The Crisis Files

We live in a real-time world where any moment – for better or worse – can be captured on an iPhone and broadcast across the world instantly. How do you effectively safeguard and elevate your online reputation? Host Roshini Rajkumar asks Digital & Savvy CEO Maha Abouelenein to help us cut through the noise. This branding expert and influencer provides practical tips for scaling, refining, and perfecting your online execution to get the most out of your social media efforts. Whether you realize it or not, every person is a brand ambassador for their own identity and organization. Find out how to use AI to authentically tell your story and connect. Get Maha's insider take on measuring success on LinkedIn, TikTok, and X. Explore Maha’s journey as she applies a lifetime of international experience to find the shared humanity behind our screens

Whether you love it or hate it, artificial intelligence is reshaping our world and making discernment a modern superpower. Entertainment reporter Paul McGuire Grimes and host Roshini Rajkumar explore AI’s expanding influence on Hollywood, politics, and our communities. They follow the money and ask who's making a profit off the images of others? Matthew McConaughey is taking his name back by using trademark law to protect his digital likeness against the rise of AI-generated actors and deepfakes. This vital conversation moves beyond the red carpet to offer practical "guardrails" for everyday social media users. Learn the importance of protecting your digital presence by auditing your feed and reporting suspicious content. Ultimately, AI awareness is no longer optional but a necessary strategy. We want to empower you to take a step back and not be afraid to ask questions if an image or video is real or not.

From reporting on the sidelines to fighting Stage IV cancer on the frontline, ESPN’s Holly Rowe is redefining what it means to win. She shares her personal journey after being diagnosed with aggressive metastatic melanoma, telling host Roshini Rajkumar how overcome she was post-surgery to see her name running across the TV ticker while in her hospital gown as more than 2000 messages of support lit up her phone. By stepping into the spotlight with her private battle, Holly gave others hope and a roadmap for healing. She reflects on how “joy journaling” every day helped her take control of her life. Holly's journey to survivorship led her to start the Joy-US Foundation, a nonprofit committed to spreading happiness and individualized joy. This broadcasting phenom is an inspiration to her ABC and ESPN colleagues, cancer survivors, those going through treatment, and all of us at The Crisis Files.

Minneapolis is once again at the epicenter of crisis. Operation Metro Surge flooded the Twin Cities with thousands of federal agents, sparking a deep divide and making headlines worldwide. While some viewed this as a necessary return to law and order, others condemned ICE activity as an unconstitutional occupation. Whenever things are unsettling, host Roshini Rajkumar turns to one place for clarity: the law. She dives into the evolving crisis with mediator and retired federal judge James Rosenbaum to dissect the legal storm surrounding ICE activity in Minneapolis, protesters' rights, and the deaths of two American citizens. Together, they examine the growing rift between federal power and state law. They analyze how the three branches of government were defined by the Constitution and designed to hold a fractured society together. This urgent conversation looks beyond the headlines to examine the role of Congress in resolving certain disputes and offers a roadmap for restoring peace in the months ahead.

From a new food pyramid to the rise of HP1 medications, we’re living in an era of endless diet fads and nutritional advice. But most people just want to eat something tasty! So why is it that the foods we crave the most are so bad for us? Experience Life Magazine's Jamie Martin breaks down the science that motivates our food choices with host Roshini Rajkumar. Jamie explains how 70% of foods on the market are in the hyperpalatable category – engineered to keep us coming back for more, especially frozen and easy-to-grab options. Sometimes they're diet foods or the most affordable and accessible. Jamie and Roshini discuss some judgment-free strategies for reading labels and reclaiming your palate. Discover the steps to enjoying the food you love without letting it compromise your health. Get more of Jamie in action on her podcast: Life Time Talks.

The Crisis Files' travel and lifestyle contributor Todd Walker is back in studio to unpack a hot travel plan with host Roshini Rajkumar: Going Solo. As Todd says, "Traveling alone might be the ultimate vacation getaway." From total schedule flexibility to personal growth or volunteerism, the benefits are vast, but they can come at the cost of significant stress. Todd outlines how to first sit with yourself to decide what you can handle. Never feel guilty about your travel preferences. Whether you are looking for solitude or seeking to connect, Todd shares his favorite solo-friendly destinations and practical advice on mindset, safety, and how to structure your day for a successful trip. If you want to go, go for yourself! More travel advice from Todd in MSP Magazine, Lavender, and for Vikings Cruises.

Electric, gas, hybrid – the world of what we drive and who’s driving continues to evolve. Buckle up as host Roshini Rajkumar gets behind the wheel with Scott Lambert, president of the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association. He helps us navigate the complex auto industry. Lambert explains the "hard pivot" by many manufacturers – sparked by Congress's decision to rescind the California waiver, which forced a major reset. He addresses why EV adoption faces major roadblocks in rural and cold-weather regions and why it's in contrast to the uptick for hybrids. Lambert takes off his “industry hat” to share which companies he thinks are getting it right and predicts that game-changers like China's BYD (Build Your Dreams) vehicles may force US and other country automakers to completely rethink their approach and prices. You might be surprised by the percentage of truck purchases in the US.

What if you could foresee and plan for any unplanned crisis? Former convenience industry CEO turned author, Rachel Wallis Andreasson, shares how to build the ultimate pivot-ready workplace with host Roshini Rajkumar. Using “The Sixth Level” transformative process, Andreasson outlines how a roadmap rooted in trust and transparency can create groundbreaking outcomes. From inspiring momentum to building resilience, this conversation features actionable insights into creating a culture that brings out the best in everyone and a workplace people don't want to leave.

How do fans stay loyal when their favorite teams score more scandalous headlines than winning seasons? Mike Serazio is professor of communication at Boston College and author of The Power of Sports. He dissects the explosive rise of sports betting and the cult of larger-than-life sports personalities with host Roshini Rajkumar. They dive into how gambling advertisements and evolving state laws are reshaping the industry, threatening game integrity and fueling addiction. Who is actually policing sports betting scandals involving players and coaches? How is aggressive product placement changing the fan experience? Is technology making sports betting more efficient or more dangerous? Prof Serazio outlines the age bracket most at risk by the rise of betting cultures. Roshini puts Prof Serazio on the spot for some of his most memorable sports moments and the experiences still on his bucket list.

The job market is opening doors for anyone looking to redefine their professional journey if they know how to take advantage of what's hot. Versique's Chief Growth Officer Kathy Robideau Chief gives an inside scoop to host Roshini Rajkumar and shares advice to make you more marketable. Learn tips to create the future you want. From paid family leave to how to be your own inside advocate, Kathy tackles trending topics. Don't let layoff headlines at Amazon, UPS, and Verizon get you down. Roshini and Kathy put their strategic minds together to lay out how to master your narrative and leverage your network. Special bonus: Kathy takes us inside her own podcast, Unscripted with Versique. They wrap up with a fun rapid-fire round with some unexpected twists. All of us at The Crisis Files wish you a magical 2026.