Podcasts about Kaiser Permanente

Dr. Cynthia Li joins us to talk about her new book, The Medicine of Flow. Trained as an internist, Cynthia developed an autoimmune condition and then chronic fatigue and dysautonomia, illnesses largely dismissed at the time as being in her head. Her own body pushed her out of the paradigm she was trained in and into functional medicine, qigong, and intuitive healing. A decade later, a second crisis took her back to housebound and taught her what all her effort hadn't: coherence, and what she calls embodied flow. We talk about surrender that isn't passivity, why nervous system regulation is only part of the picture, and how coherence moves between bodies. Guest Cynthia Li, MD, is a physician who moved from public health to integrative medicine and intuitive healing, with earlier work at Kaiser Permanente's HIV/AIDS group, San Francisco General Hospital, St. Anthony Clinic, and Doctors Without Borders in rural China. A certified qigong teacher and healer since 2014, she has served as faculty for Rachel Remen's Healer's Art program at UCSF, and her story appeared in Dr. Kelly Turner's Radical Remission documentary. She is the author of Brave New Medicine and The Medicine of Flow (May 2026). Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:01 From internist to patient: the first illness 00:05 Intuitive medicine, and learning to rule things in 00:07 The second health crisis and the turn to surrender 00:09 What coherence is, and why it isn't just relaxation 00:14 Too many apps: the body in incoherence 00:23 Breath, spiritus, and the nondual 00:27 Physics 101: why we are electromagnetic beings 00:31 Coherence in a time of polycrisis 00:34 Overlapping fields, and the living mandala 00:40 Why the collective comes sixth 00:47 Bamboo in the wind, and whether the future of medicine is ancient Books and practices The Medicine of Flow: Harmonizing Your Inner State for Effortless Healing (Reveal Press, May 2026) Brave New Medicine: A Doctor's Unconventional Path to Healing Her Autoimmune Illness (New Harbinger, 2019) Embodied Flow Methods, free guided audio and video for the practices in the book, including coherent breathing and a downloadable 30-day worksheet Find Cynthia cynthialimd.com Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Psychology Today Her New York Times piece on the pandemic, poverty, and homelessness Going deeper Awakin Call with Michael Lerner, July 2026, on The Medicine of Flow Her first Awakin Call, 2020, on healing from the first crisis HeartMath Institute, the heart coherence and HRV research referenced in the conversation Contact SAND podcast@scienceandnonduality.com Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Hospital M&A Is Up 33%, CommonSpirit Has 250 AI Tools Running & UHS Just Bought a Mental Health AppAugust 31st, 2026. Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan. Three stories, one theme: health systems are making big, deliberate moves. Merging before they have to, deploying AI at scale, and buying digital companies to own the front door to care.

Overstepping ownership rarely looks like overstepping. It looks like moving things along.You know how something could be improved, so you give your suggestion. Work gets done, progress is visible, but the person you were there to develop doesn't build the capability they need, and the improvement doesn't sustain.Every change leader, manager, and executive does this at some point. And when we take on ownership of what isn't ours, we end up the bottleneck.As a transformational change leader at Kaiser Permanente, Anna Pessah watches this play out every day with the internal consulting team she leads, and with the physician and operational leaders she supports.We break down this challenge and share the practices to use instead. Leaders don't need to stop helping or teaching. It's about getting clear about what each person owns, and adjusting how you help based on what that leader needs in the moment.When ownership sits in the right place, people grow, improvements hold, and you have the space to do what is actually yours to do.You'll Learn:How to make ownership explicit from the start, by contracting up front and saying out loud which hat you're wearing, coach or consultant or teacherWhy leaders learn good coaching practices best by being coached, and how making your own practice visible lets others model itWhy the pull to step in gets stronger the more you care about the outcomeWhy a new practice often swings too far one direction at first, and how to find the middle without abandoning itWhen asking coaching questions stops being helpful, and how to be directive without taking over the thinkingABOUT MY GUEST:Anna Pessah leads the internal consulting team that oversees the operating system at the North Valley Service Area of Kaiser Permanente, where she coaches physician and operational leaders on strategy, management systems, and the behaviors that support a culture of improvement. She is an industrial engineer from the University of Michigan and an ICF-certified coach. Anna brings a blend of systems thinking, operational improvement, and leadership development to help leaders generate insight, turn goals into action, and build habits that stick.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/83 Connect with Anna Pessah: linkedin.com/in/anna-pessah Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletter Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:16 Why change leaders struggle to keep ownership with leaders05:22 When helping starts creating dependence06:15 Building capability instead of becoming the bottleneck07:12 Why doing more can make your job harder09:23 Getting explicit about roles and ownership11:25 Why new practices require reflection and adjustment13:17 Making your leadership practices visible16:03 How to give direction without taking over22:16 What happens when leaders operate at the wrong level24:05 The personal cost of staying in the weeds25:30 Why helping can turn into overstepping27:43 When coaching questions aren't helpful31:25 The power of listening—and leaving space36:46 Why humility is essential to learning38:18 Recognizing your own pull to control39:06 Simple practices for keeping ownership where it belongs Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/

Our main stories this week start with an investigation by Capital and Main into Kaiser Permanente's deployment of AI chatbots in their mental health division, to the alarm of actual mental health professionals. The struggle at Starbucks hit a new level as Starbucks Workers United announced an indefinite, nationwide boycott of the company until they agree to a fair contract, with major unions signing on. ICE continues to attack workers around the country, with California vineyard workers suddenly facing threats of raids after they started the process to unionize. We've also got headlines from Olympia Fields Hospital, the Seattle Public School District, Wingstop, Cisco, and Chisago County public workers.   Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee

You may have fatty liver disease and not even know it. In fact, it often develops silently, without obvious symptoms—but if left unchecked, it can lead to serious liver damage over time. So, what causes fatty liver disease? And most importantly, what can you do to protect your liver? On this episode of the Healthier You podcast, Dr. Ashlee Williams talks with Dr. Alex Jow, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente, about fatty liver disease—what causes it, how to know if you're at risk, and what you can do to improve your liver health.  Learn more about Alexander Jow, MD 

Workplace wellness is about much more than step challenges, gym memberships, and occasional health initiatives. The everyday employee experience matters.On this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy sits down with Andrea “Andy” Notch Mayzeles, Workforce Health Consultant at Kaiser Permanente, to discuss how organizations can build wellness strategies that actually become part of their workplace culture.With more than a decade of experience at Kaiser Permanente, Andy shares practical ways employers can assess their current wellness efforts, get employees involved, build leadership support, and integrate health and well-being throughout the organization.In this episode:How benchmarking and scorecards can reveal where your wellness strategy standsWhy employee wellness shouldn't live exclusively within HRHow wellness committees and employee champions can drive engagementWhy organizations should regularly ask employees what they actually needThe powerful trickle-down effect of leaders modeling healthy behaviorsThe business case for wellness—from retention and healthcare costs to absenteeism and productivityHow to make mental health part of the everyday employee experienceSmall, practical wellness rituals that managers can incorporate into their teamsOne of the biggest takeaways? A quarterly wellness challenge can't make up for an unhealthy day-to-day work experience. Managers and leaders play a critical role in creating an environment where employees can thrive.Andy also discusses Kaiser Permanente's Mental Fitness Toolkit, designed to help organizations incorporate simple, achievable mental wellness practices into the regular rhythm of work.

Deacon Victor Valenzuela is assigned to St. Mary Church in Fullerton.  He is married, with two adult children.  He is a licensed social worker who is retired from 31 years of employment at Kaiser Permanente.  He is a former seminarian who has worked in a variety of ministries.  His wife is Diane.  Today, he welcomes guest Tad Smith of Catholic Charities Orange County. Support the show

