Dr John Allen is a giant in gastroenterology and a former president of the American Gastroenterological Association. He has joined forces to work with Dr Sameer Berry to create one of the most exciting breakthroughs in virtual care: Oshi Health. Oshi is a complete virtual care platform to help the numerous Americans with chronic digestive ailments. In this fascinating interview, we talk about where medicine is going, how innovation can help patients, and how to create models of care that are powerful in both finances and healing. If you are invested in the state of the industry and want to know where healthcare is really headed, this is a must listen.

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 05:42] -Opening segment

        Dr. Rusha introduces Dr. John Allen & Dr. Sameer Berry! 

        Developed innovative digital health solutions

[05:43 - 16:53] – Bringing Digital Health To A Traditional Provider

          Digital health has seen a lot of hype and failure in the past

           Intensive interventions over a short period of time

          Resolve the patient’s symptoms and improve their health

[16:54 - 44:31] – Oshi: Bringing Digital Health Technology

           Digital health companies are expanding into gastroenterologist space

           Digital health works to help the patient achieve the goal

           Identifying patients in the community

[44:32 – 47:37] - Closing Segment

           If you want to learn more about their work, listeners can follow here on Dr. John Allen and Dr. Sameer Berry accounts. 

Connect with Dr. John Allen & Dr. Sameer Berry:

LinkedIn: Dr. John Allen

Website: UCSF Rosenman Institute

Twitter: Dr. Sameer Berry

LinkedIn: Dr. Sameer Berry

Website: Oshi Health

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Tweetable Quotes:

Dr. John Allen - "The transition of research that's been happening over the last 10 to 15 years from the traditional randomized controlled trial which is extraordinarily necessary to answer specific questions.”

Dr. Sameer Berry - "If you get someone feeling better faster, that's the best way to reduce unnecessary cost."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “When you're taking on risk, the number of questions and the type of questions that you were forced to ask and answer are just fundamentally different.”

Jessica Lall in the LA Mayoral Race of the City of Angels, City of Leaders, She discusses the Housing Crisis and the Future of Political Engagement. Jessica Lall has been at the forefront of policy and social reform here in Los Angeles for years, especially with respect to housing and economic development. She ran a captivating campaign for LA Mayor with a groundswell of support before pulling. In this illuminating discussion, we explore what the new incoming Mayor will need to do to heal the city, how to improve housing development, and how to create a pipeline of leadership for young new talent.

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 05:42] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Jessica Lall!

Civic engagement is key to solving the city’s problems

Effective leadership is essential to overcoming polarization and ideology

[05:43 - 16:53] – Overcoming Obstacles To Leadership: Women, Minorities, and Economically Disadvantaged Communities

The important role of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than traditional construction methods

[16:54 - 44:31] – Building Trust And Empathy Through Vulnerability In Leadership

Centering women in the economy, small businesses, and minority-owned business is key to Los Angeles’ success

Revisiting the city charter is necessary to address the challenges of today

Creating a pipeline for people to engage in government and leadership

Campaign finance reform is important in order to make it easier for people to get involved in politics

The importance of vulnerability in leadership

[44:32 – 47:37] - Closing Segment

        If you want to learn more about her work, listeners can follow her on Instagram and    Twitter accounts.

Connect with Jessica Lall:

LinkedIn: Jessica Lall
Twitter: Jessica Lall

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

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Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Jessica Lall - "When we talk about our homelessness crisis overall, we have to realize that there is no one silver bullet that's going to address and solve the problem.”

Jessica Lall - "Every asset and every virtue can become a vice if we don't have leadership… Talking about these issues and figuring out ways to connect people in real meaningful ways, I do believe that's our biggest opportunity."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “When we're in challenging times, we need leaders that can kind of light that path forward.”

Michelle Dickinson has had her dark night of the soul and she has used her pain to create powerful advocacy and consulting platform to guide organizations to create emotional well-being. In this captivating interview, we talk about trauma, reference employee burnout, what workplace wellness really looks like, and how to be more resilient in chaotic times.

