Podcasts about public health department

*The Ministry of Health, Environment & Sustainability, alongside the Public Health Department, is monitoring a newly detected Covid variant. Officials assure the public that they are actively assessing the situation.* *Tourism numbers are on the rise, with the Cayman Islands welcoming 42,757 visitors in April—marking a 15% increase over last year.* *A woman has entered pleas to seven counts of assisting a person in escaping lawful custody and evading arrest.* *Air travel to the Cayman Islands continues to expand. American Airlines has added daily service between Miami International Airport and Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman, strengthening connectivity.*

Police conduct an interagency day of action in West Bay. The Public Health Department is set to host a health fair ahead of Primary Healthcare Day. NCFA Primary school competition starts on Monday. That and more in the news.

The La Plata County Public Health Department plans to relocate within the next few months. Find out the latest updates on this transition. By Sadie Smith.  Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/la-plata-county-public-health-department-prepares-for-relocation  This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank.  Support the show

When Nashville identified its first case of coronavirus in March 2020, the city was between Public Health Department directors and as unprepared as the rest of the world for what was to come.  Dr. Alex Jahangir, a trauma surgeon acting at that time as chair of the Metro Nashville Board of Health, unexpectedly found himself head of the city's COVID-19 Task Force and responsible for leading it through uncharted waters. Now, he's reimagining a new Nashville. Jahangir is the co-chair of Imagine Nashville, a citywide study that explores the needs of Nashville's residents and imagines goals to address them.  

 In this insightful episode of Y Health, Dr. Cougar Hall from BYU's Public Health Department is joined by Professor Zach Aanderud from BYU's Plant and Wildlife Science to explore the fascinating world of the human microbiome. They discuss Zach's academic journey, the effects of diet on gut bacteria, and the microbiome's role in digestion, nutrient absorption, mental health, and chronic diseases. The episode emphasizes the importance of dietary diversity, highlighting the benefits of plant-based foods, probiotics, and the adverse effects of antibiotics. Listeners are encouraged to access reliable scientific information, with practical insights on optimizing gut health through food choices and understanding the profound impact of the microbiome on overall well-being.  https://pws.byu.edu/directory/zach-aanderud Recorded, Edited & Produced by Jessie Carter, Isabella Loosle, and Tanya Gale

Open enrollment for health insurance is quickly approaching. From November 1st to January 15th, individuals can secure 2025 coverage through Connect for Health Colorado or Colorado Connect. La Plata County's Public Health Department offers an Insurance Literacy Program to guide residents toward the best coverage options. This year brings important updates, including expanded eligibility for DACA recipients and new coverage options for undocumented residents. By Sadie Smith.  Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/2025-health-insurance-enrollment-window-approaching-know-your-options  This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank.Support the show

September 3, 2024 Rockingham County Board of Commissioners MeetingAGENDA1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN HALL2. INVOCATION - Pastor Christina B. Taylor, Woodmont United Methodist Church, Reidsville3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE4. RECOGNITION - Lance Metzler, County ManagerRecognition of Rockingham County for being presented the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners & Civic Federal Credit Union 2024 Excellence in Innovation Award recognizing the County's efforts to provide needed dental services to children in Rockingham County Schools through Mobile Dental Expansion, which is administered by the Rockingham County Division of Public Health.5. RECOGNITION - Lance Metzler, County ManagerConsideration of approval of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine to honor Keith Duncan for his career and stewardship towards helping the citizens or Rockingham County.6. RECOGNITION - Lance Metzler, County ManagerConsideration of approval of Resolution honoring the life and service of William Leonard "W.L." Pryor, Jr., Fonner County Commissioner and Distinguished Community Leader who passed away on July 7, 2024.7. APPPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 3,2024 AGENDA8. CONSENT AGENDA (Consent items as follows will be adopted with a single motion, second and vote. unless a request for removal from the Consent Agenda is heard from a Commissioner)A) Mandy McGhee, Finance Director1. Amend the Highway 220 Ordinance to transfer available ARPA Revenue Replacement funds to the General Fund to be used for Economic Development activities.2. Increase DSS budget $170,183 for Special Children Adoption Incentive Funds received in June 2024 by the NC DHHS Division of Social Services. Funds arc restricted to be spent on Special Children Adoption program costs.3. Amend FY 25 budget to rollover unexpected grant funds from FY 24 to FY 25. In addition, appropriate $43,711 in Contractor Sales Tax Revenue and interest earned of $526,457 on grant funds that were advanced.B) Justin Thacker. Deputy Finance Director1. Appropriate S5,968 for the addendum related to the WIC program for additional funds received by NCDHI-IS for the Public Health Department.2. Amend the FY 24-25 budget $1,019,813 for the new software subscription Microsoft Office that meets the criteria of a recently implemented governmental accounting standard requiring certain software subscriptions to be capitalized as a Right to Use intangible asset and the corresponding liability to be reported.3. Appropriate $8,203 of4-H Reserve Fund Balance to cover costs of the upcoming FY 24-25 summer camp participates to attend the 4-H Camp Congress. 4-H Reserve Fund Balance are 4-H fees earned in prior fiscal years and reserved for future 4·H program costs.D) Todd Hurst, Tax AdministratorRequest the approval of all refunds for August I. 2024 thru August 20, 2024. E) Susan O. Washburn. Clerk to the BoardApproval of Regular Meeting minutes for July 15, 2024.F) Melissa Joyce, Fire MarshalRequest approval for appointment of Keith Soyars as the Huntsville Relief Fund Trustee on the Local Fire Fighter's Relief Fund Board to replace Gary Fox who will be stepping down.G) Lance Metzler. County Manager1. Consideration of Appointment of Mandy McGhee Rockingham County Finance Director.2. Consideration of appointment or Carye Dickerson as Rockingham County Department of Social Services Director.H) Rodney Stewart, RCEMS Operations SupervisorRequests the approval of submitted accounting reports of billing and collections activity for July 2024 and approval of accounts uncollected that are to be written off. Lists of accounts are maintained and available for inspection in the EMS office.I) Derek Southern, Assistant County ManagerRequest funding for the Division of Forestry to purchase an "Initial Attack Type 6 Engine Truck" in the 24/25 Fiscal Year. Purchasing during the 24/25 FY will allow the truck to be received during the 25/26 FY.9. PUBLIC COMMENT10. PRESENTATION: Ronnie Tate, Director of Engineering and Public UtilitiesRequest approval of utility capacity for Neal Place Subdivision (Newnam Road). DESCO Investment Co., Inc. is requesting capacity for Phase I of construction for 24,000 gpd of water and wastewater capacity. Phase I is 80 single family homes, 4 bedrooms each. Total subdivision homes are 222,80 SF 4 bedrooms. 57 SF 3 bedrooms (Phase 2), and 85 townhomes 3 bedrooms (Phase 3). Total utility capacity for the entire project is 55,950 gpd. Developer has complied with Section 28.1 of the County Water Policy and Sections 18, 18.1 & 18.2 of the County Sewer Policy.11. PRESENTATION: Dr. John Stover, III, Superintendent and Erselle Young, Assistant SuperintendentConsideration of approval to use Restricted Sales Tax Funds in the amount of $57,500.00 plus tax to pay for the services of Cropper GIS Consulting, LLC who were approved on July 22, 2024 by the RCS Board of Education to provide demographic and school realignment planning services for the district.12. OLD BUSINESS: Case 2024 - 12: Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) – A Request to rezone a (+/-) 4.42-acre parcel of land from Residential Agricultural (RA) to Neighborhood Commercial Conditional District (NC-CD) - Conditional Rezoning Applicant: Jaime Wall. Owner and Executor - Tax PIN: 7921-02-75-4770 - Location: 225 Farrar Store Rd., Stokesdale - New Bethel TownshipThe Board of County Commissioners first reviewed this request June 17, 2024 and conducted a public hearing. After closing the public hearing, they decided to postpone deliberation of this item to August.The ordinance included with this agenda item is in draft form and may be amended after Commissioner's review.13. NEW BUSINESS14. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS15. ADJOURN###

August 19, 2024 Rockingham County Board Of Commissioners MeetingAGENDA 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN HALL2. INVOCATION - Pastor Christina B. Taylor, Woodmont United Methodist Church, Reidsville3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE4. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 19, 2024 AGENDA5. CONSENT AGENDA (Consent items as follows will be adopted with a single motion, second and vote, unless a request for removal from the Consent Agenda is heard from a Commissioner)A) Captain Jennifer Brown1. Deputy Gary Bledsoe is retiring effective August 1, 2024 from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office with 13 years/3 months of service. He is requesting to purchase his duty weapon for $100.00 per County Policy and NCGS 17F-20.2. Detective Dan Hardy is retiring effective August 1, 2024 from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office with 29 years' service. He is requesting to purchase his duty weapon for $1.00 per County Policy and NCGS 17F-20.3. Lt. Jon Peters is retiring effective September 1, 2024 from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office with 28 years/6 months of service. He is requesting to purchase his duty weapon for $1.00 per County Policy and NCGS 17F-20.4. Increase Sheriffs Office budget $29,500.00 for NCDPS 2023 Byrne-JAG LEO Block Grant Award Federal Grant Number: 15PBJA-23-GG-03000-JAGX (Agreement Number #2000071115) to purchase body armor, Handheld 800mHz radios and accessories and communication system microphones for Deputies.5. Request to accept $740,396.84 for NCDPS grant (19-RFA-RQ96528-WAX Medication-Assisted Treatment in Jails) awarded to the Jail to establish a MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) Program. This grant was approved due to the Jail meeting priority criteria established by the NC General Assembly in accordance with S.L. 2021-80. The grant will al10w for the purchase of FDA approved medication for inmate treatments of alcohol and/or opioid use disorder ($686,316.80) and the hiring of a Medical Technician for one year ($54,080.04 annual salary) to take care of inmates' routine medical checks while the nurse on staff dispenses medications to inmates participating in the MAT program.This request is to accept the award and to allow approval of the Med Tech position and the purchase of medications for the grant period.6. Request to use Jail Canteen funds to purchase a commercial Till Skillet for the Jail Kitchen to replace the one currently there that is unable to be repaired. This equipment is used daily by kitchen staff when preparing meals for the inmates. It is versatile in that it is used to prepare a variety of meals in large batches by steaming, simmering, boiling, frying, grilling or sautéing. It can be used to warm meals and reduce cooking time for food prep tasks. It offers even cooking, temperature control and nutrient retention. The cost is $29,630.00 before tax. B) Pat Galloway, Director of Financial ServicesAmend South Rockingham Corporate Park Water & Wastewater Project fund $99,189 due to additional CDBG grant funds received with the final close out of the project in July 2024. Project was amended and closed in May 2024. This action will re-open the project fund to accept the funds, allow the appropriate transfers out to the General Fund and Water & Sewer Fund and re-close the fund in FY 2025. $49,155 will be transferred to the General Fund which will complete the reimbursement of funds originally provided. The remaining $50,034 will be transferred to the Water & Sewer Fund for future water or sewer needs.C) Justin Thacker, Deputy Finance Director1. Increase Fire District budget for $43,004 in revenues collected over budget in FY 2024 that will be remitted to the respective Fire Departments:Draper $10,708Leaksville $32,296Increase Fire District budget for $2,037 to remit Pelham's Fire District fund balance since Ruffin assumed the coverage area as of July 1,2024.2. Amend the FY 24-25 budget $30,768 for the new software subscription CUSl/UMS that meets the criteria of a recently implemented governmental accounting standard requiring certain software subscriptions to be capitalized as a Right to Use intangible asset and the corresponding liability to be reported.3. Increase the FY 2025 Cooperative Extension budget $2,578 for program revenues earned and not budgeted in FY 2024. The various program revenues are to be used in the same program as earned.4. Amend the American Rescue Plan Grant Project Ordinance to appropriate $80,473 of unobligated ARPA funds to the ARPA Water/Wastewater Expense Category. These funds will be transferred to the Hwy 220 Wastewater and Water Capital Project. Amend the Hwy 220 Wastewater and Water Capital Project to accept the transfer of funds from the ARPA special revenue fund. Appropriate $384,116 of American Rescue Plan Grant interest earnings and reallocate previously allocated interest eamingsearnings of $79,295 for a total of $463,410 to be transferred to the General Fund.5. Appropriate $50,000 for the addendum for year 2 and 3 for ARPA TSF funds received by NCDHHS for the Public Health Department.6. Appropriate $869 for additional dollars granted to the WIC program in public health. The original budget was $432,862 but the addendum for Rockingham County now shows a total budget of$433,731.7. Increase Stoneville Library & Vera Holland Trust Fund project budgets associated with replacing the roofs and siding on each of the buildings. The Library Board of Trustees approved both projects on the 7/25/2024 meeting.Stoneville Library - Vera Holland Fund $34,394Vera Holland Center- Vera Holland Fund $18,2438. Amend FY 2025 budget $332,252 to account for the various school projects completed. The funds will be available in the school capital reserve fund to be used for future pay-go projects for Rockingham County Schools.9. Increase Library budget $5,000 for grant award from the Reidsville Area Foundation. Funds will be used for book purchases.10. Amend the FY 2024-2025 budget $104,685 for the new software subscription TitanHQ that meets the criteria of a recently implemented governmental accounting standard requiring certain software subscriptions to be capitalized as a Right to Use intangible asset and the corresponding liability to be reported.D) Todd Hurst, Tax Administrator1. Request the appointment of Karen Smith as Deputy Tax Collector 2 Request the approval of Tax Collection and Reconciliation reports for July including refunds for July 17,2024 thru August 6, 2024.E) Susan O. Washburn, Clerk to the Board1. Regular Meeting minutes2. 2025 Employee Holiday ScheduleF) Derek Southern, Assistant County ManagerPurchase of Timekeeping Software. The software will integrate with our current HRPY system as well as the upgrade being implemented in the future.G) Carye E. Dickerson, DSS DirectorAdoption of a proclamation proclaiming August 2024 as Child Support Enforcement Awareness Month in Rockingham County.6. PUBLIC COMMENT7. PRESENTATION: Ronnie Tate, Director of Engineering and Public UtilitiesRequest approval of a five-year extension to the current waste hauling franchise agreement with Waste Management. Extension agreement is provided.8. OLD BUSINESS: Case 2024 - 12: Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) – A Request to rezone a (+/-) 4.42-acre parcel of land from Residential Agricultural (RA) to Neighborhood Commercial Conditional District (NC-CD) - Conditional Rezoning Applicant: Jaime Wall, Owner and Executor - Tax Pin: 7921-02- 75-4770 - Location: 225 Farrar Store Rd., Stokesdale - New Bethel Township The Board of County Commissioners first reviewed this request June 17, 2024 and conducted a public hearing. After closing the public hearing, they decided to postpone deliberation of this item to August.The ordinance included with this agenda item request is in Draft form and may be amended after Commissioners' review.9. NEW BUSINESS10. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS11. ADJOURN###

The Nurse-Family Partnership, provided by the La Plata County Public Health Department, offers essential support to first-time mothers in La Plata County. This program partners nurses with new parents to guide them from pregnancy through the child's first two years, providing resources for healthy habits, parenting confidence, and secure homes. Prioritizing Medicaid-eligible families, NFP creates a non-judgmental space to empower parents and foster family well-being.  By Sadie Smith.  Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/community-insights-public-health-departments-nurse-family-partnership  This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank. Support the Show.