How much of your marketing technology budget is quietly underperforming, not because the software is flawed, but because your teams can't, or won't, fully adopt it?Because real agility was never about buying faster tools. It's about having an operating model that can actually turn a tool's potential into results, and keep doing it as the tools keep changing.Today we're digging into the phase that quietly decides whether any martech investment pays off: what happens after the contract is signed with things like implementation and adoption. We'll get into:- Why rollouts stall — and why the real cause is usually the operating model, not the tool.- What it takes to move a team from "trained" to genuinely changed.- How to measure real value without fooling yourself with usage metrics.- And what shifts once the platform starts doing some of the work itself.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Kate Dalbey, Chief Client Officer at Qualified Digital.About Kate DalbeyAs CCO, Kate leads client management and growth initiatives at Qualified Digital, bringing over 20 years of digital marketing experience from both client-side and agency-side roles. She's responsible for driving organic and net new growth by leading multi-disciplinary teams who turn light-bulb ideas into fantastic outcomes for the brands QD works with. Kate is guided by the client philosophy that "we grow because they grow." Kate has consistently delivered year-over-year growth in her portfolio within fast-paced, high-growth start-up environments. She passionately believes that digital experiences can change people's lives for the better and works diligently to see these outcomes arrive in real time. In her daily life at QD, Kate enjoys what she calls "the relentless pursuit of better business results" and takes pride in building the teams that can create them, from idea to strategy to plan to execution and measurement. Because what's next isn't enough, it's what's north that really gets her excited. Kate's career experience is deeply rooted in healthcare, across provider, payer, and life sciences. The client roster she's managed includes category powerhouses CVS Health, CommonSpirit Health, Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, Aetna, Sunrise Senior Living, Gelesis, UNCH, Jefferson Health, Cedars-Sinai, Spaulding Rehabilitation, UHS, and Wedgewood Pharmacy. She's also led digital transformation for AmeriGas, Hitachi Vantara, Thomson Reuters, ScanSource, U of Pennsylvania, and the Am. Board of Internal Medicine. When Kate isn't delivering her unique brand of magic at QD, she's with her husband and 2 sons. She loves cheering on Philly sports teams, coaching youth soccer with her husband, and traveling with her family.Kate Dalbey on LinkedIn---------- Resources ---------- Qualified DigitalThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems.We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save!Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit!Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off.Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show.Connect with Greg on LinkedInDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more.Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology.The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Selective Ignorance, Mandii B is joined by super producer A-King and Jason “Jah” Lee for another unpredictable mix of current events, culture, crime, politics, technology, religion, and internet debates. After previewing the week’s biggest stories [ 00:45 ], the crew settles in with some signature banter about generational differences and everyday life [ 02:52 ], including the frustrations of Atlanta parking and navigating the city [ 07:27]. Things get even more personal when they debate airport pickup etiquette, friendship expectations, and exactly how much inconvenience a real friend should be willing to endure [ 14:53 ]. In “This Is America,” the conversation turns serious with the case of Memphis mother Kendra Scott, who was charged with first-degree murder and a firearm offense after 20-year-old Rodarius Morton was found in her 13-year-old daughter’s bedroom and fatally shot as he was leaving [ 20:21 ]. The crew examines the complicated circumstances surrounding the case, including reports concerning Morton’s learning disabilities and questions about Tennessee consent laws, culpability, parental protection, and legal nuance [ 21:43 ]. They then wrestle with the emotional aftermath, potential guilt, and the role of gun laws and split-second decision-making [ 32:27 ], before extending the debate to another scenario involving a porch shooting and the boundaries of self-defense [ 34:09 ]. The episode then shifts to healthcare after discussing Cassandra Barksdale, a Georgia woman who says she underwent an unnecessary hysterectomy after Kaiser Permanente mistakenly identified her biopsy as aggressive uterine cancer [ 34:34 ]. The hosts react to the devastating consequences of the reported medical mix-up [ 37:18 ] and emphasize the potentially life-changing importance of seeking second opinions when facing major diagnoses and irreversible procedures [ 41:33 ]. From healthcare, the crew moves into money and technology with a discussion about the federal push toward cryptocurrency regulation [ 42:45 ]. They debate the risks and usefulness of digital currencies, including how crypto can become an alternative when traditional banks and payment processors restrict transactions connected to sex work and other industries [ 48:18 ]. That leads into a broader—and characteristically heated—conversation about the service industry, consumer expectations, money, and the frustrations surrounding modern customer service [53:19 ]. The political conversation picks up with reactions to anti-Muslim backlash surrounding New York City Mayor Zalmay Mandami and his participation in 9/11 memorial events [ 01:01:39 ]. The crew examines rhetoric surrounding Muslim identity and so-called “foreign-sounding” names [ 01:07:34 ], before discussing how names can influence racial, religious, and cultural perceptions in political campaigns [ 01:09:36 ]. A conversation involving ChatGPT and perceptions of Muslim names follows [ 01:12:49 ], leading to a debate about whether changing or Americanizing names can alter how people are treated [ 01:15:32 ]. The hosts then react to Rep. Nancy Mace’s comments about Islam [ 01:16:50 ], broadening the conversation into what travel and exposure to different cultures can teach people about religion [ 01:20:19 ] and the shared Abrahamic roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam amid continuing racism and religious prejudice [ 01:23:41 ]. No Holes Barred: A Dual Manifesto Of Sexual Exploration And Power” w/ Tempest X! Sale Link Follow the host on Social MediaMandii B Instagram/X @fullcourtpumps Follow the crew on Social Media @itsaking @jaysonrodriguez @mrhiphopobama Follow the show on Social MediaInstagram @selectiveignorancepodTiktok @selective.ignoranceX/Twitter @selectiveig_pod Closing out the episode, things get lighter—and considerably more provocative—when the crew reacts to Devin Walker’s “ethical wiggering” commentary, using the viral phrase to debate cultural appreciation, participation, authenticity, and the complicated history of white figures operating within Black cultural spaces [ 01:26:22 ]. They begin building their own tongue-in-cheek list of examples [ 01:27:57 ], discussing figures from entertainment, music, and sports before landing on Paul Wall and a conversation surrounding the Confederate flag [ 01:37:53 ]. A final detour into a Drake tour rumor brings the main episode toward its conclusion [ 01:40:54 ], before the crew previews what’s coming next on the bonus episode [ 01:41:51 ]. From crime and medical accountability to cryptocurrency, Islamophobia, cultural identity, and appropriation, Selective Ignorance once again finds humor, disagreement, and deeper questions inside some of the week’s most complicated conversations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk a lot about long-term couples growing together emotionally—but what happens when their physical selves begin to change, too? As we age, our bodies change, and those changes can have a real impact on intimacy, confidence, sexual function, and relationships. In this episode, we take an honest and often lighthearted look at what happens to both women and men as they grow older—and why these changes are something couples should face together, rather than allowing them to create insecurity, doubt, or blame. We're joined by Dr. Castillo, a fellowship-trained Female Pelvic Medicine specialist and the founder and director of Swan Medical Intimate Wellness in Los Gatos, California. Dr. Castillo brings extensive expertise in the changes that can occur as a consequence of childbirth, aging, and menopause, as well as the emerging treatments designed to improve sexual health and overall quality of life. We start with women, exploring some of the most common changes in sexual function that occur with age, including the impact of menopause and shifting hormones. We also talk about the enormous beauty standards women face—and whether men might need to start “playing the game” a little more when it comes to maintaining their physical health and appearance. Then we turn the conversation toward men. What changes can they expect as they age? What treatments and options are available? And, yes, we even ask the question you may have been wondering about: Are penile fillers for increased girth actually a thing? Most importantly, this conversation is about removing the shame and stigma surrounding sexual health. Aging doesn't have to mean giving up intimacy, confidence, or connection. Understanding what is happening to our bodies—and knowing that there are options—can help couples approach these changes with compassion, humor, and a willingness to work through them together. About our guest: Dr. Castillo completed his OB/GYN residency at St. Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey before completing a three-year fellowship in Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery and Female Pelvic Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. After five years of clinical practice at Kaiser Permanente, where he oversaw resident research and education and taught medical students as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Stanford University, he founded the first private Intimate Wellness Center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Castillo remains actively involved in clinical research and serves on several women's health advisory boards, helping shape emerging therapies and advanced treatment protocols for conditions that affect intimacy and quality of life. His mission is to address the root causes of common symptoms associated with aging while empowering women to embrace longevity and helping erase the stigma surrounding female sexual health through education, seminars, and compassionate care. To learn more go to https://swanmd.com, and mention Shameless Sex for a special gift. And click here to set up a free 15 minute consult to discover if you are in menopause Come to our October 2026 Couple's retreats! Learn more and reserve your spot here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shamelesssex.com/retreat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you love us? Do you REALLY love us? Then order ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shamelesssex.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to snag your copy Support Shameless Sex by sending us gifts via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wish List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shamelesssexpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other links: Get 10% off getting soaking wet with code SHAMELESS at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://soakingwet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 45% off our favorite ethical (and educatonal) porn with code PLEASURE at ⁠⁠http://erikalust.com ⁠⁠— that's Erika with a K Get 10% off + free shipping with code SHAMELESS on Uberlube AKA our favorite lubricant at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://uberlube.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 15% off the best sex toys with code SHAMELESSSEX at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://purepleasureshop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Work with some of our favorite sexual health and hormone specialists at ⁠⁠⁠https://swanmd.com⁠⁠⁠ + mention Shameless Sex for a discount

In this episode, we explore how the right mix of nutrition, exercise, and healthy habits can help you build stronger bones and reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Learn who's most at risk, the best foods and workouts for bone health, and steps you can take to improve your bone strength for years to come.  Learn about sports medicine at Kaiser Permanente 

Are You the One? We have one spot left in both cohorts Designing Your New Life in Retirement small group program, beginning in September. Is now the time to start working on what you’ll be retiring to? Learn more here | Sign up here Prepare for Takeoff: Is your money better prepared for retirement than you are to live it? Take this free 5-minute assessment to highlight may need you attention to build the retirement you’ve earned. __________________________ We spend a great deal of time thinking about how much we exercise. Esther Gokhale asks another question: How are we using our bodies during all the hours when we aren’t exercising? Esther Gokhale, creator of the Gokhale Method, became interested in posture after experiencing a severe L5-S1 disc herniation while pregnant with her first child. Surgery was followed by another herniation, and she began searching more broadly for ways to change how she moved in everyday life. In this conversation, Esther explains why she considers posture a missing pillar of wellness and why she believes ordinary activities (walking, sitting, standing, bending and even lying down) can become what she calls “life exercises.” We explore why sitting itself may not (completely) deserve its terrible reputation, what she means by a “J-spine,” how walking mechanics affect the entire body, and what modern adults can learn from young children and populations whose traditional movement patterns have been preserved. Most encouragingly for people in the second half of life, Esther argues that we should distinguish between what becomes common with age and what is necessarily natural. Her message is clear that our capacity for improvement often lasts much longer than we assume. _____________________ Bio Esther Gokhale (GO-clay) has been involved in integrative therapies all her life. As a young girl growing up in India, she helped her mother, a nurse, treat abandoned babies waiting to be adopted. This early interest in healing led her to study biochemistry at Harvard and Princeton and, later, acupuncture at the San Francisco School of Oriental Medicine. After experiencing crippling back pain during her first pregnancy and unsuccessful back surgery, Esther Gokhale began her lifelong crusade to vanquish back pain. Her studies at the Aplomb® Institute in Paris and years of research in Brazil, India, Portugal and elsewhere led her to develop the Gokhale Method, a unique, systematic approach to help people find their bodies' way back to pain-free living. Gokhale’s book, 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, has been translated into ten languages. Esther Gokhale has taught at corporations such as Google & IDEO, presented at conferences including TEDx(Stanford), consulted for the trainers of the SF 49ers and several Stanford sports teams, and conducted workshops for physician groups at Stanford, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UCSF. The New York Times gave Esther the title “The Posture Guru of Silicon Valley. A Stanford clinical trial is currently studying the Gokhale Method. _____________________ For More on Esther Gokhale Website – Gokhale Method 2-minute Video Overview of the Gokhale Method  8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back by Esther Gokhale ____________________ Other Retirement Podcasts You May Like The Joy of Movement – Kelly McGonigal Eat Your Ice Cream – Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD Make Your Next Years Your Best Years – Harry Agress, MD _____________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master's degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 2 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He's the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. __________________________ Wise Quotes On Posture “Posture is very underrated as a pillar of wellness…Change the way you are living in your body….It’s sort of indispensable that we do life more skillfully because that’s where the big opportunities are.” On Misconceptions on Aging “Don’t…lower our standards and call things that are common natural.” On Why Now? “It’s never too late.” __________________________ The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Retirement Wisdom Podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the host or Retirement Wisdom, LLC. The Retirement Wisdom Podcast covers the non-financial aspects of retirement. From time to time we may invite guests who discuss other aspects of retirement planning, solely for educational purposes. Listeners are advised to consult qualified financial and/or medical professionals on those matters.

