What if the lessons you've spent a lifetime learning were meant to help someone else survive their hardest days?

Host Aaron Lazar sits down with bestselling author, journalist, and humanitarian Mitch Albom for a conversation that will stop you IN YOUR TRACKS - one rooted in shared history, hard-won wisdom, and the kind of hope that refuses to be extinguished. Mitch opens up about the childhood commute that accidentally sparked his music career, the rabbi who dared him to write a eulogy before earning the right to give one, and the accidental newspaper story in New York City that launched one of the most celebrated literary careers of our time.

Together, Aaron and Mitch explore the philosophy at the beating heart of Tuesdays With Morrie—detachment, surrender, and the radical act of living in hope—and apply it directly to Aaron’s journey with ALS. Mitch’s message lands like the luge metaphor he shares: “The more you lay back and let it go, the more you may end up exactly where you wanted to be.”

Guest Bio:

Mitch Albom is the author of eight consecutive New York Times #1 bestsellers, including Tuesdays With Morrie—the bestselling memoir of all time—and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. A celebrated sports journalist, playwright, screenwriter, and musician, Mitch has had four of his books adapted into films or television movies. He runs Have Faith Haiti, an orphanage in Port-au-Prince he has operated for over 16 years, and hosts the podcast Tuesday People. His life’s work is a testament to the power of authentic human connection, the courage to pursue unlikely dreams, and the profound lessons we learn from those facing the end of their lives.

Learn More About Mitch Albom:

Website: https://www.mitchalbom.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchalbom

Tuesday People Podcast: https://www.mitchalbom.com/tuesday-people/

LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

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Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT

About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW

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Episode Navigation:

1. 00:08 – Welcome and shared roots: Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and a synagogue that connected two families

2. 01:20 – Rabbi Lewis and “Have a Little Faith”: The eulogy request that became an eight-year friendship—and a book

3. 06:37 – Faith, fear, and a Jewish day school: How a grueling commute secretly launched Mitch’s music career

4. 11:34 – Morrie and the spiritual awakening: Why sitting with a dying man changed everything Mitch believed about life

5. 14:32 – Dreams change—and that’s the point: From cartoonist to musician to writer, the impossible dream that found him

6. 21:00 – Stranded in Athens with no money: The accidental audition in Crete that became seven months...

What if the answers you're searching for have been waiting inside you all along?

Host Aaron Lazar welcomes psychic channel and spiritual advisor Noella Risley for an ILLUMINATING conversation about intuition, healing, and the courage to embrace your gifts. Noella opens up about her journey from visual artist to actress to spiritual reader, the formative experience with a fraudulent psychic that awakened her own abilities, and the twelve years it took to fully accept that what she could see and feel was real.

Now a certified Kundalini yoga instructor and trusted advisor to those navigating life's biggest questions, Noella shares her philosophy of compassion over empathy, her insights on channelers like Bashar and Abraham Hicks, and performs a live tarot reading for Aaron that reveals the power of alignment over striving. Her message is clear: "Believe it more than they call it delusion—because your vision is more real than their reality."

Guest Bio: Noella Risley is a psychic channel, spiritual advisor, and certified Kundalini yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. Originally trained as a fine artist with a background in painting and illustration, Noella's spiritual path began unexpectedly after a disillusioning encounter with a fraudulent psychic led her to discover her own intuitive gifts. After twelve years of developing her abilities—and overcoming her own skepticism—Noella now guides clients through life's most profound questions using tarot, intuition, and spiritual wisdom. Her journey through addiction and recovery informs her compassionate approach to helping others sit with discomfort and find their own inner knowing. Noelle has studied with energy healer Rob Morgan and integrates teachings from ascended masters and divine light into her practice.

Learn more about Noella Risley:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplayfulmystic

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theplayfulmystic

LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.

Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT

About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW

Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr

Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh

Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1

Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe

Episode Navigation:

1. 00:09 - Welcome and introduction to healing events

2. 03:20 - What is a reader? Accepting your spiritual gifts

3. 08:40 - Bridging science and spirituality: "God made me good at this"

4. 12:34 - The fake psychic who changed everything

5. 20:16 - From acting to healing: "Show business will never love you back"

6. 26:16 - Channels and ascended masters: Bashar, Abraham Hicks, and Seth

7. 40:36 - Recovery and the root of addiction: Learning to be uncomfortable

8. 48:00 - Creating your life: "Believe it more than they call it delusion"

9. 56:15 - Aaron's first reading with Noelle: A recording revealed

10. 59:10 - Live tarot reading: Alignment over striving

Vin Baker: Every Morning, New Mercies

What if the road to your purpose runs straight through your deepest pain? Host Aaron Lazar welcomes four-time NBA All-Star Vin Baker for a POWERFUL conversation about faith, addiction, and finding purpose on the other side of rock bottom. Vin opens up about growing up as a preacher's son in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, the meteoric rise from late basketball bloomer to Olympic Gold Medalist, and the private battle with alcoholism that played out in public and cost him nearly everything.

