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Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio
What does humanitarian aid really mean, and who are the people behind it? On World Humanitarian Day, we look at the different forms humanitarian work can take – from helping people affected by war and natural disasters to supporting children and vulnerable communities. The programme features among others Stanislav Bielik, Director of ADRA Slovakia; Dominika Gablíková, Head of International Humanitarian and Development Programmes at Caritas Slovakia; Zuzana Chudobová, Chair of the Board of the Slovak Foundation for UNICEF; and Katarína Barošová, Communications Manager at People in Need Slovakia.
Lisa Liu, Corporate Marketing and Communications Manager at Stellar Cyber, connects with ITSPmagazine on the floor at Black Hat USA 2026 in Las Vegas. What are buyers asking for now that the RSAC Conference noise has settled? Data. Liu says people have had time to run their own research, look at what vendors offer, and come back using specific keywords and asking for something behind the marketing. Does a more skeptical audience make the conversation harder? Liu describes the opposite. She says people are pushing back on claims they hear, which presses vendors to prove at a higher standard that a technology does what it says it does. Feedback arrives more specific, and the exchange moves from explaining to planning as people ask how a capability could work in their environment. The reply she calls validating is the customer who reports the product did what it was said it would do, giving analysts their time back and helping teams work more efficiently. What makes Black Hat different for a company that works the major events? Ask people what they are looking for and they will tell you. Liu says pain points here are felt daily and described plainly, and that candor is feedback the company works to internalize and make productive. Looking ahead, she says new product releases are coming, with new features and expansions of what customers have responded to, and that Stellar Cyber will share them on its website and on LinkedIn. This is a Brand Briefing. A Brand Briefing is an on-location conversation recorded on site at Black Hat USA 2026, putting a spotlight on the guest and their company and pairing it with the editorial reach of ITSPmagazine. Learn more: https://www.studioc60.com/performance/#briefing GUEST Lisa Liu, Corporate Marketing and Communications Manager at Stellar Cyber LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaaliu/ RESOURCES Black Hat USA 2026 event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/black-hat-usa-2026-cybersecurity-event-coverage-in-las-vegas Stellar Cyber: https://stellarcyber.ai/ Stellar Cyber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stellarcyber Are you interested in telling your story? ▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full ▶︎ Brand Spotlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlight ▶︎ Brand Highlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#highlight ▶︎ Get your own Brand Briefing at an upcoming event: https://www.studioc60.com/buy-brand-briefings KEYWORDS lisa liu, stellar cyber, marco ciappelli, brand briefing, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, black hat usa 2026, security operations, agentic ai, ai in cybersecurity, vendor claims, proof and data, soc analysts, rsac conference, event coverage, las vegas Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Retailers are optimistic a bump in spending will stick around. Latest Stats NZ data on electronic card transactions shows July's core retail spending is up 3.5% compared to the same time last year. Retail NZ says it's an encouraging sign considering the winter months are typically slower for the sector. Communications Manager Denise Garland told Mike Hosking the FIFA World Cup was likely a big factor in the positive hospitality numbers. She says it's been a rocky year for retail, but they're seeing more people out and about and in cafes and restaurants, so there's hope the bounce will continue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Casey Davis is the Executive Director of the Edmonds Food Bank, and Kellie Lewis is the Marketing and Communications Manager. In this program, we learn the history of this food bank, which Casey joined in 2018, just ahead of the early era of the COVID pandemic. With that timing, she found a great pivot in providing the best and most dignified services for people facing food insecurity. And that is an important phrasing, understanding that food insecurity can have numerous disguises. It might be a parent saying they are fasting, and in this way, they are making sure their children have the nutrition they need. The need for good has only kept growing. There are great volunteer opportunities at the Edmonds Food Bank, and donations are gratefully appreciated.www.edmondsfoodbank.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Lisa Liu, Corporate Marketing and Communications Manager at Stellar Cyber, says the AI noise has been running since RSAC Conference, and that what separates vendors now is whether they can back their claims with data their customers gave them. She came to Black Hat USA 2026 with figures on Agentic Auto Triage. The numbers she cites: up to 19 minutes saved per hour per analyst, up to 1.5 full-time analysts per year, and 99.7 percent agreement with the human analyst. Liu treats the accuracy figure as the one carrying the weight. Reacting at machine speed matters only if the verdicts hold, and she describes security as a low trust industry where the burden of proof sits with the vendor. Stellar Cyber is a security operations platform purpose built for MSPs and lean enterprise teams, offering full cycle, full visibility, unified security operations. Liu says the company builds its business logic around the customer pain point, maximizing the efficiency of the resources a team already has. With alerts climbing as attackers pick up the same AI tools as everyone else, she argues that hiring through the volume is out of reach for most teams. So where does reclaimed time go? Liu says that call belongs to the customer. Reported answers include customer relations, other facets of the job, and expanded roles that analysts never had time for. There is a learning effect too. Analysts can see every step of the decision making behind an AI conclusion and draw lessons from it. For managed service providers, Liu says partner analysts deliver more customized services and take in feedback more productively once their schedules loosen up. Where partners serve very different market segments, platform flexibility carries the load, along with full visibility and automation at machine speed. She also hears a shift on the floor: running many separate vendors creates expensive overlap and leaves gaps, and a single platform approach is becoming industry standard. What comes next? Liu places the industry in a proof stage. More validation is necessary, claims about the Agentic SOC keep arriving, and backing those up with more numbers is a large part of moving forward. AI has been part of the Stellar Cyber logic since the company was founded over 10 years ago, and she says that has not changed. This is a Brand Briefing. A Brand Briefing is an on-location conversation recorded on site at Black Hat USA 2026, putting a spotlight on the guest and their company and pairing it with the editorial reach of ITSPmagazine. Learn more: https://www.studioc60.com/performance/#briefing GUEST Lisa Liu, Corporate Marketing and Communications Manager at Stellar Cyber LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaaliu/ RESOURCES Black Hat USA 2026 event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/black-hat-usa-2026-cybersecurity-event-coverage-in-las-vegas Stellar Cyber: https://stellarcyber.ai/ Stellar Cyber and M-Theory at Black Hat USA 2026: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260728715036/en/Stellar-Cyber-and-M-Theory-to-Demo-Proof-Based-AI-SOC-at-Black-Hat-USA-2026 Stellar Cyber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stellarcyber Are you interested in telling your story? ▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full ▶︎ Brand Spotlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlight ▶︎ Brand Highlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#highlight ▶︎ Get your own Brand Briefing at an upcoming event: https://www.studioc60.com/buy-brand-briefings KEYWORDS lisa liu, stellar cyber, sean martin, brand briefing, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, black hat usa 2026, agentic auto triage, agentic soc, alert fatigue, security operations platform, mssp, managed security service provider, soc analyst productivity, ai in security operations, autonomous soc, siem replacement, analyst burnout, human in the loop ai Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Join us on the left side of the “Michigan mitten” as we head to Grand Rapids to chat with Hannah Flynn, Communications Manager with Legends Global, which manages Van Andel Arena, DeVos Performance Hall, DeVos Place, newly opened Acrisure Amphitheater, and Amway Stadium (opening Spring 2027). As a passionate social media and pop culture guru, we dive into the details of Hannah's role, the structure of their department, and learn a bit about each of the venues. We talk with her about collaborating with local businesses and hear tips about pitching ideas and some examples of fun promotions. Known for dressing up as artists coming to their venues for TikTok videos, Hannah talks about their approach to following social trends and how to discover new ideas. We talk about how she got into live events as well as the creation of her concert social account (@hangoestoaconcert), which has evolved from providing tips for going to concerts to advice on joining the industry. This is a fun episode that's sure to spark some ideas, give you some accounts to follow, and (for those of you not already in the industry) may just inspire you to dive in. Hannah Flynn: Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn Van Andel Arena: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok ––––––ADVENTURES IN VENUELANDFollow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/TwitterLearn more about Event & Venue Marketing ConferenceMeet our team:Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & MarketingDave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest ResearchMegan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital AdvertisingSamantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & PublicityCamille Faulkner | Audio Editing & MixingHave a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.
Across the Wasatch Front, hundreds of thousands of children and teens are heading back to school. Over the next few weeks, the roads will get busier in the mornings and afternoons thanks to kids walking, biking, or bussing to and from school. So what can your kids do to remain safe? And what can you -- the parent (and driver) -- do to promote safety? In this back-to-school segment, Greg and Holly speak with two experts: Benjamin Donner, executive director of the American Red Cross Central and Southern Utah Chapter and Jason Mettmann, Communications Manager for the Utah Highway Safety Office.
