Onward with Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie and Onward producer, Lori E. Seid, share some conversation and news about the future. Thanks to you, the listener, we appreciate all your support. And a special shout out of thanks and love to Lyra Smith, Jenna Kagel and Chris Faller.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode is entirely about Rosie's experience with 'Guide Dogs of America' and what autism service dogs can do, not only for the child with autism but for the entire family. Learning about these service dogs who worked with autistic children, it was quickly realized that the child themself is not the dog's handler, so, Rosie became the designated adult, the 'Primary Handler' for her kiddo. Her guest, Kaylie Schmidt, is the volunteer autism service dog coach, that along with the Guide Dog of America trainers, worked with Rosie and the other autism mom during the 10 day in-campus hands on training period. An experience Rosie calls life changing.Link:https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After listening to Rosie interview Lyle Menendez in prison; many of our listeners reacted in such a visceral and intellectual way, we wanted to dedicate a full episode to some of your voice memos.Not an easy subject for anyone; no matter what you believe happened, Rosie felt it important to share your reactions and respond with her own.Please note:Abuse is discussed in this episode - nothing graphically, but it could be traumatic.Share your voice memos with any questions or comments for Rosie to: OnwardRosie@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our first episode back in 2024 is dedicated to YOU - our listeners! As you know, we ask for you to send in voice memos with questions and/or thoughts but we never seem to have enough time to do more than 2 questions per episode. Rosie wanted to hear from you more and here it is: a whole show of questions and thoughts from the voice memos sent in and Rosie responding. Did we pick yours? Listen and find out, and; even if we didn't, it's a fun and heartfelt listen!And please - continue sending us your voice memos to: OnwardRosie@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer, Actor, Producer, and Creator Lena Waithe joins Rosie for this dynamic episode! The two bond over manifesting their careers as they dreamed from a very young age and their incredible love for Mary Tyler Moore. Waithe produced the doc, 'Being Mary Tyler Moore', that Rosie also appears in... Their powerful conversation is a true heart to heart about how different a person and their persona might be; using their voice and platform to support others, especially those who are other; and speak honestly about how impossible it is to be all things to all people. And then some! This is an episode you don't want to miss! We'll be back on January 16, 2024 with a new show consisting entirely of your questions and comments for Rosie! Please send your voice memos to OnwardRosie@gmail.com (2 min or under if possible!)From all of us at Onward with Rosie O'Donnell, Have A Very Happy and Healthy Holiday and New Year!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Harris; singer, author, husband, dad, activist and Rosie's dear friend for over 40 years, is our guest this week. Meeting during their Star Search days, Rosie and Sam recognized each other as kindred spirits as soon as they laid eyes on one another, forming a life long familial relationship. Listen in as they chat at warp-speed about their show biz experiences, including being turned down for who they are, and then succeeding because of it; parenthood and becoming a better person for your children, and all the life they've lived along way.Our last new episode before our hiatus, we'll be back on Jan 16, 2024 with a new show consisting entirely of your questions and comments for Rosie! Please send your voice memos to OnwardRosie@gmail.com (2 min or under if possible!) Food On Foot - Empowering Our Neighbors To Overcome Homelessnesshttps://www.foodonfoot.orgFor more info on Sam Harris' books and albumsSamHarris.com From all of us at Onward with Rosie O'Donnell, Have A Very Happy and Healthy Holiday and New Year!! xxxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor, comedian and host, the dynamic Murray Hill joins Rosie this week in a chatty, poignant, and jocular conversation. An "overnight success" 25 years in the making, Murray is now widely known for portraying 'Fred' on the HBO hit show "Somebody, Somewhere." Listen in as Rosie and Murray compare notes from their "tomboy" days, creating their own ladders to climb up to break those glass ceilings, and passing the torch of unconditional acceptance to future generations. Share your voice memos with any questions or comments for Rosie to OnwardRosie@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest this week is Allison Josephs, who Rosie met thru social media years ago. Allison's