Bio

Laura Catherine Schlessinger (born Jan. 16, 1947) is an American radio host, author, and conservative commentator. Once a professional counselor, Schlessinger offers advice to callers every day on her nationally syndicated radio show, The Dr. Laura Program, which airs through Premiere Radio Networks. The Dr. Laura Show on KFI-AM Radio in Los Angeles started in 1990 and has been syndicated since 1994, reaching more than 315 stations and 12 million listeners. 

Laura Schlessinger’s callers ask questions about issues affecting their lives, including sex outside of marriage, premarital cohabitation, intentional single parenthood, day care in lieu of parents staying home to raise their children, the viewing of pornography, marrying too quickly or out of desperation, permissive parenting, abortion, easy or no-fault divorce, and same sex marriage.

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands has been her most successful book thus far. Schlessinger is a best-selling author, children’s writer, and sought-after public speaker.  Other books include: The Ten Commandments and the Ten Stupid Things series.  She is a member of the National Association of At-Home Mothers Board of Advisors and is president of The Dr. Laura Schlessinger Foundation, which helps abused and neglected children

In July 2003, Schlessinger announced on her show that she was no longer an Orthodox Jew. In a series of monologues over the next month, she explained that she did not feel a connection with God, and she felt frustrated by the effort she had put into following the religion. Her religious approach on the show lessened substantially after this announcement. She emphasized on the air how her Christian callers always reached out to her as a respected and valued friend, unlike her Jewish contacts, who were inclined to be indifferent.

Dr. Laura’s big break came in the late 1980s, when she started filling in for Barbara DeAngelis’s nighttime relationship oriented talk show in Los Angeles on KFI, considered by many to be a powerful and prestigious radio station. When DeAngelis replaced noontime talk show host Toni Grant, Schlessinger got DeAngelis’s former nighttime slot. Her show became very popular, leading to its national syndication. Her responses to callers usually display a trademark bluntness; she gets to the core of a caller’s issue quickly, rather than letting them talk for a long time.

Schlessinger now broadcasts from her home in Santa Barbara, CA, and as of 2005, was added to the lineup of satellite broadcaster XM Radio. Podcasts and live streams of the show are available on her website.

The Dr. Laura Show is currently (as of 2007) ranked 3^rd highest radio show after Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. At its peak, it was the second highest rated radio show after The Rush Limbaugh Show, and was heard on 471 radio stations. In September 2002, the industry magazine Talkers named Laura Schlessinger as the 7th greatest radio talk show host of all time. However, by November 2003, the number of Dr. Laura affiliate stations had dropped to 275.

The drop off in listenership to Schlessinger’d show has been attributed to multiple factors. Over time, she became more conservative, and her stance on homosexuality and gay rights was offensive to many. Additionally, following the terrorists attacks of Sept.11, 2001, talk radio became less relationship oriented, and decidedly more political. Many stations replaced Dr. Laura with political hosts like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity.

Schlessinger’s Ph.D. is in physiology, not psychology as her show’s title and content may lead listeners to assume. Schlessinger’s Ph.D entitles and qualifies her as a Doctor, however her California Marriage and Family and Child Counseling (MFCC) license has been inactive for several years.            

Products & Services

Books

NY Times Bestsellers:

- Stop Whining, Start Living (2008)

- The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage (2007)

- Bad Childhood, Good Life (2006)

·         -  The Ten Commandments:  The Significance of God’s Laws in Everyday Life

·          - Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives

·          - Ten Stupid Things Men Do to Mess Up Their Lives

·          - Ten Stupid Things Couples Do to Mess Up Their Relationships

·          - Parenthood by Proxy; Don’t Have Them if You Won’t Raise Them (2000)

·          - How could You Do That?! The Abdication of Character, Courage and Conscience (1996)

Contact Information

Dr. Laura Schle      Dr. Laura Schlessinger            The Dr. Laura Schlessinger Foundation
P.O. Box 8120                           5347 Sterling Center Dr.
Van Nuys, CA  91409               Westlake Village, CA  91361

        866-3MY-STUFF

PHONE:               1-800-DRLAURA 

(to call Dr. Laura on the radio and ask a question)

                              818-461-5140 

(fax number to make comments to Dr. Laura)

EMAIL:                webmaster@drlaura.com  (Dr. Laura herself does not have email.)

WEBSITE:           www.drlaura.com