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In today's episode of Plugged In, host Chuck Hanna speaks with Kyle Tafuri, Vice President of Sustainability at Hackensack Meridian Health, about the organization's ambitious sustainability initiatives. Kyle shares perspectives on balancing long-term environmental goals with the immediate challenges of operating a healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships, incremental progress, and innovative solutions like offsite solar, carbon capture, and geothermal energy. He also discusses Hackensack Meridian Health's proactive approach to supply chain sustainability, energy efficiency, and patient-centered environmental strategies. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The challenges of incorporating sustainability into healthcare operations (02:04) Implementing key energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives (06:24) How Hackensack measures its sustainability success (09:50) Balancing long-term sustainability goals with practical progress (14:50) How Hackensack is expanding sustainability efforts (18:39) For detailed show notes, click here. Connect with Kyle Tafuri On LinkedIn Kyle Tafuri, Vice President of Sustainability at Hackensack Meridian Health, is not just a leader in healthcare sustainability – he's a visionary. For over a decade, Kyle has been instrumental in weaving sustainability into the very fabric of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), transforming the health system into an industry leader in environmental responsibility. Under Kyle's leadership, HMH and its hospitals were the first in the country to receive the Joint Commission Sustainability Certification. The flagship hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, has been recognized as one of the top 25 green hospitals by Practice Greenhealth for nine consecutive years. All of HMH's hospitals are in the process of implementing 30 MW of on-site solar and battery storage, which is the most of any health system in the U.S. His dedication to green building, sustainable food practices, waste reduction, and responsible purchasing has set a new standard for healthcare institutions nationwide. Connect with Constellation Follow Constellation on LinkedIn Follow Chuck Hanna on LinkedIn Learn more about Constellation sustainability solutions Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
I have been excited about Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) for a while. Theirs was one of the first complex songs I learned to identify, and being such a common neighbour on the landscape it's hard to go a few days without hearing them, even in Winter, but especially in the Spring.While out today, I came across a couple Song Sparrow tracks in the silt newly laid down by the receding Eramosa River flood waters and it pricked my interest to dig in a little deeper to this common figure in my life. To learn more :Song Sparrow tracks on InaturalistBird Tracks and Sign by Mark Elbroch and Eleanor Marks. Stackpole Books, 2001.Bird Song : Identification Made Easy by Ernie Jardine. Natural Heritage, 1996.Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests by Casey McFarland, Mathew Monjello & David Moskowitz. HMH, 2021.Baby Bird Identification : A North American Guide by Linda Tuttle-Adams. Cornell University Press, 2022.Birds of Forest, Yard, & Thicket by John Eastman. Stackpole Books, 1997.
What will be trending in education in 2025?Host Kailey Rhodes sits down with Classcraft cofounder and HMH's SVP of product management and strategy Shawn Young to discuss ed predictions. They cover topics like simplifying EdTech, leaning on AI tech tools to build teacher-student relationships, and bringing the "human element" into technology.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
This week, John is joined by Bree Osborne, the Marketing Manager for the City of Santee. They discuss the two Marine Corps units that the City of Santee adopted to support for the past 20 years, HMH 462 out of Mira Mar and 2nd Battalion 1st Marines out of Camp Pendleton, and the Golf Classic that will fund continued support of the service members and their families. They also discuss the exciting events that are just around the corner, so tune in and mark your calendars!!Heroes Golf Classic Tournament at Carlton Oaks Golf CourseFebruary 13th from 8:00am-3:30pmInformation hereFido Fest at Town Center Community Park EastFebruary 22nd from 11:00am-3:00pmInformation hereDiscover Your Community & Tutu Fun Run at Town Center Community Park EastMarch 15th from 10:00am-1:00pmInformation hereTo contact John Olsen,619-855-1151John@TheSanteeGuy.comJohnOlsen.com John Olsen RE Facebook Santee Update Facebook
How are educators feeling about AI? In this bite-sized episode, host Kailey Rhodes sits down with Andrew Goldman, founder of Writable and EVP of HMH Labs. Together, they dig deeper into HMH's Educator Confidence Report survey results and share what educators really think about AI use in schools. Plus they discuss innovative ways AI is being integrated into lesson planning and curriculum development, all while adhering to high-quality, research-backed standards.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell for a post-election edition of "Week in Edtech," featuring insights from Anna Edwards and Ben Wallerstein of Whiteboard Advisors. ✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:16]
Educators are giving the teaching profession a low grade. Why is that? On today's bite-sized episode, we will be zeroing in on educator's top concerns, their views of the profession, and what we can do to make it better. We'll dive into HMH's Educator Confidence Report, which surveys educators about the issues that impact them daily and asks them how we can improve the profession going forward. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
This episode Rex and Duff talk about seeing the Rob Zombie/Alice cooper and Metal Allegiance shows, a new metal magazine Rex is reading and then funny rejected slogans for the HMH. Picks of the week: Rex: Deceased - Children of the Morgue
Join Montag on a solo show as Veriteras shredder Santtu Winter stops by for a lively talk about melodic death metal, the Finnish metal scene, and enjoys all of the HMH games you know and love!
Pretty Selfies of MyselfHufft Marchand Hospitality was founded by Nick Hufft and Lon Marchand in 2020. This umbrella of restaurants includes Curbside Burgers in Baton Rouge, where we posted up for this episode with Jeff Byrnes, a man of many many talents, representing HMH — also home to The Overpass Merchant, Junior's on Harrison, Gail's Fine Ice Cream, and Il Supremo. Find all things HMH at www.hufftmarchand.comThe Eat the Boot Podcast is sponsored by Cheba Hut Toasted Subs Baton Rouge and features music from Louisiana based singer/songwriter, Adam Dale, from the album “Shadowtown”. www.eattheboot.com
Send us a Text Message.Andrew Goldman joined HMH in 2024 when HMH acquired Writable, where he, as Co-Founder and CEO, oversaw business and product strategy. Andrew joined HMH as the EVP of HMH Labs, a newly formed division that pursues innovative product development through a highly cross-functional team structure. Previously, he was the Founder and CEO of Subtext, Inc., a collaborative learning company that was acquired by Renaissance Learning. Before entering the EdTech industry, Andrew was the CEO and Co-Founder of Pandemic Studios, a leading game development studio that was ultimately acquired by Electronic Arts. Andrew received his BA in Political Science from Brown and earned his Master's in Human-Computer Interaction from NYU. Andrew was a member of the U.S. Olympic sailing team in 1988.Recommended Resources:
Monday morning football lessons can spark student engagement. Just ask Mary. We're kicking off our season with third-grade teacher Mary Martinez Crippen from Miami, Florida, joined by Teachers in America host, Kailey Rhodes. Mary became a viral sensation when she began tracking football stats with her class and sharing their journey on social media. Throughout the football season, her students learned grit, perseverance, and other life lessons. In this episode, Mary gives advice on how to incorporate personal passions into your instruction, how to connect classroom learning to the real world, and how to include football into your own lessons.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Dive deep into the importance of integrative and preventive healthcare with Michele, CEO and co-founder of FemGevity. They tackled systematic barriers to women's health and how the healthcare system often overlooks these needs—particularly in perimenopause and menopause care. Learn actionable tips on balancing hormones, comprehensive health testing, and integrative solutions that can help you live your longest, most vibrant life yet. Tune in to take charge of your health today with confidence and clarity.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:The necessity of an integrative approach to women's healthcare.FemGevity as an accessible service prioritizing women's health. The importance of comprehensive hormone and microbiome testing.Failures of symptom-based treatments, especially in menopause care.Systematic barriers and the need for innovative healthcare solutions.Why women need community and safe space to discuss vulnerabilities.Episode References/Links:FemGevity InstagramFemGevityFemGevity TIkTokFemGevity LinkedInEve by Cat BohannonGuest Bio:Michele has expertly crafted her career niche within the healthcare sector, accumulating over 18 years as a strategic healthcare executive. Armed with an MBA in Healthcare Management from Northeastern University, Michele excels in aligning women's healthcare services with contemporary needs and expectations. Her contributions have been nothing short of revolutionary, particularly in introducing innovative women's health testing to New York City's leading physicians. Her focus spans molecular genetics, cancer biomarkers, and PCR Testing, making a significant impact in the medical community. Michele's professional journey has seen her in influential roles within Fortune 500 companies like Labcorp and Quest, but her prowess shines brightest in her role in smaller, specialized laboratories. Notably, she achieved remarkable success in expanding her client portfolio to an impressive $40 million in New York City. Michele's leadership extends beyond diagnostics and into innovation. She spearheaded the implementation of the first saliva-based COVID-19 PCR test in the New York Metro area, demonstrating her pioneering spirit. Her entrepreneurial flair is further evidenced by her role as the co-founder and CEO of FLOW Dental, a thriving multimillion-dollar cosmetic dental practice. This multifaceted career showcases Michele's unique blend of strategic vision and entrepreneurial acumen. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. DEALS! Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox Be in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe It Till You See It Podcast SurveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipFREE Ditching Busy Webinar Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable Pilates Follow Us on Social Media:InstagramFacebookLinkedIn Episode Transcript:Michele Wispelwey 0:00 You have three options in mind, you need to either accept it, change it, or leave it. And you need to pick your path. And whatever that situation may be, whether it's a fight with a partner, how you feel about your body, if you're having health issues, you have those three distinct options in life. And be very clear which one you choose, accept it, change it, or leave it. I think you change it.Lesley Logan 0:29 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Oh my gosh, you guys get ready. This conversation went everywhere, everywhere, ladies, in all the best ways. And to be honest, like, I knew I wanted to have her on the show. But then we got into talking and I was like, oh, we're gonna have a conversation. So we get down and dirty ladies about women's health and holistic health and signs and symptoms that people are getting confused and what doctors are doing and just all about, well just you know how to have ease in existence, right? Like everyone talks about find your purpose, but like sometimes you can know your purpose and it's not easy. And ease of existence can comes from like having really awesome balanced health and wellness. And so Michele Wispelway of FemGevity is our guest today. Get ready, ladies, this is a good one. So here we go. All right, Be It babe. I'm super excited to finally get this interview going because I was so excited when I met Michele Wispelway, our guest today, to talk about what she's just excited to talk with you about. And then you know my life. We all got a little bit busy. And so what's so fun about it happening today is this is the exact day that you should be hearing it. It's the exact day we should be talking about it. So Michele, will you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at? Michele Wispelwey 2:22 Yes. Hi, everyone. I am Michele Wispelway. I am CEO and co founder of FemGevity Health. We are a female longevity medicine and focusing on menopause and perimenopause treatments. I'm also a mom. I'm an aunt, I'm also I'm a sister. I'm lots of other things. But you know, my sole purpose here today is that, CEO of FemGevity. Lesley Logan 2:45 Okay, so that is really cool. Our ears are all perked up at female longevity and all the things. So I guess how did you get into that? Because I don't know, maybe you grew up going I'm going to be in medicine with female longevity, or I don't know, did you stumble upon it? What was the impetus to it?Michele Wispelwey 3:03 Yeah, so I, my background