Reach Radio

Today's guests will leave your jaw dropping on the floor with their fantastic work! This episode features Myriam Mondestin Sorrentino, the Middlesex and Mercer Counties Medical Society president, and Ed Gulko, their executive director. Together, they share how the Society is making a difference in the counties. It'sprimaryn focus has been on obesity and a healthy lifestyle for the population they serve, but it is not the only one. Physical activity is a way to combat obesity and also improve mental health. They both share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities the Society faces. Don't forget to register for the Leadership in Medicine event that's coming up on April 27th! These two leaders are all-in for changing and making people's lives better. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

We are proud to introduce you to Reach Radio's Leadership and Resilience Series. Since the pandemic hit, the healthcare industry has seen The Great Exodus: an increase in suicide and substance abuse from healthcare professionals and one of the most significant force reductions in history. Today, we have two incredible guests, Alexis Anderson and Risa Weisberg, sharing their thoughts on the phenomenon we're going through. Alexis talks to us about clinician burnout and its effects on professionals today. She shares four possible ways to move forward, like leveraging technology to make doctors' lives easier. On the other hand, Risa reflects on feeling valued at work, and the different symptoms burnout may show. Join us over the following weeks, listening to the leaders of our industry share their perspectives. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Sonder Health takes expectant and post-birth mothers' health to the next level. Lauren Majors, co-founder and president of Sonder Health took this bull by the horns and is now changing the life of a lot of patients. Breastfeeding is one of the most significant issues they work on since this has been controversial in the healthcare industry for the last couple of years. They are making sure that there are clinical professionals available for these women, that there's reimbursement for the professionals providing those services, and in the end, helping mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals. She also shares a deep dive into how stakeholders hold power for change, what advancements she sees in the field, and what will come in the near future. Also, don't miss the resources she mentions; they may benefit you a lot! For the full transcript, show notes, and links to resources, please visit us at reachtl.org --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Education amongst expectant mothers about their health and their baby's health is so much needed. Preeclampsia is not only high blood pressure; it comes with a whole other package of illnesses and organ failures that a mother must be aware of. The digital space has arrived into this type of care, and it is here to stay. Through the 3 Cs - collaborate, communicate, and connect - they can provide more and better care to mothers. Digital health services will never replace assessments. What they do is support the clinicians and the patients. Intelligence, insight, and innovation are three pillars of their work in technology. Leena and Clarisser are advocates of sharing and collaborating on meaningful and purposeful work for patients. For the full transcript, show notes, and links to resources, please visit us at reachtl.org --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Missouri is one of the states with the highest rates of maternal mortality. Fortunately, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Missouri Hospital Association are working diligently to help improve maternal health throughout the state. Today's guests are part of the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (PAMR); welcome Ashlie Otto and Alison Williams! The maternal mortality review committee was created to analyze maternal death. Their mission is to look at factors that contribute to or cause death to prevent future occurrences. They share the advantages of collaborations and how they help birthing hospitals improve care delivery and care continuity. They also talk about their other efforts to ensure Missourians are healthy throughout their life. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and take note of all the fantastic things the PAMR team is doing! For the full transcript, show notes, and links to resources, please visit us at reachtl.org --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Do you pee when you sneeze? After giving birth to her first son, Laura Vidal experienced urinary incontinence. Fast forward to three years and the birth of a second child, her incontinence got worse despite having tried everything from different apps to Kegel exercises. Her frustration and experience in the tech industry led to her primary motivation, looking for a solution that's helping mothers deal with the challenges during postpartum and beyond. HappySneeze is a startup creating digital solutions for postpartum floor recovery and incontinence management. In this episode, Laura shares some stats and insights on urine leakage, how her company creates awareness on the issue, and their partnerships to ensure that women are being helped. Thanks to HappySneeze, more and more women are now empowered to take charge of their health and well-being. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Many times grief and loss can sprout beautiful things; this is how Wanda Irving founded Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project. Three years after she lost her daughter, Wanda started this organization to keep fighting to improve maternal mortality and morbidity in our country. She started this because there is a systemic racism issue across the board and the death of these women are preventable. They are working to empower, create awareness, and educate people about these issues. With BelieveHerApp, they are developing a community to let them know they are not alone going through loss. This conversation is a complete eye-opener; we hope you tune in and enjoy it. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Ryan Kelly is a source of information, inspiration, and innovative ideas! Ryan and his team at Alabama Rural Health Association are in charge of providing quality care to the communities in rural Alabama. Ryan enjoys talking about the concept of his association and reveals their ways of educating their members. He also refers to the current goals of his team and how they aim to accomplish them. Despite that, he shares the problems that Alabama has been facing and believes there is still much room for improvement for the healthcare system. Under the tone of faith and anticipation, Ryan unveils the upcoming healthcare fields he's most excited about and emphasizes the importance of education in personal well-being. Ryan ends this conversation with an inspiring message and an urge for alliance and caring for each other. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