The Leadership on the Links Summit takes place October 12, 2026 at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, Pennsylvania. The one day program runs from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM and is built for golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors of agronomy, equipment managers, and club leaders, with industry partners, vendors, and consultants also welcome. The day includes breakfast, lunch, education credits, and a mix of speakers, panel discussion, and attendee engagement, with an evening networking element under consideration. Registration is $197. The first twenty sign-ups pay $147 with code SUMMIT50 at checkout, and each attendee registers individually with their own email address. Lodging details and sponsorship opportunities are available on request. Full details are at https://bloomgolfpartners.com/our-events/ and registration is at https://bloom-golf-partners.circle.so/checkout/leadership-on-the-links-summit-2026. Most conversations about hiring focus on the candidate, yet the outcome of a search is shaped just as much by how clearly a club defines what it actually needs. Mitch Rupert has spent five years on the other side of that table as Communications Manager at Bloom Golf Partners, conducting candidate interviews and due diligence for searches ranging from assistant superintendent roles to director of agronomy positions. He came to the work after two decades as an award winning sports journalist, and that outside vantage point shapes how he reads hiring committees that change direction midway through a search, strong candidates who withdraw late, and the difference between a prepared candidate and a rehearsed one. In this episode of Leadership on the Links, host Tyler Bloom speaks with Mitch Rupert about the mechanics of a superintendent search, the education gap between agronomy teams and club leadership, and the next phase of professional development at Bloom Golf Partners. What You'll Learn in This Episode ● Hiring committees frequently adjust their criteria partway through a search, and Rupert explains why communicating those shifts early prevents frustration for the club, the search firm, and the candidate. ● Candidates who withdraw after learning more about a role are making a defensible decision, and Rupert argues that taking the wrong job is far worse than not getting the job at all. ● Clubs generally understand the financial requirements of maintaining a golf course but often underestimate the human side of it, the staffing and leadership investment behind those conditions, a gap Bloom Golf Partners is working to close with general managers, hiring teams, and green committees. ● Rupert offers feedback to candidates who did not get the job, and roughly sixty to seventy percent take him up on it, conversations that help professionals identify skill gaps before their next opportunity. ● Authenticity outperforms rehearsal in an interview setting, and Rupert compares the process to poker, a process-oriented game rather than a results-oriented one, where sound decisions matter more than the outcome of any single hand. ● Bloom Golf Partners will launch a professional development platform following the Summit, offering monthly engagement and ongoing career and team development support in the months between annual industry gatherings. ● The firm's inaugural turfgrass management scholarship drew thirty to forty applicants from across the country and led to an introduction to The Outpost Foundation, which funds club employees pursuing turf management education such as online and advanced certificate programs. Links and Resources Mitch Rupert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchrupert/ Bloom Golf Partners: https://bloomgolfpartners.com Leadership on the Links Summit: https://bloomgolfpartners.com/our-events/ Summit Registration, code SUMMIT50 for the first twenty: https://bloom-golf-partners.circle.so/checkout/leadership-on-the-links-summit-2026 Bloom Golf Partners Turfgrass Management Scholarship: https://bloomgolfpartners.com/scholarship-program/ The Outpost Foundation: https://outpostfoundation.org Toftrees Golf Resort: https://www.toftrees.com
Jada Olsen, Marketing and Communications Manager for Neighborhood Development Center joined Vineeta with the details of some FOOD MOTIVATION on our Midweek Motivation segment!
Jada Olsen, Marketing and Communications Manager for Neighborhood Development Center joined Vineeta with the details of some FOOD MOTIVATION on our Midweek Motivation segment!
Video Version: What does it actually mean when disability advocacy is “level funded”? What are federal appropriations, and why are they such a big deal for disability rights? On this episode of National Disability Radio, Alden Blevins (Communications Manager), Stephanie Flynt McEben (Public Policy Analyst), and Eric Buehlmann (Deputy Director for Public Policy) pull back the curtain on the federal funding process and what it means for the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) network. They discuss the successful FY26 funding fight, why advocacy on Capitol Hill matters, and how everyday people can help. You also get the added bonus of hill-day survival tips, advocacy myths and truths, and a very important debate about coffee and tea. Transcript: Alden Blevins: Hello, and welcome to National Disability Radio. I am here today with two wonderful people who are about to introduce themselves. I am Alden Blevins, Communications Manager here at NDRN. I have my own lived experience with disability and I’m really glad to be here today. What about you guys? Who are you, What do you do? Stephanie Flynt…: Yeah, I’m Stephanie Flynt McEben. I am also one of your hosts of the podcast and NDRN’s Public Policy Analyst. And I have beef with a music streaming app, and I’m not going to talk about which one, but let’s just say that this [00:00:30] music streaming app told me that I was 67 for Christmas this year. And then it had the audacity to… Oh gosh, what was the playlist the other morning that was recommended? It was Old Camping Man Sunday Morning, and it was really weird. Why? I don’t listen to old camping man music unless James Taylor and Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift count as that. But anyway, hope everybody else is having a good day. And hey, if Spotify thinks [00:01:00] you’re old, you’re just… I don’t know. You’re young at heart, anyway. Alden Blevins: I think it clocked my age exactly. And I must say that I listened to a lot of Lady Gaga and Kesha in the last year. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Alden Blevins: And to be fair- Stephanie Flynt…: You were in the 2010’s era. Alden Blevins: They were still the two most popular artists when I was graduating from high school, so they clocked me. They clocked me for sure. Stephanie Flynt…: Oh my gosh. Time to introduce Eric, who is our Deputy Executive [00:01:30] Director for Public Policy. How are you doing? It’s great for you to be here. Eric Buehlmann: Great, it’s wonderful to be here. Evidently, your phone must be listening to my music then in that way [inaudible 00:01:44] Stephanie Flynt…: Maybe so. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t know how I feel about it. And also, I guess… I don’t know. I guess the Spotify age thing is eclectic because my top artist was Taylor Swift, so I don’t know. Anywho. Eric Buehlmann: So I’m Eric Buehlmann. I’m the Deputy Executive [00:02:00] Director for Public Policy. As Stephanie said, my first choice is not Taylor Swift, but my wife listens to it a lot. So when I’m in the car with her, that’s what I’m listening to. Alden Blevins: This is National Disability Radio. We are the official podcast of the National Disability Rights Network. The National Disability Rights Network works in Washington DC and around the country on behalf of the protection [00:02:30] and advocacy systems, the P&As and the client assistance programs or CAP. We are the nation’s largest provider of legal advocacy services for people with disabilities. The first thing we want to talk about is some big and good news. The P&A network was funded for the rest of FY26. Can we get a hallelujah? Stephanie Flynt…: Yay, woo-hoo! Alden Blevins: The first thing I was just going to ask is, Eric, can you explain to us why it’s a big deal that we were funded and level funded, [00:03:00] and kind of what it took for us to get to this point? Eric Buehlmann: In terms of being able to, why we were able to do this, it’s really our members reaching out to all the representatives, all the senators, making the case, all the good work that the P&As and the CAPs do, and showing all the examples and saying, “Look, if you don’t fund us, this is what’s going to happen, is that person with a disability is not going to be able to get accessible housing or accessible transportation, or the student’s going to be able to go to school or someone’s going to have an assistive [00:03:30] technology device or rampant abuse and neglect are going to be occurring in either the community or institution.” So they made those cases. Congress said, “We agree with you.” And the best we could hope for at this time was at least maintaining our funding and not losing it. Alden Blevins: I think it’s really important to remember that this is not just numbers on a spreadsheet, this has real world impacts on peoples’ lives, the lives of people with disabilities, whether or not they can access enforcement of their civil rights, so [00:04:00] super important. Stephanie Flynt…: Absolutely. Alden Blevins: Just to peel back the curtain and give a little more context for some of our listeners, I just want to go ahead and ask the kind of general question of what are federal appropriations and what does that really mean when we talk about them? Stephanie Flynt…: Yeah, sure. I’m happy to jump in a little bit here. Essentially what federal appropriations are is how Congress allocates funding. And so essentially, there is a long process as Eric kind of talked through a little bit [00:04:30] earlier, in terms of everything that’s been going on with the budget. And so individuals are able to make various appropriations requests to their office. But essentially in a nutshell, it’s essentially just how we get the funds that we need in order to do the work that we do. Alden Blevins: And just kind of practically, what are the steps in an appropriations process or what can people kind of expect out of appropriation season? Oh Stephanie Flynt…: Oh my goodness. Okay, so usually, [00:05:00] of course in the spring, we usually see a big influx of appropriations forms, which, we’re starting to kind of see that now with the House setting their committee deadlines for appropriations, so we’re starting to kind of see an influx of that now. In the Senate, we’ll probably see that a little bit later on as that comes down. But usually the offices will set their personal deadlines, their committee deadlines. And then the appropriations bills, just kind of depending on where they sit, which, all of ours sit on the subcommittee for Labor, [00:05:30] Health and Human Services, Education and related agencies on both the House and the Senate side on the Appropriations Committee. And so there will be a House markup usually around June, as well as a Senate markup in July with the hope that we are able to go ahead and pass the appropriations, the funding that we need for the next fiscal year that starts on October 1st. Alden Blevins: My next one is just why do you guys think advocacy on Capitol Hill matters [00:06:00] during appropriation season? The regular person might not realize how important this is and why. Stephanie Flynt…: Yeah. In my experience, like you said, Alden, a lot of people don’t realize how important and how crucial that kind of advocacy is. But really and truly, that kind of advocacy is what helps us acquire our funding for services, particularly advocacy. So it’s definitely super important to be continuing to follow up with your members. Of course, meeting with your members if you can, [00:06:30] and their staff. Having a steady contact in their offices, things like that. And even just building those relationships in my viewpoint is a good form of advocacy and just making sure that they know who you are, they know what your programs do. They know how it benefits folks in their state/district, et cetera, et cetera, the constituency that they serve. So just making sure that, those points. Eric Buehlmann: And the specific, the biggest requirement is staff [00:07:00] are always seeking information. You’re covering hundreds of programs, multiple issues. They