platform, @JewInTheCity, is a non profit organization that works to change negative perceptions about Orthodox Jews and Judaism. Rosie and Allison sit down together to have a real exchange on what they each see has been happening since October 7, 2023. It is complex, and they both are resolute in their thoughts and feelings, sharing with respect and an honest desire to understand one another. The common goal being safety and peace for all. Not a light listen, but an extremely important conversation; one that cannot be avoided, and one that is happening all over the world. Please join us.More info on Allison Josephs' organization: https://jewinthecity.comPlease send any comments or question by voice memo to OnwardRosie@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's conversation is with the phenomenally talented Cheryl Dunye, an award winning filmmaker and television director. Rosie's love and respect for Cheryl's 1st film, 'The Watermelon Woman' (its groundbreaking style is now known as Dunyementry*) is the spark that ignites this gabfest. But as all great conversations go; they wander thru just about every topic under the sun, including working together on the ill-fated 'American Gigolo', motherhood, being union strong, and vid-cons!(*Dunyementary, is a hybrid of narrative, documentary, comedy, and autobiography style of filmmaking with a narrative that may not exactly be true but gives voice to real people and events that have never been represented)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest is Angela Tucker. A brilliant filmmaker, author and transracial adoptee, her new book on that subject, You Should Be Grateful, makes for a fascinating conversation with Rosie. Listen in as their unique perspectives of adoptee and adopter makes for an engrossing and enlightening conversation about the many layered complications of adoption, which often are portrayed in a fairy-tale narrative of "You Should Be Grateful"...Links fro the spisode: https://www.adopteementorship.org/https://www.angelatucker.com/ Please send voice mail with your questions, comments or suggestions in a voice memo to OnwardRosie@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rosie's guest this week is Amy Nelson. In 2020, while the entire world suffered the catastrophe of Covid, the Nelson family was under an even bigger added attack. Amazon accused her husband of several unfounded crimes and felonies, and used the DOJ and FBI hoping to get him to plead guilty anyway. FBI agents knocking on their door with guns drawn; their bank accounts emptied by the DOJ; their employees subpoenaed; threats of family members also being arrested; and still to this day, not one single charge has been filed against him. Why? And what is Amazon's end game as this nightmare of injustice and exorbitant cost to the Nelson family still goes on? In an eye opening, absolutely alarming conversation, listen to Amy's utterly herculean effort to keep her family safe and whole, fighting against Amazon by sharing her story wherever it can be heard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Onward, Rosie has a fascinating conversation with Lyle Menendez. Many of a certain age will remember the sensational trials of Lyle and his brother Eric, found guilty of the murder of their parents. So sensational within the American zeigeist; this case has been made into movies and tv shows, it has also been studied in law school as well as a mainstay of cultural conversation.Recently, new information and evidence has been revealed in a documentary that now gives room for the brothers' to file a Habeas; which could mean freedom, after serving 34 years in prison. Join us as Rosie and Lyle talk about the past, the possible future of what this new evidence could mean; and, how one has to find it within themself to remain hopeful, but truthful, even in the worst of circumstances.After listening, please send voice memos of your thoughts, observations and questions on this episode to: OnwardRosie@gmail.comTrigger Warning: Rape, Sexual and Emotional Child Abuse, and Incest is discussed in this episode.Please Note: This discussion is not graphic in nature, but, this is a truthful account of events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Rosie has a very special guest, American hero, Alexander Vindman.Vindman, in honoring his oath to democracy and the constitution, reported Trump's quid pro quo phone call to Ukraine's President Zelensky. Rosie and Alexander talk about his childhood as an immigrant growing up in NYC, his service careers in both the military and the White House, and the decision to expose Trump's abuse of power, leading to Trump's first impeachment. Here they discuss what public service, honor, and love of country really mean in America, as well as how doing the right thing has affected Vindman and his family. https://vvfnd.org/https://votevets.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.