Author. Speaker. Coach.

Hi, I’m Melina!

A woman with brown hair and brown eyes smiling outdoors, wearing a black top and large earrings with green and white stones.

After four decades as a journalist, author, and creative leader — including nearly two decades at National Geographic — I now help people navigate life’s transitions with curiosity, clarity, and joy.

Whether you’re reinventing your career, recovering from a loss, embracing an empty nest, or simply wondering what comes next, I believe paying attention is where every meaningful change begins.


Photograph by Becky Hale

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CURRENT WORK

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Newsletter

Speaking

Coaching

My weekly newsletter, and the basis for my forthcoming book of the same name—exploring reinvention, joy, curiosity, and the art of becoming.


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Keynotes and workshops on reinvention, creativity, curiosity, and meaningful next chapters.



Changemaker Talent
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Thoughtful partnership for people navigating change and asking what comes next.



Coaching

Previous Collaborators

AARP logo in red text on a white background.
Logo of Penguin Random House featuring a black and white penguin inside an orange oval and text to the right.
Bright pink text spelling 'GLAMOUR' on a black background.
Logo of Simon & Schuster, a CBS company, featuring a black silhouette of a man in a suit and hat, within a square border.
The New York Times logo in black text on a white background.
Close-up of the 'ELLE' magazine logo in black and white.
Black background featuring the words 'Entertainment Weekly' in large, bold font with the word 'Entertainment' outlined and 'WEEKLY' in smaller, white capital letters underneath.
National Geographic logo with a yellow rectangle outline and the words "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" in black.

Books written by Melina

Cover of National Geographic Kids magazine featuring a red panda cub with a playful expression, surrounded by colorful text and images of a shark, a cheetah, and a chocolate bar.
Nat Geo Kids
Cover of a book titled 'Totally Random Questions, Volume 1: 101 Wild and Weird Q&As' by Melina Gerosa Bellows, featuring a frog with a frog on its head and humorous speech bubbles.
Totally Random Kids
Book cover titled 'The Fun Book: 102 Ways for Girls to Have Some' by Melina Gerosa, featuring an illustration of two women in a red convertible car, smiling and waving with colorful, whimsical lines and clouds in the background.
The Fun Book Series
Book cover titled 'National Geographic Amazing! 100 People, Places, and Things That Will Wow You' by Melina Gerosa Bellows. Features a man skydiving with a dog, both smiling, against a cloudy sky background.
More Books

  • “No friend in sight? Pick up a copy of the The Fun Book, and you’ll never be bored or lonely.”

    — Lois Wyse, best-selling author

  • Love you, Dad: “It’s a great way to remind us of the universal power of a father’s love.”

    — NationalGeographic.com Review

  • Totally Random Kids: “The book is laid out in a fun and attractive format that allows kids to feel like they are breezing through it, making it ideal for reluctant or struggling readers… An appealing, accessible book for kids who enjoy trivia and learning new things.”

    — Kirkus Reviews

Newsletter

Potted flowers, including white protea and yellow sunflowers, arranged on a concrete surface against a brick wall.
Close-up of pink and purple allium flowers in bloom.

In and Out of Africa: Part 1

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Flowers for The Weekend: Part 3

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A collage artwork featuring a woman with black hair, light skin, and jewelry, with text reading 'BE HERE NOW' and 'the moment', set against a textured background with various decorative elements.

The Joy Experiment: Part 1

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Stories written by Melina

Featured
Take a Soul-Soothing Journey to the Tuscan Countryside
Take a Soul-Soothing Journey to the Tuscan Countryside

Relax on a yoga retreat in this Italian paradise.

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No Kidding! It Was The Worst Day Of My Life
No Kidding! It Was The Worst Day Of My Life

As I sat there — literally in the gutter — it occurred to me that I’d been stripped of everything that once defined and empowered me.

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The Purchase That Made Me Feel Like a Woman
The Purchase That Made Me Feel Like a Woman

I'm a sucker for a good deal.

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After 17 Years Of Blood, Sweat And Tears, My Career Was Over — Just Like That
After 17 Years Of Blood, Sweat And Tears, My Career Was Over — Just Like That

Once I dried my tears, I fled the building in a cloak of numb humiliation.

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The Buzz in Mexico
The Buzz in Mexico

I have always believed in signs.

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The Slimy Thing That Brought My Whole Family Together
The Slimy Thing That Brought My Whole Family Together

Sometimes it doesn't take much to remind us that, no matter what, we'll always be there for each other.

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