What I Learned about Love and Marriage from “Married at First Sight!”
Join Pepper Schwartz for a candid look at what she’s learned after 19 seasons of hosting the show.
Sex, Intimacy, Health & Happiness
Sex not only feels good, but research also indicates it may actually make you mentally and physically healthier. This talk explores why we may be inhibited and offers some suggestions about how to have a more confident and pleasurable sexual self.
Snap Strategies for Common Relationship Issues
Discover practical guidance and fresh perspectives from relationship expert Pepper Schwartz.
Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D, is respected for both her academic and popular work on sexuality and intimate relationships. She received her PhD from Yale University and had a long career as Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington where she received the Pan Hellenic teaching award. She was awarded the honor of Distinguished Alumni by her undergraduate University, Washington University in St Louis and The University of Minnesota School of Family Medicine and the Eli Coleman Institute of Gender and Sexual Health created the Pepper Schwartz Professorship on Sexuality and Aging in her name. She is the author of 26 books including two New York Times best sellers, The Normal Bar: The Surprising Secrets of Happy Couples and Ten Talks Parents Must Have with Their Kids on Sex and Character. Among the many awards she has received for her work she is proudest of the recognition she received from The American Sociological Association for Public Understanding of Sociology. She has been active in public media, appearing multiple times om Oprah, Good Morning America, CBS morning news, CNN, and NBC. She has written columns for the New York Times, was an AARP ambassador and wrote the AARP column on love and relationships for over a decade, presently she writes a monthly column for Seattle Magazine and has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and other major news outlets. Over the last eleven years, however, she has gained a public following for her work as a relationship expert on Married at First Sight, a popular reality show, now in its 19th season. First carried on Lifetime television and Net Flix, it is now owned by NBC and Peacock. Her most prized fact about the show is that Michelle Obama has said the Married at First Sight is one of her two favorite shows! She is currently working on projects with AI, a scripted television show about her work, and two books. She is married, living outside of Seattle Washington on a horse ranch, and has two adult children, four grandchildren, two personal horses and two very large and demanding dogs. Her new and fanatic hobby is watching Korean dramas and rom-coms on Netflix. Her most recent book, published by Rowand and Littlefield, is Relationship RX (2023) with Jessica Griffin.
Dawn Petter is a clinical herbalist and flower essence practitioner based in New York City. She is a graduate of Arbor Vitae School of Traditional Herbalism and is trained as a flower essence practitioner with Delta Gardens and Findhorn Essences. Dawn offers in depth health consults and custom formulated remedies to her clients. She teaches classes and retreats at corporations and institutions including, the NY, and Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, NBC, Adobe and DE Shaw, to name a few. Her classes are imaginative, accessible, and encourage students to use herbal medicine in everyday life. Dawn is the owner of Petalune Herbals which specializes in wild and organic herbal skincare.
Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer-prize winning former foreign correspondent and author and co-author of 12 books. She writes about ADHD, murder, motherhood, and more.
A. Van Jordan is the author of five collections of poetry: Rise, which won the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award (Tia Chucha Press, 2001); M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A, (2005), which was listed as one the Best Books of 2005 by The London Times; Quantum Lyrics, (2007); and The Cineaste, (2013), W.W. Norton & Co. Jordan has been awarded a Whiting Writers Award, an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, and a Pushcart Prize. He is also a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship (2007), a United States Artists Fellowship (2009), and a Lannan Literary Award in Poetry (2015). His latest collection, When I Waked, I Cried to Dream Again, winner of the 2024 Hurston Wright Legacy Award, was released in 2023 (W.W. Norton & Co). Among his many academic appointments, he most recently served as the Robert Hayden Collegiate Professor of English Literature at The University of Michigan, before coming to Stanford University, where he currently holds the Humanities and Sciences Chair in English Literature, and where he also serves as part of the inaugural faculty in the Department of African & African American Studies.
A native of Philadelphia, Sebastian Picht comes from a multi-generational musical family. He began his piano training with his grandmother, Asya Kalendar. Sebastian has recently presented solo recitals in Iceland and Switzerland, the latter as a representative of the Lang Lang Foundation’s Young Scholars Program Class of 2022-24. He has also given educational outreach concerts as a member of the Foundation, as well as solo and chamber performances in local schools and senior residences under the auspices of Allegro Music Consultants and Temple Music Prep. Sebastian has participated in several music festivals, such as the Curtis Summerfest, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and most recently, the Aspen Music Festival last summer. Sebastian also enjoys cooking, writing, and has a keen interest in politics and issues related to social justice. He graduated with a Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Program in 2023, and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, studying with Professor Alexander Shtarkman.
Martha Aarons’ professional career began with her appointment as principal flute of the North Carolina Symphony. Subsequently she played with the Cleveland Orchestra for 25 years. After becoming a freelancer, she performed often with the Philadelphia Orchestra. During this time, she appeared as guest principal flute with the Metropolitan Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Mostly Mozart Festival. Ms. Aarons served as Artist Faculty with the Aspen Music Festival for 19 years. Her teaching credits include the Cleveland Institute of Music, Duke University, University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, Oberlin College, Skidmore College, Shanghai Conservatory and Eastman School of Music. She has been soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, and with the Aspen Festival Chamber and Festival orchestras. Her first solo CD, The History of the Tango, is recorded on the Azica label and additionally features pianist Frances Renzi and Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux. Her newest release is the CD Last Silence with violinist Lev Polyakin and pianist Frances Renzi. Martha is also an avid runner and has qualified for her sixth consecutive Boston Marathon in April 2026!
