Ms. Wanda's Full Circle Radio

As we kick off American Heart Month, this powerful first-hour conversation on Full Circle centers on a story that is both deeply personal and profoundly instructive. Susan and Don Leonard join the show to share how a sudden cardiac arrest changed their lives—and how quick thinking, preparation, and love made survival possible.

Susan experienced sudden cardiac arrest at home, a moment that came without warning and demanded immediate action. Don did not hesitate. Because he knew Hands-Only CPR, he was able to begin chest compressions immediately, keeping blood circulating to Susan’s brain and vital organs during the most critical minutes of her life. His swift response sustained her until first responders arrived and were able to take over advanced medical care. Those first few minutes—before sirens, before the ambulance—made all the difference.

Susan had experienced symptoms prior to her cardiac event but did not take them seriously. Like many women, she dismissed the warning signs, not realizing they could signal something life-threatening. Their story underscores a critical truth: women’s cardiac symptoms can present differently and are often minimized or misunderstood. Ignoring or downplaying symptoms can delay lifesaving treatment.

During this moving conversation, Susan and Don reflect on the emotional weight of that day—the fear, the uncertainty, and the overwhelming gratitude that followed. They also speak about how surviving cardiac arrest reshaped their perspective on health, preparedness, and the fragility of life.

• A firsthand account of sudden cardiac arrest from both perspectives

• How Don’s immediate use of Hands-Only CPR sustained Susan’s life

• Why the first few minutes before emergency responders arrive are critical

• The importance of recognizing and acting on heart-related symptoms, especially in women

• How survival strengthened their commitment to educating others

Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. When it does, survival often depends on the people nearby. Hands-Only CPR—hard and fast chest compressions in the center of the chest—keeps oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and heart until professional help arrives. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

Don’s knowledge did not require medical training—just preparation. His willingness to act without hesitation became the bridge between collapse and recovery.

Episode Highlights

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, and women are often underrecognized and undertreated during cardiac emergencies. Susan and Don’s story is a reminder to:

• Take symptoms seriously

• Trust your instincts when something feels wrong

• Learn Hands-Only CPR

• Have open conversations about heart health with loved ones

This is a touching story of love, courage, and survival. It is also a call to action. Because when seconds matter, knowing what to do can mean everything.

In this episode of Full Circle, we turn our focus to a critical and often overlooked reality: menopause is a major turning point in a woman’s heart health.

Dr. Roshni Khatiwala, cardiologist and volunteer with the American Heart Association, joins the conversation to unpack why a woman’s risk for heart disease increases during and after menopause — and why so many women are unaware of that shift.

Many associate menopause with hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep changes. Few connect it to cardiovascular risk. As estrogen levels decline, the protective effects it once provided to the heart begin to diminish. Blood pressure may rise. Cholesterol can change. Weight distribution shifts. Metabolism slows.

Even more concerning, heart symptoms can mimic menopause symptoms. Palpitations may be dismissed as anxiety. Fatigue may be blamed on hormones. Shortness of breath may go unchecked.

Dr. Khatiwala explains how women can recognize warning signs, why family history matters, and what questions every woman should ask her doctor — especially during her 40s and 50s.

This episode also addresses disparities, including why women of color often experience higher rates of hypertension and diabetes, and the importance of culturally responsive care and early prevention.

The message is clear: menopause is not just a hormonal transition. It is a cardiovascular checkpoint.

Small, consistent steps — regular checkups, blood pressure monitoring, heart-healthy nutrition, movement, and stress management — can significantly reduce long-term risk.

Call to Action

If you are approaching or experiencing menopause, schedule a heart health conversation with your doctor. Know your numbers. Discuss your family history. Share this episode with the women in your life — mothers, sisters, daughters, friends. And support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association through volunteering, advocacy, or community education. Awareness is protection.

As we close out American Heart Month on Full Circle, this episode centers on a story that is both heartbreaking and life-affirming.

Marvale Young has always been a caregiver. A devoted mother, she fostered more than 30 children, opening her home and heart to young people who needed stability, love, and safety. She was the strong one — the one who carried others through their storms.

But over time, life carried its own weight. After losing her husband and navigating years of emotional stress, Marvale began noticing subtle shifts in her health. Fatigue. Changes in her body. Signals that were easy to overlook when you are used to putting everyone else first.

Then came the diagnosis: heart failure.

In this intimate conversation, Marvale reflects on what it felt like to hear those words and whether prolonged stress and unresolved grief contributed to her declining health. Caregivers often ignore their own needs. Women, especially, push through discomfort. Marvale’s story challenges us to reconsider that pattern.