don’t know everything that is going on. They can’t track everything at the same time because they just have information overload. So putting a face with a person, with the story, with the request in front of them makes the biggest difference, because then the staff begins to know who you are. But otherwise, they’re just overloaded with how much material they’re trying to cover and how much stuff they’re trying to do. And if you’re not in front of them, I mean, as [00:07:30] it’s basically said, if you’re not talking to them, you’re on the menu, you’re not the one that’s providing them the information. Stephanie Flynt…: You’re not at the table, you’re on the menu, yeah. Alden Blevins: That makes a lot of sense to me. I was also just going to ask, we’re all so excited and grateful that we were level funded for FY26, but what does level funding really mean? What has that looked like over the last couple years? And having that level or that stagnant funding, what does that mean in terms of the [00:08:00] P&A’s services or the take home impact? Eric Buehlmann: It’s difficult for the P&As because level funding really is in a way, a kind of a cut. Costs are going up continually, healthcare costs are going up. Cost of travel, cost of everything is going up. So level funding ultimately means that they’re able to do less or they may need to shift from doing as much individual case work to more systemic work where you’re helping multiple people by solving one problem. [00:08:30] So level funding is great, especially when you’re facing the potential of cuts. But ultimately if you do that for many, many years, it ultimately means that the P&As and the CAPs will have less staff and able to serve less people. Alden Blevins: Now that we’ve kind of grounded ourselves in a little bit of how this process works, we’re going to talk about the larger policy landscape that we’re all living in right now. What are some of the disability policy concerns we saw come to a head in 2025 and how do we think [00:09:00] that might influence our policy landscape for the rest of 2026? Stephanie Flynt…: Oh my goodness. Do you want to start or do you want me to? Eric Buehlmann: You go first. Stephanie Flynt…: Oh, goodness. I think for me, the biggest thing that comes to mind is the dismantling of the Department of Education. We’ve definitely seen different things that have kind of gone ahead in that regard. And so obviously, there’s a lot of different concerns that are there in those types of things. And so [00:09:30] just continuing to monitor that and what all of that looks like. Of course, I’ll leave a little bit of the healthcare stuff to Eric since that’s more of his specialty, but of course, that is something that I would be remiss not to mention. The various concerns around the Medicaid work requirements that will be taking effect and how that’s going to impact our community. So there are definitely a lot of different policies and a lot of different things that you don’t think about necessarily intersecting with [00:10:00] the disability community, but that are still having impacts on the disability community, particularly those who are members of multiple marginalized communities. Eric Buehlmann: I think building on that for Stephanie is, it’s not just the Medicaid work requirements that are going to hit people. It’s just the massive amounts of cuts to the amount of funding that the states are getting. It’s sort of a partnership between states and the federal government. And if the federal government cuts their share of funding, it means states are going to be cutting their share of funding. And what those cuts [00:10:30] really mean in the long run is that unfortunately, not required services or waiver services are going to be the ones that are going to get hit. If they have to do it, the state will pay for it. If they don’t have to do it and the state’s not willing to put up the money, then those services are going to go away. And in our case, that means home and community-based services for the most part. So not only are a number of people going to get kicked off of Medicaid because they’re having problems following the work requirements or understanding [00:11:00] what the work requirements are and/or having to go through getting re-certified every six months rather than every year, that’s going to mean more people are going to be kicked off. On top of it, you add in all the cuts and the states are going to look around and say, “Well, we’re losing $1 billion,” let’s say, in California, I think is the number they said. “How are we going to make up that gap?” And what they’re going to do is they’re going to say, “Well, these are required and required in the Medicaid program is institutionalized care versus [00:11:30] the ones that we choose to do on our own, which is home and community-based services. Well, if we have to do it, we’ll have to pay for it.” And that means there’s a gap and that gap is going to come out of home and community-based services. Alden Blevins: Yeah. And I think this is kind of a great connection to that home and community-based services piece. I was going to kind of ask, generally speaking, what themes might we be seeing in Congress right now that could affect P&A programs or disability justice as a whole? Eric Buehlmann: I do think one issue [00:12:00] that we’re encountering is more and more members that may not understand disability as well, or what the desires of people with disabilities are, and may listen to not just the person with a disability, they may be listening to their guardians or they may be listening to their parents. Not saying that they don’t know what the person with a disability wants, but if you want to go to the source, the source is the person with a disability. So I think one of the themes, and I think this is why it’s critically important for people with disabilities to be involved in these discussions and [00:12:30] doing this advocacy, is you’ve got to put yourself front and center. And you have to say, “This is what I desire, this is what I want. I want to live in the community, I want to live at home. I want to be able to work in an integrated environment. I don’t want to be paid subminimum wage.” And if they’re not hearing from people with disabilities about that, then that’s a problem. And I think what we’re seeing is sort of a return to sort of the old way of thinking, sort of pre-IDEA, pre-ADA. And people with disabilities should be [00:13:00] off to the side and not at the forefront. And so I think that theme is carrying over in a lot of the ways Congress and the administration are looking at these issues. And I think in terms of other themes, it’s, “We got to save money somewhere.” And their ideas of trying to save money is to cut programs, which actually in the long run, costs more. It costs more to be served in an institution than it costs to live and get served in the community. And [00:13:30] so we’ve really got to be making those cases. I think those are two themes that I’m thinking of. Stephanie Flynt…: Yeah, for sure. And I think that another theme really is just broader justice in the civil rights community, just not completely and fully understanding disability. And so I definitely think that if we’re not careful with everything going on, we definitely could regress back a little bit more into the medical model as opposed to the social model. And I think that some of the demonstration in the legislation [00:14:00] that could potentially be introduced, and of course that we are closely monitoring and making sure that we’re continually keeping an eye out. And of course, we’ll keep folks in the network apprised of those things. But all that to say, I think that’s kind of a demonstrated action when it comes to their understanding of what disability is. Alden Blevins: I love what you guys said, especially about people with disabilities being front and center and telling their own stories and determining, [00:14:30] telling the world what they really want and seek out in their lives. I think that that’s so important for people with disabilities to be in the driver’s seat. For those of you who don’t know, we do have a saying in the disability community that is, “Nothing about us without us.” So kind of speaking about some of the messages that have been happening in the last year, we know that a lot of things have become very polarized throughout the last year, 2025. What opportunities do you guys see for collaboration towards [00:15:00] a better future for people with disabilities? What efforts might be a good target for bipartisan support? Stephanie Flynt…: Yeah. I think for me, definitely always on the hunt for bipartisan opportunity. Because the truth of the matter is that disability, even though it is being portrayed as a partisan issue, it’s not a partisan issue. It’s a nonpartisan issue. And so just kind of keeping that in mind as we continue to do this policy work. I think [00:15:30] what it boils down to really, at least a part of it, is messaging. Because looking at the issues that are in the disability community, because they’re nonpartisan, I think that really, it comes down to it’s not about what you’re saying, it’s how you’re saying, it’s how you’re presenting it. When we’re talking to different offices, we want to emphasize different things that they are most concerned about or that may matter most to their particular constituency or the folks [00:16:00] with disabilities that they may serve. Those would be my things, but I definitely, even though it can be challenging at times, definitely just continuing to keep hope there. Eric Buehlmann: I mean, there’s always a lot of different things. And as Stephanie said, you have to sort of tailor your message around what people are interested in. I mean, things like the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, I think there’s a large number of people, and we’ve seen it in the states, they’re phasing out the subminimum wage, even in some [00:16:30] very conservative states. And so that’s something that’s garnered bipartisan support, that people should be paid at least the minimum wage for the work they’re doing. And that they should be integrated into the employment environment and not just in segregated workshops. We were able to get a Republican co-sponsor for the Keeping All Students Safe Act this year, which would place some kind of federal restrictions on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools and provide money for [00:17:00] training, which is critically important so that the teachers know and the school personnel know what they do when they’re encountering tough situations. There’s a number of bills. I mean, ultimately disability is very bipartisan and it impacts everybody. So usually whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat or Independent, you either have a family member or know someone very close to you that has a disability. So you just got to frame the message right. Alden Blevins: I love that you guys both mentioned messaging and disability [00:17:30] being affecting everyone. That’s part of my core messaging that I always try to put out there, is that disability can come for anybody. You can be a person who has no disabilities one morning and your situation could be different by that evening, depending on what happens to you in your life. And even as you age throughout the lifespan, most of us are going to experience some degree of disability in our lives. So advocating for this [00:18:00] community now when you have the chance to is only going to benefit you when you inevitably become a part of it. I think that’s really important to remember. My kind of last question on this topic is just, what do you think you would want policymakers today to know most about our programs at the P&As? Stephanie Flynt…: I’m going to yield to the executive overseer to start. Eric Buehlmann: I mean, I think our members are hidden gems. I think that’s the biggest [00:18:30] thing, is that most people don’t know what a protection advocacy agency is and/or what it does. As I’ve said many times in my stories is I had met the Executive Director of the Vermont P&A for many times when I worked up on the Hill. Had no idea he worked for the Protection & Advocacy Agency. Talked to him about housing, talked to him about employment, talked to him about all these different things, had no idea that there was a Protection and Advocacy Agency. My second day at the job, I go into an NDRN board meeting and there he is, [00:19:00] sitting there. And I’m like, “Oh, that’s what a Protection & Advocacy Agency… Because I didn’t have a clue. So I