Will Massachusetts be one of the few states to allow a mentally competent adult to request a lethal prescription to die? Should society be able to claim a moral stake in such a private decision?

Don’t let that beautiful smile fool you.  Dr. Marcia Angell, former executive editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, now a senior lecturer in social medicine at Harvard Medical School; Time Magazine named her one of the 25 most influential Americans, is a woman on a mission. I assure you. She is NOT amusing herself.  If she has anything to say about it, this fall we will be voting in Massachusetts for the Death With Dignity Act.  Listen to Francesca Bastarache interview Dr. Angell.  Following Dr. Angell’s interview, Heather Clish, who’s father drank the seconal perscription to end his life the way he chose.  If you are interested in hearing those against the Act, visit the first page of this website.

The documentary “Bully” is an important film to bring awareness to this epidemic that seems to be getting worse everyday.  Has bullying gotten so bad that kids are committing suicide because of it?  I think not.  In the documentary, there is some very important information that is left out about the children who have committed suicide. Dr. Ann Haas was interviewed on Talk With Francesca last weekend and expresses her very serious concerns about the what the documentary is portraying.  For the full interview, listen to the podcast below.

There was a little girl who had a little

curl right in the middle of her fore-

head and when she was good she was

criticized anyway.  Elan Golomb, Trapped in The  Mirror

In the Wizard of Oz, There’s  was no place like home but for a daughter of a narcissistic mother, the meaning is quite different.  It’s not a place that she wants to go home to.

Are you a woman who never feels good enough, never was good enough, never will be good enough?  Then most likely you are the daughter of a narcissistic mother.

And in truth, you probably never were, are, or will be good enough for her. Because such a thing  doesn’t exist. Her standards are so impossibly high that nobody could meet them.

Or rather, the only way to meet them would be to totally dissolve  your self in her. That’s what she wanted. She wanted you to totally adore her, to admire her, to be her creature. To cater to her every whim.

And to the extent that you did not do that, you were never good enough in her eyes. Unfortunately your mother gave you the “never good enough” message and you internalized it and now believe it. Don’t beat yourself up over it.  You’ve probably been beat up emotionally much of your life so stop now.

She was your mother, and children  look up to their mothers and believe them. Why wouldn’t you?

Unfortunately, this ‘never good enough’ message was unspoken and subliminal and so went straight to your subconcious. The message was given in deep sighs, and rolled eyes, and silences.Those messages were indelible, and for a child, impossible to protect yourself from.

Dr. Karyl McBride, author of “Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing The Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers” joined Francesca Bastarache on Talk With Francesca on WWZN REVOLUTION BOSTON  for a frank talk about narcissistic mothers and how to navigate these murky waters.  Dr. McBride offers a wonderful recovery program that gives women a chance to reclaim their lives.  For the full interview listen to the podcast below.

In a one-man lobbying effort, Dr. Ernie Bodai convinced Congress and the U.S. Postal Service to issue the first ever Breast Cancer Stamp.  

Here are Dr. Bodai’s words of how it all started. I will never forget that night. The idea came to me in a flash. In December 1995 I was stamping holiday cards and preparing for a lecture on the history of breast cancer surgery, when suddenly it occurred to me: Why not have a stamp to raise money for breast cancer research? The next thing I knew, I had become a cancer activist.

I first contacted the U.S. Postmaster General with the idea for the stamp and was promptly turned down. Then I wrote letters to all the female members of Congress, with no response.

Incensed, I flew to Washington, DC, and started knocking on the doors of Capitol Hill lawmakers. I essentially became a full-time lobbyist while continuing a very busy breast surgical practice. It was exhausting, but I firmly believed that my efforts and hard work would pay off. Americans are very philanthropic, so I knew that all I had to do was to get legislation passed and the monies would start being raised.

Why Am I Here?

This is just one of many common questions women  in menopause ask.  ”Why am I here” can have multiple meanings to women between 45-55.  Does walking into a room and forgetting why you are there sound familiar?  Has mental fog become part of your daily routine? Or, does “why am I here” mean why are you still in the dead end relationship that should have ended 20 years ago?  These are just two common concerns for women who are in menopause. Do I take hormone replacement therapy for hot flashes or try some of the alternative therapies?