In this interview, Michelle and I discuss how employers can be supportive of their employees and help them achieve their goals. She explains that employers should focus on engaging their employees and creating a healthy work-life balance. This can help to ensure that employees are happy and satisfied with their careers, which in turn will lead to increased productivity and satisfaction within the workplace. To learn more about Michelle, visit Breaking Into My Life!

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 07:10] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Michelle Dickinson!

What is the “Great Resignation”?

The pandemic forced people to be more innovative and creative

Employers will continue to compete for talent and workers

[07:11 - 17:20] – Creating a Compassionate Workplace Culture That Supports Resilience

Americans are renegotiating what work means in their lives

Employees have a healthier relationship with brain health

Organizations need to shift their mindset and focus on engagement

Talent has the upper hand in the labor market

Shifting towards a four-day workweek

Different levels of leadership in today’s workplace

[17:21 - 33:32] – The Resilience And Gratitude To Face Job Burnout

Work can be a fulfilling personal mission

Creating a more fulfilling relationship with work

The keys to overcoming stress and anxiety

It takes time for the non-doing to have a compounding effect

Reconciling the desire to pursue their passion

[33:33 – 48:58] - Closing Segment

One way to find resources is to follow her on LinkedIn

Listeners are invited to visit Breaking Into My Life!

Connect with Michelle Dickinson at her: 

Website: Michelle Dickinson

Twitter: Michelle Dickinson

LinkedIn: Michelle Dickinson

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

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Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Michelle Dickinson - "You will breed loyalty in your staff if you simply care for them, meet them where they are, support them, and you'll get the best out of them.”

Michelle Dickinson - "Stress is never going to go away, you just need to learn how to navigate it so that it doesn't consume you."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “We're finding out in real time that every job requires skill sets, expertise, and wisdom in order to do it safely and effectively.”

Ashley Johnson was put on a path. After losing a close friend to colon cancer at a devastatingly young age, she embarked on a mission to take away the fear and uncertainty around the dying process. It's so often clouded and hyper-medicalized in America and is bereft of the lack of humanistic discussion needed, especially in the wake of over 1 million individuals due to the COVID pandemic. In this raw and intimate conversation, we chat about why our culture has denied death for so long, how COVID has changed the dying process, and how we can find peace in the final moments for our loved ones - and hopefully ourselves.

In this interview, Ashley and I discuss the importance of having open and honest conversations about death with those who are grieving. She believes that these conversations are vital in helping to reduce the level of anxiety and stress that people experience in regard to deathTo learn more about Ashley, visit Loyal Hands!

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 05:09] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Ashley Johnson!

Her expertise in the transition process following the COVID pandemic

The state of confusion in America due to the high rate of death

[05:10 - 15:00] – Balancing Pragmatism When It Comes To Death

Balancing pragmatism and hope when it comes to death

Acknowledge family members’ feelings and lead with that

Death doulas provide emotional support and spiritual guidance

[15:01 - 40:13] – Acknowledging The Truths About Death And Grief

“The Denial of Death” by Ernest Becker

Acknowledging the truth about death and grief

Honor your feelings

Dedication to working in the death and bereavement field

[40:14 – 49:23] - Closing Segment

End-of-life doulas are important and necessary

Listeners are invited to visit Loyal Hands!

Connect with Ashley Johnson at her:

LinkedIn: Ashley Johnson

Website: Ted x Westshore

Website: Loyal Hands

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Ashley Johnson - "It's just the little things of that nature to make sure that we collaborate because everybody that we work with,  to make sure our patient and client have that death that aligns with their spirit or their belief because they only get one shot.”

Ashley Johnson - "Honor your feelings. You don't ever want to mask your feelings."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “The emotional depth in which you can become true to yourself and true to the moment being equally as valuable.”