For the first time, the Joint Statistical Meetings—taking place August 3–8—will be held in Portland, Oregon. In anticipation, Practical Significance podcast hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome two special guests: JSM Program Chair Debashis Ghosh and Oregon Chapter President Yuan Jiang, who offer tips for making JSM a professional and personal success. Ghosh, chair and professor at the Colorado School of Public Health Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, reflects on his experience as the 2024 JSM program chair. While acknowledging the conference’s daunting size, he emphasizes that JSM is a ... The post Practical Significance | Episode: 43 —”Toto, I Have a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore”— Anticipating JSM 2024 first appeared on Amstat News.

A bacterial outbreak has emerged among homeless individuals living at San Jose encampments in Columbus and Roosevelt parks, but health officials say the risk to the general public is low. Three confirmed cases of Shigella, a highly contagious intestinal bacteria, were identified between June 3-17. Two individuals have been hospitalized and four people are being evaluated. There are 19 suspected cases tied to the same outbreak. Shigella causes vomiting and diarrhea, which is often bloody. It gets passed on when individuals put anything in their mouth that has made contact with the infected feces, such as shaking a contaminated hand and then using their hands to eat. People can also catch the disease by drinking water that has been contaminated. “What's concerning about this outbreak isn't the absolute number. We do regularly see Shigella cases,” Dr. Monika Roy, assistant health officer in the county's Public Health Department, said on Tuesday. “What's concerning more is the number that are related to each other.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darien-dunstan3/message

Amidst the COVID-19 aftermath, Medicaid unwinding poses a critical healthcare challenge. La Plata County Public Health aids residents in navigating this transition, ensuring equitable access to healthcare options. Despite an extension, misconceptions persist, potentially impacting millions nationwide. Through collaboration with the Department of Human Services, smooth transitions to alternative coverage options are facilitated, offering personalized assistance and translation services to all residents. By Sadie Smith.  Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/community-insights-la-plata-county-public-health-department  This story is sponsored by Alpine Bank. Support the show

A man convicted of rape of an underage person will learn his fate this week.   A call for a rollover policy for non-Caymanian civil servants from Planning and Infrastructure Minister, the Honorable Jay Ebanks. The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Attends the Routes Americas Conference.   In observance of World Health Day, the Public Health Department announces its commitment to promoting basic accessible healthcare with the theme "My Health, My Right." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rcnews/message

2024-03-25_bmg_03-07-24

The Home Affairs Minister promises an error with the Cayman Brac Fire Officers won't happen again. Police recover a canoe with two men. The Public Health Department wants Cayman to take their health more seriously. #rcnews #radiocayman #caymanislands --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rcnews/message

After a three month search, Mayor Brandon Johnson has hired Dr. Olusimbo Ige to lead Chicago's Public Health Department. This is one of Johnson's biggest hirings, especially following the ousting of the former top doc. Crain's Katherine Davis and City Bureau's India Daniels are here to discuss why this move is so critical. Plus, the city's $16 billion dollar budget was approved, Howard Brown health workers strike again, and there are plenty of opportunities to see Chicagoland's holiday lights. Calendar for police district council meetings and follow along with the City Bureau Documenters Good News: Stay up to date with City Bureau events Chicagoland Light Shows: Chicago Botanic Gardens Lightscape, Lincoln Park ZooLights, Morton Arboretum Illumination, Magnificent Mile Lights Fest, Sparkle Light Fest Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crain's health care reporter Katherine Davis talks with host Amy Guth about Walgreens' second round of corporate staff reductions in recent months, as well as a new role at the CDC for former Chicago health chief Dr. Allison Arwady. Plus: Mayor Johnson picks Arwady's replacement in the city's Public Health Department, Chicago's tallest apartment building goes up for sale, the clan that owns Napleton Automotive Group buys one of the most recognizable office properties in the suburbs and Chicago's top accounting firms see an average 7% uptick in headcount.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-Designee Kirsten Johnson received bipartisan approval in a Senate Committee earlier this month. Prior to that, she led the Public Health Department in the city of Milwaukee during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She now leads the state as the Medicaid program unwinds from pandemic enrollment and faces other […]

For some, Public Health might be synonymous with COVID-19, but it's so much more! With a slate of new projects and focus areas coming on line this summer, folks from the County's Public Health Department come on to fill us in, and share how to stay involved.

On this episode of EquiTEA, Greg and Andie sit with Riverside County's Health Equity Director Salomeh Wagaw to discuss all things equity. In this episode, you will learn the difference between equity and equality and how it relates to public health. You will also hear about the evolution of equity in Riverside's own Public Health Department and the role COVID- 19 played in this evolution. For more information about Riverside County's health equity program please go to: www.ruhealth.org/public-health/health-equity-program Follow us on Instagram & TikTok @EquityInRivCo Inquiries can be directed to RivCoHealthEquity@ruhealth.org.

The town of Peabody is offering free Narcan through its Public Health Department. Narcan is a life-saving drug that reverses an opioid overdose. In addition, an FDA Advisory Committee has endorsed over-the-counter sales of Narcan. Previously Narcan was only available for use by first responders and medical professionals. Peabody Regional Public Health Coordinator Meg Dlusniewski joined Dan to discuss.

In this Sunday edition: Overdose deaths are rising dramatically in L.A. County. Almost 1300% in the last several years. And Fentanyl is a major culprit. L.A.'s Public Health Department, along with LAUSD, LAPD and the DA's office have started strategizing on how to deal with this crisis. But, there are groups out there who've been practicing harm reduction for years: distributing narcan or fentanyl test-strips, and teaching classes.  In a recent episode of How To L.A., we took a personal look at L.A.'s fentanyl crisis, and some of the solutions that are currently saving lives. If you or someone you know experiences an overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately.  For educational resources about drug safety, check out Taco's website, and the CA Department of Public Health. Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.  Support the show: https://laist.com

2025년까지 '담배없는 나라' 목표한 뉴질랜드Guest: Prof. Janet Hoek, Public Health Department, University of OtagoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Starting in January 2023, the Women's Healthcast will air a Back To Basics series with the aim of answering some of the most common questions about sexual and reproductive health and providing resources for parents and supportive adults who may want to start having these conversations with the kids in their lives. Guest experts Dr. Ryan Luellwitz and Dr. Paula Cody will bring us back to the basics of anatomy, gender, sexuality, the menstrual cycle, safe sex, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, bodily autonomy, and so much more. Dr. Luellwitz is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Ob-Gyn with a special interest in contraception management of all types. Dr. Cody is a pediatrician in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Pediatrics. She works with adolescents and young adults with a special interest in eating disorders, sexuality and reproductive health, menstrual disorders and high-risk behaviors. We hope you'll join us as we get Back to Basics in the new year. Thanks for listening to the Women's Healthcast, from the University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

#47: Overdose deaths are rising dramatically in LA. Almost 1300% in the last several years. Fentanyl is a major culprit. LA's Public Health Department, LAUSD, LAPD and the DA's office have started strategizing to figure out how to deal with this crisis... But there are groups out there who have been practicing harm reduction for years: distributing narcan or fentanyl test-strips, and teaching classes. Groups like T.A.C.O., a national non-profit started by 5 college students, who saw a deadly problem that didn't seem like it was being addressed. Today we're taking a personal look at LA's fentanyl crisis, and some of the solutions that are currently saving lives. Guests: Isabella Gianatiempo, co-founder & CEO of T.A.C.O. Inc; B, an L.A. college student who overdosed and survived, and requested that we not use their full name. For educational resources about drug safety, check out Taco's website, and the CA Department of Public Health. If you or someone you know experiences an overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately. 

Government is working to clear some projects off the books before the end of the year…with two special events last week. Cayman Maintains its Leadership Role in OECD Global Forum Hazard Management Cayman Islands recently attended the Caribbean Community Risk Information Tool Workshop in Trinidad. The Public Health Department is boosting its surveillance efforts for COVID-19 vaccination side effects for the Autumn Booster Another small bump at the pump Ahead of the Cayman Islands Air Show taking place this weekend... His Excellency Governor Martyn Roper witnessed the landing of a PBY Catalina amphibious aircraft at Owen Roberts International Airport on Monday, to mark the 70thAnniversary of the landing of the first commercial aircraft – similar to the one which landed in 1952. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rcnews/message

When Nashville identified its first case of coronavirus in March 2020, the city was between Public Health Department directors and as unprepared as the rest of the world for what was to come. Dr. Alex Jahangir, a trauma surgeon acting at that time as chair of the Metro Nashville Board of Health, unexpectedly found himself head of the city's COVID-19 Task Force and responsible for leading it through uncharted waters. What followed was a year of unprecedented challenge and scrutiny. Dr. Jahangir, who immigrated to the US from Iran at age six, grew up in Nashville. He thought he knew the city well. But the pandemic laid bare ethnic, racial, and cultural tensions that daily threatened to derail what should have been a collective effort to keep residents healthy and safe. Hot Spot is Dr. Jahangir's narrative of the first year of COVID, derived from his op notes (the journal-like entries surgeons often keep following operations) and expanded to include his personal reflections and a glimpse into the inner sanctums of city and state governance in crisis.   Link https://www.alexjahangir.com/    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5ak8n8xdp6hzg5z177hua/h?dl=0&rlkey=2t9nammhmy0yhu9ykud4kp25l 

Dr. Alex Jahangir served as head of Metro Nashville's COVID-19 Task Force for the two years it was in existence. It was a role he never expected to fill, but with the city between Public Health Department directors, he stepped up when asked by Mayor John Cooper. The long hours, on top of his already demanding workload as a trauma surgeon and coupled with intense public scrutiny, took a toll on his personal life. Through it all, Dr. Jahangir kept a pandemic version of “op notes” — the entries he writes after each operation. He later expanded these into a book, Hot Spot: A Doctor's Diary From the Pandemic, published this month. He talks about what he learned leading Nashville's COVID response. But first, a new episode of Reveal looks into the history of convict leasing, a practice that enriched companies across the South and in Tennessee. Guests: Margie Mason, reporter, Associated Press Dr. Alex Jahangir, professor of orthopaedic surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Officials with the Public Health Department say whilst the number of detected COVID19 cases has decreased, a reduction in transmission is not necessarily reflected by other data indicators. An investigation is underway into the death of a K9 with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Eden Rock's dive site is hit with extensive coral damage after several chunks of coral were torn from the reef… appeared to be caused by a large ship grounding. An investigation is underway. Cayman's eastern districts have taken up more agriculture and fishing activities in 2021 As part of a check up on Cayman's school meals program, a team of officials head to the University College of the Cayman Islands. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rcnews/message

On July 1, Gilliam County began operating its own public health department. The move ends, after 13 years, its membership in a regional health district that includes neighboring Wasco and Sherman Counties. Gilliam won approval from the Oregon Health Authority to create its own local health authority after officials conducted a feasibility study last year to examine the cost and level of service the county could directly provide its roughly 2,000 residents. Elizabeth Farrar is the Gilliam County Judge. She joins us to explain how the county's experience during the pandemic prompted this transition, and the top public health priorities for the new agency she now oversees.

May 20, 2022 — The pandemic is not over, with small outbreaks, high transmissibility, and new, highly contagious variants. But with treatments available and hospitals not seeming to be at risk of getting overwhelmed, new health orders are not likely to appear on the horizon soon. Public Health Officer Dr. Andrew Coren shared his recommendations earlier this afternoon, which included universal indoor masking and staying up to date on vaccines and boosters. High-risk individuals who test positive, he said, should immediately request treatments from their providers, because treatments need to be administered within five days of the onset of symptoms to be effective. The county is currently in the orange zone, for substantial transmission, but is rapidly tipping into the red zone, for high transmission. Coren tried to convey the nuances of a pandemic that is dragging into its third year, saying, “Orders is not where we'd like to go…but a lot of things have changed since we had all those orders,” one being that the community has learned to protect itself. “What I heard this morning is that many people think covid is over,” he said. “We need to emphasize to people that covid is not over…we're rising in numbers. We haven't yet seen the mortality numbers, but they may come.” As the pandemic continues, so, too, does the likelihood of more variants. “None of us are interested in imposing orders when people know what to do,” he concluded. Test-to-treat sites, where people can receive treatment as soon as they test positive, are starting to be available in the county. The OptumServe sites are supposed to offer test-to- treat services, dispensing a prescription for treatment to qualified patients after a telemed call with a provider. That option at the testing site on the fairground in Ukiah is subject to nursing availability, which Coren said, “OptumServe is working on correcting.” He added that the clinics are applying for waivers from the state to offer test-to-treat services. Redwood Coast Medical Services, the clinic in Gualala, has already received its waiver to offer treatment immediately after testing. Coren said there are currently five outbreaks, each involving fewer than five people, including one at the county-run animal shelter in Ukiah. Nursing homes, two homeless shelters, and a charter school are included among the outbreak sites. The commonplace use of at-home rapid tests has contributed to the difficulty of tracking the numbers of infections that do not result in hospitalization or death. But wastewater testing can give a rough idea of how widespread the virus is in a community. Wastewater surveillance is not yet taking place in Mendocino County, but Coren said the county is working with the state Public Health Department to get some grants to cover the cost of the apparatus and the analysis of the samples. There is no timeline for when or if that would be available. The school year is wrapping up, and policies at schools are up to the individual districts. Coren said the schools are strongly recommending masks, and most of them are using modified quarantine, where the infected person quarantines at home, but those who have been exposed can continue to participate in in-person activities. School superintendents or principals can impose stricter quarantine measures, but Coren noted that, “The education that the children miss and the social interaction that they miss is very significant, and we're really encouraging keeping people in school and doing these in-school quarantines.” The next covid briefing from Public Health will be June 17.