was always, I guess from if you want to kind of go back to just college years, right? And what I want to do, and I really wanted to be on the science back end of like diagnostics, and I love the innovation in medicine, and being able to work with doctors to collaborate different type of treatment plans on how their patients live healthier. And that was, really quickly, I learned that that just wasn't the reality of our healthcare system. It was driven by a payer system. And and there's very limited on what women are offered opportunity wise, especially if you are not, you know, top of the echelon of the income be able to pay out of pocket. And through my journey of with my lab background, I really got to see and dig in deeper on like, what I wanted for myself, and what I think other women would want for themselves. So that's what really long story short led led me here. And I also have a very personal journey where my mom actually was really gaslit for many years on what, she had symptoms, what she was told that were just menopause really, actually they call it go and you're just going through your changes.Lesley Logan 4:23 I do recall my grandma was going through her changes. Michele Wispelwey 4:27 Yeah, isn't that so tacky? You know, it's like when men said oh, she's on the rag. It's like that type of crap.Lesley Logan 4:34 Yeah, it is that type of crap. It's just like, can we just call it what it is? It has a name. Michele Wispelwey 4:39 Yeah, yeah. So my mom actually passed away at 51. Lesley Logan 4:44 Oh, my gosh that's so young. Michele Wispelwey 4:45 Yeah, yeah. She was misdiagnosed for years. And she had a lot of spotting and what appeared that it was her changes and fibroids and that is exactly where we still are today with a lot of doctors, majority of doctors, you know, 80% of them have no training on hormones and perimenopause and menopause and just how it affects women's longevity, ovarian preservation, metabolic, you know, cancer prevention, things like that. So I have a few, you know, caveats that have brought me to where I am today. And I think as a little girl, I was always very, I guess you would say neurotic, where I was always like, nervous and like health conscious and, and stuff about like germs. You know, like, I peed my pants all the time in kindergarten, because I never wanted to sit on the toilet because I didn't want to get germs and probably I'm probably diving into like psychological issues that we don't need to do right now. But my point is, I was very big into health and staying healthy and looking for ways to go down that route. So I think it's always inherently been in me. And just has driven me to here today,Lesley Logan 6:00 Okay, this is, okay, thank you for sharing that. Because yes, I'm, right now, like.Michele Wispelwey 6:04 Just being honest. Lesley Logan 6:05 I love it. Because I know I can already picture some of our listeners, I won't say their names who are, probably, doing the same thing. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I have many female family members who were misdiagnosed or just kinda pushed the wayside until it was too bad until it was too late. People just dismissing the symptoms as being oh, you know, like my grandmother, oh, she's just taking too many of her pain meds and she actually had more pain meds leftover than she should every month. So like, that can't be. That's, that's not how math works. So you know, and I, and I don't know that if, she did die of brain cancer. I don't know that finding out sooner would have done anything different for her type. But like also, I think she would have spent the last few months of her life feeling like she was a crazy person. You know, being you know, (inaudible) like, I do think that there's some interesting things I'm currently, I'm sure you've heard the book, Michele, but I'm currently reading the book Eve, the history. Michele Wispelwey 7:01 Oh my God, so am I. It's so good. Did you get to the section yet that men have nipples? (Inaudible) Lesley Logan 7:09 Every man I meet I'm like, you need to read this book, you're gonna learn that you can breastfeed. And so there are no such thing as gender roles, in my opinion. Also like that there has men currently breastfeeding on the planet.Michele Wispelwey 7:23 There is, there was a wave of Homosapiens that they took turns where the woman would breastfeed or if she would go out to gather and hunt and he would nurse. So, it's amazing. And men, if you're listening, you can lactate stuff. We can, we can help you. Lesley Logan 7:39 We can help you. And also apparently, if you got rid of your balls, you could live a longer life. Just another. Michele Wispelwey 7:45 Yes. Lesley Logan 7:47 The first chapter had me like going, oh my gosh, I was like Brad, you have to, every person we meet, like, you must read it. Every pregnant woman I mean, like, hold on, you need to understand there's a first and very important thing is the first few chapters go listen.Michele Wispelwey 8:01 It was amazing. It's a great book. I actually bought it for my co-founder Kristin and I sent it to her last week and she's super excited to read it. We were just talking about the nipple thing today. Lesley Logan 8:09 Yeah, it's so it's so fascinating. If if Cat Bohannon is listening, I would love to have you on the pod. Anyways, I but I loved it because she's doing this like thorough look. And as you mentioned, like you got into this medicine thinking like you could collaborate, and it's just not what happens. Those of you who live in other countries, maybe it's different for you. But if you're currently living in like a system that is like the U.S. it is non-collaborative, you are going to different silo doctors and you're trying to figure out the wrong with you and everyone is kind of trying to give you a pill to cover up symptoms. It is how I feel about it. And I'm not against medicine. I'm not against science, guys, I'm not, so don't put me in that category. But I get really frustrated because I had a massive health issue for 10 years I got exacerbated because no one would actually like work together like no one was actually understand me and like I said, I'm not sleeping very well anymore. And these things it was just terrible. What happened is I had definitely had some stomach issues and I stopped absorbing nutrition. And then I stopped going through sleep cycles, which means I stopped producing stomach acid, which means it's no longer absorbing nutrition and of course you're not sleeping. Michele Wispelwey 9:21 Did you have H. Pylori? Lesley Logan 9:23 No. We did have that. I had that for a little bit then I don't know how long ago that was. But I do remember that one. But yeah, I just like literally finally got someone to listen to me to do a full, full test. Just a full one. Of course this is where money, you have to have money to do this. So was a celebrity in the U.S. in LA., I heard what, who, he used to like gain weight to look like he had done like steroids but not take steroids and I was like who are you doing this with? And he told me about this guy, I was like, I'm gonna go to this guy and this guy looked at my blood and he goes hold on. You have no stomach acid, you're like, no, what is going on? I had no testosterone at that point. Yes, I had that. I mean like, just like I had a ton of (inaudible) there is a metal in my system, it was a whole mess. And I was like, this probably didn't start off this way. But it's gotten to this point because I could not get anyone to actually do an actual panel. And he's like, you don't have any vitamin D? Like you, you know, and I was like, I don't know how it's possible. I'm driving around in a jeep with the top off. I don't understand. So, you know, it took someone like that for me to get to someone who's probably similar to you, who helped me like more holistically and with (inaudible), but to look at the whole picture. So if people are feeling a little bit gaslit, or feeling like a little bit like they're going crazy, what should they be looking for in the medical system? Or how do they find someone like you? Michele Wispelwey 10:40 Yeah, so everything you said is exactly what we do. So what makes us so different is that we take a full integrative approach, we actually take a longevity medicine approach, because a woman's body at a cellular level is all these interconnected systems, the gut talks to your hormone levels, your estrogen affects your cardiovascular system, your gut affects cognitive, your skin, how you absorb nutrients. And I'll tell you a story about me and that situation too. But you need to look for doctors that aren't just spot treating, that aren't treating you just on your symptoms. And that's the problem. And that's the problem with the US health system is that we treat on sick, we don't, we're reactive, we're not preventive. So you need to find a provider, a GYN that is going to, oh you're tired and fatigued, don't just be like oh, well, let's just do a CBC and a thyroid, let's see what else is going on. Because if your gut is going on, you have acid, you have dysbiosis, you're not going to sleep, you're not going to absorb nutrients, you can have like GERD, a lot of different things, you're, a drop in estrogen is going to affect your cholesterol level. So a lot of women end up going to the cardiologist because they're you know, their LDL is through the roof, or they have (inaudible) issues. And that's actually interconnected with your whole hormonal system. It's all a web, it's not this or that it's the whole complex picture together. And if your doctor doesn't do that, then you need to go because this is like, these are the patients that we see everyday that come to us. And like I've seen this doctor, because, you know, I, you know, I've been to my internist. And then she doesn't know what to do. I've been to my GYN and he said, oh, you just have to wait this out. I've been to my cardiologist because I thought I was having, you know, a heart attack because I had a stiff shoulder. But that's one of the menopause symptoms. So, and that's what we do. We test, we do a full comprehensive hormone (inaudible), we do your gut microbiome, your micronutrient level, and even your food allergy levels to see what type of inflammatory markers your body's reactive to with foods. Because if you're fixing your gut, you kind of need to fix what's causing your inflammation from your food first, before you go in and fix your gut. Because that's just gonna cause your gut to just inflame even more or just fire up or not absorb the nutrients and things like that.Lesley Logan 13:00 Yeah, I definitely, I definitely learned that with the stomach, like if you just start to like, take different things for the stomach. The way that the stomach microbiome works, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, it's like what you're eating, you kind of start to crave more of, because that's what your microbiome is actually eating off of. And so if you're used to eating inflammatory foods, you've got a microbiome that's dealing with all of that, and you just go and put medicine on that if you can change the food intake, you get more organisms down there that can help with the situation. Is that right? Michele Wispelwey 13:28 Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's, that's definitely along the lines. And you definitely want you know, things like oregano oil, and a lot of probiotics, Akkermensia, we, I do a lot of things, things like that. But the thing is, and that's the thing with like, personalized medicine is what we are at FemGevity's, I can say, oh, yeah, you should take that. But you shouldn't be taking anything until you have testing to see what your body needs, right? So I could be like, take this oregano oil and take this probiotic and take Akkermensia. Yeah. But if, your your body may not need it, right, you know, you go to your internist and they'll say, take your vitamin D and a multivitamin and omega, well, how do you know what I should be taking? You know, like, you don't know what I'm missing. Lesley Logan 14:13 Right. And also, if your stomach isn't absorbing nutrition, is it getting (inaudible)?Michele Wispelwey 14:20 Flushing it out. You know what's interesting, I was at the pediatrician with my daughter yesterday, she had (inaudible) and she had this like this whatever a gland or not, whatever it is, we're following it and I because I have access to this testing. So my daughter's like, you know, very tired and kind of cranky and stuff like that. So I did a full micronutrient panel on her and she's gonna be a lab bench. Her CoQ10 is low, her vitamin C is low, her zinc is low, and her omega is low. And I'm like, this is why my child is cranky and she's tired and her stomach hurts. But and I just tested the pediatrician yesterday. I said, oh, what do you think we, she's really tired. What do you think we should do? What do you think? She's like well, her CBC and thyroid were fine last year. And she's, she's hormonal, so she's okay. And I'm like, that's exactly why you need a full integrative doctor because I'm listening to her, my child is gonna still continue on this this endless route of feeling worse. Lesley Logan 15:22 Yeah. Also a year ago, my dentist won't let me go more than a year without checking my teeth with an X-ray. Do you know what I mean? I'm like, is this really necessary? Like, well, it's been a year, and I'm like, okay, like, it's my teeth. Like your blood tests, especially on a young child. I think it's amazing that you, I mean good for you. and also like your daughter, so lucky. But it's so interesting, because now it makes me think like, a lot of our people who are listening are parents and like, your child might be cranky, not because they haven't slept enough, but maybe like something is