Dying To Ask

Denise Austin is one of the original fitness influencers. And she's as passionate about getting America moving as she was in the early 1980s. Denise got her TV start as the first fitness correspondent on the Today Show. She was a natural and quickly became a household name. That led to a daily 30 minute exercise show that aired for more than 20 years. She went on to sell more than 25 million exercise VHS tapes and DVDs. She authored 12 best selling books. More than 40 years later, Denise is still sharing workouts on social media and YouTube. And, her daughter Katie is a popular fitness influencer for Gen Z and millennials. How'd she stay passionate about her job for more than four decades? "You go to meet the people, you feel the love . You think, yeah, this is why I'm doing it. They tell you their stories, and how much better they feel," says Denise. In this episode, Denise shares how she maintains her positivity no matter what obstacle life throws her way. We're going beyond fitness and getting advice on gr

You are what you eat. And if you're stressed or depressed, you might be able to blame your lunch. Dr. Candice Seti is the author of Shatter the Yoyo. She's a food psychologist. She studies the brain-body food link. "It's the idea of nutritional psychiatry and the idea of connecting how food makes us feel. And there are certain foods that make us feel better than others," says Dr. Seti. Omega 3 rich foods like salmon are great for brain health. Fruits, veggies and seeds? All good. But other foods can be a torpedo to your mental health. No surprise, it's anything sugary or processed. Dr. Seti says, "People don't always make the connection that when your brain is healthy your body tends to be healthy, and when you're lacking these things we're more likely to be depressed." Understanding the why might be exactly what you need to make better choices. And shifting your behavior can really help in stressful times. On this Dying to Ask: Foods to boost your mood Foods most likely to bum you out or increase anxiety Ho

Need a pick-me-up? Skip the coffee and try a movement bite. Jessica Schatz is a celebrity trainer and biomechanics and ProACTIVE Aging expert. She's trained professional athletes, Broadway stars and Hollywood actors for decades. Those athletes and performers need to maintain energy to perform. Jessica says the key to maintaining energy and aging well isn't destroying yourself in a two-hour gym workout. It's a lot easier than that. It's incorporating five-minute exercise breaks frequently into your day. Even 30 seconds of jumping jacks, pushups or squats can go a long way. Jessica calls them movement bites. "They increase your blood flow. They increase your heart rate. And they start to release these proteins, these Myokines, and they also release a protein called BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor. It's like fertilizer for your brain," Schatz said. It's good news for anyone not crazy about chasing the elusive runner's high. Creating a positive neurfeedback loop doesn't have to leave you exhausted. It jus

A summer bucket list is like a personal manifesto of fun in the sun.  It's a list of ideas, big and small, of things you'd like to do or accomplish over the summer.  The goal is to collect your thoughts in one place so you can seize the day when you find free time.   Writing down your list improves the likelihood you'll actually follow through on those activities and not just scroll Instagram! And it's a great way to spend time with your family and friends while ditching your screens.   On this Dying to Ask:  A three step plan to starting your summer bucket list How to make it a summer tradition with your kids And how to create one as an adult that focuses on fun and productivity Where to find pre-done bucket lists for families with little kids

Stop the summer brain drain by getting your kids hooked on reading this summer. This is part two of the 10th annual KCRA summer beach reads series. Last week, we took a look at the best summer beach reads for adults with Tina Ferguson, owner of "Face in a Book" bookstore. This week, we're focusing on books for kids of all ages. Tina says the key to getting a kid to put a screen down is to offer a book that's more compelling than any video. And there are lots to choose from. Have a reluctant reader? Tina says it's helpful to let your child drive the book bus. Let them pick out what interests them. Graphic novels continue to be a huge trend for kids who aren't naturally drawn to reading. Her favorite this year is a book called "The Cartoonists Club." "I chose this one because graphic novels are great for reluctant readers. A lot of parents might think graphical novels aren't what they would choose for their child. But graphic novels actually have great vocabulary," Tina says.  Titles mentioned: "The Secret Let

It's time for our annual "Summer Beach Reads" episode on Dying to Ask. The 2025 summer titles will not disappoint. Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book bookstore, is back as our guide to all things literary. Tina and I have been doing a beach reads segment or podcast episode for 10 years now. And her pics this summer are a delightful blend of non-fiction and fiction. But our episode starts with a reality check on what the publishing industry looks like these days. Are people reading as much as they were during COVID-19 after they finished Netflix? Are romance sales as steamy as they were last year? Is Mark Twain about to follow in Hamilton's steps and be the next great musical thanks to a hot new offering from Ron Chernow? Don't miss this episode and please be sure to share it with your bookish friends and book clubs! Titles mentioned: "Headshot" "Glorious Exploits" "River of Lies" "We Solve Murders" "Mark Twain" "Tartufo"     Other places to listen CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes CLICK HERE to listen on S