And then — in the midst of unimaginable grief, just days after losing her son — she received a call that would change everything. A donor heart was available.

Her journey from heart failure to transplant is a powerful reminder of the lifesaving impact of advanced cardiac care, organ donation, and medical research. It is also a testament to resilience, faith, and the gift of second chances.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Symptoms are often subtle. Stress is not “just stress.” Fatigue is not always “just being tired.”

This episode is about listening to your body before it whispers become emergencies.

Call to Action:

Make your heart health a priority. Schedule a physical. Monitor your blood pressure. Have honest conversations about stress, grief, and self-care. Learn how you can support heart health education and survivor advocacy through the American Heart Association. Share Marvale’s story — it could inspire someone to seek care sooner.

In this powerful American Heart Month episode, Full Circle continues its commitment to heart health awareness with guest Ann Koeing — a former registered nurse, stroke survivor, mother of three, author, and volunteer with the American Heart Association.

More than 20 years ago, shortly after giving birth to her third child, Ann suffered a life-altering stroke. As a medical professional, she understood the seriousness of what was happening — but nothing could fully prepare her for the journey ahead.

Survival was only the beginning.

Ann had to relearn how to walk, how to write, and how to perform everyday tasks many of us take for granted. Recovery was not just physical — it was emotional, mental, and deeply personal. As she navigated rehabilitation, she was also raising three young children. Rather than allowing that responsibility to overwhelm her, Ann chose to let her children become her inspiration. They became her reason to push forward on the hardest days, her motivation to heal, and her reminder that purpose still awaited her.

During this episode, Ann shares:

• What it was like to experience a stroke shortly after childbirth
• How her background as a registered nurse shaped her understanding of her condition
• The realities of stroke recovery — relearning mobility, handwriting, and independence
• The emotional toll of recovering while parenting young children
• The role of resilience, faith, and family support in long-term healing
• Why heart disease and stroke awareness must be part of every woman’s health conversation

Ann’s journey did not stop at recovery. She transformed her experience into advocacy, becoming a Go Red for Women Ambassador with the American Heart Association. She has shared her story at the Sacramento Go Red Luncheon and throughout the region, using her voice to educate others about the warning signs of heart disease and stroke in women.

She also authored a book about her journey titled The Story I Wanted to Hear. In it, Ann shares the honest, unfiltered account of her stroke, rehabilitation, motherhood, and ultimate transformation. The book offers encouragement, practical insight, and hope for survivors and families navigating similar health crises.

You can purchase Ann’s book on Amazon here

This episode reminds us that heart disease and stroke do not discriminate — even healthcare professionals are not immune. But with awareness, early action, community support, and resilience, survival can lead to purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Stroke and heart disease can impact women at any stage of life, including postpartum
• Knowing the warning signs can save lives
• Rehabilitation requires patience, persistence, and support
• Family can be a powerful motivator in recovery
• Sharing your story can turn pain into purpose

Call to Action:

This American Heart Month, prioritize your heart health. Schedule your annual checkup. Know your numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and family history. Learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. If you are a new mother or supporting one, remember that postpartum health includes heart and stroke awareness.

Purchase Ann’s book, share this episode with someone you love, and consider supporting the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign in your community.

Subscribe to Ms. Wanda's Full Circle Radio on your favorite podcast platform and continue the conversation. When we share stories, we save lives.

Full Circle’s kickoff to American Heart Month, features an informative and empowering conversation with Dr. Amardeep Singh, cardiologist and volunteer with the American Heart Association.

Dr. Singh works at the intersection of clinical care and community education, helping patients and the public better understand heart disease, cardiac arrest, and lifesaving interventions such as Hands-Only CPR.

This episode builds on the real-life survival story shared earlier in the show and provides the medical and public health context behind why CPR education, early action, and prevention are critical—especially for women and underserved communities.

• What happens in the body during cardiac arrest

• Why bystander intervention is essential before emergency responders arrive

• How Hands-Only CPR works and why it is effective

• Common misconceptions about heart disease and cardiac emergencies

• The role of the American Heart Association in education, prevention, and advocacy

Heart disease is the leading cause of death, yet many cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals. Immediate bystander CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. Education and awareness—especially during American Heart Month—play a vital role in saving lives.

• Learn Hands-Only CPR through the American Heart Association

• Talk openly about heart health with your family and community

• Wear red on February 6 to support women’s heart health

• Share this episode to help spread lifesaving knowledge

This episode reinforces a simple but powerful message: informed communities save lives.

