My Fourth Act Podcast

Steven Petrow, 63, is an award-winning journalist and book author who is best known for his Washington Post and New York Times essays on aging, health, and civility. His just-published sixth book, Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old is a funny and poignant FOURTH ACT page-turner. Steven is also an opinion columnist for USA Today, where he writes about civil discourse and manners. His 2019 TED Talk, “3 Ways to Practice Civility” has been viewed nearly two million times and translated into 16 languages.I Won’t Color My Hair (Even If It Worked for Diane MeSawyer). I Won’t Lie About My Age (Even on Dating Apps). I Won’t Burden My Family With Taking Care of Me. Just some of Steven’s I WON’Ts. What are yours?

Dr. Giselle Faubel is a Harvard-educated Clinical Psychologist based in South Florida. She is the founder of HORSES AND PSYCHOLOGY and EQUUS FOR HUMANITY - both equine-assisted psychotherapy programs. Giselle's focus has been on providing ground-breaking interventions through a form of psychotherapy which utilizes horses as healers. Equine-assisted therapy is successfully applied to individuals, families, and groups. Giselle's recent interest in the use of psychedelics to help heal PTSD has led her to create Equidelics - a next-generation integration of equine-assisted therapy with psychedelics.

On this episode of the MY FOURTH ACT podcast, I have the distinct thrill of speaking with 5 extraordinary women who jointly wrote a just-released book, “Women Unbound: Navigating Transitions Gracefully,” published by Balboa Press, an imprint of Hay House.It is a tale of how five voices, strangers at first, with decidedly different life journeys and experiences, joined in courage and kindness, and over a period of two years blossomed into a chorus of truth and tenderness.The extraordinary women?Maria Hernandez, a technology and innovation thought leader who served as Chief Innovation Officer for IBM Latin America.Lama Karma Chotso, an ordained Tibetan Buddhist nun for over 35 years, and the former leader of a Dharma center in Florida.Jennifer DiMarco: An executive with 30 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, and a special focus on quality and compliance.Sarah Lewis: An architect and urban planner, with 25 years of expertise in both the private sector and as a public sector planner in the Boston area.Catherine Seo, PH.D.: An educator, filmmaker, and passionate advocate for those living with lipedema and related chronic conditions.It was my privilege to serve as a Mastermind host for these spectacular humans and write the Foreword for “Women Unbound.”

Danielle is an internationally acclaimed concert harpist and multi-faceted artist.She was admitted to the young talent department of the Royal Conservatory in the Netherlands at the age of 12. It marked the beginning of a successful international career as a soloist, chamber musician, and principal orchestra harpist. Danielle is the prizewinner of major national and international harp competitions. She has performed all over the world with renowned musicians and maestros, in cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, and Madrid. For 15 years, she served as the principal harpist of the Symphony Orchestra of The Hague, Netherlands.In 2020, Danielle moved to the Algarve in Portugal where she offers harp concerts, sound journeys, 1:1 sessions, and movement classes. Here, she also created her intimate ‘Meditative Harp concerts,’ a ceremonial space that starts with a sound journey with sacred instruments and a heart opening meditation, followed by a meditative harp concert.www.danielleriegel.love

Gary Chupik is internationally recognized as one of the top mental performance coaches in the world. He unlocks performance in professional teams, athletes and business professionals. Additionally, Gary has been an ordained minister for 27 years and Chaplain of the Seattle Thunderbirds for 7 years.Gary’s clients include players, coaches and executives from the Houston Texans, Washington Huskies, Stanford University, USA Figure Skating, Seattle Mariners, and many, many more Additionally, Gary supports folks who feel stuck in their lives and desire a new “Gameplan for Life.”www.garychupik.com

Damian Goldvarg, Ph.D., MCC, is an Executive Coach, leadership authority, keynote speaker, and learning facilitator. He is the author and co-author of eight books, including his just released Lead With a Coaching Mindset, How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential. published by Berrett-Koehler.Damian is a luminary in the international coaching world and a leading proponent of the emerging field of Coaching Supervision. He is the Past Global Chair of the International Coach Federation (2013-2014) and was inducted into the ICF Circle of Distinction in 2018.

