“I grew up loving sports. I wish I could say the same for French or algebra. Early on, my parents made sure my sister and I knew how to ride a bike, hit a ball, swim, bowl, roller skate, jump rope, and play tennis, golf, even horse shoes. It never mattered that we weren’t the best. The message was: Have fun; learn something new; be a team player; don’t break anything.”
All Is Well: The Art {and Science} of Personal Well-being (Creators Publishing) is Marilynn’s third book and her first Amazon best-seller. “Forty years on the fitness beat” she likes to say. “And still eating french fries.”
In the early 1990’s, Marilynn created and exec produced the nationally syndicated Energy Express TV series about sports, fitness, and adventure for kids and families. It ran in 120 cities, won two Emmys and a Women’s Sports Foundation award and lives on today as a YouTube channel.
When Marilynn isn’t writing about healthy lifestyles—from her beloved standing desk—she is doing her best to live it. Her practice includes yoga, race walking, kayaking, wine tasting, nasal breathing and as much adventure travel as she can fit in. She’s circumambulated Mt. Kailash in Tibet, kayacked down the mighty Wisconsin, climbed Mt. Olympus in Greece, bicycled in France and Italy, golfed in Bhutan, and scuba dived in the YMCA pool in Chicago. Her next big adventure is getting people to read All is Well to create their healthiest, happiest lives.
Listed below are some of her career highlights. (Career lowlights available upon request):
- TV, movie, theater critic: Chicago Tribune and Chicago Today
- founder and CEO: Energy Express TV Productions
- author: Dear Dr. Jock: The People’s Guide to Sports and Fitness; Work Well, Be Well
- playwright: Celebrity Beat; Solomons Choice; Blue Sky
- certified WellCoach
- certified A.C.E. fitness trainer
- TV personality: co-host, Friends (NBC/Chicago); Back of the Book (PBS); co-star, Stay Tuned (NBC/Chicago)
- Documentary producer: Adventure Travel in Israel
- Concert producer: The Great Show and Dr. Cool and Pride’s Feeling Good Concert
- Managing partner: Films4Auction
- Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Illinois; Master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University; honorary degree from the Chicago School of Bartending
Girls in the Game—One of Marilynn’s Passions
Marilynn is the founding Board chair of Girls in the Game, a remarkable, award-winning nonprofit based in Chicago, now celebrating more than 25 years of success.
GIG helps girls in underserved communities get the sports, self-care and leadership training they need to become strong, confident women, forces for change in their neighborhoods and families. If you happen to have Michelle Obama on speed-dial, please tell her about us.
And please visit GirlsintheGame.org and see why Marilynn is still active on the Board. Meet the girls and their coaches, read the stories, learn about the great work we do, and please support us in all the ways you can.
