Today’s guest is the editor of Mahopac News, Bob Dumas. Dumas has been with Halston Media for over six and a half years, and as you’ll hear, he is not just an employee, but also a good friend. He is truly dedicated to the town of Carmel, NY, and today he joins host Brett Freeman for an in-depth interview to discuss his life story and share his thoughts on local news and events. Dumas and Freeman talk about the current debate to allow marijuana dispensaries in Carmel, his past arrest for growing cannabis in 2002, and how serving 30 days in jail impacted his life, career, and finances moving forward. Dumas shares which books helped him through this difficult period, how he arrived in the field of journalism, and the events that led him to Mahopac News.

Dumas offers his perspective on the troubling history of marijuana in this country, often targeting minorities and being vilified by authorities. He explains why he feels marijuana is not harmful, addictive, or a gateway drug to other substances. You’ll also hear his thoughts on how to regulate cannabis effectively, how it has helped him cope with various medical issues, and the many ways Carmel could actually benefit from legalizing recreational cannabis. Finally, Dumas and Freeman talk about the stigma still surrounding the consumption of marijuana, how this might evolve as it becomes legal, and how we can discuss differing opinions on this controversial topic in a calm and respectful way. 

Insightful, funny, and entertaining, today’s conversation highlights the importance of persevering through life’s difficult moments, and shows us how evolving laws and cultural attitudes can sometimes shed new light on past mistakes. 

Episode Highlights:

• Bob Dumas loves the collaborative energy of working together in an office and missed that during the pandemic; however, working from home has been a blessing in disguise in dealing with his health issues
• He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in April and underwent bypass surgery last month
• Dumas’s thoughts on allowing marijuana dispensaries in Carmel, NY
• He was arrested and charged with three felonies for growing cannabis in August 2002, but this was ultimately dropped to one felony charge of conspiracy to maintain a grow house 
• Dumas was sentenced to 30 days in jail
• He was able to serve this time over the weekends, and had to attend counselling afterward
• His parents also passed away during this time
• He was eventually fired as well - all because of an activity that is legal today
• Dumas is a voracious reader and turned to books while serving time in jail
• He particularly enjoyed The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
• Dumas was also involved with a frozen yogurt business in LA, but it was unfortunately put out of business due to an earthquake, mudslides, and the Rodney King riots
• These negatively affected the economy and many accounts were lost
• Dumas also had some success working as a screenwriter with his partner
• From there he moved to journalism
• His felony conviction destroyed him financially and led to other challenges
• History of marijuana in this country and Dumas’s feelings on whether it is harmful or addictive
• He feels that it is not addictive, will not cause withdrawal, and it is not a gateway drug
• In terms of legalizing cannabis, you don’t want to tax it so heavily that people then turn to the black market for cheaper options
• Marijuana has helped Dumas cope with various health issues related to Diabetes
• When you go to marijuana dispensaries, you will see a cross-section of customers as

On today’s episode, host Brett Freeman welcomes Jonathan Schneider of Mahopac, NY. Before beginning his career as an accountant, Schneider was a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, instructing Marines in hand-to-hand combat before leaving for overseas combat zones. He did a tour in Iraq in 2003 and returned to Mahopac when his military duty concluded. Schneider and Freeman have been friends for many years and even share a birthday. Schneider has a heart of gold, the sincerity of a Boy Scout, the bravery of a Marine, and he’s the only politician you’ll find who picks up trash without any cameras nearby. 

Today Schneider joins Freeman to discuss his professional trajectory, beginning with his service in the military and aspirations to join the NYPD before sustaining injury in Iraq in 2003. From there, he joined Schneider Financial Group, Ltd. He talks about the trying times following his injury, and struggling as nothing was going according to plan. He tells Freeman about finding his true strength through life’s difficult moments, and using them as an opportunity to re-evaluate his priorities. Schneider answers questions about his softer side, his journey through parenthood, and the importance of civility, even in moments of conflict or misunderstanding. He shares his experience taking horticultural classes following his father’s passing, and moving offices for a fresh start. 

Schneider recounts the experience of helping many businesses through the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020, and discusses the huge professional and personal challenges people have had to juggle during the pandemic, as well as the possible long-term repercussions yet to unfold in the business world, such as inflation, factory closures, and worker shortages. He offers his perspective on the future of automation across all industries, changes to the government, and the war of economics and race in our country. Freeman asks Schneider about his position to allow marijuana dispensaries in the town of Carmel, NY, as well as his passion for serving veterans, starting his own non-profit organization, and whether he sees a future in politics. Finally, they chat about Schneider’s admiration for Elon Musk, Teslas, and engineering, and where he believes forward-thinking leaders like Musk, Sir Richard Branson, and Jeff Bezos are going to take the future of humanity.

