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51% #1649: Toy Company Co-Founder Finds And Offers Lifelines

Melissa Bernstein on "Lifelines"
Courtesy of Melissa Bernstein/Lifelines, LLC
Melissa Bernstein on "Lifelines"

On this week’s 51%, the female part of toy company Melissa & Doug has written a book about her journey from darkness to light, telling others they’re not alone.

Melissa & Doug is a half-billion-dollar success story, its products found on toy store shelves and children’s bedroom floors everywhere. The Melissa behind the company — Melissa Bernstein — has been the chief designer of more than 5,000 playthings. But until recently, she kept secret her lifelong battle with severe depression and anxiety. Her new book, “Lifelines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light,” tells the story of her journey inward toward self-discovery, detailing the ways she has adapted her thinking and practices to feel at home in her body and in the world. The book offers solace, connection, and support to others struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation or loneliness. I asked her how she came to write “Lifelines,” her first book.

That was Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of Melissa & Doug and author of “Lifelines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light.” (published by Lifelines, LLC and due out March 16, 2021) And she and Doug Bernstein are launching and underwriting LifeLines.com, an online community, resource center and content hub.

Melanated Moments In Classical Music:  Undine Smith Moore 

That’s our show for this week. Thanks to Tina Renick for production assistance. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock. Our theme music is Glow in the Dark by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. If you’d like to hear this show again, sign up for our podcast, or visit the 51% archives on our web site at wamc.org. And follow us on Twitter @51PercentRadio

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