In this timely episode of Full Circle, we focus on the importance of enrolling in health coverage through Covered California and what Californians need to know before the January 31, 2026 open enrollment deadline.

Dr. Monica Soni, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Deputy Executive Director at Covered California, joins the show to explain:

• What Covered California is and how it serves as California’s official health insurance marketplace

• How Covered California helps individuals and families connect to quality, affordable health plans

• Why nearly 92% of enrollees receive financial assistance

• The role and impact of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) and what their expiration means for Californians

• How California has stepped in with $190 million in state-funded tax credits for individuals earning up to 165% of the federal poverty level

• Why preventive care should be viewed as an essential, everyday practice—not just something we seek during emergencies

In the second hour, we slow things down and simplify what can often feel overwhelming:

• A recap of the key takeaways from the conversation with Dr. Soni

• A clear explanation of the penalty for not having health insurance and how to weigh it against the risks of being uninsured

• Why reviewing your coverage annually matters—even if you already have a plan

• Encouragement for families to prioritize preventive care, wellness visits, and early intervention

• Empowering listeners to make informed, confident decisions about their health and finances

This episode is about demystifying health coverage, reducing fear, and helping our community understand that access to care is both possible and necessary.

Open Enrollment Deadline: January 31, 2026

Here’s what you can do today:
✔️ To explore your options, visit Covered California or call them at 1-800-300-1506

✔️ Check if you qualify for financial assistance or state-funded tax credits
✔️ Compare plans and costs—don’t assume you can’t afford coverage
✔️ Consider the penalty for being uninsured and weigh it against the cost of coverage and preventive care

Health insurance is not just about avoiding penalties—it’s about protecting your future, your family, and your peace of mind.

Listen. Learn. Enroll. Because informed choices lead to healthier lives.

This was an extremely powerful and deeply personal episode of Full Circle.

In this intimate conversation, Ms. Wanda sits down with Natalie McGee, Founder and CEO of Heart Relationship Management, to explore how a heart event in April 2025 became a profound spiritual awakening that shifted Natalie’s perspective on life, leadership, and purpose. Natalie's experience served as a wake-up call—one that deeply impacted her family and clarified her mission to advocate for women’s heart health.

Natalie shares how this moment reshaped how she listens to her body, honors her relationships, and shows up in the world. The conversation centers the emotional and spiritual aftermath of a heart event rather than medical diagnosis, offering a rare and honest look at what happens after the crisis passes.

This episode is especially significant for Black women. According to the American Heart Association, Black women experience higher rates of cardiovascular-related events and complications, often at younger ages. These realities make conversations rooted in awareness, reflection, and community support not only important, but necessary.

Listener Takeaways

• Heart events can be spiritual and emotional turning points, not just medical moments.

• Health scares affect families as much as individuals.

• Purpose and clarity often emerge through vulnerability and lived experience.

• Advocacy begins with awareness and the courage to speak up, even without a diagnosis.

Call to Action
Natalie McGee is turning her experience into impact through the American Heart Association’s Women of Impact campaign. You can support this work by joining her Impact Team, attending an informational meeting, helping raise awareness, and sharing this episode with your community. Learn more and get involved at womenofimpact.heart.org.

Why This Episode Matters
This conversation creates space for the stories we don’t hear often enough—the emotional, spiritual, and familial impact of heart events, particularly for Black women. It is a reminder that listening to your heart can be both lifesaving and life-changing.

Closing Reflection
As the final live episode of Full Circle for 2025, this conversation brings us exactly where we need to be—grounded in truth, reflection, and purpose. It invites us to slow down, pay attention, and choose awareness and action for ourselves and the people we love.

Some conversations stay with you. This is one of them.

Episode Guests:

Stephanie Brown, Facilities Operations Coordinator
Kelvin Cao, Senior External Affairs CoordinatorIn this special two-hour episode, Full Circle celebrates a year-long partnership with our premium sponsor Sierra Donor Services—a collaboration dedicated to expanding awareness of organ, eye and tissue donation within our Black, Asian and Latino communities.

Hour 1:
We speak with Stephanie Brown, whose extraordinary career path—from mortuary transport to tissue recovery to facility operations—reflects a profound calling to serve others with honor, precision, and compassion. Stephanie offers listeners a rare look behind the scenes of tissue recovery and the people who make donation possible every day.

