Welcome to this episode of Curveball, hosted by Scott Reich, where we dive into the stories of people who have faced life’s biggest challenges head-on. Today, Scott sits down with the iconic Gloria Steinem—trailblazing journalist, women’s rights advocate, and a defining voice of the feminist movement.

In this deeply personal conversation, Gloria reflects on the influence of her childhood, shaped by her mother’s struggles with mental illness, and the lack of female role models in her early years. She shares how these experiences led her to journalism and fueled her passion for social justice.

Together, Scott and Gloria discuss the origins of Ms. Magazine, the importance of community in driving social change, and her firsthand observations of landmark moments like the MeToo movement. Gloria also offers timeless advice for those navigating their own curveballs, speaks candidly about grief and resilience, and shares her thoughts on where we stand today in the fight for gender equality and political change.

This episode is a celebration of finding magic within ourselves, the power of collective action, and the importance of building supportive, diverse communities. Whether you’re facing challenges of your own or simply seeking inspiration, Gloria Steinem’s wisdom and warmth offer encouragement and hope for the journey ahead.

What Listeners Will Learn:

• Gloria Steinem speaks candidly about her mother's struggle with mental illness
• Gloria mentions being inspired by the work of Louisa May Alcott rather than by female journalists, as there were so few visible when she was young.
• Ms. Magazine played a critical role in the women’s movement.
• Steinem discusses working in male-dominated media spaces and being assigned stories based on her gender (like writing about pantyhose).
• Gloria describes finding strength and resilience through community.”
• The episode delves into the significance of the #MeToo movement and Gloria’s surprise at the swiftness of its global reach.
• Steinem says that turmoil—like the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements—can be positive.
• Throughout the interview, Gloria emphasizes the importance of connecting across differences and not being isolated by “otherness.”

Our Guest:

Gloria Steinem

Key Moments:

(00:00) Mother's Struggles with Addiction

(03:09) Gender Bias and Encouragement

(09:09) Collaborative Activism Overcoming Adversity

(09:59) Gloria's Resilience Amid Criticism

(14:45) Magic of Reading and Self-Discovery

(17:18) Political Divide and Societal Fear

(22:37) Progress Outpacing Representation

(26:08) Unique Love with Global Insights

(30:05) Future Leaders: Beyond Politics

(30:54) Connection: Humanity's Essential Force

(35:36) Building Community Through Connection

On this episode of Curveball, host Scott Reich welcomes Roni Habib—educator, founder of EQ Schools, and author of "Happy and Resilient: the Complete Guide to Joyful Teaching, Learning and Living." Roni opens up about the curveballs that have shaped his life: from a life-threatening brain tumor and the harrowing loss of a beloved student to suicide, to the recent passing of his brother to cancer. Through candid storytelling, Roni shares not only how these challenges impacted him, but the powerful lessons he drew from each experience—about resilience, meaning, and the importance of self-compassion. He reveals how embracing vulnerability and prioritizing well-being transformed his approach to teaching, connection, and living joyfully, even in the face of the unimaginable. Whether you’re navigating your own personal curveball or searching for inspiration on how to find light after loss, Roni’s journey offers hope, practical tools, and a reminder that even in our darkest times, growth and gratitude are possible.

Our guest:

Roni Habib

Listeners will learn:

• Roni describes his experience with a brain tumor at a young age as a "curveball."
• The episode discusses how perception can become reality, especially in the context of interpreting traumatic experiences.
• Roni shares the heartbreak of a student’s suicide and its impact on him as an educator.
• He mentions the concept of "putting your own oxygen mask on first" when dealing with personal struggles as a caretaker or educator.
• The Positive Psychology course Roni created became unexpectedly popular among students.
• Roni emphasizes creating spaces where students—and adults—can be vulnerable and authentic.
• Reflecting on loss and grief, Roni says that everyone experiences grief differently and that it’s vital not to suppress difficult emotions.
• Roni found meaning in his losses by transforming them into purpose-driven work and creating EQ Schools.
• The discussion includes the power of connection and practices like gratitude, play, and mindfulness.
• Finally, Roni shared that love can triumph over fear, particularly when supporting someone in need.

Key Moments:

(00:00) Adjusting to American Life

(05:35) Facing Mortality: A Sudden Diagnosis

(08:39) Exploring Trauma: Growth and Introspection

(11:31) Educator's Emotional Challenge: A Student’s Suicide

(16:16) Addressing Mental Health Stigma

(19:23) Understanding Control and Positive Psychology

(22:32) Vulnerable Circles Empower Kids

(25:13) EQ Schools: Educator Well-being Workshops

(31:47) Love Overcomes Fear

(35:41) Unseen Presence Recognized

(38:03) Power of Self-Compassion

On this episode of Curveball, host Scott Reich sits down with Dr. David Fajgenbaum—an immunologist, author, and professor at Penn. David’s story is nothing short of extraordinary: after losing his mother to brain cancer as a college student, he channeled his grief into community-building by founding a national support network for grieving students. But life threw him another, even more staggering curveball when, as a promising med student, he was suddenly struck by a rare and deadly condition: Castleman disease. Not only did David nearly die literally five times, but in the face of scant research and little hope, he set out to find his own cure—eventually repurposing an existing drug to save his life.

In this compelling conversation, David shares how adversity reshaped his life’s purpose, the importance of community in overcoming grief, and why he’s now leading a global push to find new uses for existing medicines through EveryCure. Whether you’re interested in medical innovation, resilience in the face of the unimaginable, or simply the power of human connection, you won’t want to miss this inspirational episode.

Listeners will Learn:

1. David describes channeling his grief after his mother’s passing into community action through founding Actively Moving Forward (AMF). He discusses the key benefits and challenges of creating a support community around grief on college campuses.
2. Scott and David discuss the importance of connection in coping with adversity, especially rare diseases.
3. David was not only a med student but also a patient with a deadly, little-understood condition. The podcast delves into the lack of information and statistics available for many rare diseases.
4. David took a radically proactive approach to his own medical crisis, ultimately discovering a repurposed drug that saved his life. Scott and David highlight that treatments for rare diseases are often found by persistently searching outside the box, like drug repurposing.
5. EveryCure, the organization David co-founded, aims to systematically identify new uses for existing medicines. He discusses the potential impact this approach could have not just for rare diseases, but for health care in general.
6. David talks about how facing his own mortality gave him “clarity of purpose” and shifted his values.
7. Throughout the episode, there’s a recurring theme about turning personal curveballs into motivation for positive change.

Our Guest:

Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Key Moments:

(00:00) From College Athlete to Grief Advocate

(04:36) Connecting Through Shared Rare Disease Experiences

(08:35) Sudden, Severe Health Crisis and Survival

(09:56) Deadly Diagnosis and Finding a Cure

(14:08) Exploring American Dreams and Expectations

(20:24) Integrative Strategy for Medical Research Collaboration

(24:56) Innovative Approach to Drug Repurposing

(29:52) Searching for “Low-Hanging Fruit Medical Solutions"

(35:45) Collaborative Strategies for Medical Research & Fundraising

(37:29) Incentive Barriers in Scientific Data Sharing

(40:52) Focusing on Children's Happiness Over Achievements