“Even if you’re doing something different than what you planned, every experience builds on the last.”
Tell me about the work you do now.
I’m primarily an author, which means my living comes from writing big, sweeping narrative nonfiction books. I get to dive deep into fascinating subjects. For example, in my 2018 book The Stowaway, I wrote about a downtown arty teen who swam across the Hudson River and stowed away to Antarctica in 1928 with Admiral Byrd. That really happened, and I even got to go to Antarctica to research it! My latest book is about Amelia Earhart and her husband, George Putnam, and it kicks off in 1928 when they first meet in midtown Manhattan.
This isn’t one of those cradle-to-grave biographies, but a more cinematic nonfiction adventure. To create a page-turner in nonfiction, I use the tools of fiction—setting, character, plot—but everything is rooted in meticulous research. Writing dialogue is always tricky because it has to be spot-on accurate. If only historical figures had left behind more transcripts of their witty banter—my job would be so much easier! Still, my past life as a novelist and documentary filmmaker prepared me for this career shift, which began in 2016. I also write freelance articles and teach journalism in the master’s program at NYU, where I try to inspire the next generation of storytellers.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It’s a toss-up between the thrill of research—unearthing forgotten details and finding rare photos—and the incredible people I meet along the way. Historians, adventurers, descendants of my subjects—it’s like being on a lifelong treasure hunt, where each discovery feels like a mini-adventure. Plus, the chance to travel and visit places connected to my subjects really brings history to life.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Friends?
Pacifism. Friends hugely influenced my values, especially during those early years. My family is secular Jewish but deeply committed to social justice. My parents were older—Jazz Age kids who had me in their 40s—and they were heavily involved in civil rights and anti-Vietnam War activism. The Quaker values of peace, equality, and community really lined up with what my parents taught me at home. It felt like a perfect fit.
Tell me a little bit about your Friends journey.
I joined Friends in second grade after a few years at Corlears, a parent-run cooperative school on the Lower East Side, where I still live. I vividly remember my first day. I was utterly lost in the lunchroom with my hot food tray. A kind girl noticed and helped me—she became my best friend! I wasn’t exactly athletic—more of a pudgy bookworm. I spent recess reading while others played dodgeball. But soon enough, I found my circle, and we’d reenact Little House on the Prairie, which was the show of the time. We all wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder! I hope my Little House recess pals—Jessica Berman, Sara Flynn, and Jani Rauch—are reading this!
What was Friends like as a lower and middle school student?
In lower school, I was incredibly quiet—painfully shy, really. Looking back at my old report cards, it’s funny to see how every teacher made a point of mentioning how reserved I was. Considering how chatty I am now, it feels like a different lifetime! If you told those teachers how much I’d be talking today, they’d think you had the wrong report card. But even back then, I loved reading and writing. I still vividly remember third-grade spelling bees with Mrs. Pillsbury—my first taste of competition. At a recent reunion, I ran into my old friend Stefan Kaluzny, who I used to ride the M14 bus with, and we started reminiscing about the time he beat me in one of those bees. I asked if he remembered the word, and he got a glint in his eye. Without missing a beat, he said, “Oh, I remember... syyyyyynagogue,”—drawing it out long enough so I relived the sting of defeat! And the best part was that he was not even Jewish! We both cracked up at the memory. We are both still very competitive.
Middle school?
Middle school? Oh, things got a lot wilder! I’m a journalist, so I won’t sugarcoat it—Friends was bonkers back then. Most of the private schools in New York were wilder. There was even a cigarette garden for students—yes, middle schoolers! When I tell current students this, they look at me like I’m from another planet. Who thought letting 12-year-olds light up between classes was a solid plan? I wasn’t exactly part of the rebel crowd, so middle school wasn’t my favorite time, but I made some incredible friends who are still in my life today.
The story everyone remembers, though, is when a niece of nightclub impresario Steve Rubell rented out Studio 54 for the seventh and eighth grades. Picture a bunch of gawky 13-year-olds trying to act cool at the most infamous nightclub in the world right in the middle of its disco heyday. Sure, it was during the daytime, but there were smoke machines, Donna Summer blasting, and we were all convinced we were just cool enough to be there. Looking back, it’s hilariously absurd—13-year-olds shaking our booties at Studio 54. But it happened! I also appreciated the adult that made sure that every kid was invited.
Do you recall any guest speakers who stood out during your time at Friends?
John Lennon, without a doubt. I was in third grade, it was 1975, and it was an unforgettable moment. I’m actually working on an article about it and interviewed his girlfriend, May Pang, who was with him that day—not Yoko Ono, as some people mistakenly remember! It was one of those surreal, larger-than-life events where even the teachers were screaming. I also remember musicians like Harry Chapin and LaBelle visiting, but Lennon? That was on a whole other level.
In what ways have Quaker values and your experience at Friends influenced the work you do today?
The emphasis on integrity and truth has really stuck with me. In my work, I’m a storyteller but also a truth-seeker. Quaker values taught me to look for the humanity in every story, to be fair, and to seek out the untold, overlooked narratives. And, of course, the idea of service and making the world better in small ways resonates with me. I try to uncover lost or forgotten stories that shed light on our shared history and, hopefully, inspire readers to see the world differently.
Is there a particular class or teacher who inspired you to become a filmmaker, journalist, and writer?
Definitely, Ms. Hayeem-Ladani. She was the first to tell me I should become a writer. I told her that on the phone recently, and she remembered. Later, at Stuyvesant, Frank McCourt was very encouraging, but Ms. Hayeem-Ladani first planted that seed.
How do you understand your work now as bringing about a world that ought to be?
I’m a seeker of lost stories—stories that have fallen through the cracks of history. I’m not a political reporter, but storytelling can shift perspectives. My books are about human stories, people trying to make sense of the world around them. I also love lost history and crazy true stories. Storytelling can connect us all and bring readers a sense of wonder and delight.
What are your hopes, dreams, and plans for your work in the future?
I feel like I’ve finally found my calling and I tell people this: Even if you’re doing something different than what you planned, every experience builds on the last. That’s been true with journalism, filmmaking, and now narrative nonfiction. I hope to keep finding stories that resonate, keep learning, and keep challenging myself.
You have a new book that will be published in July—what can you share about this exciting project?
My new book is called The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage That Made an American Icon. It took five years to write. When I started, I had this moment of doubt, wondering, “Who am I to take on Amelia Earhart?” But as I dug deeper, I realized this story wasn’t just about Amelia—it was about the complex partnership she had with George Putnam, a man who helped shape her public image while also pushing her to take bigger risks. Their marriage, professional and personal, was groundbreaking for its time.
The book unveils the untold story of their decade-long relationship, a dynamic partnership that fueled Amelia’s rise to fame but also pressed her into increasingly treacherous stunts. George, often called the "P.T. Barnum of publishing," was a visionary in marketing his authors, and no one felt the weight of his relentless publicity machine more than Amelia. He helped elevate her to icon status, but their partnership also contributed to the pressures that led to her final flight.
I traveled across the country for research, interviewed many people—including Amelia’s living niece—and discovered new sources, including audio interviews from those closest to Amelia. The book gives a more human side to Earhart—beyond the myths and legends, she was fiercely driven, ambitious, and at times flawed. It’s a gripping story of adventure, ambition, and the inner workings of a marriage that shaped an American icon. I can’t wait to share it with the world!