Finding Hope in the Holidays (0:00:00)

 

It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a chaotic year with everything that’s happened. Almost everyone has been affected by the pandemic in their own way and has caused a spike in mental health decline. However, the holidays present a special time for us to regain optimism during these trying times. Here with us today is a longtime friend of the show, Ganel-Lyn Condie, who is here to help us identify some ways that we can find hope during the holidays.

 

 

 

AZ Brain Food (0:13:51)

 

The national free school lunch program benefits over 20 million children in the US every single day. These are kids from underprivileged homes that would go hungry without it. But have you ever wondered how many of these kids go hungry on the weekends? Ruth Farnsworth Collins had this same question, and it propelled her to start AZ Brain Food. AZ Brain Food is a nonprofit organization that currently feeds over three thousand and six hundred kids on the weekends throughout Arizona today. Here to talk with us today is Karen Zaharis, the director of operations.

 

 

 

Finding Love After Divorce (0:23:30)

 

We always hope that when a couple says, “I do” that they really will be together until “death do they part.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t work out for everyone—and that’s okay! Sometimes breaking up is the best thing for a couple. Divorces can be painful though, and healing from a heartbreak like that can take some time. Here to share advice with us on how to take those steps towards healing after divorce is intimacy expert Allana Pratt.

 

 

 

Self Esteem and Consumer Behavior (0:52:50)

 

They say we are what eat, but what about what we buy? Do our consumer habits define us as well? Or maybe it’s the other way around—maybe it’s how we define ourselves that influences our shopping habits. Perhaps our decision to buy the store-brand ketchup instead of Heinz is influenced by some sub-conscious reasoning related to our self-perceptions. Well, lucky for us, there is someone who can answer these questions! Here to discuss with us who buys inferior products and why is behavioral scientist and professor of marketing at Schulich School of Business, York University, Dr. Nicole Mead!

 

 

 

Code Switching (1:06:45)

 

Are you the same person at work as you are at home or around your friends? You probably aren’t. Workplaces almost always require a certain kind of attitude that reflects professionalism and respect. And there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with that! However, for many black, indigenous, and people of color, the need to alter who you are at work is essential to survival. Many BIPOC have developed strategies, which has collectively become known as code-switching, to help them navigate difficult workplaces. Here to talk to us about why code-switching exists and what effects it has on BIPOC is licensed social worker and mental health expert Kyaien Conner.

 

 

 

Gallop NYC (1:18:20)

 

For thousands of years, horses have been an invaluable resource to us. We’ve used them for farming, war, and transportation. But over time, it became clear that there was more to horses than muscle and speed. We’ve learned how perceptive they are, how they can recognize human emotion and form deep bonds with their rider. Because of these characteristics, and many others, horses have taken on a new role: therapy for people with disabilities. We wanted to know more about how these animals are helping heal minds and hearts. So, we invited James Wilson, the founder and director of GallopNYC, to talk about his nonprofit organization and how they are utilizing horses as a means of therapy.

 

 

 

Fashion During COVID (1:32:20)

 

With all the crazy changes that have happened this year, the way we’ve dressed has changed too. While last year was all about high waisted jeans and chunky sneakers, this year has been all about lounge wear and face masks. And the longer this goes on, the more people feel the need to make these new looks work. So how can we look our best, even during a pandemic? Here to share her advice with us is beauty and style expert Erin Busbee.