Hour 2:
We’re joined by Kelvin Cao, whose personal loss fuels his passion for storytelling, community education, and bridging gaps in trust. Kelvin shares the experience of losing his father while he awaited a liver transplant—an experience that shaped his mission to help ensure other families don’t endure the same heartbreak. He also highlights the importance of the holiday season as a moment to choose generosity, hope, and second chances.

Together, our guests help us connect the spirit of giving with the lifesaving mission of donation.

Key Topics:

• The human side of tissue recovery

• Cultural barriers and mistrust in Black, Asian & Latino communities

• The impact of a single donor

• Personal stories that illuminate the mission

• Why the holidays are a powerful time to talk about donation

• How Sierra Donor Services supports donor families and recipients

• Ways community members can get involved

This holiday season, make a decision that could change—and even save—lives.
✔ Register as an organ, eye and tissue donor
✔ Share your decision with your loved ones
✔ Encourage others in your community to learn the truth about donation
✔ Start the conversation at home

To learn more or join the donor registry, visit Sierra Donor Services online.

Together, let’s make this Season of Giving truly life-changing.

In this powerful episode of Full Circle, Ms. Wanda sits down with Phoenix native, entrepreneur, and community-builder Katy Nebblett, founder of Black Women Meetups, a thriving movement dedicated to creating safe, intentional spaces for Black women to connect, collaborate, and grow.

Katy shares her journey from communications professional and social media coach to becoming the leader of a dynamic women's organization that’s changing the landscape of community engagement in Arizona. She opens up about how meaningful connection—not just socializing—inspired her to create events that uplift and empower Black women entrepreneurs, creators, and professionals.

The conversation explores the growing business and cultural crossover between California and Arizona, the importance of building regional community, and the shared responsibility we have to support one another across state lines. Katy also talks openly about balancing life’s challenges—including grief—and how the gym became a place of healing and reset.

Listeners will learn about the upcoming Sip and Connect event happening on November 29th at the Onyx Art Gallery in downtown Phoenix, designed to highlight entrepreneurs, spark collaboration, and bring women together through art and intentional conversation.

This episode is a bridge-builder—reminding us that connection has no borders, community can flourish anywhere, and when Black women come together with purpose, powerful things happen.

• Katy’s entrepreneurial journey and the birth of Black Women Meetups

• Why intentional connection matters more than ever

• The thriving Black community and creative culture in Phoenix

• The CA ↔ AZ connection: building cross-state sisterhood

• Balancing entrepreneurship, PR consulting, social media coaching, and grief

• The mission behind Lit Twist and the goal of supporting Black women through intimate social events

• The importance of creating our own spaces rather than waiting for a seat at someone else’s table

• Details about the upcoming Sip and Connect (Nov. 29) event

• How community support in Arizona has fueled Katy’s growth

• Encouragement for California listeners to travel, connect, collaborate, and expand their networks

Support the movement and follow Katy on Instagram: @blackwomenmeetups
Learn more about her upcoming events, leadership opportunities, and features for Black women entrepreneurs.
If you’re in California—take that short flight! Experience the sisterhood expanding throughout Arizona.

In this special episode of Full Circle, host Ms. Wanda shares portions of her recent appearance on the radio program Politics with J. King and Keisha Matthews. She was joined by two fellow members of the 2025–2026 Sacramento County Civil Grand Jury: Foreperson Lori Sopwith and Community Engagement Chair Nolice Edwards.

This hybrid edition gives listeners an inside look at the role, purpose, and importance of the Civil Grand Jury, especially as the application period for the upcoming jury year officially opens.

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn:

• What the Sacramento County Civil Grand Jury is and how it operates
• The difference between Grand Jury service and traditional jury duty
• The time commitment, expectations, and responsibilities of jurors
• How the Grand Jury investigates and reports on government operations
• Why diversity of experience, culture, and background is essential to the Grand Jury’s effectiveness
• Who can apply and what the ideal candidate looks like
• How the application and interview process works
• Why this is one of the most meaningful ways residents can serve their community

This episode is designed to answer many of the questions people often have about serving. Whether you’re curious, considering applying, or simply want to understand how local government accountability works, this conversation offers clarity and insight.

Call to Action:
The 2025–2026 Sacramento County Civil Grand Jury application period is now open. Serving on the Grand Jury is a unique opportunity to be part of a dedicated body of residents committed to oversight, transparency, and community impact. If you want to make a difference and contribute to good government, we invite you to learn more and apply.

For full details and the online application, visit sacgrandjury.org.

Tune in, get informed, and consider stepping forward to serve.