Vanessa McGrady: Ready, Fire, Aim

E465 Sirous Esmailzadeh is Iranian-American who was detained in Iran after his passport was confiscated. He was smuggled out of Iran and was trying to find safe harbor back to the states and through a series of events, ended up imprisoned in a notorious Pakistani prison. He recounts the harrowing ordeal and his bittersweet return […]

E464 Michael Trapani is a master storyteller, historian, playwright, voice and stage actor, podcaster (How to Start a War) and author of the Audible exclusive, “How to Start a War,” a gripping blend of narrative storytelling and dramatized scenes and characters, it feels like a Golden Age radio drama. Far from a dry history lesson, […]

E463 Over three decades ago, Howard Ungerleider was assigned to be a tour manager to a relatively unknown Canadian band called Rush. He was also their lighting designer and accountant in those early years but transitioned out of the tour management responsibility after 24 years. He’s designed and directed lighting for Rush and many other […]

E462 Jordan Ochel was born deaf and was raised in the “oralist” tradition (without Sign Language). His recently wrote and directed Healing Hands for his graduate thesis short film. The film is based on his experiences as a binaurally deaf child, including a night in 1991 when he was taken to a Benny Hinn “Miracle Crusade” […]

E461: Andrea Leeb’s memoir, “Such A Pretty Picture,” powerfully narrates her life and offers an honest insight into a survivor’s journey.  Andrea is a retired lawyer, former nurse and has written for numerous literary journals. She also advocates for survivors of sexual assault, volunteering at the UCLA Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House, and mentoring […]

E460 Claire Thomas hails from the heartland of rural south Wales, and is an award-winning photojournalist and fine art photographer. She covers political and military conflicts, human rights, and humanitarian and environmental crises. From refugee camps in Europe to the frontlines against ISIS in Iraq, Claire has contributed impactful images and photo essays to leading […]

E459 Corinna Kazdin is a Filipino native who chose to leave the Philippines and come to the United States as a result of a childhood and young adult life full of trauma and abuse. She recounts her story in the book, “You Can’t Tell Anyone.”  Now, she is the director of advancement at ObriaLA, a […]

E458 Chad Covington is the founder and CEO of Created Within and he grew up exploring the world of computers and computer languages. We chat Artificial Intelligence, its applications and implications, and what AI technology means for humans moving forward. For more information and links, please visit: HeyHumanpodcast.com

E457 Bárbara Ávila and David McDonald met in France. Bárbara grew up in the south of Mexico City and David grew up in Tring, England. Bárbara founded Vavién, which linked young Mexican artisans with French designers. She has also worked in the water and environment sectors for the Worldwide Fund for Nature and UNESCO. She’s […]

E456 Jewell Chambers was raised in rural Mississippi. A playwright and musician, you’ve probably also heard of her famous siblings, The Chambers Brothers (“The Time Has Come Today”) and perhaps the family gospel band, The Chambers Family Singers. She shares stories from her childhood and nearly a century on the planet. For more information and […]