Award-winning travel writer and bestselling author, Margie Goldsmith? At 81 years old, she’s still going strong – traveling the world, boxing for sport and interviewing a long list of celebrities, chefs, athletes, musicians and more.

In her new memoir, Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce (Booklogix, September 30, 2025), Margie is a testament to the adage “no one is going to make your life for you.” Her story is one of adventure and resilience. It’s about living life on your terms and living it fearlessly. She speaks to anyone looking to overcome a sense of powerlessness in any given situation, whether that’s a dysfunctional family, a marriage/relationship, or a career, and to anyone who has ever felt “less than.” In an interview, Margie Goldsmith can talk about:

• Her move to Paris after college, living a glamorous life and marrying a blacklisted film director
• Her love of travel — becoming a travel writer and visiting 150 countries on seven continents, including Uganda, The Marquesas, South Korea, Laos, Cambodia, Oman, Cuba, Tibet, Nepal, Borneo, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Easter Island, Croatia, Namibia, the Arctic and Antarcticat
• How the Outward Bound program changed her life: Physical activity is her passion and she has completed marathons and Olympic distance triathlons, summited Mount Rainier, and climbed to Advanced Base Camp on the north face of Mount Everest
• Learning to play the harmonica and recorded two albums with America’s most award-winning blues band
• Coming from a family of suicide (her father), incest, schizophrenia (her sister Kathy), manic depression and alcoholism (both parents) and how that has shaped her life
• Surviving stage four pancreatic cancer and later, lung cancer

Becoming a Badass Book Jacket.jpg

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Margie Goldsmith is a New York City-based adventure, luxury, lifestyle and profile writer. She is a contributor to Business Jet Traveler, Wine, Dine & Travel and Food & Travel. Her articles appear in Forbes.com, Travel + Leisure, Robb Report, National Geographic Traveler, Coastal Living, Virtuoso, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, Garden and Gun, Organic Spa, Ultimate Experiences and others.

She is the author of four books: Screw-Up; Alice Dalton Browne: Nocturnes and Diurnes; Masters of the Harmonica: 30 Harmonica Masters Share Their Craft (#1 bestseller on Amazon). Her newest book is her memoir, Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce. Her essays appear in Travelers Tales, The Walker Within, In Search of Adventure, National Geographic’s Spiritual Journeys, GoNomad’s London Reader, and Chance Encounters.

Goldsmith has won 101 writing awards including the coveted Lowell Thomas SATW Gold Award, Lowell Thomas Bronze Journalist of the Year Award, four Eddie and Ozzie Folio Awards, and multiple honors from ASJA, NATJA, the Solas Award, Travel Classics Award, and OWAA. For more information, please visit https://margiegoldsmith.com/.

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Mastersoftheharmonica

#MargieGoldsmith

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Landmark Locations
Since the 1950’s, Junior’s has been famous for great food, great fun, great service, and, of course, the best cheesecake. Our original location in Brooklyn on Flatbush Avenue is still thriving. Or you can visit us in some of our more recent landmark additions—in New York’s famous Grand Central Terminal or in the heart of the theater district on Broadway in Times Square. You can even try your luck at our first restaurant outside of New York—at the Fox Tower Hotel at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. With a full menu ranging from steaks to seafood and sandwiches to salads and cheesecake, we know you’ll have a fabulous dining experience at any of our establishments and, of course, don’t forget to order dessert!

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To see the whole story, go to: http://goodnewsplanet.com/new-york-city-triathlon/

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Each year over 3,000 athletes brave the waters of the mighty Hudson River before biking along Manhattan’s West Side highway. Finally, athletes put on their running shoes for a run through New York’s famed Central Park.

Schedule of Events

Friday, July 6th

12:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Aquaphor New York City Triathlon Sports and Fitness Expo, Hilton, NY, in the Rhinelander Gallery

12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Mandatory Age Group Briefings & Packet Pick-Up (every half hour; last briefing at 7:00 PM), Registration and Packet Pickup/ Hilton, NY

1:00 PM Aquaphor Diaper Derby, Hilton NY: 2^nd Floor Promenade

6:30 – 7:15 PM Celebrate America Underwear Run Check-In, Central Park: Cherry Hill (registered runners only)

7:30 PM Celebrate America Underwear Run Start, Central Park: Cherry Hill (registered runners only)

Saturday, July 7th

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Animal Medical Center Doggy Dash Briefing & Packet Pickup, Hilton, NY – Regent Room

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM The Aquaphor New York City Triathlon Sports and Fitness Expo, Hilton, NY

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Mandatory Age Group Briefings & Packet Pickup, (every half hour, beginning on the half hour), Registration and Packet Pickup. The day’s last briefing begins at 5:00 pm. Hilton, NY

