MH24-49.  MH24-49. Gwydhar Gebien, “Enfant Terrible”


Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy with Gwydhar Gebien, on air from December 3rd

Gwydhar (Gwed-ruh) Gambien, author of the new energized, character-driven book series, Enfant Terrible,which has been compared to a cross between Shameless and Californication. Diagnosed with depression, ADHD, and ASD being on the ADHD,spectrum, Gwydhar can talk about how she transfers her energies and wandering mind into her art and writing.

Enfant Terrible, a work of rollercoaster literary fiction that took 15 years to complete, got its name after an expression that is normally used to describe a person known for shocking remarks or outrageous behavior, which is appropriate because the story’s main character, Damen Warner, is the front man for a metalcore band.

In this interview, Gwydhar talks about:
Writing about an anti-hero comes with unique challenges, especially when exploring themes like seeking career redemption, mending a broken family, struggling with belonging, and yearning for the unattainable. These narratives often resonate with the allure of rock stars—figures we admire for their brilliance yet see as deeply flawed. Through this lens, Gwydhar draws parallels to her own journey of understanding rejection, pursuing creative dreams, and navigating self-discovery. Diagnosed with depression, ADHD, and being on the ASD spectrum, she channels her energies and wandering mind into her art and writing, turning personal struggles into a source of inspiration.



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Gwydhar may have a hard-to-pronounce name (Gwed-ruh, meaning girl with the red hair) and a book title equally as challenging to say (Ahn-fahnt-the-ree-bleh, which is French), but all of her books present a clear message with a witty voice, sharp observations, and more than a few human confessions. It is an intense, emotional journey, with elements of romance, subversive humor, and insightful commentary on the world of rock star train wrecks seeking redemption and renewal.

Gwydhar Gebien is a writer, artist, and award-winning filmmaker; originally from Chicago now transplanted in Los Angeles in pursuit of a career in film production. She is still *pretty sure* her subversive sense of humor would do well in a television writers’ room.

With a background in theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University (BFA in Fine Arts) and a Master’s Degree in film production from University of Southern California, she has worked for Paramount Animation as a production assistant and a production coordinator at Skydance Animation. She is putting her training to good use at Warner Brothers Animation on adult content that she is not currently at liberty to discuss.

Gwydhar began working at a commercial art studio as a sales representative. Still committed to pursuing filmmaking, she started a small production company called Blue Damen Pictures to make short films on nights and weekends. She has produced five short films, one mumblecore feature and won a Best Feature award for Dark Before Dawn and Best Experimental Short for Persephone.

An eldritch creature of introverted disposition, Gwydhar, lives a quiet life in a pink house with her husband, her cat and a minivan, but can occasionally be coaxed out into the open with music, snacks, or a single-malt whisky. She enjoys attending Renaissance Faires, as well as gardening and making miniatures. Diagnosed with depression, ADHD, and being on the ASD spectrum, Gwydhar transfers her energies and wandering mind into her art and writing.


SPELL BOUND

 www.gwydhar.com

https://www.facebook.com


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MH24-46. Julie Fingersh, “What happened to Danny”


Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy and her guest Julie Fingersh, on air from November 12th

“Julie Fingersh’s Stay is so rich, wise, funny, and beautifully written. It’s hard to put down once you start.”
—Anne Lamott, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Called “Profound, funny, and masterfully told by” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, StayA Story of Family, Love, and Other Traumas is a riveting debut that captures the joyous and painful complexity of family love and loyalty, the cost of family secrets, and the quest to help the people we love most without losing our own way. It’s also a rare window into two of the biggest epidemics gripping society today: mental illness and chronic illness and the ways in which they affect relationships, personal identity, and the blueprint of our lives.

Told through the eyes of the author as both a young sibling and a mid-life parent, Julie Fingersh seamlessly weaves together present and past, unlocking the puzzle of her early adulthood with her struggling brother from the vantage point of a mid-life parent on the verge of an empty nest and her next chapter, just as her college-bound daughter’s life suddenly careens off track. 