Magnus Lofstrom PhD is one of those sophisticated intellectuals that has mastered such a breadth and depth of knowledge, but with such a casual and unassuming manner, I was immediately impressed and more than a little envious. In this fascinating interview, I chat with him about his longstanding work in public policy and specifically on the "crime wave" affecting the country and in particular California. Follow home robberies, shoplifting, and theft as well as the violence on the streets have commandeered national attention and our doom scrolling as more cellphone footage of criminal acts spreads rapidly online. He breaks down the truth from the propaganda on what's really happening to public safety in America.

In this interview, Magnus and I discuss how public safety has been at the forefront of criminal justice reforms in recent years in California. How alternative strategies to incarceration must be identified if California hopes to reduce its reliance on imprisonment and maintain public safety, listeners can visit his website at PPIC!

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 04:56] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Magnus Lofstrom PhD!

[04:57 - 15:29] – Addressing The Issue On Persistent Crime Rates Despite Reform

California’s incarcerated population is due to a multitude of factors

COVID's significant impact on crime rates

Factors contributing to changes in crime rates

Reducing reliance on incarceration

Recruitment and retention of law enforcement staff is challenging

[15:30 - 43:19] – Better Policing Is An Effective Strategy For Risk Mitigation

Violent crime rates have not increased dramatically in recent years

Identifying what drives the increase in crime rates

Public safety

Significant justice reforms in the past decade

[43:20 – 55:24] - Closing Segment

Magnus believes suggests that changes in law enforcement personnel, recruitment issues, and tension between communities

Listeners are invited to visit https://www.alfiekohn.org/!

Connect with Magnus Lofstrom PhD at his:

Website: PPIC

Website: IZA

LinkedIn: Magnus Lofstrom PhD
 

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Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Magnus Lofstrom PhD - "Whatever we think are key contributing factors to these changes, we need to look for things that are taking place throughout the nation.”

Magnus Lofstrom PhD - "When we are talking about these changes, what you really would like to have is a very clear and direct answer."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “Reintegration is really a challenge for not just people who were incarcerated, but for a lot of dispossessed and underserved communities just in the country, and it highlights that social inequality.”

Alfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer in the areas of education, parenting, and human behavior. He is a proponent of progressive education and has offered critiques of many traditional aspects of parenting, managing, and American society more generally, drawing in each case from social science research. He lectures widely at universities and to school faculties, parent groups, and corporations. In addition to speaking at staff development seminars and keynoting national education conferences on a regular basis, he conducts workshops for teachers and administrators on various topics.

In this interview, Alfie and I discuss how standardized tests and grading systems are not actually about assessing a student’s learning but instead are designed to measure how well students can answer questions on the test. He believes that assessment should be geared towards measuring what students are naturally capable of. To learn more about intrinsic motivation in learning and how it can be fostered in a hybrid learning environment, listeners can visit his website at https://www.alfiekohn.org/!

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 06:19] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces us to Alfie Kohn!

[06:20 - 12:22] – The Negative Effects of Standardized Tests

Negative effects of standardized tests on students

The intrinsic joy of learning

Focusing more on student engagement and creativity

Using effective assessment methods

[12:23 - 21:27] – The Focus On Excellence Over Quality

Differences between academic and non-academic issues

A major course correction in how we educate kids

Unfairness in the college admissions process

Focus on excellence over quality

[21:28 – 26:20] - Closing Segment

Alfie believes that it’s time to rescue the essence of excellence, listeners are invited to visit https://www.alfiekohn.org/!

Connect with Alfie Kohn at his:

Website: Alfie Kohn

Twitter: Alfie Kohn

Amazon: Alfie Kohn

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Alfie Kohn - "if kids were helped to design an experiment, to figure out how to isolate a variable and know what's causing these tendencies to grow more rather than just memorizing, you don't forget that, you don't lose it, and that doesn't slip away when you're out of school for a summer.”