A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a veteran employee who was fired after requesting a religious exemption from the company's COVID-19 shot mandate. 

In this episode of Talking Sleep, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Andrea Matsumura, a sleep physician with specialized certification in menopause medicine and national advisor for Monarch MD, to discuss how sleep clinicians can better support patients struggling with perimenopausal sleep disturbances. Since the FDA removed the black box warning on hormone replacement therapy, more patients are inquiring about medications to treat perimenopausal sleep symptoms. Dr. Matsumura, who left traditional practice to pursue menopause certification and now works at the intersection of sleep medicine, mental health, and women's midlife health, provides practical guidance on this increasingly important clinical area. The conversation begins with Dr. Matsumura's career evolution. After training as an internist with a leadership role at Kaiser Permanente and practicing sleep medicine in a group setting, she pursued specialized menopause certification—a credentialing process explained in detail. Dr. Matsumura discusses what menopause certification encompasses, who can pursue it, and her own path into this specialty. She also discusses her work developing specialized supplements for perimenopausal sleep support. The episode systematically addresses how perimenopause disrupts sleep. Rather than focusing solely on hot flashes, Dr. Matsumura explains the full spectrum of sleep-related changes. She clarifies the timeline of perimenopause—when it starts and ends—and discusses less commonly recognized phenomena like menstrual hypersomnia that clinicians may not immediately associate with menopause. A critical discussion addresses patient expectations around hormone replacement therapy. Many patients expect sleep clinicians to prescribe HRT, which raises legitimate concerns for providers unfamiliar with menopause management. Dr. Matsumura provides practical guidance on these conversations and clarifies the role of hormone level testing—addressing the debate between treating symptoms versus checking levels before initiating therapy. The conversation explores the complex relationship between sleep apnea and menopause. Dr. Matsumura explains why and how obstructive sleep apnea may worsen during perimenopause, how to have these conversations with patients, and when referral to OBGYN colleagues is appropriate for collaborative care. Additional topics include the role of hypnotics in perimenopausal sleep disorders, absolute contraindications to hormone replacement therapy, how to initiate HRT when appropriate, and whether restless leg syndrome worsens with perimenopause. Dr. Matsumura addresses common misconceptions about menopause and sleep, helping clinicians understand what practitioners and patients frequently get wrong about this life stage. The episode emphasizes that sleep medicine clinicians don't need to become menopause specialists, but understanding these connections enables better patient care and appropriate referrals. Join us for this important conversation about supporting women's sleep health through midlife transitions.

Deacon Victor Valenzuela is assigned to St. Mary Church in Fullerton.  He is married, with two adult children.  He is a licensed social worker who is retired from 31 years of employment at Kaiser Permanente.  He is a former seminarian who has worked in a variety of ministries.  His wife is Diane.  Today, he welcomes guest John Rayburn. Support the show

What is your top leadership challenge? A recent informal study gathered data from 23,000 HR professionals, and they identified difficult conversations and feedback as their top leadership challenge. Today's guest walks us through each of the 5 C's of difficult conversations. Join us to learn how to ready your mindset for difficult conversations so you can thrive as a coach and leader!Maren Perry is the founder and CEO of Arden Coaching, a B2B leadership development firm she started in New York in 2007, when coaching was a largely unknown field. Today, Arden is a national firm of 40-plus Professional and Master Certified Coaches serving CHROs, VPs of HR, and directors of leadership and development at mid-market organizations across engineering, construction, finance, healthcare, and tech. Some of their clients include Kaiser Permanente, Microsoft, Mars/Wrigley, ZipRecruiter, BetMGM, and JLL. With a background in cognitive science and thousands of coaching hours at the senior executive level, Maren and her team specialize in developing technically brilliant people into leaders who build high-performing teams.Show Highlights:Maren's journey to clarity about the real problem in having difficult conversations for HR professionalsThe truth: People are desperate for feedback. (and it's kind to offer feedback!)The 5 C's to prepare for difficult conversations:Courage–Have difficult conversations, even when you are fearful about it.Clear–Clear yourself of stories (that might be true or untrue) and emotions first.Collaborative–This mindset is to “sit on the same side of the table.”Certain–Go into the conversation with clarity and certainty, not stubbornness.Curious–Curiosity is key for coaches and leaders; leave space to be wrong.Transformations in using the 5 C's frameworkA key takeaway from Maren: “Practice the 5 C's of difficult conversations. No one gets better without practicing.”Resources:Connect with Maren Perry: Website and LinkedInConnect with Meg:Explore our mentor program! Now enrolling for Fall 2026! Click here for more information!Learn more about the STaR Coach Community. We would love for you to join us!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Mentioned in this episode:Mentor ProgramIf you're working toward your ACC or PCC credential, or if it's time to recertify your ACC mentor, coaching isn't just a requirement on a checklist. It's one of the most transformative investments you can make in yourself and your coaching. I've taught or mentored over 2000 coaches, and I hear the same thing again and again. I came because I had to, and I am so glad that I did. Coaches tell me they walk away with renewed energy, deeper confidence and a community of peers who genuinely support each other. Here's what you need to know right now. Mentor coaching must span a minimum of three months, so the time to start is not when your credential is just about to expire. And if you complete your hours in 2026, you get ahead of the upcoming ICF changes, which means peace of mind along with skill development. My fall cohort is already filling up. Every group is capped at ten. It's small, personal, and powerful. If you've been waiting for the right time, this is it. So head over to Star Coach Show. That's https://starcoachshow.com/mentor/ to grab your spot or to learn more. I'd love to work with you. Now, let's get into today's show.

What if the answer to aging well at home isn't an expensive caregiver --- but a college student in the spare bedroom? In this episode, host Kirsten Howe sits down with Alison Donnally, founder of JoeyCo and a healthcare innovation veteran of Amazon Care and Kaiser Permanente. After three of her own family members experienced major health events while aging alone, Alison asked a question that wouldn't let go: if the au pair system gives American families relatively affordable live-in childcare, why isn't there an equivalent for older adults? Her answer is JoeyCo, which matches older adult homeowners ("hosts") with screened, vetted local students ("Joeys") who rent a room in the home and work for the household --- groceries, dog walks, trash cans, and the everyday help that keeps life running. Together, Kirsten and Alison break down what makes these arrangements actually work: the legal structure behind every match in California, the clear expectations set before anyone moves in, and the simple communication habits that keep small issues from ever turning into big ones. They also explore the deeper reason this model resonates: as we age, our world tends to get smaller. A little help --- and a little company --- can push it back open. Time-stamped Show Notes: 0:00 Introduction 0:30 Kirsten's focus for this episode series: not living longer, but living better --- all the way to the end. 1:05 Meet Alison Donnally, founder of JoeyCo, with a background spanning Amazon Care, Kaiser Permanente, the NFL, Tuck, and Wharton. 1:40 The concept in a nutshell: older adult "hosts" get affordable help at home, and student "Joeys" get a place to live and a job. 2:42 Alison shares the personal inspiration --- three family members, aging alone for very different reasons, each experienced a major health event. 3:25 "These are not healthcare things that are happening to my family members, until it is something that is healthcare." 3:50 The aha moment came from the au pair system: why not affordable live-in support for older adults, too? 4:52 How it works in California: lodging agreements, household employment rules, and keeping the complexity on JoeyCo's side. 6:45 Who becomes a host? Often women aging alone with an extra bedroom and a desire to help solve the housing crisis. 7:30 Another common host: a household where a family member is the caregiver for someone with dementia or a chronic condition. 8:05 Every match starts with one question: what would make this host come alive? 8:47 Kirsten's theater-line story --- Joeys aren't caregivers, but getting to a play matters, too. 9:45 Even chit-chat in line adds vibrancy to a life that can start to feel smaller with age. 10:21 "One by one, we lose our friends." Why JoeyCo is more than a business transaction. 11:42 Did you know? A room-for-chores swap isn't legally compliant in California --- every match takes two agreements: monthly rent from Joey to host, and biweekly W-2 payroll from host to Joey. 12:56 The house manual covers the roommate stuff up front: Wi-Fi passwords, fridge shelves, and clear expectations. 13:30 Weekly look-ahead meetings keep payroll accurate and schedules in sync --- flexibility requires communication. 13:55 The bathroom fan story: handling the little things before they become big things. Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll: Learn about your unique situation and goals Answer questions about our services Determine if we're the right fit to work together Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today. Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.

"It begins with you, but it's not about you."That may have been my favorite quote from this conversation—but when you're sitting down with a true healthcare legend like Cora Tellez, it's nearly impossible to pick just one.In this episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, Toby Kennedy talks with Cora, whose remarkable career has spanned nearly five decades. From leading organizations like Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, Prudential, and Health Net to founding Sterling Administration and launching new ventures in healthcare innovation, Cora shares the leadership lessons that have shaped her extraordinary journey.This conversation is packed with timeless wisdom for leaders, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, and anyone looking to make a lasting impact.In this episode:Cora's incredible journey through the healthcare industryThree leadership principles that have guided her careerWhy failure should lead to learning—not blameWhy no leader succeeds aloneThe importance of addressing personnel issues earlyFinding purpose, building community, and aging wellHow creativity outside of work can make you a stronger leaderWhether you're leading a company, managing a team, or simply looking to grow, Cora's insights are practical, inspiring, and as relevant today as ever.

