Colorectal cancer, the disease that claimed the life of "Black Panther" actor Chadwick Boseman at age 43, was once considered an “old person’s” illness. It no longer is.

The National Cancer Institute says early-onset colorectal cancer is now the No. 1 cause of cancer death in people 20 to 49 years old.

It gets worse. Studies show that cancer that develops in younger people tends to be more aggressive.

So, why are Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zers developing a disease they never would have dreamed of getting not that long ago?

To help answer this question, I am so honored to be joined by Dr. Andrea Cercek, a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Cercek is also the founder and co-director of the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer – this clinic – dedicated to serving the specific needs of people under 50 who have these cancers, is the first of its kind in the world.

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Cercek about the possible causes for this rise in colorectal cancers, what we can do to reduce our risk of developing colorectal cancer, and about the exciting treatment options that are being developed at MSK to cure colorectal cancer without the often-crippling side effects of radiation, chemo, and surgery. 

One of the beneficiaries of Dr. Cercek’s research and treatment is her former patient, Kelly, who also join us in this conversation. Kelly was just 29 with an 8-month-old baby when she was-diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Thanks to the immunotherapy treatment that Dr. Cercek’s team discovered, Kelly is now cancer-free, did not have to have chemo, radiation, or surgery, and has gone on to live a full and healthy life.

To learn everything you need to know about colorectal cancer, and to hear one woman’s inspiring story, this episode is for you!

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

An African safari trip is on every person’s bucket list. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Because of the cost, difficulties of travel, and the variety of places to visit, a trip to Africa is one that we all want to make sure that we get right. 

So many of us know we want to see incredible animals and breathtaking landscapes – but we have no idea where to start! Thankfully, that is where &Three Collective comes in.

&Three was started by three friends who met as expats in London. With one now based in the US, one in London, and one in Sydney - they are bound by their obsession with Africa. They became a travel company dedicated to Africa - in search of experiences that are wild, luxurious, private and unique.

Along their travels over the years, &Three met Africans who, by birthright, were the true experts in the region, exposing them to experiences that you cannot research or find on your own.

&Three was born from three women’s dream of offering these same incredible experiences to others.

With &Three, travelers embark upon a collaborative planning process. No two itineraries are alike; everything is custom to the traveler and their needs and desires.

I was so lucky (and, of course, was making my own safari plans as we spoke) to speak to one of these wonderful women magicians behind &Three…Claudia Church.

In this episode, Claudia and I talk about the dos and don’ts of safari planning, where and when to start planning, the most amazing places to visit, and the awe-inspiring experiences one can have on the African continent….

I learned so much from my conversation with Claudia, and for any of you who have always dreamed of going on safari or want to go on a trip planned by these incredible women, this episode is for you!

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

In this episode, I sit down with Nicholas Fox Weber, art historian and Executive Director of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. He is also the author of fifteen books, among them iBauhaus, Le Corbusier, Balthus: A Biography, and Patron Saints.

Weber is a gradu­ate of Colum­bia Col­lege (B.A., major in Art History), Yale Uni­ver­sity (M.A., Art History; Fellowship in American Art), and the University of Groningen (PhD).  He lives in Connecticut, Paris, and Ireland. Despite all his professional accomplishments, Nick’s heart is focused on his humanitarian work in Senegal. Nick is the founder of Le Korsa, a not-for-profit organization in Senegal.

I admire Nick so much. We all see things in life that we wish we could change or people that we’d like to help – yet we are all so busy with our own lives that it is the rare among us that does something – Nick is one of those people. After a trip to Senegal with a Parisian doctor about twenty years ago, Nick saw communities that needed access to health care, education, and basic amenities. Ever since, Nick has worked tirelessly to support clinics, schools, and other life-saving initiatives in Senegal through Le Korsa.  

My son John and I visited Senegal in February of 2023, and we witnessed Nick’s incredible work firsthand. Every bit of resources directed toward Le Korsa make such an impact. Donations to Le Korsa go directly to projects in Senegal, from digging wells to buying academic supplies to helping patients receive medical care.

In this conversation, Nick and I discuss his work in Senegal, how and why he got started, and about his spectacular and purposeful life as an art historian, author, and humanitarian.

This episode is just the kind of inspiration that is so fitting this holiday season! To learn more about Le Korsa, visit https://www.aflk.org/

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

Today, Leslie sits down with journalist, lawyer, political commentator, and writer Gordon G. Chang about his latest book, “Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America”.