off.Michele Wispelwey 15:54 It's vitamin and she, actually I, then I also did a one step further, I did a gut microbiome and tested her poop. And she had H. Pylori. And that's why her stomach was hurting. So that's why it's like you can't, you know, I have my own theories on uncertain things. But that's why I always need to take it that way, five steps further.Lesley Logan 16:15 When I lived in LA, it felt like so accessible to find someone like you. And now I live in Las Vegas, and I'm sure it exists. I haven't looked because luckily, I can just go to L.A. and see my person but like, but like, but also, can people access someone like you and live in a different part of the country? Like is what you do accessible in a mail order sort of thing? Like, yeah.Michele Wispelwey 16:42 Yeah. Which is great. And I should have mentioned that we are virtual healthcare. Totally telemedicine, convenience of your home. And that's how we're able to keep the costs down. And because we're not a brick-and-mortar, we don't have all this crazy overhead. And we're able to offer this type of concierge care and precision medicine to women all over the country. Lesley Logan 17:02 That's so cool. That is, okay, so that's amazing. So you can telemedicine, people all over the country can access you. And so let's say they do have someone that they trust, or they they want to test their own doctors, like they're not, they're not ready for telemedicine are they testing the doctors to just because I had a doctor that I totally tested. And I got really mad at her. And then I got an email or letter that said she's out of network now, I'm like, thanks, I didn't want to see her anyways. She, I was like, I want to get these things tested on my hormones. And she said, oh, you can't test those they change all day long. And I was (inaudible) and I was like, I'm, these test exists for a reason means you can and if you know how to read them based on where I'm at my cycle, and I do know where I am my cycle, you should know. And she was like, well, I could order it. But it's it's not gonna say anything. And I was like, it's not your money. And I don't want you to have the results. So no, but like, what should people be asking their doctors to see if the doctor they have is someone that they can trust or work with? Who is going to do the whole thing?Michele Wispelwey 18:06 Yeah, so a couple things, I would get all your hormones, progesterone, estrogen, make sure they're looking at your cortisol, your insulin levels, make sure they're looking at your lipids, make sure you look into your DHEA ,your HMH because you want to actually check your ovarian aging levels. If they have access to it, I would order a lot of like heavy metals. See the magnesium, mercury, you do a lot of amino acids and antioxidant testing. Glutathione testing is really good. We're big advocates of testing for that. If gut microbiome testing and make sure they're doing H. Pylori, if you really have to test from the stool, doing bloods is just, for H. Pylori purposes, it's just not because it lives in your intestinal tract and stuff like that. Food allergy testing, but just there's specific labs that do PCR DNA sequencing, too. So you also have to ask them, like, what labs are you using? What's the methodology and I know that's like, not something everyone wants to go into. But at the very least, have them do a very full comprehensive hormone asset, your thyroid your FSH, your LH, prolactin, estradiol, do it all.Lesley Logan 19:16 Wow. Okay, so everyone, don't worry, the show is transcribed, it's on the blog, and you can copy and paste. Michele Wispelwey 19:23 We have a lot of information on our website and blogs. My co-founder does a ton of like, videos where she talks about things a lot hormonal-wise because she does a lot of our medical protocols. And you know, yeah, so that you could find that all there not to be wary but and also women in their 30s, you should be getting your levels tested because you want a baseline, you want to know what you are now. So when you're like in your 40s and your levels are this you could compare them to what they were because even if you're like feeling am I feeling good, am I feeling not? You know you're like able to guide yourself very closely and almost like preventing yourself from symptoms and being able to live symptom-free before it hits.Lesley Logan 20:07 Yeah. And I actually want to chat about that because like one of my girlfriends, you know, she, she's going through the changes. Oh my God, I was going to say, no, so she's you know, she's 10 years older than me and she, you know, was assuming she is premenopausal and was just all these different things were happening. And she was also slowly over time and I was like, I think you might want to just talk with your doctor about like, really, truly like looking into why are you so tired all the time? Why are you having these aches and pains? Why is your hip bothering you? Like you have this? It's, you're, it's not because you're 50. It's not just because you're 50. Right? Like, if you're gonna live to 80, this is early, it's too early to go through all these pain points. So she finally, like really sought something out, like went for it. And then they gave her some hormones because her hormones were off. And she's like, holy moly, Lesley. I was so, like, I feel like I am unstoppable. And I was like, for years, she's been slowly over time managing it, in air quotes, managing it. And I think that we are trained from, I don't know, just society that like, it's, we'll just manage it, we'll just figure it out. We'll just do it later. And like, it's actually okay to demand that you feel really good all the time, especially if you're doing all the things if you're moving your body, if you're trying to sleep, if you're, if you're like trying to drink the clean water, like all the things like you should ideally feel good.Michele Wispelwey 21:34 Yeah, it's been very just highly accepted and overrated, that you just have to kind of deal with it. And it's a part of aging, and you're supposed to be tired, or you're supposed to have an ache or pain. That is not supposed to be how you're supposed to feel. I'm 43 and I feel better now than when I felt in my 30s. And, you know, I actually have more energy, because you're just more aware of how you're supposed to take care of yourself. So, you know, imagine if, like, younger women start understanding how they're supposed to feel and start feeling even more energetic in their 30s. And as you build up and progress, you're just gonna keep feeling better. And, you know, be able to get up from the floor when you're 75 and play with your grandkids.Lesley Logan 22:18 Yeah, and have the energy too, it's not just the strength too, but also all of the things that go with it. Okay, you mentioned something that like piqued my interest. You said someone had a shoulder issue and they were there so and it was perimenopausal, not a heart attack, or whatever. Are there any other symptoms like that that we should be aware of that like we may be perimenopausal but we might think are something else because I or maybe I've just opened up a can of worms because I feel like a like perimenopause. Unfortunately, menopause has not been studied nearly enough. I got really pissed off, did you hear this? There was a daily episode, probably six months ago, where this one scientist was trying to get research money for menopause. And the way he was able to get actual funding from people for his testing that he wanted to do was just to turn the title to like, well, if women stopped turning into men, then their husbands would want them longer. So if we can keep them women longer, and that's how he got the funding, and I was so irritated that that's how money, I was like, (inaudible) you should have been studying this already. So disgusting. So infuriating. He got money for it. And so yay. But also like, unfortunately, we haven't studied this long enough. And so we don't know enough everything I've ever been told that you just have hot flashes, and that you gain weight. But like you just mentioned a (inaudible) I've never heard of before. So like, what are some of those things that might people might be putting off that could actually have to do with like a hormone change happening?Michele Wispelwey 23:49 Yeah, so stiff shoulder like frozen shoulder, itchy ears, a ringing in the ear. Some women become like, like kind of like vertigo, off balanced. There's, I mean, there's 100 plus symptoms (inaudible). Lesley Logan 24:03 That's crazy. Just the ones you listed are like I was like, oh, I trip a lot.Michele Wispelwey 24:09 Yeah. You know, you're and you're like, do I have a brain tumors? You know, like there's some very serious symptoms. You know, women have like weird just like pains that you know, you start pulling things easier just because you have a higher likelihood for bone fractures and osteoporosis. So there's much easier breakage and there's a lot of a lot of women end up like having like a slipped disc or like, you know, like a joint pain or pull like a something in their shoulder. And you hear if you list start paying attention and listening like more women in the 40s 50s and 60s will be like, oh, I went to the chiropractor or the acupuncture, my back's acting up again and you ask them well, what did you do through perimenopause, especially if it's a woman who was in her 60s, I bet you she didn't do anything when she was going through perimenopause and menopause, and now it's catching up to her big time.Lesley Logan 25:03 Oh, okay, so this is interesting, okay, so (inaudible). Michele Wispelwey 25:05 Especially (inaudible) and testosterone is like maintaining your levels of testosterone is huge for women, your body composition is made up of much more testosterone than it is of any other hormone. We just have a smaller formula of it in our body, formula, composition of it. Lesley Logan 25:23 Yeah, that's what, that's the one that like, I'm really, really honest with everyone listening, I have been trying for years to maintain that level. I mean, I lift the heavy weights, I'm now, I'd take a CJC, which is not really for testosterone, but like, it's supposed to help me just feel good. But like, I cannot keep that level up to a number that is anything better than below average. And I'm like, do I just need to actually take testosterone and I'm like, Oh, my God, my grandmother had a beard. So like, I haven't gone down that rabbit hole. (inaudible)Michele Wispelwey 25:53 I mean, unless you're like rubbing it on your, on your, on your (inaudible) and you want a beard, then, you now, hell go for it, whatever, it's 2024. But, you know, you know, I, listen, I'm not the medical provider and the clinician, but there's could be a lot of things for you. Like, who knows what your progesterone level is? I don't know if you're on a Mirena IUD that's causing progestin, and you're getting over an estrogen dominance and and stripping your testosterone so there's like a lot of different things. I think you're probably younger than me. So these are all these factors that are like fully integrated and like a lot of physicians don't understand it, and they don't think about it so if you can't maintain your testosterone levels, there's there's a reason why it just does not because just because like you know you yeah, so just like think about those things they're interesting. Lesley Logan 26:40 I also just I want to just highlight something you're you've done you guys often listen to this every time something has come up she has mentioned that there's more than like, it's not just like this or this. Like there's this and then also there's a few other things that this could be going on. And I think that's so important. You're, anytime we're with a medical provider, they, there needs to be a holistic look at things because otherwise they're putting a bandaid on something or they can make something worse because it's totally off like they could be training you for a heart attack. And (inaudible) did you (inaudible) did you read Halle Berry's doctor mistook her perimenopause for like gonorrhea like a bad case of gonorrhea? (inaudible)Michele Wispelwey 27:25 Imagine, I mean, the poor woman, she probably has such vaginal dryness and like, you know, God only knows what's cool because there's a lot of stuff goes on down there. You know, you lose your atrophy and your collagen in there and it starts thinning out and then you know why? You know why she probably thought that? Because she probably had persistent UTIs because women when they're they start losing their testosterone, they got a lot of vaginal dryness and a lot of reoccurring. UTIs. So he she probably he'd probably get them tested for STDs. And if only he would have given her some bioidentical estrogen, your vagina would have felt a lot better. And the poor thing wouldn't have been accused of gonorrhea. I'm from like, the the lab world, right? So like, doctor's order, you know, urine cultures constantly. Any woman's like, you know, oh, I have a pain or have an itch or something. They're like, oh, do you have a UTI? Or is it (inaudible)? You know, they don't think that like, oh, maybe you have some hormonal thing going on. They don't even test your hormones. Like at your annuals, they don't look at anything. It's not even a part of like the health insurance. You have to do. It's preventative codes. The only thing is preventative is a PAP, not even HPV. That's like considered diagnostics. It's like, it's absurd.Lesley Logan 28:37 (Inaudible) I know, I am too. I'm really excited that this conversation like so okay, because this will just like horrify you. So when I had been (inaudible) on birth control in high school, I went on the patch because I was like, yeah, I'll put this