Deacon Victor Valenzuela is assigned to St. Mary Church in Fullerton.  He is married, with two adult children.  He is a licensed social worker who is retired from 31 years of employment at Kaiser Permanente.  He is a former seminarian who has worked in a variety of ministries.  His wife is Diane.  Today, Deacon Victor talks with John Rayburn about the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Support the show

One of Oakland's most recognizable towers just defaulted on a $97.1 million loan — and its market value has collapsed by 75%. One Kaiser Plaza, the Ordway building that serves as Kaiser Permanente's national headquarters, missed its mortgage maturity date on July 1st. The lender is now seizing rents, the owners are in technical default, and the story is public because a Form 8-K doesn't lie. When a publicly traded company can't hide the math, the math tells the whole story.This isn't a market anomaly — it's a policy outcome. Kaiser's own internal memos warned employees to stay inside during lunch because of street crime. Now Kaiser is shrinking its California footprint, downtown Oakland foot traffic has evaporated, and a marquee office tower that once anchored the city's skyline is sitting in its lender's lap. A 75% markdown on a flagship property isn't a blip. That's a verdict.The commercial real estate reckoning playing out in Oakland echoes the worst of the Great Recession — except this time the damage is entirely self-inflicted. Cities that tolerated disorder, chased out employers, and treated crime as a housing problem are now watching their tax base get marked down in real time. Oakland isn't just losing a tower. It's losing the argument that progressive urban policy is survivable at scale.CHAPTERS0:00 Downtown Gut Punch: Oakland Kaiser…0:55 Kaiser Tower Takes 75% Value Hit1:32 One Kaiser Plaza Enters Loan Default2:16 Kaiser's Exit Hollows Downtown Oakland3:16 Commercial Real Estate Squeezes Local…3:55 The Refinance Math That Broke the Deal5:45 Commercial Resets Mirror the Great…7:41 75% Markdown Leaves No Equity Cushion8:16 Oakland Crime Forces Kaiser's Lunch Memo10:07 Kaiser Moves Workers Out of Downtown10:50 Oakland Crime Drives Kaiser's Pullout11:58 What Comes Next for Kaiser Tower12:42 Major Employers Abandoning Oakland and…14:06 Oakland's Crime Optics Drive Tenants…16:32 Subscribe for the Next EpisodeSubscribe to @reasonablenews and hit the notification bell so you don't miss the next episode of News for Reasonable People.#NFRP #Oakland #KaiserTowerGO PREMIUM WITH REASONABLE+ FOR UNCENSORED ACCESS

Dropkick Murphys Union Shirt: https://dropkickmurphys.store/products/dropkick-murphys-x-krm-union-charity-t-shirt-black Catching up on more stories from our break, our main topic this week is the resurgence of protests against ICE in the wake of more murders against immigrant workers in Maine and Texas. Also this week, ILWU warehouse workers are on strike against C&H Sugar, who may have contaminated an entire sugar shipment with oil just to avoid giving their workers sick days. We also have headlines from Kings Road Merch, Amazon, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Tokens.com, Taylor Farms, and the Wage Theft Industry.   Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee

Most conversations about hard childhoods stop at “it affected them as kids.” Almost nobody asks what happens after — because childhood doesn't stay contained to childhood. It moves in with you as an adult, and it rarely announces itself when it shows up. In this episode, I walk through Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): what the research actually found, how it showed up in my own life, and four practical starting points for anyone who recognizes themselves in this.What ACEs Actually AreIn the 1990s, Kaiser Permanente and the CDC studied adults about specific categories of childhood hardship — abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction like addiction, untreated mental illness, or divorce. What they found wasn't just emotional; it reshaped how researchers understood long-term physical health outcomes too.How It Shows Up Decades LaterHigher rates of heart disease, chronic pain, weight and substance struggles — and a quieter pattern I know personally: being “braced for impact” even when nothing is actually wrong. I share how noticing this in my own stress data was the first real clue.It's Not a Life SentenceA high ACE score doesn't determine your future. The single biggest protective factor across every study was having just one steady, caring adult somewhere in the picture — and that changes the odds significantly.Step 1: Name ItYou can't fix a reaction you haven't identified. I walk through how naming a pattern (“I don't trust the future”) is the first real step, not a reason to stay stuck in it.Step 2: Your Body RemembersOld alarm systems fire in new contexts — a late bill, an unexpected email — and recognizing that pattern is different from being ruled by it.Step 3: Stability Is Not Wasted EffortRebuilding a calm, steady life as an adult recalibrates a nervous system that never had that as a baseline. It may take longer than it would for someone with a steady childhood, but it's not out of reach.Step 4: Everything Is FigureoutableThe bridge from naming the pattern to actually doing something about it — including the strange, personal story of how my own decades-long insomnia finally resolved.If any part of this sounds like your own life, it's not a life sentence — it's information. Naming it and building stability from here is where the real change starts.Recommended resource: The original ACE study questionnaire is short, self-scoring, and available online in about five minutes if you want a starting point.Find every show I do at jillfromthenorthwoods.com.This episode touches on childhood trauma and family dysfunction. If anything in it sounds like your own experience and it's weighing on you right now, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional or a trusted person in your life for support.Jill's Linkshttps://jillfromthenorthwoods.com/ - Find my podcasts, videos, downloads and ways to contact mehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/smallstepspodhttps://x.com/NorthWoodsJillhttps://www.youtube.com/@startwithsmallstepsEmail the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.comBy choosing to watch this video or listen to this podcast, you acknowledge that you are doing so of your own free will. The content shared here reflects personal experiences and opinions and is intended for informational and inspirational purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, life coach, or mental health professional. Any habits, strategies, or suggestions offered should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or counseling advice. Results vary — small steps look different for everyone. You are solely responsible for any decisions or actions you take based on this content.

Send us Fan MailJerome Imhoff is a Career Coach, Life Coach, and Professional Résumé Writer with nearly 20 years of experience in Employment Services.  He made his foray into the industry as a career counselor and job developer at an adult vocational school, then spent 5 years as a recruiter for a national staffing firm before starting his private coaching and résumé writing practice and joining Randstad RiseSmart as a career coach. Jerome is a volunteer panelist and presenter for the San Francisco Job Forum, sponsored by LinkedIn.He has personally written 3500+ résumés, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters, and professional biographies. In 2017, he was hired by LinkedIn to review the profiles of premium members against best practices.  As a career coach, Jerome helps job seekers and career changers (at all levels  of employment and across all industries) to assess their career goals and acquire a strategic edge to navigate an ever-changing and highly competitive job market. He has coached numerous clients to successful employment with such companies as Google, Facebook, Apple, LinkedIn, Kaiser Permanente, The Nation magazine, Microsoft, GE Digital, Intel Corporation, and other high-profile companies. Jerome is a Certified Human Resources Professional (PHR), a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, and a certified ARTbundance Life Coach and Practitioner. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education (BSED) with majors in English and music as well as a Master of Arts Degree in Education (MAED) with an emphasis on Language ArtsHe's also the co-host of the podcast UpLevel Your Career with Judson & Jerome and the host of the podcast Manifesting Brilliance: Living Your Authentic Life. He is the author of A Place in the Choir: Reclaiming My Relationship with God as a Queer Man. Jerome lives in Palm Springs, CA where he loves spending time with his husband and their two dogs, Lily and Rocco. In his free time, he enjoys playing the piano, reading, exploring art galleries, attending concerts/theater, and binge-watching Netflix. He was once described by a dear friend as a hummingbird on caffeine. This description captures the optimism, wonder, and whimsy with which he navigates his world. A spiritual life coach and illumination guide, Jerome is a certified meditation teacher and transformational leader, a certified NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) practitioner, a certified ARTbundance Coach and Practitioner, and a certified career coach. He has been a dedicated student and teacher of A Course in Miracles for more than three decades. His work focuses on leading others to embrace their connection to the Divine. Contact Jerome via email: manifestingbrilliance@gmail.comhttp://www.facebook.com/manifestyourbrilliancePhoto credit: Anthony Duran

Kupuna or Seniors in Hawaii are living independently and neighbors can become an extended family alongside their ohana. Guest Dr. Christina Bell (Geriatrician at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii) who sees patients aged 65 or better.Can you still sunbathe with sunscreen? Guest Dr. Rodd Takiguchi's (Dermatology and Dermatopathology at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii) expertise helps to better understand how the sun helps our overall health and why you should monitor your skin's health throughout your lifetime.Kathy With a K is your host."Hawaii Matters", a public service community program that airs on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Hawaii across Pacific Media Group Oahu radio stations:KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb | KQMQ HI93 | KUMU 94.7 KUMU | KPOI 105.9 The WaveTo be featured or for inquiries on "Hawaii Matters", please email: kathywithak@1059thewavefm.com

Helpig others is a two-way street. I'm not sure which feels better, being helped gives you a big sense of relief and helping others gives you a big sense of being a part of something good. Here's a quick episode on helping. Thanks for listening and helping me get the word out about my podcast. https://www.TheWorkLady.com  Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and practical tips, Jan shows audiences how humor isn't just entertainment—it's a business skill that drives communication, connection, and stress relief.   A conference keynote speaker, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer, Jan has written material for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as radio, TV, and syndicated cartoon strips. She's the author of two books—Finding the Funny Fast and Convention Comedian—and her insights on humor in business have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Huffington Post. For over 25 years, she has been helping leaders and teams discover how to bounce back from setbacks, embrace change, and connect through comedy.   Jan has delivered keynote speeches at thousands of events nationwide, from the Federal Reserve Banks to the Mayo Clinic, for industries that include healthcare, finance, government, education, women's leadership events, technology, and safety & disaster management. Her client list features respected organizations such as: Healthcare: Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Health Information Management Associations, Assisted Living Associations Finance: Federal Reserve Banks, Merrill Lynch, Transamerica Insurance, BDO Accounting, American Institute of CPAs, credit unions, banking associations Government: U.S. Air Force, Social Security Administration, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, National League of Cities, public utilities, correctional associations Women's Leadership Events: Toyota Women's Conference, Go Red for Women, Speaking of Women's Health, Soroptimists, Women in Insurance & Financial Services Education: State superintendent associations, community college associations, Head Start associations, National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals Safety & Disaster: International Association of Emergency Managers, Disney Emergency Management, Mid-Atlantic Safety Conference, risk management associations   Her background as a Washington, D.C. marketing executive gives her a unique perspective that blends business acumen with stand-up comedy. Jan was also honored with the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives "Excellence in Education" Award. Along with her podcast Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips from a Comedian, Jan also produces Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes. Whether she's headlining a major convention, hosting a leadership retreat, or teaching resilience at a safety conference, Jan's programs give audiences the tools to laugh, learn, and lead.  