When we talk of the maternal mortality rate, we usually look from the perspective of the care coordination team; this episode will show you the other side of the story. Heidi Altman, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the Georgia Southern University, decided to look at the soaring maternal mortality rate of the state of Georgia from the mother's perspective. She initiated the Georgia Mom Project to understand the elements that contribute to the state's appalling mortality and morbidity rates and find clinical interventions to the maternal mortality crisis. Her commitment to talking to mothers and finding out their stories has opened her eyes to the challenging journey many of them face. Her passion for her work has opened doors to collaborations, and she now has a team of medical students to help interview and gather data so they can help shape a better future for other moms. Though Heidi's work is focused on Georgia, it has many farther-reaching implications and can help gain insight into why maternal mortality rates are so high in the United States. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

When your mission connects professional and amateur astronomers, even the sky is not the limit. Dr. Stella Kafka and the American Association of Variable Star Observers have been doing this for 110 years. They see everything around them as an opportunity for growth and a resource. They find allies in different national departments. The heavenly bodies that come too close to our planet can be a threat, or they can be a new chance to discover something. As Dr. Kafka said: the universe is a natural laboratory for extreme phenomena. Join this exciting conversation about life, the universe, and what is beyond the stars. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

South Dakota faces a massive homelessness crisis, but fortunately, people like Jesse Bailey and his team at Pathways Shelter for the Homeless are here to help. In this episode, you will listen to the organization's executive director talk about the challenges they face right now, what they want for the future, and much more. Jesse reflects on the organization's growth over the years. Pathways concentrates on providing shelter to individuals, and now they want to help them break the cycle of homelessness. They have grown from taking care of 9 individuals to 48, and their waitlist is constantly full. Pathways has a four-step plan for their growth in the future. Tune in to this episode and if you live in South Dakota, see if you can volunteer! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care of the Arkansas Health Department is working to improve the life and quality of people all across Arkansas. Today's guest, Quinyatta Mumford, is part of this organization, which wants people to know about all the available resources for their use. They also have different kinds of training around technology. Certifications are one of the most important things that the Arkansas Health Department, led by Quinyatta Mumford, is working on. Tune in to this quick episode and learn much more about what Quinyatta does in the state of Arkansas! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

