The Second Half

Wendy Reed talks about tools we can use to build our mental fitness to deal with anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges.  Wendy is a certified professional coach in the DC metro area.  She coaches clients across the US and facilitates live and online workshops with a focus on helping parents who are trying to "do it all" build their mental and emotional fitness in order to meet their unique challenges and to consistently access the best parts of themselves for their goals.  Wendy is a parent herself and is committed to facing daily life as a parent with a resilient, positive mindset and doing the work to make that happen.  She trains her clients to do the same using a research-backed mental fitness formula and somatic embodiment coaching practices. www.wendyreedcoaching.com

Lucinda Robb talks about the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, and the lessons modern movements can learn from one of the longest - and ultimately successful - civil rights movements in American history.  Lucinda has been interested in the suffrage movement since her time at the Center for Legislative Archives, where she was director for an education project on the hundreds of thousands of petitions that women sent to Congress.  Lucinda has a book coming out this fall with her co-author Rebecca Roberts titled The Suffragist Playbook:  Your Guide to Changing the World.  She also serves on several nonprofit boards including the National Archives and Running Start, which trains young women to run for office. 

Dr. Cecily Havert talks about different coping tools to deal with the stress and anxiety many people are experiencing during the pandemic. Dr. Havert is a family doctor with special interests in women's health and mental health. She's been practicing for over 15 years. She also teaches medical students at Georgetown University. She's gotten a number of awards including Washingtonian Magazine's top doctor award numerous years including the last three years.

Today, instead of a guest, I talk about the challenges of having anxiety and an eating disorder during the quarantine and the tools I've used to help me get through these challenges.

Amanda Long talks about her struggles with and recovery from an eating disorder.   After 20 years as a journalist, she became a massage therapist in 2011 and loves communicating through touch.  She checked herself into inpatient treatment for an eating disorder in 2017, and is yearning to care for, love and accept her own body after 25 years of letting an eating disorder control it. She recently wrote about recovery in quarantine in The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2020/04/10/after-lifelong-struggle-with-an-eating-disorder-she-has-more-fear-than-coronavirus-during-self-isolation/?arc404=true).Resources:National Eating Disorders Association - https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/Therapist mentioned during the show - https://www.mindbodyva.com/ Treatment center mentioned during the show - https://centerfordiscovery.com/ 

Ericka talks about her experience of being a black woman and a mother of a black son in America.  We discuss systemic racism, faith and hope for the next generation.  Ericka has been a Montessori teacher for the past 13 years.  Prior to that, she was a social worker for 10 years in North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.  Ericka, originally from North Carolina, has lived in the D.C. metropolitan area since 1997.  She and her husband have been married for almost 19 years and are the proud parents of two high school honor student athletes.  

Louis, not his real name, talks about his experience of being a black man in America and his views on the national conversation we are having about race.  We discuss systemic racism, faith, and hope for the future.  Louis is a legal professional and an entrepreneur.  

Dr. Cecily Havert discusses the physical, emotional and mental health issues faced by the LGBTQ community.  Dr. Havert is a family doctor with special interests in women's health and mental health. She's been practicing for over 15 years. She also teaches medical students at Georgetown University. She's gotten a number of awards including Washingtonian Magazine's top doctor award numerous years including the last three years.

Pamela Lessard talks about losing her father to suicide and how that affected her, her family and her identity.  Pamela was born in Tehran, Iran.  Her family moved around the world from there because of her father's job as a CIA agent, landing back in Washington DC in the early 1970s, then to Kabul, Afghanistan briefly, and back to Tehran for a few more years.  As the Iranian Revolution started, her family was transferred to Islamabad, Pakistan and stayed there until November 1979 when student protestors attacked the American embassy.  Pamela and her family left and ended up in Williamsburg, Virginia.  On Christmas morning 1980, her father took his life.  Sometime after his suicide her family moved to Florida.  Pamela eventually settled in Washington DC, got married to Andrew Gross, had her daughter, Haley, and got her beloved dog, Skye. 

Jim Albright discusses living with cystic fibrosis and his journey with the disease since founding out he had the disease at 15 years old and being told that he had only a few years to live.  He also discusses how his condition has affected his life during the pandemic.  Jim spent twenty years in education, first as a teacher of students with disabilities, and then as a program coordinator for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and then closing out his career as the Principal of Alice Deal Middle School for over eight years. Previously, Jim ran a television station, was an economic consultant, and an urban planner. Jim holds a Bachelor's degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Master's Degrees in Urban Planning and Administration and Supervision from University of Virginia, and an Executive Masters in Leadership from Georgetown University.  

Kate Hood talks about self care during the quarantine.  Kate is a certified life coach, health and wellness coach and working mom of three, currently navigating life in quarantine with her family.

Diane Cooper-Gould talks about the challenges of distance learning during quarantine especially for children with disabilities and learning differences. Diane is Co-Founder of Fairfax County Special Education PTA, was its inaugural President and now works as its Co-Chair of Advocacy.  Diane is the creator of several courses and workshops on a range of disability topics including: Navigating the Special Education System, Building a Community of Support, and Working Cooperatively with an IEP team.  She is also the founder and facilitator of an online support group for families navigating the world of disability.  