"I would have to say that at least 30 of those years, my success was fueled by my underlying belief that I wasn't good enough. And that's a really dysfunctional way to live a career." — Susan Winchester Susan Winchester built one of the most decorated HR careers in corporate America — 36 years in the field, 16 and a half of them as a chief HR officer at Fortune 150 and Fortune 500 companies. She did it while quietly believing, for most of those decades, that she was not good enough. That contradiction is the foundation of her book Healing at Work, co-authored with Martha Finney, and it is what makes her perspective so unusual: she has seen this dynamic from the inside of the C-suite, from the coaching chair, and from her own life. The conversation moves from the ACEs research — a landmark Kaiser Permanente and CDC study showing that nearly two-thirds of adults experienced at least one adverse childhood event — to the practical reality of what that means in professional settings. Winchester introduces the concept of "bumper car crashes" at work: those jarring moments of conflict or upset that feel disproportionate, because they often are. They are old wounds being activated by present circumstances, and most people going through them have no idea that is what is happening. Nicky brings his own experience to this one, sharing a moment from a recent men's overnight retreat where a trusted peer offered him Viktor Frankl's insight on the space between stimulus and response — and what it meant to actually sit with it. It is a candid exchange, and Winchester handles it with both precision and grace. Susan closes with three concrete steps anyone can start this week — including one deceptively simple question that can interrupt a reactive spiral before it takes hold. 1. Ask yourself "Am I sure?" the next time you feel upset at work. When a colleague seems cold or critical and the story starts building in your head, stop and question whether you actually know that to be true. 2. Start a journal and track your own bumper car reactions. Note your limiting beliefs, your behavioral patterns under stress, and where you tend to land — fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Awareness of your hardwiring is the first step to changing it. 3. Practice self-compassion over the next five days. Choose one concrete act of kindness toward yourself each day — not as a reward, but as a discipline. Learn more & connect: https://www.susanwinchester.com Resources mentioned: Healing at Work — Susan Winchester and Martha Finney A Changed Mind — David Bayer The Language of Letting Go — Melody Beattie Man's Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl The ACEs Study (Kaiser Permanente and CDC) — https://www.cdc.gov/aces Visit https://www.eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

If you've ever had hives, you know how distracting they can be—the itching, the uncertainty, and wondering if something more serious might be going on. Hives can show up when you least expect them—during a stressful week, after exercise, or even during sleep. And when they do, they raise a lot of questions. On this episode of the Healthier You podcast, Dr. Ashlee Williams speaks with Dr. Paula Whittington, a board-certified allergist at Kaiser Permanente, about hives and the most common questions people have about them.  Learn more about Dr. Whittington 

Professor Linda Macomber, a healthcare tech consultant at Renaissance Health, highlights the transformative potential of AI and digital health solutions, as well as the shift from siloed, symptom-focused care to holistic, personalized medicine. AI applications in healthcare have moved from deterministic expert systems to generative AI models that use genomic and longitudinal data from wearables for continuous monitoring and preventive care. Linda emphasizes that successful AI implementation requires viewing technology as a strategic investment rather than an expense, with a focus on actions that improve patient outcomes and clinicians' quality of life. Linda explains, "Well, I've certainly been involved in all areas of the healthcare ecosystem over the past 40 years. For the past 16 years, I have been a professor at National University, starting the Master of Science and Health Informatics program. The 30 years prior to that, working in different areas of software design and development in the early days with SAIC and the Department of Defense, then Kaiser Permanente, University of California systems, and then some work with community health centers as well. I'm a life fellow in HIMSS, which is only a few people who have been around long enough to have that designation. But started my career as an ICU nurse and still hold on to the clinical informatics side, look at it from the lens of a healthcare professional, as well as the tech, educator, and startup perspective. Most recently, I have been working with a number of different startups."   "Well, certainly when it comes to the opportunities with AI in particular, things are moving so fast and looking at lots of different priorities and opportunities. When it comes to incremental change, it is always a little easier, but I think that opportunities are much bigger now for much more significant advancement of the care delivery system. Bringing care to people instead of people always having to travel to facilities for care, using digital systems in new ways to empower all of us, informing choice, and being much more proactive and personalized."  #LindaMacomber #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #HealthInformatics #AIinHealthcare #ClinicalInformatics #Genomics #Wearables #PopulationHealth #Interoperability #MedicalEducation Renaissance.Health Download the transcript here

Professor Linda Macomber, a healthcare tech consultant at Renaissance Health, highlights the transformative potential of AI and digital health solutions, as well as the shift from siloed, symptom-focused care to holistic, personalized medicine. AI applications in healthcare have moved from deterministic expert systems to generative AI models that use genomic and longitudinal data from wearables for continuous monitoring and preventive care. Linda emphasizes that successful AI implementation requires viewing technology as a strategic investment rather than an expense, with a focus on actions that improve patient outcomes and clinicians' quality of life. Linda explains, "Well, I've certainly been involved in all areas of the healthcare ecosystem over the past 40 years. For the past 16 years, I have been a professor at National University, starting the Master of Science and Health Informatics program. The 30 years prior to that, working in different areas of software design and development in the early days with SAIC and the Department of Defense, then Kaiser Permanente, University of California systems, and then some work with community health centers as well. I'm a life fellow in HIMSS, which is only a few people who have been around long enough to have that designation. But started my career as an ICU nurse and still hold on to the clinical informatics side, look at it from the lens of a healthcare professional, as well as the tech, educator, and startup perspective. Most recently, I have been working with a number of different startups."   "Well, certainly when it comes to the opportunities with AI in particular, things are moving so fast and looking at lots of different priorities and opportunities. When it comes to incremental change, it is always a little easier, but I think that opportunities are much bigger now for much more significant advancement of the care delivery system. Bringing care to people instead of people always having to travel to facilities for care, using digital systems in new ways to empower all of us, informing choice, and being much more proactive and personalized."  #LindaMacomber #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #HealthInformatics #AIinHealthcare #ClinicalInformatics #Genomics #Wearables #PopulationHealth #Interoperability #MedicalEducation Renaissance.Health Listen to the podcast here

Deacon Victor Valenzuela is assigned to St. Mary Church in Fullerton.  He is married, with two adult children.  He is a licensed social worker who is retired from 31 years of employment at Kaiser Permanente.  He is a former seminarian who has worked in a variety of ministries.  His wife is Diane.   Support the show

Do you get werid reactioms when you tell people your job? Because I do. And not only weird reactions, but weird questions. Comedian isn't common, but that doesn't mean you can't make a great living at it. Here's a quick short story about some of the reactions I've gotten when I tell people I'm a comedian. https://www.TheWorkLady.com  Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and practical tips, Jan shows audiences how humor isn't just entertainment—it's a business skill that drives communication, connection, and stress relief.   A conference keynote speaker, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer, Jan has written material for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as radio, TV, and syndicated cartoon strips. She's the author of two books—Finding the Funny Fast and Convention Comedian—and her insights on humor in business have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Huffington Post. For over 25 years, she has been helping leaders and teams discover how to bounce back from setbacks, embrace change, and connect through comedy.   Jan has delivered keynote speeches at thousands of events nationwide, from the Federal Reserve Banks to the Mayo Clinic, for industries that include healthcare, finance, government, education, women's leadership events, technology, and safety & disaster management. Her client list features respected organizations such as: Healthcare: Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Health Information Management Associations, Assisted Living Associations Finance: Federal Reserve Banks, Merrill Lynch, Transamerica Insurance, BDO Accounting, American Institute of CPAs, credit unions, banking associations Government: U.S. Air Force, Social Security Administration, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, National League of Cities, public utilities, correctional associations Women's Leadership Events: Toyota Women's Conference, Go Red for Women, Speaking of Women's Health, Soroptimists, Women in Insurance & Financial Services Education: State superintendent associations, community college associations, Head Start associations, National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals Safety & Disaster: International Association of Emergency Managers, Disney Emergency Management, Mid-Atlantic Safety Conference, risk management associations   Her background as a Washington, D.C. marketing executive gives her a unique perspective that blends business acumen with stand-up comedy. Jan was also honored with the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives "Excellence in Education" Award. Along with her podcast Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips from a Comedian, Jan also produces Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes. Whether she's headlining a major convention, hosting a leadership retreat, or teaching resilience at a safety conference, Jan's programs give audiences the tools to laugh, learn, and lead.  