This episode's guest is Dr. Wylecia Wiggs Harris. She and the rest of the members of AHIMA work at the intersection of healthcare technology and science. Their three goals are based on integrity, access, and connection between the data and people. It is crucial for patients to have their complete medical records, just as a pet owner has their animal's records. Nowadays, people have wearables that collect data, and AHIMA is at the forefront, balancing access and privacy with these new technologies. For Dr. Harris, an accurate description of healthcare is a team sport. Tune in to this episode and learn about information management! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Veterans have a wealth of life experiences from serving in the Armed Forces, but they also require help, mentorship, and support for entrepreneurship. Rebecca Aguilera-Gardiner realized this when she started a family business with her brother, a service-disabled veteran. Rebecca started the Veterans in Business Network to help veteran entrepreneurs scale their businesses by building connections with corporations, government agencies, and prime contractors looking to create partnerships. Through the VIB Network, veteran businesses gain access to free resources, educational seminars, outreach opportunities, and a Veteran 2 Veteran Business Cohort Program. It also has an impressive list of partners, and its directory covers the whole country, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and London! Last year, the VIB Network received the International Bronze Stevie Award for Event of the Year. Tune in and check out VIB Network! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Remote patient monitoring and ensuring the safety of older adults is the primary concern of Somatix. With the knowledge and experience of Amit Sawant, the Chief Product & Business Officer at Somatix, they managed to turn fitness trackers from an athletic option to a healthcare necessity. This way, they can help healthcare providers take care of their patients remotely, conveniently, and effectively through their platform, SafeBeing. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of RPM platforms for safety and financial reasons. Therefore, the healthcare sector by implementing AI has already grown in that period, bringing remote patient checking to a whole new level. We have to take care of our elderly loved ones, and Amit's and Somatix's mission is to help us achieve that! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Taking care of the vulnerable ones has become much easier thanks to StackCare! Nathalie De Vazeille, the woman in charge of Marketing and Business Development at StackCare, analyzes how the company makes it possible for the elderly to feel safer in their homes. She highlights the groups of people that can benefit from her organization's services and talks about the advantages of using StackCare's software. Throughout the whole conversation, Nathalie's passion for her work is easily noticeable. She describes the company's product as a great way to have assistance when you require it and mentions the convenience of setting it up. Nathalie talks about the future of the company and encourages people to take action for their vulnerable ones. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Christopher Brown and Full Being Services' work is beautiful in and around Philadelphia and across the country. Racism is an issue that affects someone's physical and psychological health and impacts their performance at work. He stands behind the thought that a community with better access to treatment will be healthier. They have a systemic approach to make the most significant impact in their community. Full Being Services is also working in pro of moral and social justice to black and brown people. Mental health needs to be destigmatized; join this excellent discussion about how Full Being Services is doing that and more for communities of color. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Alliances can be a big deal for any type and size company. In this episode, we have the honor to chat with Jonathan Olsen from Ivy Tree Advisors. He shares the main characteristics he looks for when he's scouting for allies. Alignment in values and setting clear goals are critical. The technology out there could help many organizations, nonprofits, and for-profits, to assist them in their mission. Internally, organizations need champions, as Jonathan calls them, to cheer for some initiatives. Jonathan shapes his work to the organization's needs, and he does precisely the same in this episode. Join him and Fran in this wonderful conversation about how to leverage and partner with teams and companies. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Homelessness is on the rise across the country even before the pandemic, but Changing Homeless, a not-for-profit organization in Jacksonville, Florida, has been making strides in decreasing homelessness in its community and state. In this episode, Dawn Gilman, CEO at Changing Homelessness, talked to us about her work. She shares how the organization assists homeless people in the community, some of their successes and their challenges, how COVID has impacted the number of homeless, the collaborations and programs they do to engage and assist both landlords and homeless people, and how they leverage data to help those most vulnerable in the homeless population. With the past ten years of housing people showing an 85% success rate, Changing Homelessness has already made a small dent in street homelessness. Dawn is committed to forging onwards and doing more so they can reduce homelessness to 50%. Listen and be inspired by the incredible work Dawn and her team is doing in this insightful conversation! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

This week's guest is an advocate for a multifaceted perspective of health! Through the Ateneo the Manila University's Health Sciences Society, Ely and his team work on a diverse set of public health initiatives. They are concentrating on advocacy since the Philippines has a giant gap in their healthcare system. The members of the society all end up using multidisciplinary skills to keep spreading this awareness and advocacy outside of school. Their goal is to produce multidisciplinary public health individuals whose ideals are to become leaders, social catalysts, and outstanding health professionals. Ely also shares his thoughts on the current challenges of retaining talent, fake news, and misinformation and how his organization faces them. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