This episode features a conversation on Schenectady County's Public Health Services newly launched Tickborne Illness Prevention Dashboard. The online dashboard includes information on how to prevent tick bites and tickborne diseases, as well as the prevalence of ticks and risk of illness by season. Joining NYSAC's Multimedia Specialist Kate Pierce is Claire Proffitt, Deputy Director of Schenectady County's Public Health Department.

Biostatistics or data science for public health—whatever you choose to call it—informs understanding of the health and environmental impacts of exposures. Emory University's Howard Chang discusses with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner the intricacies of interpreting data, the controversial P value, and the team science involved in studying public health challenges. About the GuestHoward Chang, PhD, is a Professor in the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, jointly appointed to the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health. He also serves as the Director of the Master's Program in Biostatistics for Emory University.Dr. Chang received a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia in 2004, followed by a PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 2009. Before joining Emory University, he was a Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute (SAMSI) postdoctoral fellow and worked with the North Carolina State University Department of Statistics and Children's Environmental Health Initiative based at the University of Notre Dame.Dr. Chang's primary research interest is in the development and application of statistical methods for analyzing complex spatial-temporal exposure and health data. His current projects focus on two broad areas of population health: (1) exposure assessment for air quality and extreme weather events, especially under a changing climate; and (2) health effect estimation and impact assessment leveraging large databases, such as birth/death certificates, hospital billing records, electronic health records, and disease surveillance systems. Dr. Chang also collaborates with colleagues for studies related to ecology, infectious disease, social epidemiology, and community intervention trials.

In the previous episode, we discussed how the CDC very quietly removed about 72,000 deaths from their official COVID-19 death tracking website—supposedly due to a programming error. However, it's worth noting that this type of COVID death number reduction is not limited to only the CDC. Case in point, Massachusetts's Public Health Department recently announced that they will be lowering their official COVID death toll by about 15 percent in order to reduce what they called a significant overcount of the COVID deaths in their state. Meanwhile, while I was in Florida, I took the unique opportunity to speak with the co-founders of GiveSendGo, the crowdfunding platform that was used by the Canadian truckers to raise millions of dollars after GoFundMe kicked them off. And we discussed the current state of financial cancel culture, as well as what can be done to fight back. ⭕️ Sign up for our NEWSLETTER and stay in touch

