Author: Lucia Matuonto

I had the pleasure of interviewing Neal Engstrom, who runs a real estate investment fund based in Los Angeles. In addition, he recently published a new book, YOUR LIFEPATH, designed to help Generation Z, and everyone else — pursue continuous self-fulfillment through the five life stages. Hello Neal, Welcome to BrandEducation! Where are you from and where do you live? I am a La Jolla native (and California beach kid!), but – after living in Cambridge (MA) and Tokyo (Japan) and Palo Alto (CA) – I have now lived in La Canada (CA) for the past 24 years, where my…

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Ran Anbar on The Relatable Voice Podcast—what an insightful conversation! D. Anbar, MD, FAAP, is board-certified in both pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics, offering hypnosis and counseling services at Center Point Medicine in La Jolla, California, and Syracuse, New York. Dr. Anbar is also past president, a fellow, and approved consultant of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Anbar is a leader in clinical hypnosis, and his 26 years of experience have allowed him to successfully treat over 8,000 children. He also served as a professor of pediatrics and medicine and…

On a gray, freezing day in early February of 2025, Lucia Matuonto and Vicky Oliver met for a long, leisurely lunch at Brasserie Cognac on Manhattan’s Upper East Side to brainstorm. Famous for its fluffy omelettes and rich, sumptuous salads, the brasserie provided a cozy environment conducive to bandying about ideas. Lucia and Vicky settled on the cushy banquettes. That afternoon, the restaurant was filled with powerful “ladies who launch”—launch businesses, that is, and perhaps the vibe was contagious. “This is the ‘power lunch’ hotspot for women,” Vicky said, glancing at two ladies in Chanel suits, occupying the corner table…

Hello Grinnell, welcome to BrandEducation! Why do you think your book resonates with your audience? “Saving KC” is a historical fiction. Karen Carpenter fans have always wanted to know how she could have been saved and what that would look like. The musical brother-sister duo group still has tens of thousands of fans worldwide who still enjoy their music and the talent shown by both. Richard was the musical genius and arranger, while Karen’s voice was always the centerpiece of their recordings and live shows. Karen’s eating disorder has been a mystery to all her fans and always has remained…

The RV Book Reviews: The ninth book in the Warren Steelgrave adventure series caught my attention right from the first two opening sentences: “I awoke to bright sunlight coming through the window.” “Between the jet lag and the wine, I felt like shit.” The casual yet detailed writing style drew me in and made me want to keep reading. After just the first two or three chapters, I was completely engrossed in the story and eager to know more. Although the plot was quite complex—featuring international terrorists, bomb threats, the Italian police, American F.B.I. agents, and a powerful Mafia family—it…

This month, we’re embracing all things love—and February holds a particularly special place in my heart. It’s not just about Valentine’s Day; it’s also the month I celebrate my birthday and my daughters’ birthdays. It’s a time filled with love, joy, and meaningful connections, making it one of my favorite times of the year. In this issue, we dive into the many forms of love that shape our lives—love for the earth, love for food, love for our friends, partners, and even the love we have for storytelling. Love is all around us, and our features this month beautifully reflect…

Interviewed by Pat Backley. Lucia, you often mention that English is your second language (although you speak it very well). May I ask where you originate from and how many other languages you speak? I know you are a very smart lady! Hi Pat, thank you! I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I grew up surrounded by beautiful nature, incredible culture, and warm-hearted people. My childhood was filled with memories of gazing at the stunning Sugar Loaf Mountain while swimming in the paradisiacal beaches. In my twenties, I worked for an American airline, which allowed me to…

WENDELL HANES is an EMMY AWARD WINNING COMPOSER and owner of VOLITION SOUND. Wendell earned a SPORTS EMMY for his work with ESPN and scored the EMMY NOMINATED PEACOCK film, “THE SIT IN: HARRY BELAFONTE HOSTS THE TONIGHT SHOW. Hanes has scored over 2000 commercials and has won nearly every major award in advertising including Clios, Cannes Lions, LIA’s, Andy’s, Addys, Effy’s , One Shows and Golden Award of Montreaux’s. Hanes scored James Cameron’s “The Game Changers” for Netflix as well as the 6 time Award Winning NETFLIX documentary THE REMIX: HIP HOP & FASHION. He also composed the 2021…

Jackie Kopito is a writer and author, and her latest fiction book for tweens is titled Twintastic. Today, Jackie delves into twin relationships and also discusses her book Little Fantastic, which she co-authored with Wendell Hanes. Hello Jackie, welcome to BrandEducation!As the author of Twintastic and a twin expert, could you tell us more about what being a twin expert means to you? Since I’m an identical twin myself, and I’ve heard practically every twin question, I feel I have a good understanding of the unique dynamics of twin relationships and experiences. How has your personal experience shaped your perspective…

Hello Gary, welcome to Brand Education! How does living in both Italy and the USA influence your writing?I believe living in a small village in Italy, struggling with the language, and learning the culture gives me a contrasting perspective on life. I own a home there, so paying taxes and arranging boiler inspections on the house boilers are a learning experience. My friends complain about a trip to the DMV to renew their driver’s license, and I laugh. They have no idea what I go through to renew my visa. Last year, it took three trips to stand in line…