Our Delaware Valley Podcast

James Corbett and Dan Lombard discussed "Project: Refit,’ a Vet lead support service that offers peer-based counseling to fellow vets and to first responders.   Dan discussed his service related injury and his experiences in the military and how it affected him after his return.  Now they offer immediate, peer support from vets through texting and Instagram and other social media. Their mision, create a 'community' of vets and first responders to support each other, combating isolation in hope that they will reduce suicide rates among the military and first responder communities. Describing the issues some vets face within crowds or in stressful situations they shared their ultimate goal of creating a portable ‘safe space’ that could be taken to festivals, sporting events, or other places where a vet could suffer anxiety.   To support their efforts, through donations or by joining their 'coffee' delivery, go to projectrefit.us

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Execuative Director Joe Brooks discussed the Veterans Multi-Service Center and its work for our most vulnerable vets, men and women who were 'broken' by the service and who now face homelessness and mental health and addiction issues.  

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Susan Damico, M.A., Director, Devereux Center for Resilient Children, discussed resiliency in an isolated world and promises that it is never too late to develop coping skills.  We discussed that we all are suffering during the COVID lock down, but children and youth are also affected by how their parents and caregivers react.  As they miss out on important school and social milestones, they are especially vulnerable during the holidays, and Ms Damico suggested creating and embracing new traditions this year, including going virtual, and focusing on the gift of giving.  Her favorite advice for handling a potential melt-down, FLIP it. Acknowledge the ‘Feeling’ and that its okay to feel upset or sad, recognize the ‘Limits’ that are there, ‘Inquire’ about possible alternatives and finally, ‘Prompt,’ make suggestions for a different approach or activity.  She points out that anyone can use this to calm down, deflate stress and react positively to stressful situations and recommends the free resource page found at centerforresilientchildren.org including a worksheet to evaluate your own ability to cope.  Her final advice, be kind; you don’t know how or what another is feeling, your kindness can make a huge difference in reassuring and soothing someone in distress.    Learn more and download the worksheets at    centerforresilientchildren.org 

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Bryan McCullough, JP Morgan Chase Market Director of Banking for Philadelphia, discussed banking today, and while we enjoy online services, the traditional brick and mortar building is still a vital part of the community.  We discussed how we use banks, to save and to plan, and how that is the start of financial wealth for an individual and later, the family.  He explained the pillars of ‘financial freedom,’ the ability to save, spend and use credit.  A bank account, he points out, is the way to save money – you do not have to spend your money to get access to your money as with lenders and check-cashing businesses, and automatic payment protects and creates your credit rating.   He reminds us that the time to ask for advice and help is at the beginning and he emphasized the need to save, whatever amount, noting that 70% of Americans do not have the suggested $400 in reserve for emergencies.

In reference to that, he spoke about the economic inequalities that years of systemic discrimination in lending, housing and wages have created, if you are African American and single your net worth is on average, $200 to $300 dollars, versus $15,000 – $28,000 for a single white.

To address this racial divide and the other underbanked communities he notes that Chase Bank has pledged 30 billion in a ‘Path Forward’ program, with small business loans, refinancing, and other initiatives to reach the Black and Latinex communities.  They are also opening new ‘Community Center’ banks in underserved neighborhoods, offering financial advice and planning through their branches, hosting ‘Chase Chats’  to answer community questions about banking and loans, give children easy ‘first accounts’ with debit cards, and offer online resources including a ‘Budget Builder’ at chase.com.

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Executive Director, Zach Sherman, discussed the Pennsylvania Insurance Exchange, 'PENNIE' the portal to enrolling in the federal insurance programs. 

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Matt Radar, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society discussed the  nearly 200 year old society, now committed to using horticulture to make positive social and environmental change through its community of more than 300,000 supporters, volunteers, and gardeners.  He spoke of gardener engagement with programming, classes and tours, gardening support for community groups and neighborhoods, public horticulture for the city and other public grounds. We discussed Tree Tenders and Community Gardens, which beautify and improve the overall health of neighborhoods, as well as the water barrel programs, that address city temperatures, water run-off and offsets the effects of climate change.  Matt noted that programs such as Land Care, which cares for over 12,000 vacant lots, have been shown to reduce violent crime and improve mental health.  He notes that lack of tree cover and vacant lots are concentrated in neighborhoods already affected by institution health and economic inequities that tend to be racial and ethnic in origin and that PHS is addressing that with increased programming and funding drives. He notes that the number of gardeners doubled this past year and the programs they offer to beginner gardeners and campaigns such as City Harvest and Harvest 2020 take the abundance of vegetables to feed the hungry- over 34,000 pounds of food.  He spoke of gardener engagement with programming, classes and tours, gardening support for community groups and neighborhoods, public horticulture for the city and other public  and the nation’s largest horticultural event, the Philadelphia Flower Show, this year in June and outdoors, with twice the space and attendance limits for safety.  Tickets will go on sale in January.   

PHSONLINE.org

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Dr. Avidon Appel, founder of Iron Mountain Men's Health, called to discuss the uncomfortable topic of Men's Health which includes Low Testosterone, ED and more. Some excellent information on how to take the first steps and discuss issues that are extremely uncomfortable to discuss. More information here. Thank you, for listening. 

Markus Goldman

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Dr. Chris Beyrer, Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, MD, USA called the Beasley Studios to discuss the Covid Vaccine. He shared information about the testing, efficacy, side effects and he dispelled the misinformation circulating about the Covid Vaccine that we have seen on the internet. You can get more information about the Covid Vaccines at Pfizer's or Moderna's websites. As well as at Johns Hopkins website, here. Thank you for listening. 

Markus

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Annie Slease, Director of Advocacy and Education for NAMI, the National Alliance On Mental Health, Delaware, picked up our last coversation, and offered ways to better mental heath through the holidays.  She makes a 'Bucket' analogy, we can keep adding strees to that bucket, until it can hold no more and it spills out in conflict, outbursts and poor choices, bad decisions, and even physical health effects.  She tells us to allow ourselves grace in dealing with the hlidays and the continued shut-down, manage expectations and do things to help improve your outlook.  Stress is contagious, a calmer you can mean better relationships and make it easier for your children to cope.  She recommends simple things such and deep breaths, eating healthier foods and getting excercise, learning to say 'no.'   For children she suggested getting creative in reimaging the holidays and finding new ways to celebrate.  NAMI.org

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Joseph Wojie, the owner of Grim Philly tours and the host of the Grim Podcast, discussed the history of Christmas and how it evolved and adapted from the pagan roots from other ancient cultures into the holiday it is today. Included in our conversation is how the modern Santa Claus came to be and a wild World War I Christmas Story. Merry Christmas. Get more information about the Grim Philly Tours and Grim Podcast, here. Thank you for listening,

Markus

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