Can you fidget your way to fitness? You can if you're a NEAT person. We're not talking about the organized type of neat.  NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. It's the energy you burn when you're moving about the day and *not when you're in a purposeful workout at the gym. It's things like walking to your car, folding the laundry, pacing on a phone call, taking the garbage cans out, and yes even fidgeting. Those are the calories a lot of us aren't burning enough and they are crucial to weight management and longevity. A Mayo Clinic study found people who sit at a job for six or more hours a day have a 35-40% increased risk of shorter lifespan. You can offset that by moving more. The key is being active in small spurts all day longer and not just an hour in a workout class. On this Dying to Ask  How to figure out if you're not moving enough  And easy ways to burn more calories by simply living your life

Move over, hustle culture. An Ivy League school says we're not lazy enough. Yale University researchers studied stressed-out students. They discovered that a scheduled day of doing nothing had powerful health benefits. Read more about the study here. Students reported improvements in mood, sleep, and anxiety almost immediately. Love being productive? That's great. But scheduling some downtime might make you happier, healthier and ultimately more motivated to get things done. On this Dying to Ask: Why laziness (in scheduled doses) could be a superpower And a 4-step plan to doing nothing

Say this, not that. Knowing what to say in the heat of the moment is key to defusing workplace drama. Karin Hurt and David Dye should know. They wrote the book on it. Karin and David are leadership experts and the founders of Let's Grow Leaders. They surveyed 5,000 people in 45 countries to gauge the most common forms of workplace conflict. The results aren't good. Workplace conflict is more complicated than ever before, thanks to an uncertain economy, remote work and a changing workforce. "And so that is all of that really combines to make complex conflict cocktails," says David. Karin Hurt and David Dye are the authors of "Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict." It offers 300 phrases to diffuse everything from micromanagers to bullies to passive-aggressive types. "Well, the first thing you do is don't call them passive-aggressive," says Karin. "One of the most important things that you can do there is to start with a connection, you know. So start, you know, making the human connection. 'You

Have you ever kept up a streak? A mini streak is a great way to start a new habit. A mini streak is a short period of time of intense focus on a behavior you hope to make a long-term habit. It's a bite sized commitment that can be easily attainable and perhaps inspire bigger, more meaningful change at a later date. In this re-release of a "5 with Fitz," episode, we're looking at three ways to try out a habit mini streak.

Grab a timer and get ready to say goodbye to procrastination. The Pomodoro Method is a data-backed way of getting stuff done. The time management technique is named after Francesco Cirillo. He was an Italian student in the 1980s who struggled with procrastination. Francisco had a tomato-shaped kitchen timer on his desk. Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato. He set it for 25 minutes and committed to focusing on his work until the timer went off. Then he took a five-minute break. Timing work and break intervals had a remarkable effect on his productivity and mood. And the Pomodoro Technique was born. It's easy to try and very effective with getting work, homework and even household chores done. It's easy to try and very effective with getting work, homework and even household chores done. On this Dying to Ask: How pomodoro intervals work Why this procrastination technique is effective What happened to Francisco Cirillo after he developed this time management method Other places to listen CLICK HERE to list

All I need is three more hours in the day and life would be great.  I've told myself that a million times.   But Laura Vanderkam says it's not the number of hours in a day that's the problem. It's how you use them.   This episode is a re-release of one of my favorite author experts to follow on social media. Vanderkam is a time and productivity expert.  Vanderkam is the New York Times best-selling author of eight books on time management and host of the daily productivity podcast Before Breakfast. Her books include "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast" and "168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think." "We all have 24 hours in a day," she said. "And many of the things we think are happening in our lives are based mostly on impressions." Vanderkam says the easiest way to unlock free time is to keep a time log of what you actually do in a day. Often, we think we're busier than we are and can change our relationship with the clock.  Vanderkam has tracked every minute of her day for years.   "Peo

Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley's workout secret? ChatGPT. "You can be like hey, give me a give me a six week routine for getting ready for skiing that Olympic champion Hannah Kearney would do. And it just like spits out stuff that they used to have whole departments for at the U.S. Ski Team," says Moseley. Moseley is a two-time Olympic freestyle skier who won gold in moguls at the 1998 Nagano Games. He transitioned easily into a TV career. Decades later, he's still active in his sport and mentors the current team of mogulists hoping to podium at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Decades after winning gold, Jonny approaches health and fitness in a totally different way than he did as a pro athlete. "I do like high-intensity stuff. But now I have to prioritize a lot of stuff. Like the yoga comes first. Otherwise, I pay for it!" Moseley said. On this Dying to Ask: How the Olympic mindset still shapes Moseley's health and fitness views Why restorative and mobility exercises are critical as you age A funny, n