Devin C. Hughes is an award-winning speaker, workplace culture expert, best-selling author of numerous books including a memoir, “Contrast: A Biracial Man’s Journey to Segregate His Past,” and a former college basketball player.After a successful career in a global pharmaceutical company, Devin left corporate life to found his own training and consulting firm where he inspires groups and helps organizations and teams to break down barriers and make communication easier through greater awareness.

Susana Cor de Rosa is a healer, author, and spiritual teacher from Lisbon. She is known for her work as a quantum activator and creator of the Unified Quantum Healing method.After an intense early career balancing health work and law school, Susana experienced burnout and disconnection. This led her to a profound spiritual awakening and transformation. Drawing on studies in quantum physics, shamanism, and alternative therapies, she now helps others activate their potential and connect with their purpose.Susana has worked with thousands of people globally, written three books, and leads programs focused on energy healing, consciousness expansion, and spiritual empowerment.www.susanacorderosa.net

Gayla Morgan is a professional singer, composer/lyricist, producer and vocal arranger. Gayla just began an engagement as the vocal coach for Disney Cruises’ newest ship, Adventure, sailing from Singapore.Gayla’s musical, “A Dog Story,” had an acclaimed off-Broadway run. Her singing career includes recording and touring for 5 years with the Grammy-nominated Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, a 6-member a capella singing group. Gayla’s professional life has her based in Colorado, New York City, Key West, and now, across the world.

Phelim McDermott is an actor and director from the UK. In 2023, Phelim was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director for My Neighbor Totoro.Phelim has staged operas in many of the great opera houses of the world, including countless times at The Met (Akhnaten, The Hours, Cosi fan Tutte,The Enchanted Island) and the English National Opera. In addition, he has directed plays and operas in Germany, Spain, and Australia.Phelim is a passionate advocate for the transformational work of Harrison Owen, who originated a simple conversational framework called Open Space Technology.

Laurie Fader has been the recipient of many honors and awards, including a Pollock-Krasner Award, an Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Assistance Grant, the Helen W. Winternitz Award for excellence in painting from Yale University, Great Meadows Foundation and artist’s residencies in France, Haiti, Hungary, and Italy. She lived in New York City for 25 years while teaching at Pratt Institute, then in Baltimore while she taught at the Maryland Institute College of Art. She was co-founder, Chair and Associate Professor at the Kentucky School of Art at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. Currently she is a full-time practicing artist and has exhibited in the US and abroad.www.lauriefader.com/

For the last 35 years, Rebel Brown has been a Growth Accelerator for Advanced Technology Startups. In the early days of Silicon Valley, Rebel often was the only female in the room. She has served as a Chief Marketing Officer and Go-to-Market Launcher for over 300 clients world-wide.Rebel has authored 2 bestselling strategy and leadership books. These days, Rebel is passionate about applying the power of neuroscience for breakout results. A well-known horsewoman and serial owner of 3 horse ranches, Rebel announced earlier this year that she was selling her latest ranch in Templeton/California because it had become “an old dream.”www.rebelbrown.com

Dr. Laurence Hillman was born into a lineage of archetypal thought. His father, James Hillman, is considered the father of American Archetypal Psychology. Laurence Hillman grew up in Zurich, where his father had studied with Jung and, subsequently, served as the Director of Studies at the C.G. Jung Institute.As a professional archetypal coach, Laurence Hillman helps his clients understand their deeper purpose and their life’s calling. In his role as a consultant, he helps leaders and organizations understand their archetypal patterns and advises on high-level decision making in organizations. His tools for mapping archetypes include archetypal astrology for which he is one of the leading voices worldwide.Laurence Hillman is the author of Planets in Play - How to Reimagine Your Life Through the Language of Astrology. Laurence also co-authored two other books including Archetypes at Work - Evolving your Story, One Character at a Time, which he wrote with Richard Olivier. He and Richard co-created Archetypes at Work™, a new cutting-edge method to assess and develop people and organizations to become fit for the future.