Alfie Kohn - "You can't bypass or do an end run around interest in learning and force feed kids, knowledge or skills. You have to encourage them and support them in their interest in learning. When that happens, when kids are really excited about what they're doing with proper support, they tend to do it well."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “Everyone may not get there, but at least in theory, all of us could. That I feel is really the avenue forward.”

Rami Webhi is one of those rare polymaths in medicine that is able to serve patients, understand clinical research, and innovate on the enterprise and business side of healthcare. If the traditional physician-scholar worked "bench to bedside," Rami has pioneered from "bedside to web-side." In this far-ranging interview, we talk about digital therapeutics in healthcare, the unique role physicians can play, the future of healthcare technology, and his own journey to compelling podcast host.

In this interview, Rami and I talk about one of the biggest challenges for companies in digital health, which is a way to bridge the gap between technology and clinical practice. How physicians can lead teams in digital health and help identify the right technology solutions for their patients. Feel free to reach out to him on Twitter or email!

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 07:56] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Rami Webhi DO!

The shift in healthcare towards digital health

[07:57 - 27:48] – The Future of Medicine is Telemedicine

Telemedicine is a way to connect with doctors and patients remotely

Consumer-centric trend in digital health

The trend of direct primary care

Innovative companies in digital health

A problem with training new physicians

[27:49 - 45:17] – The Role of Technology With Future Healthcare

Technology is changing the way care is delivered

The pressure on students to get good grades and match it into residency

How to protect oneself from scams in digital health

[45:18 – 50:07] - Closing Segment

Remote patient monitoring is the future

Rami's organization is open to collaboration with others, and encourages listeners to visit Beyond Medicine!

Connect with Rami Webhi DO at his:

Website: Beyond Medicine

LinkedIn: Rami Webhi DO

Instagram: Rami Webhi DO

Podcast: Beyond Medicine

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Rami Webhi, DO - "I'm really passionate about building digital health, and I'm really passionate about getting our colleagues, specifically physicians, involved with, digital health and being part of the leadership teams.”

Rami Webhi, DO - "We want to be part of innovation. We all want to be part of building this next thing, but there's not really a lot of knowledge of how to get into industry or how to position yourself to be one of those doctors."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “Clinicians need to understand. Technology is a major disruptive force that they need to leverage.”

Peter Kelly is one of the leading agricultural scientists in the world, and has started a novel advocacy, research, and policy non-profit Grow Further. It is focused on creating a food secure world. They engage farmers, scientists, and individuals in participatory innovation for global food security and sustainable agriculture. Their members come from different backgrounds, but we all come eager to learn from each other, invest in the future of food, support scientists with overlooked ideas, and help small-scale farmers.

In this interview, Peter and I talk about the technologies that can innovate our food industry and feed over 7 billion people (and counting), the challenges of scientific advocacy, and what the future of sustainable development is. Learn more about his personal journey and the inspiration that led him to build Grow Further.

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 11:20] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Peter!

Whether or not there is a crisis situation with food supply

What contributes to food insecurity?

              Climate change

              Water shortage

              Soil degradation

              Conflict

[11:21 - 37:58] – Providing Solutions To The Current Food Distribution System

Current food distribution system

Viable innovative solution

Vertical farming

               Technological innovations of Kelly’s organization

                Testing indigenous veterinary herbs

Building a movement for food security

[37:59 - 37:45] – Developing Wheat Crops To Solve The Food Crisis

Partnering with nonprofit organizations

The current state of food in America

Plant-based meats

The role of livestock moving forward

[37:46 – 53:21] - Closing Segment

Peter’s organization is open to collaboration with others, and encourages listeners to visit !

Connect with Peter Kelly at:

Website: https://www.growfurther.org/

LinkedIn: Peter Kelly

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Peter Kelly- "There is a path forward. our strategy at grow further is to focus on innovations that are relevant to smallholder farmers and to other disadvantaged populations.”

Peter Kelly- "Success would mean higher incomes for farmers. It would mean better nutrition, both for farmers and for consumers. And it would mean more stable yields, even in the face of a changing climate."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “We can innovate despite our shortcomings as a species, and that has saved us before.”