Episode Highlights:

• Jonathan Schneider is the managing partner in Schneider Financial Group, Ltd.
• He is passionate about discussing differences of opinions and learning about new beliefs or facts he has never been exposed to before
• He tries to listen twice as much as he speaks
• After his freshman year of college, he joined the military
• He intended to complete police academy training with the NYPD as well, but his unit for the Marine Corps Reserves was activated after September 11, 2001
• He was deployed overseas to Iraq in 2003, and sustained an injury while training
• This put an end to both his military and NYPD careers
• He was living in North California at the time, and decided to return to New York to join his father’s Accounting practice
• The first few months after his injury were quite tough, and he struggled as nothing was going according to plan
• Schneider feels that it’s during these difficult times in life that you’re able to find true strength and reevaluate your priorities - trying times make us who we are
• He met Billy Joel during Fleet Week in Manhattan in 2002
• They had a great conversation over drinks and even got to discuss Billy Joel’s song, “Goodnight Saigon”
• Schneider is a “tough guy,” but he also has plenty of softer traits, with a heart of gold and infinite patience, particularly in his journey through parenthood
• Self-reflection has been very important
• He realized early on that not losing his temper would make him a...

Dr. Eli Morales is a licensed naturopathic physician who trained at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. He seeks to empower his patients to activate their body’s natural ability to heal through nutrition, herbs, hydrotherapy, and homeopathy. Before becoming a doctor he was an elementary school teacher because he was drawn to teaching children about the world around them. Now, as a doctor, he combines his teaching skills and medical training to guide patients through the journey of health. One of the six principles of naturopathic medicine is Docere, which is Latin for “to teach.” Educating patients is at the center of his practice.

Dr. Morales is part of the team at the Integrative Natural Medicine Clinic at SOPHIA Natural Health Center. He joins the show today to discuss how their team of specialists integrate Chinese medicine with Western medicine to create natural solutions and health plans for their patients. He talks about helping people protect themselves and treat viruses using conventional and natural methods, and offers his insights as a naturopathic physician as we continue last week’s conversation regarding whether or not children should be vaccinated for COVID-19. Dr. Morales addresses questions about the vaccine affecting fertility and hormones for pre-teens, the risks of developing myocarditis as a side effect for young men, and the long-term physiological effects of being vaccinated. His position is to help educate people with the information available, and he encourages parents to consider the many physical, mental, and social factors involved as they make their own decision about whether or not to vaccinate themselves and their children. Dr. Morales also reminds listeners of the important lifestyle changes we can make to stay healthy, including eating a well-balanced, colorful diet, getting plenty of exercise and sleep, and avoiding sugar.

As we continue this ongoing conversation, Dr. Morales offers yet another perspective about how you can protect yourself and your children during the pandemic, as well as which variables to consider as you make your decision about whether or not to vaccinate against COVID-19. 

Episode Highlights:

• Dr. Eli Morales is part of the team at the Integrative Natural Medicine Clinic at SOPHIA Natural Health Center, led by Dr. Kenneth Hoffman (Doctor of Acupuncture)
• Their practice can be reached at 203-740-9300
• They are a branch of specialists, and they integrate Chinese medicine with Western medicine to create natural solutions and health plans for their clients
• Dr. Morales primarily focuses on Lyme Disease, digestive health, cardiovascular disease, and hormone imbalance
• He uses Western lab work to confirm the findings of Chinese medicine practitioners
• A lot of people get better when they work together with this integrative approach
• Dr. Morales is heavy on nutrition, lifestyle, sleep, and toxins from the environment
• Once he has addressed nutrition, he works up a therapeutic ladder and first recommends herbs, supplements, and exercise, followed by physical medicine and chiropractic components
• Their office urges people to take precautions to protect themselves against COVID-19 (wash your hands, cover your cough), but not to panic about the virus
• They consider themselves a good resource in helping people protect themselves and treat viruses with the best that Western medicine has to offer, both conventionally and naturally
• Their position is to educate their clients with the information available, and let them decide whether to get vaccinated for COVID-19 or not
• Many clients report that their primary care provider simply...

Today’s guest is Dr. Maryann Buetti-Sgouros, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY, which is part of the Northwell Health System. Dr. Buetti-Sgouros is a Pediatrics specialist and has over 28 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical School in 1993, and currently practices with Westchester Health, also affiliated with Northwell Health, at 36 Smith Avenue in Mount Kisco. Her patient office can be reached at (914) 666-6655 for anyone looking for a new pediatrician for their children. In the interest of full disclosure for our listeners, Northern Westchester Hospital is a valued advertiser with five of our Halston Media publications, but we believe that they are a trusted institution in the Hudson Valley regardless of their status as a client.