on because I don't have to do a pill at the same time every day. (Inaudible) a badge, it was like you can put it on your arm or on your hip or whatever. Of course, you guys, you guys. I can't wear a BandAid, okay, not longer than a day, I just switched the BandAid out. So of course, like, every time I took this patch off, I had like a red square, super sexy, like everybody wants to be near that. And so I gotta keep moving the patch around. Anyways, I guess like it was but I was like, no, I don't want to be on the pill because I'm gonna have to remember to take anything and we're supposed like low hormone, the whole thing like you won't get a blood clot because it's like, it's like, easy the way that all the things I was told, right? So fast forward two years and I'm in a car accident. I'm on bed rest for a week. I get off bedrest and my leg is super swollen and it's getting hot. And I am it's I'm at work and it's now throbbing. And so I go to an urgent care and I was like, I think I have a blood clot. And he's like, no one was like, I can't sleep because I'm in so much pain. And I watched an infomercial on a blood clot. I think I have one. I have all the symptoms and the guy's like you're too young for blood clot. Kid you're not too young for blood clots, ice and elevate your leg. You were in a car accident a week ago. It's swollen from that. I was like this person doesn't, is not listening to me. And the worst thing I can do is elevate this leg. So I went to work because I had to go back and I, you know, unfortunately, had to pay my own bills. So go to work and it's now getting bigger you guys, like my leg was like twice the size (inaudible). It was I felt maybe it wasn't that big, but it felt that big. So I then went to the emergency room. And I walk in, and I'm like, well limping in because I can barely walk my like, and the nurse goes, oh my god, I think you have a blood clot. And I was like, thank you. I think so too. So sure enough I have a blood clot, (inaudible) and the hospital, I was pulled off of birth control, not by my gynecologist from then, but from a different one who looked at my history and just like, oh, she's like, I think you might be susceptible to clotting based on your family's history. You should not be on these hormones. And so I got on the copper IUD, which of course made my periods the worst thing in the world forever, for fucking ever. So, but anyways, I don't have children. And at the time, I was single. So here we are. So have this copper IUD. And aside from the bad periods, no problems whatsoever, it was pretty easy. Everything was like on time, go to get it removed. And I'd moved. And no one could find it. And they saw I'm at Planned Parenthood, they can't find it. They're like, I'm like, well, it's in there. I'm telling you right now it's there, I know, it's there. I can feel it's there. Right? So you got to like so sure enough, I got my insurance to cover a visit with a gynecologist. And she finds it with what an ultrasound a sonogram, whichever the one is. And it's like in the, I guess it's like in the uterus, and it was like off to the side and turned around. So this, this, the strings were facing the wrong way. So they had to go in with a camera. And this is, will piss you off, even though she could find it that day, my insurance would not let her remove it that day. I had to come back for another visit, to have it removed. And I was and she was like I would do it. But I'm like, can't you just like say I came back another day. Like, I'll just, I'll sign I swear. So anyways, I had that removed, it's now been out for almost two years, best thing I ever did is like have nothing. It's like I'm I'm so cyclical, it's I'm on time, all the time. It's amazing. But it's just the comedy of errors. Like what I would, it's a lot. So you know, I share all that with you. Because like, ladies, if you're listening, it's you're not the only one, even if you are advocating for yourself. And even if you're trying to educate yourself, it can be really difficult to navigate the medical system to get help for yourself. Michele Wispelwey 32:41 It really is, especially the payer system. And it's more difficult now, because a lot of independent physicians are being bought by hospital systems and peer networks because they can't afford to stay in business because, you know, the inflation, right, it's the cost to operate. But the reimbursements are going down. And there's only so many, you know, insurances that you can go to network with. So you're just being it just intertwined or being more caught up in the system. And that's why, you know, we're so adamant on, you know, doing what we do, and so passionate about it, because, you know, being in the lab industry, and Kristin had her own practice for many, many, many years. We know what the payer system is and prevents from women living longer, healthier lives, it just doesn't allow it. So there needs to be companies like FemGevity and, and others to be able to provide these opportunities to live longer and healthier and vibrant and build like an ecosystem and community support where women could be like, vulnerable and talk to each other about these things. Because it's embarrassing, you know, not everyone like where's everything on their sleeve? You know, so. Lesley Logan 33:48 Yeah, I have some girl friends who are like, they're like, I know, I talked about perimenopause all the time, like you should. I don't know anything about it. No one in my life talked about it. So they talked about it after it's over. So I would like I think it's important that we hear these things. I want to go into something so before because like, you've given us so much, but I feel like you are providing something to be unique and to be this different. And to get into the world. You're trying to get through all around all the different obstacles, and there's just all these different things that would probably keep FemGevity from working. How do you have that kind of resilience? How do you stay in line with your purpose? Like, what is it that you practice every day? Because it's, it can't be easy to have this vision and this idea and know what you can do to change women's lives and also know how hard it is for them to get to you.Michele Wispelwey 34:29 Yeah, so, you know, I think the biggest part of me is, you know, I've been through a lot and I'm not afraid of failure and you can't take risks and you can't grow as a person if you're afraid to fail. And, and that's, you know, failure really brings success and it brings it brings a system and you know a person who has been like kind of knocked out of phase his resilience is really like the strongest factor that contributes to a survive level of a system and possibility to really reach your full potential. And I think what's helped me is to really live by like a system right and because it's like a structure and life is a bunch of like interconnected systems like we say with FemGevity right with finding healthcare and, and once you see that it's when harmony and energy truly evolve, and you get closer to your goals. And you really get to this like perpetual state where you get to this like paradox world of having deeper clarity of what you want and to achieve. And I just feel that you know, it, the purpose of it is to like, live with high energy, effortless existence, because at the end, end of the day, you have limited amount of capacity. And it drains, you know, drains you because it's like decision-making, stress, what you're eating, how you're sleeping, and having like an optimized system on how you go about life, the more you're going to get out of it. And there's going to be like, there's going to be dysfunction in life in general. And, like believing that, you know, just because you have dysfunction means it's not possible to be happy. And it just helps you to drive to like more essentialism and making it your own ecosystem. And like a better quality of life. Lesley Logan 36:24 Yeah, before we hit record you were talking about effortless existence, I will say like life can be so hard. And then as we've talked about all the different things that we could control with our health. If everything was imbalanced, I think it'd be so much easier to show up as an effort in effortless existence. I mean, I feel like if you have all these different hormones, but all your you know, happy hormones that are like actually leveled out, like, you probably it'd be probably be easier to show up and, and be in the world.Michele Wispelwey 36:51 Yeah, it's, you know, it's effortless. It's easier to deal with, like the obstacles because you get out of bed and you're hit with your kids or your work and an email and, and just like constant things that can really just like, just set you over the edge over the cliff, you know, where you want to, like, have a nervous breakdown. But if you're balancing your health, that's what's going to keep you on a straight, narrow road, where you're not going to be having huge spikes where it's going to make you want to drop down too far.Lesley Logan 37:19 Yeah, I can totally see how that works out. Because I do have a lot of people who are like, Lesley, I'm doing all the things, I've my dream schedule designed. And I'm like, I've got you know, I'm doing all the things for my business but like these things happen, and I just want to quit, I just want to give up and it's like, well, first of all, there's, as you mentioned, like, gotta get over, gotta get over the failure, can't be afraid of failure, you've got to do that. And I think especially when you're feeling exhausted and tired, you so a failure feels really hard. Michele Wispelwey 37:46 It is, I mean, it really isn't granted, like, you know, running a startup, there's a lot of failures. And you're like, oh my gosh, do I suck at life? Or is it just a bad day? But I'm like, no, I'm going to use this as an opportunity to learn and not make that decision again, you know, and, and it's hard to get in that mindset, especially when you're like, yeah, having a bad day.Lesley Logan 38:11 Yeah. So okay, I do, I may think being okay with failure is what resilience really is. It's like, how did you get good at? How did you get okay with failure? Is it because you practice medicine and medicine is really a practice? Or is it like, were you raised that way? Like, because I feel like so many people, our listeners are super perfectionist, it means, no failure is ever allowed. So how did you get good at being okay with failure?Michele Wispelwey 38:36 I think I once I learned to have confidence in myself, and to trust my own decisions. And, and I think I also started to become more balanced with being intentional and trusting my instincts. And I think once I grew into that, and you know, throughout my, like professional career, it was, it was hard, you had to, you know, grinding it out. It was a very male-dominated industry. And I second-guessed myself a lot. And a lot of those second guesses that I had, where I didn't listen to my gut, I made bad decisions. So I think I know that sounds ridiculous, but I got there from making my mistakes and getting back up. And I just kind of like no mercy I think is also like the way my my dad brought me up. He was very tough. He was, you know, like, if you was in the military and stuff like that. So I think it's the way I grew up and just grown up with like divorced parents and things like that. You're just mentally tough, you know, biking blood.Lesley Logan 39:45 But I think that like thanks for sharing that because I do think that so many people can see maybe they grew up with divorced parents like you or they had all the tough parents or all these things and they don't realize that they have this like superpower of resilience that they can be taking with them into things like you know.Michele Wispelwey 40:00 You know what, that's what it is. You have to find your superpower. And my superpower is resilience and to work under fire. And if you embrace your superpower, and your superpower can be like lying compulsively, who cares? That's your superpower and own it but find to use it in a good way not to like, you know, hurt people. But you know, like Superman. Lesley Logan 40:26 Yeah. Okay. I love that. Michelle, this has been so good, you are amazing. We're to take a brief break and we can find out where people can find you, work with you in FemGevity. All right, Michele, where can people find you and work with you?Michele Wispelwey 40:40 They could find us on femgevityhealth.com our social handle is @femgevity. We are on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. And we have live text and chat on our website, too, if ladies have any questions.Lesley Logan 40:59 So good. Okay, you guys. Go check it out. I'm, I'm going to, I'm gonna get down. We're gonna figure out this testosterone thing. Michele Wispelwey 41:08 We're gonna figure it out. We're gonna figure it out for you.Lesley Logan 41:10 This is the year, this is the year I'm doing it. Okay (inaudible), but could you, could you, can you, can you understand why, why I've delayed it? Right? So long. I'm like, oh, I don't know, my grandmother had like a beard.Michele Wispelwey 41:23 We won't give you a beard. We'll just give you chest hair.Lesley Logan 41:28 Oh, my God. My grandmother was up there going are you, have you lost your mind? Anyways, okay, so you've given us so much already bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it, what do you have for us?Michele Wispelwey 41:44 Okay, you have three options in mind, you need to either accept it, change it, or leave it. And you need to pick your path. And whatever that situation may be, whether it's a fight with a partner, how you feel about your body. If you're having health issues, you have those three distinct options in