Now 15 years sober and serving as an ordained minister, Vin shares the moment in his childhood bathroom when he looked in the mirror and surrendered completely—not to save his career or reputation, but simply to live. His story is a testament to the scripture he lives by: "Every morning, new mercies I see."

Guest Bio:

Vin Baker is a four-time NBA All-Star, Olympic Gold Medalist (2000 Sydney Games), and ordained minister. Selected 8th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1993, Vin played 13 seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston, Houston, and New York. He was an original Team Jordan member and one of the most dominant power forwards of his era. After a public battle with alcoholism that nearly took his life, Vin found sobriety in 2010 and has since dedicated himself to helping others through their recovery. He is the founder of Struggle, a medication-assisted treatment and recovery center in Milwaukee. Vin previously served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, contributing to their 2021 NBA Championship run. His book, God and Starbucks, chronicles his journey from NBA stardom through addiction to redemption.

Learn more about Vin Baker:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinbaker42

Struggle Recovery Center: https://www.strugglellc.com

LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.

Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT

About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW

Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr

Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh

Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1

Impossible Dream Merch - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/P0eBSe

Episode Navigation:

1. 01:19 - Welcome and opening

2. 02:35 - Growing up in Old Saybrook as a preacher's son

3. 05:01 - Early dreams: The NBA and the ministry

4. 08:18 - From fear of God to walking in faith

5. 11:16 - "You never realize God is all you need until God is all you have"

6. 16:21 - When drinking began: Junior year of college

7. 20:37 - The hidden life of a functional alcoholic

8. 22:53 - Five attempts at sobriety and the mirror moment

9. 34:19 - Building Struggle: A recovery center born from experience

10. 37:34 - Lamentations 3:22-23: "Every morning, new mercies I see"

In this deeply personal episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with his lifelong friend David Perpich—Vice Chairman of the Board of The New York Times and Publisher of The Athletic. From their Duke fraternity days to sharing a roach-free New York apartment (thanks to strategically placed tissues), Aaron and David's three-decade friendship provides the backdrop for a candid conversation about legacy, leadership, and the courage to choose your own path.

This conversation is both intimate and illuminating. David opens up about growing up as fifth-generation New York Times family while his dad's side had no running water, surviving a car accident the day before his bar mitzvah trip to Disney World (his 13-year-old dream was to own the place), and the pivotal moment when he chose to stay at the Times rather than default into it. He shares the remarkable story of sending an unsolicited email to his cousin proposing a digital subscription model—an idea that would transform the newspaper industry—and the lessons learned from leading acquisitions like Wordle and Wirecutter.

David's impossible dream shines brightest when he talks about leadership as service—surrounding yourself with talented people, maintaining editorial integrity over short-term profits, and finding meaning in work that matters. His philosophy that "it's important that people choose to commit versus default to commit" serves as a rallying cry for anyone navigating family expectations, or simply trying to prove they're worthy of the opportunities they've been given.

Guest Bio:

David Perpich is Vice Chairman of the Board of The New York Times Company and Publisher of The Athletic. A fifth-generation member of the Sulzberger-Ochs family, David has been instrumental in transforming The Times into a digital-first subscription business. He led the operational launch of the company's groundbreaking digital subscription model in 2011, created the New Products division that launched NYT Games and NYT Cooking, and helped bring Wordle to millions of daily players. David previously served as General Manager of Wirecutter following its acquisition by The Times. He holds a degree in Public Policy from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Before joining The Times, David worked in consulting at Booz & Company and founded a small business in Durham, North Carolina.

Learn more about David Perpich:

The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com

The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-perpich

✨ LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

Subscribe, listen, and believe.

Presented by the ALS Network: https://www.alsnetwork.org

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios: https://www.evrybdystudios.com

Learn more at https://www.aaronlazar.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impossibledreamspodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ALImpossibleDreams

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/impossible-dreams

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/impossibledreams

Merch: https://impossibledreamshop.myshopify.com

Episode Navigation:

1. 00:48 - Opening welcome and intro

2. 02:35 - Roommates in New York: The roach motel and tissue paper story

3. 05:39 - Fifth-generation New York Times legacy

4. 06:56 - Bar mitzvah dream: "I'm going to own Disney World"

5. 08:16 - Uncle Rudy: Governor of Minnesota

6. 10:52 - "Am I worthy of this opportunity?"