2:00 PM Mandatory Para-Tri Handlers Briefing, Hilton, NY- Regent Room

2:30 PM Mandatory Para-Tri Athlete Briefing, Hilton, NY- Regent Room

2:00 PM – 9:00 PM Mandatory Bike Check-in, Riverside Park & 79th Street Ball Field

2:30 PM – 5:30 PM RCN High-Speed Transition Tours, every half hour: Riverside Park & 79th Street

3:30 PM Swim Prep Briefing: Meet at the tent across from Swim Exit, just north of the 79th St. Marina

4:00 PM Mandatory Pro Briefing, Hilton, NY- Regent Room

Sunday, July 8th

3:45 AM – 5:30 AM Athlete Shuttles to Transition/ Hilton New York: Pickup on 54th between 6th&7th

4:00 AM – 5:15 AM Yellow Transition Area open for pre-race set-up: Riverside Park & 79th Street Ball Fields

4:00 AM – 5:40 AM Red Transition Area open for pre-race set-up: Riverside Park & 79th Street Ball Fields

5:15 AM- 7:00 AM Athlete Shuttles to Transition/ Hilton New York: Pickup on 54th between 6th & 7th

5:15 AM Yellow Transition Area Closes. All Athletes except relays must clear transition area.

5:40 AM Red Transition Area Closes.

5:50 AM Aquaphor New York City Triathlon Starts / Swim Start – 99th Street & Hudson River

7:30 AM Animal Medical Center Doggy Dash Start

8:00 AM – 1:00 PM JetBlue Finish Festival Celebration – awards, entertainment, food, and more / Central Park at Dead Road

10:00 AM Bike portion: Henry Hudson Bridge (northbound) cut-off time (enforced by Final Course Sweep Vehicle)

10:15 AM Bike portion: Gunhill Road turnaround cut-off time (enforced by Final Course Sweep Vehicle)

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Transition area open for bike pick up. All athletes must remove their bikes from transition by 2:00 PM

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Casey Tibbs faced a life-changing event when a motorcycle accident forced him to amputate his right leg. Tibbs was a multi-sport athlete growing up, so instead of letting this disability discourage him, he found rewarding competition in the Paralympic Games.

In 2004, Tibbs became the first American active-duty military member to compete in a Paralympic Games, and is now a two-time gold medalist in the men’s 4 x 100-meter relay.

Now Tibbs has set his sights on the 2012 Olympics and partnership with Kellogg’s Olympic campaign. Tibbs follows his nutrition closely and believes that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Kellogg’s has been helping people start their days right for more than 100 years, so it makes sense that they are celebrating the start. Tibbs will be one of eight Olympic hopefuls making up Team Kelloggs / www.facebook.com/Kelloggs.

You can find out more information about Casey by viewing his “start story” video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_LJgQSw1uE

CASEY TIBBS- Team Kellogg’s – http://www.kelloggs.com/teamusa/#/teamusa/athletes/casey-tibbs.html

SPORT
Track and Field
HOMETOWN
Austin, Texas
CURRENTLY RESIDES
San Antonio, Texas

Tibbs was a multi-sport athlete growing up, and when he lost his right leg below the knee as the result of a motorcycle accident, he saw no reason to stop competing and went on to win multiple Paralympic medals, including two golds. As a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy training to qualify for his third Paralympic Games, Tibbs and wife Robyn together focus on raising their three children, a 4-year-old son, Taylor, an 18-month-old daughter, Reagan and a 2-month old son, Trent.

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS
• Made history by becoming the first American active-duty military member to compete in a Paralympic Games (2004)
• First amputee to be an Air Crewman through the U.S. Navy Aircrew School
• Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games: gold medal in men’s 4 x 100-meter relay (T42/T46); bronze medal, (F42/F44) long jump
• Athens 2004 Paralympic Games: gold medal in men’s 4X100-meter relay; silver medal in the pentathlon
• ESPN ESPY Award winner – “Best Male Athlete with a Disability” (2007)

TIBB’S APPROACH TO NUTRITION
• Nutrition is essential to Tibbs’ success, and he believes breakfast is the most important meal. “As an athlete, you’ve got to have a good breakfast,” he says. He lives a very healthy lifestyle, drinks lots of water and watches his calories.
• A few of Tibbs’ favorite Kellogg’s® products include Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes® and Mini-Wheats® cereals.

OFF THE FIELD
• When assigned to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Tibbs worked with the “Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program,” administering fitness programs for members of the military who have been injured while on active duty.
• As an amputee, Casey relates well to patients and serves as a mentor during the rehabilitation process.

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When you sit down to watch television or go to the movies, you don’t have to look far to see science and engineering hard at work. It’s in the high-tech gadgets used to analyze crime scene evidence, the medicine developed to stop the spread of disease, amazing super powers and phenomenal fight scenes – it’s everywhere. But, have you ever wondered how Hollywood gets it right?