Dr. Buetti-Sgouros joins the show to discuss the topic of whether to vaccinate our children for COVID-19. She explains how messenger RNA vaccines work to help our bodies produce antibodies, why she feels these vaccinations are beneficial and safe not only for children, but for their families and the community as a whole, and addresses the idea that children do not need to be vaccinated because are often asymptomatic. She explains that these children can still transmit the virus to older adults, and some children do develop multi-inflammatory systemic disease, similar to Kawasaki Disease, due to COVID-19. Because of this dangerous potential outcome, Dr. Buetti-Sgouros feels strongly that children should get vaccinated so as to avoid this risk. She shares her concerns about the long haul effects for young people who develop COVID-19, why she feels the vaccine does not affect fertility, and urges parents to consider vaccinating their children so that they can travel and return to school, camp, and other social activities with their peers, as this is a crucial aspect of their mental health, particularly for children with special needs. Dr. Buetti-Sgouros details her experience contracting COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic, and reminds listeners of the powerful role that vaccines have played in eradicating tragic diseases and deadly infections of the past.

Episode Highlights:

• Today’s guest is Dr. Buetti-Sgouros, a Pediatrics specialist with over 28 years of experience in the medical field
• She graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical School in 1993
• She practices with Westchester Health, also affiliated with Northwell Health at 36 Smith Avenue in Mount Kisco
• Her patient office can be reached at 914-666-6655 for anyone looking for a new pediatrician for their children
• For full disclosure to our listeners, Northern Westchester Hospital is a valued advertiser with five of our Halston Media publications
• They have been a valued client for many years, but regardless of their status as a client, we believe that Northern Westchester Hospital is a trusted institution in the Hudson Valley
• Dr. Buetti-Sgouros joins the show today to make a compelling case for vaccinating our children for COVID-19
• In a survey posed to 70 listeners in our Facebook group, 32 listeners planned to vaccinate their children for COVID-19, while 27 did not
• Reasons for vaccinating were largely to protect against COVID-19 and to allow their children to participate in activities and travel
• Reasons against vaccinating included fear over long-term effects, they were not worried about COVID-19 affecting their child
• Research on the vaccine is being done in sequential stages
• Ages 12 and older have been approved at this point, and studies have now begun on younger children 
• Scientists are varying the quantity of messenger RNA to see how low a level they can administer and still get an adequate response that

Tracy Beckerman is an award-winning author, speaker, and syndicated humor columnist who has appeared on numerous TV shows, including NBC’s Today Show, CBS This Morning, CBS Sunday Morning, and Good Day New York. Her honors for writing include the prestigious Writer’s Guild of America award, a CLIO, an International Film and Television award, and a New York Emmy. Beckerman has been voted “America’s Top Blogger” by The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television, has won a National Society of Newspaper Columnists award for humor writing, and was the Global Humor Award Winner of the coveted Erma Bombeck Writing Competition.

Beckerman joins the show today to discuss her latest book, Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble, and what led her to write it. She shares the story of getting a dog so that her kids could grow up with that great childhood experience, and how it made her slow down and appreciate life in a new way. She talks about learning to cherish small moments with her family, and how writing her column, Lost in Suburbia, helped her find the joy and humor in parenting. She answers questions about the upbeat tone of her writing, dealing with isolation during the pandemic, what dogs bring to our lives as humans, and what we can learn from our furry friends. You’ll also hear hilarious stories about her dog, Riley, what it was like to come together as a family to say goodbye to him, and how life with her new dog, Monty, is different as an empty nester. Beckerman ends by explaining the touching inspiration behind her latest book title, and encourages listeners to find the humor through all of life’s ups and downs.

Episode Highlights:

• Beckerman’s books include Lost in Suburbia - A Momoir and Rebel Without a Minivan
• Her latest book is Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble
• She thought it would be a good idea to get a dog so her kids could grow up with that experience
• The dog ended up being “Dogzilla” and tore the house apart
• Barking at the Moon became a good bridge book between Lost in Suburbia and her upcoming book, Lost in Midlife
• Her dog, Riley, slowed things down and made her appreciate the here and now
• Life with children is hectic, but it goes by quickly
• She moved to the suburbs and left her high-powered career in television, and felt lost
• She lost her sense of identity and became depressed
• Writing about experiences with her kids helped her find the humor in it, and embrace the joy of parenting
• Her column is upbeat and silly
• Her book takes on a similar tone, and she takes great joy in being able to give people laughter through her writing, especially during the pandemic
• Not being able to see her loved ones during the pandemic has been very difficult
• Her dog kept her company, made her laugh, and motivated her to get outside
• Dogs bring so much joy to our lives as humans, and they are loyal to a fault
• Beckerman shares the funniest stories about her dog, Riley
• They came together as a family to say goodbye to him 
• It was a good opportunity to support her children through a difficult experience 
• Having...

