Guest on the "Most People Don't...But You Do" Podcast

“I met Maria Leonard Olsen in New York City when we both were filming our TEDx Talk.  Immediately I was drawn to her intellect and communication style.  Relaxed, mindful, yet disarmingly intense and so very powerful!  She shared her story with me on that day, and now with the world through various platforms.  She overcame a tumultuous childhood to live in a place of content.  Through her writings, she has enabled others to embrace their uniqueness and accept their imperfect lives.   She remains non-judgmental of how others behave toward her realizing that everyone has difficulty.

She is a biracial woman whose parents were forbidden by law to marry in their home state of Maryland in the early 1960s. She is the mother of two children, a lawyer, journalist and author of several books. She leads writing/empowerment retreats for women, is the podcast host of “Becoming Your Best Version” and is a co-host of the Inside Out radio show on WPFW-fm, 89.3, in Washington, D.C.

Maria graduated from Boston College and the University of Virginia School of Law, worked at one of D.C.'s largest law firms, where she served on the Diversity Committee; served in the Clinton Administration's Justice Department; fostered newborn babies awaiting adoption; and has been on the boards of Children's National Medical Center BOV, the Catholic Coalition for Special Education, GirlsUp and the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Washington.

She has written for The Washington Post, Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine, Thrive Global, Parenting, BabyTalk, Women’s Day and Washington For Women. She recently returned to practicing law now that her children are launched. Mommy, Why's Your Skin So Brown? is her first children's book.  Healing for Hallie is her second children's book.  Not the Cleaver Family--The New Normal in Modern American Family, was released in November 2016.  Her latest book, 50 After 50--Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life, has been used as a vehicle to help thousands of people across the country reinvigorate their lives.

Her book talk has been featured on C-Span’s "Book TV" show and her latest book was selected for the National Book Fair at the National Press Club. See www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com for more information.”