Solutions News

On this episode of Solutions News, we address the secrets of success and self-mastery along with our guestJack Canfield, the esteemed originator of The Chicken Soup for the Soup book series. First with a look at how Americans learned about personal empowerment by learning how to master communication, then with a story on one of the greatest inspirational projects of all time, and finally with some specific tips on how to build better habits. We will also have our fan-favorite “didyaknow” segment! For full show notes visit the Jack Canfield page on our website: https://Solutionsnews.org/7-19-19-jackcanfield.

On this episode of Solutions News, we explore marijuana, mushrooms and other entheogens. Our guest is Dr. Jerry B. Brown, co-author of The Psychedelic Gospels, and a sought after scholar on the subject of psychedelics. Topics that we cover today include a brief overview and update on legal cannabis in America, the movement to decriminalize psilocybin based on beneficial therapeutic uses in various states and cities around the US, and a case study on Portugal - the first modern country to decriminalize drugs. We also share some wonderful “didyaknows”. For full show details, please visit our website: https://solutionsnews.org/7-12-19-jerry-b-brown

Host: Rinaldo Brutoco

Producer: Kristy Jansen

Assistant Producer: Benjamin Schwartz

On this episode of Solutions News we focus on Citizen Engagement. We are thrilled to welcome our guest, psychologist, educator and environmental advocate, Stacy Pulice. We take a look at how citizen scientists are helping advance humanity’s knowledge. From working with NASA to identify extra-terrestrial planets, to counting larvae of some of the rarest pollinators - some of the most important science these days is being done by passionate volunteers. We discuss civics education, needed to bring civility back into the public square, and highlight the power of participating - and how an informed and active citizenry can change the course of history. There are also some great “didyaknows”! For detailed show notes and resources go to solutionsnews.org.

On this episode of Solutions News, we focus on solutions in HealthCare, with origins in advanced communications technology, socially responsible business approaches and human-centered thinking. We discuss the growing role of nurse practitioners and telemedicine in improving medical services for rural communities in the US. We also shine a light on a new nonprofit generic drug company that’s pushing back on big pharma, and we’ll discuss new targeted and personalized approaches that are revolutionizing medicine. We are also excited to introduce our audience to our guest, Dr. David Kerr - who leads the world-renowned Sansum Diabetes Research Institute located here in Santa Barbara. For full details on today’s episode, please go to our website: https://solutionsnews.org/6-28-19-david-kerr

On this episode of Solutions News, we explore some solutions to the housing crisis in California. Namely, we discuss approaches that create more accessible, more affordable housing and how local zoning can either encourage or inhibit the density we need for more resilient, sustainable and vibrant urban cores. Our guest, environmental systems designer Art Ludwig, takes a systems approach to this topic as well, and proposes the use of alternative building materials, along with future thinking to design homes and communities that address the affordable housing crunch at the same time as the new dangers of changing environmental conditions. All of the solutions have one thing in common - the move away from large single family suburban houses - those ever larger McMansions that have been attached to the “American Dream” since 1946. We end the show with some great “didyaknows” and 12 reasons why choosing to live in a smaller home might actually lead to better things. For a full description of the show, and links to our source materials, go to the website: https://solutionsnews.org/6-21-19-art-ludwig

On this episode of Solutions News, we are tackling HOMELESSNESS. We are thrilled to welcome our guest Jeff Shaffer from United Way’s “Home for Good” program. Jeff is one person who's been working effectively to help get vulnerable people off the street and into housing. In addition, we will share three innovative programs that are being implemented around the country, including in Santa Barbara, that are helping solve aspects of this issue: Tiny house villages, Safe Parking Sanctuaries, and later in the show, after our fan favorite “Didyaknow” segment, Showers.

This has been in the news quite a bit lately with a new report from LA about how its homeless population grew by 16% over the last year, despite the recent measures that were voted in providing additional funding to help solve this issue. Many are blaming the extreme lack of affordable housing for this increase. We promise that we will get into some solutions on that subject next week, but for today, we will focus on how to help the “un-housed” those under-resourced families and individuals who, at a critical point in time, lacked the support necessary to remain housed. It’s easy to dismiss these most vulnerable of our fellows - wrongly assuming that they are all drug addicts and derelicts. This is not the case.

