Janeane's first cheerleader...sam Bernstein
This very special man was my father. I lost him December 4, 2015 to stage four colon cancer. When I moved in with him at age 16, I had no idea he had a hilarious repetorie of character voices, which would later inspire me to pursue voice acting. He taught me to find the funny in everyday life, and not to be discouraged by failure. I was blessed because he believed in me more than I believed in myself, and encouraged me to try anything I could imagine. "Someday you'll get your doctorate" he would say. By age 28, I did. His work ethic, drive, spirituality, and tough exterior was nothing compared to the size of his heart.
A special thank you to the NY Times for publishing the story I wrote about my father. If you would like to learn more about Sam, click here.
Bio
Janeane Bernstein, EdD, is a journalist, media host, writer, and mental health advocate with a lifetime of lived experience. In response to the global pandemic, she created the mental fitness podcast and event series, Outside the Box . Her engaging talks, workshops and interactive activities for all ages focus on prioritizing mental fitness and four key pillars: kindness, compassion, empathy and connection. Janeane is the author of Better Humans and Get the Funk Out! ^&% Happens, What to Do Next!
On her weekly show, Get the Funk Out! on KUCI 88.9 FM, she chats with guests about resilience, personal growth, and getting through life’s funks.
She graduated from Syracuse University with a focus on communications and education and earned a doctorate from Boston University. In 2021, she was selected to become an Age Boom Academy Fellow with the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center in partnership with the Columbia Journalism School, and the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. In 2025, she launched Outside the Box Institute to tackle the loneliness epidemic, social disconnect and other post-pandemic struggles.
Proud member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Women in Film.
Contact
Press & Media Inquiries:
Press inquiries, author interview requests, book tour information or other media or publicity appearances publicity@posthillpress.com & pr.otbseries@gmail.com