During this time of great transformation in our world, one emerging trend is encouraging – that of great and important collaborations happening. In the spirit of true sustainability and putting your health first, one very special and critical partnership is happening in Arizona and the result is strengthening patient care. Tucson Medical Center (TMC), as a single community hospital, does not have a large system of hospitals behind it. Partnering with the Mayo Clinic, with 4500 physicians and scientists who focus on complex care, gives TMC access to the entire footprint of the Mayo Clinic.  It gives TMC the ability to tap into the knowledge of one of the most progressive health care systems in the world without ever leaving southern Arizona. How did this joint effort come to be and what is the impact for the thousands of people who look to TMC for their care each and every day? This show made possible due to the generous support of Tucson Medical Center.

Bringing Healthcare to Rural America, Sponsored by Tucson Medical Center

Andy Shanks, Director of the Southern Arizona Hospital Alliance (SAHA)

Andy Shanks is the director of the Southern Arizona Hospital Alliance – a collaborative effort of five independent and nonprofit community hospitals to enhance healthcare access and provision in Southeastern Arizona. With nearly 20 years of experience in the medical field, Mr. Shanks has worked in many facets of healthcare from patient care to business and program development. He has successfully blended his passion for community advocacy with his professional experience, creatively identifying and implementing new methods of sustaining and delivering high-quality healthcare. An Illinois native, Mr. Shanks appreciates the warm weather and unique culture of Southern Arizona. When he isn’t hiking with friends or traveling with family, you’ll find him perfecting his signature cinnamon rolls with his best friend Petey, his 117 pound American bulldog.

Jad Daley, President and CEO American Forests

American Forests has been restoring forests for more than 140 years. Since 1990 alone, they have planted nearly 60 million trees in forest restoration projects in all 50 states. Their impact? Profound and measurable. Recovering hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, safeguarding watersheds, absorbing millions of tons of greenhouse gases and protecting some of America’s most stunning landscapes are on the list of their accomplishments. American Forests envisions a world in which forests are thriving and valued for their significant environmental, societal and economic benefits. Given the increasing reality of the impact of climate change, how do they establish priorities?  Where do they choose to focus? And how does the work they do impact our climate, our wildlife, our water and our people? Lots of questions and lots of powerful answers on this show.

Erika Spanger-Siegfried, Lead Climate Analyst Union of Concerned Scientists, wrote a blog in December of 2018, an excerpt from which reads: “As 2018 wound down, science walloped us. The IPCC 1.5 degree report, the U.S. National Climate Assessment, and other scientific works were released with stark assertions about the things that are all but lost, the things we can fight for if we bring our strongest ambitions to bear, and the waning gap between such ambitions and where we are headed.” Great reasons for giving up hope, right?  In some ways yes, but Erika goes on in that blog and does what I call “takes us deeper.” She goes on to give us reasons why are all in the fight for our lives and invites us all to continue to fight like hell for this planet and all its inhabitants that is worth that fight. She invites us to ask ourselves if we are still in when it comes to defeating the fossil fuel industry, winning pro-climate elections, defending climate science, or getting out in the streets in demonstration. And I agree with her conclusion: we’ve got this. Provocative, exciting, hopeful – join us.

Nina Simons, Co-Founder and Chief Relationship Officer Bioneers/Collective Heritage Institute, social entrepreneur, passionate leader, amazing human being and author

Nina Simons speaks, and people want to listen. She inspires, brings joy, invites you to go deeper and to think about things that matter – for ourselves and for the planet. Nina’s book, Nature, Culture & the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership, is the perfect book for this historical moment – a moment when the division between feminine and masculine is being redefined. Nina is all about allowing each of us to become fully human again. She invites us to be inspired by women who are

leading the way towards transformational change by cultivating vibrant movements for social and environmental justice. She has listened to the call for her journey and will help you “check in” to make sure you are listening as well.

David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation Naturalist and author

How do you transform your yard and garden into a thriving habitat for beautiful songbirds, colorful butterflies, buzzing bees and other local wildlife? How do you know what’s right for your area? How do you make it look natural? David Mizejewski is a passionate naturalist and author of Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Other Backyard Wildlife. He is sharing his knowledge for greening our world; how to create a beautiful natural garden or landscape that fits in the local environment and supports wildlife by providing the four components of habitat (food, water, cover and places to raise young.)

Secondhand – the very term brings forth questions of quality. It also brings forth thoughts about consumption, waste and the lure of brand new. Adam Minter, author of Junkyard Planet, is launching his newest work, Secondhand, this November. Secondhand takes us on an unexpected adventure into the often-hidden, multibillion-dollar industry of reuse. Judith Roman Bucasas, Director of Marketing at Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona will share an insiders expertise and Adam will provide insights into why we keep buying more, the marketing practices, design failures and racial prejudices that push used items into landfills. What do we need to change to build a sustainable future? This show made possible due to the generous support of Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona .

Will Allen, Owner, Will’s Roadside Farms & Markets & Will Allen’s Beyond Organic

How do we scale up urban agriculture – to get healthy food to people in cities but also to provide jobs and create healthy, sustainable communities for the benefit of all? Will Allen, a beloved figure who has had a powerful influence on urban agriculture, has lots to say about quite a few things – such as the general state of agriculture, the effect of large-scale farming on “the little guy,” the depressed pricing of the dairy industry and the list goes on. Will also believes that hemp is the salvation for farmers across America. Having seen the rise and fall of Growing Power, a non-profit that received national awards like the MacArthur Genius Award, Will has perspective, experience and insight to share.