life. And be very clear which one you choose, accept it, change it, or leave it? I think you change it.Lesley Logan 42:14 Yeah, oh, I love these because that can be everything that's coming up. And also, you can also say, I'm gonna leave it on until this date, and then I'm gonna change it.Michele Wispelwey 42:25 Yeah, those are like your, your rocks, you know, where we actually have company rocks where we set what, each quarter in the beginning of the quarter, we set our goals, personal and professional. And then we go back three, four months later and go and reevaluate them. So you can you can leave it now and change it in three months. But don't ever accept it. Like, your health and what doctors are telling you. Because there's always a way maybe no for now, but not no for later.Lesley Logan 42:58 Yeah. I love that. I love that. No accepting it when it comes to your health you guys. You guys can now reach out to Michelle and FemGevity because what you created for women is so cool. The fact that it can be telemedicine. I'm just so I'm so excited for everyone listening. All right, y'all. How are you going to use these tips in your life? Make sure you tag Michele, make sure you tag the Be It Pod, share this, okay, so here's my action plan for you. The only way women actually can get the help that they want is if they know what they need to ask for. Okay, so if doctors were hearing questions from their patients who actually were like I did the research here are the tests I want, the only way we can get them to change, or at least for you to know that that's not the doctor you need for it. We can I think that women are so powerful that if we rose up together and demanded that professionals take care of us holistically, it's the only way it's gonna change things until then, you can go see Michele. But so share this with your, with a friend who needs to hear it because you're not crazy. There's nothing. It's not, nothing wrong with you. They just haven't figured it out yet. And it's because you (inaudible) holistic look at it. So thank you all so much, Michelle, thank you so much for what you've done here. Michele Wispelwey 44:05 Thank you. It's been so amazing. Lesley Logan 44:06 Yeah, so awesome. All right, loves, until next time, Be It Till You See It. That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 44:54 It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 44:58 It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 45:03 Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 45:10 Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 45:13 Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time. Transcribed by https://otter.aiSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Join us for an engaging conversation with Lieutenant General Brian W. Cavanaugh, a proud Baltimore native and one of the highest-ranking African Americans in the Marines. We explore his remarkable journey from growing up in Northwood, Baltimore, to attending Baltimore Polytech and the Naval Academy, and ultimately serving 39 years in the military. Kavanaugh shares his unexpected path to the Naval Academy, his extensive service including a combat tour in Iraq, and his reflections on living in places like Okinawa, Japan. This episode is rich with insights into his life, career, and the profound impact his experiences have had on his family. We also celebrate Lieutenant General Brian W. Cavanaugh's impressive career and contributions to the community, emphasizing his role as a hometown hero and a role model for young people in Baltimore. As we look forward to his upcoming retirement, we discuss plans for a relaxed and meaningful crab cake outing in Northeast Baltimore, reflecting on his inspiring journey and the positive impact he has had on the community. Don't miss this heartfelt tribute to a distinguished military leader who has made significant strides and remains deeply connected to his Baltimore roots. Bio: Lieutenant General Brian W. Cavanaugh assumed the duties as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic; Commander, Marine Forces Command; and Commander, Marine Forces Northern Command on 30 August 2022. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Lieutenant General Cavanaugh earned his commission through the United States Naval Academy in 1990 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1992. He served with HMH-462, HMH-362, and HMX-1. He commanded HMH-362 in Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and MAG-36 during multiple disaster relief efforts in Asia. As a General Officer, he served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific; Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Staff J-3; Assistant Deputy Commandant, Programs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Programs and Resources Department; and as Commanding General, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Lieutenant General Cavanaugh's other staff assignments include instructor at Officer Candidates School; Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Naval Operations; Joint Doctrine Branch Chief, Joint Staff; Executive Assistant, Vice Director Joint Staff; Director of the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Safety Division; and Marine Military Assistant to the 75th Secretary of the Navy. Lieutenant General Cavanaugh's education includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, an MBA from Webster University and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He is also an MIT Seminar XXI Fellow. Lieutenant General Cavanaugh has accumulated over 3,000 flight hours, primarily in the CH-53D/E.
Join Montag and Chop Top as they hang with NunSlaughter's wicked front man, Don of the Dead! They talk about the great city of Cleveland, its awesome underground metal scene, and play all of the HMH games you love! Hail, Satan!
Join us this week for an engaging conversation with Isaac G. Lee, author of "Hangar 4." This groundbreaking book is the first to detail the Marine Corps' CH-53E "Super Stallion" operations during Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Known by his call sign "Whisky," Lee provides a fascinating look at his illustrious career. His journey begins in Quantico's dense forests and progresses to leading a CH-53 squadron. His experiences are detailed through personal journal entries. Lee offers a unique insight into the challenges of flying the Marines' largest helicopter in support of combat missions. His stories combine sharp humor with steadfast professionalism. For exclusive content, visit our Patreon page at https://sothereiwas.us/patreon. Enjoy a gripping story about a 'near-death' encounter involving a lucky mule! Your support helps us deliver special content exclusively for our patrons. May 8, 2005, Two CH-53 from Marine Heavy Lift Squadron 465 sit on the flight line of Al Asad, Iraq as a fire from the base dump illuminates the sky. (USMC photo by Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia) U.S. Marine Maj. Isaac G. Lee, Operations Officer, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461), transports a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook for transport while piloting a CH-53 E Super Stallion during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), undisclosed location, Afghanistan, March 20, 2011. HMH-461 performs TRAP missions in order to retrieve U.S. Armed Forces equipment and conduct investigations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Ricardo A. Gomez/FOUO).
In honor of 2024 Teacher Appreciation Week, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona joins HMH's CEO Jack Lynch to discuss pressing issues in education. Together, they explore the integration of AI in classroom, tackling teacher burnout, competitive salaries, and building respect for the teaching profession. Plus, Secretary Cardona shares an experience for his early days as a teacher and advice from influential educators that have stuck with him throughout his career.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Join Montag and special co-host Vic “Wildcard” Stown (Vindicator, Volcana) joins the HMH family again as they talk all things local music scene, underground metal, and eventually get around to listening to Cleveland's own Midnight and their brand new album Hellish Expectations! #midnight #cleveland
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, US Marine Corps Major Melissa Giannetto discusses her Master's thesis, which is an analysis on the media literacy efforts of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Major Giannetto is currently an exchange student with the Norwegian Armed Forces. Resources: Media Literacy Index Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity by Sander van der Linden Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: US Marine Corps Major Melissa Giannetto is currently a Masters of Military Studies student at the Norwegian Defense College. Prior to this assignment, she was a Psychological Operations officer and Influence Cell OIC, Information Maneuver Branch, Information Environment Division, Marine Forces Pacific. She was also the PYSOPs officer for Pacific Fleet Command, US Navy. Her primary MOS is 6002 Aircraft Maintenance Officer. She is a native of Rochester, New York and graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in May 2010 with a BS in Aerospace Studies. She is currently working on her Masters of Military Studies at the Norwegian Defense College. She has attended The Basic School, Aviation Maintenance Officer School, Expeditionary Warfare School (Blended Seminar), U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College (Non-Resident), the Psychological Operations Qualification Course and the Norwegian Defense Staff College 22-24. She is also a graduate of the Joint Information Operation (IO) Planners Course, Intermediate MAGTF IO practitioner's Course, Joint Aviation Supply Maintenance Management course. Her service in the Operating Forces includes: Ground Support Equipment Division Officer in Charge (OIC), Airframes Division OIC, Aviation Life Support Systems OIC with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-16 (MALS) , Production Control Officer with MALS-16 FWD, Maintenance Material Control Officer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 (HMH), Detachment OIC and Executive Officer with Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Company, Marine Corps Information Operations Center, Executive Officer with Marine Wing Support Detachment 24, Assistant Aviation Maintenance Officer with MALS-24, PSYOP Officer and Influence Cell OIC with Marine Forces Pacific and PSYOP Officer for Pacific Fleet. Maj Giannetto has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 12.1 with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-16 FWD and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 14.1 with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-466. She deployed to Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE 16.2 as part of CJTF-OIR CJ39 Information Operations division overseeing an IO train and equip program in Baghdad and Erbil, Iraq. Maj Giannetto's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award). About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
To advocate for her child, Sherrye decided to become a teacher herself.In this episode, we are joined by math intervention teacher Sherrye Scott from Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Texas. When Sherrye realized her daughter needed additional help in school, she transitioned to a career in education. With 22 years in the classroom, Sherrye has found a passion for intervention. She shares how she incorporates social-emotional strategies into her math intervention class and discusses how to motivate students to learn and succeed.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Kahletsyalusla, an Oneida word meaning heartfelt encouragement, is at the core of Dr. Artley Skenandore's work as principal and cultural leader at Oneida Nation High School in Wisconsin. In this episode, Dr. Skenandore will share how he encourages students to stay connected to their Oneida history, culture, and language, organizing powerful field trips to their homeland and incorporating their clan system into their student council. Plus he will provide strategies on how to honor Native American heritage in the month of November and all year long.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