7. 14:11 - Pressure and inner demons: The drive to be perfect

8. 21:15 - The email that changed everything: Proposing the digital subscription model

9. 27:29 - Launching the subscription business against doubters

10. 29:46 - Creating NYT Games, Cooking, and the New Products division

11. 33:43 - Bringing Wordle to The New York Times

12. 36:35 - Wirecutter acquisition and leadership lessons

13. 37:08 - The family...

What if the key to unlocking your creative potential isn't knowing the right people, but knowing who you are?

In this powerful episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Adam Glass—Emmy-nominated television showrunner, New York Times bestselling comic book writer, and the man who put Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad. From the Bronx to Hollywood, from meeting his biological father through a Plexiglas window in a Georgia State Penitentiary to running writers' rooms on some of television's biggest shows, Adam's story is a masterclass in resilience, self-belief, and the power of knowing exactly who you are.

This conversation is both raw and profoundly inspiring. Adam opens up about discovering at age 13 that everything he thought he knew about his identity was wrong, being adopted by a neighbor who became his father, and the pivotal moment at age 12 when he realized he was "on his own" and would have to trust himself. He shares hard-won wisdom from decades in Hollywood's trenches—from writing for Supernatural and showrunning The Equalizer with Queen Latifah, to co-founding a horror comics imprint with The Boys creator Garth Ennis.

Adam's impossible dream shines brightest when he talks about leadership as love—knowing every crew member's name, giving credit where it's due, and creating environments where artists can thrive. His philosophy of "once you know who you are, it sets you free" serves as a rallying cry for anyone navigating an industry built on rejection, or simply trying to find their authentic voice in a world of noise.

Guest Bio:

Adam Glass is a television showrunner, executive producer, and New York Times bestselling comic book writer. He has written and produced for acclaimed series including Supernatural, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, The Chi, and served as co-showrunner of CBS's hit drama The Equalizer alongside Queen Latifah. Adam created and showran the Netflix series In From The Cold. In comics, he is best known for his groundbreaking run on DC's Suicide Squad, where he introduced Harley Quinn to the team—a decision that helped spawn a billion-dollar franchise. His work spans Marvel's Deadpool and Luke Cage to creator-owned titles like Rough Riders. Adam is a co-founder of Ninth Circle, a horror comics imprint at Image Comics alongside Garth Ennis (The Boys) and other industry legends.

Learn more about Adam Glass:

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1380122/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamianglass

X: https://twitter.com/adamglass44

Ninth Circle Comics: https://imagecomics.com/creators/adam-glass

LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.

Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT

About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW

Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr

Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh

Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1

Impossible Dream Merch -

What if the most profound lessons about living don’t just come from adversity and life’scurve balls, but from transforming these experiences into legendary purpose?

In this powerful episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Montel William—Emmy Award-winning television host, decorated Naval Academy graduate, advocate, author, and MS warrior who has been living with multiple sclerosis for over 45 years.

This conversation goes far beyond celebrity and illness; it's a masterclass in resilience, critical thinking, and the courage to question everything while fighting for what matters most.This conversation is both honest and profoundly hopeful. Montel opens up about his decades-long journey with MS, from misdiagnosis to advocacy, from powerlifting to a devastating stroke, and from near-death experiences to finding beauty in the smallest moments. He challenges the medical establishment, questions Big Pharma's motives, and shares the hard-won wisdom that comes from facing mortality multiple times.

Montel's impossible dream shines brightest when he talks about being in the "last quarter" of life—not with despair, but with fierce determination to score a touchdown in the final seconds. His philosophy of "I alone own the definition of who I am" serves as a rallying cry for anyone facing chronic illness, uncertainty, or the pressure to conform to someone else's narrative about their life.

Guest Bio:

Montel Williams is an Emmy Award-winning television personality, decorated U.S. Naval Academy graduate, advocate, and author. For 17 years, he hosted "The Montel Williams Show," becoming a household name and trusted voice on issues ranging from social justice to health advocacy. A former Marine and Naval intelligence officer, Montel has lived with multiple sclerosis for over 45 years and has become one of the most vocal advocates for MS research, patient rights, and medical cannabis. He is the author of multiple books, including "Climbing Higher" and "The Intrepid: An Epic Story of Survival and Bravery," and hosts the podcasts "Free Thinking with Montel" and "Let's Be Blunt."Learn more about Montel Williams:

Official Website: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/gKUdfK

Instagram: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/OzZUoZ

Podcasts: Free Thinking with Montel & Let's Be Blunt

LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.

Presented by the ALS Network - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/nLpfro

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/oBFSUT

About Aaron Lazar - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/ipArgW

Instagram - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/CO4vRr

Apple - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/Q8eUTh

Spotify - https://WsBQMs.short.gy/tDP4r1

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Episode Navigation:

00:47 - Opening welcome and intro

02:35 - "Get busy living or get busy dying"

05:53 - Big Pharma reality...

What if the most powerful art comes not from performance, but from radical truth-telling and allowing yourself to be a vessel for something greater?