Pastor Brian McIntyre is one of Brett’s spiritual and intellectual mentors. He is the lead pastor at Lakeview Community Church in Carmel, NY, where Brett has called home from the moment he became a Christian. Pastor Brian grew up in Mahopac, NY. After graduating from Messiah College in 1991 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, he had no intention of being in full-time ministry, but agreed to help out with the youth group at his home church. That introduction to ministry led to a passion to invest deeply in the lives of teenagers – something his future wife Diane shared, who he met at a Youth for Christ banquet. Brian served as the youth minister at First Baptist Church of Brewster from 1995 to 1999, and then attended Alliance Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 2002. From there he connected with the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination and started working on Lakeview Community Church with their backing and support. Brian and Diane have 4 wonderful children, and they live in Carmel. 

Brett welcomes Pastor Brian to the show to discuss the process of “planting” his own church, the decision to combine his passions for faith and entrepreneurship, as well as the evolution of the Lakeview Community Church from a small living room gathering to two large church buildings. Pastor Brian explains Lakeview’s more casual, contemporary expressions of faith, their formula for growth, and the purpose of their “life groups.” He talks about using prayer when deciding on the direction of Lakeview, opening his heart to God’s voice, treating every area of life as sacred, and the importance of authenticity. Brett asks Pastor Brian about welcoming members back to the congregation after COVID, the gift of being able to gather safely together in person, the innate human desire to worship, and why it’s so important to direct that yearning toward God. They have a fascinating conversation about the role of politics and social justice in our mission as Christians, and Pastor Brian shares his thoughts on the Book of Revelation, as well as his favorite Bible translations, authors, movies, and music.

Episode Highlights:

• The feeling of awe for an artistic masterpiece is similar to what Brett feels about his spirituality
• Brett shares his thoughts on faith and the crucial role it plays in his life
• Pastor Brian felt called to begin his own church, which combined his passions for faith and entrepreneurship
• This was the most challenging endeavor Pastor Brian has ever taken on
• Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA) provided a great deal of training, mentoring, and guidance
• ‘Majoring in the majors’ and theological distinctions within the Christian faith
• CMA aims to bring people of different denominations together to seek God in a deeper work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, as well as to fulfill the ‘Great Commission’ of taking the gospel message to the ends of the earth
• The evolution of Lakeview Community Church from humble beginnings in a living room to two large church buildings
• Nine out of ten church “plants” fail, so the odds were not in their favor
• Their current facility was actually donated, and their congregation was also gifted a second building
• They decided to remove the pews in favor of a much more contemporary space, which reflects their more casual expression of faith
• Lakeview’s formula for growth
• Their life groups encourage small groups to get together and talk over coffee, share what they’re going through, and how God can help them through life’s challenges
• They encourage people to come as they are
• Prayer is an essential element in determining the direction of the church
• God is always speaking to us, and we need to open our hearts to be filled with His words
• Every part of life is sacred, even going grocery shopping,...

Jennifer Maher is the Chief Operating Officer of J. Philip Real Estate. She is the founder of the Business Council of Putnam County, and former Board Chair of the Great Mahopac Carmel Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she is a mom, wife, grandmother to Zendaya, business coach, sunset chaser, real estate dragon slayer, and self-described beach bum. Today she joins Brett to discuss how she fits all these roles into her life, her prolific social media presence, passion for helping others, and involvement with politics. Jennifer breaks down how her friendships with elected officials previously landed her in hot water, how she overcame scrutiny to advance the business community in Putnam County, and what she has learned from past mistakes.

Jennifer shares her moving story of redemption after a troubled past with drugs and illegal activity, and she reminds listeners that everyone deserves a second chance. She explains how she got into the real estate industry, her professional goals to grow her business and become a national coach, and current market trends in New York State and Putnam County. Jennifer discusses her biggest challenges during the pandemic, seeking political common ground, her involvement with Buddhism, and her best advice for new entrepreneurs. This fascinating conversation is sure to inspire, and serves as an important reminder that no one is born successful. We all make mistakes and face challenges, but as Jennifer points out, as long as you get up every day and give it your all, you can achieve beyond achievable.