think we’re sort of a hidden gem. And I think really, the big thing is that the P&As do a lot of work that other agencies can’t. We have these really strong… I hate saying we, but our members have strong authorities to go in and investigate and monitor for abuse and neglect. If that’s going on, they can go in unannounced. They could do these kinds of investigations that other places can’t. There are [00:19:30] story after story of the police being kept out of certain places or Child Protective Services or Adult Protective Services. But the P&A goes in and is able to sort of expose that abuse and neglect. And that’s really the important thing. And I think people just need to know they exist. But there’s more than just the systemic work. Individually, they are helping people around employment or education or accessible transportation and housing. So I just think there are ultimately hidden gems the more [00:20:00] you delve into it. And as you said, Alden, everyone’s going to become, in my opinion, a member of the disability community at one time in their life or not. Could be permanently, could be temporarily if you break your leg or something like that. And now all of a sudden, you begin to realize that yeah, curb cuts do make a heck of a lot of sense. And yes, automatic doors are very helpful and all those kinds of things. And so we just need to do a better job of sort of explaining the beauty of the work the P&As do and that [00:20:30] it’s not just these giant exposes of abuse and neglect, but there’s all the little individual work that they do that’s extremely important to families and people with disabilities. Alden Blevins: We know in this world that policy is never static. There’s always a lot coming at us, coming at you guys, to kind of figure out and think about how it impacts our community. So my next question is just what do we think might be coming in the landscape of 2026? [00:21:00] It’s hard to speculate, but what should we be looking ahead towards as a community? Eric Buehlmann: Election years are always a weird little duck. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Eric Buehlmann: Partly because Congress does not stay around that much, they like to go home and they like to campaign. Some would say they’re not here to do as much damage. But the administration’s still here, they could do plenty of damage. And so I mean, my expectation is there will not be [00:21:30] a lot that’s going to really occur. They’re going to do what they normally have to do, which is sort of the appropriations and try to get that done as well as they can before the elections. There may be some messaging bills that they try to work on, but I’m not expecting a lot of things to actually get passed and a lot of work to get done. But I think this gets back to the theme issue and that kind of discussion, which is you need to be laying the foundation for the members that are here now and those that are running, especially [00:22:00] in someone in a seat where a member’s retiring or if there’s an open seat. And you need to be making sure the candidates understand the needs and desires and wishes of people with disabilities so that when they do come here, they already have at least some based foundation. So I would really look at ’26 as you got to focus on funding because that’s going to have to happen no matter what. And then making sure that your candidates and then making sure that your members of Congress understand about disabilities so that when [00:22:30] they come back next year, that they’re really almost ready to get going on the issues of importance. Stephanie Flynt…: Yeah. Alden Blevins: So much of what we do is kind of playing a little bit of defense about whatever is going on in the larger policy landscape or the news cycle of that week. But we obviously also have our own policy priorities that we would like to see and that we would like movement on in the next year. So I was just going to ask, what are NDRN’s top three [00:23:00] public policy priorities? Eric Buehlmann: I think if you’re looking in the proactive world, that’s tough in this day and age. I think our policy priorities tend to be much more in the defensive world now, Which is, there’s sort of a 1A and a 1B. You always have the money aspect of it, the appropriations aspect of it, and making sure that our members have hopefully increased funding, but at least level funding. The second, as I talked about before, is our members have amazingly strong authorities [00:23:30] to sort of ferret out abuse, neglect, fraud and waste. And we got to make sure that those aren’t reduced. And so that’s sort of the other big thing. I think structurally, we’re looking at the administration and saying, “We need to make sure that disability is still centered here.” The Department of Education is extremely important for students with disabilities and the amount of work they do. And around employment because the vocational rehabilitation system is there. Health and Human [00:24:00] Services impacts people with disabilities in huge, humongous ways. And so we got to make sure that those structures stay strong, that are providing the training, the technical assistance, the support to all the different programs that support people with disabilities and that they’re strong. Alden Blevins: Yeah, absolutely. I heard education, I heard healthcare. I think these are all bread and butter issues for us and for the community at large. [00:24:30] It can just be tricky to decide when and where to focus your attention. Stephanie Flynt…: Right. And also too, again, going back to that, how do we mesh the priorities in a way that we could potentially try to work with folks and get stuff done? And I think that that’s kind of where that point of collaboration comes in. Figuring out what the priorities of various offices are and see, how can we kind of mesh ours together? Where’s the common ground? What can we work together [00:25:00] on in order to make things better for disabled folks? Eric Buehlmann: And I think as Stephanie said, this is where these relationships come into effect, because you have no idea what’s going to be the big issue of the day. Today it may be X, tomorrow it’s going to be Y. The day after it’s going to be Z, and the staff are just overwhelmed a little bit. But if you have those relationships with them, if something comes up and you need to get in touch with them, you shoot them that email, you send them that note [00:25:30] and they know who you are and they’re willing to look and listen to figure out what you’re saying and where it needs to fit in their priorities. They don’t know who you are, this gets back to the, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu, then they’re not going to understand why this is a problem because you’ve not laid that foundation. So that’s where those relationships come to be critically important, because you just never know what’s going to pop up. Alden Blevins: My next question is, what are kind of the strategies or things that [00:26:00] everyday folks can do to kind of help or support? There’s a lot of overwhelming information coming at folks on all sides. And it would just be really nice if we could know what would be most helpful in terms of getting that community support to advance our priorities. Stephanie Flynt…: I think for me, the biggest thing that I can think of there is just making sure that your voice is being heard and that you are able to kind of amplify your voice when it comes to these issues. [00:26:30] Making sure that you are reaching out to your senators and representative, things of that nature. Of course, there’s the number for the Capitol switchboard and we can certainly put that in the show notes if that’s helpful to people. But for everyday folks, it’s so interesting. I’ll be on Facebook and I’ll just see different things and it’ll be videos of people just calling their senators and representative. And it sounds scary, it sounds daunting, but I promise you, getting [00:27:00] constituent calls is definitely something that is super, super helpful in terms of advocacy there. So definitely, definitely recommend that. Eric Buehlmann: And as Stephanie said, take advantage of those action alerts, take advantage of those days. If you’re looking at your state and local legislatures, a lot of them have disability days where a number of groups will come together and they’ll go to the Capitol and they’ll talk up their issues. Take advantage of those. In terms of the federal, try to keep track of if they’re going to do a town hall or if they’re going to be having a [00:27:30] get together. And go and have a discussion with the staff and the members that are there. And then when it comes to the campaigns, get involved with the campaigns. Make sure that the candidates have some kind of disability platform as part of their work and what they’re doing. Because ultimately if you’ve, I’m going to say trained, trained them ahead of time, then when they come to Congress or they go into the state legislature, you don’t have to explain as much. You’re not having to spend your time explaining why this issue is important. [00:28:00] You get to jump to, “This is why we need to do this.” So you need to be working at those candidates. You need to be looking at their platforms and you need to be talking to them so that they know that you’re there. Alden Blevins: Absolutely. I think a lot of times people feel overwhelmed with just knowing how or why to help. And I love that you even mentioned people posting their calls onto social media, because I think that’s another avenue that folks can use. Talk to your friends, talk to your neighbors, talk to people that you talk with online about how these issues impact you [00:28:30] and your life personally. I think that hearing those stories from people with disabilities can be really impactful as well. All right, I’ve got some quicker round of questions just to kind of help folks get to know both you guys and your work. Stephanie Flynt…: Yay. Alden Blevins: The first one is just almost similar to two truths and a lie. If you could give me one myth and one truth about federal advocacy, what would you say? Eric Buehlmann: I think it’s sort of the flip side of the same coin. To me, [00:29:00] the myth that’s out there is, “My voice doesn’t matter.” And that, “Whatever I say isn’t going to be heard by the staff, isn’t going to be heard by the member and I’m not going to really have an impact.” It does. Again, as I said early on, staff are constantly looking for those sources of information. They cannot keep track of all the topics they cover, all the bills they have to do, all the differing appropriations they’re following. They can’t. They rely on the constituents to provide them information. And if you are a trusted resource and providing them good information, [00:29:30] you’ve got your in and they’ll understand and they’ll follow what you’re asking them to do as best they can. So I think that’s the myth, is that their voice doesn’t make any difference. To me, the flip side of that is the truth is it does make a difference. And so if you’re not engaged, then you’re automatically losing. The disability community needs to be and put itself front and center. Because as Alden said, people with disabilities are a majority of this country. You will eventually be a member [00:30:00] of the disability community. And so therefore, you need to make sure your voice is heard. And so I think the truth is your voice does matter, the myth is people think that it doesn’t. Stephanie Flynt…: I think for me, a myth that I would say, not as interesting as Eric’s, but I think a myth that I would say, and these are probably for people who are kind of newer or just more on the outskirts of things, is that a bill is going to pass overnight. That’s not how policy works. Usually it takes lots of reiterations of introduction [00:30:30] and stuff, but that’s how it’s designed. And so I think that’s kind of where my truth comes in or where the truth comes in for the myth versus truth, is that policy is designed to take a while, even though it can be frustrating at times, but that’s in order to ensure the appropriate checks and balances and whatnot. So no, you’re not going to enter in and pass a bill in two days. Hate to break into any hopefuls, but you know. Eric Buehlmann: No, that is a huge one. People think that policy moves at a lightning quick pace. [00:31:00] It is a snail. Stephanie Flynt…: Yep. Eric Buehlmann: It takes years. I worked eight years on election reform before we were finally able to get it through Congress. And reauthorizations, I mean, this is one of our smaller ones. The Assistive Technology Act program was last reauthorized in 2004. We finally got the next reauthorization done in 2021. So it moves slowly and you have got… I guess that’s another thing, sort of following up on what you’re saying. The truth is you have to stick to these people. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Eric Buehlmann: You can’t just say, ” [00:31:30] I talked about this once and it’s going to get done this year.” No, you’re probably back next year. Stephanie Flynt…: Not how it works. Eric Buehlmann: And you’re probably back the next Congress and you’re probably back the next Congress. So you will repeatedly have the same conversations. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Especially with staff turnover, too. There are going to be different staff members, folks may move back to the representative or the senator’s districts or their own home districts or change roles, what have you. But there can sometimes be a lot of that [00:32:00] turnover. But that can also be a good thing, too. Eric Buehlmann: But Stephanie, I think we’ve got another good truth and myth. Stephanie Flynt…: Oh, okay. Eric Buehlmann: Which is, the myth in my mind is if I feel like the member’s not supportive or following what I’m talking about and caring about disability, then it’s not worth my time. The truth is staff do a lot of work. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Eric Buehlmann: And you may encounter a member that is not really [00:32:30] interested in disability, doesn’t really care about disability, but the staff is very interested in disability. And so your message can get conveyed from the staff to the member. You may not always get everything exactly the way you wanted from the member, but you’ve moved him in a direction, or her, in a direction that they weren’t going to go without the staff. Stephanie Flynt…: Exactly, exactly. Staff definitely have a lot of influence when it comes to different member priorities and things like that, that might not usually be on their [00:33:00] radar, such as disability. Alden Blevins: Actually, I caught Eric saying something yesterday that I thought was so impactful. Somebody was expressing disappointment that their meeting was with a baby staffer. And I heard Eric say, “That baby staffer could be in charge in 10 years.” Stephanie Flynt…: I was going to say, like a Chief of Staff in five years- Alden Blevins: Yeah, you never know what inroads you’re making when you get into those rooms. And you should take the chance once you’re in that room, to make the case for people with disabilities. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Alden Blevins: This next one, I’m [00:33:30] hearing a lot of themes of perseverance, maybe having to stay on people, having to return year-to-year. This is just a silly question, but what is your Hill day fuel of choice? Is it coffee, is it tea? What keeps you going? Stephanie Flynt…: I think that mine is probably either, probably Celsius. And then I don’t know if y’all have ever had the Mary’s Gone Crackers, but I like to have little hummus things with me. And so I’ll do the Mary’s Gone Crackers with some hummus on the Hill. And so that’s really good to eat between [00:34:00] meetings and stuff, but they’re really good. They’re quinoa seed crackers, gluten-free, garlicky, basil. I don’t know, they’re really good, especially with hummus. So I guess for me, that’s my food and caffeine. Eric Buehlmann: And Stephanie no doubt, could tell any of everybody what mine is. Stephanie Flynt…: Anything gluten-free/unsweetened iced tea from McDonald’s. Eric Buehlmann: Yep, bingo. I’ve never had coffee in my life. Alden Blevins: Wow. Eric Buehlmann: Yeah, I’ve never had coffee in my life. Stephanie Flynt…: I thought you would at least- Eric Buehlmann: Nope, never had coffee in my life. Alden Blevins: Just not even curious? Stephanie Flynt…: Not a sip? Eric Buehlmann: I’m curious, [00:34:30] but I’ve never had it. I’ve now reached the age of, “Why should I now start?” Alden Blevins: This is so fair, because once you start, it’s hard to stop. Stephanie Flynt…: You’re not going to be able stop. Alden Blevins: It’s real hard to stop. Stephanie Flynt…: Especially when you find a roast that you really like. Eric Buehlmann: I’m a caffeine addict, don’t get me wrong. For many years it was Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke. Stephanie Flynt…: Diet Coke. Eric Buehlmann: Doctor said, “No.” Now I’m an unsweetened tea… Well, I’m not going to say always unsweetened tea, but it’s always usually some form of iced tea. Alden Blevins: [00:35:00] Yeah. And sometimes you sneak in the sweet tea as a treat, I assume? Eric Buehlmann: No, not really. I’m not a big fan of sweet tea. I find it too sweet. Alden Blevins: Wow. Stephanie Flynt…: You have to have the right sweet tea, though. Eric Buehlmann: Yeah, I’m not from the South. Stephanie Flynt…: I was going to say- Eric Buehlmann: I’m in Virginia, but I’m not the South. Stephanie Flynt…: They don’t make good sweet tea up in the DMV if you want good sweet. Actually, they just started carrying Milo’s at my local grocery store, so that’s what I recommend. Eric Buehlmann: I’ve seen Milos. Milos is good? Stephanie Flynt…: I love Milos, yes. Eric Buehlmann: Okay, I’ll have to get that one. Stephanie Flynt…: So good, yeah. I mean, it’s sweet, but it’s not too sweet. Anyway. Eric Buehlmann: See, I find it too sweet. I’ll [00:35:30] mix it with unsweetened iced tea at times. I grew my tea at home. And what I’ll do is I’ll pour a little lemon iced tea in and sort of mix it, but I find it too sweet. But yeah, I’ve never had coffee in my life. Coffee ice cream once or twice, but never- Stephanie Flynt…: Okay, but that’s really good. Eric Buehlmann: Nah, no. Stephanie Flynt…: No? Eric Buehlmann: No. Coffee smells great. I love the smell of coffee, but I’m not going to try it now if I can avoid it. Alden Blevins: Good for you. My next one [00:36:00] is just, what is your go-to story when speaking with folks on The Hill? Do you have a P&A story that you feel like you come back to? Do you speak about issues more generally or do you have a go-to story in your back pocket? Eric Buehlmann: Well, I mean, I think the one I always fall back on is the Kaufman House in Kansas. There was a place in Kansas. I think if you just Google Kaufman House in Kansas, you’ll find it. Basically, this is one of those examples where the P&A was the only one that got in. These [00:36:30] were a husband and wife that were running a, I guess I’d call it a group home, that were doing unspeakably horrible abuse and neglect of people with mental illness. And the state had been called in a number of times, the local people had been called in a number of times, and they just shut the door on them. The P&A went in and exposed the whole thing, basically showing what was going on there. They got convicted of a number of crimes, they were sent away to jail. To me, that’s the example that I will go [00:37:00] to a lot, is without the P&A, these people would’ve been just still going through abuse and neglect. I mean, I think the P&As are creating stories every single day, honestly. The number of reports that come out from P&As, we just got one from the Maryland… Maryland, wrong M. Minnesota P&A, about the use of seclusion with some amazing pictures of the various seclusion rooms in Minnesota that they had come upon. I think they’re occurring every single day and all these reports that are coming out. [00:37:30] Our members are in all sorts of facilities, just exposing abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, some of the stuff we really can’t talk about is they’re exposing the waste, fraud and abuse that’s occurring at times in the representative payee program because people aren’t using the benefits to the benefit of people with disabilities, to the beneficiaries. But the one, if you were going to ask me the one, it would be the Kaufman House. And Nancy Jensen testified [00:38:00] in front of Congress on the importance of the P&A program. She’s written some books on the issues that arose, but that would be the one go-to. Stephanie Flynt…: Yeah. I think for me personally, it really just varies from office to office and various priorities. I will say that one thing I do try to do before meeting with particular offices is I try to reach out to the P&A, just to see if there are any particular stories or any particular things that I should highlight going [00:38:30] on in their state for their senators or representative, or even if there’s anything specific in their district. Eric brought up the report that Minnesota did on restraint and seclusion. And one thing that staffers love is data. So if you’re able to kind of bring in a visual, say like the report or even send in a report of what’s been going on along with a story, along with data, that’s really going to get you far. And so those are things that I really [00:39:00] try to bring, just tangible stuff that they can take back to their higher ups in order to try to get different things up the chain, in order for us to get the support that we’re wanting to get from that particular office, whether the goal is co-sponsoring a particular bill or sponsoring something, or whether the goal is just general support or flagging something. Just making sure that you have those materials that folks can take back. Alden Blevins: Yeah, absolutely. And I [00:39:30] think what Eric said about the network generating stories all of the time, every day. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Alden Blevins: Where I sit, working in communications, is I try to share a story. At least every week, there’s a new, new story coming out about something that a P&A is doing, whether it be work related to abuse and neglect, whether it be work related to some states, they’re already talking about the Medicaid waiver programs and how they can apply some systemic advocacy to ensure that those are protected through the changes [00:40:00] coming in the Medicaid landscape. There’s just always something to be aware of that’s going on. And I think that really harnessing all of those stories together presents a really strong case for what our network is able to do. Stephanie Flynt…: Absolutely. Alden Blevins: Yeah. I’ve been told that maybe you’ll have a Hill day or appropriations pun and/or joke? Stephanie Flynt…: I always have a joke, you know this. Alden Blevins: Okay, so? Stephanie Flynt…: Oh my goodness. Alden Blevins: Let’s get a drum roll. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. All right, [00:40:30] so it’s more of a question for Eric. Eric Buehlmann: Oh, no. Stephanie Flynt…: Are you ready? Eric Buehlmann: No, because we did not test this out beforehand. Stephanie Flynt…: Sorry, okay. How would you describe the appropriations process? Eric Buehlmann: How? Stephanie Flynt…: It’s fund. Alden Blevins: So much fun-d. Stephanie Flynt…: So much fun. Alden Blevins: So much fund. Stephanie Flynt…: Oh my goodness. Alden Blevins: Incredible. Stephanie Flynt…: But yes, that is my joke of the month. I’ll be here next month, assuming that I’m not kicked off the podcast [00:41:00] yet. Sorry, Michelle, you weren’t here for the joke, but I’m sure you’re actually laughing even though you pretend you don’t like them. Alden Blevins: Michelle is groaning from afar. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes. Alden Blevins: Yes. Eric Buehlmann: Stephanie’s puns get us through the day. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes, they do. See, I knew there was a… Yep, there we go. Alden Blevins: You got to laugh, you got to laugh. Stephanie Flynt…: Yes, exactly. Laughing is the best form of self-care when it comes to this kind of work, that’s for sure. Alden Blevins: Absolutely. It’s important to remember that congressional budgets and federal decision [00:41:30] making say a lot about whose rights are protected and whose are not, what voices are included, what voices are not. And I’m very grateful that I got the chance today to sit down with two of my amazing coworkers and hear more of their voices, get to share more about the amazing work that they do for our larger community. This has been National Disability Radio, where we highlight issues that impact people with disabilities. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and continue the [00:42:00] conversation at ndrn.org or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening. Until next time, let’s keep working together to create a world where people with disabilities can thrive. Stephanie Flynt…: Bye.