In this soul-stirring episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with the extraordinary Sara Bareilles—Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Tony and Emmy-nominated actress, and creator of the beloved musical Waitress. Sara joins from a place of deep reflection, having recently delivered the commencement speech at her alma mater UCLA, where she spoke about embracing the "both/and" nature of life—the glorious and the awful, the joy and the fear, all existing simultaneously.

This conversation is both intimately personal and universally resonant. Sara opens up about her lifelong allergy to anything inauthentic, her belief that music is her church and that she's simply a vessel translating divine particles into song. She shares her journey with anxiety, the transformative power of meditation and therapy, and why she's no longer interested in brand-building—only in genuine connection and being of service.

Sara's impossible dream shines brightest when she talks about surrendering to life's flow, recognizing that resistance only amplifies suffering, and trusting that even our most painful experiences carry profound lessons. This episode is for anyone navigating anxiety, loss, creative blocks, or the fundamental human challenge of showing up authentically in a world that constantly asks us to perform.

Guest Bio:

Sara Bareilles is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Tony and Emmy-nominated actress, and New York Times bestselling author. Best known for her chart-topping hits including "Love Song," "Brave," and "Gravity," Sara has sold millions of albums worldwide and earned critical acclaim for her honest, emotionally resonant songwriting. She made her Broadway debut in 2016 when she composed the music and lyrics for Waitress, which became a cultural phenomenon and earned her a Tony nomination for Best Original Score. She later stepped into the lead role, showcasing her remarkable acting talents. Sara has also starred in Broadway's Into the Woods, earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Mary Magdalene in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, and published the bestselling memoir Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song. A graduate of UCLA, Sara recently returned to deliver the 2024 commencement address. She continues to create music that serves as medicine for millions, believing deeply that art is about connection, truth-telling, and being of service.

Learn more about Sara Bareilles:

Official Website: https://www.sarabareilles.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarabareilles

Waitress the Musical: https://waitressthemusical.com

LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

✨ Subscribe, listen, and believe.

Presented by the ALS Network

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios

Learn more at aaronlazar.com

Instagram: @impossibledreamspodcast

YouTube: @ALImpossibleDreams

Apple: Impossible Dreams Podcast

Spotify:

What if, for once, a conversation about ALS didn’t begin with despair—but with hope?

This holiday season, host Aaron Lazar invites listeners into a radically different kind of dialogue: one grounded not in fear, but in possibility. The ALS community is too often met with messages of limitation and inevitability. In this special episode, we turn that narrative on its head.

Joining Aaron are three extraordinary individuals— CEO of the ALS network Sheri Strahl, head of the ALS clinic at Duke university Dr. Rick Bedlack, and chief data scientist for PCCI Albert Karam—who each bring a voice of courage, compassion, and conviction. Together, they illuminate what’s possible when advocacy, clinical wisdom, and human connection come together in service of healing.

This conversation lifts up the stories, insights, and lived experiences that inspire strength. Sheri shares how the ALS Network supports families with unwavering dedication. Dr. Bedlack reflects on decades of caring for patients with an open heart and an open mind. Albert speaks to the power of innovation and imagination when seeking answers that bring genuine hope to the community.

This episode is a reminder that while ALS is daunting, the people living with it—and those standing beside them—are even more powerful. Their stories reveal pathways to resilience, connection, and possibility. This is a conversation for anyone who needs to hear that light still breaks through, even in the hardest moments.

This holiday, we offer a gift: a space where hope leads the way.

About the Guests:

Sheri Strahl is President and CEO of the ALS Network, one of the nation's largest ALS advocacy organizations. With a background in public health and business, she leads through three mission pillars: comprehensive care coordination, groundbreaking research partnerships, and tireless policy advocacy. Under her leadership, the ALS Network doesn't just support families—they're actively working to solve ALS.

Dr. Rick Bedlack is a neurologist at Duke University who has dedicated 28 years to transforming ALS care and research. He pioneered a radical approach: partnering with patients as equals in research. Today, he leads ALS Untangled and studies ALS outliers—patients doing extraordinarily well—to identify three key factors that could transform outcomes for everyone.

Albert Karam is Chief Information Officer at the Center for Clinical Innovation, a nonprofit think tank specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence. As a mathematician and data scientist, Albert develops AI solutions that look beyond medical records to understand the whole person—combining clinical data with social determinants of health to reveal patterns invisible to traditional research.

Connect:

ALS Network Official Website

Become an ALS Advocate

Duke ALS Clinic

ALS Untangled - Alternative Treatment Research

LIVE YOUR IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS

✨ Subscribe to Impossible Dreams Podcast. Listen, believe, and transform your life.

Presented by The ALS Network

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios

Host: Aaron Lazar

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