Talk! With Audrey

 From inventing the implantable cardiac pacemaker to helping develop the brain-computer interface, with numerous advances in treating chronic disease, spinal cord injury, mental health, and countless other conditions and diseases, VA Research has been improving the lives of all generations of Veterans for more than nine decades. Dr. Patricia a. Dorn, Director, Rehabilitation Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs joins me to discuss VA Research Week and their award-winning scientific discoveries.

When making purchases both large and small, today’s American consumer is looking beyond product price and quality. They’re also taking into account what a brand says, what it does and what it stands for, and ultimately buying from companies that have a strong purpose that aligns with their personal values and beliefs. Accenture Strategy’s latest Global Consumer Pulse Research surveyed nearly 8,000 American consumers to gauge their expectations of brands and companies today. My guest is senior managing director at Accenture Strategy, Bill Theofilou.

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.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Dr. Judy Salerno is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Susan G. Komen®, responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organization and for setting Komen’s strategic vision.She joins me to talk about the progress against breast cancer, what research has taught us and where it’s going.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA,) during the school year, more than 22 million kids receive free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. The end of the school year often means the end of a reliable source of regular meals, putting more than 18 million kids at risk of hunger Audrey Rowe – USDA Administrator, Food and Nutrition Services and Steve Cox – Corporate Spokesperson, Sodexo, Inc. join me to discuss the challenges, viable solutions and how to find summer meal programs for children.

The Veterans Health Care system still has major problems. Wait-times are excessive at many facilities and poor performing employees are rarely held accountable. Too many veterans wait too long to receive the benefits that they earned. The scandals of the last couple of years have eroded the trust of many veterans and VA must continue to prove that it is up to the task of serving those who have nobly served their nation. Dale Barnett is National Commander of the 2.2 million member American Legion is a West Point graduate from Douglasville, Ga., is a retired Army officer and veteran of Desert Storm . . . he says, ‘Fix it, Don’t Nix it’

Memorial Day is an opportune time to shine a spotlight on our military heroes and the canine service members who are such an essential part of their teams. Today we talk about the impactful story of the human-animal bond between an active officer and his retired military working dog and the unique health care donation program that provides financial support to help provide veterinary care for retired military and police dogs. My guests are: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Cory Christoffer, and Lady his heroic English Labrador Retriever and Dr. Michael McFarland, Group Director of Marketing, Companion Animals at Zoetis.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: According to ROBERT T. KIYOSAKI,best known as the author of the international best seller RICH DAD POOR DAD, “The world has changed and continues to change, yet many of our leaders continue to implement the same Industrial Age solutions to solve Information Age problems.” Robert Kiyosaki joins me to talk about his newest book, its called . . . SECOND CHANCE — FOR YOUR MONEY, YOUR LIFE and OUR WORLD.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: In her memoir, THE DANCE CARD: Looking for Love After Divorce, Ann Reichardt describes her quest to find love again after dealing with loss, sadness, anger, confusion, depression and disbelief —all the emotions she felt at the end of her marriage. When Ann finally felt the urge to date again she wondered, “Where does a fifty-plus-something woman with grown children who hasn’t dated in 30 years begin?”

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Each year, more than three million reports of child abuse are made in the United States, involving more than six million children. A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. Despite the fact that five children die every in the U.S. day from abuse and neglect, child abuse is still being swept under the rug. In fact, the U.S. has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect. Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, co-founders of Childhelp, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit advocating for abused and neglected children, join me to talk about their education programs and new PSA to help prevent child abuse.