Robyn Denson, candidate for Pierce County Council Position 7, joins Crystal to discuss what's at stake in her run for a critical seat in regional government, including the thin Democratic majority on the Pierce County Council. As a deeply-engaged community member and current Gig Harbor City Councilmember, Robyn is passionate about listening to the diverse voices of her district and fighting for their needs, whether the issue is housing affordability, ending homelessness, COVID assistance and recovery, or mitigating climate impacts. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available below and at officialhacksandwonks.com. Find the host, Crystal, on Twitter at @finchfrii, and Robyn on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/robyndensonpiercecountycouncil.   Resources Elect Robyn Denson: https://www.electrobyndenson.com/   “Gig Harbor councilmember will run for Pierce County Council to replace Derek Young” by Kerry Webster from The News Tribune: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-news/article256502086.html   Pierce County Council District 7 Map: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/110768/District-7-2022_web   City of Gig Harbor - Councilmember Robyn Denson: https://www.cityofgigharbor.net/directory.aspx?eid=170   Communities in Schools - Peninsula: https://peninsula.ciswa.org/   Harbor WildWatch: https://harborwildwatch.org/   Gig Harbor Land Conservation Fund: https://www.gigharborlandconservation.com/   Pierce County - South Sound Housing Affordability Partners: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7052/South-Sound-Housing-Affordability-Partne   United Way of Pierce County - South Sound 211: https://www.uwpc.org/get-help-now-dial-211   Pierce County - Applying for Rent & Utility Assistance: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7488/Applying-for-Rent-Utility-Assistance   Transcript [00:00:00] Crystal Fincher: Welcome to Hacks & Wonks. I'm Crystal Fincher, and I'm a political consultant and your host. On this show, we talk with policy wonks and political hacks to gather insight into local politics and policy in Washington State through the lens of those doing the work with behind-the-scenes perspectives on what's happening, why it's happening, and what you can do about it. Full transcripts and resources referenced in the show are always available at officialhacksandwonks.com and in our episode notes. So today we are thrilled to have with us, candidate for Pierce County Council, Robyn Denson. Welcome. [00:00:45] Robyn Denson: Well, thank you, Crystal. It is an honor to be invited to be on your podcast. [00:00:50] Crystal Fincher: Well, I am certainly excited to have you - there are so many exciting races happening throughout the state. Lots of people have been focused on legislative races or prosecutor races, but we also have county council races and this in Pierce County is very important and interesting. So I guess I just want to start off getting a better idea of who you are and what your background is. [00:01:14] Robyn Denson: Well, first, let me thank you for recognizing that we have county council races as well - because a lot of times, I guess we aren't as maybe as high profile as some of the legislative races, or as local as some of the city council races - so even as I'm door-belling already, people are like, "We have a County Council representative?" if I'm in the city of Tacoma. So, I get to explain the difference and get to draw them in to why this position is so important, why the County Council is so important, and I'm really, really excited to run for County Council District 7. I will say, like probably a lot of public officials and public elected officials, this was not in my plan. I am a current Gig Harbor City Councilperson, and I've been really enjoying working with the community here and getting lots of things done. And that honestly came about because I've been involved in volunteer service in the community for so long - whether it was nonprofits, then I was on our volunteer City Parks Commission for a long, long time and got to know the city - and then at some point, I can't even remember how it happened, somebody asked me to run for city council and I did. And I've really been enjoying it, but about a year and a half ago, our current District 7 County Councilperson, Chair Derek Young - who's fantastic - came to me along with his assistant John Jolibois, and of course I've worked with him a lot on city issues and nonprofit issues as well, and they asked me if I would consider running to replace Derek for County Council District 7. And at first I was like, "What?" but as you know, Crystal, Derek Young is terming out on the Pierce County Council - there's term limits. He has had an incredible eight years, he's accomplished so much. He is the Chair now and for the last two years, the Democrats have had the majority on Pierce County Council, so they are just going gangbusters, accomplishing amazing things for our county and really putting us on a positive path - for the future, for the people, for the lands, and the waters - and this race is so important because it's really important that we retain that momentum and keep things going in a really positive direction. So I will admit it took me - gosh, at least six months before I gave Derek a Yes - and I knew I would love the position, but as a single parent, single-income household, I had to take all of those things into consideration, as probably some of your listeners can appreciate. I knew I'd love the job - public policy, serving the public is definitely my passion. I do it for free right now - way more - I spend way more time on that than my income producing segment of my life. So I was excited about the job, but I just had to make sure that it was fitting in with where I wanted my life to go, because a position like this is so all-encompassing - campaigning is all-encompassing and then when you're in the position - I mean, this is your life. It's not just a 9 to 5 job. You're involved with the community, and going to events, and getting to know all the players, and making sure that you understand their needs, and talking to them about all the policies that are coming down the pipe or things that you're thinking about to make sure you're getting all of that input. So, that's the way I treat my volunteer city council job right now and that's the way I'll treat the county council job. And once I made the decision to go for it, I'm a 100% engaged and a 100% working hard on this campaign. I have the support of just a lot of wonderful community leaders - and I don't know how other elected officials feel or other candidates - but to me, when somebody has given me their support and has maybe gone out on a limb to endorse me or give me hard-earned money, then I want to make sure that I am working as hard as I can to get into the position so that I can make sure that I'm serving the public just like I told everybody I would. [00:05:32] Crystal Fincher: Well, and that's exciting. I completely appreciate you having to weigh what taking on this position would mean. And even as you so appropriately put it, a volunteer city council position - I think people sometimes don't realize how lowly compensated city council members are. If you look at major metropolitan areas, like the biggest cities in the country, the biggest city in our state, Seattle - those positions come with a salary and full-time staff and they have offices. Most cities around the state do not have that, most city councils receive a stipend - [00:06:14] Robyn Denson: Right - a little stipend - no staff, no offices. [00:06:16] Crystal Fincher: Yes. Like less than $5,000/year. Yeah, it's with no staff, no nothing - and it is - to say it's a part-time position is really misleading. It is a humongous responsibility and it really is just kind of mind-boggling that we expect our elected representatives on the local level, who are responsible for so much of what our daily life is on a daily basis, to just work for a stipend. And it certainly impacts the type of people who are able to serve. If you are a one income household, if you have a regular job and you aren't owning a company, or not independently wealthy or coming from wealth, it is certainly a different kind of consideration to be able to do that, not withstanding the cost of childcare and how it impacts your day job and all of that. So I sincerely appreciate just you having to take time to figure out how to make everything possible. I also appreciate you talking about how, for the past two years, Democrats had a majority on the Pierce County Council - was not always that. I mean - [00:07:24] Robyn Denson: I think it's the first time in 17 years. [00:07:27] Crystal Fincher: Yeah, and this is not a given that, "Oh, hey, just Democrats win now," - you are in a purple area that can elect Republicans and it's not a given that, "Hey, this is just sailing and coasting to victory here." So what is your approach in a community that is diverse in many ways, including in ideologies that people hold - how are you communicating with voters and what are you focusing on as you're running for this seat? [00:08:02] Robyn Denson: Well, I guess Crystal, I'll say that I feel very grateful that I have been involved - truly involved - in the community for a long time, and in roles that were not partisan. Even my city council position isn't partisan, which I just love because a lot of these issues that we face every day should not be partisan issues. They should just be basic human rights, human needs, making the community a better place, taking care of our environment. So I'm fortunate that I have a lot of support from around the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula communities in particular, because I've been involved in so many organizations - from Communities in Schools, which serves our community, our school district here in the Peninsula School District. From Harbor WildWatch, I just started a Land Conservation Fund and Veterans Day event, I'm involved with the Chamber - just all sorts of different types of people with different interests - all really good-hearted people that want to do the right thing for the community. So I love having that diverse base of support - people that, even if they're not in the same political party as me, we have a common respect and they know they can come and talk to me and I'm going to listen. I'm going to listen to their point of view and we can work together on finding solutions to any issue that comes up in the community that makes sense for everybody, whether it's business or tenants or homeowners or folks in the environmental community that are noticing something in our Sound or in this greater Salish Sea. I love having that relationship and I'm building those kind of relationships in Tacoma as well. I'm fortunate to be able to get introduced to a lot of amazing community leaders in Tacoma, and because that area is admittedly newer for me, that's where I'm starting to doorbell. So for the last 3 weeks, 3-4 weeks, I've been out already starting to doorbell in Tacoma and getting to know the issues in that community. Because like you've said, my district is very diverse - I have got urban north Tacoma, I have kind of small city Gig Harbor, and then I've got the Key Peninsula that is very rural. And there are some commonalities, but there's a lot of specific issues that are top of mind in each of these communities that I'm excited to work on. And I think having somebody that takes the time to get to know the people and the issues - and doesn't just assume they're the same as issues in other part of the state - that's what folks need from their representative, because out here in District 7 - I mean, the folks in Tacoma are fortunate because they have their city council person, as well as their county council person. Gig Harbor is a very small footprint, so those folks also have a city council - well, they have all of the city council working for them as well. But most of our district is unincorporated, and the folks in unincorporated Pierce County in District 7 - their County Councilperson is their one representative at the local level, so it's so important. And I'm trying to communicate to folks how important it is that they elect somebody who understands their needs and is going to fight for them. [00:11:19] Crystal Fincher: Well, one big need that is manifesting in a variety of different communities is the need for affordable housing. And this is a conversation statewide, certainly has been in Pierce County - what are your plans to keep the area affordable? [00:11:37] Robyn Denson: Well, thank you - that is a key issue, no matter where you are in my district. And like you said, anywhere in the county, and anywhere in the state, and I would say the country as well. Affordable housing is a huge issue and it's a really, really challenging issue. It's something that I've been involved with professionally for a long time - so I've worked with organizations that had homeless shelters and did Section 8 vouchers and did group homes. I worked for Habitat for Humanity - great organization. I worked for the State House of Representatives for five sessions back in - 2005 through 2010, I believe - where we drafted the Homeless Act, for example, and the Multifamily Tax Exemption Program. So we were really addressing it then as well - so it's something that is near and dear to my heart. It's a challenging issue to address - I can't say that I have the silver bullet answer to it, but I think we're seeing a lot of initiatives that are going to be helpful. We're seeing encouragement of density, especially in transit-oriented areas and areas that are close to housing and other services, or to jobs and other services. That's so important, not only to promote affordable housing, but to prevent urban sprawl into our more rural and natural areas. So, that is certainly one solution. I'm a big fan of making sure that we're working on developing income-based housing as well though, because our area is such a popular place for people to move to. We've got folks coming down from Seattle, we have folks coming up from California, the East Coast, other areas of the country. So even if we're increasing density, a lot of those - if we're not keeping some housing that's really income-based and permanently affordable, I'm afraid that it's going to take us a long time to see density correlating with lowering house prices. It's part of the solution and it will help, but I think in addition to that, we need to make sure that we're creating some housing that is permanently available to folks at different income levels, and particularly the lower income levels. [00:13:52] Crystal Fincher: So how do you do that from the County Council? [00:13:55] Robyn Denson: Well, I think that we can partner with nonprofit housing builders and there's a number of them - Habitat is one of them, but we certainly need to collaborate with others that produce - maybe that their model is to create greater numbers of housing units, apartment complexes, or townhouse developments, cottage style developments - things like that - where we're really getting some numbers in. And those nonprofits are really well positioned to make sure that these properties are managed and sustained as affordable over time. There may be opportunities to work with for-profit developers as well. I was just having a conversation earlier with an advocate about this as well, because sometimes for-profit developers have figured out a way to build efficiently and in a really cost-efficient way, which is great, because we want to make sure that our money is well invested to produce the greatest number of housing options possible. [00:14:53] Crystal Fincher: And so on the Gig Harbor City Council, you've had to contend with this issue also - how has the city approached this - because Gig Harbor's actually done a decent job in providing and growing the amount of housing that you have in the city. [00:15:11] Robyn Denson: We have, although I would argue that not a lot of it is really affordable. So we have done a fantastic job of reaching our Growth Management Act targets. We're on track to not only reach those, but exceed those, and we do have a mix of housing. So I mean, there are definitely some things that we've done really well - and a lot of those decisions were made before me, so I won't take credit for it - but we've got some of our newer developments where the housing is a bit more dense, where we've got a larger apartment complex, for example, where there's some really cute cottage housing that when I door knocked there are a couple years ago, I thought - this is what I need - so cute and no yard to take care of. So there's some good options, but we can do more - and actually just this year, we're embarking upon an affordable housing survey and plan here in Gig Harbor to really look at what housing - what types of housing we're missing and not just design, but in terms of what's available to folks at the lower and middle incomes. And I know we've got a long way to go - we did just join last year with an organization, or a collaborative group, called SSHAP - I'm sure you've heard of that - with a number of other Pierce County jurisdictions to share a staff person and try and identify some real best practices to move things forward. But we're excited to look at some innovative uses of city-owned property, collaborations, and making sure that we're providing some additional resources. We have our businesses reaching out to us. We have our retirement - one of the retirement communities advocating for this saying, "There's no place for our workers to live and we love these people. We care about these people. We want these folks to be able to live in our community and their kids to be able to go to our schools." So we want to be able to provide that as well. [00:17:08] Crystal Fincher: Which makes sense, and related to the conversation about affordable housing is that of homelessness. And an issue that every area is contending with - that is not limited to urban areas, but certainly there's a conversation there. How do you plan to get people housed who are currently on the street? [00:17:30] Robyn Denson: Well, I'm very excited to have the opportunity hopefully to come onto the County Council at this time - as you know, just this week, they passed their comprehensive plan to end homelessness. So they have taken a major step forward with advocates to at least put something on paper and get everyone unified about an approach. Now, I will say from my work in this area, and even just from recently walking around to five or six of the encampments in Tacoma and talking to people and asking them - what kind of housing would work for you, what do you want - that was extremely educational, and what I've learned and what I'm hearing from other advocates is that everyone who is unhoused and is experiencing homelessness - they have their own individual story of their path. No one is five years old thinking, I'm going to grow up and live in a tent encampment. And the other thing I heard from these folks in the encampments is they're like, "We don't want to be on somebody's sidewalk. We don't want to be in the neighborhoods. We don't want to be bothering these people. We don't want them to be bothering us," which is becoming more and more of a concern. They're uncomfortable, the community's uncomfortable, the businesses are uncomfortable - it's not a good situation. And from what I heard from them, because they all came to be unhoused through different paths and all of their situations are completely different - some are working, some are not, some aren't able to, some may never be able to, they need - there's so many different needs that are specific. We need that many different paths to housing. I'm 100% supportive of the housing first model, but that's going to look different for different people. I talked to this one woman at the first encampment I visited and said, "Would you like to be in one of those hotels that the county just purchased or would you like a tiny home?" and she said, "No." She said, "I have experienced such trauma in shelters that I can't be indoors for more than three hours. I have anxiety attacks," and so it really ran the spectrum of what people wanted, but a lot of these folks were interested in sanctioned encampments - a place where, again, they could get out of the neighborhoods or get off of the sidewalks and have a place where they felt safe. They could be with their networks and communities, and there was sanitation, there were showers, there's laundry facilities, and there's supportive services so when folks are ready and they're feeling safer and more comfortable, they can avail themselves with those services. And then hopefully move up to what I think most of us would consider more sustainable, safer, better housing - whether that's tiny homes or the single room occupancy units in a motel or transitional housing, some may be supportive housing. But I think some of us have these expectations that we can just pluck somebody off the sidewalk and stick them in an apartment - and for some folks, yes - some folks just need that first month and last month, and a security deposit, and maybe some subsidy to get them through a few months, and they're going to be on their way. But for a lot of folks, they've dealt with so much trauma and there's so many fears and trust issues that they kind of need that time to be stable in a secure, safe housing situation before they can make those next steps - whether it's mental health treatment, behavioral health, substance abuse, or just relaxing in their space enough to be open to be receiving the services that so many of our wonderful nonprofits are ready - they're ready to provide. [00:21:13] Crystal Fincher: Yeah and I appreciate your perspective there - that safety for everyone, including those who are experiencing homelessness is so important. And the recognition that some of the things that sometimes were well intentioned, that people thought they were doing and providing a helpful space - like a congregate shelter - have been traumatic and harmful for a lot of people. And if you sit and think about it for a while - would you love to have no ability to have any privacy, to have no ability to lock up your possessions, and to not have any space and time on your own by yourself, and to constantly be around other people who may be experiencing their own crises - and that kind of a challenge. And that is traumatic for some people - has resulted in harm and trauma - and people are working through that, and so it's not always, "Oh, hey, we offered a service, there's a shelter available. Why wouldn't someone want to come in here? Well, they're refusing help and they clearly want to be where they're at on the street," and it's not that simple. I appreciate you having conversations with people who are being impacted - that is the group who is usually most able to tell you how they got where they're at, and what types of things would be helpful to be able to get out. So, as we look at that and providing supported services and sanctioned areas for encampments - is that something you plan to pursue if you're elected to the council? [00:22:48] Robyn Denson: Absolutely. Absolutely - and again, there's a variety of housing type needs that I will be supportive of, but I have to tell you, Crystal - until I actually had the conversation with the unhoused folks in the encampments, I did not think sanctioned encampments was a great idea. I thought, surely we can do better than that for these people, right - but what I heard, I learned so much. Again, it's so important to actually get their perspective and what I learned was they felt safer in their tent communities because where they are - if you'll notice - most of the encampments around Tacoma at least are small groups of maybe not even a dozen tents. And they all know each other and they watch out for each other - they take care of each other when somebody is injured or sick. I asked one, "Are you afraid to leave your tent? Are you afraid to leave your stuff and go to this service agency and get a shower?" because they're located typically where they can do that. And they're like, "Nope, we all watch out for each other," and so it's so important to - and even when and if we get some sanctioned encampments together - that we are cognizant of these relationships and of these little communities, because they're helping each other move forward as well. But yeah, the situation now is absolutely a crisis. It's one of the reasons that I'm really passionate about having good people on the County Council right now - who are willing to listen to the unhoused population, to the advocates who've been working with these folks for a long, long time and certainly know way more than I do, and make sure that we are creating the kind of housing that actually works and is going to move people towards self-sufficiency to the extent that is possible for different individuals. [00:24:37] Crystal Fincher: That makes sense. And I also want to talk about this moment that we're in - in terms of the pandemic - which is not over actually - [00:24:46] Robyn Denson: What? [00:24:46] Crystal Fincher: A lot of people are talking about - hey, as we move beyond the pandemic and we're in a post-COVID world - we aren't quite in that post-COVID world. We have certainly moved down from our recent peak of cases, but man, that was a really high peak. And so the overall case rate is still not as low as it has been during other parts of the pandemic - and we're easing up on masking requirements, and easing up - and some of the assistance programs have now terminated or have at least run out of resources, and so some of the supports that have been there to help people get through this time are evaporating. And that's causing some anxiety among a lot of people in the public, and there's still a significant segment of our society that cannot get vaccinated and that isn't feeling protected, whether it's young children or immunocompromised people. So as you look at that, and especially when you're looking at the County Council, which plays such a huge role in the public health response, what is your approach as we move forward with COVID? [00:25:57] Robyn Denson: Well, as I've said all along on City Council, I'm going to continue to follow the science and trust our professionals and our medical professionals as we move forward. I'm as excited as anybody else to be hopefully moving in a positive direction. Most of us, I think, are excited to be able to not wear masks anymore - I wouldn't do it if the CDC hadn't said it was okay, and our public health officials are saying it's okay. I do feel very encouraged that I know - the first day of school on Monday, I asked my daughter, she's a high schooler, "Were there kids that were masked?" and she said, "Yeah, there was four or five kids in each class that were masked," and I felt really good about that - the kids felt comfortable. And I see adults in the grocery store - that they feel comfortable wearing those masks, and I think that's where we need to be - that people need to feel safe and do what they need to feel safe. I know I have friends that are nurses, for example, and they still stay masked because they're working with neonatal babies, for example, or immunocompromised people, or folks who have family members that are immunocompromised, Crystal - and like you said, can't get vaccinated or are just super, super concerned about contracting COVID. So I think we, first of all, need to be respectful of the folks that do still have concerns, because yes, COVID is still out there - and we've heard in the news, high-profile people that are getting COVID after all this time. But I'm also honored for the opportunity to be part of the solution because we do have such a fantastic Public Health Department here in the Tacoma-Pierce County area, and we've got amazing professionals that I will seek the counsel of. I'm not going to pretend to be a doctor or a public health professional - I'm going to listen to them and follow their guidance on things. You mentioned assistance programs and that's a huge concern, because just 'cause we're able to take our masks off - doesn't mean snap your finger, everything's back to normal. There's going to be a transition period where - we're all kind of trying to get used to what our lives are going to look like. They're not going to go back immediately to what they were two years ago, and if folks have gotten behind on rent or behind on their mortgage payments or behind on their utility payments, we need to continue to beat the drum and let folks know that they need to reach out as soon as possible by calling, for example, 211 in Pierce County, or by contacting any of the social service agencies. They're going to point them in the right direction to start filling out that paperwork to get that assistance, because right now is not the time to be losing your housing. The housing market's going crazy, rents are just going up so high - that once you've lost your housing, it just makes - it makes the situation a hundred times worse. So we want to keep people in their housing. [00:28:55] Crystal Fincher: So what programs are available, or what would you continue to advocate for too - as you talk about prevent people from losing housing, because that is another big part of the solution to homelessness - is not to create more homelessness. How do we do a good job of keeping people in their homes who are behind right now? [00:29:16] Robyn Denson: Well, I think Pierce County has been doing a really great job at getting their rental assistance and mortgage assistance - sometimes people don't realize that's available as well - Pierce County's done a great job at getting that out the door. I'm not sure how much is left in the pot, or how long we're going to continue to do that, but I will certainly advocate that we need to keep an eye on what the need is and maintain our vigilance around that issue. So I'll continue and encourage everyone to continue to get the message out that these programs are still available. I know there's quite a bit of utility assistance still available - and something I learned - gosh, a few months ago by talking to somebody - is that even if you are - from what I heard, correct me if I'm wrong - but even if you are up on your rent, if you're behind on your utility payment, a landlord can evict you for that. And so we don't want any - we don't want to leave anything to chance in helping folks make sure that they can retain their housing. The resources are out there right now and even if, for example, the county had to pause its program or ran out of money until they get another influx of dollars, there's a lot of other social service agencies that do have pots of money for things like this - for emergency health, for rent in particular, and utilities. So I'd encourage people to continue to reach out and look for those resources because prevention is so much less expensive and so much less traumatic to an individual or family than an eviction would be. [00:30:52] Crystal Fincher: Absolutely. And then wanted to talk about, before we do close, we just saw in the legislature - a missed opportunity to add climate mitigation as a goal - [00:31:06] Robyn Denson: I know. [00:31:06] Crystal Fincher: - in the Growth Management Act. And so now you're running in a situation where you're headed to the council - that planning is starting now, as we move forward. What are your plans, even though that is not an absolute mandate from the state now, to make sure that as decisions are made - there has been talk and I agree - just every decision that is made does have a climate impact and at this point we need to be aware of that and tracking that. What is your approach going to be, and what do you think you can do throughout this planning process and with the lens that you take to explore decisions that are being made to make sure that we are mitigating climate harms and protecting people from what we're currently experiencing? [00:31:56] Robyn Denson: Right. Well, thank you for bringing that up and honestly, Crystal, I was shocked that that bill did not pass. It's something that I had advocated for, in collaboration with Washington Conservation Voters. And honestly, I thought that was going to be a slam dunk with this legislature and it's just to me, a no brainer. I can tell you that I'm very proud that the city of Gig Harbor is - we're not quite there yet, but we're a meeting or two away from - passing a resolution to include climate change in our comprehensive plan. So I think everything starts local, or sometimes it starts local - it certainly can start local and Gig Harbor is definitely doing that. And hopefully we will be a role model for other jurisdictions that are thinking of doing that as well, because as you mentioned, the planning starts now. So if communities are going to do that, don't wait for the state. At this point, don't wait for the state to mandate it - go ahead and I encourage all the jurisdictions to take that upon themselves. I am fortunate that if I'm able to join the County Council right now, that they have passed their large comprehensive environmental sustainability plan with some fantastic goals to reduce greenhouse emissions. So I am joining a team that appreciates and is in line with my thinking in regards to the environment and climate. So I'm excited for the county to lead the way to be a good role model for the jurisdictions that we serve, and hopefully to be a good role model and hopefully create some best practices that other jurisdictions can follow. And I always say sometimes things do have to start at the local level. I know Gig Harbor, along with some other jurisdictions, for example, passed the plastic bag ban years before the state did. And so if Pierce County does it, if Gig Harbor - I know other jurisdictions are doing it as well - then maybe that will help give some leverage to our state legislators as they work to do it next year. And we don't have to wait for the state - all of you local jurisdictions - we can do it on our own too. [00:34:01] Crystal Fincher: Absolutely makes sense. And as we part, are there any final words that you want to give to voters considering whether or not to vote for you, people even outside of the jurisdiction considering whether to support your campaign? What is at stake here and why is this so important? [00:34:16] Robyn Denson: Thank you, Crystal. Well, I will say - I speak to all sorts of people in and out of District 7 and even in and out of Pierce County - retaining a good County Council that's thinking and putting the people first, putting our communities first, putting our lands and waters first - is so important. And if you're interested in learning more about me, I have a pretty robust website - some people are like, "You put too much on it," at electrobyndenson.com. I'm willing to meet and talk to anybody, I'm out doorbelling. This is a really critical seat - we've got some amazing County Councilpeople now, and I'm so excited to pick up the baton of the amazing Derek Young - he's done such a fantastic job. And really implement a lot of the things that the County Council has worked so hard to get started and put in place. [00:35:11] Crystal Fincher: Well, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us today. We'll link to the website, anything else that is relevant to this conversation in our episode notes and thank you so much for spending the time to talk with us today. [00:35:23] Robyn Denson: Thank you, Crystal. It was a pleasure. [00:35:25] Crystal Fincher: I thank you all for listening to Hacks & Wonks on KVRU 105.7 FM. The producer of Hacks & Wonks is Lisl Stadler with assistance from Shannon Cheng. You can find me on Twitter @finchfrii, spelled F-I-N-C-H-F-R-I-I. Now you can follow Hacks & Wonks on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcast - just type "Hacks & Wonks" into the search bar. Be sure to subscribe to get our Friday almost-live shows and our midweek show delivered to your podcast feed. If you like us, leave a review wherever you listen to Hacks & Wonks. You can also get a full transcript of this episode and links to the resources referenced in the show at officialhacksandwonks.com and in the episode notes. Thanks for tuning in. We'll talk to you next time.