Sparkling with warmth, wit, and lyrical prose, Fingersh provides insight and sustenance for everyone wrestling with mid-life’s ghosts, parenting adult children, and the twin pillagers of fear and the inner critic. Above all, Stay is for readers who want to think, feel, laugh, cry, and perhaps see their own life’s trajectory and path forward with new eyes.




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Julie Fingersh is a writer, journalist and, most recently, the author of Stay: A Story of Family, Love & Other Traumas (Rowman & Littlefield; 2024) Julie’s personal essays, editorials, and reporting cover wellness, parenting adult children, cooking, and how to lead a more sane and meaningful life. Julie’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Huffington Post, The Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, Businessweek, Grown and Flown and moreHer Substack newsletter, Take My Advice. I’m Not Using It, is a midlife sequel of an award-winning humorist column she wrote in New York City in her twenties for Billboard PublicationsJulie has two adult children and lives with her husband in Marin County, California. Stay is her first book. 

“Profound, funny, and masterfully told. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Gretchen Rubin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project


 juliefingersh.com

https://www.juliefingersh.com/videos

https://www.facebook.com/jfingersh 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-fingersh

https://www.instagram.com/julie.fingersh

https://www.threads.net/@julie.fingersh


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24-46. Be the Peace


Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from November 12th

I recently had a wonderful conversation on my podcast with David Wick, a dedicated peace advocate who’s been with the UN and involved in global peace efforts for over 40 years. It’s a conversation on peace—its possibility and its necessity in today’s world. So often, people think of peace as a distant ideal, something that may never be achieved. But I believe peace is not just an idea; it’s a way of being, a state we cultivate within ourselves and share with others.

True peace starts within each of us. When we cultivate peace, love, and purpose inside, that energy naturally radiates outward, creating a ripple effect that touches everyone we encounter. This doesn’t mean ignoring the world’s challenges; rather, it’s about seeing the issues clearly so that we can address them from a place of compassion and conviction. In our world today, we’re often sold illusions, particularly in areas like healthcare, where profit sometimes overshadows true wellness. It’s vital that we hold these systems accountable, advocating for practices that honor holistic health and well-being. Restrictions on healthcare choices, especially those that impact women’s health, call for our attention and action.

Living peacefully isn’t about having everyone agree. It’s about approaching each other with openness, compassion, and understanding. Life will always bring challenges—unexpected twists and hardships. But when we’re grounded and centered in peace, we see through the fog. Instead of reacting with fear or anxiety, we can move forward with purpose, finding creative solutions and choosing a balanced, harmonious way to live.

If we’re serious about giving peace a chance, we must start within ourselves and allow it to expand outward. Together, we can shape a world where peace is more than just a vision; it’s a way of life.

Today brought me unexpected news—not the kind I wanted. America has taken a turn not for the better, and, on top of it all, I now face a hefty bill for a new heating pump. So, how do we move forward? We’ll need to look at options, explore costs, and check payment plans. Many of us are facing financial strain, and fortunately, businesses now offer more flexible payment options to help ease the burden.

Life throws unexpected challenges our way, and while we can’t control everything that happens, we can control our response. When something goes wrong—like losing a heating system—it’s natural to feel worried. But instead, I take a moment to pause, breathe, and think it through. Yes, it’s an expense I hadn’t planned for, but approaching it calmly allows me to focus on solutions, not stress. The peace we bring to each situation shapes the outcome, helping us see possibilities rather than limits.

From health scares to financial hurdles, life will always bring obstacles. We can’t avoid every hardship, but we can choose how we respond. Sometimes, we need support; other times, we might just need a breather. The journey can be tough, but it also teaches us resilience. When we choose to meet challenges calmly, anger and stress don’t consume us. Instead, we find clarity and strength, which is where true peace lies.

Here’s the choice we all face: we can dwell on what’s wrong, or we can focus on our options and move forward with peace. True peace doesn’t come from avoiding life’s challenges but from staying centered and open to solutions. In that calm, we often find the answers we need.

Peace isn’t just a lofty idea—it’s a choice we make to step into calm, clarity, and centeredness no matter what storm we face. When life throws curveballs—financial struggles, health diagnoses, unexpected twists—it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or even angry. But here lies our power: in our ability to pause and find that inner sanctuary, that core of calm that supports us through anything.

