Consults Over Coffee: Conversations About Health, Medicine and Living Well

There is no shortage of good food to be had up here in the Hill and JJ's has certainly added to our choices! Great baked goods, Counter Culture coffee and giving back to folks in need in our community make JJ's Makery an outstanding addition to Church Hill. Sisters Jessie Williams and Jackie Holsinger (and everyone that I've met who works there) have talent and passion for what they do. Plus, they're just some of the nicest folks you'll meet. Bakeries and restaurants are tough businesses to start and keep going particularly in the middle of a pandemic. I had an opportunity to sit down with Jessie Williams to talk about their passion for baking, the challenges they've faced and plans for the future. Give a listen. Better yet- head to JJ's and grab some tasty baked goods, a cup of coffee and chat with them yourselves. Good folks with wonderful food!!

Art therapy and expressive writing have been shown to be effective in the treatment of a variety of conditions including Irritable Bowel Syndrome, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, grief and the psychological stress associated with a variety of medical conditions. Janet Scagnelli was a successful commercial illustrator who, after retiring, began to paint. Her early efforts focused on still life paintings as she acquired an entirely new skill set. Unfortunately, she experienced a profound personal loss and major life upheaval (not counting political and social unrest and the pandemic!). Her art moved in an entirely different direction and became a powerful and effective tool for her to process her grief and the impact of these events on the lives of both her and her family. Janet is here today to share her story and her powerful art with us. Art therapy (and expressive writing) is effective for anyone willing to use these tools to express what they are feeling. This isn't about being a "great artist" or "great writer." It's about expressing your feelings and concerns. And that expression has been shown to be highly therapeutic.

***If you'd like to listen to this podcast and see the art that's being discussed, click on this link for the video: https://youtu.be/RZAOsoU0qpI

I'm joined this week by Parker Agelasto, the executive director of the Capital Region Land Conservancy. He's here to discuss the recent acquisition of a large piece of land by Shiplock Park on the James River. This was a collaborative effort involving Capital Region Land Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, James River Association and the City of Richmond. It protects the riverfront land, allows for a creation of the James River Center which provides access and education about the James River and allows the Capital Trail to move away from the road in that area. It was huge undertaking that benefits folks who love the river and its views. We also discuss other Capital Region Land Conservancy projects including Malvern Hill preservation, easements to protect Virginia's finishing farmland and forests, along with preserving the rich history of Richmond and the surrounding area. Give this a listen- it was fun and informative. These folks do good things for our community. And don't forget to click on the subscribe button below!

I'm joined this week by Trey Gunn, self-proclaimed touch guitar freak, King Crimson alumnus, musical pioneer, and music educator. He's here to discuss his continuing musical journey, playing touch guitar, and riding your "original voice." He's an incredibly talented musician, and a great teacher. His musical path has seen him go from playing piano as a child to playing in punk rock bands to studying classical music composition to the being at the forefront of the progressive music scene. He's a smart guy with a great story. Check it out!

It seems that misinformation is its own pandemic these days and the wellness and fitness industries are not immune. Whether it's concerns about diets, supplements, strength training, bulking up, spot reducing, staving off the effects of aging, there's no shortage of opinion. But solid data are often lacking. There's just no substitute for true expertise. I'm joined today by Debbie Dust, MHA, ACSM-cPT who walks us through many of these common misconceptions and offers lots of solid fitness and training advice. If you're interested in learning more, or getting on a solid path to being healthier and in better shape, you can reach Debbie at https://redefinerva.com. Check it out!

"Art Museum," for some, conjures up images of musty spaces with dark paintings of old stuff of little relevance. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Art museums, particularly community or regional museums, are typically very community engaged and aware. There's art for sure. And there are probably classes or talks to teach us about what we're seeing or to learn how to make art (and everyone can and should make art- it's fun and it's healthy!). There are probably also programs offered outside the museum and events in the museum that offer exercise, music or community events. And all of that is available at little or no cost. Here in Richmond, we have the Virginia Museum of the Arts. There are numerous museums in Norfolk, Hampton, Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville, Charleston and Columbus (just to name a few) that are not only excellent art museums, they're also excellent community resources. There truly is something for everyone.

The real estate market is largely driven by supply and demand, interest rates, the availability of funds and the stock market. The pandemic and resulting economic impact has adversely effected the real estate market as well. I'm joined today by Matt Jarreau of GeorgeRVA and Hometown Realty to help make sense of what's going on. Matt is a lifelong Richmond guy and he has a great grasp of the factors driving the market right now. He also has a few projections for what the future might hold for both the housing and rental markets. If you want to reach out to Matt to learn more, he can be reached through GeorgeRVA Realty at http://georgerva.com or (804) 306-9019.

My guest today is Brian Harris of Harris Training Systems in Chicago, Illinois. Brian is an incredibly well educated, trained and experienced professional with expertise in human movement and nutrition. He works with people at all levels of fitness and with widely varying goals. He's equally adept at helping senior citizens reagin strength and mobility as he is working with elite level athletes trying to win championships. Brian is here to discuss returning to in person athletic competition as Covid restrictions are relaxing. Brian has great training advice for both novice and seasoned competitors. For folks interested in learning more, Brian Harris can be reached through the Harris Training Systems website (https://nextlevlfit.com) or their Instagram account (@nextlvlfit). You can also email him directly at [email protected]. Check him out. And while you're at it, you can subscribe to Consults Over Coffee by clicking on the "subscribe" button below. Please.

Richmond painter, public artist and community activist, Hamilton Glass, joins me today to discuss Mending Walls. Mending Walls is a public art project that brings together artists and people from different cultures and backgrounds. The public art that they create, and the discussion around these works forms the basis for dialog, understanding and collaboration that helps us understand where we are now as a society and how we can heal and move forward together. It's a project about unity, humanity and growth. I'd encourage everyone to learn more and consider getting involved. At the end of the day, we're all much more alike than we are different. To learn more about Mending Walls, go to https://mendingwallsrva.com or @MendingWallsRVA on Facebook.

Mike Maruca, Head of School at the Anna Julia Cooper School in North Church Hill joins me to discuss the school, its namesake (an amazing person who we should all know more about!), their successes and the hurdles they face in helping kids from the east end of Richmond. The Anna Julia Cooper School is a privately funded school fostering education, community and the growth of the whole person. They are doing amazing things. Please take a listen. You can learn more about the school here: https://www.annajuliacooperepiscopalschool.org Please consider helping them out. We're all one tribe, more alike than different.