Michael Holland, Holland & Company President, says to beware the bond market. Matthew Luzzetti, Deutsche Bank Chief U.S. Economist, doesn't expect Biden's Build Back Better plan to have a material impact on the Fed's path. Jane Foley, Rabobank FX Strategy Head, says the move up in the dollar may not last. Jodie Guest, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology Vice Chair, stresses the importance of improving Covid testing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Vancouver resident Sally Snyder discusses procedures currently being used and considered by the Vancouver School District in cooperation with Clark County Public Health officials. https://loom.ly/WuQIwG8 #Opinion #LetterToTheEditor #SallySnyder #VancouverSchoolDistrict #VancouverPublicSchools #ClarkCountyPublicHealth #COVID19 #COVIDTesting #Vaccinations #Vaccine #EmbryHealth #ClarkCountyCouncil #VancouverWa #ClarkCountyWa #ClarkCountyNews #ClarkCountyToday

One year after the administering of the first COVID-19 vaccines in Chatham County,  variants and vaccines and boosters continue to dominate the lives of public health officials. Here's why: two years into the pandemic, there have been 272 million cases worldwide; 5.3 million have died because of COVID. In the U.S., there have been 50 million cases (more than the combined populations of North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio) and 800,000 deaths. In Chatham: nearly 7,300 cases and, as of this writing, 99 deaths.In this episode, we speak with Mike Zelek, the director of the Chatham County Public Health Department about his department's response, the latest on Omicron and Delta, notes on vaccines and boosters, a discussion about immunity and much more.Find more coverage at www.chathamnewsrecord.com. 

Powerhouse theatre-writing duo Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews join us to talk about their moving and personal musical, Witness Uganda (previously known as Invisible Thread when it premiered Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre). Inspired by couple's separate real-life experiences traveling to Africa—specifically Griffin's trip to Uganda—the story follows the character Griffin as he meets and tries to help five Ugandan teens, first by teaching them himself and then by sponsoring their education when he returns to New York. But is this the kind of help they want or need?  The musical asks many questions about altruism, public health, voluntourism, and the ethics of foreign aid. What does it look like to offer aid, particularly from the United States to a developing nation? Experts Afam Onyema of the GEANCO Foundation—which is simultaneously based in the U.S. and Nigeria (where it serves local Afridans)—and Ana Jimenez-Bautista, the director of Field Practice at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, join us for this fascinating conversation about what it really means to help and how we can offer assistance in the most useful ways. Create the change Ask how to serve, rather than offering what you think is needed. Challenge your ideas of what education looks like. Get a passport and travel! Support local businesses while traveling. 6 Ways to Travel More Responsibly Learn more about the ethics of international volunteering. When choosing a volunteer program, you *want* to see these words: collaboration, cultural sensitivity, cultural integration, reflection. Pick up a copy of The Volunteer Traveler's Handbook at your local independent bookstore. Donate to the GEANCO Foundation, or get in touch to offer other ways to serve. Read about volunteering and voluntourism. Find responsible travel guides here. Avoid poverty tourism. Read this article about ending colonialism in global health. Referred to in this episode Witness Uganda, keep track of the musical and its developments The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, CA Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Department of Field Practice What is cultural competence? The Ibo tribe in Nigeria Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doc clarifies the issues around threats toward school officials, discusses the National School Board Association's (NSBA) under-informed hyperbolic letter to president Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland's knee jerk memo directing the FBI to figure out strategies to address school threats within the next 30 days, reactions from state-level school board associations, and how your local school district board of education might implement changes including recording audiences attending board of education (BOE) meetings. Doc matches solutions to these issues and also refreshes our minds to how similar matters have been effectively addressed in the past, including FDR's 1930s letter writing campaign. NSBA LETTER TO BIDEN REGARD THREATS TO SCHOOLS. On September 29, 2021, the NSBA, an advocacy group, sent a letter to President Biden with the heading: Federal Assistance to Stop Threats and Acts of Violence Against Public Schoolchildren, Public School Board Members, and Other Public School District Officials and Educators. In the letter, NSBA rolled off this 97-word sentence in which it put some parents in the arena with domestic terrorists: “As these acts of malice, violence, and threats against public school officials have increased, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes. As such, NSBA requests a joint expedited review by the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, and Homeland Security, along with the appropriate training, coordination, investigations, and enforcement mechanisms from the FBI, including any technical assistance necessary from, and state and local coordination with, its National Security Branch and Counterterrorism Division, as well as any other federal agency with relevant jurisdictional authority and oversight.” AG GARLAND MEMO TO FBI. On October 4, 2021, US Attorney General Merrick Garland send a memorandum to the Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation directing the FBI to convene meetings with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders in each federal judicial district within 30 days in order to facilitate strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff, and will open dedicated lines of communication for threat reporting, assessment, and response. STATE SCHOOL BOARD CHAPTERS NOT ON BOARD. The organization Parents Defending Education is curating a running tally of state school boards that have withdrawn from NSBA over the Biden letter (18 state school board associations have bailed from NSBA) as well as state school board associations answers to the following three questions: (1) As the [state association] has not yet commented on the National School Board Association's September 29 letter to President Biden that requested federal intervention in local school board issues – which likened civic participation to “domestic terrorism and hate crimes” and cited the Patriot Act – Parents Defending Education (PDE) would like to know whether your organization was involved in the creation of this letter and whether you agree with its substance and tone. If not, have you contacted the NSBA to let them know? (2) Can you please tell us how, going forward, your organization defines “intimidation,” harassment,” and “threat”? (3) Finally, do you plan to report individuals in your state to the U.S. Department of Justice – or do you believe that concerns can be adequately managed by local and state law enforcement? STATE RESPONSES BURN NSBA. It's apparent that state's are displeased with NSBA and the Garland Memo. Here's the Delaware School Board Association response to PDE's questions: “The DSBA has seen school board meeting protests, some of which have become quite impassioned, however we have received NO reports of violence or threats of violence toward school staff or school board members.  The DSBA does NOT condone violence or threats of violence toward students, staff or board members.  After consultation with the Governor's office, the Public Health Department and the Delaware Department of Education the DSBA developed and issued guidance to school board presidents regarding how to best handle school board meeting protests, which included the ultimate use of LOCAL law enforcement if absolutely necessary.  This guidance was issued prior to the NSBA September 29 2021 letter.  The NSBA letter to President Biden was unnecessary and quite frankly not helpful.” ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS? Doc believes threats of violence toward school officials is happening, but over-stated by NSBA and Garland. Also, the National Threat Assessment Center has been effective in mitigating school threats for 20 years. Reviewing school board meeting video footage is at the bottom of the FBI's prioritization list. FDR ASKED FOR LETTERS. When FDR was president, the country was hammered by the Great Depression and fears of war. In his fireside chats, he asked listeners to write letters to him describing their plights. More than 8,000 letters a day arrived at the White House - many accusatory and fiery. Doc described why this approach worked, and how it might be one of the strategies considered to make people feel that they are being heard. FOLLOW DR. PERRODIN: Twitter @SafetyPhD and subscribe to The Safety Doc YouTube channel & Apple Podcasts. SAFETY DOC WEBSITE & BLOG: www.safetyphd.com. The Safety Doc Podcast is hosted & produced by David Perrodin, PhD. ENDORSEMENTS. Opinions are those of the host & guests. The show seeks to bring forward productive discourse on topics relevant to personal or community safety. This is episode 155 of The Safety Doc Podcast published on 10-20-2021. Purchase Dr. Perrodin's Book: School of Errors – Rethinking School Safety in America. www.schooloferrors.com.

