Biography

An award-winning journalist, bestselling author, television host, and motivational speaker, Joan Lunden has been a trusted voice in American homes for more than 40 years. For nearly two decades, Lunden greeted viewers each morning on Good Morning America making her the longest running female host ever on early morning television.

Lunden continues to be one of America’s most recognized and trusted personalities which has made her a sought-after speaker for events across the country. As an ardent health & senior advocate, Lunden has testified before the Food and Drug Administration advocating mandatory mammogram reporting and the Congressional House Ways and Means Committee advocating for the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Lunden is the host of the host the PBS television series, Second Opinion with Joan Lunden and the Washington Post Podcast series, Caring for Tomorrow on the future of healthcare. Lunden is also the ambassador to the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise for Seniors program which educates individuals over 50 on media literacy – separating fact from fiction online. Recently, Lunden joined the faculty of Lehigh University as a visiting professor in their College of Health teaching Population Health and the Media.   

As a part of the sandwich generation, Lunden’s demographic is far-reaching. She is a mother of seven including two sets of teenage twins. Like many Boomers in America she has juggled being a working mom while caring for an aging parent, and brings this experience to her role as the spokesperson for the nation’s leading senior referral service, A Place for Mom, a company helping caregivers and families find the right care and resources for their loved ones.

Lunden also encourages Americans to ensure that they have adequate medical insurance coverage to protect their health and wellbeing as spokesperson for the Assurance Medicare Advantage program.

One of the most visible women in America, Lunden has graced the covers of more than 60 magazines and book covers.  Lunden’s newest book, Why Did I Come into This Room: A Candid Conversation About Aging quickly became a New York Times bestseller.

In June of 2014, Lunden was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. An eternal optimist, she turned her diagnosis into an opportunity to become an advocate and help others. She chronicled her experience in her memoir Had I Known. Lunden continues to interact with American’s daily on her website, Joanlunden.com as well as her social media platforms. Lunden has served as national spokesperson for various organizations such as the American Heart Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, American Lung Association, American Red Cross, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Colon Cancer Alliance.  

Joan Lunden’s books include Why Did I Come into This Room: A Candid Conversation About Aging; Had I Known; Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregiving; Growing Up Healthy: Protecting Your Child From Diseases Now Through Adulthood; Wake-Up Calls; A Bend in the Road is Not the End of the Road; Joan Lunden’s Healthy Living; Joan Lunden’s Healthy Cooking; Mother’s Minutes; Your Newborn Baby; and Good Morning, I’m Joan Lunden.

Joan Lunden truly exemplifies today’s modern working woman.

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Politics and the Media: How the Media Has Changed

When Joan was host of Good Morning America, she never gave her opinion. For example, she was interviewing Tipper Gore (wife of ex-Vice President Al Gore) and rocker Frank Zappa. The topic was new music and how Tipper Gore said specific albums should be sold under the desk and not easily seen by younger kids. Frank Zappa, a famous rock star himself, was totally against that. When the interview was over, no one knew Joan’s opinion and that’s how she handled all interviews. Nowadays, it’s so different…depending on what you watch or read, you will usually get the opinions of the broadcaster or writer!

Had I Known: My Breast Cancer Journey

Joan Lunden shares her personal experience of breast cancer and what she has learned through her journey about health, fitness and the importance of family, friends and community. She gives the patient’s perspective on her treatment from her own personal experience and from what she has heard from the thousands of women who write into her website. Joan includes advice on how to be the CEO of your own health.

How To Be the CEO of Your Own Health

Joan Lunden speaks on how we need to reform the way we approach the management of our own health, and how we interact with our doctors and medical institutions. Joan gives strategies on how to take charge of your health as well as be a better patient, helping you to live healthier, happier and longer.

Secrets of a Successful Woman: Risk, Passion, Humor, and Perseverance

Joan Lunden helped pave the way for working women in America. She broke into a male-dominated industry to become the longest-running female host of early morning television.


Lunden shares valuable advice for success and inspiration for professional women, while also entertaining audiences with stories from her career that give attendees a candid behind-the-scenes look at some of the unbelievable realities women in the workplace experienced. In an industry well-known for being a “battle of the sexes,” Lunden shares how she navigated it all with optimism, determination, and of course, her witty sense of humor.


If you have a client looking for an influential woman to speak at their next event, Lunden has a unique perspective on how far women have come today and leaves audiences laughing, applauding, and inspired by her “just say yes” attitude.

