Can We Talk? 360 Podcast

Today’s Motivational Moment tackles the issue of fake news. Fake news is a dangerous and global trend. We see negative impacts in politics. It has put marginalized groups and even our own health in danger! How can you avoid being one of the misinformed? What are the five major impacts? What are the consequences? What are some countries doing to try to combat these issues? I address these questions and more in this episode. Because people have the right to their own opinion, but people don’t have the right to create their own facts. This podcast was originally recorded in October 2024.

We welcome my friend Karim Giscombe to today’s podcast to discuss his innovative $9 billion startup, PLANT-AG. This entity wholly embraces the controlled environment, using greenhouse farming and technology to grow delicate crops like tomatoes, strawberries and lettuce. This concept solves many of the agricultural problems we face today, by reducing water usage, removing the need for pesticides and shrinking the amount of land needed to plant crops. We also talk about the growing health crisis as it relates to foodborne illnesses, such as the recent Listeria and E. coli outbreaks, and how PLANT-AG’s technological advances gives consumers a better way to track where the food came from, while also no longer needing the food to be genetically groomed to increase shelf life and avoiding transport-related spoilage. It is a truly fascinating discussion, and I hope you can tune in!

Welcome to our newest Motivational Moment podcast episode, where I ask the question: How are we going to shape our society for the better? BY VOTING! This message is particularly important to share with our young voters. If you have a young voter in your circle, I encourage you to support and guide them as they navigate through this voting season. October 7 is the last date to register to vote. Visit and share the link https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home for online voter registration in Florida. But do not delay! Our freedom and our democracy are on the ballot.

Here are my thoughts on the current misunderstandings surrounding the concept and definition of inclusion. History has shown that we are better as a society when we allow everyone to prosper. But there is still work to be done. Statistics show that certain leadership roles (superintendents, government officials, etc.) are still overwhelmingly white and male. I have personally been involved in many public and private organizations that have embraced diversity efforts and have evolved stronger than ever due to those efforts. So, there is no reason to pull back programs and efforts to increase diversity throughout our society, clearly there is still a need to “help EVERYONE develop their talents and use their gifts for the good of the community.” Do not get caught up in the culture wars. Remember that inclusivity brings progress and evolution, not exclusivity.

Today’s podcast features an interview with our friend, Joe Scott, who is the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. This year is obviously a very important year for voters and there have been some major changes for voters in Florida since the last Presidential election that you need to know! We run through all the major changes and the questions and answers voters may have this year. What do you need to do to register for a mail-in ballot? What is the deadline to register to vote? Who can register to vote? Where can you vote? What are the six MAJOR constitutional amendments on the ballot this year in Florida? Once you listen in on this podcast, we urge all our listeners to visit https://www.browardvotes.gov/ to make sure your voter registration is up to date. Also please pass along this informational podcast to your friends and family. Remember, let your voice be heard! Every vote counts!

I kickstart my latest podcast by discussing the historical significance of the saying “Rome is burning,” which is used in situations where people focus on the trivial and take no productive action during a crisis. I believe that one just needs to turn on the news to see that this theory is more relatable than ever. We are being distracted when there are real problems we need to address – some examples include the failures of our educational institutions, the ineffectiveness of our healthcare systems, the lack of affordable housing, etc. I encourage everyone to ignore these fabricated cultural wars politicians are trying to get us to obsess over and redirect our energies to educating ourselves and resolving the real crises that are impacting us.

We welcome Delvin Rogers, Behavioral Technician Specialist and Executive Director of C.A.L.M. 24/7, as our guest of today’s Can We Talk? 360° podcast episode. Our conversation focuses on his work with students in the local schools and young adults in the juvenile detention system, and how he found a need in the community to create his organization C.A.L.M. 24/7. This groundbreaking organization teaches young people how to develop better communication skills, coping skills and conflict resolution skills as they navigate through this complicated thing called life!

I continue to focus on my Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm Healthcare Disparity Initiative’s mission to educate the minority community on healthcare issues. What individuals can do to take ownership of their own healthcare journey and learning how to navigate being a better healthcare consumer. Today’s podcast focuses on one healthcare disparity issue in particular, minority maternal mortality rates. The statistics are startling, Black women are 2x more likely to become victims of maternal mortality than white women. But it is not only the mother’s responsibility to maintain her and her baby’s health and avoid becoming a victim, the government and the healthcare industry also needs to aid and take ownership of these issues.  I encourage my listeners to consider sending this podcast episode to any of your loved ones, young and prospective mothers and families to be, who may find this discussion of the problem and some of the solutions helpful.

Today’s guest is Victor Williams, President of the Anti-Human Trafficking organization Quest2Freedom. Victor has made it his mission to inform the public on how truly insidious the issue of human trafficking and exploitation is today. It is the fastest growing criminal industry, with more that 50 million victims worldwide and counting. Victor reviews the three-tiered approach his group focuses on to combat this problem, which consists of education, awareness and advocacy. He reminds us that traffickers target their victims by preying on their insecurities and vulnerabilities and that we can only begin to fight by advocating for systemic and cultural changes to protect our children and our future.

Welcome back to our second Can We Talk? 360° Motivational Moment for 2024! Today I speak of the miracle when someone briefly enters your life but changes it for the better forever. I recall those instances where my life was changed due to these “angels” and also how I have unknowingly influenced others’ lives in the positive by just the shortest of interactions. We all should always remember that our actions and reactions towards others matter. Be kind to each other. Give of yourself. You never know how much it could impact those around you.