(Megan Zinn in for Bill Newman) Josh Weill, author of What Came West Juliet Faithfull, author of Liar's Dice Deb Christakos, Pioneer Valley Food Tours Paul Bockelman, Amherst Town Manager, Samantha Giffen, Communications Manager for Amherst Summer interns: Liana and Emily
(Megan Zinn in for Bill Newman) Josh Weill, author of What Came West Juliet Faithfull, author of Liar's Dice Deb Christakos, Pioneer Valley Food Tours Paul Bockelman, Amherst Town Manager, Samantha Giffen, Communications Manager for Amherst Summer interns: Liana and Emily
(Megan Zinn in for Bill Newman) Josh Weill, author of What Came West Juliet Faithfull, author of Liar's Dice Deb Christakos, Pioneer Valley Food Tours Paul Bockelman, Amherst Town Manager, Samantha Giffen, Communications Manager for Amherst Summer interns: Liana and Emily
(Megan Zinn in for Bill Newman) Josh Weill, author of What Came West Juliet Faithfull, author of Liar's Dice Deb Christakos, Pioneer Valley Food Tours Paul Bockelman, Amherst Town Manager, Samantha Giffen, Communications Manager for Amherst Summer interns: Liana and Emily
Pat Neville, Communications Manager at Coillte, discusses the fire in Slievenamon, and the continuing efforts to deal with it.
Jessica Savidge, Administrative and Communications Manager for the Town of Palm Beach, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss how the town has professionalized its communications strategy to reach residents on their own terms. Jess shares how the town uses tools like the Axios "Smart Brevity" model and the CivicReady app, which uses geolocation technology to notify residents of emergencies. The conversation covers creative outreach efforts, such as the "bring your own device open house," where the town's technical team helps residents install apps and navigate digital tools. Jess also discusses the unique challenge of communicating for a town that carries both local and national attention as the home of President Trump, and how the team stays grounded in their guiding principle: “WIIFM,” or “What's in It For Me,” ensuring every message is directly relevant to residents.
Firefighters have been continuing to fight the blaze. For the latest, Pat Neville, Communications Manager with Coillte.
So many cool things to do at the Minnesota Zoo - one new attraction is the Wander Light Trail, a Twilight Lantern Spectacular - we got more information on this illuminating new attraction with Diana Hein, Communications Manager, Minnesota Zoo and some of the other fun upcoming events at the Minnesota Zoo as well!
7-14-26 Previewing New Mexico United vs. Lexington SC with Communications manager, Carlos Tenorio II
July 6, 2026 ~ Caroline Rizzo, Communications Manager for Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, shares the latest happenings at the resort and discusses how the hospitality industry supports the region's busy tourism season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Saskia Falken speaks to Heather Wares, the Communications Manager for the Two Oceans Aquarium about their winter school holiday programme. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Lunch with Pippa Hudson Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) to Lunch with Pippa Hudson broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/MdSlWEs or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/fDJWe69 Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rachel Noble is the Communications Manager for The PGA Tour. She stops by to talk about the Travelers and why everyone on staff, including the golfers look forward to coming to Cromwell, CT.
In this episode of Not Just Buildings, host Foster interviews Kyle, Communications Manager for Bedford Water. Kyle explains the organization's rebranding from Bedford Regional Water Authority to the more community-friendly "Bedford Water," accomplished in-house on a limited budget. He discusses current challenges, including drought conditions and aging infrastructure, and highlights key projects such as integrating the Montvale water system, replacing sewer lines, and upgrading booster stations. Kyle emphasizes the importance of transparent community communication and securing grants to fund improvements. Foster also previews upcoming Chamber events, including networking sessions and ribbon cuttings across Bedford, Virginia.This podcast lives on Media Squatch+ Your home for local voices, live shows, and nonstop audio.Listen free: https://mediasquat.ch/plus
Stephen Grootes speaks to Christina Castle, author and Communications Manager at Foord Asset Management, about the launch of That’s Just Nuts, the latest title in Foord’s Teach Your Child to Invest book series. As financial literacy becomes increasingly important, the book uses storytelling and colourful characters to introduce children to concepts such as saving, patience, long-term investing and the dangers of chasing quick riches. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa Follow us on social media 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6-17-26 New Mexico United Communications Manager, Carlos Tenorio joins the program
Today we're broadcasting live from the Blythefield Country Club in Plainfield Township as it's the 12th year of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. Throughout the show we were joined by some of the great folks connected to the Meijer LPGA to hear about what's new this year, what the meaning is behind the event, and more. We were also joined by some of our great guests to talk about the Tigers, PGA, LPGA, and more. Throughout all three hours, we were joined by Mark Wilson who is a PGA Rules Official, and is an Instructor for the Ferris State Golf Management Program. He and Huge talked all about how the ladies are playing in the Meijer LPGA today, they talked about the US Open and how difficult the course has been for the players, talked about the current state of the LIV Tour, talked about other storylines surrounding the World of Golf, and so much more. In our first hour, we were joined by Rex Hoggard from the Golf Channel so he and Huge could talk about the US Open. We wrapped up the hour talking with Abbey Leach-Haskins and Lisa Bernath, who are part of the Meijer Social Media team. They filled us in on some of the fun and exciting videos they'll be posting on their social networks from the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. In our second hour, we were joined by Bill Hobson from Michigan Golf Live so he, Bill and Mark could talk about some of the storylines surrounding Golf. We wrapped up the hour talking with Erin Cataldo who is the Communications Manager for Meijer. She talked about this being one of the top stops on the LPGA Tour, told us about how far some people are traveling just to come to the Meijer LPGA Classic, talked about the feedback they've gotten, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by Ryan Fahler who is the new GM at the Blythefield Country Club. He told us how he came to be the new GM, talked about what his biggest challenge was when he took over, told us about the impact that the Meijer LPGA Classic has on the Country Club and the Community, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Today we're broadcasting live from the Blythefield Country Club in Plainfield Township as it's the 12th year of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. Throughout the show we were joined by some of the great folks connected to the Meijer LPGA to hear about what's new this year, what the meaning is behind the event, and more. We were also joined by some of our great guests to talk about the Tigers, PGA, LPGA, and more. Throughout all three hours, we were joined by Mark Wilson who is a PGA Rules Official, and is an Instructor for the Ferris State Golf Management Program. He and Huge talked all about how the ladies are playing in the Meijer LPGA today, they talked about the US Open and how difficult the course has been for the players, talked about the current state of the LIV Tour, talked about other storylines surrounding the World of Golf, and so much more. In our second hour, we were joined by Bill Hobson from Michigan Golf Live so he, Bill and Mark could talk about some of the storylines surrounding Golf. We wrapped up the hour talking with Erin Cataldo who is the Communications Manager for Meijer. She talked about this being one of the top stops on the LPGA Tour, told us about how far some people are traveling just to come to the Meijer LPGA Classic, talked about the feedback they've gotten, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
We were joined by Erin Cataldo who is the Communications Manager for Meijer. She talked about this being one of the top stops on the LPGA Tour, told us about how far some people are traveling just to come to the Meijer LPGA Classic, talked about the feedback they've gotten, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
We were joined by Cara Lutz who is the Communications Manager for Meijer. She told us about what's bigger and better this year, talked about all of the great prices you'll find at the Tournament, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Today we're broadcasting live from the Blythefield Country Club in Plainfield Township as we get set for the 12th year of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. Throughout the show we were joined by some of the great folks connected to the Meijer LPGA to hear about what's new this year, what the meaning is behind the event, and more. We were also joined by some of our great guests to talk about the Tigers, PGA, LPGA, Michigan and Michigan State Athletics, Detroit Lions, and more. In our first hour, we were joined by former Major Leaguer John Vander Wal. He and Huge talked about the current strengths and weaknesses of this Tigers team, gave their thoughts on the future of Skubal with the team, and much more. We were then joined by another Baseball Insider, Greg Heeres so he and Huge could talk about the Tigers pitching. Greg also filled us in on how he can help you with succession planning. We were then joined by Cathy Cooper who is the Tournament Director for the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. She filled us in on the fun and exciting things you'll find at the Tournament, told us what's new this year, and more. In our second hour, we were joined by Tim Staudt from Staudt on Sports in Lansing. He and Huge talked about MSU losing their President and AD, gave their thoughts on what led to that, talked about the short and long term impact, gave their thoughts on how MSU can dig themselves out of this, and more. Chris Balas from theWolverine.com then joined us. He joined us to update us on Michigan Football and Coach Whittingham in the off-season, talked about Warde Manuel, and much more. We were then joined by Cara Lutz who is the Communications Manager for Meijer. She told us about what's bigger and better this year, talked about all of the great prices you'll find at the Tournament, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by former Michigan Basketball Head Coach John Beilein for another edition of our "Talking Hoops" segment presented by Doeren Mayhew. Huge and John talked about the New York Knicks winning the NBA Finals, talked about the Pistons in the off-season, talked a little Michigan Basketball, and more. We were then joined by John Conlon who is one of our Soccer Insiders. He and Huge talked about how the World Cup is going, talked about the USA beating Paraguay, looked ahead to their match against Australia, and more. We were then joined by Jeff Risdon from the Detroit Lions Podcast. He filled us in on what he's seen from Lions mini-camp this week, talked about positives and negatives he's seen, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In our second hour, we were joined by Tim Staudt from Staudt on Sports in Lansing. He and Huge talked about MSU losing their President and AD, gave their thoughts on what led to that, talked about the short and long term impact, gave their thoughts on how MSU can dig themselves out of this, and more. Chris Balas from theWolverine.com then joined us. He joined us to update us on Michigan Football and Coach Whittingham in the off-season, talked about Warde Manuel, and much more. We were then joined by Cara Lutz who is the Communications Manager for Meijer. She told us about what's bigger and better this year, talked about all of the great prices you'll find at the Tournament, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode Tara speaks to an incredible woman, with a sharp wit, a great sense of humor and a truly international perspective on life, a brilliant new addition to the Deia community, Communications Manager of La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Sonia Bonamassa. In their talk they explore intercultural communication, Sonia's time working with big fashion, and her new work here in Deia. They also talk about the really cool tennis weekend that is coming up, and art collaborations that are happening this summer.
