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Eleanor Clift is a columnist for the Daily Beast, an online publication. She writes about politics and policy in Washington, and the partisan clashes that make governing almost impossible. Clift has covered every presidential campaign since 1976 and bring her perspective to analyze the dynamics between an unconventional president and his party, and an opposition party still licking its wounds over its loss in 2016. Clift is best known as a panelist on the syndicated talk show, “The McLaughlin Group,” which ended a 34-year run with the death of the host in 2016. She has appeared as herself in several movies, including “Dave,” “Independence Day,” “Murder at 1600,” “Rising Sun,” and the CBS series, “Murphy Brown.” Clift and her late husband, Tom Brazaitis, who was a columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, wrote two books together, “War Without Bloodshed: The Art of Politics” (Scribner, 1996), and “Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling (Scribner, 2000). Madam President is available in paperback (Routledge Press). Clift’s book, “Founding Sisters,” is about the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the vote (John Wiley & Sons, 2003). Her recent book, “Two Weeks of Life: A Memoir of Love, Death and Politics” (Basic Books, 2008) is about the loss of her husband together with an examination of how we deal with death in America. “Selecting a President,” written with Matthew Spieler (Thomas Dunne Books), published in 2012, examines the process that for all its flaws is better than the alternative. Formerly Newsweek’s White House correspondent, Clift also served as congressional and political correspondent for six years. She was a key member of the magazine’s 1992 election team, following the campaign of Bill Clinton from the start to inauguration day. In June 1992 she was named Deputy Washington bureau chief.

As a reporter in Newsweek’s Atlanta bureau, Clift covered Jimmy Carter’s bid for the presidency. She followed Carter to Washington to become Newsweek’s White House correspondent, a position she held until 1985. Clift began her career as a secretary to Newsweek’s National Affairs editor in New York. She was one of the first women at the magazine to move from secretary to reporter. Clift left Newsweek briefly in 1985 to serve as White House correspondent for The Los Angeles Times. She returned to Newsweek the following year to cover the Iran-Contra scandal, which embroiled President Reagan and tarnished his administration. Clift covered every presidential campaign since 1976, and was part of Newsweek’s special project team following the 1984, 2000, 2004 and 2008 elections, each of which resulted in a book. The most recent, “A Long Time Coming,” written by Evan Thomas and based on the Newsweek team’s reporting (Public Affairs, 2009) chronicles the history-making campaign of Barack Obama. Clift lives in Washington, D.C., where she is on the advisory council of the International Women’s Media Foundation, the board of the American News Women’s Club, the Board of Governor’s of the National Hospice Foundation, and the board of Respect Ability, which advocates for people with disabilities.

A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, MD, is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. He has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in the defense of Oprah Winfrey in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. In 2017, Dr. Greger was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award. He is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. His latest book How Not to Die became an instant New York Times Best Seller. He has videos on more than 2,000 health topics freely available at NutritionFacts.org, with new videos and articles uploaded every day. All proceeds he receives from his books, DVDs, and speaking engagements is all donated to charity. More information is available at: https://drgreger.org/  

Marc Mallat is a transpersonal psychotherapist, corporate trainer, and creator of the groundbreaking therapeutic healing process – the Dimensional Awareness Process. He has over 30 years of experience in personal development training, acquiring “hands-on” knowledge and practical expertise in several different types of psychotherapies, healing and behavioral change methods. He has dedicated himself to intense “inner work” and continuous, never-ending improvement. Mallat is the CEO of Progressions Group—a company specialized in classical corporate trainings, life coaching, personal development, transpersonal psychotherapy, and energetic healing modalities. More information available at: www.progressionsgroup.com

Michael S. Odenis a behavioral and communication expert, consultant/counselor, international speaker, trainer and workshop facilitator. He is an expert in human behavior and a coach who forthe past 20 years as a probation officer and in private practice, has helped thousands of clients (adults and teens) who struggle with addiction, abuse, low self-esteem, poor performance or unhealthy relationships, turn their lives around.

