The Interview with Leslie Heaney

• I Loved You First - feat. Jenna Bush Hager

  In today's episode, I am thrilled to welcome Jenna Bush Hager, American news personality, author, and journalist. Jenna is the host of Today with Jenna & Friends, the fourth hour of NBC's morning news program. Jenna is the creator of the Read with Jenna Book Club; she has also launched a publishing imprint, Thousand Voices, a joint venture with Random House Publishing House supporting emerging writers. She is also the founder of her own production company. Jenna is a force!Jenna and I sit down to talk about her latest book and the third book she has co-authored with her twin sister Barbara Bush entitled, "I Loved You First". This is not the first time the Bush sisters have written a book together, but this is the first time they have written a children's book that celebrates the bond between parent and child. In this episode, Jenna and I talk about why she and Barbara decided to write this book, the power of sisterhood and female friendships, what it is like to host the 4th hour of Today without her dear friend and former co-host Hoda Kotb, the incredible work Jenna is doing through Read with Jenna and Thousand Voices and last but certainly not least - our mutual love of karaoke! I enjoyed every minute of my conversation with Jenna – it's an episode you won't want to miss! If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

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• The Manicurist’s Daughter - feat Susan Lieu

  In today's episode, I am so thrilled to share my conversation with author, activist, and storyteller, Susan Lieu.Susan is a multi-hyphenated artist whose work has captivated audiences nationwide. Her award-winning solo show, 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother, evolved into her debut memoir, The Manicurist’s Daughter. This emotionally raw memoir was Apple’s Book of the Month and has been featured in The New York Times and NPR. Through her storytelling, Susan explores themes of grief, intergenerational trauma, identity, and resilience.In The Manicurist’s Daughter, Susan reflects on her life as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, her mother’s tragic death from a botched tummy tuck when she was just 11 years old, and her journey to uncover truths about her family and herself. Her story is both heartbreaking and empowering, touching on the complex relationships immigrant women have with body image and beauty standards.In this episode, Susan and I delve into her family’s incredible journey from Vietnamese refugees to American business owners. We discuss what it was like for her to grow up navigating two cultures, the challenges of confronting her mother’s death, and the broader implications of societal pressures on women—especially immigrant women. Susan’s story is one of strength, vulnerability, and empowerment. It is equal parts poignant, funny, and inspirational—a conversation you won’t want to miss. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

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• Insurance: All You Need to Know - feat. Chip Merlin

  Following the devastating fires in California, I kept hearing story after story of Pacific Palisades residents having been dropped by their insurance company just a few months before the deadly fire. The same thing happened this past fall in Florida – Floridians couldn’t afford their increased premiums, so when Hurricane Milton hit – they had no coverage. In fact, Florida insurance rates have gotten so high that people are beginning to leave the state - insurance premiums, in some cases, surpassing their mortgage payments. Insurance companies also get away with underpaying or slow-paying the insured… leaving people helpless and hopeless.Thankfully, there are people out there like my next guest, Chip Merlin, Founder and President of the Merlin Law Group. Chip has dedicated his practice to representing and advocating for the insured in disputes with their insurance companies nationwide.Chip has been called the “Babe Ruth of Hurricane lawyers” and “Master of Disaster” for his nationwide catastrophe work in helping policyholders after Hurricane Katrina. The Florida Association of Public Adjusters awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award for his advocacy on behalf of policyholders. He is on the Board of Directors of United Policyholders, has been a guest commentator on CNN and Fox News, and is also past Chair of the Insurance Bad Faith Litigation Group of the American Association of Justice. In this episode, Chip and I discuss the state of the insurance crisis in the US, from California to Florida to NY, and what we, the insured, can do to protect ourselves from insurance companies' malfeasance, and what our state governments should do to protect the insured over the insurers.   To protect your property and your family, this is an episode you will not want to miss. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

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• Blind Spots - feat. Kimberly Berens, Ph.D.

  Today in the US, close to 70% of all students are below proficiency in math and reading, and close to 90% of low-income students are below proficiency. With an overwhelming majority of our students graduating below proficiency in all academic subjects, the United States is in the middle of an educational crisis.  Thankfully my next guest Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens is working to address this crisis.  Dr. Berens is the author of Blind Spots: Why students fail…and the science that can save them. She is also the Founder of Fit Learning.  Fit Learning is a powerful system of instruction based in behavioral science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide. For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Dr. Berens has helped grow Fit Learning to an organization with more than 30 locations worldwide. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Berens about the state of the US education system today and about the science that shows how children learn and how our education system could have better outcomes.  We talk about her learning instruction method and how with the right instruction, a child that have been labeled as having learning differences or ADHD, may likely be a child who is just being taught subjects in the wrong way.  This conversation was so helpful for me as a parent – it is a must listen for every parent who wants to learn about how their kids should learn and about what we can do to support our kids who may learn differently. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday. ------This episode is brought to you by The Scout Guide. To learn more about the Scout Guide and how to become a franchisee visit franchise.thescoutguide.com and mention The Interview with Leslie Heaney!

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• American Heroes - feat. James Patterson and Timothy Malloy

  It is an honor and a privilege to introduce my next two guests, James Patterson and Tim Malloy. James Patterson is one of the most successful authors of all time, having sold over 425 million books. He is perhaps best known for his Alex Cross series, which has been adapted into films such as Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. In addition to his fiction, Patterson has collaborated on New York Times bestsellers with notable figures, including Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Viola Davis. Recently, he has ventured into nonfiction and co-authored Filthy Rich alongside Tim Malloy, which explores the life of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Tim Malloy is a seven-time Emmy Award winner and a veteran reporter with extensive experience in local and network television. He has worked as an investigative reporter, documentary filmmaker, and author. Malloy and Patterson are friends and neighbors in Palm Beach and have collaborated on various projects, including a documentary that highlights underserved communities in Florida. They both appeared in the Netflix documentary based on their bestselling book, Filthy Rich. Their latest collaboration, American Heroes, pays tribute to some of the greatest heroes in the United States Armed Forces. American Heroes emphasizes the courage, bravery, character, and patriotism of recipients of the three most significant military awards: The Medal of Honor, The Silver Star, and the Distinguished Service Cross. In this episode, Patterson, Malloy, and I discuss their incredible book American Heroes, their past collaborations on Filthy Rich, how they began their careers, and why these inspirational stories about real American heroes are vital for us to hear.Patterson and Malloy are not only brilliant but also hilarious. It was a joy and privilege to sit down with them both. I am very excited for you to listen!

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