Talk! with Audrey

As the 24-hour information cycle fills our airwaves and social media feeds, we are faced with a choice; give in to constant connectivity or take a time out to focus on what really matters. Life is Good Marks their 25th Anniversary by igniting a movement to Share Something Good. The Co-founders of Life is Good, Bert Jacobs, Chief Executive Optimist and John Jacobs, Chief Creative Optimist are my guests.

Filing an income tax return can be scary and overwhelming. What if you make a mistake? What if you use the wrong form? What are the new tax reform laws? It’s no surprise that 4 in 5 Americans say they want help when they file their taxes. Fortunately, there are resources available to take the stress out of filing and give you the assurance you’ve done it right. Financial expert, Nicole Lapin joins me with information about the new tax reform laws and how they might affect returns this year.

The administration announced the President’s FY2020 budget proposal and it does not include federal funding for after school programs. If that happens, after school programs for more than 1.7 million students will be in jeopardy. My guests are Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance and Barry D. Ford, President and CEO, Council for a Strong America.

This year, Californians faced a number of tragic events, many losing their homes to fire and flooding or experiencing other unexpected traumas. And for some, the emotional and psychological impacts of life-altering events could be difficult to overcome. Joining me with information about how families can recognize when stress and anxiety have exceeded manageable levels and when to ask for help, Nabil El-Ghoroury the Executive Director of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

The Verizon 5G EdTech Challenge is a new initiative to bring cutting-edge technologies to underserved middle school classrooms throughout the country. My guests are, Justina Nixon-Saintil, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility for Verizon and two of the winners, Glenn Cantave, Founder and CEO, Movers and Shakers and Idris Brewster, Co-Founder and CTO, of Movers and Shakers.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Dr. Charles Davidson, Clinical Chief of Cardiology at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, has information about non-surgical treatments for coronary valve disease.

Nearly 100 million Americans experience chronic pain. Dr Corey Hunter, a pain management specialist at the Ainsworth Institute of Pain Management and his patient, Doug Rodd, a medically retired U.S. Army paratrooper join me to discuss DRG therapy, as a possible way to manage chronic pain.

The arts matter: they help economies thrive, help individuals connect with each other and across cultures, and educate and enrich societies. Rena De Sisto, Global Arts and Cultures Executive for Bank of America has information about the 2,000 visual and performing arts organizations that they support.

According to the CDC, the number of cancer patients and survivors will reach almost 18 million in the next decade, and almost half will be diagnosed at a working age. The ability to manage employment after a cancer diagnosis can be complex, which means working people with cancer need support to balance work and health demands. Sonia Kashuk, cancer survivor and founder, Sonia Kashuk Beauty and Rebecca Nellis, Executive Director of Cancer and Careers, the only national non-profit dedicated solely to serving the growing population of people working during and after cancer treatment, talk with me about the challenges cancer patients and survivors face while working or looking for work during or after treatment, and tips on how to navigate workplace conversations.

Alzheimers and dementia memory care is evolving. Loren Shook, Chairman and Co-Founder of Silverado, a senior living provider, discusses the latest ways memory care is delivered.