When Mr. Bzovi and his ELA department saw a need for reading intervention resources, they knew they could count on their administration to help. In today's episode we are joined by assistant principal Randolph Hull and reading intervention teacher Joshua Bzovi from the South Redford District in Michigan. The admin-teacher duo will share how they've teamed up to support their middle school students in reading. Plus, they'll give insight on programs and tools that have helped their students thrive. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Welcome back, Manlihood ManCast listeners! In today's episode, we have the privilege of introducing you to a multifaceted and exceptionally talented individual, Matt Moore. His diverse skills and passions have earned him a reputation as a true Southern Gentleman and a standout in the culinary world. Let's delve into his fascinating journey. Who Is Matt Moore? Matt Moore wears many hats, and each one showcases his incredible range of talents. He's not just an author but also an entrepreneur, accomplished cook, musician, host, pilot, and adventurer. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Matt embodies the essence of a Southern Gentleman. His work has received widespread acclaim and recognition from prestigious sources spanning the BBC and CBC to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Atlanta Constitution, Chicago Tribune, People, Southern Living, Esquire, Men's Journal, TODAY, VH1, FOX, Hallmark, The Art of Manliness, and countless others. In the culinary realm, Matt Moore specializes in updated Southern cuisine infused with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. He's also renowned for his passion for cast-iron cooking and wild game. Matt's literary contributions have made a significant impact. His work, "A Southern Gentleman's Kitchen" (TIME Inc Books), achieved the remarkable feat of becoming an Amazon #1 bestseller in Spring 2015. His follow-up book, "The South's Best Butts," earned the distinction of being named the #1 cookbook by the National BBQ and Grilling Association for 2018. His book, "Serial Griller" (HMH 2020), was met with critical acclaim and featured on CBS, TODAY, PEOPLE, and beyond. Currently, Matt Moore is actively engaged in working on a butchering book and hosting various exciting projects. To connect with Matt Moore and explore his work further, visit the following URLs: Matt Moore's Website: https://www.mattrmoore.com/ Matt Moore's journey is a testament to the power of passion, versatility, and Southern hospitality. Join us in this episode of the Manlihood ManCast as we explore the world of culinary adventures with this remarkable Southern Gentleman. Stay tuned, gentlemen! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/manlihood/message
Eric is a true role model to his students: he shows that having disability does not limit your ability to accomplish your goals. In today's episode, we are joined by Eric Cavalli, an adapted physical education teacher from the Manor Independent School District in Texas. Eric uses a wheelchair for mobility and is an inspiration to his students. He has encouraged students to participate in the Special Olympics program, with participation tripling in the last school year. Eric will share strategies to create an accessible learning environment, including how to support students physically and emotionally and how to encourage students to advocate for themselves.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
In Blanca's class, students value, help, and learn from each other in English, Spanish, or Spanglish.In today's episode, we welcome Blanca Hernandez a kindergarten dual language teacher from San Antonio, Texas. After the bilingual program at her school moved to a hub campus, Blanca worked tirelessly to bring the program back. Her dedication to bilingual education was recently recognized, as she was awarded the HMH Lighthouse Award. Tune in to hear how Blanca builds a bilingual classroom culture that fosters a growth mindset in English and Spanish. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Writing is more than putting thoughts on paper. How do you successfully guide students through the writing process?In this episode, we are joined by Rhode Island educator Kayla Dyer, a former 4th grade teacher and currentin her district. She'll discuss instructional best practices that get students excited about writing. Plus, she'll share teaching tips for new and not-so new teachers, including how to join a connected community of educators. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
How can you motivate reluctant readers to reach for a book?In this episode, we are joined by Texas teacher Russell Souders, who has been teaching for 29 years. He'll share tips on how he sparks his third-grade students' interest in reading, including how he uses programs like HMH Into Reading to engage students in literacy instruction.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/486 Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory, Togens Fly Shop, Angler's Coffee, Smitty's Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Lily Renzetti is here to tell you the entire Renzetti fly tying vise story and how they've been setting the standard for the past 50 years. We learn how it all began with an idea to make fly tying easier. We also look at some of their current ambassadors as well as some of the big names who are utilizing Renzetti across the country. We also learn why the traveler vise has been such a major changer throughout the year and continues to be a go-to vise. We also learn what's next for Renzetti. Renzetti Fly Tying Vise Show Notes with Lily Renzetti 2:56 - Lily gives us a fascinating summary of how Renzetti was built. Her husband, Andy Renzetti, was working as a machinist at that time at a local shop in Romansville PA. With the help of his brother, they were able to design the Presentation 3000 which was the very first vise that was introduced by Renzetti and retailed by Orvis. 5:51 - In 1988, they introduced the Traveler series and Presentation 4000. 9:27 - It has been 50 years since they introduced the Presentation 3000. For her, it has been a beautiful journey not only building a business but also building relationships with their customers and other people in the industry. 14:37 - Before Renzetti, Andy was using the Thompson A vise back then. The HMH vises were also available at that time. 15:23 - The true rotary concept was introduced by Renzetti. 17:17 - Lily tells us the current patents they have. They have also been designing and manufacturing rod-building equipment since the early '80s. 21:09 - I ask her what are the biggest difference she sees in the fly-tying market over the years since they started. 25:30 - She gives her opinion on other companies making vises that are similar to theirs. 28:40 - Currently, they have about 25 ambassadors which consist of legends such as Bob Popovics and Bob Clouser. Kelly Galloup is also one of them. He had him in the podcast in episodes 052 and 167. 32:15 - They find the best people to be their ambassadors regardless of their race and sexual orientation. 34:26 - Lily tells us about her journey to the US. She was born and raised in Venezuela and came to the US for college. She went to St. Joseph University in Philadelphia and took up a major in business and a minor in industrial relations. He got involved in the business with Andy in 1987. 40:06 - She is thankful to their team for consistently making everything happen and producing products that are up to the standards they set from the very beginning. 42:00 - Just this year, they introduced the Renzetti Tool Bar, Renzetti Tool Bar Station, and the Green Master Series Vise with extended crank arm, hinged stem, and streamer base. The last one won a prize at the ICAST as one of the best in the category. 46:58 - We talk about the purpose of the Bobbin Cradle. 54:05 - In buying your first vise, she recommends starting with their Traveler first. It holds the hook securely and offers true rotary features. They also have accessories that they designed for the Traveler which makes it versatile. 59:40 - She recommends subscribing to their YouTube channel @Renzetti to learn about their products and the true rotary concept. 1:01:07 - I ask her about retirement and their plans for the company. Andy has already retired, but he still goes to the office and trains their staff on the operations. 1:04:50 - She shares Andy's favorite quote which goes "There is a better way. Find it." and the inspiring story of how he persevered despite being underprivileged and having a learning disability growing up. 1:09:04 - She explains the qualities they look for in brand ambassadors. 1:11:53 - She brought the Casting for Recovery to Florida. They have also been supporting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T). They give to T2T for every vise they sell. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/486
Connecting with your students this school year can be as simple as asking what's their favorite dipping sauce. In our 13-minute minisode, we welcome back North Carolina State Teacher of the Year Leah Carper as she shares her number one social and emotional learning strategy that has been successful with her Gen Z students. Plus she dives into programs that support all students, including universal free lunch. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
We're starting the school year off right with our Back-to-School minisode series! We've invited some your favorite guest back to give quick tips about getting ready for the year ahead.
Getting in front of your class to teach is a lot like getting in front of a crowd to MC. Fourth-grade Teacher MC Toney Jackson returns and shares tips to prep for the biggest teaching event—back to school! Learn how to start off the school year as a master of ceremonies in your class, including how to engage and empower students by sharing the stage and how to find your teaching crew. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Welcome to episode 61 of "So There I Was"! Get ready to be captivated by an extraordinary tale that starts with a group of Vietnam buddies, hunting pheasants and sharing stories on a family farm. Little did they know, these gatherings would ignite a passion in a young boy, propelling him to become a Marine helicopter pilot. But here's the twist - Doober already had a staggering 1000 hours of flight time before he even attended Officer Candidate School! His journey continued as a high school student, working alongside his father as a ground controller for heavy lift operations. The foundation was being laid for something truly remarkable. In flight school, Doober's extensive flight experience couldn't stay hidden for long. A daring move that shouldn't be repeated revealed his true skills, setting the stage for his entrance into the legendary Ugly Angels, HMH-362, and earning the callsign "Doober" along the way. But that was just the beginning. Doober's career took an unexpected turn as he found himself flying the President and Vice President in HMX-1, the prestigious Marine Helicopter Squadron responsible for such crucial duties. And when it seemed like the story had reached its climax, Doober made a life-altering decision. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel and returned to the family farm, where his journey had all begun. Throughout his incredible journey, one person stood out as a guiding force - his dad. Prepare to be inspired as we delve deeper into Doober's extraordinary life. This episode of "So There I Was" is brought to you by Hello Fresh, America's #1 Meal Kit. Get ready to indulge in delicious, hassle-free cooking. Visit hellofresh.com/sothereiwas16 for an exclusive offer of 16 free meals and free shipping. Stay tuned for more details about Hello Fresh during the show! Doober & Dad in the simulator Dad & Doober Go in the Corps Doober in Front of Marine 1
In this episode Rex and Duff continue to talk about some of their dream setlists for their favorite bands and discuss the Plasmatics and Evergrey in another HMH challenge. HMH Challenge Picks of the Week: Rex: Evergrey - Escape of the Phoenix Duff: Plasmatics - Coup D'ete
"Learning to read to then reading to learn," is a saying heard often. But literacy instruction is a bit more nuanced than that.In this episode, Utah elementary literacy coordinator and fellow education podcaster from the Teaching Literacy Podcast Dr. Jake Downs joins us and explores the intricacies of teaching reading. He shares his literacy expertise and talks about best practices for literacy instruction, the science of reading, and data-based decision-making to help struggling readers.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
School is almost out for summer! How are you wrapping up the school year? Hear how David Staton, a second grade teacher from Middletown, Ohio, is creatively counting down the last days of school. In this episode, David shares activities to end the school year, tips on cultivating a positive classroom community, and resources to personalize writing instruction. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
For Colorado teacher, Amber Reyes, focusing on phonics has led to great student gains.Today's guest has gone from phonics tutor to early childhood educator to elementary school teacher. In this episode, Amber shares strategies to engage students in fun phonics instruction, as well as resources to build fundamental reading skills. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
In part two of a collaboration with RISE Reports podcast and ASU+GSV, Curtis Valentine and panelists, Sharif El-Mekki and Matthew Mugo Fields discuss in detail what schooling, education, and learning look like in the future. In part 2 of this two part series, PPI's Reinventing America's Schools (RAS) Project Co-Director Curtis Valentine, in collaboration with EdChoice, sits down for a live panel conversation and podcast recording at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego with Sharif El-Mekki, Chief Executive Officer at The Center for Black Educator Development, and Matthew Mugo Fields, General Manager of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HMH and President of Heinemann Publishing. They discuss the future of education, the future of teaching, and importance of school choice for families across America. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6hYnqceWTkaZMoIBV7eXVN?si=Zi8s8D4ZTr61zXzc3QiYDw&nd=1
We welcome back Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona for a special Teacher Appreciation Week message for 2023. In this episode, he shares how the Department of Education is working on reimagine our schools through the “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” effort, which pushes to accelerate learning, boldly improve learning conditions, and create pathways for global engagement.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Differentiating instruction is challenging. But we're sharing how technology can help! Interventionist Becky Walker from the Blackfoot School District discusses how she's leveraged tech to meet the needs of her diverse student population.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Learn to unleash the power of teacher collaboration. Thirty-year seasoned teacher and education advocate Teresa Meredith shares best practices to build positive relationships with fellow teachers, both on and offline. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
