Free Thinking with Montel

In this gripping episode of Free Thinking with Montel, we’re joined by the awe-inspiring Barbara Feigin, whose life story captures the essence of perseverance and the pursuit of the American Dream. Born amidst the terrors of Nazi Germany, Barbara’s early experiences laid the foundation for a life of trailblazing success and profound personal reflections.

Today, she shares her poignant narrative from her memoir, "My American Dream: A...

In this invigorating episode of Let's Be Blunt with Montel, we're joined by none other than the trailblazing Dr. Amy Shah, a Cornell-educated, Top Doctor-awarded bestselling author. With her book, “I’m So Effing Tired,” Dr. Shah takes us on a journey to conquer burnout and reclaim our energy through cutting-edge nutritional and medical science.

As she shares her personal path from esteemed institutions like Cornell, Harvard, and Col...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel speaks with an animal communicator and healing expert who consults with people, animal rescues, and sanctuaries all over the world on how to save, heal, and treat their own animals. Ellie Laks is the author of My Gentle Barn: Creating a Sanctuary Where Animals Heal and Children Learn to Hope and has appeared on influential media outlets including The Ellen Show, Animal Planet, PBS, The NY Ti...

Montel chats with relationship expert, Dr Jacquie Del Rosario on this episode of Free Thinking. Dr Del Rosario has engineered a host of tools to cultivate the skills for healthy relationships and marriage and is referred as “America's Marriage Coach”. She is an educator, author, advocate and counselor who holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master’s and Doctorate in Education, with an emphasis on conflict resolution and cu...

Montel speaks with General Gregg Martin, author of The Bipolar General, on this episode of Free Thinking. Bipolar disorder is a brutal and destructive disease that indiscriminately affects the lives, health, marriages, families, careers, finances, and friendships of some 5–10 million Americans each year, including veterans and active military service members. Those with bipolar disorder can end up as alcoholics, drug addicts, homel...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel talks with the author of, A Petit Mal: A Mothers Healing Love Song, Ana Maria Caballero. Ana knows there are many parents who struggle daily to protect their children dealing with epilepsy and other illnesses and offers inspiration, knowledge and a protective friend to others on the same path. She is a first generation Columbian-American poet, artist and author who graduated magna cum laude ...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel speaks with author Heather Markham. Heather received a life-changing diagnosis of progressive muscular dystrophy at age 34, and would eventually need a wheelchair. She didn’t let that define her and leaned in hard to an adventurous life despite her diagnosis. She is an engineer, assistive technology professional, an educator, an author, a para-surfer and an award winning photographer. She re...

Montel speaks with Terry Daniels on this episode of Free Thinking about how she discovered the foods she was eating were making her sick. Terry has a masters degree in public health and founded the Food Intolerance Association in 2023. She is the author of the bestselling book, “It’s in the Food”. Her mission is to bring awareness and education to individuals and families affected by food intolerances, to assist in improving overal...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel talks with award winning filmmaker and editor of Project Lives and In A Whole New Way: Undoing Mass Incarceration By A Path Untraveled, Jonathan Fisher. Both projects are participatory photography books and PBS documentaries on the related subject matter. Utilizing artistic means to redefine one’s own image dates back thousands of years. Participatory photography emerged in 1992 when a group...

Montel speaks with Dr Lalith Wijedoru on this episode of Free Thinking. Dr Wijedoru enjoyed a varied career in healthcare as a pediatrician specializing in emergency medicine for nearly twenty years, before ultimately hanging up his stethoscope to pursue a new career as an independent wellbeing consultant. He is the founder of Behind Your Mask, which focuses on emotional wellbeing in the workplace utilizing the power of storytellin...

Montel chats with Brooke Bentley on this episode of Free Thinking about the challenges women face as journalists covering professional sports. Brooke is a former television anchor and award-winning sports reporter. After graduating with a master's in journalism from the University of Southern California, she spent two years working for the Houston Texans as a media personality and over a decade working in sports journalism. Her deb...

Montel speaks with Dr. Jenny Woo on tis episode of Free Thinking. Dr Woo is the Founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion and teaches Emotional Intelligence at the University of California, Irvine. She is the creator of award-winning card games and mental health tools to help children and adults build the essential skills to be compassionate and purposeful humans. Her bestselling games, 52 Essential Relationship Skills and 52 Essential...

On this episode of Free Thinking Montel talks with Murray Hidary who shares his tips for managing stress and the importance of utilizing music in meditation and other stress-reducing activities. Murray is an innovative creator whose impressive career has seen him compose chart-topping hits in the music industry, as well as launch early-stage venture capital firms that have funded an array of projects worldwide. He innovates in the ...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel talks with writer, director and actor Sam Medina about his new film, 22: The Unforgotten Soldier. The film tells the story of two Marines from different generations, after coming home from war, who bond over time to try and survive the statistic of 22 suicides per day. You have probably seen Sam in a blockbuster film or two such as Venom, Alita Battle Angel or Mile 22. He has worked with leg...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel talks with the author of War’s Over, Come Home, Patrick Smithwick. War’s Over, Come Home chronicles his families two-year quest through cities across the country looking for his son, Andrew, a two-tour Marine veteran of the Iraq War, who is running away from war memories, nightmares, hallucinations, and those that love him. His relentless focus on the life of his homeless son is a microcosm ...

Montel talks with author and Wall Street executive, Ed Hajim on this episode of Free Thinking. Ed was catapulted from foster homes, orphanages, and meager beginnings to becoming a mega- successful Wall Street executive. In 2015 he received the Horatio Alger Award, given to Americans who exemplify the values of initiative, leadership, and commitment to excellence and who have succeeded despite personal adversities. He is the author ...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel talks with Brady Busby, a 2024 independent congressional candidate for Arizona. Brady served fourteen years in the US Army, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 2. He spent nine of those years on combat-related deployments in Korea, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. His return home from service came with new battles… multiple surgeries, overmedication and PTSD. He was eventually weaned off of 37 ...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel reconnects with Dave Pelzer to reflect on Dave’s life and talk about his new book, Return to the River.  Dave has walked the red carpet with celebrities and stood shoulder to shoulder with soldiers in Iraq; he’s flown top-secret missions for the U.S. Air Force, and battled wildfires in California as a volunteer fire captain. And now—on the eve of the 50-year anniversary of this rescue from a...

On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel welcomes back his friend Dov Baron to discuss the causes, symptoms and treatment for PTSD. Dov is the bestselling author of One Red Thread and Fiercely Loyal: How High Performing Companies Develop and Retain Top Talent. His Focus on human behavior and neuroscience has made him the leadership authority on emotional source code and the anatomy of meaning. He is the founder & host of the top-ra...