Riley Gaines sits down with Chloe Cole, one of the most prominent detransition advocates in the country, to discuss her experience with puberty blockers, testosterone, surgery as a minor, and her decision to detransition. Chloe shares why she believes children cannot give informed consent to life-altering medical interventions, what happened when she sought help from the doctors who treated her, and why she is now pursuing legal action against Kaiser Permanente. Riley and Chloe also discuss Planned Parenthood's role in gender medicine, the state of campus free speech, the backlash faced by women who speak about biological reality, and Chloe's evolving Christian faith. This conversation covers detransition, gender ideology, medical ethics, parental rights, faith, and the cultural fight over truth, childhood, and womanhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Vicki sits down with her aunt Sabrina — PhD in Theatre, lifelong arts educator, and the person who first showed her that big feelings weren't a problem to be managed but a gift to be expressed.Sabrina spent her career creating safe containers for young people's big feelings through theater — including a production called SECRETS that addressed the AIDS crisis for teenagers in the 1980s when almost nobody else was willing to. This conversation is about what that work looked like, why it mattered, and what the arts do for people who feel everything.It's also about what it means to have one person in your life who has known you for 45 years and never once told you that you were too much.ABOUT SABRINASabrina holds a PhD in Theatre from UC Berkeley and spent her career as an arts educator and theater director in the San Francisco Bay Area. She created educational theater productions for Kaiser Permanente including SECRETS and Nightmare on Puberty Street — work that used the stage to address the things nobody else was saying to young people. She is Vicki's chosen family.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need it.Hat on a Hat on a Hat (Substack): https://ahatonahatonahat.substack.com/Donations are gratefully accepted and help keep this show going at whatever pace is sustainable.Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/vickipeterson✍️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes.

Host Chethan Sathya, MD, sits down with Robert Pearl, MD — Stanford professor, former CEO of Kaiser Permanente, and author of ChatGPT, MD — to trace his journey from Long Island roots and cleft lip/palate missions to leading one of the nation's largest integrated health systems. Dr. Pearl shares his unexpected pivot from the operating room to administration, and what it was like to step into a leadership role during a financial crisis. This conversation sets the case for integrated, capitated care and explores why technology only transforms healthcare when it's coupled with operational excellence. Northwell is New York State's largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We're making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

You can get PAID time off when working comedy clubs. It's rare but sometimes, the good clubs, will pay you to leave and not be on the show. It sounds like a bad thing, but I always thought it was great. Here's a quick story about being paid to NOT be on stage.  https://www.TheWorkLady.com  Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and practical tips, Jan shows audiences how humor isn't just entertainment—it's a business skill that drives communication, connection, and stress relief.   A conference keynote speaker, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer, Jan has written material for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as radio, TV, and syndicated cartoon strips. She's the author of two books—Finding the Funny Fast and Convention Comedian—and her insights on humor in business have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Huffington Post. For over 25 years, she has been helping leaders and teams discover how to bounce back from setbacks, embrace change, and connect through comedy.   Jan has delivered keynote speeches at thousands of events nationwide, from the Federal Reserve Banks to the Mayo Clinic, for industries that include healthcare, finance, government, education, women's leadership events, technology, and safety & disaster management. Her client list features respected organizations such as: Healthcare: Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Health Information Management Associations, Assisted Living Associations Finance: Federal Reserve Banks, Merrill Lynch, Transamerica Insurance, BDO Accounting, American Institute of CPAs, credit unions, banking associations Government: U.S. Air Force, Social Security Administration, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, National League of Cities, public utilities, correctional associations Women's Leadership Events: Toyota Women's Conference, Go Red for Women, Speaking of Women's Health, Soroptimists, Women in Insurance & Financial Services Education: State superintendent associations, community college associations, Head Start associations, National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals Safety & Disaster: International Association of Emergency Managers, Disney Emergency Management, Mid-Atlantic Safety Conference, risk management associations   Her background as a Washington, D.C. marketing executive gives her a unique perspective that blends business acumen with stand-up comedy. Jan was also honored with the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives "Excellence in Education" Award. Along with her podcast Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips from a Comedian, Jan also produces Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes. Whether she's headlining a major convention, hosting a leadership retreat, or teaching resilience at a safety conference, Jan's programs give audiences the tools to laugh, learn, and lead.  

The Big Unlock · Naomi Fried, PhD, Founder and CEO, PharmStars In this episode, Naomi Fried, PhD, Founder and CEO of PharmStars, shares how stronger collaboration between startups and pharmaceutical companies is accelerating healthcare innovation. Drawing on leadership roles at Biogen, Kaiser Permanente, Boston Children's Hospital, consulting work with large pharma companies, and collaboration across the digital health ecosystem, she explains why the most successful innovations are built around customer needs rather than technology alone. Naomi discusses how PharmStars helps digital health startups, including those developing AI-powered solutions, understand the pharmaceutical industry, refine their value proposition, and build lasting partnerships with global pharma companies. She highlights AI as one of the most exciting areas of innovation, with the potential to improve patient care, support clinicians, and create new opportunities for life sciences organizations. However, Naomi emphasizes that technology alone is never enough. Successful innovators listen more than they pitch, understand customer pain points, and build trusted relationships. Naomi also talks about the importance of clinician workflows, internal champions, and continuous product evolution. Whether leveraging AI, software, or medical devices, her message is clear: lasting innovation comes from solving meaningful problems, adapting to customer needs, and building partnerships that create real-world impact. Take a listen.

Did you know that CMS estimates three million Medicare beneficiaries aren't enrolled in the government's Medicare Extra Help program but could benefit from it? In this episode of the Agent Survival Guide, we see what this program is and how it can help your clients.   Read the text version   Get Connected:

In this episode, Shelby Decosta, SVP and Chief Business Development Officer at Kaiser Permanente, discusses how strategic partnerships are expanding access to value-based care while improving quality, affordability, and patient outcomes.

Anna Pessah leads The North Valley Way, the operating system at Kaiser Permanente in the North Valley Service Area. Anna is an industrial engineer from the University of Michigan and she is an ICF-certified coach. She brings a blend of systems thinking, operational improvement, and leadership development to her work. She is known for keeping things clear and practical, helping leaders generate insight, turn goals into action, and build habits that stick.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.

Recorded live at the AHIP 2026 Conference, Eric Glazer sits down with Dr. Hector de Leon, Board Chair of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Foundation and practicing pediatrician, for a conversation about one of healthcare's biggest challenges: Not discovering what works, but scaling what already does. For more than 80 years, Kaiser Permanente has built its care model around prevention, physician trust, integrated care, and long-term health outcomes. In this conversation, Dr. de Leon shares practical examples of how those principles come to life, and why Kaiser is increasingly partnering with organizations across the country to help scale those lessons beyond its own walls. In this episode: A patient story that brings value-based care to life Why physician trust, not prior authorization, can accelerate better care How Kaiser embeds prevention into everyday clinical workflows Making the "right thing" the easiest thing to do for patients and clinicians Why higher screening rates lead to better outcomes and lower costs The thinking behind Risant Health, Habitat Health, and Kaiser's growing partnerships Why collaboration, not competition, may be the future of healthcare transformation What health plans, providers, and innovators can learn from one of the nation's longest-running value-based care organizations If you're a healthcare executive looking for practical lessons on improving outcomes, reducing friction, and building a more sustainable healthcare system, you'll find plenty to think about in this conversation. About Dr. Hector de Leon Dr. Hector de Leon is Board Chair of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Foundation and a practicing pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente Colorado. He has served in physician leadership roles across Kaiser Permanente while continuing to care for patients and helping advance value-based care nationally. Connect with Dr. de Leon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hectordeleonmd/     About Bright Spots in Healthcare Bright Spots in Healthcare is where healthcare leaders share what's working—and how others can learn from it. Through executive interviews, peer-to-peer conversations, and industry events, we spotlight proven ideas that improve care, lower costs, and help healthcare organizations scale what works. Learn more: https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com

In this episode, Shelby Decosta, SVP and Chief Business Development Officer at Kaiser Permanente, discusses how strategic partnerships are expanding access to value-based care while improving quality, affordability, and patient outcomes.

Deacon Victor Valenzuela is assigned to St. Mary Church in Fullerton.  He is married, with two adult children.  He is a licensed social worker who is retired from 31 years of employment at Kaiser Permanente.  He is a former seminarian who has worked in a variety of ministries.  His wife is Diane.  Today, Deacon Victor talks with Eric Brunter. Support the show

In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Teresa Gregory, Founder of G Squared Consulting, talk about how too often, we become pigeonholed by the very skills that make us successful. When you're known as the person who can always get a specific job done, others begin to define you by that role and it's easy to start believing that label yourself. Teresa shares why it's important not to lean into those limitations, but instead to intentionally promote your broader capabilities and position yourself as a strategic leader. Mary and Teresa also explore how technology is reshaping leadership. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for people, they discuss how leaders can embrace it as a powerful tool that enhances decision-making, innovation, and impact. If you're ready to move beyond labels, think more strategically, and lead with confidence in an AI-driven world, this conversation is for you. As the founder of G Squared Consulting, Teresa has partnered with industry leaders—including Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, and major corporate teams—to design high-impact leadership programs that elevate culture, accelerate growth, and equip managers with the skills needed to lead confidently in a changing world.     ABOUT: TERESA GREGORY LinkedIn – Teresa GregoryWebsite – Squared Success ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

Welcome to our 2ND June episode of “Caregiving Club On Air” podcast (S6, Ep 72) hosted by Sherri Snelling, corporate gerontologist, author and CEO of the Caregiving Club.On this episode we are highlighting June's Employee Wellness Month and specifically focusing on employees who are also caregivers with Melissa Fisher of Kaiser Permanente, who is both a caregiver and an advocate for caregivers at work.Currently 63 million Americans are caring for an adult loved one – persons over age 18 – and 7 in 10 are also juggling job responsibilities. In the workplace, 1 in 5 employees are also family caregivers of adults and if you add children then 1 in 3 employees are caring for loved ones of all ages. Many of these are what we call the “Sandwich Generation” caring for children while simultaneously caring for older parents or grandparents and all while achieving this balancing act while working.Sherri was recently on a panel discussion hosted by the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) for employer HR executives on caregiving in the workplace and met fellow panelist, Melissa Fisher of Kaiser Permanente. She asked Melissa to come on the podcast to talk about her personal caregiver journey while working – caring for parents, a beloved aunt and also parenting her children. Her insights on what is needed from employers is important for all employees but especially those who are also family caregivers.Sherri and Melissa discuss:·       How employers can support caregivers – what benefits or programs Melissa found most helpful but also what she wished you had access to ·       Her workplace plus Sandwich Generation experience led Melissa to start “Care Partner Care” at Kaiser Permanente – she tells us about this program and how it helps caregivers in their workplace ·       Sherri mentioned that some caregivers feel that going to work is a respite break from the challenges and burnout of caring for a loved one – it gives the caregiver back a sense of control they don't experience in caregiving. Melissa agreed and explained her thoughts on how work can be a haven·       When it comes to workplaces and employees who are caregiving – Sherri and Melissa discuss what they hope to see change in the workplace over the next 5 years when we will have more parents than children to care for in this country. WATCH THE PODCAST HERE: https://youtu.be/f18NsRsSxn0Thank you for making “Caregiving Club On Air” #3 on the list of top 80 caregiving podcasts!Subscribe on your favorite listening channel or our YouTube channel. Learn more on our episode guide page on the Caregiving Club website: caregivingclub.com/podcast/Take care and stay well!

