Brittany Means is author of the critically acclaimed memoir, “Hell if We Don’t Change Our Ways”. Reviews have called it “gut-wrenching and triumphant.” “Readable and rigorous.”  “Brutal and beautiful.’  At its heart, it is a book about family. as Means recounts her complex relationships with her mother, father, brother, and grandparents and eventual guardians. What does it mean when those closest to us hurt us? Is understanding or forgiveness even possible?  How do children make it through it all to find support and love?  This was a particularly moving discussion.  I ..read more

In communities across the country, including New York, library budgets and hours are being cut, just at a time when society needs them most. This is in spite of the incredible success that libraries have in bringing people, particularly older adults, together.  Bob McKinnon, host of the podcast, Attribution talks with Eric Klinenberg, NYU sociologist and author of “Palace for the People” which examines the role that third places like libraries play in avoiding isolation. We’ll also hear from four Long Island librarians who are creating innovative programs for older adults that reduce isol ..read more

It is the simplest of tools designed to help us tackle the complexities of life. It helps reduce errors, remember what’s important, assess and reflect on what and how we’re doing. Pilots, astronauts, builders and surgeons use them to save lives. What is this elementary yet powerful tool?  A checklist. Is it possible that a simple checklist could do for the growing issue of social isolation among older adults what previous versions have done for saving lives in surgery? Bob McKinnon, host of the podcast Attribution, talks to Sandy Markwood, CEO of US Aging, a national association represent ..read more

Stephanie Land is the New York Times bestselling author of Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive which is now the inspiration for the Netflix series of the same name.  Her latest book, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood,  Hunger and Higher Education is out now. During our conversation we talked about the challenges and judgment that she and other single moms have faced simply trying to create a better future for themselves and their children. This was an important conversation that I hope will change the way we see and support single mothers. I hope you enjoy. Links to ..read more

Christopher Zara is the News Editor at Fast Company.  His recent memoir, Uneducated, explores his unlikely journey into the newsroom without the credential of a college degree. During our conversation we talked about both his own story but also more broadly about the role of education - higher and otherwise - in creating opportunities to climb the proverbial ladder.  Links to learn more about:  Christopher Zara Uneducated: A Memoir of Flunking Out, Falling Apart and Finding My Worth Fast Company HOST Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the w ..read more

Singer/songwriter Joy Oladokun is a master storyteller whose songs have been listened to over forty million times. Her latest album, Proof of Life is being heralded as her breakthrough. We talked about her journey as an artist and her process of making music that “helps myself and others process this world.” Links to learn more about:  Joy Oladokun Proof of Life HOST Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider the way we see success and the American Dream.  His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Fast Company, NPR, and PBS. His ow ..read more

Larissa FastHorse is a 2020 MacArthur Fellow, award winning writer/choreographer, and co-founder of Indigenous Direction, the nation’s leading consulting company for Indigenous arts and audiences. With her latest work, The Thanksgiving Play, she became the first native American to have her play on Broadway. We talked about her journey to Broadway and how we connect with our culture and each other. I hope you enjoy.  Links to learn more about:  Larissa FastHorse The Thanksgiving Play Indigenous Direction HOST Bob McKinnon is a writer, designer, and teacher who asks us to reconsider th ..read more

Dr. Robert Waldinger, is clinical professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He is a practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst and also a Zen priest. We discussed his book The Good Life, co-authored with Marc Schulz, the central role of relationships in our life and what can undermine our ability to be socially fit. The conversation will challenge how and with whom you spend your time. I hope you enjoy.  Links to learn more about:  Robert Waldinger The Good Life Harvard Study on Adult Development Find out more: https://mo ..read more

This bonus episode of Attribution, ‘Seeing Erin Hagerty’, was originally broadcast as a WLIW-FM special program and a part of Chasing the Dream: Poverty, Justice and Opportunity in America, a public media reporting initiative from The WNET Group. Erin Hagerty died last year at the age of 62. By most counts she lived an extraordinary life -  simply by doing things many would consider ordinary. This is an examination not of what she did but how she was seen. By strangers, her family and most importantly how she saw herself. “Seeing Erin Hagerty” is a WLIW-FM special program and a part of Ch ..read more

Richard Buery is CEO of Robin Hood, one of the nation’s leading anti-poverty organizations. Prior to this role, Rich had worked as Deputy Mayor of New York, where he was the key architect for the city’s Pre-K for All initiative. In our conversation, we talked about the many ways in which his work has attempted to alleviate scarcity by leveraging the abundant resources around us and his own background has informed his approach to service. I hope you enjoy. Links to learn more about:  Richard Buery Robin Hood Foundation iMentor Pre-K for All Find out more: https://movingupusa.com/podcast&nb ..read more