Dr. Koven helps women to unravel this time of transition.

To hear the full interview: click here

Once you Pop, you can’t stop….PAALEASE!

My interview on “Talk With Francesca” last Sunday with Dr. Irving Kirsch not only surprises me but sickens me.  Over 17 million people are taking antidepressants and after years of careful study, Dr. Irving Kirsch tells us why antidepressants are helpful not because of the active ingredient in them, but because of the placebo affect.

That is good news and bad news.  The good news is that SSRI’s do help people.  The bad news is most can take a sugar pill and feel just as good.

The bad news is there are tons of side effects with these drugs.  One is sexual dysfunction.  Nearly 80% of those taking antidepressants have sexual dysfunction. There are numerous cases of gastrointestinal  side effects.

The list of side effects goes on and on.  What’s worse is these drugs are extremely hard to get off of and more and more kids are being prescribed these drugs.  Parents are being told that their kids have a “chemical imbalance”.  Study after study has proven that there is no such animal.

But I’ll let you be the judge.  Listen to the show here.

Then next Sunday, March 25^th, listen to “Talk With Francesca” and hear the stinging critique Dr. Salah Salman, surgeon and former minister of Lebanon’s Public Health gives of the healthcare in the United States.

That will give you something to talk about….. 


Let me ask you, who is your “everybody” anyway?  Most people I know have a generalized “everybody”.  Foggy.  It keeps us scared to forge ahead  with our true desires.  I have never understood why anyone would call it your comfort zone.  What is comfortable about being stuck?

Let’s get something straight. No one and I mean no one gets to go through life without fears.  We are all from time to time concerned about others’ perceptions but if “everybody” is taking up more space in your head than creating the life you want it might be time to shine a light on who is really holding up your train.

Last Sunday, Dr. Lance Dodes joined me on “Talk With Francesca” on WWZN REVOLUTION BOSTON and we discussed what is at the heart of all addictions. To hear the full interview visit listen here

Here’s an example.  You are recently divorced.  You moved into a neighborhood with all married couples.  It has turned out to be the wrong choice.  Maybe you jumped too quickly.  Who knows but who cares?  It’s the wrong place for you to live.  Being newly divorced is hard enough.  You have found yourself wondering if “everybody” thinks it was your fault?  Now you want to move.  You find yourself thinking, “Will “everybody” think I’m unstable?  Rather than move, you decide you better stay because “everybody” will be talking.  Forget it!

Do you want more control over your life? Below are five steps to being on your way.

Step One

I challenge you to actually clarify who your “everybody” is.  What do they actually say to you? There is usually a sharp contrast between what most of us think that “everybody” will think and what “everybody” thinks.   Find evidence of what “everybody” is really thinking.  Spell out who this “everybody” is and what does “everybody” specifically say?

Step Two

Find out specifically when “everybody” drops in?  I bet if you were to shine the spotlight on “everybody” there are specific times when you feel more vulnerable to “everybody’s attacks”.

Step Three

Talk back to your “everybody”.  Question “everybody’s” intention.  Ask why, if you were to start your own business, “everybody” would laugh or think you are stupid.

Step Four

Surround yourself with people who are encouraging and supportive and dump the dirtbags that criticize you and bring negativity into your life. Cut them out, immediately.  Make your “everybody” your best friends…your fans…people who believe in you!

Step Five

Remember those times in your life when you made difficult choices that turned out to be the best move you ever made?  Right.  Tell everybody about that!

Tell me what you think.  I am stuck with this one.  Today I interviewed Noel Biderman of Established Men on “Talk With Francesca”.  Noel owns an online dating service where the women openly say they are looking for super rich men to pay their bills in exchange for…well, companionship.  Hmmmmmm

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and I think the majority of us will try to find a way to let our significant other know how much we care….maybe we will cook a special dinner, maybe flowers, maybe candy. Not if you are a member of Established Men.  You might just find yourself shopping along Rodeo Drive on a $10,000 shopping spree and your apartment paid for!  If this isn’t thinly veiled prostitution, what is!!! When sex and money are involved, it is a rather blurry line.  Seems to me that it is organized gold digging. Listen to the interview and you tell me.  I have also posted the question on my facebook page, Talk With Francesca.