As clinicians face rising administrative burden and burnout, there's a growing need for technology that helps them be more present and informed at the point of care. At Kaiser Permanente, that means starting with real clinician pain points, from ambient AI scribes that reduce documentation burden to digital twins that enable more personalized, proactive care. This episode explores how AI is being integrated into healthcare to improve clinician workflows and patient care, while balancing innovation with a human-centered approach.   Featured experts  Dr. Kris Lee, Associate Executive Director, Chief Transformation Officer, The Permanente Medical Group Anupama Ambe, SVP & Managing Director, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Kyndryl

Doctor Mau Informa ®️ #drmauinforma Durante medio siglo, la endocrinología consideró al glucagón como el "villano" del metabolismo: la hormona responsable de subir el azúcar en la sangre. Sin embargo, ¿qué pasaría si pudiéramos domesticar a este villano para activar la quema extrema de grasa de forma segura. En este episodio de Doctor Mau Informa, analizamos la fascinante evolución científica que nos llevó desde tumores pancreáticos hasta el desarrollo del Retatrutide, un revolucionario fármaco "triple agonista". Descubre cómo la ciencia logró combinar tres señales hormonales (Glucagón, GLP-1 y GIP) en una sola inyección semanal para alcanzar resultados de pérdida de peso metabólica que antes solo le pertenecían al bisturí de la cirugía bariátrica. En este episodio aprenderás: → La balanza de la pérdida de peso: Por qué los medicamentos anteriores solo te quitaban el hambre, y cómo la nueva generación también acelera tu gasto energético. → El secreto del Glucagón: Cómo esta hormona del ayuno saca la grasa del hígado y eleva el metabolismo. → La evolución del GLP-1: El papel protector de la insulina natural para contrarrestar el azúcar y permitir una pérdida de peso segura. → Cirugía vs. Fármacos: Por qué los resultados de los nuevos tratamientos crónicos están cambiando el paradigma médico para siempre. → La realidad clínica: Efectos secundarios, la importancia de la titulación médica y por qué esto no es una "dieta milagro".

Deacon Victor Valenzuela is assigned to St. Mary Church in Fullerton.  He is married, with two adult children.  He is a licensed social worker who is retired from 31 years of employment at Kaiser Permanente.  He is a former seminarian who has worked in a variety of ministries.  His wife is Diane.  Today, he welcomes guests Myra Encinas and Abraham Villela for a discussion about youth ministry. Support the show

✨ "They come in with a cane and feeling disabled, and then they say, 'Here, take the cane, honey. I'm gonna walk this horse.' We've seen this so many times we can't even number it." – Nancy Schier AnzelmoDescription Paula Hertel and Nancy Schier Anzelmo are the co-founders of Connected Horse, a California-based program that brings equine-assisted experiences to older adults living with dementia or memory loss — alongside their care partners. Backed by research conducted with Stanford University and UC Davis, Connected Horse is one of the first programs in the country to specifically serve this population in this way. Kansas Carradine, HeartMath-certified trainer and returning EAW guest, joins to explore the science of heart coherence, entrainment, and why horses may be uniquely suited to reach people that other approaches cannot.Connected Horse's work challenges the assumption that equine-assisted services are only for children or younger adults. Their Stanford and UC Davis pilot studies recorded statistically significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and caregiver burden — with 100% participant return rates at a six-month booster session. Participants regularly go from fearful and withdrawn to walking horses, speaking in full sentences, and feeling activated to change their lives. The program is designed to be failure-free: for the person with the diagnosis, for the care partner, and for the horses.In this episode, Rupert, Paula, Nancy, and Kansas explore the physiology behind what happens when a person leans their heart against a horse's neck, why dementia and autism require similar practitioner responses around pacing and unconditional presence, what ritual and ceremony have to do with cortisol regulation, and how social prescribing may bring programs like Connected Horse into mainstream healthcare. If you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHomeIf you want to support the show, you can do so at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LongRideHome

Dr. Laura Sicola reveals why expertise alone won't get you heard — and the 3 Cs that turn knowledge into leadership influence. You've mastered your subject. You know your material cold. So why does the room glaze over when the stakes are highest? Cognitive linguist, executive coach, and author Dr. Laura Sicola says the gap isn't your expertise — it's the three inches between your brain and your mouth. In this episode of the Business of Story, she shares the framework that's helped Fortune 500 executives at Amazon and Kaiser Permanente stop sounding like spreadsheets and start commanding every room they walk into. Her TEDx Talk, "Want to Sound Like a Leader? Start by Saying Your Name Right," has nearly 7 million views — because the problem is universal and the fix is counterintuitive. WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE The 3 Cs of Executive Presence: Command the Room, Connect with Your Audience, and Close the Deal — and why each requires a completely different skill  Why the movie playing in your head is never the movie your audience is watching — and how to close that gap before it costs you the deal  The neuroscience of humor: why a well-placed laugh creates dopamine, builds trust, and makes you more persuasive without sacrificing credibility  How to use Chris Voss's "labeling" technique to stay curious when conversations get triggered and defensive  The one counterintuitive move that makes you sound smarter, more likable, and more relatable — all at the same time ABOUT DR. LAURA SICOLA Dr. Laura Sicola is a cognitive linguist, former professor, and executive coach who helps leaders bridge the gap between their expertise and their influence. She is the author of Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice and the founder of Vocal Impact Productions. Website: laurasicola.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurasicola Book: Speaking to Influence — available on Amazon in paperback ($12.95), Kindle ($9.95), and Audible (narrated by the author) FREE GIFT FROM DR. LAURA SICOLA Download two free chapters of Speaking to Influence here: [INSERT FREEBIE LINK] ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF STORY The Business of Story is the top-ranked podcast for leaders who use storytelling to grow their influence, their teams, and their organizations. Host Park Howell — known as the World's Most Industrious Storyteller — brings you the strategies, frameworks, and real-world lessons that turn communicators into leaders. Want to build a brand story that actually lands? Visit StoryCycleGenie.com to discover how the StoryCycle Genie® uses your brand's unique story to create marketing that moves people. SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A REVIEW If this episode gave you one idea you can use today, please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. It takes 60 seconds and helps other leaders find the show.

