Livingthegoodlifepodcast.com

In this segment of LivingTheGoodLifePodcast.com co-hosts Steve & Debbie discuss headlining topics that demand attention. How you protect yourself and your family is a moving target. The definition of  “ultraprocessed foods” could help you and your family understand the packaged food you buy. What’s the holdup- and why? The percentage of Americans who own guns remains stable according to the WSJ. Who is buying them  - and why? The number of hours logged on devices continues to increase. Pulling the plug is also on the rise. You may be surprised...

As marijuana legalization expands across the country and sports betting becomes part of everyday entertainment, are we paying enough attention to the unintended consequences?

In this episode of Living The Good Life, Deb Morais and Steve Kass discuss a recent Wall Street Journal article examining whether public opinion on marijuana is beginning to shift as more research emerges on addiction, mental health, and high-potency cannabis. The conversation also explores another rapidly growing concern - sports betting addiction - and asks whether today's "legal" vices are creating tomorrow's public health challenges.

Whether you're a parent, educator, policymaker, healthcare professional, or simply someone interested in these important issues, this episode offers thoughtful perspectives on the balance between personal freedom, public policy, and personal responsibility.

Topics include:

• How marijuana has changed over the past two decades
• New research on addiction and mental health
• Why legalization doesn't eliminate potential risks
• The rapid growth of sports betting—and gambling addiction
• What individuals and families should know
• Finding a balance between personal choice and public health

Tanglewood season opens with an eclectic line up that hosts Deb & Steve attended, from Jazz at LIncoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis to Paul Simon to Jerry Garcia's Symphonic Celebration with the Boston Pops to James Taylor on July 4th. Added to the evening line up was the Talks & Walks at the Tent Club featuring Emanuel Ax and moderator, Anthony Fogg. Listen in on an informal conversation about the entertainment-packed week.

In this episode of Living the Good Life, Deb and Steve welcome Major General Reginald A. Centracchio, a RI retired adjutant general and lifelong musician, who now leads big band performances and coordinates live music for Scituate’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The General shares how he blends military discipline with musical passion, organizing parades, concert series, and community events that bring residents together - from flag-filled parades to fireworks at Hope Jackson.

He also offers candid military analysis on Iran, Israel, NATO, and U.S. readiness, emphasizing the importance of live intelligence, public trust in the armed forces, and civic engagement through voting.

In this episode of Living the Good Life, Deb Morais speaks with Lauren Fogarty, Rhode Island program coordinator for RI 250, about how the Ocean State is commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. 

Lauren highlights Rhode Island’s outsized role in the American Revolution - from the burning of the Gaspee and early independence from the Crown to the First Rhode Island Regiment and General Nathanael Greene. She also walks listeners through this year’s July 4th celebrations, including the Bristol parade, rare public viewings of Rhode Island’s copies of the Declaration of Independence, and family-friendly events across the state. 

Deb and Lauren close by discussing the statewide grant program, Liberty Tree plantings, ongoing community events through 2027, and how residents can get involved via RhodeIsland250.org.

On this week's episode Deb and Steve spoke with Rick Simone, the Deputy Director of the Providence Tourism Council, President of the Federal Hill Commerce Association, President of the RI Small Business Coalition, and a member of the Board of Directors of Waterfire. 

Rick discussed Rhode Island's summer events, highlighting the St. Joseph's Feast on Federal Hill, which drew 50,000 people over three days, and Al Fresco on the Hill, a 10-week event with 34 participants. He emphasized the PVD Fan Zone, an official FIFA fan site with 39 days of activities, including live entertainment and food trucks and the Summer of Soccer tailgate events on Federal Hill. He also noted the increased Waterfire lightings and the 250th U.S. anniversary celebration on July 4. Then the conversation shifted to the importance of reading - a quieter activity, noting a resurgence in interest with a recent reading party at a New York public library.

In this episode of Living the Good Life, Deb Morais and Steve Kass tackle a trio of timely topics affecting everyday families. They start with a candid look at airline “junk fees,” sharing a recent Breeze Airways experience and a clever workaround for avoiding extra seat charges. The conversation then turns to education, as they explore how lowered academic standards and opaque reporting can mislead parents about how well their children are really doing—and why parental involvement and independent checks matter more than ever. 

  Deb and Steve also discuss the emotional toll of immigration policies that separate children from their parents, amplifying concerns raised by psychiatrists and pediatricians, before wrapping up with a nuanced look at pricey weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, weighing their benefits against the financial strain they place on cities and towns. They close with a preview of upcoming episodes celebrating Tanglewood, classical music, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.

Catch this segment as the topics range from the selection of the new Fed Chairman, to Melania in the movies and hosting a premier gala of A-listers at the White House, to AI as the go-to source for today's youth grappling with relationships. We discuss the decisions made in each scenario, the pros and cons, the optics, and the consequences. Join us.

In this episode of Living The Good Life, hosts Deb Morais and Steve Kass shine a light on two urgent and seemingly unrelated issues shaping the moral and social landscape of our time: child marriage in the United States and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in daily life and education.

First, Deb and Steve unpack the disturbing truth that child marriage remains legal in more than 30 states, often enabled by loopholes that override minimum age requirements. Drawing from a recent New York Times article by Nicholas Kristof, they explore the legal, social, and religious factors that perpetuate this practice - and the devastating consequences for young girls deprived of agency, safety, and opportunity. The conversation calls for greater public awareness, policy reform, and community vigilance to protect vulnerable children.

The discussion then pivots to another complex modern issue: the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence on education, creativity, and human independence. The hosts examine how tools like ChatGPT are reshaping classrooms, professional writing, and even parenting, sometimes at the expense of critical thinking and academic integrity. They weigh the benefits of AI for research and organization against its potential to erode authentic learning and creativity.

In this inspiring episode of Living The Good Life, the hosts share an extraordinary story of compassion, science, and second chances. Dr. Rachel Gilardetti a Rhode Island dentist, used her professional expertise in an unexpected way — performing a life-saving dental-style repair on a peregrine falcon’s broken beak. Using dental acrylic and composite bonding, Dr. Gilardetti restored the bird’s ability to eat and preen, giving it a new lease on life.

The falcon, rescued near Rhode Island Hospital and identified as a tagged local bird, is now recovering at The Congress of the Birds in Chepachet, RI. Under the leadership of Sheida Soleimani the organization rehabilitates more than 2,000 wild birds each year and depends on community volunteers and donations to continue its vital work.

In the second half of the episode, the hosts shift gears to discuss the growing risks associated with “Buy Now, Pay Later” financing services — a trend that’s leaving many consumers trapped in mounting debt despite its convenience. The conversation emphasizes the importance of mindful spending, budgeting, and awareness of fine print before clicking “pay later.”