Beautiful Writers Podcast - Maria Shriver & Leeza Gibbons: They've Been Thinking

Maria Shriver & Leeza Gibbons: They've Been Thinking

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02/27/18 • 66 min

Beautiful Writers Podcast

You’ve watched Maria Shriver on TV for decades. Read her many bestsellers. Cheered as she and her family founded and championed some of humanity's greatest causes. Now’s your chance to get to know her more intimately than perhaps ever before. Maria’s here, on for the first day of her new book tour! In this playful, deep interview for I’VE BEEN THINKING: Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life (Pamela Dorman Books/Penguin Random House), Leeza Gibbons and I talk with this New York Times bestselling author of six (surely now seven!) titles.
We muse about family, friendship, parenting, and divorce. On the struggle to believe we’re doing enough; the different ways we three get our writing done; Time Debt and what’s truly important, and the steps we should all be taking to safeguard our precious brains from Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
Guys. This episode is epic for me. It’s hard to put into words what it means to host the show with someone who’s touched my life so beautifully for so long (Leeza). But to then have another idol of mine for nearly twenty years (Maria) as our guest?!—Good God. Life can be so surreal. And, as Maria points out, it can also be incredibly complicated. For everyone. Doesn’t just knowing that make it easier already?
Imagine this. Your uncle promises the country that he’ll land us on the moon—uttering some of the most famous words in the history of our world. Your parents start the Peace Corps, Head Start, Jobs Corps, and the Special Olympics—all organizations still uplifting the masses. How the heck, against this backdrop, do you find your words, your voice? And yet, as you’ll hear, it was Maria’s words, Maria’s voice that truly changed the course of my life and in part gave me the freedom I have now.
I’m extra excited to share this conversation with you—one in which Leeza stumps Maria during our rapid-fire Q & A with the hardest—and I’m guessing funniest—question she’s ever been asked. (Hint: It may have to do with hair and coffee, although not hairy coffee.)
Then, as Maria tells us she’s NEVER before been asked our next question, and I hear these long-time besties laugh—I’m now thinking: How in the world did I get so lucky? Here’s a woman who worked her way up from writer to producer to anchor at both CBS News and NBC News, and traveled the world interviewing presidents, kings, activists, and more—and has been interviewed countless times herself. Did we really just hit the back-to-back question jackpot here? (Smiley.) Surreal indeed.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Welcome!
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Previous Episode

The Late Debbie Ford's New Book (w/ her sister Arielle Ford & my sister Carol Allen)

The late Debbie Ford is here today, via her sister, Arielle Ford! In a kind of tribute to sisters, joining us as my guest co-host is my sister, Carol Allen. The four of us—Debbie, Arielle, Carol, and I—have a long friendship, so I’ve been looking forward to this sweet, informal convo.
We cover so much beyond the book, including Debbie as a spiritual leader and bossy little sister; writing and the wacky world of dealmaking; magical beginnings with Deepak Chopra; muses + guides that wake us up at 3:00 a.m.; the healing power of guttural crying, and soulmate secrets you may never have considered before. And! Wait until you hear how this book—YOUR HOLINESS: Discover the Light Within (that drops March 6th, HarperOne)—came about! This is seriously mystical stuff.
You probably know Debbie as the author of ten books including The Dark Side of the Light Chasers; Spiritual Divorce; Why Good People Do Bad Things, and The Best Year Of Your Life. With a foreword by Marianne Williamson, this prayer and inspiration masterpiece is being called Debbie’s most powerful book.
Arielle, who is giving us her first interview for Your Holiness, is also the author of many bestsellers, including The Soulmate Secret, Wabi Sabi Love, and Turn Your Mate Into Your Soulmate.
As for Carol, I’m as excited to share my kid sis with you as I was when I took her to my kindergarten class for Show & Tell back when we were kids. Carolita helps me make sense of this world more than anyone else and is not only one of the most popular astrologers and love experts in the country but a storytelling force of her own with a massive fan base for her newsy and hilarious writing.
Thank you for spending your time with us as we endeavor to bring down a bit of fairy dust ala Angel Debbie. At a time when so much in our world feels uncertain, and suffering is so prevalent, Debbie’s voice is more essential than ever.
Happy listening. Write on!
Linda
PS. Catch us next month, where my guest is the Architect of Change herself, Maria Shriver, with my beloved Leeza Gibbons as our guest co-host.
PSS. Subscribe here so you'll be the first to know when our new episodes air. For more info, go to www.BeautifulWritersPodcast.com

Next Episode

Geneen Roth & Martha Beck: Messy & Magnificent

Martha Beck guest co-hosts in this radical conversation with legendary author Geneen Roth, which aired on Easter Sunday, 2018. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, imagine this. Chocolate eggs. Jelly Beans. Ham. A little Hawaiian bread with your butter. Or, a LOT of Hawaiian bread with your butter... plus gravy. I mean you’ve tried that, right? Gravybutter? Good God. My point: do you ever wish you could finally attain peace over your weight and what you eat?
This episode won’t be sending the food police to your door—no worries!—but it may bring some much-prayed-for relief. I know it has for me, as you’ll hear. These women—Geneen and Martha—are walking, talking, living proof of the magic of transformation, in a wildly abundant and crazy fun kind of way.
The three of us have what just might be the radical conversation you’ve been wanting. Because let’s face it; everything you thought was going to fix things hasn’t so far. Perfect timing, I figured, for a holiday about mercy and freedom and rising and angels. Ya?
I heard of Geneen’s work years ago, back when book angel Oprah Winfrey shared her awe of this woman’s writing with the world. Geneen was one of the first to link compulsive eating and perpetual dieting with deeply personal and spiritual issues that go far beyond food, weight, and body image. And Lord, can she write. Her words are poetic. Hypnotic. Delicious, all on their own. Food for thought and the soul.
As the author of TEN titles, including the just-released THIS MESSY MAGNIFICENT LIFE (Scribner), and The New York Times bestsellers When Food Is Love; Women Food and God, and Lost and Found (about losing all of her money to Bernie Madoff)—Geneen is PROLIFIC. With lots to say about healthy ways to get our books completed, and how to live peacefully as a writer, teacher, and sane citizen in an insane world.
Bestselling author Martha—who is in her 17th year as an O, The Oprah Magazine columnist (can you imagine making all those deadlines?!)—is pretty smart about that stuff, too. Can I get an Amen?
I know you’re going to love Geneen as much as I do. One of her superpowers, for the past 30+ years, is helping people find freedom at her weight, food, and money retreats and seminars. Rather than pushing away the “crazy” things we do, Geneen’s work proceeds with the conviction that our actions and beliefs make exquisite sense. The way to transform our relationship with food, our body, and so much more, is to be open, curious, and kind with ourselves—instead of punishing, impatient and harsh. Ahhhh. Told ya. Church. Even when you find yourself eye to eye with that chocolate bunny with the big ears. Especially so.
Linda xx
PS. Subscribe here so you'll be the first to know when a new episode airs. For more info, go to www.BeautifulWritersPodcast.com