Insights with Richard Goldberg

Every community has its share of accidents, tragedies and suffering. Imagine an agency that is tasked with looking after a whole community and all the responding agencies to help facilitate a reduction in accidents, hospitalizations and overdoses. Dick's guest, Cheryl Wittke has spent the last 25 years as the Executive Director of Safe Communities.

There are far too many children in the U.S. who are raised without a father in their lives. This could lead to dropping out of school, struggling with mental health issues or getting caught up in the criminal justice system. Dick's guest, Bruce Carter, has dedicated his life to helping this population. He was awarded […]

25% of the U.S. population is currently 65 years of age or older. What are the important things to understand about aging? What are the positives about getting older? Dick's guest, Dr. Alexis Eastman is a practicing geriatrician at UW Health Geriatrics Clinics and Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and […]

The life expectancy for Americans has gone down due to deaths from drug use and overdoses, killing more people than suicide or accidents. What are the recent changes in drug use and treatment? Dick's guest is Dr. Michael Miller, a psychiatrist and past President and Board Chair of the American Society of Addiction Medicine as […]

There is a stereotype most people accept that men are smarter and more skilled at managing and investing money than women. Is this true? Dick's guest, Grace Trewartha is a graduate of Stanford and Harvard Business School who worked in corporate finance for 25 years followed by a successful stint as a financial planner. Grace […]

Who is authentic? How do they become so? Is being a phony the opposite? What are the benefits of being authentic to the person, their friends and colleagues as they become more authentic? Dick's guest is Barbara Hummel who has led workshops for 12 years for the Center for Courage & Renewal. She is also the […]

The internet is an integral part of our everyday lives. Yet the key question is how has the internet affected us psychologically both in positive and negative ways. Dick's guest, Morton Ann Gernsbacher is Vilas Research Professor and the Sir Frederic C. Bartlett Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of […]

Do New Year resolutions work? Are they worth the bother? Is there a better way to get your life on track? Dick's guest, Patricia Clason, has been leading workshops for corporate clients and the State of Wisconsin for 30 years on how to get your life organized and actualized. She has written and conducted workshops […]

Is there a specific profile for a school shooter? Why do they do it? What can be done to diminish the likelihood of these school shooting massacres in the future? Dick's guest, forensic psychologist, prolific author on predators and sex offenders and consultant to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Dr. Anna Salter, shares thoughts from […]

There has been a growing acceptance of the use of psychedelics to treat depression, anxiety and PTSD when traditional therapies provide no improvements. What is hype and what is real? Dick's guest, Dr. Matthew Banks is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Affiliate Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public […]

The pain of having a toxic parent doesn't end when you grow up. What is a toxic parent? How can the adult child end or reduce the suffering a toxic parent can inflict? Dick's guest, Lesa Fischer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Madison, Wisconsin.

What is spiritual intelligence? Can having it along with high intellectual and emotional intelligence mean you are living up to your full potential? Dick's guest, Dr. Janet Schwartz is the author of Authentic Intelligence: How to Use Your Mental, Emotional & Spiritual Gifts to Create the Life and World You Want. 

The #MeToo movement took off after the investigation and prosecution of Harvey Weinstein and with it the reaction to sexual violence and harassment changed dramatically. Dick's guest, Dana Pellebon is the Director of RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center of Dane County in Madison, Wisconsin.  

Men tend to be less open and expressive about their feelings than women. That can sometimes create a challenge in their marriage. When men are depressed that can add additional stress on their relationship. Dick's guest, Steven Blank is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Madison, Wisconsin.

One of the most important contributing factors for the quality of relationships and good mental health is good social skills. Dick's guest, Dr. Chris Segrin, is a Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Arizona whose specialty is interpersonal relationships and mental health.

Should you hire previously incarcerated people? Employers may be missing out on valued staff as there are over 2 million previously incarcerated Americans. Yet, there are reasons to be careful and cautious. Dick's guest, Linda Ketcham is the Executive Director of Just Dane which helps individuals and families involved in the criminal justice system.