Michael developed “The Needs Based Method®” therapeutic modality and is the founder of “Final Step Int.”, abehavior awareness programthat focuses on getting to the core of the individuals needs and helping the client change those behaviors that are preventing life rewarding achievements. Michael believes that once a person has gained Emotional Wellness, they will be able to move forward and make healthier decisions throughout their lives without hesitation and fully confident.

His success rate with childhood trauma clients stems from his early years as a probation officerworking with people from all walks of life who had turned to addiction in response to that trauma.As a teacher in the juvenile camps,Michael has helped hundreds of youth with drug and alcohol abuse problems linked to criminal behavior find alternative methods for fulfilling their needs.

Michael’s book "When Nobody's Home", winner of the 2016 Eric Hoffer award, is a straight forward, compelling nuts and bolts examination of the behaviors that lead to drug abuse, addictions, violence or emotional distress and his unique technique, that gives the individual an awareness and understanding as to how certain “needs” are being met by the destructive behaviors and how to change those behaviors from life diminishing to life fulfilling.  Mr. Oden is the recipient of the IRWIN Award for Most Innovative Writer for the Needs Based Method® technique he developed.

Michael has presented his successful Needs Based Method® techniqueto numerous organizations, schools and universities including USC, Cal State LA, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Dominquez Hills, Harvard Faculty Club, Men’s Association for Addition Treatment, Clearview Treatment Program, Bridges to Recovery, New Jersey’s Center for Mental Health, Amtrak, Del Amo Hospital, Haven House and the Department of Juvenile Services to name a few. He has been featured on several radio talk shows and received multiple awards of recognition.

Michael received his M.A. in Counseling in Psychologyfrom the National University, Los Angeles, CA and his B.A. in Sociology from the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA. He served in the US Marine Corp Reserve where he was the Director of Human Relations.Michael splits his time between his private practice and his work as a Deputy Probation Officer in the State of California.

An inspiration and role model to the millions who have heard his story and and seen his videos, Mike Harrington had no idea the impact his health journey would have on the rest of the world when he first set out. As he persisted through his journey and the weight loss was becoming noticeable, people began to tell him that it was motivating them to take charge of their own health. And, after losing over 200 pounds, Mike’s story got the attention of the media.



His story and videos have been featured in numerous web sites and on television shows such as USA Today, MSN Health, Yahoo Fitness Weight Loss Win, Fox 61’s Stan Simpson Show, RVN TV’s Mid Day with Dana, Donovan Green (Dr. Oz' Personal Trainer) Podcast, and Gilad’s Bodies In Motion newsletter. Mike was also a featured presenter at the Toastmasters District 53 Fall 2017 Conference with his “Half the Man, Double the Awesome” presentation.



Mike receives dozens of messages and emails each month from people seeking advice, pouring out their hearts about their health struggles, and how his story has inspired them and given them some hope. Over the past several years Mike has met and spoken to many people, giving tips on lessons learned through his journey, and more importantly, about sustaining health. Mike is a big fan of Lifestyle Medicine, a branch of medicine which promotes curing chronic illness with lifestyle changes over medication or other means.



Mike has a passion for healthy living and helping others who are looking for a symbol of hope. More than mere weight loss, Mike’s story is about his triumph over the adversities in his life. Most weekends you can find Mike hiking in the woods where he hosts his weekly Facebook Live broadcast, “Hike with Mike” on which he talks about a variety of topics related to health, motivation, and dealing with personal struggles.



Mike’s mission is to “Inspire People To Take Charge Of Their Lives And Their Health By Being An Example Of What Is Possible”.

G  A  R  Y

P  I  H  L

MONSTER GUITARIST

WITH

B O S T O N  &  A L L I A N C E

BRAND NEW ALBUM ENTITLED 'FIRE & GRACE'

WITH ALLIANCE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Raised in the suburbs of Chicago for the first 12 years of his life, Gary Pihl relocated to the San Francisco Bay area.  At 19, Gary had his recording debut with Day Blindness in 1969. He says, “After my time in Day Blindness, I was in a band called Fox with Roy Garcia and Johnny V (Vernazza), who went on to play in Elvin Bishop’s band.  We were on shows with Free (with Paul Rogers), Janis Joplin, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Eric Burdon and War and Mose Allison.”