The Minority Supplier Development Council is the best-kept secret for small business owners! Today's guest is Cecil Plummer, president and CEO of the Western Region branch of this national network. He came over to the show to share how they are helping small owners boost their businesses and create wealth and jobs for people of color. He walks us through the challenges these small businesses face daily and how the WRMSDC is helping them. He also explains the supplier's pipeline and how companies can make it more diverse! Equity, diversity, and inclusion are prominent topics in this episode. Tune in to this episode, and be sure to rewind it because Cecil has a lot of information! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Dr. Beverly Browning is one of those people that give so much advice you need to grab a piece of paper and take notes! In this episode, Dr. Browning shares her experience around grant writing and the purpose of establishing the Grant Writing Training Foundation. Her organization has the goal of providing affordable training to non-for-profit foundations. Beverly states her work's passion and mission and emphasizes the importance of commitment. She explains how the 80/20 rule still applies and how the healthcare system evolved thanks to technological evolution. She also mentions the basic principles of her job and provides the resources she believes have helped her the most. Dr. Browning and her team are constantly expanding their research, empowering, and providing consulting services to nonprofits and other grant-seeking applicants. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Gong Tones, Inc. promotes research into the therapeutic use of sound for mental health and well-being. Karambir Singh Khalsa established this nonprofit organization and expanded the evidence supporting sound healing as a cure for clinical mental health diagnoses. Karambir narrates his first ever experience with a gong and the unique, immediate relaxing feeling he noticed. He also mentions the organization's difficulties during the pandemic, which forced him to shut it down temporarily. Karambir explains what drove him to start experimenting with the gong and healing sounds, citing studies showing their significant anxiety-relief abilities. He pursues to emphasize the importance of gong meditation and how it helps people's mental health worldwide. Karambir is willing to expand his work and aims to add gong meditation to the list of evidence-based treatments for anxiety. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

In this episode, you will enjoy listening to two of the most outstanding speakers in the hypnosis and pain management field. Roberta was one of Ron's students years ago! She has, since then, published a book, and he has kept working training Navy, Army, and Airforce nurses and doctors in hypnosis to treat patients before and after surgery. When you have and create happy experiences, our brains change too, and we can relive those moments. Hypnotism is about connecting with the person that's in the chair right in front of you. There's also a distinction between hypnotherapy and hypnosis. Hypnotists are gaining more and more recognition lately, and there are some great ones out there that base their work on science and research. Hypnosis is not a magical power to control minds; it opens you to receive suggestions to think things differently. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

There is a lot of research and evidence-based sources about Cannabis out there we don't know. This episode's guest is the Founder and CEO of Leaf411, a nonprofit organization that established the first Cannabis-trained nurse hotline in the United States. They are working hard to provide free education about the medical and responsible use of Cannabis. Katherine's mission is to advocate for the safe and effective use of this plant in different treatments. Their ultimate goal is to reduce harm in the community. Katherine decided to be brand-agnostic, so they didn't have to marry with any company or dispensary. This way, she has control over how the programs are run. They also offer different types of resources and programs surrounding Cannabis use. Get on your phone and call Leaf411 if you have any type of question regarding Cannabis! They are there to provide you with answers; there is no small or dumb inquiry! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Brave New Mind exists to make mindfulness training easy, effective, and memorable. Under the leadership of the founder, Usha Siva, the organization aims to spread the importance of mindfulness in people's lives, and especially, a company's employees. Usha explains how Brave New Mind helps enterprises increase productivity by providing educational programs accustomed to everyone's needs and uniqueness. Throughout this talk, she refers to partnerships with other institutions and advocates the meaning of introducing children to mindfulness and meditation. She also narrates how she got introduced to it from a young age and inspired her to start this company. Usha and her colleagues are now emphasizing expanding their network to familiarize more people with the benefits of mindfulness. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Wagtown teaches what it means to be dog-friendly, responsibly, and authentically. The organization, founded by Beth Miller, has the mission of helping people peacefully coexist with dogs in a community. Beth emphasizes the importance of this idea and how beneficial it can be for the community's growth. She thoroughly narrates the obstacles that the corporation faces in developing dog-friendly communities. Beth and her team are now expanding Wagtown through researching, empowering, and educating to spread the necessity of dogs' existence in people's communities. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Serving the underserved and fighting for equity is the mission of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. With the help of Janice Brathwaite, their Director of Workforce Programs, the League serves anyone that needs health care. Organizational culture is a big deal for the League and Janice; she launched a program called The Way Forward Comes from Within to reevaluate the foundation of employee engagement and retention. Even before the pandemic, work was hard for the community center's health workers. Through grants, they are now getting funds that help people realize how important this work is. Janice shares some great resources in this episode, be sure to have pen and paper nearby. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Andaman7 is the solution to one of the most common problems patients face in their health care journey. The organization, founded by Vincent Keunen, creates solutions that contribute to the development of medical research. Vincent wholeheartedly talks about his and his son's struggle with cancer and how this inspired him to create Andaman7. This software's purpose is to help patients have their whole healthcare data on their phones. He emphasizes the importance of Andaman7's software and how it helps patients worldwide, improving their treatment process. Vincent and his team are now expanding Adaman7 to enable more people to access their medical information instantly. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Can you imagine the number of resources available for communities that are not being used? Creating a resource map was one of the immediate goals for Dina Johnson and the Monroe County Family Coalition in Greece, New York. After the tragic assassination of George Floyd and having a successful forum in which the community gathered, some inquiries came up about this topic, among others. Focused on black and brown individuals in the community, the Monroe County Family Coalition works to improve access to resources. The organization has been in conversation with several local and government entities to grow its purpose. Soon, they want to branch out of Greece to the whole Monroe County area to support more people! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

The Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc., (ChicagoMSDC) is an organization that certifies, develops, connects, and advocates for minority-owned businesses, helping create business opportunities with major buying organizations. It is one of the 23 affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. The ChicagoMSDC partners with hundreds of private and public buying sectors and minority businesses, acting as a hub for supplier diversity and business alliances. Since its creation in 1968, the ChicagoMSDC has been reaching out to minority-owned businesses, providing technical assistance, identifying business opportunities, keeping their costs down, and being a solid support system for life. Join this conversation to learn how ChicagoMSDCsupports minority-owned businesses and increases supplier diversity in the Chicago area! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Many large companies are now moving faster towards diversity, equity, and inclusion. Athena, a San Diego-based organization, focused on women's defense in the STEM field. Through mentoring, leadership development, and advocacy, their goal is to bring one million women into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Their CEO, Holly Smithson, is our guest in this episode, and she explains how the Athena team aims to enlarge the representation of women, as they believe they have a lot to offer. They urge companies and enterprises to add more diversity and modernize as it is beneficial for their growth. Holly also knows that when women participate in high-level discussions and debates within a company, they have a unique lens towards the matter. Become a part of the change by listening to this episode with Holly. There may be a possibility for your company to grow by the hand of Athena! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

United Way is a global organization with a local affiliate structure dedicated to social impact towards education, health, and financial stability. Their branch in Great Susquehanna works specifically in rural and central Pennsylvania. Joanne explains why in this community, as in many rural communities in the country, the lack of transportation and healthcare services are major challenges. The organization has also been deploying internet access programs by distributing hotspots that can be loaned. Mental health is another big topic that has been brought up to Joanne through the years. They are now identifying where those gaps are to address them as quickly and as successfully as possible. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Grief expresses itself in different shapes, forms, and times for everybody. Most of the time, widowed people don't know where to ask for help, company, or someone that understands the changes they are going through. Michele Neff Hernandez has developed research-based programs and created a community for individuals experiencing the loss of their partner through Soaring Spirits International. As a widow herself, Michele knows firsthand the grieving process. With the current pandemic going on, she recognizes challenges like isolation for people that have lost their loved ones. That is why Soaring Spirits have both in-person and virtual offerings for its services. We have to normalize grief as another element of human experiences in life. People need a support system, and this is what Soaring Spirits is doing. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