Charles Krall, Communications Manager of the ARCA Menards Series, joins as the guest.
On May 19, 2026, 914INC. proudly celebrated its 16th annual Wunderkinds Awards with a special cocktail reception at the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club. This year's event honored 26 exceptional professionals under the age of 35 who were handpicked by the magazine's editors for their standout talent, innovative thinking, and meaningful contributions to the Westchester community. Featured in the May/June 2026 issue, these rising stars represent the future of the region's business landscape. A warm congratulations goes out to all of this year's honorees, along with a sincere thank you to the event sponsors who helped make this memorable celebration possible.Westchester Talk Radio host Joan Franzino Melissa McMonagle, the Development and Communications Manager at the Pace Women's Justice Center, located at the Pace University School of Law. Managing all outgoing communications, social media, press releases, and outreach, Melissa focuses on securing independent funding for the center, which provides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. By framing the center's mission through creative, relatable storytelling, she has substantially increased donor revenue and social media engagement.
Mike introduces Evans Hodges, the new Communications Manager for Noble Warriors. They discuss Evans life and career beginnings as well as plans for future Noble Warriors events. Mentioned in this podcast: How to Lead Your Family: A Guide for Men Wanting to Be More - A Practical Guide for Husbands and Fathers -by Joel R. Beeke The Redeemed Man - A Practical Guide to Biblical Manhood for Faith, Family, and Work -by Joel R. Beeke, Paul M. Smalley, Richard D. Phillips The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors -by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones The Titus Ten: Foundations for Godly Manhood -by J. Josh Smith BetterMan 2026 Catapult Conference Noble Warriors YouTube Channel Noble Warriors is a 100% donor funded ministry! Click here to donate
Lisa Liu is the Corporate Marketing & Communications Manager at Stellar Cyber. In this episode, she joins host Charlie Osborne to discuss the future of AI in cybersecurity, including challenges, its differences from other industries, advancements, and more. This episode is brought to you by Stellar Cyber. Learn more about our sponsor at https://StellarCyber.ai.
What does it look like when a city comes together to celebrate history, art and community? In this episode of Yes, Columbus, Boxer and Sarah kick off the “A Celebration of US” series with Chris Hurtubise of the America 250-Ohio Commission and Jim Fischer of the Columbus Association for Performing Arts. Together, they explore how Ohio and Columbus are bringing America's 250th anniversary to life through statewide experiences, events and local collaboration — including the Palace Theatre's 100th anniversary. From arts and culture to community pride, this episode highlights how milestone moments help tell the story of Columbus.Jim Fischer, Communications Manager, CAPA - BioJim is the Communications Manager for CAPA. Previously, he was an arts writer in Columbus for about 30 years, primarily working with various Columbus Dispatch-related properties, including ThisWeek Newspapers and Columbus Alive. A native of Pittsburgh, he is a graduate of Otterbein College (yes, College, he knows it's a university now) and has made his home in central Ohio for 35 years. He is a Columbus Blue Jackets season ticket holder since the inaugural season, and is a co-founder of Beer & Hymns – Delaware, Ohio.Chris Hurtubise, Communications Director for America 250-Ohio - BioChris Hurtubise, Communications Director for America 250-Ohio, is an experienced senior marketing and communications leader with extensive experience including non-for-profit museum marketing, professional services and consumer packaged goods. She served as COSI's Senior Director of Marketing and Communications and in other roles for 24 years immersing her in attraction marketing, travel and tourism, mission-based messaging, and community-based initiatives. More recently she worked for two local start-ups - one focusing on global humanitarian engineering and the other an MBE-owned entertainment discovery platform. Chris is a native Ohioan from the Dayton area, a graduate of The Ohio State University and lives in Gahanna with her husband Larry and dog Maxi. Her two young adult children are pursuing their careers in healthcare and law. She enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, camping, and kayaking and is excited to help Ohio celebrate our contribution to the richness of America's story in 2026.
Wanting to take the family on a weekend road trip? We got some tips from an expert to make it budget friendly.
Angelique Morelli's career has been anything but a straight line. With over 15 years of experience—ranging from nonprofit fundraising to serving as the Communications Manager at Montefiore Nyack Hospital—she has mastered the art of the pivot. But her most significant transformation wasn't a job title; it was finding the courage to step into her own light as a children's book author! In this episode, we dive into: The "Advocacy" Turning Point: Why waiting for a raise or recognition often leads to being overlooked, and how Angelique learned that being your own best career advocate is the only way to move the needle. Discovering the Leader Within: The exact moment as an interim director when Angelique realized she had the "it" factor to lead, mentor, and drive impact without fear of being "too pushy." The Pivot to Authorship: How a global pandemic and a rescue pup named Ellie inspired her to fulfill a lifelong creative goal, leading to the 2025 release of her debut book, Ellie Morelli and The Pack Unleash Their Super Powers. Fuels & Foundations: How her roles on the board of New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) and the Business Council of Westchester keep her fueled by community and purpose. Whether you're feeling stuck in a career that doesn't feel like yours or you have a "bucket list" creative project waiting to be unleashed, Angelique's story is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to reinvent yourself and trust your intuition. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Washington and the COP conferences get all the headlines, but some of the most creative and effective climate action in the world is emerging from city halls — and Denver's Office of Climate Action is one of the best examples of what's possible.This week, Molly zooms in on the Mile High City as she talks with Chelsea Warren, Marketing and Communications Manager for Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency. Chelsea has spent years building one of the country's most effective city-level climate communications programs, making the case that local government is where climate action gets real.We talk about:Why local government is the frontline of climate action, and why local action matters more than everHow Denver used the rollback of federal climate policies to motivate voters to fund local climate initiatives like solar, e-bike rebates, heat pump programs, and moreUsing the science of behavioral change to effectively promote climate actionGoodwill pop-ups, ice cream collaborations, and other non-traditional ways Denver activated around a climate campaign, and delivered 128 million impressions in the processWhy financial incentives and positive social comparison beat education every time when it comes to motivating climate actionThe perception gap: most people wildly underestimate how many of their neighbors care about climate actionHow effective, human-centered storytelling can combat pessimism and inactionThe co-benefits frame: reaching people through health, savings, and quality of life, not just the environmentLinks:Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Climate-Action-Sustainability-and-ResiliencyThe Denver Climate Project: https://www.denvergov.org/Community/Denver-Climate-ProjectAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2zSubscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dame Maureen Lipman joins Chloe Tilley to talk about Allegra, the joyful new musical play that begins a nationwide tour just two days after her 80th birthday. She tells us about playing a woman who finds happiness in a world that can't quite handle it, and the physical demands of singing and dancing eight times a week.The use of illegal, unregistered children's homes in England has surged by more than 370% in five years, according to a new report, Hidden Children: An investigation into Unregistered Children's Homes, published by Commonweal Housing and written by Public First. Nuala is joined by Fraser McLean, Policy and Communications Manager for the charity Commonweal Housing and Rebekah Pierre, Deputy Director of the charity Article 39.Simone Pennant, the founder and CEO of The TV Collective, has just been presented with the 2026 BAFTA Television Craft Special Award at this year's ceremony. It was in recognition for her outstanding contribution in championing diversity within the screen industries. Is it time to retire the term 'bouncer'? We hear from Satia Rai, CEO of the International Professional Security Association, who told the largest gathering of the security profession in Europe this week that we should ditch it in favour of 'guardian' to help women feel safer, and to attract more women into the job. We also get the view of Tee, a female door supervisor at a Birmingham bar.And as the spring dawn chorus reaches its peak, a new book is challenging long held assumptions about birdsong, and revealing the overlooked role of female birds. Researcher Lucy McRobert, collaborator for the new book, The Sound of Birding: Second Edition, joins Anita to tune our ears to a richer, more complex soundscape.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty McQuire
Send us Fan MailEach year, DECAL's Look Again campaign serves as a crucial reminder for parents, caregivers, and educators about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. We're proud to highlight the collaborative efforts with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, joining forces to raise awareness and prevent tragic incidents of pediatric vehicular heatstroke. Joining us to talk about the Look Again campaign are Kesha McNeal and Rukiya Thomas with Child Care Services; Allen Poole is Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, Robert Hydrick, Communications Manager for the Governor's Office of Highway Safety; and Angel Upshaw, Media Relations Specialist. Support the show
Welcome to episode three of Roger That! In this episode, host Emmy Hildebrand brings you a powerful conversation with Patrick Garvey, a Navy veteran who shows exactly how military and public service can shape a life and career.Patrick brings you behind the scenes of his remarkable journey through the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the Navy. You will discover how his 14 years in the U.S. Senate, including nearly a decade serving as a senior professional staff member for Senator Richard Lugar, gave him a front-row seat to crucial national security decisions. When you tune in, you will hear Patrick share his unique insights on leadership under pressure, the realities of the issues facing veterans today, and the lasting legacy of bipartisanship and statesmanship.Join the conversation to hear his incredible perspective on service!ABOUT: Helping Veterans And Families (HVAF) is committed to helping homeless veterans return to self-sufficiency and preventing at-risk veterans from becoming homeless. Through supportive housing, case management, employment assistance, and essential resources, HVAF continues to serve veterans in need.If you have episode ideas or would like to be a guest, please reach out to HVAF's Marketing & Communications Manager, Nolan Anderson, at NAnderson@hvaf.org. Together, we can continue the mission of ensuring every veteran has a pathway to dignity and self-reliance.Together, we can make a lasting difference!
