HIListically Speaking with Hilary Russo

Many women reach midlife and feel a powerful inner urge to reinvent themselves. But how do you choose a new path when your entire life has been shaped by responsibility, relationships, expectations, or even life in the public eye? On this episode of HIListically Speaking, Hilary Russo welcomes author, activist, philanthropist, Deborah Santana.  From growing up as the daughter of a pioneering interracial couple to...

Do you have the right to die? Hilary sits down with Erica Baccus, author of A Promise Kept, to share the intimate and complex story of her husband John's battle with dementia and the decision they made when faced with what she calls the "dementia catch-22."

Together, they explore love, autonomy, caregiving, grief, and the ethical gray areas surrounding end-of-life choices. This is not a conversation abou...

Feeling stuck? You might be closer to flow than you think. In this episode of HIListically Speaking, Hilary sits down with flow and creativity expert Laurie Smith, author of The Flow Habit: Creating Peace, Passion, Purpose, and Everyday Miracles, to explore how everyday moments of joy, curiosity, and presence can become powerful catalysts for transformation. Together, they unpack the truth about flow, not as some...

What happens when a child is handed a trash bag instead of a sense of belonging? And what if that child grows up to change the system that failed him? In this powerful and special Podcasthon episode of HIListically Speaking, host Hilary Russo sits down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, to talk about trauma, resilience, and what it really means to restore dignity to children in foster care. From homelessn...

What if stress isn't the enemy… but the signal? In this episode, host Hilary Russo sits down with Brett Cotter, founder of Stress Is Gone, to explore what it really means to release emotional pain instead of powering through it. We talk about nervous system exhaustion, the layers underneath jealousy and fear, supporting veterans and first responders, and the often-overlooked impact of secondary trauma on helper...

What if the simplest way to shift your life… started with a pen and a blank page? In this expansive and joy-filled conversation, Hilary sits down with internationally respected intuitive, author, and artist Colette Baron-Reid to explore how intentional art can rewire the brain, regulate the nervous system, and open us to synchronicity in ways vision boards alone can't. From celebrating 40 years of sobriety to r...

What happens when you've spent years camouflaging your identity for someone else's career and suddenly it's time to reappear? In this episode of HIListically Speaking, Hilary sits down with Heather Sweeney, author of Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage, for a raw and honest conversation about life after military marriage, divorce, and rediscovering who you really are. Both women are forme...

January has earned a difficult nickname in legal and mental health circles: Divorce Month. But what's really happening when the holidays end, and so many women begin questioning their marriages? In this episode of HIListically Speaking, Hilary Russo is joined by Oona Metz, therapist of 30 years and author of

What if simply *looking* at art could help regulate your nervous system, calm your mind, and restore emotional balance? In this deeply moving episode of HIListically Speaking, host Hilary Russo sits down with LeeAnn Heltzel, multidimensional artist, conscious explorer, and creator of MetaArt; frequency-infused abstract artwork designed as portals for ocular (eyes-open) meditation. They discuss the art form, the benefi...

Meditation is more than just sitting in silence. It offers a powerful means to cultivate peace, unity, and compassion. The world is at a tipping point. So imagine what would happen if we came together on one day for a global pause for peace, presence, and possibility. On this special episode of the HIListically Speaking Podcast, Hilary welcomes Millions Meditating Alliance co-founder Lauren L'Amour to share more about...

Ever wonder why you keep attracting the same kind of relationships that leave you feeling unseen or unsafe? In this episode of HIListically Speaking, licensed psychotherapist and bestselling author Jessica Baum reveals how understanding your attachment style is the key to breaking those old patterns. We talk about her new book SAFE and how to build more secure relationships—starting with yourself. Tune in and le...

Ever felt like life's unexpected turns were trying to tell you something? In this powerful episode of HIListically Speaking, filmmaker-turned-author Kimberly Warner returns to share her deeply personal journey behind her acclaimed memoir, Unfixe...

What happens when your safe place becomes a battlefield for your beliefs, your body and your cultural identity? In this truth-telling episode, author and Stamford University interpersonal dynamics educator Chanchal Gang shares her escape from spiritual and sexual abuse and what she did to reclaim her voice and set boundaries. Chanchal shares how she broke free from cultural and familial expectations and shifted to a l...

It's OK to start over. In fact, it's encouraged. In this empowering episode, Cameo Elyse Braun, entrepreneur, musician, former professional bodybuilder, and author of The Reset Button, shares her remarkable journey of hitting reset on her life. From embracing sobriety to navigating motherhood, therapy, and major life transitions, Cameo reveals how she found balance, authenticity, and the courage to prioritize what tru...

What happens when a life rooted in faith and tradition collides with family scandal? In this powerful episode, renowned author and therapist Rachel Krentzman opens up about her father's arrest, an Orthodox rabbi once respected in the community, and the emotional turmoil that followed. Through her new memoir, As Is, Rachel shares her journey of healing generational trauma with the help of yoga, somatic therapy, an...

What happens when the dream of motherhood doesn't come true? After seven years of fertility treatments that ended without a child, Lana Manikowski found herself facing grief, isolation, and the painful question: So now what?  Instead of following a path that didn't feel right, like donor eggs or adoption, Lana built the support system she longed for bu...

As we launch Season Six of HIListically Speaking, Host Hilary Russo shares how intentional reflection and quiet moments can unlock creativity, clarity, and personal growth. Alongside fresh insights, the new "Where Are They Now?" series revisits past guests, from bestselling authors to everyday changemakers, while diving deeper into the HUG It Out Method®, the expanding Book Nook, and stories rooted in neuroscience, st...

Celebrate 5 years of HIListically Speaking® with host Hilary Russo as she reflects on the transformative journey of nearly 200 episodes, each one a master class in healing, personal growth, and mental wellness. In this milestone episode, Hilary unveils The HIListically Speaking® Book Nook, a curated collection of books by the inspiring and bestselling authors who have graced the show. Every title is paired with a...

How addicted are you to your devices and is your brain paying the price? Cognitive neuroscientist and brain performance coach Dr. Trish Leigh joins Hilary Russo on HIListically Speaking to explore how online habits especially pornography and constant screen time rewire the brain.  Based on her book Mind Over Explicit Matter, Dr. Leigh unpacks dopamine dependency, supernormal stimuli, and the link between digital ...