The quality of our relationships with family and close friends may be the biggest contributor to contentment but how important is the quality of social ties with people not part of the family and close friends group? Dick's guest is award-winning journalist Melinda Blau, who has written several books on the importance of quality relationships […]

Can you be spiritual if you are not religious? Is spirituality possible if you are an atheist? What is spirituality and how can it enhance your life? Dick's guest, Elizabeth Schrimpf, is a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing in Madison, Wisconsin. She at times will use the aspect of spirituality in her practice and in her […]

The newer career of intimacy coordinator was created to help ensure the well being of actors during sex scenes in theater, films and television. What does coordinating intimacy actually mean? How is it done? Dick's guest, Simone LaPierre has a background in choreography, acting, directing and producing. She has recently become an intimacy coordinator on […]

Is American men's mental health worse than American women's? Men commit suicide 3 1/2 times more frequently. Men are less likely to seek treatment for addiction or mental health disorders like depression. Do these things relate to the fact that life expectancy of men is 5.8 years less than women? Dick's guest, Dr. Jim Hollis […]

Dick's guest, therapist and author Faust Ruggerio, discusses the most important tips on achieving optimum mental health from his book “The Fix Yourself Handbook.”

Are there any differences between men and women on how they budget, save, spend and invest their money? Is there anything unique women need to learn about managing their finances? Dick's guest, Linda Lepe is Director of Personal Finance at the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  

Strong successful women looking for love are finding it harder to make an appropriate match. Why is this? How can these women find the partner of their dreams? Dick's guest, Dr. Sandy To is a sociologist with a PhD from the University of Cambridge who writes and speaks globally about women's partner choices on TV, […]

Resilience is adapting to hardships, adversity and tough turns in life. All of us will be faced with these events in our lives. Some are small, some are very significant. Our mental health, our usefulness and the quality of our lives is greatly enhanced by becoming skilled at resilience and recovery. Dick's guest is Patricia […]

Since 2006, there have been over 600 mass shootings in the United States, resulting in more than 3,000 murders. Why these large numbers? Who are these mass shooters? How can we intelligently address this issue? Dick's guest, Dr. Richard LaBrie is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in mass and individual trauma.

In 2019, 13% of adolescents reported having a major depressive episode. That was an increase of 60% in just over a decade. For people 10 to 24, suicide rates increased that same percentage in the same period of time. What is going on with our youth? Is it easily explained by social media and smart […]

Depression is almost an epidemic. Nearly one in five Americans will experience at least one bout of depression in their lifetime. Are there ways people can help themselves? Can depression be managed without medication? Dick's guest, Faust Ruggerio is a therapist and author of “The Fix Yourself depression Handbook.”

What does a happy, healthy relationship look like? How can chasing a “perfect” love end in disappointment? Dick's guest, Dr. Carla Marie Manly is a clinical psychologist, lecturer and author. Her latest book is “Joy of Imperfect Love.”

What fears are getting in the way of your best life? How can the fear of public speaking, flying or test-taking be diminished or eliminated? Dick's guest, Craig Meriwether is a certified hypnotherapist and mindset coach.

Healthy relationships are essential for good mental health. What are the components to healthy relationships and what's the number one skill to building those relationships? Dick's guest is Dr. Carla Manly, author of Joy from Fear: Create the Life of Your Dreams by Making Fear Your Friend.

Dick's guest, Stephen P. Jarchow, co-author with Paul Zane Pilzer of the book The New Roaring Twenties: Prosper in Volatile Times discusses the six economic and six social changes that will affect our lives in the next ten years.