Just when we think we may be getting a handle on this COVID thing, an uninvited guest shows up to the dinner party.Delta Plus, a sub-variant of the Delta variant, is starting to show up in the UK, and it could prove to be more transmissible -- so we'll go In Depth.A report of human remains found on a trail in a Florida nature preserve could belong to Brian Laundrie, the person wanted for questioning for weeks in the murder of his girlfriend Gabby Petito.And this holiday shopping season is starting to look like a bleak one: retailers and shippers are sounding the alarm on potentially empty store shelves by Christmas.Up in the Bay Area it's In-N-Out versus San Francisco's Public Health Department: the chain's only location in the city is refusing to enforce the indoor vaccinate mandate.The LA Zoo has big expansion plans, which are not sitting well with environmentalists who don't want to see acres of Griffith Park gobbled up.And after years of promises, diversity may finally come to the Grammy Awards. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Malpass, WorldBank President, says the poor are feeling the brunt of the global recession. Mark Cabana, Bank of America Global Research Head of U.S. Rates Strategy, says we should see the price of bonds go down. Jon Lieber, Eurasia Group Managing Director, United States, says the Biden administration can use President Donald Trump's executive order against China as leverage when negotiating trade. Dr. Jodie Guest, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology Vice Chair & Research Professor, says it is vitally important to have one consistent message from health leaders on Covid-19 vaccinations. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Speaker 1: From his first job flipping burgers at McDonald’s and delivering The Washington Post, Craig Willett counts only one and a half years of his adult life working for someone else. Welcome to The Biz Sherpa podcast with your host, Craig Willett. Founder of several multimillion-dollar businesses and trusted advisor to other business owners, he’s giving back to help business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs achieve fulfillment, enhance their lives, and create enduring wealth. The Biz Sherpa. Craig Willett: This is Craig Willett, The Biz Sherpa. Welcome to today’s episode. I’m excited for today’s episode because I think we’re going to learn from a different perspective. I have a special guest today and he’s going to help us understand accidental success. He’s trained in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, Robert Koagedal—a good friend. Welcome Robert. Robert Koagedal: Hi, thanks Craig, thanks for having me. Craig Willett: Glad to have you today. I’m excited to hear a little bit of your story. Maybe you can tell us a little bit, your training and your background, and then how you ended up in Scottsdale, Arizona with a Chinese medicine and acupuncture practice. Robert Koagedal: Training and background, pretty straightforward; went to school for Chinese medicine in 1995, so I’ve been doing it half my life, went straight from college into graduate school. That part of it led me into all of the things that I do now at my office, practicing acupuncture, all the various therapies associated with Chinese medicine. Craig Willett: Great, and if you had a specialty in acupuncture—I know you do some treatment of some people who are in stage IV cancer—but you also have some other specialties? Robert Koagedal: Yeah, so, well, maybe I can jump a little bit to before all of that came to be, as far as my specialty goes. I jokingly answer that question with, I started my career actually working for the mafia. And this is maybe a little unusual, and I say it tongue in cheek, but after I finished school, there’s not a lot of gigs waiting for you as an acupuncturist. If this is anything for your audience to maybe take home, and when we use the term accidental success—which actually, I like that a lot—this is an antidote to what we would call the business structure. I’m not a business major, I didn’t learn anything about business. I’m a philosopher by training, that’s what my bachelor’s degree is in. So Chinese medicine fell into my lap for a variety of other longer stories, following a bachelor’s degree— Craig Willett: You mean you didn’t intend for that to happen? Robert Koagedal: Yeah, all of this on some level is not based on some genius that I have for structuring a business with the vision of how you’re going to make a lot of money and building into that. This was really taking the way that the waves of life would come at you, and being able to adapt to all the different ups and downs that came. And to the degree that you want to go down those ups and downs and all the fun I’ve had, I’m happy to share those stories too. Craig Willett: Well, I’m excited, and I think that’s of great value to a lot of people because I think we have a philosophy that you come up with a business plan, and you take that business plan to a banker, and the banker blesses it—or an investment group—and they invest in a business to help you start up, and that you’re going to follow this well planned out method. My experience as a CPA, as I’ve talked to a lot of clients, that’s not how it always has worked out. People have an idea. So you’ve got your education and training, and what led you— Robert Koagedal: I did have an idea, so there was an idea there. Then remember—and if I had known this information when I actually went to school for Chinese medicine, I probably would not be sitting here—but at the time of my graduation in 1998, ’99, 5% of acupuncturists went on to have a successful business. Craig Willett: Wow, only 5%? Robert Koagedal: And I didn’t know that at the time, only 5%. So, you can imagine— Craig Willett: Well, they don’t tell you that or you wouldn’t— Robert Koagedal: They do not inform you of that when you call the school and you’re like, “Hey, I’m interested in this acupuncture gig, and it sounds really interesting, there’s a lot of things that are really meaningful, I think this is very interesting.” But they don’t advertise that portion of it, so— Craig Willett: So how did you find your way though? When you did learn that 5%—I mean, it’s quite a statement that you’re— Robert Koagedal: Well, I learned that afterwards, and not knowing something is sometimes better than knowing something. And maybe that’s part of this story is from that—there’s not like there’s a job waiting for you. When you finish school, you hope you hang your shingle, you hope that people actually enjoy your services, they appreciate what you do, they get better and they come back. I mean, that’s a pretty basic business model on that front, but most people, when you go in and you take out loans and you have a nice chunk of change you’re going to be paying back, you’ve got to make some money. But the only place you could get a gig back in 1999 was in New York, and that’s why I jokingly—and not so much—say I got a job working at a pain clinic, basically, in the Bronx in New York City. Packed Mary up—we had kind of befuddled around, and lingered, and didn’t know what to do—and ended up in New York City where I was seeing 50 patients a day. I mean, it was a total factory, but I got it straight out of school, I was getting— Craig Willett: A lot of experience. Robert Koagedal: I was getting $50 an hour and a lot of experience, and one day when the FBI showed up, I said, “See you later.” And that was the end of that. Craig Willett: Let’s hear about that, the FBI, yeah. Robert Koagedal: So that was a little intimidating at that point, but long story short, I went into—and that was one of the next best moves that happened to me, which gets me back to where we got into the specialty, which is that I mostly do—primarily for the last 18, 19 years—I’ve done reproductive health. I’ve seen really thousands of people, and couples looking to start or grow their families, and that’s kind of my niche as it’s been here in Scottsdale. Then as you initially started, there is an area of where I see patients who are going through cancer treatment and we do treatments specifically to help them through portions of the treatment that they are getting. Craig Willett: So that’s a pretty scary start to a career—to have these great ambitions to help people, but to see the FBI show up. Robert Koagedal: Well, exactly, and so the funny part of it is as this WASPy kid from California who imagines he’s a do-gooder and he’s going to fix everyone, and you find out that by the time you see this one guy for the third time, but he has a different name, and you go, “Oh, okay, this isn’t right. He’s not really here to heal anyway.” But it was an interesting adventure, nonetheless. Craig Willett: I think all of our experiences help us. Robert Koagedal: Absolutely, yep. Craig Willett: So I have a question—and against this maybe anti-business plan idea—but I can’t help but ask someone from California, what was your approach to marketing when you came to Scottsdale? Robert Koagedal: So, I got here and funny enough, again, not with any kind of business background, with some basic stuff, I happened to meet—and many of this is again, accidental stuff where I met this gentleman who—this is 2002. And I don’t know if everyone had a website then, you know? Craig Willett: Yeah. Robert Koagedal: I don’t know if anyone was walking around with a website, but I met this guy at Starbucks in Fountain Hills when we first finally landed here. And when we got here I ran into this gentleman and he was a really sharp guy, and he was very kind. He built me a website, and we just became friends. He built me a website and that in and of itself kind of started things going, but— Craig Willett: And that was under the name AcuHealth AZ, right? Robert Koagedal: You got it, exactly, because AcuHealth had been taken, so we had to add the AZ onto it even back then. But more to your point then, how I have built my business from a practical standpoint was I knew on some level that physicians were going to be my friends—and physicians who had moved beyond the only way of thinking of how they’ve learned medicine, but had some understanding that wellness was something they wanted their patients to experience, and that drug therapy isn’t the only answer to a number of the things that we have. So, I went out after getting my new office—had you ever been to my old office? Craig Willett: Yes, yeah. Robert Koagedal: Oh, I’ve known you that long? Craig Willett: Yeah, it’s been a long time. Robert Koagedal: Okay, so you remember that one, and I’m sitting there—this is literally the first or second day—I’m sitting there, and I’m like, “Oh, the phone’s not ringing and I don’t have any patients, I have to come up with $7400 a month for this fancy spot, I better get out here and do something.” So I went out and I just started introducing myself. I literally went office to office, I went to chiropractors’ office, physicians’ office, I started going—this is a long time pre-COVID, so you could just walk in and say hello, and do all that kind of stuff. Literally the next day, I had my first patient, which was a referral, and that guy came and he sent me his aunt, and then it literally just started to grow from there. Craig Willett: That’s interesting because I think so often we think there’s some magic formula to marketing, but I think it’s more about awareness, and then you have to be good because you have to deliver on the expectations that are there. Robert Koagedal: Absolutely. Well, I learned from New York, because after I had to leave the criminal organization and actually go start my practice in New York—which I had for two years before 9/11 and we had to hightail it out and decided to come to Scottsdale—I had had the experience of paying for marketing, paying for guys handing out fliers on the street. I had paid for some other advertisement in some magazine. Nothing, zero, nada, and then after I’d paid this guy—I think I paid him cash and he was handing out fliers and stuff—I went into a bar and I was having a beer after that and this guy was sitting next to me, we started talking, he told me about his back and the next thing I know, that guy became a patient. I knew that this was one-on-one, this was, “I know you.” People are not driving around going, “Gee, who am I going to go see?” It’s because they know you, and they know somebody who knows you, and they were referred and, “Oh, I had that problem, and this person helped me.” That’s how all of this got started. Craig Willett: Right, in fact, that’s how I found you, I had some friends in the horse industry and we were around at a dinner party, and I had moved to Arizona from Utah, and I had been being treated in Utah through acupuncture. I asked, “Does anybody know?” And someone who you treated for something other than what my ailment was, but I was a firm believer. But I came across it in a different way, I was in an accident in France, and I ended up injuring my arm and I was treated in the emergency room with acupuncture. Robert Koagedal: Yeah, how about that? Craig Willett: Who would imagine that that would be mainstream? You wouldn’t see that necessarily in the United States. Robert Koagedal: No, you wouldn’t, not yet anyways, but things are continuing to progress. Craig Willett: And I remember as he was treating me, I was asking him how it works, and he’s kind of looking at me— Robert Koagedal: “Well, you know—” Craig Willett: No, he just said, “You’ll never understand, even though you speak some French.” Robert Koagedal: He didn’t say, “You American.”? Craig Willett: No, he didn’t do that, but you know what? I thought maybe I’d broken my arm, they took an X-ray, no, and then he treated me with acupuncture and I noticed later that day, the swelling went down. I could move my hand again, so my arm was fine. Robert Koagedal: So the French through Vietnam became associated and they picked up acupuncture through that area, yeah. Craig Willett: Yeah, and I thought, “Well, if it’s good enough, they have a good healthcare system.” If it’s good enough to use in the emergency room there, I wasn’t as afraid of it here. But once you become aware of the benefits, then it’s a matter of trusting who you go to as well, because if there’s a reason there’s only 5% that succeed, how do you overcome that? There’s got to be a way that you intentionally make sure you educate your clients. Robert Koagedal: And by succeed, I mean support a family, and support a mortgage, and support—Right, not a hobby, not out of the side of your house, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but where it was the professional practice of Chinese medicine applied across all disciplines of health and was something that was respected and people would come to and pay for. Craig Willett: Yeah, speaking of that—paying for—one of the premises of one of my businesses that I had was that you can own for less than rent and that a professional like you, who spent a lot of time and effort getting an education, should have more to show for it at the end of the day than just a good practice that pays you that you can build a retirement by owning your building. I know you own yours, you didn’t buy it from me because I didn’t develop in Scottsdale. Robert Koagedal: I looked at some of yours. Craig Willett: You did?. Robert Koagedal: I looked at a second clinic down there, yep. Craig Willett: But how did you go about that? What went into your mind to even look? Robert Koagedal: Well, at some level, I knew that Scottsdale was home and I was going to stake my claim here, so to speak, and make my business grow, and have my family here, get it going. Once that had been kind of like, “This is the direction.” Then I knew that I had to build in some type of thing that would allow me to build some equity into something so that I had something at the end of 25 years of doing this to show for it. But again, back to the accidental success part of that, that was, again with some chagrin and maybe a bit of embarrassment, I tell these stories because these aren’t things that you want to necessarily do, but they actually happened— Craig Willett: Well, you may not admit to them either, but the nice thing is they happened, they happen to all of us. Robert Koagedal: They did, and at one point, someone had came to work on my credit card machine, and then somehow, the neighbor, for three months, got all my American Express money, and I was so not cognizant of my ins and outs in this— Craig Willett: You weren’t missing those deposits, apparently. Robert Koagedal: I was, but it was more like I was so focused on other things that those went by the wayside, but there was a point where I went, “What the heck happened here?” And because probably, I’m not the greatest saver and the greatest “how to use structure and do all these things the right way,” that was almost put in a bank account for me, I had no way to— Craig Willett: The forced savings. Robert Koagedal: The forced savings so to speak, and literally, that became the deposit I was able to get an SBA loan for in 2008. Well, one thing, I had a client who like you, was a CPA and a very successful man, and he had come in and six months before the crash in 2008, he told me what was going to happen. He worked in the building industry and knew Pulte Homes, and on the board of all these things, and he’s like, “Robert, I like you, you’re a good guy, I like what you do, but you have a cash business and when the shit hits the fan, you better get yourself ready.” And I was like, “What?” Craig Willett: “What do you mean?” Robert Koagedal: Yeah, and he says, “Basically, in January, this is what’s going to happen.” And for all the reasons we now know that the stuff happened, and so I just wanted to build in something that secured something, and in 2008, I found a property that was the perfect location, perfect size, and I was able to get into that, so it’s been real fortunate. Craig Willett: I think it’s one of those things that you build a retirement because you can’t necessarily plan on selling your practice. There are some businesses that are easily sold, but— Robert Koagedal: No, and you’re right on point there because I’ve discovered, acupuncture businesses are not exactly sellable—saleable?