Individuals and families can learn about the science behind Hollywood’s crime dramas, superhero feats, medical shows and special effects at the USA Science & Engineering Festival, hosted by Lockheed Martin — the nation’s largest celebration of science and engineering that will take place April 28-29, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The festival will feature exhibits, performances and appearances by scientists and organizations that work closely with Hollywood film and TV producers to make sure that they are portraying science and engineering realistically.

One of those organizations is The Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of the National Academy of Science that puts the likes of Nobel Prize winners on speed dial for Hollywood TV and film producers. “Since we’ve started, we’ve facilitated more than 350 consults – an average of 2 to 3 each week – for movies like Iron Man 2, TRON: Legacy, Thor, Green Lantern and the upcoming Disney film The Avengers, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Ann Merchant, Deputy Executive Director for the Office of Communications for The National Academies. “We’re not the accuracy police, more like the plausibility patrol – it’s not about making a movie a textbook, but we do try to make sure that there are more realistic elements included in the stories on which we consult,” continued Merchant.

Several performers at the USA Science and Engineering Festival will give participants the opportunity to experience the science of Hollywood up close and personal, including:
• Learning the science behind the wizardry of Harry Potter and the magic from Hogwart’s Academy in demonstrations showing how science can make objects levitate or disappear, from San Diego State University Professor and former NSTA president, Dr. Alan McCormack.
• Simulating the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus through the Walter E. Washington Convention Center – similar to the epidemic in the movie Contagion – utilizing bar code and Quick Response (QR) tags as a surrogate for the virus, at an exhibit by the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech.
• Competing in robot battles like those seen in the movie Real Steel and operating various other robots throughout the festival, including the robotic tools used to find the Titanic on the ocean floor. Ocean exploration pioneer, David Gallo, discoverer of the Titanic is scheduled to appear at the Festival.
• Touring the vehicles that chase tornados and extreme weather in the popular reality show Storm Chasers. Dr. Josh Wurman, founder of the Center for Severe Weather Research, which operates the Doppler on Wheels (DOW) – a mobile radar unit that observes tornadoes, hurricanes, wild fires and other phenomena from close range – will give a talk and meet with fans.
Exploring how scientists use technology to detect life on other planets and meeting Seth Shostak – an alien chaser that the movie Contact was based upon.
• Meeting the inventor and inspiration for the Iron Man movies in which he makes a cameo appearance, Elon Musk, who also serves as CEO and chief technology officer of SpaceX, the producer of the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets.

A festival favorite, Jim Kakalios, will mesmerize the crowd with a presentation on the science of superheroes, explaining the plausibility and the scientific basis for super powers from all of our favorite comic books. Kakalios is the author of the Physics of Superheroes, a book that explains physics principles in an easy-to-understand and often humorous manner.

A physics professor at the University of Minnesota, Kakalios was connected to the filmmakers of The Watchmen by The Science & Entertainment Exchange to consult on the translation of the graphic novel to the big screen for the 2009 Warner Bros. film. He has also consulted for the recent film The Green Lantern and the upcoming film The Amazing Spider Man, in theaters next summer. “The real benefit for me is that I get to interact with fun, nice people [in Hollywood] who are turned on by ideas and they want to do their best to make it realistic,” said Kakalios. “When I watch TV or films and I see them get it right, it’s like catching a little inside joke. I appreciate it and hope that the audience will learn a little something about science.”

Science Celebrities:
The USA Science & Engineering Festival will also feature leading science celebrities like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the MythBusters, who will appear live during the finale Expo. Also scheduled to appear are Jeff Lieberman from Discovery Channel’s series Time Warp and Apollo Robbins, the Gentleman Thief from National Geographic’s Brain Games.

Influential Scientific Authors:
The USA Science & Engineering Festival Book Fair will feature several authors who have changed science in the media. Dr. Robin Cook has written more than 30 best selling novels – including Coma, which was made into a successful feature film by Michael Crichton and Outbreak, which served as the basis for NBC’s “Virus.” Dr. Cook’s writing transformed the media’s representation of the medical profession from what it used to be in the days of Marcus Welby, MD to what we are used to seeing to see in shows like ER and Grey’s Anatomy. Homer Hickam took us into the world of opportunity with his biography — a quest to become a rocket scientist — that became the hit movie October Sky. Illustrator Bruce Degan brought Joanna Cole’s words to life in the books and eventual TV enterprise the Magic School Bus, which has delighted and enlightened youth about the possibilities of science for the past 25 years.

About the USA Science & Engineering Festival:
The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the country’s only national science festival, and was developed to increase public awareness of the importance of science and to encourage youth to pursue careers in science and engineering by celebrating science in much the same way as we celebrate Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes.

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