We believe every child's right to clean water.” With 2.1 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water*, Clean Water International's mission is to empower disadvantaged communities by providing access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. Led by Darrel Nelson, this nonprofit organization has provided access to clean water in many different parts of the Philippines. In this episode, let's hear from Darrel how he could introduce clean water to communities, contribute to the economic development of different areas, negotiate with potential sponsors and funders, and explore the need for more research. Clean Water International has made a difference in the lives of many children in the Philippines and, soon, worldwide. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

How do you make a true transformation within communities? In this episode, we catch up with the co-founder and CEO of Brilliant Detroit, Cindy Eggleton. Cindy shares how Brilliant Detroit is making a massive difference in people's lives in poor kid success neighborhoods. By repurposing an actual house in the middle of the neighborhood into an early childhood and family hub, this organization sees grade-level growth of two grades and health and family support outcomes. Brilliant Detroit is currently serving 7500 people out of 12 locations, with clear plans to get to 24 locations in Detroit, then expand nationally and internationally. Cindy emphasizes the importance of love, safety, growth, and listening to people. This conversation is packed with insights and principles on creating a solid organization that can help transform communities, so make sure to tune in! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Charlie Pearmund and the company he's working with will change the VR game. Based on the concept of embodiment, they want to make a change in behaviors towards diversity and inclusion. With different experiments, Virtual Bodyworks is advancing the use of VR. They work with tactile and motor synchronization and place and plausibility illusion to get to the embodiment finally. Their goal is to change people profoundly after their experience with virtual reality. Charlie shares his point of view into creating and building better Virtual Reality solutions to enhance our society. Tune in! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

We constantly exercise our body, but do we exercise our minds? Virtuleap is the gym for the mind. This digital therapeutics company offers a library of VR cognitive games designed by neuroscientists to test and rain a range of cognitive functions like memory skills, processing, and problem-solving skills, and more. Diving deep into research, development, and collaboration has successfully created its app, which you can download from all the major VR stores. Start your daily cognitive workout and train your cognitive functions today. Virtuleap is right at the intersection of neurosciences and virtual reality, and Amir packed great insights on technology, VR, applications of VR, and more, so please tune in! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

What art forms do you use to cope with what is going on in the world right now? With music as the first line of defense, Yael Swerdlow and Maestro Games help people through mental, spiritual, and physical challenges. They created a game platform called The Last Maestro. This platform combines music and Virtual Reality to tackle this challenge. Yael took this path after being a life-long photojournalist. She took her experience seeing how music worked with orphans and her father and transferred them to Maestro Games. She also shares insights into the care first responders need right now. Finally, Yael shares the challenges and future bumps on the road for Maestro Games to tackle. Listen to this episode and discover how Yael's journey into VR started! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

The future lies in VR and how we can use it in our favor! In this episode, we have the honor of having Aaron Gani and Rory Channer as guests. Together, they work on BehaVR, LLC. They are a company that creates digital therapeutics for behavioral health through the power of Virtual Reality. They believe that digital solutions democratize and improve access to care. With different types of content, they aim to engage the patient into knowing more about themselves and their condition. Also, their platform works as a force multiplier to improve the system. Join Fran on this amazing episode and discover the power of VR applied to healthcare! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Bob Fine is here to talk to us about the techy parts of VR. But don't worry, you will be able to keep up because this episode is meant for non-techy listeners! Bob's work with IVRHA always starts with the members and getting to know their needs; This may be difficult, but they do their best to anticipate the outcomes. Bob walks us through the journey with the association and its challenges, the stakeholders, and how finally they instaurated the Virtual Reality day. He also talks about the end-user experience and how companies can make it easier for the public to understand VR. Listen to Bob in this wonderful chat about how VR can help us improve the experience of patients! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Our guest today is Dr. Tatiana Warren. She started her organization in 2015 after the sad death of Freddie Gray. Since then, she has been helìng communities and organizations find funding and resources to deliver community outcomes. Dr. Tati likes to concentrate on the assets that communities already have and build on that. Dr. Tati Warren joins us on an amazing episode about social and community engagement. Be sure to tune in and learn from this great woman! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