Episode Highlights:

• Her morning routine and squeezing in most of her productivity before the day has even begun
• Networking and recharging as an introvert
• Jennifer’s social anxiety and having control over her surroundings
• Her social media presence and connecting with others
• Her passion for helping people and her goal to become a national life coach
• Her involvement with politics and friendships with elected officials, including former New York State Senator, Greg Ball
• This got her into trouble, but she overcame scrutiny to help advance the business community in Putnam County
• Learning from past mistakes
• Using connections to bring more success to her business and help more people as a result
• Her troubled past and turning things around after having her eldest daughter, Olivia
• No one is born successful - everyone has to work at it and will make mistakes along the way
• Her previous experience in the restaurant industry and why she left to pursue her career in the real estate industry
• She loves being her own boss and having a flexible schedule
• Her focus is on building the company and becoming a national coach
• She works primarily in Commercial real estate
• Jennifer’s biggest personal and professional challenges during the pandemic
• For Jennifer, moments of fear are moments of motivation
• Seeking common ground with people politically
• Two people with opposite opinions can both be right 
• Her involvement with Buddhism
• Jennifer’s plans to become a business coach and advice for entrepreneurs
• The Miracle Equation by Hal Elrod
• How she met her husband, Chris
• Her plans for the next 5-10 years

Quotes:

“If something is working perfectly - a system, a business, an operation, whatever - then I don’t need to be in control. But if I feel that control is needed, then yeah, I’m a crazy control freak.”

“I enjoy helping people with whatever they need help with. It’s one of my life’s purposes. My passion is to help people.”

“I don’t want to have to live my life under scrutiny.”

“Maybe I didn’t always have the

Susan Salomone is the cofounder and Executive Director of Drug Crisis In Our Backyard, which was founded after the tragic loss of her son, Justin, to a heroin overdose. Susan was born and raised in New York State. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, Masters Degree in Counseling, and Masters Degree in Supervision at esteemed New York State universities. She has recently received her credential as a Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). Susan was appointed to Governor Cuomo’s Heroin Task Force, is a member of the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Insurance and Provider Workgroup, and she has also received the Senate 2015 Award for Woman of Distinction. Susan is currently a family coach working individually and leading support groups for families struggling with the effects of addiction. 

Today Susan joins Brett to discuss her son, Justin’s past with addiction, and founding her organization after his tragic overdose in 2012. She talks about risk factors for addiction, increased awareness of the opioid crisis over the past decade, and how the pandemic has led to more overdose deaths. Susan breaks down her criticism of the McKinsey Opioid Settlement in New York State, and Brett asks whether advocates have perhaps gone too far and are preventing people who are really in pain from accessing the relief they need. Susan explains why she is against the legalization of recreational marijuana and dispensaries, but a proponent for the decriminalization of marijuana. And she tells Brett about embracing the support of family, friends, and other like-minded organizations to push through tragedy and help others who are suffering from addiction.

Episode Highlights:

• Her son, Justin’s past with drug addiction and his heroin overdose
• Early lack of understanding around how addictive opioids were
• Heroin education, treatment, and recovery
• Reasons people may be prone to addiction, including genetic factors, the age you start using drugs, and level of family support
• How she would have done things differently to help Justin, knowing what she knows now about addiction
• Increased awareness of the opioid crisis and Susan’s brave decision to write about her family’s experience
• How COVID has led to more overdose deaths due to treatment center closures, increased isolation, and not being able to assess people’s condition in person
• Susan’s criticism of the McKinsey Opioid Settlement in New York State
• Brett’s experience processing applications for Oxycontin as a data entry clerk at 18 years old, and mistakenly believing he was helping people in need
• Some people are truly in pain and need medication
• Doctors need to be diligent in their education and understanding about addiction
• Susan’s stance against legalizing recreational marijuana
• However, she believes marijuana should be decriminalized
• Dr. Kevin Sabet and his books, Reefer Sanity and Smokescreen - he is against legalization of recreational marijuana and believes the tobacco industry is behind this movement
• Concerns about opting out of local dispensaries fueling the black market
• Having emotional support from family and friends to push through tragedy
• Embracing other organizations who raise drug addiction awareness

Quotes:

“I would say that 90% of people on the planet didn't understand how addictive these drugs were, the opiods, Percocet, Vicodin. And they were being prescribed like candy. If you had a backache,...

Hudson Valley Uncensored, hosted by Brett Freeman, highlights and discusses topics without fear. We explore ideas that are outside mainstream conventional thinking, with a particular focus on current events. We aim to interview local individuals from the Hudson Valley, New York, with unique perspectives on life. We ask the questions that others won’t.