In part two of this two part episode, I go deeper with Lynn Thomas, Ulla Frederiksen and her husband, Fred Bueltmann, to understand some of their most miraculous experiences working with horses themselves, and witnessing the transformations of the groups and clients they have connected to horses. (If you have not heard their individual introductions, I encourage you to go back to part one, which dropped yesterday to hear more about each of them, or read their bios in the show notes). With Lynn's experience, vision, and passion for the impact horses have on well-being, in 2021 she co-founded Horses for Mental Health (HMH) as a non-profit advocacy organization to increase awareness, public engagement, funds and access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. Through the annual Seen Through Horses campaign, started in 2022, HMH convenes philanthropists, ambassadors, companies, governments, and programs to work in collaboration expanding the role horses play in mental health and realize our collective vision of a world where all mental health needs are met – together. Horses for Mental Health, has a campaign coming up; read more about here:"We are excited to announce the second annual Seen Through Horses Campaign; a peer-to-peer campaign composed of individuals, nonprofits, mental health specialists, influencers, and businesses to increase awareness, public engagement, and raise funds to improve access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. This year, it coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, May 1st - 31st, 2023, a time when conversations around mental health are already being elevated around the country."www.horsesformentalhealth.org/campaign. Fred and Ulla co-founded the Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership, where he and his wife work with their herd of horses to strengthen collaborations for the greater good by contributing equitable access to professional development. The Red Horse Center which was inspired by the wisdom and power of horses, nature and dogs, Red Horse facilitates a process of individual and collective transformation through hands-on and virtual classes and workshops focusing on community wellness, healing culture, professional development and mental health. Fred and Ulla are also part of the creators' team with Arenas for Change (ARCH), a worldwide community of facilitation leaders in mental health, organizational development, coaching, and education. www.redhorse.red Again, his can be a tough time of year for many. Please know that you are not alone & reach out to any one of us. Here are some ways you can connect with me:catcaldwellmyers@gmail.com@catcaldwellmyersHorses, Mountains & Dogs Facebook PageHorses, Mountains & Dogs Virtual Ranch Group on FbIn case no one has told you today, I LOVE YOU, and so does an animal, tree, or fresh breath of air near you. Breathe in the love that is all around you. Horse hugs on air!Let's read that again:In case no one has told you today, I Just says "buy the book on Amazon!"Support the showUpcoming events:The 2024 Adventure Paradox Digital Course HOLIDAY PRESALEConnect with me here:www.catcaldwellmyers.com@catcaldwellmyersThe Adventure Paradox Podcast Page (Fb)
Finding operational efficiencies is essential in times of economic uncertainty – and optimizing the enablement tech stack is one way that companies can drive this efficiency. In fact, research from Sales Enablement PRO found that practitioners who leverage a sales enablement platform for their sales teams report win rates that are 7 percentage points higher than those who do not. Shawnna Sumaoang: Hi and welcome to the Win Win Podcast. I'm your host, Shawnna Sumaoang. Join us as we dive into changing trends in the workplace and how to navigate them successfully. Here to discuss this topic is John Anderson, the director of technology for development in enablement at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HMH. Thanks for joining, John! I'd love for you to tell us about yourself, your background, and your role. John Anderson: Thanks, Shawnna. When I graduated from college I went back to the high school I graduated from and became a math and science teacher. I was in that role for 18 years. There was a certain curriculum that I was very successful with, and so I followed that curriculum into the educational publishing world and became a national consultant for that curriculum. As time went on with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which has that curriculum, I began being pulled into other areas outside of that curriculum and I just re-looked at where I was going and what I was doing and had an opportunity to join our enablement team. Currently, I am in a role where my team manages both the Highspot platform and also our learning management system. I spend a lot of time dealing with technology, both for Highspot, doing a lot of media editing for our team, and really preparing our salespeople to be successful in selling and supporting our digital curriculum. SS: I love the way that you think about that, John, and I love your background. Now, you’ve mentioned that you’re responsible for essentially enabling the success of your customer-facing teams by showcasing digital solutions. How do you drive efficiency for your customer-facing teams through solutions like Highspot? JA: On the Highspot end of things, really what we do is we provide a lot of demo support so that when our salespeople are either in front of the customer or delivering virtual solutions, they’re able to open our digital platforms, walk through them successfully, and really provide a solution to the customer needs, so really a value selling type of promotion. The reason that we’re able to do that successfully is the organization of our content on Highspot. We make sure that they’re able to look at the play for that particular program, find the demo support, and find the presentations that are updated and current, and these digital platforms are constantly changing. That’s one thing that’s really changed since I began with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Rather than updating these platforms year to year, they happen week to week, and so we have to make sure that we stay on top of all of that. Our curated plays and allowing access to Highspot in an uncluttered and straightforward way are really saving our salespeople time when they have such a big book. SS: Completely, and to that point of having a big book bag, why is efficiency in the tech stack so important, especially in times of economic uncertainty? JA: The competition is greater than it’s been in the past, so every win is really pivotal. What we’re trying to do through Highspot is to help our salespeople really tell the stories about our products so that they can showcase the differentiators in a really succinct way, so that we can promote that win more quickly and move on to the next opportunity. When you have so many different pieces to these digital solutions, we want to make sure that when a salesperson is confronted with a question about these platforms, they can find those answers really quickly. Now, what we’ve done is we’ve reorganized some of our documents that have a lot of these resources in them into plays, some of them really nicely written in such a way that it’s visually pleasing and lays that out very easily, but sometimes people need to get down in the weeds and into the nitty gritty, and we’ve also put those into plays, which are almost just straight links. What it allows us to do is see when we have a lot of different things available for a program, which items are really being used, and where the areas in marketing are most influential for our internal customers. SS: I love that you guys are giving your reps such amazing guidance through the entire process. If we could back up a little bit, John, before Highspot, what were some challenges you were experiencing with driving efficiency? JA: One of the things that I noticed at the Spark Conference is that HMH has been with Highspot for a longer period of time than a lot of the Highspot customers. I was not initially part of this platform, but I was part of a different team within enablement. When I moved into this role, the person that was in the role before me actually was hired by Highspot, so I took over from there, so I don’t have the full history of what was going on beforehand, but here’s what I know. The platform we had before Highspot did not have the digital data to track what was happening when that content was used with our customers. The other thing that was happening before we went to this platform and had better governance of the content was that people were sharing presentation decks and demos and those kinds of things on their own. There was no really good way to know what was the most up-to-date presentation and what we were really trying to say to our customers regarding the solution. When we were looking at what people were doing in the field, a lot of times they were not giving the best information or up-to-date information that they could. With Highspot and its governance and what we’ve put into place here in the structure, now they’re able to confidently go to a source, find what they need, learn those presentations, practice those demos, and really showcase the solutions effectively. SS: I love that, and you touched on some of that already, but how did you leverage Highspot to help overcome some of those challenges? JA: I think the biggest thing that we’ve done in the last year and a half is we’ve introduced plays. Not only is the data important there, but what we found is that a lot of times previous to creating certain types of plays, we had our account executives looking for things and not being as successful in finding what they were looking for until we curated and organized that content, and put it into a play. Now, they can take a look at it and we’ve organized sections a little bit in a customized way. Our plays have things like who to defeat for our competitive information, what to know, what to say, what to share, and where to dig deeper. We really looked at all of the kinds of questions that our AEs were asking, and we made sure that those pages are not overloaded, so that if somebody’s new to a product, like it’s a new account executive, or because our book bag is big, maybe you haven’t touched that program on over 6 months, we want them to be able to jump back in quickly and get back up to date on the key features and updates for those programs and be successful in the sales. The plays are a big part of that. We are now in the process of enforcing some governance on the different spots that we have and insisting that everything has a description, feedback owner, and expiration date to make sure that things are updated. Those things are starting to cycle through now and we’re finding that the success of searches and the success of getting the content and just the vibe I get when I talk to our salespeople, they are much more satisfied now with the platform than they were before we started the governance and really started incorporating these plays. SS: I love to hear that. I think another thing that is really impressive, John, is you guys have an 89% recurring usage rate of Highspot, which is incredible. What are some of your best practices for driving adoption among your reps? JA: Some of it is what we do with our training. Just developing the video training that we have that we’re continuing to grow about how to best incorporate a pitch, how to find what you’re looking for on the sales hub, and how to use those list groups and lists as filters as you’re looking for what you find. That’s been one thing. Another area is that we do have a weekly communication that comes from our enablement team that highlights the new initiatives that are happening within the company. Updates to programs, and that is just full of links to resources on Highspot that allow them to really find what they need in a quick way. They don’t have a lot of time, obviously, in this kind of culture, but to be able to have one place for communication and be up to date on the changes really helps. The other thing that I mentioned, we have special plays where when you have to go in deep and find something, it lists pretty much everything in the kitchen sink in a pretty well-organized way, but we have both kinds of plays. Those where they can find what they’re looking for to share with customers, we have a special play for that where what’s really a play for them, specifically, to be ready to, and then the in-depth kind of plays where they’re looking for really program specific nuts and bolts of things that are a little bit more in the details. SS: That’s fantastic. With so much uncertainty in the market, can you share an example of what good looks like as it relates to seller efficiency and leveraging digital solutions, like Highspot? JA: One of the things that I really appreciate is that there’s a dashboard that our friend on the Highspot side, Omar, has shared with us that really gives us either a red, a yellow, or a green in different areas of the activity that happens on our platform. Him sharing that with us has allowed us to really reflect on what’s happening. There is another thing that I’ve done recently when we took a look at all of our top salespeople and I made a chart of that