Pihl’s first big break in came in 1977, when he joined Sammy Hagar’s band, where he toured and recorded for 8 years. Gary met Tom Scholz when Hagar was opening for BOSTON between ’77 and ’79. In 1985, Sammy joined Van Halen, however, Pihl didn’t miss a beat. He explains, “Tom called me up when he was working on the Third Stage album, he had one more song left to be recorded and asked me if I’d come out to work with him on it. As it turned out, I flew directly from Farm Aid (my last gig with Hagar) to Boston, so I wasn’t out of work for a day. I thought, how lucky could a guy get?”

Alliance is one of the best melodic hard rock bands you’ve probably never heard of even though the band has collaborated together for nearly 30 years and counting.

Featuring longtime and current Boston guitarist Gary Pihl (a Boston member since 1985 who’s performed on the band’s last four studio albums and who also did a lengthy stint as Sammy Hagar’s guitarist prior to Hagar joining Van Halen), former Sammy Hagar drummer David Lauser (whose ties with Sammy go back to Hagar’s earliest musical days and who performed with Sammy for years in his solo band and with Sammy’s Waboritas) and Alliance lead vocalist/bassist/songwriter Robert Berry, who is also currently the bassist with the Greg Kihn Band and formerly with the Keith Emerson/Carl Palmer trio 3.

During those 30 years, the band has released five highly regarded albums – Bond of Union (1996), Alliance (1997), Missing Piece (1999), Destination Known (2007) and Road to Heaven (2008) – all of which reveal their amazing musicianship, well-crafted songwriting and tight ensemble playing.

These talents are again on full display with the release of the band’s sixth and latest album, the brand-new Fire and Grace (Escape Records).  Melodic, driving hard rock at its finest, this is one great record.

Purchase the brand-new album from Alliance entitled ‘Fire and Grace’ at amazon.com

For more information about Gary Pihl visit …

Link to the Alliance website: http://www.robertberry.com/alliance.html

Link to Boston’s website: https://bandboston.com 

Link to info on the new album, Fire and Grace:  

https://melodicrock.com/articles/news-feed/2019/03/22/alliance-return-new-album…

Pushing the boundaries of classical opera, Calgary’s Michelle Minke has made a career out of inspired disruption. She has performed over 1,000 shows to over 10,000 people at once including performing at the world famous Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show.

With her boundless vitality and powerful voice, Michelle performed throughout Europe and North America before returning to her home town of Calgary. As founder and artistic director of Calgary’s Cowtown Opera and Summer Academy, Michelle’s heartfelt excitement for contributing to the cultural identity of her city has earned her a place among arts champions.



She is a Masters graduate in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Toronto and the Opera School at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England as well as the Solti Te Kanawa Accademia in Italy, where she studied with operatic legend, Mirella Freni.  Performing across Canada and overseas, she has been acclaimed by international audiences at the Anghiari Festival in Tuscany Italy and at Spitalfields festival in London England as well as other concert performances throughout Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and France.

Michelle has 18 awards, including being named as one of Calgary’s Top 40-Under-40 by Avenue Magazine, was a recipient of the Mayor’s Enbridge Emerging Artist Award and named one of Alberta’s 25 Inspiring Artists by Alberta Foundation for the Arts for her commitment to the arts community of Calgary. She been nominated for Female Artist of the Year by the YYC Music Awards, and recently won the Cultural Ambassador Award for the Women of Inspiration 2018. 

DALLAS THORNTON

Los Angeles-based and Boulder-bred, he is an Indie-Pop/Rock artist and producer known for his high-energy performances and positive message. He has played for audiences in 9 countries and from coast to coast of the U.S. spreading a message of peace.

​Thornton serves as Artist In Residence for Common Foundation, a philanthropic incubator that serves 225+ companies across 27 industries and 20 countries for the benefit of people, planet and peace.

He’s been songwriting, performing and producing for over a decade and sometime after this photo was taken also earned a degree from Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA in Contemporary Writing and Production. 

The answer is love, and music its soundtrack.