Double Down Michigan: A Podcast by the Michigan Gaming Control Board
In this episode of Double Down Michigan, Executive Director Henry Williams sits down with Keesha Garrett, the Michigan Gaming Control Board's Communications Manager, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to elevate the voice of a state regulatory agency. Keesha's work at the MGCB goes far beyond press releases and social media. As the agency's Communications Manager and Language Access Coordinator, she ensures that Michigan's diverse communities — regardless of the language they speak — can access and understand the agency's work. And as People and Culture Manager, she works to build a workplace where staff feel valued, supported, and connected with a shared purpose.Together, Henry and Keesha explore how all these roles intersect — and why strong communication is at the heart of everything the MGCB does. Whether you're a Michigan resident curious about how your state's gaming industry is regulated, a gaming industry professional, or simply someone who believes that good government starts with clear and inclusive communication, this episode is for you. Facebook: MichiganGCBTwitter: @MichiganGCBInstagram: @michigangcb)LinkedIn: michigangcb
£30m is being invested in the games industry in the UK, mainly to help develop ideas for the next big games. But will this government funding benefit women, in an industry where just 16% of leadership roles in UK studios are held by women and women-founded studios receive less than 3% of total investment? Nuala McGovern is joined by Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO of Women in Games, and Kirsty Ridgen, CEO of FuturLab studios and Deputy Chair of the UK Video Games Council.The use of illegal, unregistered children's homes in England has surged by more than 370% in five years, according to a new report, Hidden Children: An investigation into Unregistered Children's Homes, published by Commonweal Housing and written by Public First. To discuss some of the reasons behind this, the implications and what can be done, Nuala is joined by Fraser McLean, Policy and Communications Manager for the charity Commonweal Housing and Rebekah Pierre, Deputy Director of the charity Article 39, who fight for children's rights in England.Sheer fashion – that is clothing with a see-through element - is having a moment. Actors Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts have all worn it recently. And all of these women are over 50. So, what's the appeal? And is there judgement of women of a certain age wearing ‘invisible clothes?' Nuala is joined by Deborah Joseph, former editor of Glamour magazine and Kassia St Clair, a cultural historian to talk about the latest trend for see-through materials.'Men's health to get 60% more new funding than women's' - that's a headline in the Times newspaper today, comparing the women's health strategy, published by government earlier this month with the men's health strategy that was launched last November. Rosie Taylor is an independent investigative journalist reporting on women's health in the UK who worked on this for the Times and she joins Nuala.
In this bonus episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, we take a closer look at the state of housing in the United States nearly 60 years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act and why this moment demands renewed urgency. With a national shortage of more than 4.7 million homes, rising rents, and persistent racial discrimination, the housing crisis goes beyond supply. It reflects a deeper shift in how fair housing is being understood and enforced, as federal protections are rolled back under the guise of “colorblind” policies. We hear from Nathan Cheung, Communications Manager for Housing Now California, and Andreanecia M. Morris, Executive Director of Housing Louisiana, who bring this moment into focus through lived experience and on the ground advocacy. They speak to what housing justice looks like in practice, including stable, affordable homes and real choice not constrained by race or income. They also share how communities are organizing for affordable, safe, and stable housing. From community land trusts to local policy fights, this episode shows how people across the country are not just pushing back, but actively building a more just housing future. Special thanks to Ryan Curren, Director of Housing, Land, and Development at Race Forward, for his contribution to this episode. You can find the full Leaders of the Movement for Housing Justice video series on Colorlines.com. Resources: Colorlines – Housing and Land Justice https://colorlines.com/housing-and-land-justice The Trump Administration Puts Fair Housing In Danger. But Local Advocates Are Still Scoring Wins (Via Colorlines) https://bit.ly/4usUgAH
RSAC Conference 2026 made one thing impossible to miss: AI is on every sticker, every slide, and every booth. Sorting signal from marketing has never been harder. Lisa Liu, Corporate Marketing and Communications Manager at Stellar Cyber, joins this Brand Highlight to continue a conversation that started on the show floor in San Francisco and was worth picking up again once the noise settled. Stellar Cyber has been incorporating machine learning into every layer of its security platform since 2015, well before AI became the marketing default. The position Lisa Liu brings is direct: AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution. A large language model is not the most efficient way to parse log data, and slapping an AI label on existing functionality is not the same as designing for the analyst pain points at every stage of detection, investigation, and response. The conversation closes on the autonomous SOC question, where Stellar Cyber argues for a human-augmented approach. Promises of complete autonomy deserve healthy skepticism; guardrails matter, and keeping a human analyst in the loop is what allows AI mistakes to be caught and contained before they cascade. It is a Brand Highlight worth a few minutes for anyone trying to separate AI substance from AI theater in security operations. This is a Brand Highlight. A Brand Highlight is a ~5 minute introductory conversation designed to put a spotlight on the guest and their company. Learn more: https://www.studioc60.com/creation#highlight GUEST Lisa Liu, Corporate Marketing and Communications Manager, Stellar Cyber | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaaliu/ RESOURCES Learn more about Stellar Cyber: https://stellarcyber.ai/ View all of our RSAC Conference 2026 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsac26 Are you interested in telling your story? ▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full ▶︎ Brand Spotlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlight ▶︎ Brand Highlight Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#highlight KEYWORDS Lisa Liu, Stellar Cyber, Sean Martin, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, brand highlight, RSAC Conference 2026, Multi-Layer AI, human-augmented autonomous SOC, machine learning, Open XDR, NG-SIEM, security operations, AI in cybersecurity, agentic AI, SOC analyst, security platform Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Heritage tourism is one of the most powerful, and most underutilized, tools in a destination marketer's toolkit. Adam Stoker sits down with Jake Wynn, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Visit Frederick, and Heidi Schlag, founder of Heritage Tourism Studio, to unpack how DMOs and museums can work together to turn local history into compelling visitor experiences. The conversation covers why museums need to start thinking like tourism institutions, how destinations can help history organizations build content and experiences that resonate with younger audiences, and why the authentic stories already living in your backyard may be your greatest competitive advantage. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt's services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
Recorded live for the first time at the 7th Digital for SMEs (D4SME) Roundtable, this special episode is hosted by Shayne MacLachlan and Alix Philouze. While 61% of SMEs report using AI, three quarters remain beginners, highlighting a gap between adoption and confidence. Joined by entrepreneurs Regitze Vestergaard Jacobsen, Robyn Baker and Leonardo Baggiani, the discussion explores how small businesses are experimenting with AI, managing cyber risks, navigating costs and skills gaps, and protecting jobs, identity and the human touch. A candid, on the ground conversation to explore what matters most to entrepreneurs facing these challenges today. Hosts: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities. Alix Philouze is a communications co-ordinator at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, where she works with both the SME and Entrepreneurship division and the Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development division. She holds a degree in European Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Guests: Robyn Baker | https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-baker-257924396/ Robyn Baker is an entrepreneur based in The Netherlands who loves supporting small businesses succeed on competitive eCommerce marketplaces. Through her business Unicorn Copy & Strategy, she provides the written and photo content needed to launch products online with a focus on AI optimization to maximize product visibility and brand growth. Leonardo Baggiani | https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardo-baggiani-488216116/ A former Chef, Leonardo Baggiani transitioned to management to ensure business resilience. Leveraging an Agronomy degree and Food Quality Master, he directs cultural-site cafés through public-sector collaborations. His human-scale approach prioritizes staff well-being, promoting the vital social essence of traditional neighborhood hubs also in tourist areas. Regitze Vestergaard Jacobsen | https://www.linkedin.com/in/regitze-vestergaard-jacobsen-12025b97/ Regitze Vestergaard Jacobsen is a Sales and Marketing Manager in the Danish hospitality sector at Hotel Gl. Skovridergaard and Conference Center, where she works hands-on with AI to turn digital potential into real business value. She focuses on saving time, personalising guest experiences, and improving visibility. Her core belief is clear: technology should support people, not replace them, and be simple enough for SMEs to actually use. To know more about the D4SME network https://www.oecd.org/en/networks/oecd-digital-for-smes-global-initiative.html For the latest SMEs policy https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/empowering-smes-in-the-age-of-ai_bf5a9816-en.html To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/ To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/ Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/newsletters #oecdpodcast #oecd #ocde #SMEs #AI #business #digital