in Excel and looked at the behaviors of all of those salespeople compared to their peers in their rep scorecard, and then looked at how they compared across the board. It was really interesting to see how pretty much everything is in the upper 30 to 40% of behaviors of salespeople for our top sellers. It shows that it’s not just a random result that the sales are higher, it really does correlate. We are going to be sharing that with our sales manager so they can see the importance of them emphasizing the best practices of these top sellers. The other thing that we’ve done for some of our key initiatives is that we are building spots in a very rapid fashion. We have a program called Insights, and what we’re doing now is we’re going to our customers, like school districts and individual schools, and we’re taking a look at their student test data. We’re looking across the board at the curriculum that they use, both ours and our competitors, and what we’re doing is we’re showing gaps in where they could really improve educational results and offering them some solutions. What we’ve done is we’ve built a spot for that and we create a play that we can track how people are engaging with that so everything becomes a very strategic build in mind, including another spot just for sales managers that we’ve developed. SS: You talked a little bit about the dashboards, so I know that you’re tracking success. How are you going about also reinforcing what good looks like to scale those best practices across your customer-facing teams? JA: A lot of that is happening through the sales managers, and it’s my big goal this year to have repetitive meetings with sales managers and sales leaders to get them to understand how the metrics on Highspot can be used to spur better profitability for the company. One of the things that I do is in my monthly report to my manager, and she shares this because we’re within the finance division, it shows month to month how the changes are with our internal views within the company, external views for our customers and the external view rate. We also take a look at how many items there are added month to month, and how many have been archived because, again, it can be kind of messy if we get too cluttered. We look at the top searches and compare those to what really the initiatives and the goals of the company happen to be at the time. We look at our win rate for our externally viewed content to make sure that that’s continuing to grow, and again, we look at the revenue that’s tied to those opportunities on Salesforce. SS: What results have you seen from your reps since implementing Highspot and has it helped improve seller productivity? JA: It really has, and some of this just becomes anecdotal, but there are times when I have salespeople reach out to me out of the blue and they tell me that they have a play open during a conversation with a customer for a program that they’re fully understanding at the moment, and they’re able to use that on the fly to support the solution that they’re offering the customer and win that sale. Those things are very gratifying and it’s not just a one-time thing. It happens fairly frequently. We do have the ability to look at those rep scorecards and look at what our best sellers are doing, emphasize that with them, have meetings with some of those folks and say, tell me what you’re doing that’s special and then we promote that to the others. SS: I think that’s a fantastic way to share best practices and increase sales productivity. Now, you analyze and really focus on proving the return on investment of your digital solutions. How do you go about doing that and what has been the business impact of your investment in Highspot? JA: There are just so many different factors, and I always get on different pieces of training that have this topic of how you show your ROI based on the platform and what you do. Sometimes it is just looking at the big trends, looking at how our sales are doing overall, and seeing how that relates to activity on Highspot. One of the things that I think we look at in using this platform, we are looking at a really high volume of pitches and external views, and those keep on continuing to increase over time. We’re in a really highly competitive market, so to see the increase in those things corresponding with a continued increase in revenue is a good correlation to show, but most of the time we have to go to individual salespeople and listen to their stories to see what they did to get the win in a very competitive opportunity to see how what they pitched, what they used to prepare for their sales campaign really helped them to be successful. SS: John, last question for you, and thank you so much for your time today. What is your vision for the next year and beyond for enablement at your organization and how do you plan to continue to drive efficiencies? JA: I’d say my number one goal for the year related to Highspot is to spend more time with our sales managers getting them to look at their team, and the data on Highspot to see what their best sellers are doing to encourage the rest to get on board with that. If they see a practice that’s really making the win, they’ve got to emphasize that with their team. We can say it from the enablement side, but they don’t have any accountability to us. What we’re really trying to emphasize is for sales managers to set some expectations, set some goals, and have conversations on a weekly basis to take a look, not only at Salesforce but to look at Highspot to see what their folks are doing and the engagement that they’re having with customers. Those conversations are key. The other type of thing that we need to look at more consistently here is best practices for pitching. We have a number of people that are sending out a lot of pitches, but not getting many views, so we have to talk about what’s the right strategy for pitching, using pitch styles when you have a lot of content to share. Those kinds of things are areas where we could honestly improve. We did incorporate teams on Highspot, and what we’re able to do then is we can compare the data for our field salespeople that go out in the field compared to our inside sales, and we can really look at trends and behaviors in those different areas and target more of the message we need to get out to how to improve results to more individualized practices, and that can change from region to region, from state adoption states where our customers and schools that are going through a process where every six or seven years they buy a new math program, for instance. That’s a different strategy than open territory where these schools are buying whenever they choose. Really looking at it in a district-by-district way and role-by-role, more specifically, I think is going to help us have greater results as well. SS: John, thank you so much for joining us. I really appreciate the time. JA: You’re welcome. Take care. SS: To our audience, thank you for listening to this episode of the Win Win podcast. Be sure to tune in next time for more insights on how you can maximize enablement success with Highspot.
HMH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to increase awareness, public engagement, funds, and access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. To learn more visit www.horsesformentalhealth.org and www.arenasforchange.com
We're dispelling dyslexia misconceptions with guests Rachael Cunningham and Sarah Fox, education leaders at the Charles Armstrong School.Hear how Rachael and Sarah have tailored their school's curriculum to meet the needs of learners with dyslexia. Together they'll share their expertise on dyslexia, including instructional strategies and research-based programs to support students with learning differences. Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
On today's Zero Limits Podcast I chat with former Australian Army Special Forces, 2nd Commando Regiment, Warrant Officer Nick Hill. Nick served in Malaysia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as being deployed to other countries including Egypt, Israel and the United States of America. Nick spent his twenty-five-year career (1989-2014) predominately in the 2nd Commando Regiment. Nick was selected to be part of the stand-up of Tactical Assault Group – East (TAG-E). In late January of 2002 Nick was sent to SASR in Perth to begin the 1st Advanced Close Quarter Battle (ACQB) course with 30 other members of 4 Cdo and 10 RAN CD's. Nick successfully completed the ACQB Cse with 15 others, 9 Cdo's and 6 Cd's, and became the Plank holders of TAG-E. Nick deployed to Afghanistan as the CSM of Bravo Commando Company (BCCG) from July 2011 – February 2012 Special Operations Task Group, Rotation XVI . During that deployment BCCG conducted over 80 Combat Operations in Urazghan, Zabul, Kandahar and Helmand Provinces. Over 90% of the Operations were conducted by Helicopter with support from CH47-D Chinooks from B Coy, 1-52 Avn Regt, Apache & Blackhawks 3-101 Avn Regt, CH53-Es from HMH 464, 2nd US Marine Air Wingand the Afghan Arial Interdiction Unit, (Mi-17s). Conducting mostly Counter Narcotic mission known as Nexus Operations or as they called it Operation Markha Niwel or simply “Counter Narc Ops” – The Targeting of The Intersection Of Criminal And Taliban Networks with the DEA's FAST (Foreign Advisory Support Teams). THe company spent much of these missions in the bad lands of Helmand Province, specifically the Kajaki Sofala and Northern Helmand area. By the end of the Rotation, Commandos had destroyed an estimated $1billion worth of Heroin (US Street Value). We became known as Billion Dollar Bravo.Cam's Cause is a registered charity created in the name of CPL Cameron Baird VC MG. It is run by a mix of civilians and members of the 2nd Commando Regiment and exists to support current and ex-serving Commandos and their families. Cam's Cause works closely with the Commando Welfare Trust; the distinction being that the CWT supports the wider SOCOMD community, where Cam's Cause only supports ECN 079 Commandos. Head to www.camscause.org or head to Instagram, Facebook and LinkedInSupport the show - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=9LG48GC49TW38Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=en
For high school English teacher Leah Carper, a challenge from her Gen Z students transformed her teaching. Hear from Leah, the 2023 North Carolina State Teacher of the Year. She shares how her students inspired her to leverage technology and innovate her instruction. Listen to learn Leah's tips for the modern classroom!Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
2022 National Teacher of the Year finalist Autumn Rivera shares her journey as a middle school science teacher—from supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) to making the great outdoors her classroom, leading lessons right on the Colorado River.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
Matthew Mugo Fields: Leading the Supplemental & Intervention and Heinemann Divisions of HMH. This is episode 539 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Matthew Mugo Fields is a leader in the education sector committed to improving learning through technology and innovation. As a serial entrepreneur and senior executive, he has devoted his career to transforming education to ensure that academic success is attainable for students of all backgrounds. Today, Matthew leads the Supplemental and Intervention and the Heinemann divisions of HMH, the leading K-12 learning technology company. Prior to HMH, Matthew founded education startups – Redbird Advanced Learning, a personalized learning company (later acquired by McGraw-Hill) that developed AI-driven curriculum and professional learning programs; and Rocket Learning, a national provider of in-school tutoring services. He holds dual master's degrees in business and education from Harvard University and is an honors graduate of Morehouse College. Matthew is an avid cyclist and snowboarder, and volunteers as a member of the board of directors of DoSomething.org. He is also the founder and board chair of Innovation For Equity, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for Black learners of all ages. Awesome conversation! So much to think about. Before you go... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be Awesome. Thanks! If you are listening on Apple Podcasts on your phone go to the logo - click so that you are on the main page with a listing of the episodes for my podcast and scroll to the bottom. There you will see a place to rate and review. Could you review me?That would be so cool. Thank you! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? That would so awesome! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: https://www.dosomething.org/us https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mugo-fields-b856354/ https://www.hmhco.com/ https://twitter.com/HMHCo https://www.instagram.com/houghtonmifflinharcourt/ https://www.pinterest.com/HMHco/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/houghton-mifflin-harcourt/ https://www.youtube.com/c/Hmhco https://www.facebook.com/houghtonmifflinharcourt Length - 38:32
From poetry to puppetry—fourth grade teacher and artist Toney Jackson in Hackensack, NJ loves to bring his passion for the arts into his teaching practice. In this episode, Toney shares how he incorporates rhymes and raps to differentiate instruction and meet the needs of all his students.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.
2022 DoDEA Teacher of the Year, Rachel Guilfoyle joins us all the way from Daegu, South Korea. On this episode, she shares how she creates an inclusive classroom for her military-connected students.Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.