The Global Center for Medical Innovation wants to shorten the processes for many stakeholders in the industry. Sherry Farrugia is their CEO, and she leads all the strategic initiatives to make this successful. Their job is to simplify the processes from conceptualization to commercialization. . Sherry reflects and goes deep into how the pandemic has helped different actors in the industry collaborate at a never-seen-before rate. Innovation and partnership in the health care system have been boosted thanks to covid-19. The future will bring many exciting improvements, of that we're sure. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Would you join a platform that tells the story of hundreds of homeless individuals? This is what the Homeless Network does. To create empathy, they share short stories and experiences of individuals that have been and still are on the streets of London. Sharing their stories makes them feel human; this is where empathy arises. In the future, they want to set up an I.D. system and other services with the government to expand the network and get more people off the streets. Created by a group of high school students, Homeless Network plans to take the world by storm and create change. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Going back into society after spending some years away can be a really tough challenge. Based on his own life experience, Gary started this social enterprise to help people with barriers to employment. Recovery Park is working with the prison system to help inmates get the basic credentials to get a job. Their programs build different kinds of skills. Recovery Park is now working with several state and government entities. This episode is a masterclass on entrepreneurship and pivoting. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Breaking Ground is working for the homeless of New York. Managing over four thousand apartments, they want to support them with affordable and permanent housing. Their programs are varied, yet they concentrate on housing and outreach for the homeless around Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. They work with around 9,000 individuals per year, pairing them also with the nearest social services provider. Andrea Jordan has studied how the system has been working, and with the rest of the Breaking Ground team, they want to change it from within. They are also permanently aware of how their staff reacts to the trauma that the clients may come in with. This way, everyone is safe and secure to keep doing their best. Join this conversation to know how Breaking Ground is changing the shelter system in the boroughs of New York! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

To offer kids a safe place to be and grow up is absolutely rewarding. This is Star House's mission, led by Ann Bischoff. The organization has transformed itself since it started in 2006. Now, they work with children ages 14 to 24 to provide a fallback plan for them. Immediate access is essential for Star House, the reason why they help kids as soon as they get to their center. Ann is helping these young adults and teenagers get opportunities through mentoring, housing, and job search programs. Star House really runs the extra mile in getting to know their kids and build a better future for them. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

If you had to leave your home immediately, would you know where to go and ask for help? BlueDoor's mission has been to work with people that are homeless. They have been around for around 40 years working in the York region of Canada. Even though there are not many people working in the social services sector, this has created partnerships between organizations. With the approach of putting the person first instead of their homelessness experience, BlueDoor is on the right track to help the community. They also have a holistic way of seeing the system: housing, healthcare, and education go hand in hand. Get involved with Michael and BlueDoor after listening to this episode! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Finding a community and a support system is always necessary for life. The idea of doing this came unexpectedly to Suzanne and her friends. They were together one day and discussed how the media was misrepresenting women in their 50s and 60s. So this is how Advantages of Age came to be. In the five years, they have been active, they have grown into a community of 4 thousand people worldwide. Beyond the UK, AoA helps older people become entrepreneurs and get a stable housing place. The challenges for people in their 50s through 70s are growing by the hour. Join Fran and Suzanne in an insightful conversation on how we can deal with these to have a brighter future. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Thurman Brown's work is all about helping people dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. Thurman is creating a way to provide services not only for clients but to staff and supervisors. His counseling covers many topics: from 12-core functions and 8 domains to relapse, trauma, and other substance-related issues. Join this episode and discover how Thurman wants to close the gap and be the bridge between clients and staff members. For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support

Sustainability is the future of society and our world. Matteo Boffa is all things sustainable. Jumping from finances to sustainability, Matteo is currently residing in the United Arab Emirates, working as a representative for different companies. He also is an investor for startups. Matteo started Thaely, a company that makes shoes from recycled plastic bottles and bags, with a business partner. With his companies, Matteo is making a bet for sustainable behavioral change. Be part of this green movement and see how you can be rewarded! For the full transcript and show notes, visit us at reachtl.org. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fran-ayalasomayajula/support