Virginia Focus

Few people know that not everyone accused in the infamous college admission bribery scandal, that included celebrities like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, was guilty. One innocent family continues fighting to clear their reputation after being caught in the net of the Varsity Blues Scandal in 2019. Those parents have written a book called "Varsity Blues: The Scandal Within the Scandal" and started a charity to help other Americans who may find themselves wrongly accused by the federal government. Today's episode includes some of that experience shared by Author John Wilson.

The American Dream may feel fragile today, but for Greek immigrant and entrepreneur George Danis, it’s alive, achievable, and worth fighting for. In his new book "Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek" Danis shares his colorful life story with anecdotes and lessons on being successful in life and business. On this episode we're getting a dose of inspiration and a look at America from outside it's borders.

People are dying on our roadways and it’s not just a U.S. problem, it’s a global issue that continues to claim thousands of lives each year. Admit it or not, most of us are addicted to our phones. Your crash risk increases from between 2 and 6 time highers when you use a phone behind the wheel. On this episode, we're talking to Dan Glaser, General Motors Driver Distraction Engineer, to get some tips on how to break bad habits and stay safer.

Nearly 80 million Americans unknowingly live with conditions that can silently lead to vision loss.  The National Eye Institute has designated May as Healthy Vision Month, highlighting how routine eye exams can spot early signs of broader health issues. On this episode, we're learning more from Dr. Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, an Ophthalmologist with the National Eye Institute who also spent 3 years as a flight surgeon with the U.S. Air Force.

Americans love their dogs with nearly 60 million homes having at least one! And most people undoubtedly think that their pup is the cutest and most entertaining pup on the planet. Now they will have a chance to prove it! On this episode we're talking to the co-founder of BarkTV, Brendan Canning, to find out how you can nominate your furry friend for the Barkademy Awards.

Every year, thousands of kids across the U.S. will visit workplaces to gain first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to have a job and work with others. Junior Achievement, which leads Take a Child to Work Day and Beyond, has expanded the program to give kids who can’t visit a parent’s workplace for one reason or another the flexibility to experience a visit at other times throughout the year. On this episode, we're talking to Gina Gibbs-Foster, VP of Corporate Communications at Staples to learn about their program.

Few people who were targeted survived the Holocaust of World War Two. Their stories of escaping the Nazis and building lives and families should not be forgotten in order to prevent such trauma from happening to anyone else. In the new book, "Family Treasures Lost And Found", journalist, author, and documentarian Karen A. Frenkel shares her journey and discoveries of digging up the truth about her parents survival stories.

April is National Stress Awareness Month and what better time to talk to a Neurologist who can explains how stress literally hurts. Between work and family pressure, financial burdens, constant social media exposure, political strife and more some surveys find as many as 62% people experience stress weekly. Neurologist Dr. Ella Akkerman with the Virginia Spine Institute breaks it all down for us.

A report from the Partnership for Safe Medicine and the FDA show unauthorized and potentially harmful ingredients in knockoff weight loss drugs are pouring into the U.S. from foreign sources, bypassing FDA regulations. Experts warn that unsuspecting Americans are at risk, and immediate action is needed to stop these illegal imports. To learn the warning signs of illegally imported weight loss drugs, we're talking to George Karavetsos, former director of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.

With college debt becoming a major issue, many Gen-Z’ers are attracted to the trades as an alternative and as an immediate entrance to a rewarding and well-paying job. National Careers in Trades Week, which is April 7th through 11th, is a nationwide initiative to connect students with rewarding and lucrative jobs in the skilled trades.  On this episode, we're learning more from the CEO of the non-profit Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, known as SMACNA, Aaron Hilger about the rewarding benefits of the trades both personally and to the economy.