I’ve Been Thinking … A New Generation Must Draw the Line

Before February 14, we thought we had plenty of time. We wanted to do something that would make the world a better place, to fight for justice as lawyers or activists or crusading journalists, to be responsible citizens and raise good-­hearted children. But first we had to finish high school....

Media Veteran Founds ‘Report For America’ to Provide Quality Journalism to Underserved Communities

Steve Waldman, a former Washington political journalist, believes that many parts of our country are underserved when it comes to quality local news coverage. Pulling the best elements of AmeriCorps, Teach for America, the Peace Corps and the nation’s best nonprofit news organizations, Wa...

I’ve Been Thinking … About What We All Can Agree On

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of our union and how much it feels like we’ve become the Divided States of America. These days, we’re living in an age of the preposterous and the unthinkable. We’re subjected to a 24/7 news cycle of anger and adrenaline that entert...

I’ve Been Thinking …Be In Charge Of Your Own Happiness

How many of us really depend on ourselves to fulfill our own happiness? At one time or another, I think most of us have heard that no one else can make us happy. We’ve also heard that money can’t fill our voids or nagging emptiness that we may feel. But then, why do we still turn to t...

I’ve Been Thinking … I Was Once Suicidal. Now I Live in Bliss. Here’s What Helped Me.

Last week, the suicides of celebrities Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain shocked the world. Many people wondered publicly, how could people with unimaginable success, good looks, admiration, and incredible wealth feel unhappy enough to end their lives. But silently, a lot of us already underst...

Maria’s Sunday Paper: Now Is the Time to Find Your Voice. Now Is the Time to Care.

I’ve changed this column numerous times over the past few days. Why? Because words matter, and I wanted to convey a message this week that is hopeful, yet still has just the right amount of indignation to it. After all, this is a moment that requires some indignation. Over the last...

I’ve Been Thinking … The Gift of Listening

 We each have within us a beautiful capacity for understanding one another. Especially in difficulties, we must learn to listen in a new caring way. Some years ago, one of the greatest primate biologists, George Schaller, came back from studying gorillas in Africa. Dr. Schaller was the m...

I’ve Been Thinking … Why Confronting My ‘Trolls’ Opened My Eyes

I don’t want to brag, but someone from Twitter once told me that I have some of the worst trolls on the platform. Okay, I am bragging, and I know that’s a weird thing to brag about, but in my less horrified moments I can see it as some indication that people who don’t agree with me are...

I’ve Been Thinking …Three Green Lights

We don’t need as much confirmation as we think we do.   I spend a lot of time on planes. I mean, a lot. People are everywhere, and I like to be with people, so planes are just a part of my life. Last year I flew almost a half million miles. They call me “Mr. G” at the local air...

I’ve Been Thinking … Why Starting a Podcast Changed the Course of Our Lives

My friend and I recently embarked on a fascinating journey at a time in life when many are slowing down, or maybe like us, looking for a way to stay engaged or even reinvent themselves. One of our many common threads over a 30 year friendship has been our desire to grow, keep life interestin...