of books including her latest, "When She Makes More." She's a financial contributor for O, The Oprah Magazine and a frequent guest on the Today Show.

On this Dying to Ask:

How to set and achieve big money goals in 2020 whether it's paying down debt or buying your first house.
We go into surprising news about millennial spending habits and what they think of homeownership.
And we talk about the major podcasting milestone Farnoosh is reaching with "So Money's" 1,000th episode.

It's not me. It's you. Ever felt like saying that to your phone?

Smart phone fatigue is a real deal but we're finding it harder and harder to separate from devices that connect us to everyone and everything.

Tech Expert Jennifer Jolly is back with a renewed warning about how our digital dependence is affecting our mental health and human interactions.

Learn tips to disconnect -- after you listen to this podcast of course!

You may not know Lindsay Crouse by name. But, you've likely seen her work scrolling your social media feeds.

Lindsay is a journalist for The New York Times whose specialty is producing video op-eds and op-docs. Her most recent work has 7 million views and counting. It's headline: "I was the fastest girl in the world, until I joined Nike."

It features Mary Cain, a former child running prodigy who used her video to tell a story of physical and mental abuse by the famed Nike Coach Alberto Salazar. Cain's raw account of her time training with the Nike Oregon Project included public weight shaming and encouragement to diet to the point of losing her period and broken bones due to bone deterioration.

Salazar is currently facing a four-year ban on doping. Nike has, at the time this episode published, supported him. So have some of his top athletes. But other Salazar athletes, including Olympians Kara Goucher and Amy Yoder-Begley, have backed Cain's claims of abuse under Salazar's leadership and Nike's oversight.

On this Dying to Ask, how Crouse created her unusual niche and pioneered a new way of storytelling at the New York Times. We break down how she puts op-docs and op-eds together. And, we explore the impact those those viral videos are having on the national conversation of what it means to win at all costs.

This episode starts with some big numbers and some big news about Season 4 of the podcast. And then, enjoy a replay of one of our favorite episodes from Season 3.

Darnell Abraham grew up in Bakersfield knowing he loved entertaining people. He found his voice, quite literally, in college. And, what a voice. He made a HUGE impression on a guy he met at choir camp. That guy? PRODUCER GEOFF!!! You couldn't make this one up.

Now Darnell is starring as George Washington in "Hamilton" at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco after appearing with Hamilton's creator, Lin Manuel Miranda, in "Hamilton" in Puerto Rico.On this Dying To Ask:-How Darnell Abraham made it to the biggest stage show of our time, only 5 years after his first audition.

What's your passion?

Reporter Mike Luery has two of them. One is baseball. The other is journalism.

Mike is an award-winning reporter with decades of experience. His investigative work has exposed abuses in California's funeral industry, puppy prisons and the Ku Klux Klan in Florida.

Mike is just as fierce in his baseball knowledge. He's the author of the book, "Baseball Between Us," a memoir of the years he spent visiting every single ballpark in the country with his son. Bottom line, Mike is ALWAYS the guy you want to sit next to at a dinner party because his stories will entertain you for hours.

On this Dying to Ask, we're talking about identifying and following a passion with one of the most passionate people I've ever worked with in a newsroom.

Mike tells some epic tales of chasing down bad guys and some poignant ones about the life lessons he learned over 16 years and 43,000 miles visiting 32 ballparks.

Don't miss Mike's warning for those who turn their back on their true passions, as he did when he left journalism for a job in PR...briefly. And, find out why no license plate is safe in his presence.

"You're allowed to have more than one dream."

That's my takeaway from this conversation with Martellus Bennett. The fact that he played in the NFL and won a Super Bowl is only a fraction of what makes Martellus interesting.

After this episode, I hope you find football the least interesting thing about him. Martellus Bennett is an entrepreneur, a children's book author and most importantly, a man who never stops creating.

That said, he hasn't exactly left the world of football. He's back as Professor Bennett in the hilarious Dos Equis "College Football Football College" online videos. Pass his class and you might win a chance to go to the College Football National Championship.

On this Dying to Ask: What Martellus does every day to make new dreams a reality. How he pursues new goals despite not having a mentor. And, why I could have used Professor Bennett's "lectures" as a 16-year-old drill team member in Fort Worth, Texas.

What happens when TV cameras go away? What happens when something like a massive wildfire is put out and a community's recovery begins? That's what KCRA reporter Vicki Gonzalez set out to discover when she followed four families for an entire year who'd lost everything in the Camp Fire.

The Camp Fire is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. It broke out on Nov. 8, 2018, virtually wiping out the town of Paradise. 85 people died. 19,000 homes and businesses were destroyed. Survivors told stories that sounded like they were straight out of an action movie. But, there were also remarkable stories of everyday people who found themselves doing extraordinary things to save themselves and others.