Corey Nathan is an iconoclast and a free thinker in the best sense of the word. Like me, he hosts an amazing podcast - called Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other. And like me, he shares a spirit of civil discourse with people of all views to work through the difficulties and pressing challenges of the moment. He's part of a movement to reclaim the public square from internet trolls and light a path forward on how to talk about some of the most divisive topics in our body politics with sanity, clarity, and openness. Listen to this fascinating discussion as we compare notes on the art of podcasting, discuss where America as a country is headed and how the media can shape our dialogue for better or worse.

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 11:20] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Corey!

Distinguish the constitutional right of free speech

Marginalized groups

“Constitution of Knowledge” by Jonathan Rauch

[11:21 - 37:58] – Creating a Narrative Based On Data Points 

Culture war

Problem with cancel culture

Creating a narrative based on data points

Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

Achieving a larger aim

Cultivating conversations

Encourage to do good work

Influenced by prominent people

[37:59 - 37:45] – How Media Shapes The Dialogue For Better Or Worse

Loneliness epidemic

Living in a pluralistic society

Solution for legislation

Encouraged by decentralization 

Varying degrees of success for generations

[37:46 – 53:21] - Closing Segment

Corey encourages listeners to follow him on social media and listen to his podcast!

Connect with Corey Nathan at:

Podcast: Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other

Twitter: Corey Nathan

Website: C-Span

Instagram: Corey Nathan

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Corey Nathan - "We can learn about each other across our differences. We don't have to come to conclusions and even find common ground.”

Corey Nathan - "I want to cultivate the conversations that I want more of in the culture."

Dr. Rusha Modi - “If I'm not careful, I tend to see the blackness, not the luminescent.”

Ellie Lak is a hero, advocating for the well-being and care of some of the Earth's most vulnerable creatures. As more attention is being paid to the climate and the way humans treat the planet, Ellie has been a pioneer for decades in demonstrating how humans are part of the larger ecosystem around us. Her seminal organization, the Gentle Barn, is a sanctuary for both people and animals to find common ground, respect, and love. In this fascinating interview, we talk about "pandemic puppies," the role of diet and health, her journey towards becoming an animal rights advocate, and some of the challenges and opportunities facing humanity and animals alike. She expresses her desire for a world where animals are treated with respect and not used as commodities for human consumption. To learn more about her and her mission, visit her website at The Gentle Barn!

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 05:44] - Opening segment

Dr. Rusha introduces Ellie!

The Gentle Barn is a place to bond over their shared love of animals

[05:45 - 31:09] –  

The Gentle Barn provides therapy for people in crisis

 It allows us to connect with our emotions and heal

How people and animals are all interconnected

Protecting nature and the environment

Become more aware of animal sanctuaries

People should not use animals for their own gain

[31:10 - 37:45] – 

Reconciling the reality of the need for humans to eat meat

Humane animal practices

Growing interest in plant-based eating

Dilemma through cell meat

Make informed decisions about food

[37:46 – 53:21] - Closing Segment

Ellie encourages people to connect with The Gentle Barn and support its movement regardless of where they are on the animal welfare spectrum  

She invites us to visit her website: Ellie Laks!

Connect with Ellie Laks at her:

Website: The Gentle Barn

Website: Ellie Laks

Instagram: @ellielaks

Twitter: @EllieLaks

Book: My Gentle Barn

CRAVING MORE?

What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.

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Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.

Remember: Solutions, not shouting.

Tweetable Quotes:

Ellie Laks - "I really believe that in history of humanity, that is when that connection to nature started falling away because we started congregating among ourselves, separating ourselves from nature. And then, of course, going out and hunting and destroying nature for our own uses.”

Ellie Laks - "Nature is always here to heal us."

Rusha Modi - “Passion is probably the antidote to a lot of the antipathy and apathy that exist right now, where people are either fuming with anger or burnt out and they're just exhausted.”