Lev Polyakin was appointed co-concertmaster of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra at age 21. In that position he was regularly featured as soloist. In the U.S. he served as assistant concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as concertmaster of the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen Music Festival. Lev has won several prizes in international violin competitions, including the Beethoven Prize in Carl Flesch in London, and Gold Medal and Special Prize in Brescia, Italy. In addition to solo performances with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, he has appeared as soloist with the London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic, and Cleveland Orchestra. Recording credits include Melodia, BBC, National Public Radio, and Decca. He is prominently featured on an album entitled Cafe Music comprising chamber music by Paul Schoenfield, which was nominated for a Grammy. Lev has a special interest in jazz and has recorded three CDs, entitled Russian Blue, The Other Side of the Road, and Christmas Kaleidoscope. He is also featured in the recent release by Azica Records entitled Last Silence, with flutist Martha Aarons and pianist Frances Renzi.
Brent Hedstrom
John Scott Marrone has over 30 years of experience teaching in the New York area. In addition to Astronomy, Scott teaches Forensics, Environmental Studies, and Oceanography. He has been recognized by Ciba-Geigy Corporation for his work in promoting science literacy and received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 2007 from Manhattan College. In 1998, Scott was invited by the Aruban Government to substitute for astronomer Jay Pasachoff to lead the observation of the total solar eclipse. Most recently, Scott led the public observing session on Mauna Kea. Scott has also led observing on cruises in the Galapagos and Tahiti.
Sarah-Anne Schumann, MD, MPH, is a physician who is board certified in both Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. She graduated from Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. She previously served on the medical school faculty at the University of Chicago and University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. She completed her certificate in plant-based nutrition at eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and is an advanced teacher of therapeutic yoga, health and wellbeing coach, and a certified mindfulness meditation and mindful self-compassion teacher. She is completing a fellowship at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Her website is 
Chloé Doutre-Roussel is an author, consultant, educator, and internationally recognized expert with more than 35 years of experience in fine cacao and chocolate. A former buyer at Fortnum and Mason, shop manager at Ladurée, author of The Chocolate Connoisseur, and creator of Chloe Chocolat in Paris, she has also worked with El Ceibo, a cooperative of cocoa farmers in Bolivia, to launch a vertically integrated tree to bar to bonbon brand. Chloe is a regular juror at the Academy of Chocolate Awards (AOC) and at the Northwest Chocolate Festival. She is member of honor of the AOC, founding member of the Academia del Chocolate of Ecuador, member of the Advisory Board of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA), and co-chair of the Chocolate Committee for the Good Food Awards.
Dave Powers
Louis Tsamous (right) grew up in Cambridge, OH and began playing the drums at age 10. He has since become one of the most versatile and active musicians in America. He has toured Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean and has recorded and performed with jazz artists Stanley Turrentine, Etta Jones, Jimmy McGriff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, David “Fathead” Newman, Joey DeFrancesco,Pat Martino,Blue Lou Marini, Kevin Mahogany and Joan Rivers among others. Louis has also worked with Motown legend Mary Wilson.
Rosi Golan is an Israeli-born, American singer-songwriter known for her evocative lyrics, haunting melodies, and genre-blending sound that moves between folk, pop, and indie with graceful ease. Born in Israel, Rosi spent her early years in Germany and Paris before moving to the U.S. at nine years old, an international upbringing that subtly shaped her creative life.
Alexandria “Brinae Ali” Bradley was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and is an interdisciplinary artist who believes in using the power of the arts to transform the human spirit.
Karen Wilhelm Buckley helps people live and lead with wisdom, love, and authentic presence. As an executive coach, consultant, and retreat leader, she guides individuals and teams to navigate change with clarity, compassion, and purpose. Her work invites a deeper awareness of how love and consciousness can shape a world where people flourish and nature thrives. A pioneer in transformation and global consciousness for over three decades, Karen has led leadership and wisdom programs across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. She also co-founded a Waldorf-inspired elementary school, reflecting her lifelong devotion to whole-child education and human potential. When not teaching or coaching, Karen enjoys hiking Mt. Tamalpais with her fluffy dog, Stanley, tending her garden, practicing Pilates, and cooking delicious meals with her husband. Time spent playing with her grandsons tops her list of joys.
Baxley Andresen is an owner of a natural burial ground in Central California. Her journey in deathcare started with working for Alua Arthur of Going with Grace, then working as a Funeral Arranger at FRIENDS Funeral Home in Los Angeles. She found Creston Cemetery in 2021, an old pioneer cemetery in Central California, ready for some attention and an update. Baxley manages the land, trees, burials and other aspects of this small but revered cemetery alongside Ed Bixby of Destination Destiny Memorials. She serves as Vice President on the Green Burial Council and volunteers with the Valley Chevra Kadisha, a group that sits alongside the dead and performs ritual washings of the deceased. Baxley knows and believes that “though grief and loss is inevitable, being unprepared isn’t.”
Susannah Mars has been a theater artist for over 50 years. She grew up with actor Kenneth Mars, who passed of pancreatic cancer in 2011. Since then, Susannah’s work has woven in and out of her grief journey, from playing Diana in Next to Normal, to writing her one-woman show, Good Grief. She hosted the podcast “Adventures In Artslandia” for five years, culminating in one of her favorite episodes, which featured one of her father’s collaborators, Mel Brooks. She’s been an Arts Envoy to Cairo, Egypt, and now resides in Damascus, Oregon, with her husband and the sweetest dog ever, Shyla.
Julia Francis is a sound therapy artist, vocal coach and singer-songwriter. She believes in the power of the voice to create space in the body for emotional transformation and healing. A life-long disciple of the vocal and expressive arts, Julia has studied with wisdom keepers across the globe to understand the power of the unseen. With her voice, crystal alchemy bowls and guitar, Julia provides sacred sound experiences through public performances, retreats and private sessions. Her passion is facilitating the practice of sacred sound and story making for processing grief and working with the ancestors.