Hello and welcome to being well. If you're new on this podcast we explore the

hard parts of being human and the practical science of lasting well-being and

if you've listened before, welcome back.

Between quarantine and our ever more electronically plugged-in world, today more of us

communicate through electronic screens than ever before. Compare that with rising political polarization and the complexities that come from having an increasingly

thin line between our public and private lives, and it's no surprise that studies show that Americans

feel less connected and more divided than ever before.

There are many, many hard conversations happening these days.

And I for one have often felt like the more I talk with people I disagree with, the worst things get.

That's why I'm so happy to be joined today by an award-winning journalist and professional

speaker who's built a career on having tricky conversations, Celeste Hedley.

In her 20-year career in public radio,

Celeste appeared on NPR, PRI, CNN, the BBC,

and an absolute alphabet soup of other international networks.

She's been the executive producer of the Daily Talk Show on Second Thought for Georgia Public Broadcasting,

and anchored shows including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, all things considered, and weekend

edition at NPR.

She also served as co-host of the National Morning News Show The Takeaway, and anchored presidential

coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel.

Celeste is also the author of two wonderful books. We need to talk,

how to have conversations that matter, and do nothing, how to break away from overworking,

overdoing, and under loving.

...