The Lisa Wexler Show

Representative Corey P. Paris joins Lisa Wexler to discuss legislation that will reform the Department of Children and Families. The bill focuses on increasing oversight and transparency within the agency while expanding support for kinship caregivers through enhanced grants. The conversation explores how these changes could improve accountability and better serve children and families across Connecticut.

Freelance pop culture and political writer Kat Rosenfield joins Lisa Wexler to discuss her recent article in The Free Press, “I Don’t Want to Put Another Black Man in Jail.” Rosenfield explores the concept of “suicidal empathy” and its potential role in shaping public attitudes toward crime, accountability, and justice, following a recent New York City murder that she argues may have been preventable. The conversation examines the balance between compassion and public safety, and asks whether cultural shifts in empathy are influencing real-world consequences.

Matt Field joins Lisa Wexler to discuss the meaning and history of the term “Nakba,” a topic he recently explored in his blog, THAT JEW. Field shares his perspective on the word’s relevance today, the complexities of Jewish history and identity, and what he describes as the “inconvenient truth” about the Jewish people.

Lisa Wexler shares her personal reflections on the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s timeless classic, Death of a Salesman, after seeing the production at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Mary Dobson, founder of LiftWell Health, Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and Certified Trauma Specialist joins Lisa Wexler to discuss LiftWell’s personalized, client-centered approach to mental health care. The conversation explores how tailored treatment can support lasting transformation in emotional well-being, physical health, and personal relationships.

Lisa Wexler is joined by Meredith Walker, author and co-founder of Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, to discuss her new book, Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Unlearning the Rules. The conversation explores the pressures facing teen girls today, the harmful expectations they’re taught to follow, and how young people can build confidence by embracing authenticity.Also joining the discussion is Mary Dobson, a psychotherapist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and Certified School-Based Therapist, who offers additional insight into adolescent mental health, self-image, and emotional resilience.

Renowned national education leader Dr. Tabia Lee joins Lisa Wexler to discuss her feature in Speechless, the CBC/BBC documentary. She also shares her perspective on critical intersectional social justice and how its spread across higher education has impacted the principle of equal opportunity.

Matt Mandell, Executive Director and President of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, joins Lisa Wexler to preview the 2026 Westport Dog Fest, sharing what’s new this year and the fan-favorite events returning. Details: May 17, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Winslow Park