Described by The New Yorker as a “longtime uber hawk on China”, Chang’s latest thesis outlines what he believes is an existential threat from China towards the U.S. and the current world order.

Leslie talks with Gordon about his current perspective on U.S.-China relations and his recommendations on what the U.S. can do today to avert what he believes are China’s nefarious plans toward the U.S. and the Western World.

A graduate of Cornell and Cornell Law School, Chang lived in mainland China for nearly two decades as a Partner and Counsel for Baker McKenzie and Paul Weiss.

Chang has given briefings at the National Intelligence Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Department of Defense. He has testified before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

His writings on China and North Korea have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune, and National Review, among other publications. Chang has also appeared as a guest and commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg Television, as well as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

In this riveting episode, Leslie discusses Chang’s compelling perspective. For anyone interested in U.S.-China relations – an extremely relevant and important topic today – this episode is for you!

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

Today Leslie sits down with Preston Konrad and Lisa Manice - Co-creators of Preston Lane – a new luxury home care company. 

Preston Konrad is a lifestyle expert, creative director and television personality based out of New York City. He spent his early career as a creative director and marketing genius working for storied brands like Ralph Lauren, Belstaff and American Eagle Outfitters. Preston started his own marketing and consulting business for companies about twelve years ago. When Preston is not offering style tips to his almost 1 million Instagram followers, Preston can be regularly seen on The Today Show, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America and more.

Lisa Manice is the other half of this juggernaut duo and brings decades of marketing genius and business successes to the table. Lisa is a visionary business leader and expert in forging win-win partnerships that accelerate growth for global companies, private equity firms, and celebrities. Prior to joining forces with Preston Konrad, Lisa served as an executive of Belstaff, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger and Tiger Chark.

Preston and Lisa saw a gap in the marketplace with high end home care goods at an affordable price, and instead of developing this idea for another company (they have been launching and marketing brands on behalf of clients for decades) - they decided to launch their own line for the first time.

Preston Lane’s products boasts all natural ingredients, and beautiful packaging at affordable prices. Its entire line of hand soap, dish soap, countertop sprays and candles grace every home both with beautiful design and gorgeous scents that are safe for you and your family. They are the perfect gift for everyone this holiday season!

Preston Lane was launched just this past summer and in that short time, their products are lining the shelves at Nordstroms, they just opened a pop-up store at Hudson Yard and have announced an incredible partnership with Centric Brands. Preston Lane is on its way to becoming everyone’s answer to elevated home care.

This episode is for all of you budding entrepreneurs out there or all of us who have fantasized about starting their own company. In it, Leslie speaks with these brilliant and hilarious partners, Preston and Lisa, about their inspirations and gathers their expert advice on dos and don’ts for starting and marketing a products company.

For a master class on what it takes to launch a successful company, this episode is for you! If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the horrific attack by Hamas on the people of Israel on October 7th, I and many others were shocked to witness not a clear and staunch condemnation of terrorism, but an explosion of ugly antisemitic sentiment and protests. 

These attacks extended to Jewish thought leaders and authors, many of whom had speaking engagements and book deals cancelled. Jewish owned bookstores and publishing houses were boycotted.

Author, podcaster, and founder of Zibby Media, Zibby Owens responded by speaking out and taking action.

Zibby reached out to fellow Jewish authors to ask them to write essays about their experiences after October 7th. Over 100 Jewish authors and advocates responded, and the result is this amazing book edited by Zibby entitled, On Being Jewish Now. All proceeds from On Being Jewish Now benefit Artists Against Antisemitism of which Zibby is also a cofounder.

In today’s episode, I speak with 5 of these courageous contributors: Lisa Barr, author of the bestselling Women on Fire and The Goddess of Warsaw,  Judy Batalion, bestselling author of The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos which has been optioned by Steven Spielberg, Alyssa Rosenheck a celebrated interiors photographer who has been recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the top photographers in the country in addition to being a writer, author and advocate, David Kaufman a writer, editor and columnist for The New York Post, and last but certainly not least, Nicola Kraus – bestselling author of The Nanny Diaries among several bestselling works.

In this conversation, we talk about the antisemitism these authors and advocates have faced since October 7th, their essays in the book, what it feels like to be Jewish in this moment, what they are doing to combat antisemitism and hate and what we should all be doing to support our Jewish friends and neighbors.

I admire guests Lisa, Judy, Alyssa, Nicola and David so much for all that they are doing, Zibby for putting this important book together and everyone who is both a contributor to this book and standing up against Antisemitism in ways big and small.