This calmness isn’t passive; it’s a foundation, a conscious decision we return to whenever we feel overwhelmed. In that calm, we see solutions we might miss in a panicked state. This core of peace lets us respond wisely and act from strength.

We each play a role in creating peace in the world. When we choose calm, compassion, love, and patience over anger and resentment, we lift not only ourselves but those around us. It’s not about ignoring our emotions but about choosing not to meet anger with anger, or hate with hate. When we do, we avoid getting lost in the chaos.

Instead, let’s be the peace we seek. Let’s live it, breathe it, share it, embody it. We are the creators of the love, kindness, and calmness we want to see. It’s up to each of us to be that higher frequency, that example that helps elevate ourselves and others.

When you walk in this divine calm, you become a beacon for others. You’re living proof that life can be filled with compassion, joy, and connection. You’re inviting others to rise, to find their balance, and, together, to build a world built on peace and love.

I invite you: take this journey. Embrace the peace, live the love, and let’s transform the world one calm, compassionate choice at a time. Because that’s what living truly means.

When anger arises, let it out. Feel it fully, then let it go. Take a deep breath and ask, “What can I do about this?” If there’s something you can change, take action. If not, sometimes the best choice is to simply walk away.

Peace is a choice we carry within us. It’s a state of being that we each have the power to access. This peace and love isn’t external; it’s within. Tap into it, let it flow, and share it. When you do, you create a ripple effect, an invitation for others to step into that calm alongside you.

By being this light, this vibration of peace, we become the solutions this world so urgently needs. Let’s approach life with calm strength, becoming the peace we wish to see.

Until next time, I wish you a beautifully peaceful journey.



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Sara has WRITTEN IN 4 BOOKS. BUY HERE


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 RG24-45. Amy Meislin Pollack, The Adventures of Jelly Bean 


Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guest Amy Meislin Pollack, on air from November 9th

Coming-Of-Age Book Series Helps Middle-Graders Navigate The Challenges Of Growing Up

 Amy Meislin Pollack, author of The Adventures of Jelly Bean series? Ever since she was in fourth grade – back in 1960 – Amy Meislin Pollack was writing and telling stories about a character named Jelly Bean. She never stopped telling those stories, sharing them with her students over a teaching career that spanned 40+ years. She shared them with her three children when they were younger – and then with her seven grandchildren. Now her stories have been made available to everyone with the recent publishing of two coming-of-age books intended for middle-graders. 

“My books touch upon topics of friendship, popularity, death, race, drugs, alcohol, feeling neglected, family issues, and the types of things many kids today are confronting as they look to find their way in an ever-changing world,” says Pollack. 

Retired Teacher & Grandparent Amy Meislin Pollack 

 The Adventures of Jelly Bean and The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean are the stories of a fourth-grader who faces challenges that just about all children her age can recognize.  Her parents don’t approve of her favorite friend in the whole world. She has trouble getting along with the brother who is closest in age to her.  The uncle she loves so much is about to marry the most awful woman she could ever imagine, and the girl who used to be her best friend has turned on her. Jelly Bean faces these and other stumbling blocks, including: the difficulties in achieving and maintaining popularity and how important having certain friends should be to her; difficulties inherent in relationships with various friends and family members; and learning how to make decisions on her own.  In these first two books of my middle-grade series, Jelly Bean comes to understand that much of life is trial and error, and that the only constant in life is that it is always changing.

Coming-of-age stories remain essential for children, offering guidance on friendship, popularity, and navigating life’s challenges. Parents may find helpful insights on managing disagreements with their children, raising healthy and successful kids, and supporting them in facing today’s issues. Grandparents, too, play a role in guiding youth through these formative years. One retired teacher and grandmother of seven recently published her middle-grade fiction, a story developed 60 years ago, aiming to inspire meaningful family dialogues and pass down generational wisdom to today’s young readers.

“Because I was a teacher for 40 years,” says the author, “and because I raised three children and am now an active participant in the lives of my seven grandchildren, I have observed and dealt with many different individuals, a potpourri of whom are depicted (and hopefully immortalized!) in my books. 