Ralph welcomes six authors to discuss their books: “Beyond Nuclear” founder Linda Gunter; trial lawyer Sean Simpson; law professor Elizabeth Burch; naturalist David Schmidt; industrial hygienist Marc Axelrod; and educator and advocate Jonathan Kozol.Linda Gunter is the founder of the US-based non-profit Beyond Nuclear and serves as its international specialist. Previously, she was a journalist at USA Network, Reuters, and The Times. She launched, and writes for Beyond Nuclear's online magazine, Beyond Nuclear International. And she is the author of No To Nuclear: Why Nuclear Power Destroys Lives, Derails Climate Progress and Provokes War.We need to reduce the most carbon, the fastest, for the least cost—and that's renewables every time. But it's also an issue of: as we divert funds towards nuclear power (new reactors, which are not here now, they're just aspirational ideas on paper, none of the designs have certifications or licenses yet) as we divert time and our money towards waiting for something that will perhaps take a decade or two (or never) to materialize, and as we squeeze out renewables in the process, what do we do? We continue to burn fossil fuels. So actually, choosing nuclear as an answer to climate makes the climate crisis worse.Linda GunterSean Simpson is an attorney specializing in civil jury trials, representing individuals who have been harmed by someone else's carelessness or intentional wrongdoing. He is the author of Punitive Damages: The Lawyer's Tool for Shaping Society.[Punitive damages are] typically not covered by insurance. But oddly enough, there's a trend coming now where these corporations—because they're in control, we've let them have the reins, and now they're getting insurance companies to sell them coverage to cover their punitive damages, which is totally a 180. If somebody else is going to pay your punishment for you, it's not going to sting your rump if somebody gets spanked on somebody else's behind.Sean SimpsonElizabeth Burch is a professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, and co-author of Perceptions of Justice in Multidistrict Litigation: Voices from the Crowd. She is the author of The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory.Imagine that you are sitting in your kitchen and you get a phone call one night. And you answer, and the person on the other end of the line knows an inordinate amount of information about you—they know your name, they know your birth date, they know the name of your doctor, the name of your hospital, the date and type of medical implant that you had put in you. And then they tell you that you have a ticking time bomb in you. And if you don't have this removed immediately (that in this case was pelvic mesh, which is designed to deal with incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse) that you are going to die. But not to worry, they are setting up appointments down in South Florida to have the mesh removed. What they don't say is all of the important things.Elizabeth BurchDavid Schmidt is lifelong San Francisco Bay Area resident, naturalist, and environmental historian. He worked as a writer in the public affairs office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco from 1991 to 2021, led dozens of hikes for the Greenbelt Alliance in the region's extensive public parklands, and volunteered on habitat restoration projects for the Golden Gate National Parks and the California Native Plant Society. He is the author of San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History.I think [the environmental movement in the Bay Area] is the most successful regional environmental movement in US history. Its victories have had a tremendous impact on protecting the natural landscape, the agricultural landscape. And this is a landscape that is famous for its scenic beauty. It's among the world's most biodiverse landscapes with more than a thousand species of plants and wildlife. And persistence pays off. That is the theme that comes across time and again with environmental victories is: persistence pays off.David SchmidtMarc Axelrod is an award-winning front line industrial hygienist and workplace safety professional. He has developed and implemented programs to protect people from industry's most hazardous technologies. He has worked for employers including Boeing, Kaiser Permanente, UCLA and the City of Beverly Hills. He is the author of The Flame Bucket: Adventures in Workplace Safety.You can lie down in the flame bucket and stop a [rocket] launch, but you can only do it once. So I decided that we had a very risky program [at the city of Beverly Hills]. It was for testing our commercial drivers for alcohol and drugs. And somehow they got a big percentage of them, almost a third of them, got left out of the program. And I can see, being backstage, what happens in city government where people leave and people come and how these kinds of things can occur. But when they do happen, what you've got to do is stop everything, blame the people that left, and then fix it right away. But this program—even though people knew that there was a big gap in it, they just didn't want to fix it. But I knew as City Safety Officer, I was responsible. So after months of delay, I said, “Listen, these drivers can't drive anymore. They can't do their safety functions without a clearance test from our drug and alcohol program.” And so that got their attention, and we quickly fixed the program, and I got a lot of thank yous. And then a few days later, I was fired.Marc AxelrodJonathan Kozol is a leading advocate for child-centered learning, equality, and racial justice in our nation's schools, and he travels and lectures about educational inequality and racial injustice. Mr. Kozol is the author of nearly a dozen books about young children and their public schools, including Death at an Early Age, An End to Inequality: Breaking Down the Walls of Apartheid Education in America, and We Shall Not Bow Down: Children of Color Under Siege: An Invocation to Resistance.My book is not simply a polite description of these problems. It's probably the most militant book I've ever written. It's an open call for militant resistance. And, you know, I get condemned for that, but I'm not afraid to say that I'm an unregenerate activist, and I'm too old to change my stripes.Jonathan KozolNews 5/1/26* Perhaps the biggest news of the week is the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais to gut Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which preserved majority-minority congressional districts. In practice, this ruling gives conservative Southern states license to draw these districts out of existence. Jonathan Cervas, a political scientist at Carnegie-Mellon University who has served as a special master in multiple Voting Rights Act cases, is quoted in AP saying “The Voting Rights Act as a means to protect minority voters from vote dilution is essentially dead.” In the Washington Post, NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the decision “a devastating blow to what remains of the Voting Rights Act, and a license for corrupt politicians who want to rig the system by silencing entire communities,” and “a major setback for our nation and…the hard-won victories we've fought, bled, and died for.” In practice, this ruling is sure to set off a new round of redrawing congressional districts, likely resulting in a net gain of 12 seats – half of the Southern Section 2 districts – for the GOP. In Louisiana itself, CNN reports Governor Jeff Landry has halted House primaries, where “Early voting was scheduled to begin Saturday and overseas ballots had already gone out.” Moreover, “Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields, whose district is at the center of the Supreme Court's redistricting decision, said…Landry had told him he anticipated issuing an executive order to suspend the House election and call a new one.”* Speaking of Southern congressional districts, in Florida's 20th district, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has “defiantly” filed to run again in the special election for her former district, per NOTUS. Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her seat in Congress last week just minutes before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to “recommend punishment on an array of charges.” She had previously been found guilty of “25 ethics violations, including allegedly stealing $5 million dollars in federal disaster-aid funds used to bolster her 2021 campaign,” following an extensive investigation running for two years and including “issuing 58 subpoenas, interviewing 28 witnesses and reviewing over 33,000 documents.” Elijah Manley, the young progressive running for the seat, is quoted saying “Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned in disgrace moments before her colleagues were set to expel her from Congress…The last thing our community needs is a second round of chaos and instability. She should focus on her legal troubles.”* In more positive news from Congress, Rep. Greg Casar announced this week that the Congressional Progressive Caucus he chairs is issuing a new Affordability Agenda, bringing together a slew of bills sponsored by progressives – on topics ranging from housing to groceries to prescription drugs and more – into a unified package. In an introduction, the Caucus emphasizes that “Americans are facing a cost-of-living crisis and…At the same time, Democrats are searching for a vision that wins back the trust of working families and provides a mandate to deliver the big changes our country needs in 2026.” The question now is whether the Democratic Party will take up this banner and run with it or once again spurn their progressive base.* Meanwhile, the Trump administration is occupied with their continuing efforts to persecute comedians for anodyne jokes. The latest on this front is the Federal Communications Commission ordering the Walt Disney Company's ABC to seek early broadcast license renewals for the eight TV stations it owns, following a joke about Melania Trump on Jimmy Kimmel's late night show, NPR reports. The joke, a “mock speech for an alternative White House Correspondents' Dinner,” which went “Our first lady Melania is here. So beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow,” aired three days before the actual White House Correspondents' Dinner and the corresponding security threat. Kimmel has stressed that the joke was about the age difference between the President and First Lady “not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination. And they know that.” FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, sole Democrat still on the commission, issued a statement calling this “the most egregious action this FCC has taken in violation of the First Amendment to date…As part of its ongoing campaign of censorship and control, the White House called publicly for the silencing of a vocal critic, and this FCC has now answered that call.”* Another scandalous act of corruption from inside the federal government came to light this week with Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a special operations soldier stationed at Fort Bragg being charged with insider trading. Specifically, Van Dyke is charged with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Account, one count of wire fraud and one count of an unlawful money transaction for using classified government information to win over $400,000 via prediction betting site Polymarket vis-a-vis the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, per the Hill. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, also heading up the prosecution of President Maduro, is quoted saying “Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain.” For their part, Polymarket has announced tightened insider trading rules, but continues to insist that “When we identified a user trading on classified government information, we referred the matter to the DOJ & cooperated with their investigation,” and that Van Dyke's arrest is “proof the system works.”* In more news related to Latin America, a new poll shows leftist Senator and presidential candidate Iván Cepeda with a substantial lead, according to the City Paper Bogotá. In polls of the first round, Cepeda drew 44.3%, while his rivals, Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia drew 21.5% and 19.8% respectively, an impressive showing for Valencia who has nearly doubled her support since the last poll was taken. In the second round, polling shows Cepeda besting both rivals, 54.6% to 42.6% against de la Espriella and a narrower 51.2% versus 46.6% against Valencia. A Cepeda victory would continue the leftward trend in Colombian politics begun with the election of Gustavo Petro in 2022, a remarkable turnaround for one of the most stalwart conservative countries in the region.* Elsewhere on the globe, a new poll shows Jeremy Corbyn – the British left icon, former Labour Party leader and founder of Your Party – in danger of losing his long-held seat in the riding of Islington North. Corbyn, who was first elected to the seat in 1983, was able to keep his seat as an independent MP even after his expulsion from the Labour Party following the hostile takeover of the party by the centrist Keir Starmer regime. Yet now, with Your Party coming apart at the seams, the Greens look poised to capture the seat. However, the Canary notes that this poll only asked voters about their partisan voting intentions, with no mention of individual candidates. This means even if voters in Islington North are more sympathetic to the Greens overall, they could still return Corbyn himself to Parliament. Nevertheless, this poll gives some indication of how successfully the Greens have outmaneuvered Your Party, even in what should be their most solid riding.* Another iconic British public figure – King Charles III – is in America this week for a royal visit in which he addressed a joint session of Congress, met with President Trump and enjoyed a White House dinner. On Wednesday, the King attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City, along with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and, most strikingly, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. This unlikely pairing has clearly piqued the interest of the press, who asked Mayor Mamdani what he would talk about with the King if they were to have a private moment together. While the duo did not ultimately have a private meeting, Mamdani responded that he would “probably encourage [the King] to return the Kohinoor diamond,” which POLITICO identifies as “an enormous bauble set into a royal crown on display in the Tower of London,” noting that the diamond has “become a point of contention between England and India.”* In more local news, with the protracted California gubernatorial primary on the horizon at last, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees or IATSE, has thrown their weight behind progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, Variety reports. This piece notes Steyer's pledge to keep film and television production in Los Angeles along with his outspoken criticism of the merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. as well as his proposal to levy a tax on AI computations and use the proceeds to “fund training for displaced workers.” IATSE represents around 50,000 workers in California and 130,000 workers nationwide. Steyer has amassed considerable union support in his bid for perhaps the second most powerful political executive position in the country after the presidency, including the California Teachers Association, the California Federation of Teachers, and the California Nurses Association. Steyer's closest Democratic rival in the open primary, former Congressman, state Attorney General and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra is racking up endorsements as well, including from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and powerful California politicianss such as Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. With a close race between the top four leading Democrats and Republicans, the June 2nd primary is sure to conclude with a photo finish.* Finally, in Washington DC, the Democratic Mayoral primary continues to grow more acrimonious. This week, former Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, the candidate backed by corporate donors and the DC political establishment, criticized progressive Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George in a fundraising email for supposedly accepting “dark money from outside interest groups.” Which groups you may ask? Local unions, representing tens of thousands of DC workers, including local branches of the AFL-CIO, UFCW, transit workers, teachers, the building trades and more. In a stinging rebuke, the unions excoriated McDuffie for his “disturbing pattern of anti-union talking points and votes” including opposition to wage increases for DC restaurant and child-care workers – while simultaneously accepting donations from “MAGA developers…[and] utility and energy executives.” Moreover, Axios reports Safe & Affordable DC, a labor-aligned super PAC, is launching a half-million dollar ad blitz attacking McDuffie on his record of favoritism towards the utilities at a moment when bills are higher than ever. Tensions mounted even higher this week, when the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance opened an investigation to determine whether Lewis George's campaign is collaborating too closely with her union allies – an allegation she has dismissed as “baseless.” It is worth noting that DC progressives have had this accusation leveled at them in the past, only for it to indeed prove baseless. Expect this race to get more heated, and more expensive, the closer we get to the June 16th primary.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe