Virginia Focus

More Americans are traveling and some may be deciding not to board their pets. With an increase in the number of pet-friendly hotels and motels, many are bringing their furry friends along on their adventures. On this episode of Virginia Focus, we're talking to the President of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Rena Carlson, to get some tips for how to make your pet's stay comfortable and enjoyable.

For people and businesses, being prepared for natural disasters is key, and widespread outages have underscored the need for dependable satellite communication technology to ensure reliable connectivity in times of need. When internet and cell networks go down, satellite communication infrastructure saves lives by enabling emergency responders, relief organizations, and affected communities to coordinate rescue efforts in real-time. On this episode of Virginia Focus, we're talking to Josh Miner, the Vice President of Land Mobile for Iridium Communications to learn more about staying safe and connected during emergencies.

Whether you enjoy visiting historic houses, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos, historic battlefields, or other places of interest, there is a group in Virginia supporting the educational and restorative work of those nonprofits in Virginia. On today's episode we are going to learn more about the Virginia Assocation of Museums and how they support the preservation of such important pieces of history. Let's welcome Rick Hurley, the Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Museums, to the show.

In 2020, Virginia State Police report that more than 11,000 vehicles were stolen in the commonwealth. It is estimated that the value of stolen vehicles and parts totaled more than $120 million. Don’t become a statistic or an easy victim. On this episode, we learn more from Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Peter Lazear.

After the pandemic, some people find themselves wondering how they can update how they think about spirituality in our modern world so it applies to their daily life. On this episode we are taking a look at the American Jewish experience and how spirituality, in general, has been placed under the microscope. I've invited Rabbi Michael Strassfeld on the show to also talk about his new book "Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century".

Close to 84 million people use some type of healthcare app and many don't know that Health-related mobile and web apps are not bound by HIPAA, leaving room for risky data sharing practices. Virtru is a company that works for data security and privacy protection. On today's episode, we're talking to Mishi Choudhary, the General Counsel for Virtru to learn what ways you can protect your information.

Smart technology aims to make our lives easier. A new study indicates that living in a city that utilizes Smart City Technology improves our quality of lives and even makes us happier. Norfolk, VA is one of many cities across the U.S. that uses smart city technology. On this episode of Virginia Focus, we're talking to Executive Vice President of Cox Business Jeff Breaux to learn more.

Your local dating scene is about to heat up with over half, or about 54% of single Americans hoping to end up in a relationship this summer! A new study by Thriving Center of Psychology found the most important dating trends to know this summer to help singles dust off those flirting skills. We're talking to Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tirrell DeGannes to get the details.

While women make up 48% of the workforce, women only hold about 29% of positions in STEM specialties. A new book, "Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Leaders in STEM" shares over 30 success stories from women holding leadership positions in STEM fields. On today's episode we're talking to one of the authors of the book, Dr. Peter Angood - who is also the CEO of the American Association for Physician Leadership.

Founded during World War II, the United Service Organizations may not be a familiar name for you but I bet if I shorten it to the USO, that helps, right? Aiming to be a GI's "home away from home", the organization is governmentally chartered but not a part of the government. Instead, the charity relies on donations and volunteers to support the service men and women stationed away from their families. Let's talk to Lisa Marie Riggins, the Regional President, Southeast Region and Executive Director, National Capital District to learn more.