Full details of this show are available at our website: https://solutionsnews.org/6-14-19-jeff-shaffer

On this episode of Solutions News, we tackle Energy and Fuel – and ask how we might move to into the Future. As PG&E has begun pre-emptively shutting off power to thousands of its customers in an effort to mitigate liability – we ask, how might local and regional governments work with utility companies to provide efficient and clean energy for the communities they serve? We also explore hydrogen created via electrolysis with renewable energy resources as a green fuel that can replace fossil fuels in transportation, industry and energy generation/storage. Our guest is Katie Davis, who leads the Los Padres chapter of the Sierra Club – and is working hard to prevent additional oil extraction on the central coast of California. Later, we do some great “didyaknows” and finish up with some interesting food parts that have surprisingly healthy uses! For the full story on this episode, go to our website: https://solutionsnews.org/6-7-19-katie-davis

On this episode of Solutions News, we welcome Dr. Brian von Herzen, the Executive Director of the Climate Foundation, who’ll be talking with us about marine permaculture and some amazing things he’s developing to help the world. Our topics today are focused on the ocean: first a story about how bacterial microbes “eat” carbon dioxide all while providing a food source for fish and cleaning up industrial waste in the meantime, and another about how man-made artifacts in the oceans are being turned into marine habitats where life is thriving! Later on, we have some great didyaknows and a final story on some health benefits of eating ocean greens. For a full description of the show, go to the website: https://solutionsnews.org/5-31-19-brian-von-herzen-1

On this episode of Solutions News, our topics are all about health and well-being: our guest is Dr. James Kwako (KWA-KHO), a family physician with a holistic approach and a remarkable new book, Mobilizing Your Healing Power. We also discuss why Universal Healthcare is a solution whose time has come; how sometimes the best medical prescription is simply more money, and after some great didyaknows, we’ll end the show with some habits we can all adopt that improve health, wellness and longevity

Universal Health Care

The first story this week is about solutions to the current healthcare crisis in the United States. Premiums have been skyrocketing and the price of drugs is many times what it is in other countries, leading to “medical tourism”. The most rational solution to the current situation is some form of universal healthcare. The United States is unique among developed nations in the world because it does not have a comprehensive health care system that helps all of its citizens deal with health care needs. Between 1990 and 2016, the United States health care system has dropped from a 6th place rank to 27th in the world – and it’s still dropping. Several current presidential candidates are proposing a “Medicare for All” type of solution. Critics of these plans point to the political and purported economic challenges to get from the hodge-podge system that the United States has now to some idealistic universal coverage without massive costs and massive disruptions. Rinaldo argues that the transition to a more comprehensive solution for every American, would actually be relatively simple if we’d just put out minds to it, and it would definitely lead to better overall health and much less expensive care as well.

“Find two bucks and call me in the morning”

The second story this week is about a unique approach to treating illness by actually helping the patients find more financial assistance. Dr. Gary Bloch started the process about ten years ago in Toronto, Canada, working to help treat illness by solving the underlying causes and stresses that exacerbate illness.

Lifestyle choices that affect health outcomes

This week, the Optimist Daily ran an article about how letting go of anger is linked to longevity, health, and overall wellness as people age. Here are six lifestyle habits that have been shown to help you live longer and better:

• Pay attention to contentment and positivity! Having a positive outlook is linked to health, to better recovery, and to living longer.

• Practicing stress reduction methods -- including meditation, exercise, laughter, & being in nature.

• Don’t smoke cigarettes - or anything with nicotine.

• As Michael Pollan says: Eat food, not too much, mostly vegetables.

• Establishing healthy sleep habits, and getting good sound shut-eye is linked to living longer and better.

• Cultivating & enhancing a good social network: Learning how to communicate with the people around you is a great way to preserve positive relationships throughout the lifespan, and having close friends is linked to living longer.

The two most important takeaways for today are moderation and mindfulness.

On this episode of Solutions News, we feature a fantastic interview with Women's Campaign International founder and women's rights activist Marjorie Margolies. In addition, we examine the recent collective actions taken by teachers in communities across the United States and how this is leading to long needed change, explore the benefit for profits and society when companies add women to the boardroom and the c-suite, and spotlight local activist Abe Powell, who shows what a difference one person with the right attitude and positive energy can make. We also have some great "didyaknows"!