Just Before We Go - SEASON ONE

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   - Without Exception - 

Daring to Manifest What You Want 

Wednesday  Sept. 3, 2025 

Pam Houston is an award-winning author, teaches in the Low Rez MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts, is Professor of English at UC Davis, and is co-founder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers. Her books include Without Exception: Reclaiming Abortion, Personhood and Freedom, the memoir Deep Creek: Finding Hope In The High Country, as well as two novels, Contents May Have Shifted and Sight Hound. She's published two collections of short stories, Cowboys Are My Weakness and Waltzing the Cat, a collection of essays, A Little More About Me as well as a book of essays with environmental activist Amy Irvine, called Air Mail: Letters of Politics, Pandemics and Place. 

Pam's stories have been selected for volumes of The O. Henry Awards, The Pushcart Prize, Best American Travel Writing, and Best American Short Stories of the Century among other anthologies. She is the winner of the Western States Book Award, the WILLA Award for contemporary fiction, and the Evil Companions Literary Award. She resides in the mountains of Colorado with her husband Mike, their horses, chickens, donkeys and dogs Livie Lou and Bodie.

 - Because They Need Us -

Legislative Advocacy for Animal Protection

Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025

Judie Mancuso is the founder, CEO, and president of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL), the leading political advocacy group dedicated to advancing animal protection laws. Since 2007, she has spearheaded more than 70 state bills—28 of which have been signed into law—achieving landmark victories such as banning the sale of animal-tested cosmetics, prohibiting wild animals in circuses, ending commercial and recreational fur trapping, and requiring plant-based meals in all state hospitals and prisons. Under her leadership, SCIL has also championed protections for companion animals, banning the retail sale of puppy-mill bred dogs, cats, and rabbits; legalizing dining with dogs;  and outlawing leaving animals in cars during extreme weather.
Recognized for her unwavering advocacy, Judie was named one of Orange County's Most Influential People 2019.   She has served as Vice Chair of the Laguna Beach Environmental and Sustainability Committee and completed two terms on the California Veterinary Medical Board. She resides in Laguna Beach with her rescued cats and dogs Lily, Twiggy and Petula. 

From Northern Exposure to Coming Home - The Longevity of Women’s Careers 

in TV and Film -

Wednesday  October 1, 2025  

Cynthia Geary, acclaimed actor on television, stage and film, is known around the world for her role as Shelly Tambo on the television series Northern Exposure, which earned her two Emmy Award nominations. She's had numerous guest starring roles on a variety of TV programs, made-for-TV movies and independent films. She recently starred in and co-produced the 2024 series Going Home and guest stars in the Netflix series Penelope. Early in her career, Geary played the mother of the Olsen twins in their 1992 made-for-TV movie To Grandmother's House We Go,  appeared in the 1997 movie 

When Time Expires, and is the female lead in 8 Seconds. 

Hilary shared the big screen with Cynthia in the award winning 2013 independent film Nothing Against Life. While Myra had the great privilege of directing Cynthia in the 2004 Book-It Repertory Theatre production of Edna Ferber’s epic novel - Giant and shared the stage with her in Book-It's production of Kate Chopin's The Awakening.  She resides in Seattle with her husband and their dog, Mango.

 - Animal Photojournalism -

Combating Cruelty and Leading through Artivism

Wednesday October 15

Jo-Anne McArthur is a Canadian photojournalist, humane educator, animal rights activist and author. She is the founder of We Animals whose mission is to advocate for animals using photojournalism. Through the We Animals Humane Education program, McArthur offers presentations about human relationships with animals in educational and other environments. We Animals Media, is a media agency focused on human/animal relationships. She has documented humans’ fraught relationship with animals in over 60 countries over 25 years and she speaks globally about animals. We Animals has 150 photographers who make books, short films and visuals available free to the animal advocacy movement. 

McArthur’s work has been published in National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Guardian,  Huffington Post and Outdoor Photography among many others. 

Recent awards include Highly Commended  in the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition; the 2021 BigPicture Grand Prize; 2021 AEFONA’s First Prize, Man and Nature category; 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice finalist; 2020 Nature Photographer of the Year. In 2021, HIDDEN was awarded “Photography Book of the Year” by Pictures of the Year International (PoYI), and IPPY’s “Outstanding Book of the Year Most Likely to Save the Planet”.

photo: Josée Van Wissen 

- Setting World Records at the age of 60 -

Inside the life of a Masters Athlete 

Wednesday October 29th

Sue McDonald is a mom of 3, world record holder 15 times over (in fact she set these world records in 16 months!), the 2023 WMA Female Athlete of the year, the 2023 USATF Masters Track and field athlete of the year, and broke world records  in the 300 meter hurdles, 400 meter run, 800 meters and heptathlon for women over 60. She is most recently making a comeback in the Pole Vault and resides in Santa Barbara, CA.

More accolades and accomplishments:  

• 2019 USATF W55 Athlete of the Year 
• Hall of Fame Inductee for Los Angeles Valley College
• 2018 Boston Marathon Qualifier 
• 7x Age Group American Record Holder (400/800/High Jump/Relays)
• 1996 Olympic Trials Finalist (pole vault)
• 3x Collegiate All-American
• Regional World Champion, 800m; 200/1500m Silver Medalist
• 2x W55 National Champion in the 400m & 800m, USATF Masters National Championships
• 2015 Silver Medalist, World Masters Athletics Championships, France