On today's show, instead of a guest, I talk about the challenges and joys that I've been going through during this pandemic. 

Dr. Cecily Havert talks about the developments and changes she's seen in her medical practice and the medical community since the quarantine has begun.  Dr. Havert is a family doctor with special interests in women's health and mental health.  She's been practicing for over 15 years.  She also teaches medical students at Georgetown University.   She's gotten a number of awards including Washingtonian Magazine's top doctor award numerous years including the last three years. 

Dr. Lawrence Ballon talks about psychiatry and psychology and how these treatments provide important tools to help people with their mental health.  Dr. Ballon is a board certified psychiatrist as well as a psychoanalyst and psychopharmacologist.   He has over 30 year of experience successfully treating thousands of patients, has held a 12 year term as Chief of Psychiatry at Virginia Hospital Center, and served as President and Medical Director of Arlington Psychiatric Group.  Dr. Ballon earned his M.D. and trained in psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center, and received his certification in psychoanalysis from the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis in Washington, DC.

Diane Cooper-Gould talks about falling in love with acting early in life and her journey of having a career in acting as a young professional, leaving it for over 10 years and coming back to it later in life with a new understanding of herself and her career.

Dr. Amy Heard talks about the tools we can use to deal with the anxiety and stress many of us are feeling during this pandemic.  Dr. Heard is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with individuals and couples who are facing medical issues, life transitions, relationship problems, and work-life imbalances.  Her treatment integrates research-based strategies, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  She specializes in helping people to cope with medical issues including chronic pain, pelvic pain, migraines, neurological conditions, cancer, sexual dysfunction and fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue.  She also works with caregivers and those facing grief and loss.  

Today I'm talking to Ella.  Ella didn't want to use her real name but agreed to share the incredible and tragic story of how she lost her mother at the same time as she welcomed her daughter to the world.  

Dr. Cecily Havert discusses the novel coronavirus and its impact on healthcare providers and the community at large.  Dr. Havert is a family doctor with special interests in women's health and mental health.  She's been practicing for over 15 years.  She also teaches medical students at Georgetown University.   She's gotten a number of awards including Washingtonian Magazine's top doctor award numerous years including the last three years. 

Dr. Cecily Havert talks about heart disease and how it affects women's lives and their health. Dr. Havert is a family doctor with special interests in women's health and mental health.  She's been practicing for over 15 years.  She also teaches medical students at Georgetown University.   She's gotten a number of awards including Washingtonian Magazine's top doctor award numerous years including the last three years. 

Diane Cooper-Gould talks about how her son's autism changed the course of her life.  Diane is Co-Founder of Fairfax County Special Education PTA, was its inaugural President and now works as its Co-Chair of Advocacy.  Diane is the creator of several courses and workshops on a range of disability topics including: Navigating the Special Education System, Building a Community of Support, and Working Cooperatively with an IEP team.  She is also the founder and facilitator of an online support group for families navigating the world of disability. 

Kate Hood and I talk about aging and beauty and their complicated effects on women's identity and self worth.

Chris Leavitt talks about his father's Alzheimer's and how that has affected his family and changed him and the way he lives his life.  Chris is the Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Dr. Cecily Havert talks about menopause and how it affects women's lives, their health and their marriage. Dr. Havert is a family doctor with special interests in women's health and mental health.  She's been practicing for over 15 years.  She also teaches medical students at Georgetown University.   She's gotten a number of awards including Washington Magazine's top doctor award numerous years including the last three years. 

Today I'm talking to Jenny.  Jenny didn't want to use her real name but agreed to share the story of her bitter and contentious divorce and how that experience has changed the way she views her life and her ability to love.

Kyle Herbig shares the story of his coming out journey and how he was able to be true to himself and find fulfillment and love.  

Karen Morris shares the story of her twin girls leaving for college and how becoming an empty nester has affected her, her marriage and her life.  

Kate Hood talks about losing her mother, and how that loss has affected her life, her family and her identity. 

Renee Newell talks about her incredible story of getting stage IV breast cancer when she was six months pregnant with her third child.   

Dr. Cecily Havert talks about mental health.  Dr. Havert is a family doctor with special interests in women's health and mental health.  She's been practicing for over 15 years.  She also teaches medical students at Georgetown University.   She's gotten a number of awards including Washingtonian Magazine's top doctor award numerous years including the last three years.  On today's show, she talks about mental health issues affecting women and the tools to help treat mental health.   Rebecca also shares the story of her own struggles with anxiety and the tools that have helped her. 

Adrienne Wichard-Edds talks about having panic attacks for over twenty years and the tools she has learned to manage them.  Adrienne is a writer whose work has been featured in the Washington Post, Billboard Magazine, the Hollywood Reporter, and Arlington Magazine.  

Rebecca shares why she started the podcast and then talks to the New York Times best selling author Anna Whiston-Donaldson about the tragic accident eight and a half years ago that took her 12-year-old son, and her journey forward after that heartbreaking day.  Anna is the author of Rare Bird, her memoir about losing her son, and of the children's book Hugs from Heaven, written as a poem to help young children dealing with the loss of a loved one.  Her other works have been published in the Washington Post, the Daily Beast, and the Huffington Post.