Rutherford Pascal is a seasoned Sales Leader in the pharma industry. His 35-year career led him to increasingly Senior roles, most recently as Head of Sales at Sanofi for their Respiratory and Gastroenterology Specialty Care portfolio.Rutherford is passionate about leadership development and mentorship. For his next act, he launched Glass Walls Leadership in 2024. Rutherford is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Trainer, Coach and an inspirational keynoter, with his first book, "The P.I.D System," about to be published. As one of the most visible African-American sales leaders in his industry, Rutherford is committed to fostering diversity within his teams and the benefits of embracing a diverse workforce.https://www.amazon.com/P-I-D-System-Preparation-Intentionality-Differentiation/dp/B0F8BBB7KV

In 1965, when he was 17, Perry Brass hitchhiked from Savannah to San Francisco where he spent a year living on the street, sleeping between parked cars or in SRO hotels, doing any job he could, and loving the freedom of it.After Perry moved to New York, Perry joined New York’s groundbreaking Gay Liberation Front in 1969 and the staff of Come Out!, the first Gay Liberation newspaper. His poetry was published in many “gay firsts,” including The Penguin Book of Homosexual Verse, the first mainstream collection of queer poetry. He has since published 23 books, most recently “My Life without Money and other poems.”In 1972, Perry and two friends started the Gay Men’s Health Project Clinic, the first clinic for gay men on the East Coast, still active as New York’s Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. The Gay Men’s Health Project Clinic, organized and run by the men who used it rather than by doctors, became the model for many grass-roots health organizations in the gay community.

Michael Feeley had a successful career as an actor and model, performing and touring with stars such as Howard Keel, John Raitt, and Tovah Feldshuh. His theatre life was followed by a whole other 20-year-act as a professional recruiter in New York City.These days, Michael divides his time between a home in the center of France and another one on Saba, a small Caribbean island where he owns a real estate sales and management firm, Saba Island Properties. In his capacity as a life coach, Michael worked with celebrated entrepreneur and author Seth Godin. Michael now supports other accomplished humans who are ready for a career or life change. His compelling and very aptly titled book, "The Next Act," is just out.www.michaelfeeleylifecoach.com

The Reverend Dr. Russell L. Meyer, Pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Jacksonville/Florida, graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1981 and was ordained in 1984. Russell has served congregations in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland and New York. He received a Doctorate of Ministry in 2013 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC, with a Certificate in Christian-Muslim Relations from the Washington Theological Consortium.Russell is a social justice pastor. He serves as Executive Director for the Florida Council of Churches. He is also the current president of the European Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice and chairs the Local and Regional Ecumenism Committee of the National Council of Churches. 

In a delightful twist, Rosemary Ravinal, the world’s premier bilingual speaking coach, media trainer, and former VP of Public Relations for TelevisaUnivision Network, interviews Achim Nowak on his own MY FOURTH ACT podcast.Achim sheds light on how he made a series of critical career pivots in his 20+ years as a personal-growth-entrepreneur. These pivots include his recent decision to be based in Portugal, spend time on non-business writing, and launch his first Portugal-based enterprise, The Lisbon Sessions. Rosemary Ravinal explores what prompted her to leave a powerful corporate insider role to launch her own firm and embrace her passion for public speaking.

Tania Rivilis is a Ukrainian-born portrait artist. In 2012, Tania moved from Russia to Germany where she started to paint. Tania’s lush and neo-romantic portraits quickly drew international attention and have been featured in group shows around the world. A solo show is opening this March in Madrid.Tania won the prestigious William Lock Prize from the Royal Portrait Society in London, showed at Christie’s, and had one of her stunning art works shine on a billboard across New York’s Times Square. Recently, she has begun offering art workshops for other emerging painters in Europe.

Haleh Shoa and her family fled Iran during the 1979 revolution, bringing only their cherished photo albums. These albums were lifelines to the past and their only tangible reminders of the life they left behind. These experiences helped shape Haleh’s passion for storytelling and memory-keeping.After a successful career in advertising, Haleh followed her heart and founded Picturli, a photo organization, archiving, and design studio in Los Angeles. Through Picturli, Haleh has helped countless celebrities, families, individuals, and institutions safeguard their legacies by organizing, curating, and preserving their most meaningful moments. Our conversation was conducted against the backdrop of the raging Los Angeles fires.www.picturli.com