—in the way that you imagine some other successful, like medical doctors sell, a lot of money, this doesn’t translate that way. You don’t get out of 20, 25 years, you don’t get what you put into it. So you better have something else planned. Craig Willett: Right, so there’s got to be more than just earning your living and supporting a family, there has to be assets that are growing. Robert Koagedal: Exactly. Yeah, so on some level, I mean, maybe it was even you on some level that got me thinking on those things, and I can’t go directly to my memory bank. Craig Willett: It was subliminal. Robert Koagedal: Subliminal, yeah. Craig Willett: I don’t know, I doubt it, I doubt it, I think you probably had a good mind and I think sometimes we just have instinct, and sometimes our instincts may serve us. We may be embarrassed sometimes with the things we do, but we have to look at what our strengths are and you have to play to your strengths. I think that’s one thing that you mentioned that you do when you market. You have to instill the confidence of your patients in you, and that’s what generates the referrals. Robert Koagedal: Totally, yeah, mm-hmm (affirmative). Craig Willett: So tell me a little bit about the reproductive—I mean, you’ve got doctors referring you, what types of doctors and what have your experiences been? Because there’s a certain balance to life where we can get out of balance, and I look at Chinese medicine, or acupuncture as a balance issue—balancing out energy, balancing out flow. Robert Koagedal: Yeah, well, I think you’re right on that the principles of Chinese medicine are built around, obviously, those polarities of yin and yang, and that translated also to me—which maybe was a part of what I was thinking about—was always thinking about the balance between running a business and having family life. I think that’s a part of your podcast’s theme is on how do you do that? Maybe as an example, a friend of mine who started and runs two very busy clinics in LA, he decided that working on Saturdays was going to be good for business. But when you have kids that want to play baseball on Saturdays, it’s not so easy to take that time off when you’re seeing 30 patients a day and the income that brings to your business. So I on some level said, “I’m going to be here at these hours, and I’m going to structure it.” I’ve found that people respect those areas if they really want to come in, and they’ll find a way to do it. Craig Willett: I found the same thing, especially for me as a CPA during tax season. People want to come in after-hours late into the night, and I always managed that, “No, not on Saturdays or weekends, and only till a certain time in the evening.” Because I wanted to be home, be with the family. Robert Koagedal: Right, those aren’t easy things to do either. I could be open on Saturdays. Craig Willett: No, because you think, “Oh, I can get more people.” Robert Koagedal: Absolutely, yeah. Craig Willett: But the real secret is, you don’t. You don’t necessarily succeed any more by working more hours, you tend to burn out and you tend to have other things. So isn’t that part of the secret, as you help people get their lives back in order and achieve some of their dreams, if they want to have a family and aren’t having success in conceiving children, how are you able to help them? Robert Koagedal: Well, on some level, that is where the rubber meets the road in the decisions that you make. For example, if I come in at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, that means that on some level, I’m doing those health and wellness practices for myself that I would suggest to my patients if they’re stressed out, or not sleeping well, or have whatever issues. Being able to build that in has also, I think, helped me a lot in being able to avoid burnout and all those issues that come up with it. But on the side of the reproductive medicine component, that was really on some level, like a lot of these things, found me and maybe I can tie this back to the— Craig Willett: Accident theory? Robert Koagedal: —the accidental part of it, and maybe it’s not so accidental if you want to get more metaphysical but— Craig Willett: There’s the philosopher coming through. Robert Koagedal: The part of it where I had said, “Okay, no more mafia acupuncture clinics for me.” And I was in New York City, I was crossing the street in Union Square, and I just finished a chapter in the Huangdi Neijing, which is the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, it’s the oldest medical book in the world. In the chapter I had just finished was an outline of the conversation between his chief physician, the Yellow Emperor’s physician, Qibo, and the Yellow Emperor, and in that conversation, they outline the seven-year life cycle transformation. So, women go through seven-year hormonal life cycle transformations. 7, 14—14, the dew of heaven arises—21, the wisdom come in, 28’s the height of your—So I’m standing in Union Square, I had just finished this chapter on seven-year life cycles and I’m standing there, this bus pulls right up in front of me and I read the sign on the side and the Public Health Department had done a public health announcement that says, “Past 35, a woman’s fertility drops by 50%.” And I’m like, “35? 7, 14, 21, 28, 35.” Well, that’s statistically the mean average when endogenous sex hormones begin to drop, and we think of in this culture as 35 is reasonably young, but biologically speaking in terms of your reproduction, they are no longer at the same level as they were even a few years earlier. So there are these tipping points—and the Chinese observed this 3,000 years ago—and so I was there having just finished that chapter, and then I’m looking at that, and then as all this comes to be as per your—I met a guy not long ago— Craig Willett: How many times has this happened to you? Robert Koagedal: This has happened a few times. Craig Willett: Okay, one was in a bar, one was in Starbucks, and— Robert Koagedal: Yep, exactly, one was in Starbucks—well, I mean, yeah, so how do we account for these things, right? Craig Willett: Right. Robert Koagedal: If you’re planning everything, you know? Craig Willett: Right. Robert Koagedal: That guy started probably—I think he even says it on his website, “I have been doing it for 24 years specializing in reproductive medicine.” I met that guy who started a practice specializing in reproductive medicine. Craig Willett: In New York? Robert Koagedal: In New York, and at that same time, that same weekend, there was a woman. Her name’s Dr. Angela Wu, she runs probably the busiest acupuncture clinics on the West Coast for reproductive medicine. I went and took her class and I’m not kidding you, it wasn’t six months later, a study came out on the use of acupuncture in reproductive medicine where then my phone was ringing off the hook. That’s how I got Juicy going in New York, and I had that all kind of going, and Mary and I were even looking at staying there and getting a house somewhere, or going to Brooklyn or whatever. Then 9/11 happened, and 9/11, after that, we were like, “You know what? I think we need to head back, we’re not East Coast folks.” That wasn’t our place— Craig Willett: Right, you’re from California, it’s a whole different lifestyle. Robert Koagedal: Yeah, it’s a different lifestyle, different everything, and we had a great time in New York, but then we were looking for the place, “Where is the Shangri-La of starting a family, building a business?” And I went back to North Carolina, we did a car trip from San Diego to Vancouver, we looked at Oregon, we really looked, we knocked. And we’re sitting at my family’s home in Lake Tahoe, and a website, on realtor.com, and I saw a house and I was like, this is after looking at pieces of junk in the Bay Area that were $700,000, and I was like, “Wow, you get that house for that much?” We drove down the next day, we’ve basically been here ever since. Craig Willett: Wow, that’s amazing. I think what I love about what you’re sharing with us is that really, you can’t plan this stuff, and you have to go with what you know, you have to go with the opportunities that come your way, and I’ve always said this—in fact, I wrote a book, I never published it—“Opportunity Knocks”—and I think you have to look at— Robert Koagedal: I like that title. Craig Willett: You have to be able to look at where those opportunities are coming from and spot them, but you have to be looking and that’s what you did, they hit you on the side of the head— Robert Koagedal: How do you take that, Craig? What is the meaning of that, if we’re not planning, what is it inside of us that intuits, feels, senses, cognizes, and is able to move on and act on that? Craig Willett: It’s a need, right? Robert Koagedal: Yeah. Craig Willett: You were without, you were kicked out of the clinic by the FBI, and you’re trying to figure out, “I’m trying to make it in this world of not very many people succeed in my profession, so how am I going to specialize?” I think you become aware of that, you were reading, you were doing what you always do to advance yourself, and ideas come. Some stand out, and that’s what I believe. I think there’s a certain intuitive nature to us that—we can call it inspiration, and that inspiration comes in many different ways. Why did that chapter stand out to you over—I don’t know how thick that book is—and how did that coincide with meeting the people you met? Robert Koagedal: But I mean, as far as business stuff, how do we listen to that, hear that, and then act on it irrespective of, “I have my plan, here’s the plan.” Craig Willett: Well, the plan gets in the way, I can tell you that. Robert Koagedal: Exactly, and you go left instead of right. Craig Willett: The plan or we live in a world where I think we spell business the same way you could spell busyness, and that is we get so busy, we block that out. I think part of your philosophical background may have led you to that, but I think for our audience if there are those of us who tend to want to check things off on our planner and on our list, but sometimes there’s a benefit to stepping back and being able to observe what’s going on around you, and I think you’ve done that well, which is one of the reasons you’re sitting in the chair you’re sitting in today. Robert Koagedal: Well, yeah, well maybe yeah, that may be an instinct in me, but for your listeners then, yeah, what does that mean for them to step back? What is the stepping back move, psychologically? What does that mean to simply witness, and maybe relax a little, as opposed to trying to put—what is it? A square in a round hole, you know? Craig Willett: Yeah, well, that’s true, but I think part of it is, we have a Biz Sherpa scorecard, and part of it, I try to get people that I consult with to look back and say, “Where am I spending my time, and am I spending time at the things—at least 80% of my time—at the things that make the biggest difference and impact on the lives of my customers or my patients?” If I can do that, then all the other busyness stuff, the other day-to-day really falls by the wayside. I’m able to focus on those things that make the biggest difference and changes in lives because I’m sure your success stories are great motivation to you, more than what you can charge someone for your procedures, it’s got to bring a lot of joy because I’ve been in your office. I see the pictures in the book of the people who got treated by you and now are having families. What’s that feel like to you? Because to answer your question, I’d like you to answer it because I think there’s a satisfaction that comes. Robert Koagedal: Well, there is indeed, and I’d say what your intention is, that is what you want to create—what you’re looking to create, and if that is that on some level, someone who comes in who’s suffering and you are able to provide information that allows them to move forward to move to the highest level of their function, that ties together the key principle within Chinese medicine which when I heard it, I said, “I’m in the right place.” Because it’s a really interesting concept, but the number one thing for—what the practitioner of acupuncture, Chinese medicine is to do is what’s called nourishing destiny. That is if on some level, people don’t feel an alignment with what they are doing in this world, they’ll suffer, they’ll have some type of block, whatever you want to put it. So the highest practice of Chinese medicine is on some level, helping them become aligned with that so that they feel simpatico with something natural inside of them that they want to move forward on. Craig Willett: That’s interesting. So, I think that’s great advice, I think you just gave it right there, we have to step back and feel what’s natural. What are my talents? What are my skills? If I’m not an accountant, why am I trying to do the books in my business? If I’m good at sales, I should be selling, I should be meeting with my customers, not sitting in the back accounting for what came in and what’s going out the door. I think that’s that alignment we all have to find, and I think that takes getting to know what your strengths are. So how do you recommend to business owners, being one, to keep that healthy life balance? Robert Koagedal: Well, a lot of it is you’ve got to play around to see what’s going to work for you, and maybe some people are more ambitious in ways that they do better by going crazy and working it out and doing it, and this is nothing against that, it’s only to the degree that then you’re getting feedback that you’re getting high blood pressure, or you’re not sleeping well and all of those things. Those are pretty clear cut signals that that’s out of balance. Craig Willett: I think I heard at one time from Carol. In addition to my CPA practice and doing real estate development, I was asked to testify in Congress in Washington DC, and was put on a number of boards and Carol said to me, “Our kids are going to grow up really quickly, and they’re not going to know who their dad is.” I think that comment right there made me step back. It caused me to step back and look, “Where am I spending my time? And where does this lead?” It may give me some kudos professionally, but at some point, we have to define our own success, not what the world or other people would define us as. Robert Koagedal: Absolutely, you literally just pulled the quote out of the thing I was thinking about, I have to pull this one out because this is a patient of mine who sent this to me this morning. Craig Willett: Really? Robert Koagedal: I wrote it down just because I was like, “Oh, it was really, really good.” Craig Willett: Oh, I want to hear that then. Robert Koagedal: “The most destructive thing I’ve ever done is believing someone else’s opinion of me.” Craig Willett: Wow, and I think that’s right, we have to know and we have to set our boundaries, and it’s the same thing. How do we define success? You asked the question how do you know if you’re on track, and I think you have to set a number. You had a friend you gave the example of in California, running two clinics and working on nights and weekends. Sometimes I think it’s this matter of saying, “All right, I can control my expenses, and I can, to some degree, control my income, and so I just need to figure out what’s the formula that brings me what I need sufficient for what my needs are and allow me to build a retirement and experience success or happiness.” Robert Koagedal: Where’s the sweet spot? Yep. Craig Willett: Yeah, and I think sometimes, we get clouded because the world would define success as more. Robert Koagedal: Absolutely. Well, again, then you have to, on some level, know what your values are and if you accept the world’s values, that might be not a great idea. Craig Willett: Right because what is more? There’s always somebody who will have more. I always say there’s somebody who’s smarter, somebody who’s brighter, somebody with more money, if you’re measuring against somebody else, there’s always going to be somebody with more than you. I think it’s one of the problems we have in society today, we report earnings and it has to be an increase in sales, are they growing the business? What’s wrong with maintaining the business to some degree? Robert Koagedal: Well, yeah, you’re not going to get hired with that if you’re looking for a corporate job, but— Craig Willett: No, definitely not. Robert Koagedal: But yeah, that would be sanity, yeah, uh-huh (affirmative). Craig Willett: Now, you also mentioned that people need to find the way to take away the destructive, or the blocking in their lives. What role does acupuncture play in helping stress relief and helping find energy? Robert Koagedal: That’s a good question. First, let’s start so that your guests listening don’t think this is any kind of woo-woo way of understanding when we use the term energy, because what do we call a body with no energy? Craig Willett: Dead. Robert Koagedal: It’s called a cadaver, yeah, exactly. So, when you understand biologically that you as an animated living being—what I fancifully called a biodegradable space-time suit—that you have 17 trillion batteries, which we call your mitochondria. It moves through the electricity through the fascial matrix within your body, and acupuncture is a tool—and I think specifically to your question you’re asking about kind of balancing out the nervous system, is that what you’re asking about? Craig Willett: Yeah, yeah. Robert Koagedal: With energy, right? Craig Willett: Energy, yeah, depression, or lack of energy or stress, overload. Robert Koagedal: Yeah, so when you look at this from the point of really physics and evaluate that when we say we have lots of energy, we feel good, we have clear thinking, good appetite, all the different things that we call having energy, those generally translate into quality of health and quality of life. When that starts to become depleted—and especially you could say that one of the places that uncorks how much you can hold a charge in your cells is stress. So the perception of threat on some level, when people walk around with that—either due to a variety of issues, perceived or real, the majority of them are in this case, perceived. They’re kind of structures in the mind in which we perceive and anticipate events that are threatening— Craig Willett: Right, I’m my own worst enemy, I project into the future bad things and so— Robert Koagedal: All the anticipatory fear thinking, and I’d say that’s a habit that on some level is built-in in how we literally train our children, and how we go through the education system. So I think acupuncture then is a fantastic tool that helps do two things. Both as I appreciate and bring to the experience of an acupuncture visit, is really teaching people how to learn how to not follow the habit of anticipatory or fear thinking, and how to learn to have more meditative capacity for surrendering to the unknown and being capable of being in the present moment to the degree that they can really move from there into their life’s experience, as opposed to being in the spinning of their fear thinking. Acupuncture as a physical tool helps facilitate greater communication throughout all systems, but acts on a system called the pregnenolone steal effect, does that sound familiar? Craig Willett: That’s a long statement, help describe that. Robert Koagedal: The conversion of basically adrenaline and cortisol. If you run on adrenaline and cortisol, you systematically shrink blood vessels throughout the entire venous system and obviously, this organ right here requires a lot of oxygen. Now, you do that long enough and you will end up going to see the cardiovascular physician. And so for people who are running on chronic stress, acupuncture acts as a tool to mitigate that so that you actually convert your adrenaline and cortisol to become your endogenous sex hormones. So this is another avenue through which both the stress of infertility affects these things, but overall, quality of life is depleted dramatically when people are in a constant state of anxiety and perceived threat. Craig Willett: I think we all have moments like that in our life, and so it’s being able to identify those moments to either call and get help, or find ways to be able to turn that off and become more present— Robert Koagedal: What’s the point if you have more and you’re stressed out and not sleeping? I mean, so, to be successful then ultimately is finding the mindset that can appreciate the beauty of what’s right in front of you, and if that’s not available to you, I can guarantee you, it’s not going to happen because you have more. Craig Willett: Yeah, so I’m curious as to this whole idea of depletion and being stressed out. If you’re treating patients with stage IV cancer, for instance, what do you learn from them? Because I’m sure they’re going to be spending some time with you, and some of them—you have a good manner about you—I’m sure they start talking about things that are important to them? Robert Koagedal: You bet, yeah. Craig Willett: What are some of the things you’ve learned from some of your patients? Because I admire you, you’re in a key position to hear some really insightful moments. I had a friend that had cancer and he was able to be brutally honest with me about a lot of things in his life, and I learned a lot. It was one of the most educational processes, I became his friend for the year and a half that he had left in his life. Robert Koagedal: Yep. Well, the first thing that you learn is everyone has a story and appreciating that they aren’t cancer in that sense, that they are a living being with a story, and when you behave and respond to them in that moment like