About 38 million people have diabetes in the United States. 1 in 300 Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime; 1 in 15 with a family history of the disease.  Inexplicably, cases of Type 1 diabetes in America are on the rise.

In recognition of National Diabetes Month, this week’s episode features a group of extraordinary women who are working to raise funds and awareness to put diabetes out of business: Allison Aston, Dr. Natasha Leibel and Lynn Starr.  

Allison Aston is a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes.  She is Senior Vice President Partnerships, Events and Charitable Giving of Veronica Beard and through her work featuring Breakthrough TD1 as its highlighted charity through its VB Gives Back program, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for diabetes research and awareness. 

A leading expert in diabetes treatment, Dr. Natasha Leibel is the Director of the Pediatric Diabetes Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Lynn Starr is Breakthrough T1D’s chief global advocacy officer. She provides strategic and operational leadership to advance the organization’s mission globally through legislative, regulatory and health policy actions.  She and her daughter were both diagnosed with Type 1 as adults. 

In this episode, this illustrious group of guests talk about what it is like to be a parent with a child who is managing the disease, current treatment options, the exciting new therapies that are delaying its onset and the groundbreaking research that could lead to the eradication of this disease.   

To learn all you need to know about diabetes and its promise for the cure and for a daily boost of inspiration, this episode is for you!

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

Last week, I had the distinct honor and pleasure to interview Jean Becker on her new book Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush.

I wanted to interview Jean as soon as I heard about Character Matters.

I am writing this email on election day knowing this episode will be released tomorrow, November 6th.  No matter the outcome of the election, half of our country will be distressed and demoralized by its outcome. The example of the life and service of President Bush is a message that our seemingly divided country needs now more than ever.

Jean Becker served as chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush for nearly twenty-five years. She’s the editor of Pearls of Wisdom by Barbara Bush and author of the New York Times bestseller The Man I Knew: The Amazing Story of George H.W. Bush’s Post Presidency. Her latest book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush, was released in April 2024.

In this episode, Jean tells hilarious, poignant, and compelling stories about President Bush. She shares anecdotes about how President Bush cast political differences aside, embraced bipartisanship and put his country before himself.  

From calls with world leaders, to befriending his SNL impersonator Dana Carvey to enlisting George Clooney for a hospital opening because he loved his character on ER, Character Matters is a collection of essays from those who knew him best.  

In today's political climate, all of us should embrace the life lessons and legacy of George H.W. Bush as an example of how to come together as Americans.

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

In the United States alone, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and women have a 1 in 43 chance of dying from the disease. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so before this month ends, Leslie sits down with Dr. Vandana Abramson, superstar breast cancer specialist. 

Dr. Abramson is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of Breast Cancer. She is a Professor of Medicine, holds the Donna S. Hall endowed chair, and co-leads the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center here in Nashville.

When she is not maintaining a busy clinical practice, Dr. Abramson has extensive experience leading clinical trials for breast cancer and has co-authored over 100 papers on breast cancer.  A graduate of The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, she completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital before completing her Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Abramson also serves on the National Cancer Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) breast cancer guidelines committee.

In this episode, Leslie talks with Dr. Abramson about high risks for developing breast cancer, the latest in screenings, uncommon symptoms, what to look for in a doctor, and the exciting new developments and research that is happening right now to find a cure. 

If you want to know everything you need to know about breast cancer, 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.

In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with renowned developmental psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman to talk about her New York Times bestselling book, The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans

Aliza is also the Co-Founding Director of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, and assistant clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the host of the award-winning podcast Raising Good Humans.

Leslie and Aliza talk through each of these principles of parenting – all of which are backed by science – and explore how using these tools can help our children develop resilience.

This episode is a must listen for any parent out there…

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

In today’s episode, Leslie sits down with lifestyle expert, parent, author, entrepreneur and old friend, Alexis Swanson Traina.

Among all the fabulous hats Alexis wears, Alexis is the Founder and CEO of HiNOTE a free app that allows individuals to text, post and share personalized, digital notes -- everything from invitations to birthday wishes, thank you notes and more in just a few taps…. this service is as unique and glamorous as Alexis herself…so make sure to download it in the App Store.

In this episode, Alexis and Leslie talk about her background, her inspiration for HiNOTE, and the juggling act of her life as an entrepreneur, mom, wine connoisseur, hostess and much, much more…

This is 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.