On this Dying to Ask: I sit down with two of my colleagues whose work led our Camp Fire coverage.

First, Brian Hickey and I relive where we were when the first scanner traffic about the fire started. I will never forget Brian's face as he comprehended the magnitude of what first responders were reporting.

And then, Vicki Gonzalez tells us the backstory of her one-hour documentary "Return to Paradise." Find out how she chose the four families she followed for a solid year and the affect this project has had on her personally. It's an exceptional look at the devastation and inspiration you'll find in Paradise.

"You don't understand my generation."

Every kid has told their parents that. The thing is it's actually true for today's kids. Katherine Reynolds Lewis is a parenting expert and the author of "The Good News about Bad Behavior."

She graduated from Harvard with a physics degree which may prove that parenting is indeed rocket science!

On this Dying to Ask, Katherine explains why American kids suffer from an inability to self-regulate. She'll sell you (with scientific evidence) on why we all need to understand the unique challenges they face that make them a generation unlike any other. And, she'll lay out a parenting strategy to lessen yelling, nagging and arguing in the family.

Looking for a new TV show to binge? Ask Jessica Mathies.

She likely watches more TV than anyone you know. But as an executive producer, it's her job to figure out what people are watching and, more importantly, WHY they're watching it.

Uncovering what drives us to keep up with Kardashians or revel in not-so-real housewives is as maddening as it is entertaining.

Jessica's work in non-scripted or reality TV is extensive. She held the title of human canvas producer on "Ink Master" and was responsible for convincing people to tattoo their eyelids. She worked on HGTV's "Sleep on It," where homebuyers spent the night in a prospective home before making an offer.

Her latest creation is Hearst Television's "Word of Mouth," a show that asks local people for recommendations on everything from food to culture.

On this Dying to Ask: we find out how reality TV is really made. (Heads up: It's a little like finding out how sausage is made.) Jessica explains why we can't get enough Chip and Joanna Gaines on "Fixer Upper," and tells some epic stories from her time as a human canvas producer.

And, we find out what happened when she took "Word of Mouth" to the streets of Sacramento.

"I've been thinking about starting a podcast." I get a lot of DMs, emails and calls that start with that sentence. My response is usually "are you sure about that? Let me tell you a few things."

We'll start with the positive. Apple recently revealed its 2019 podcast stats. Apple podcasts feature more than 700,000 active podcasts and 29 million podcasts! Compare that to 2018 when there were 550,000 shows and 18.5 million episodes. That's some major growth and there's a lot of money to be made. It's no wonder so many people want to start a show. But, here's what you don't know about podcasting. The talking part is easy and fun. The rest of it is work!

On this Dying to Ask, Geoff and I are going to do our best to talk you out of starting a podcast. It's not that we fear the competition. We just want to spare you the pain! We'll teach you how to come up with a concept for a show, how to figure out if you should have a co-host, and even what it takes to record audio. Find out the one thing about podcasting that both Geoff and I hate. And then, Producer Geoff will drop a bombshell. Seriously, never saw it coming.

This episode is straight out of the "why didn't I think of that" file. 5 years ago, Mitch Gardner was a college kid staring at his phone too much. Now, he's a tech entrepreneur whose app to get people off their phones has millions of users. How did he do it? Two words: free stuff. The Pocket Points app rewards users with discounts on everything from pizza to Vans shoes for staying off their phone. And, it's becoming a big deal on high school campuses where teachers are crediting the app for longer attention spans and increased learning. On this Dying to Ask, how two college guys came up with the next big thing at, wait for it, a bar. The extremely well known app their biggest investor passed on before sinking serious cash into Pocket Points. And, think you have the next thing big thing? How to make an app a reality.

WHERE TO FOLLOW:

https://pocketpoints.com/

Instagram: @pocketpoints

@mitchgardner5

(REPLAY)

In this week's replay, we're catching up on our guest from episode 22 -- Tim Collom.

We had Tim on to talk about what it takes to market a product by marketing yourself. He's the ultimate right brain, left brain guy.

Tim is as successful a real estate agent as he is an artist. When we first talked with him, he'd just wrapped a viral online art project that raised 150-thousand dollars for fire victims.

Flash forward and he's just crossed something else off his bucket list: he's produced an art coffee table book and it's gorgeous.

On this Dying to Ask: learn the art of the hussle from a guy creating (and marketing) his projects by marketing himself.

Check out Tim's book:

https://www.timcollomgallery.com/product-page/tim-collom-california-painter-a-retrospective?fbclid=IwAR1rcygvemi7-Fr7lrAlVLsuEIbdRJnRtD_fQ5ffl8K_VSi8brkPZcZKG4s

Follow Tim Collom:

https://www.timcollomgallery.com

Instagram:

@TimCollom

@TimCollomGallery

facebook:

@tim.collom