The Interview with Leslie Heaney

Today, Leslie sits down with journalist, lawyer, political commentator, and writer Gordon G. Chang about his latest book, “Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America”. Described by The New Yorker as a “longtime uber hawk on China”, Chang’s latest thesis outlines what he believes is an existential threat from China towards the U.S. and the current world order. Leslie talks with Gordon about his current perspective on U.S.-China relations and his recommendations on what the U.S. can do today to avert what he believes are China’s nefarious plans toward the U.S. and the Western World. A graduate of Cornell and Cornell Law School, Chang lived in mainland China for nearly two decades as a Partner and Counsel for Baker McKenzie and Paul Weiss. Chang has given briefings at the National Intelligence Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Department of Defense. He has testified before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. His writings on China and North Korea have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune, and National Review, among other publications. Chang has also appeared as a guest and commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg Television, as well as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In this riveting episode, Leslie discusses Chang’s compelling perspective. For anyone interested in U.S.-China relations – an extremely relevant and important topic today – this episode is for you! If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

Today Leslie sits down with Preston Konrad and Lisa Manice - Co-creators of Preston Lane – a new luxury home care company.  Preston Konrad is a lifestyle expert, creative director and television personality based out of New York City. He spent his early career as a creative director and marketing genius working for storied brands like Ralph Lauren, Belstaff and American Eagle Outfitters. Preston started his own marketing and consulting business for companies about twelve years ago. When Preston is not offering style tips to his almost 1 million Instagram followers, Preston can be regularly seen on The Today Show, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America and more. Lisa Manice is the other half of this juggernaut duo and brings decades of marketing genius and business successes to the table. Lisa is a visionary business leader and expert in forging win-win partnerships that accelerate growth for global companies, private equity firms, and celebrities. Prior to joining forces with Preston Konrad, Lisa served as an executive of Belstaff, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger and Tiger Chark. Preston and Lisa saw a gap in the marketplace with high end home care goods at an affordable price, and instead of developing this idea for another company (they have been launching and marketing brands on behalf of clients for decades) - they decided to launch their own line for the first time. Preston Lane’s products boasts all natural ingredients, and beautiful packaging at affordable prices. Its entire line of hand soap, dish soap, countertop sprays and candles grace every home both with beautiful design and gorgeous scents that are safe for you and your family. They are the perfect gift for everyone this holiday season! Preston Lane was launched just this past summer and in that short time, their products are lining the shelves at Nordstroms, they just opened a pop-up store at Hudson Yard and have announced an incredible partnership with Centric Brands. Preston Lane is on its way to becoming everyone’s answer to elevated home care. This episode is for all of you budding entrepreneurs out there or all of us who have fantasized about starting their own company. In it, Leslie speaks with these brilliant and hilarious partners, Preston and Lisa, about their inspirations and gathers their expert advice on dos and don’ts for starting and marketing a products company. For a master class on what it takes to launch a successful company, this episode is for you! If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the horrific attack by Hamas on the people of Israel on October 7th, I and many others were shocked to witness not a clear and staunch condemnation of terrorism, but an explosion of ugly antisemitic sentiment and protests.  These attacks extended to Jewish thought leaders and authors, many of whom had speaking engagements and book deals cancelled. Jewish owned bookstores and publishing houses were boycotted. Author, podcaster, and founder of Zibby Media, Zibby Owens responded by speaking out and taking action. Zibby reached out to fellow Jewish authors to ask them to write essays about their experiences after October 7th. Over 100 Jewish authors and advocates responded, and the result is this amazing book edited by Zibby entitled, On Being Jewish Now. All proceeds from On Being Jewish Now benefit Artists Against Antisemitism of which Zibby is also a cofounder. In today’s episode, I speak with 5 of these courageous contributors: Lisa Barr, author of the bestselling Women on Fire and The Goddess of Warsaw,  Judy Batalion, bestselling author of The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos which has been optioned by Steven Spielberg, Alyssa Rosenheck a celebrated interiors photographer who has been recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the top photographers in the country in addition to being a writer, author and advocate, David Kaufman a writer, editor and columnist for The New York Post, and last but certainly not least, Nicola Kraus – bestselling author of The Nanny Diaries among several bestselling works. In this conversation, we talk about the antisemitism these authors and advocates have faced since October 7th, their essays in the book, what it feels like to be Jewish in this moment, what they are doing to combat antisemitism and hate and what we should all be doing to support our Jewish friends and neighbors. I admire guests Lisa, Judy, Alyssa, Nicola and David so much for all that they are doing, Zibby for putting this important book together and everyone who is both a contributor to this book and standing up against Antisemitism in ways big and small.

About 38 million people have diabetes in the United States. 1 in 300 Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime; 1 in 15 with a family history of the disease.  Inexplicably, cases of Type 1 diabetes in America are on the rise. In recognition of National Diabetes Month, this week’s episode features a group of extraordinary women who are working to raise funds and awareness to put diabetes out of business: Allison Aston, Dr. Natasha Leibel and Lynn Starr.   Allison Aston is a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes.  She is Senior Vice President Partnerships, Events and Charitable Giving of Veronica Beard and through her work featuring Breakthrough TD1 as its highlighted charity through its VB Gives Back program, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for diabetes research and awareness.  A leading expert in diabetes treatment, Dr. Natasha Leibel is the Director of the Pediatric Diabetes Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Lynn Starr is Breakthrough T1D’s chief global advocacy officer. She provides strategic and operational leadership to advance the organization’s mission globally through legislative, regulatory and health policy actions.  She and her daughter were both diagnosed with Type 1 as adults.  In this episode, this illustrious group of guests talk about what it is like to be a parent with a child who is managing the disease, current treatment options, the exciting new therapies that are delaying its onset and the groundbreaking research that could lead to the eradication of this disease.    To learn all you need to know about diabetes and its promise for the cure and for a daily boost of inspiration, this episode is for you! If you enjoy the show, please rate and review. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @TheInterviewWithLeslie. A new podcast is released every Wednesday.