Impostor Syndrome (also known as Impostor Phenomenon) is the fear of not being the competent and capable person people believe you to be. How common is this phenomenon? Is there anything that can be done to lessen this fear? Dick's guest, Darald Hanusa, is Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the UW-Madison School of Social Work and […]

Dick's guest, Jarrett Adams was wrongfully convicted for rape at the age of 17. 11 years later he was exonerated. He discusses how he went from “jailhouse lawyer” to real-life lawyer and how he uses his life experience to help exonerate others as well as improve the criminal justice system. Jarrett Adams is also the author […]

Do New Year resolutions work? Are they worth the bother? Is there a better way to get your life on track? Dick's guest, Patricia Clason, has been leading workshops for corporate clients and the State of Wisconsin for 30 years on how to get your life organized and actualized. She has written and conducted workshops […]

Gratitude: It can make you happier, healthier and improve your relationships. Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, a psychologist from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, shares with us how to maintain a successful gratitude practice and how science demonstrates its benefits. “Gratitude is one of the most significant, contributing factors to our happiness,” […]

26% of Black men live in poverty. 1 in 5 will be incarcerated at some point in their lives. Black men also experience twice the unemployment rate as white men. Dick's guest, Corey Marrioneaux is Founder and President of Black Men Coalition of Dane County an agency in Madison, Wisconsin that helps primarily Black men […]

There are nearly 2 million people behind bars in the United States. There are also over 6 million family members of the incarcerated additionally affected, creating a huge impact that needs to be addressed. Dick's guest, Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia is a clinical psychologist and the former warden of the Cook County Jail in Chicago, […]

A “death doula” or “spiritual midwife” shares stories of how she helps enhance people's journeys to the other side. Dick's guest is Karin Medall of the Artful Healing Studio.

Can low income defendants get a proper defense today using a public defender? What are the challenges public defenders face? Dick's guest is State Public Defender Kelli Thompson for the State of Wisconsin.

Dick's guest, Ed Wall was a long-serving police officer and former Director of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Corrections. He shares his insights concerning the problems with our criminal justice system and what changes need to be made to fix them.

Nearly 20% of all 911 calls involve a mentally disturbed person. In the past, all of these calls were responded to by police with little to no mental health training, sometimes ending in tragedy. Recently, there has been a push to create mental health emergency response teams to provide proper support for those in crisis. […]

Everyone knows to call 911 in an emergency but if help is needed in any other situation you can call 211 from anywhere 24/7. Dick's guest, Ed Wall is Director of 211 for United Way Dane County in Madison, Wisconsin.    

Dr. Lee Hansen, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Author of Forgetting and Forgotten: Dementia and the Right to Die, shares with Dick his experiences and all he learned about dementia while taking care of his wife during her ten year battle with this all too common disease.  

What is bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression)? How common is it? Can it be cured, treated or controlled? Dick's guest is Tina Willits. She has a masters degree in social work and currently manages senior living communities and home healthcare for seniors. Tina was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after manic episodes in her […]

How do you know when it's time to leave an unfulfilling relationship? Is this issue any different for a man than a woman? Dick's guest, Sandra Wood is a life coach, speaker and co-author of Transforming Your Life.

Can hypnotherapy be a simpler and more effective method to treat some psychological problems? What is the process? Who is a good candidate? Dick's guest, Dr. John McGrail is a clinical hypnotherapist and the author of The Synthesis Effect: Your Direct Path to Personal Power and Transformation.

Dick's guests, divorce attorney Allan Koritzinsky and psychologist Dr. Kenneth Waldron share 5 myths about marriage and the 7 essential ingredients of a successful marriage from their book “The Road to Marital Success is Unpaved.”

Other than price, what are the advantages for some of choosing junior college rather than a traditional four year college? Dick's guest, Turina Bakken, is the provost at Madison College. She has served as vice provost, associate vice president, dean, associate dean, program director and faculty member.

The life expectancy for Americans has gone down due to deaths from drug use and overdoses, killing more people than suicide or accidents. What are the recent changes in drug use and treatment? Dick's guest is Dr. Michael Miller, a psychiatrist and past President and Board Chair of the American Society of Addiction Medicine as […]

What can be done now to stay vital, energetic and young well into old age? Dick's guest, George Bentley is a nationally recognized aging-in-place specialist, speaker and author of “How to Die Young…At Any Age”.

As baby boomers become seniors in large numbers, more therapists are trying to respond to their needs. What are these unique issues and how can therapists apply their knowledge and skills to help seniors? Dick's guest, Donna Swanson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has 27 years of experience specializing in seniors and their […]