From burned out to fired up. Maryam Sharifzadeh takes the woo out of corporate wellness. Maryam is a corporate wellness consultant. Companies hire her to create and implement wellness strategies to improve employee mental and physical health. Healthy employees tend to be happier employees. Happier employees tend to clock in and be productive. "There's a lot of good research coming out that when we feel good we do better. Our work is better. We're more productive. The research is out there," says Maryam. Maryam founded a company called Office Yoga 10 years ago. That program went global and was used in more than 475 companies around the world including Amazon, Oracle and Twitter. The pandemic changed everything. Employers are turning to wellness programs to reinvigorate staffers and build engagement. But, it goes both ways. Taking advantage of wellness programs can energize an employee to better manage and enjoy their personal life too. Maryam's latest company is ZaaS. It stands for Zen-as-a-Service. And she's

Springing forward got you down, or up? Check out this re-release of our episode with U.S. News & World Report sleep expert Julia Forbes. Can't sleep? You're not alone but getting some good ZZZ's could be one hack away. The U.S. News & World Report annual survey on sleep is out. Survey says: 75% of us are too stressed out to get a good night's sleep. Julia Forbes is the magazine's sleep editor. She says there's a lot keeping us up. "Life stressors. You have work. You have kids. There are big world events that are top of mind that we also cover in our sleep survey," says Julia. Julia's journey to becoming an expert on all things sleep is fascinating. And, she reports getting nine hours of sleep a night so she practices what she preaches. Bad sleep is linked to everything from health issues to mood problems. That phrase "everything is better after a good night's sleep?" It's legit. Want to increase productivity? You need to sleep. Want to be in a better mood? You need to sleep. Having issues with your pa

Go to bed. Saying night-night to your devices at the same time every night could do wonders for your sleep and overall happiness. It's called a digital sunset and the new trend is easy to try. Start by setting an alert on your phone or iPad to remind you to wind down. That's your cue to put the phone or any other device away for the night. The goal is to set it at the same time every night at least 30 minutes before you want to be in bed. Next, start whatever bedtime ritual you need to relax and nod off. Yes, it's just like putting a kid to bed. And double yes, going through your *own routine can make a big impact in your life. On this Dying to Ask: 5 reasons you should embrace a digital sunset and a plan to pull it off  

How much attention do you give to your financial wellness. The answer is likely "not enough." Jean Chatzky wants to change that. Jean is the CEO and creator of Her Money, a personal finance brand that teaches money through media. It's a website, newsletter, podcast and more designed primarily for women, by women. You likely know Jean from her more than 20 years as the financial editor of the "Today" show. She went out on her own a few years ago to help women embrace taking control of their finances. Jean has a knack for breaking down complex economic ideas into simple, digestible facts. And, she has empathy and insight for some of the curves life can throw your financial situation. In this Dying to Ask: How Jean became a financial expert on TV What it was like leaving the Today Show and launching her own media brand How to build wealth at any age Why female wealth is growing faster than ever  

Is it just me or is making new friends as an adult harder than when you were a kid?  There are entire Reddit boards dedicated to helping people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond make new friendships.  The reality is we form new connections differently as we age. Some of it is location based.  College students have built in opportunities to meet new people through classes and shared living arrangements.  But, things change when you graduate and move into the real world. Get married or become a parent and they change again.  You find yourself in new environments and those opportunities to form new connections shrinks based on your responsibilities.  But having good friends is key to managing stress and happiness. But it's definitely harder to meet new friends as an adult.  I met Cindy Muchnick, an educational consultant and co-author of The Parent Compass, during the pandemic when I interviewed her on Zoom.  We found ourselves chatting about all kinds of things after the interview.  Years later, we've only seen

It's easy to leave a job when you're miserable. It's way harder when you're happy. And David Wise loves his day job.  And that's why the 34-year-old freeskier has decided to push to make his fourth Olympic Team despite being one of the older competitors in freeskiing.  "I still love going out there and grinding and doing this day in and day out, and so I don't want to stop before I feel like I'm done," David said.  David is a three-time Olympian who has won two gold medals and a silver in ski halfpipe.  His trophy case is full of titles and awards he's won since he was a teenager. At 34, he's a veteran of his sport. But that's not the only thing that makes him stand out.  David is also married and a father of two.  That's unusual in his sport and he's always said having a family has given him a balance many athletes lack. His daughter homeschools and sometimes travels with him to training and competitions. "Now, my daughter's 13 years old," Wise said. "She has teenager problems." On this Dying to Ask:  How t

Where's your battery level? It might be the best question you can ask to gauge your mental health. That's the advice from David Ko. His new book, Recharge, challenges readers to give their mental health the same attention they give their cellphone battery. "Everyone looks at their phone battery. Some people want to keep it charged all the time at like 90%. Some people will take it all the way down or put it in the yellow. And so we wanted to give you some tips and techniques in terms of making some of those parallels," says David. David is the CEO of the Calm meditation and wellness app. You'd think he'd be the master of all things Zen. He's not. He's a guy with a big tech job, a family and all the stressors of normal life. He overheard a friend ask her kid "how's your battery" rather than saying "how are you" and the power of the analogy struck him.  David says, "People look at their phone over a 150 times a day at a minimum. They're constantly looking at it. And so every once in a while, check on yourself w