I have been told my Adventures of Jelly Bean and The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean are reminiscent of Judy Blume’s and S.E. Hinton’s books.  Many “middle grade” boys and girls – as well as their parents – have found my stories compelling.  I hope others will too.”



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Amy Meislin Pollack was a teacher for over four decades, raised three children, and loves to play with her seven grandchildren. From her own childhood to the classroom and as a parent and grandparent, she is perfectly positioned to pen her coming-of-age book series.

The Adventures of Jelly Bean, followed by The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, first came into being when the author’s fourth-grade teacher used to ask her to get up in front of the class and tell the stories about this character she would make up as she went along.

Several years later she started writing these stories down, and would work on them periodically in any free time she had during her teaching career and raising her three children.

Now retired from a 40-year career in teaching – spanning a wide range of subjects and grade levels – she has embarked on a lively writing career.
The silver lining of the Covid pandemic for Pollack was that she was more or less forced, after approximately 60 years, to finish her Jelly Bean books.
Her books are about a young girl whose life is always changing and how she adapts to these changes. She tries to work out relationships with her friends, her parents, her older brothers, her uncle. Her parents do not want her best friend, who is of mixed race, to visit. Another friend is anorexic. One brother drops out of school. A grandparent dies.

Pollack earned a BA in English from Goucher College in Baltimore and received her Master’s in English from University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. She was certified as a secondary education and reading specialist for grades K-12 and earned a special education teaching degree from NYU, allowing her to teach disabled students. 
For six years she was a professor of writing, and a teacher in the tutoring center at Montclair State University in NJ.  She lives in central New Jersey with her husband and their dog named Bunny.  



www.amypollack.com

instagram.com/jellybeanthebookseries

facebook.com/Author.AmyMeislinPollack

//x.com/AdvOfJellyBean

linkedin.com/in/amy-pollack-


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TSM24-45. Elizabeth Mehren The Immigrant Story.


Their Story Matters, with Sara troy and her guest Elizabeth Mehren, on air from November 5th

Elizabeth’s volunteer work with The Immigrant Story, a small nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, inspired her to write I Lived to Tell the World. Through her involvement, she heard powerful stories of resilience and hope from immigrants and refugees who had overcome incredible challenges. These experiences deepened her appreciation for the courage and strength it takes to start anew in a foreign country and motivated her to honor these narratives. Her book serves as a testament to these remarkable individuals, capturing their enduring spirit and the invaluable lessons they impart.

Elizabeth’s mission is to spark a national dialogue on immigration and honor the lessons taught by survivors of the Holocaust, genocide, and war about overcoming unimaginable adversity. Her work celebrates the democracy many take for granted, emphasizing that each survivor in her book, I Lived to Tell the World, treasures every day of freedom. She carefully chose over 50 survivors from diverse global conflicts to capture a broad perspective, and each story resonates with hope, resilience, courage, faith, humor (even dark humor), and a profound gratitude for the opportunities they found in America. Though these individuals now live in the Pacific Northwest, their experiences are universal, reminding us of the enduring impact of hope and resilience. With a growing focus on Holocaust and genocide education and the pressing issues surrounding immigration, racial justice, and refugees, I Lived to Tell the World shines a light on lives shaped by strength and purpose despite painful pasts.



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ABOUT THE AUTHORElizabeth Mehren is a writer, editor, and educator based in Portland, Oregon. After working at The Washington Post, she became a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and later spent a decade on the faculty at Boston University. Mehren earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at UC Berkeley and has written for national magazines, appeared on television and radio, and received awards for teaching and journalism. I Lived to Tell the World is her fifth book.

Stories from Survivors of Holocaust, Genocide, and the Atrocities of War  

“Machetes were for the poor. You had to pay to be shot. Can you imagine paying someone to shoot you?” 

Emmanuel Turaturanye, recalling the bloody irony of the genocidal massacres in his native Rwanda  


https://www.elizabethmehren.com

www.theimmigrantstory.org

elizabethmehrenauthor@gmail.com


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