In this heartfelt episode, hosts Connie Fontaine and Dr. Harry Cohen delve into the profound lessons learned from Joan Lunden and her daughter, Jamie Hess. Joan reflects on her journey as a national morning show anchor of Good Morning America for nearly 20 years, navigating motherhood and demonstrating the power of embracing one's vulnerabilities while maintaining a positive, authentic presence. Jamie shares her past struggles with addiction, her path to recovery, and how gratitude reshaped her life. Together, they emphasize the importance of being real, the power of showing vulnerability, and creating a nurturing, truthful environment for their children. The discussion also highlights the significance of resilience, lifelong learning, and the impact of kind, supportive familial relationships.

In this episode, Harry, Connie, and their guest Ira Rosen, a 24-time Emmy-winning investigative journalist formerly with 60 Minutes, discuss the importance of positive influences, making conscious choices, and the profound impacts of role models, both good and bad. Ira shares his family's history of survival during World War II, offering a poignant lesson on the choices between good and evil. He also talks about his career challenges, stresses around high-stakes journalism, and how he found joy and fulfillment in the smallest yet significant aspects of life.

About Ira Rosen
For nearly 25 years, Ira Rosen produced some of the most memorable, important and ground-breaking stories for 60 Minutes. A former Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University, Rosen was the senior producer and one of the creators of Prime Time Live at ABC, a show hosted by Diane Sawyer and Sam Donaldson. He was there from the series’ inception in 1989 until 2004, when he returned to 60 Minutes.

Rosen pioneered the use of hidden cameras for Prime Time Live investigations. The stories included exposing racial discrimination, abuses in VA hospitals, mistreatment of farm workers, unsafe and unsanitary food handling practices inside meat packing plants and supermarkets, and political corruption in Washington. His hidden camera stories led to major reforms across countries, corporations and governments.

Rosen has spoken frequently to academic institutions on topics ranging from current events to investigative reporting.

He has won nearly all the major television awards including 24 National Emmys, four Dupont awards, two Peabody awards, six Investigative Reporters and Editors awards (IRE) and two RFK awards. In 2019, in addition to the previously mentioned awards, he garnered two Sigma Delta Chi awards, a Murrow and Hillman awards, for his Opioid reports. He is also the co-author of a book on the accident at Three Mile Island titled, The Warning.

In this engaging episode, Will Guidara, a pioneering figure in the world of fine dining and hospitality, and the author of “Unreasonable Hospitality,” joins hosts Connie Fontaine and Harry Cohen. Will delves into the philosophy and practical applications of 'Unreasonable Hospitality,' sharing impactful stories from his career, including the origins of his concept and how it can be applied beyond the restaurant industry. The conversation also covers the importance of hospitality in creating meaningful relationships, the impact of small gestures, the forgotten art of friendship, transforming criticism into thoughtful guidance, and maintaining a balance between perfectionism and kindness. We’ll also gain beautiful insight into what Will’s working on now. We learned so much from Will, and true to his reputation, he left us feeling nice and cozy.

Referenced in This Episode

• “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara
• Welcome Conference
• Thank You hospitality group
• Pre-Meal, newsletter by Will Guidara
• “Bowling Alone” by Robert D. Putnam
• Simon Sinek
• Canlis Restaurant
• Duncan Campbell’s podcast episode
• “From Strength to Strength” by Arthur Brooks
• "Be the Sun, Not the Salt" by Dr. Harry Cohen

About Will Guidara

Will Guidara is the author of the National Bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality, which chronicles the lessons in service and leadership he has learned over the course of his career in restaurants.

He is the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, which under his leadership received four stars from the New York Times, three Michelin stars, and in 2017 was named #1 on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

He is the host of the Welcome Conference, an annual hospitality symposium that brings together like minded people to share ideas, inspire one another, and connect to build community.

A graduate of the hospitality school at Cornell University, he has coauthored four cookbooks, given a TED Talk on the secret ingredients of great hospitality, was named one of Crain's New York Business's 40 Under 40, and is the recipient of WSJ Magazine's Innovator Award.

Learn More or Watch Online at Be the Sun, Not the Salt.