The Ten Best Secrets to Success

Having interviewed top business tycoons and a myriad of world leaders over her three decades as a journalist, Joan Lunden shares what she has learned throughout her career along with advice from the most successful people in the world and their common traits. Joan shares her personal journey of making it to the top of the tough television news business as well as how she reinvented herself launching her own business based on her focus in women’s health and wellness. As one of the most well-known working moms in the country, Joan can also talk about balancing home and family—how to keep your family values while being a successful working woman.

Joan Lunden as Moderator & Event Host

Joan Lunden is no stranger to the spontaneity of a live appearance. As the longest-running host of Good Morning America, Joan has over 30 years of expertise as a journalist, host, and interviewer. Lunden leads panels on a wide variety of topics, including the role of women in media, health & wellness, breast cancer & genetics, boomers, caregiving, and success & empowerment.


Lunden is a seasoned veteran and is known for making panelists feel comfortable with her warmth and her natural way of guiding a discussion. If you have a client looking for an experienced moderator for their next event, Lunden has an unparalleled ability to bring her own insight to a panel discussion, while skillfully navigating the personalities of many experts on one stage.

Testimonials

Joan was wonderful! I have been inundated with emails and phone calls since yesterday. Everyone is giving me positive feedback - Joan was engaging, funny, heartfelt, approachable, and so very nice! The entire day was a huge success.
– Valley Hospital Foundation
We received a lot of positive feedback from everyone in attendance and we were absolutely thrilled with how the session went. You were a truly captivating speaker and provided us all with a lot of life lessons and advice that will stick with us for life.
– Stanford
Numerous ladies have shared their enthusiasm and gratefulness for Joan's incredibly meaningful and inspiring visit, along with her dispensing excellent advice! [O]ur mammogram center has been flooded with phone calls! We all thank you for coming to Richmond and assisting us with raising important research funds while providing education - the BEST of both passions we all share! So very glad we met!
– Becky Massey - VCU Massey Cancer Center
I would like you to know that Joan Lunden inspired one of the attendees at our Oncology Symposium to get her long overdue mammogram Lo and Behold it was positive. She was an early stage but still need surgery [and treatment]. She is absolutely convinced that if she did not attend this symposium, she would not have gotten this exam and who knows when she would have followed thru. Joan makes a difference.
– Dori Holnagel, Executive Administrative Director - Hoag Family Cancer Institute
Joan "hit it out of the park!" We absolutely loved her and appreciated the work she did in preparing her remarks. It really resonated with our attendees.
– Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
Numerous ladies have shared their enthusiasm and gratefulness for Joan’s incredibly meaningful and inspiring visit, along with her dispensing excellent advice! Our mammogram center has been flooded with phone calls! We all thank you for coming to Richmond and assisting us with raising important research funds while providing education – the BEST of both passions we all share! So very glad we met!
– Health Care Audience
I would like you to know that Joan Lunden inspired one of the attendees at our Oncology Symposium to get her long overdue mammogram… lo and behold it was positive. She was an early stage but still need surgery [and treatment]. She is absolutely convinced that if she did not attend this symposium, she would not have gotten this exam… and who knows when she would have followed through. Joan makes a difference.
– Health Care Audience
Joan was wonderful! I have been inundated with emails and phone calls since yesterday. Everyone is giving me positive feedback – Joan was engaging, funny, heartfelt, approachable, and so very nice! The entire day was a huge success.
– Health Care Audience

Booksby Joan Lunden

Had I Known

Why Did I Come Into This Room?

Wake-up Calls

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers

A Bend in the Road Is Not the End of the Road

Growing Up Healthy

Healthy Living

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Blog Posts

 

Finding Your Purpose with Small Acts of Kindness

What does it truly mean to find your purpose? Many people believe purpose is tied...

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What’s holding you back from living the life you’ve always wanted? If you’ve ever felt...

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Reflecting on 2024: Key Insights and Trends for Event Professionals

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, it's the perfect time to...

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Innovative Insights to Keep Your Event Attendees Engaged

Engaging attendees at an event is no easy feat, especially in today’s fast-paced world where...

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Powerful Ways to Unleash Your Creativity with Kyle Scheele

Creativity is often misunderstood. Some see it as a gift reserved for artists or visionaries,...

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"Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement...

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