that, cancer doesn’t exist. It’s there, obviously, and we’re there to help biologically and help to treat that and do all those things, but when you’re just in conversation with someone and you get to hear their fears or their worries, or concerns, or even get to hear their amazing story of their life, of the things they’ve done in organic farming from people who have been in Vietnam— Craig Willett: Oh really? Robert Koagedal: Oh yeah, just memories pop up and I can tell you of just people who tell me, and you get to be privileged to actually hear their story, and again, with all the hope that I have that what we do is going to be helpful in the context of the treatments they are receiving for them to live healthier, longer, or get the benefit from those things. This isn’t just about them telling me their story, but in that sense, it’s a privilege. And I think I’ve learned to listen more than anything else to just anything that they want to tell me that they find. You get to see some amazing people, and some people that struggle, some people that are afraid or in pain, and all that stuff. Craig Willett: Right, so how do you do that? I mean, I think one of the successes for business owners is building relationships, whether that’s your referral network right at the beginning with your patients or your clients. But how do you establish that rapport? Robert Koagedal: I think the first part of it is listening, and the rapport that someone recognizes that I’m not thinking about something else when I’m about to do acupuncture with them, you know? Craig Willett: That’s interesting, my wife always tells stories about—she can tell whether she’s going to have an interaction with someone or not if they’re reaching out to shake her hand and they’re looking for the next person to talk to. Robert Koagedal: Yeah, “Oh, hi.” Politician style, or whatever it is. Craig Willett: Right. Robert Koagedal: On some level, the only thing we have that’s free as human beings is our attention, and can you place your attention in the moment in a way that you welcome the other person’s presence? And if you can do that, on some level that’s a mutuality, it’s an exchange where people instantly know, “Okay, I’m here.” As opposed to, “I have to be here, I have to do that, I’ve got other things to do.” I’m not saying I don’t get busy and get distracted on occasion, but if you can deliver on that in terms of just—if this is for acupuncture students listening out there—that can be one tool you can use is learn how to not be addicted to your thinking, but just practice being in your body and learning how to use your breath as a way to enter into the present moment so you can just be there. Craig Willett: But I think that’s with anybody in any business. Robert Koagedal: Absolutely, across the board. Craig Willett: Yeah, I think if you sense that someone’s more concerned about what they’re getting out of it, you’re less likely to do business with them. So when you’re genuine and you’re real, they can be genuine and real too, then you understand the need and then you can fulfill that need. Because that’s the basis of exchange. Somebody comes to you when you have a business, whether your business is healthcare or your business is selling suits, if they have a need they come to you to fulfill that need, and if you’re better able to understand that need, you’re going to find something that delivers greater satisfaction to them. Then it doesn’t become about price, it doesn’t become about the transaction, it becomes about the interaction. Robert Koagedal: Sorry, you triggered a memory, now you’ve drawn me back to the Bronx there and it just made me laugh. When I was in the Bronx, this guy would come by, literally, a truck would pull up, in the back this guy would hop off, he’d go, “Suits, we got suits for sale.” This guy would come into the middle of the clinic with the suits and they’re like, “Where’d those come from?”, “They fell off a truck somewhere, we’ve got suits.” I bought one, I bought one. Craig Willett: You bought one, do you still have it. Robert Koagedal: I was Trump for Halloween last night with that suit. Craig Willett: With that suit? Robert Koagedal: Yeah, I was a good 20, 25 pounds heavier back in New York, eating lots of bagels. So yeah, I still have that suit that I bought off the rack of the back of a truck in the Bronx. Craig Willett: That’s pretty funny, I think that’s great. Hey, I’m interested to know because I know you personally and I think this is kind of part of this. What I’ve seen as I’ve interviewed people on this podcast is that a lot of them come back to becoming friends with the people they do business with and their patients, and their clients. While that has its boundaries, you practice something in your personal life and I think it translates to doing that and that is I’ve noticed that you take family vacations, and what role does that play in keeping balance? Robert Koagedal: Oh, well, one, you need to go on vacation, and two, you can’t leave the kids behind to take care of themselves. Craig Willett: “Hey, watch the dog, we’ll be back.” Robert Koagedal: Exactly, “Watch the dog, and try not to get in trouble.” Yeah, I mean, it’s fun, we’ve come up with some good family vacations that we’ve enjoyed over the years, some of them have become traditions, and I’d say planning for those are things I look forward to, the fall break here in Arizona to get out and go to California is one of our favorites because the weather’s so beautiful. So we have a good time finding time to go share some time with the kids and stuff. Craig Willett: I also noticed—I mean, as we’ve visited through the years, as you’ve treated me you’ve talked about golfing with your son, the different sports, basketball, what’s that like? How important is that and what role does that play for you? Robert Koagedal: Craig, I think on some level I don’t fully appreciate that I have it pretty good in terms of when you point these things back out to me I go, “Yeah, that’s pretty good that I can go on a Wednesday if I’m done at 2:00 and we can go play the back nine at the TPC.” Or that those things are available to us, and I hope I don’t take it for granted but those are things that I’ve tried to build in to being able to make that my priority. Craig Willett: I think that’s important because a lot of times, people say, “Hey, I started a business so I can have all this free time.” Robert Koagedal: Well, yeah, exactly and, “I’m going to spend 20 years struggling to get to where I have enough money so I can have the free time.” Craig Willett: Exactly right, but you have to build that in because you can’t— Robert Koagedal: I think so. I think it is kind of—you have to on some level—and again, people sometimes, they can’t leave their office, so I get it, I don’t want to sound like some ignorant acupuncturist. Craig Willett: Right, but maybe there’s some things they can change so they can leave their office. Robert Koagedal: Maybe, and again, I’ve never worked in corporate life so maybe I can’t even comment on how— Craig Willett: No, no, no, this is about entrepreneurship, and so I’m trying to get the people out of corporate life to be able to accidentally succeed. Robert Koagedal: Then to hell with the corporate, if you work at a corporation, get the hell out of there because you ain’t going anywhere, and if you think your money at the end of the golden rainbow is going to save you—no, you’ve got to enjoy it now. If you’re not able to enjoy it now, you’re not going to enjoy it then. Again, building in those things are really reflections of your values, and if you can start to put those into practice—it’s not practice, it’s just life. I want to play golf on 2:00 on a Wednesday with my son. Craig Willett: Right, and look forward to that. Robert Koagedal: Or 3:00 I guess, school ends at 2:35 or something. Craig Willett: Right, but do you see, those things you have to build in and I think that’s part of the balance, and you have to be intentional— Robert Koagedal: I might not have done that when I was starting out. Craig Willett: No, the first two or three years, probably not. Robert Koagedal: Yeah, exactly, and you use your house as a bank account so you can pay your rent. Craig Willett: Right, yeah, there you go. Robert Koagedal: Also, not good business practices. Craig Willett: But I had a guy tell me when I was working for another CPA firm, I went to deliver his tax return to him and when I came out to talk to him—I don’t know why he shared this story—he goes, “I used to be a CPA.” I gave him his tax return and he said, “When I started my practice 30 years ago, 35 years ago,” he said, “I went to get a loan to get a line of credit so that I could make sure I had enough to cover the expenses in the first couple of years. So I gave my pro forma business plan to the banker and the banker a few days later, I stopped in,” and he said, “the banker told me, ‘No, I’m not going to approve your loan.'” And he said, “Do you mind if I ask why?” He goes, ‘Yeah, I don’t see anything budgeted for vacation. I am not going to lend to you if you’re going to burn out.'” Robert Koagedal: That’s pretty good, wow. Craig Willett: Yeah, and so for me, that stuck in my mind, and so I think you’re right, you have to plan for that and you have to allow for that, you allow for it in your pricing, you allow for it in your hours, you allow for it in other ways that can afford you those opportunities, because it does. Business ownership offers great freedom. But you don’t have one boss, you have how many patients? 3,000 patients are all of a sudden your boss, and so you have to be responsive to that. Well, what are some of the things that you do that help you sharpen your focus? Robert Koagedal: Some of the things that help me—well, the last year has not been the greatest with all this stuff going on. Craig Willett: A lot of distraction. Robert Koagedal: A lot of distractions, and a lot of things that again, when this all kind of came about, and I got an email from my brother that, “2.5 million people are going to be dead and you better close your practice, and you can’t see anybody.” When the Oxford epidemiologist came out with all of that, I’m like, “Oh my god, this might be the end of my business.” I mean, I’m a cash business and I’m one-on-one with people, and if that’s not going to be allowable, and if I’m considered to be non-essential,” which I wasn’t, fortunately, “this could put at risk everything I’ve built.” And another point at which— Craig Willett: That’s an awakening moment. Robert Koagedal: Awakening moment, and—I’m sorry, tell me again, what was your question? Craig Willett: Well, I’m just trying to say how do you sharpen your focus? Robert Koagedal: Oh, sharpen your focus. Well, I think sometimes you just double down and work with what was succeeding, but I mean, on some level, there’s luck involved too— Craig Willett: Plus the whole accidental success. Robert Koagedal: I mean, what if I had been deemed non-essential, they close your business, you can’t be open at that point, you put yourself in legal positions, and the fact that I was able to stay open, even though it slowed down—I was probably 60, 70% down—I guess you just go back to maintaining that sense of being hungry and wanting to keep building something and not going to let go of it. So there’s a degree of tenacity I guess in that, and I feel on some level I’m still as hungry as when I jumped into this, maybe even more so, and— Craig Willett: And what is that hunger for? Is that hunger for financial success or is there something more to it? Robert Koagedal: No, again, I think you and I have mentioned this, you can’t put the cart in front of the horse, and if your motivation is that you want to make money, you can only be successful, in my opinion, relative to being interested in what it is you’re doing— Craig Willett: Right, which is making money. Robert Koagedal: —that then leads to that coming in. And in our culture, we teach kids that they need to get a job that allows them to make lots of money even if it’s some crappy job that you’re not suited for and isn’t really something that you enjoy. I don’t know about you, but maybe death is a good teacher, maybe death is a good focuser. Maybe it’s that I remember that this biodegradable space-time suit isn’t going to be here. If you want to be around stage IV cancer patients, they certainly do teach you that. That they were perfectly fine at 46 years old, guy coming in and this is now four months later who had stomach pain, he has three kids, living his life, went into urgent care, they said, “You have cancer everywhere in your body.” He’s already passed, so that’s one way to sharpen your focus. Craig Willett: Yeah, my mother was killed in a car accident at a fairly young age and so, you don’t know when that’s going to come, so I guess that helps sharpen your focus. But I think one thing that you said is it can’t be all in the financial results, there has to be an exchange on a personal level that takes place, that gives you some emotional reward for what you’re doing. I think it’s fair to say in healthcare, maybe that’s more realizable, but I think it’s translatable totally across the board in any business. I think that’s what we should be shooting for, and as we do that, and I think you embody that, I think that’s one of the great strengths to being in business is you get to have that emotional reward for owning that business that made a difference in somebody’s life. Robert Koagedal: It’s a great lesson. Craig Willett: You can do that as an employee too, so I’m not going to totally knock the whole corporate world. Robert Koagedal: You can, you can, and how you’re being of service in ways above and beyond what you do for work, necessarily, but in ways that are in your community and other things too. I have amazing patients that show me things all the time and they do really cool stuff. Craig Willett: Oh, that’s pretty neat. Well, great, well, you can’t come to the Sherpa’s Cave and not leave without having answered one really important question with a follow-up and that is, what is your greatest failure? Robert Koagedal: Greatest failure? Well, I’ve had lots of small failures, but I’d say one that was challenging was after finishing school, I made a concerted effort to try to make it back to California. And part of what was unique in California is you actually had to take a separate test from the national test, which gave you access to practicing basically anywhere in the US. But California had its own licensing exam, and for me to go back to— Craig Willett: Not surprising. Robert Koagedal: Exactly. For me to make it back to California, I had to go take that, and did my thing and studied for it, and went in and failed the first one and missed it by two questions. Craig Willett: Oh, wow, painful. Robert Koagedal: This is after having spent $80,000 and now I have loans coming up and now I’m supposed to be a practicing master acupuncturist and now I’m waiting tables again just trying to make a living, living at my in-law’s house, and really then gearing up to go do it again. I go back again, and I failed it again by two questions, and then at that point, I was like, “I don’t know what I’m going to do here.” Craig Willett: Sometimes there’s divine destiny, but I’m not saying going to work for the mafia is the answer. Robert Koagedal: There you go, so it felt like putting, again, what is it? The square peg into the circle, and banging my head against it where then I had to surrender that that wasn’t maybe in my future in ways that were kind of difficult because my kids haven’t grown up with their grandparents and that sort of thing. So there were definitely sacrifices that came with that, but on some level, that was definitely a struggle for a while until something kind of came on and I saw—this was in the newspapers when people read newspapers, a thing where, “Come work for the mafia at this clinic and we’ll pay you $50 an hour.” “Shut case, I’m out of here.” So yeah, and my best friend had moved there so a lot of things worked out afterwards. Craig Willett: So what did you learn from that? Robert Koagedal: I think on some level—you can take it kind of two ways, there are other ways where sometimes you’ve got to keep banging, sometimes you’ve got to go take it a third time, and sometimes maybe that is part of your—if you felt that and if you were into that, and you go take it a third time until you damn well conquer that thing. Maybe I feel like I still, I just didn’t do it or I gave up, but on some level— Craig Willett: But you can’t second guess that. Robert Koagedal: I can’t second guess that now, but it worked out. But I’m blessed that some of these things that have been failures on the surface turned out to be things that played out for me in ways that I’m grateful for. Craig Willett: There we go. There it is, the true lesson of life, the accidental success. Robert Koagedal: Yeah, absolutely. Craig Willett: Your career, you ended up in an area—I would say Scottsdale’s a great area for what you do. Robert Koagedal: Fantastic, yeah. Craig Willett: And great for family time compared to California, maybe the grandparents might be a little farther away. Robert Koagedal: All our friends there, they generally work two jobs, they both come home at 6:00. It’s one of those things, to build a life here, we’ve been very blessed, Arizona is our home and Scottsdale’s been a real blessing for us too. Craig Willett: That’s great. Well, I love your stories, I think they’re great and I think it’s a great demonstration that if you care about people and you have a passion for what you do, that no matter how many times we may stumble, that we kind of find our way and that there is a destiny for us and we just need to find that. Sometimes, we fight against it, but oftentimes if we go with the flow, the accidents lead to greater success, and I appreciate you being here today, Robert. Thanks for taking the time to come in and be our guest. Robert Koagedal: My pleasure, I really enjoyed it, nice talking to you. Craig Willett: This has been great. This is Craig Willett, The Biz Sherpa, thanks for joining us today. Speaker 1: Be sure to go to our website to access the resources related to this episode at www.BizSherpa.co. If you enjoyed this show, tell your friends about us, and be sure to rate ou podcast. Craig would like to hear from you, so share your thoughts in the Facebook community at Biz Sherpa.co. Follow us on Twitter @BizSherpa_co, and on Instagram @BizSherpa.co.

Frances Donald, Manulife Investment Management Global Chief Economist & Head of Macroeconomic Strategy, says we should be more afraid of stagflation than we should be about low rates. Michael Holland, Holland and Company Chairman, says he can't justify buying a great deal of fixed income right now. Leslie McClure, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Chair, says we have to continue to be cautious even after we vaccinate a large portion of the population. Ed Mills, Raymond James Washington Policy Analyst, discusses how politics continue to get in the way of a stimulus deal in Washington. Alex Webb, Bloomberg Opinion Tech Columnist, discusses Bob Dylan's decision to sell his songwriting catalog. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Laurence Boone, OECD Chief Economist, says virus vaccines offer hope for a brighter outlook. Troy Gayeski, Skybridge Capital Co-CIO, says equity gains may be much harder to come by following November's record rally. Ethan Harris, BofA Securities Head of Global Economic Research, expects a stimulus package to be the only serious piece of legislation to be passed in the next two years. Dr. Jodie Guest, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology Vice Chair & Research Professor, says there is light at the end of the tunnel for the end of the pandemic, but we are not there yet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Public Health is an integral part of our health care system. While a doctor takes care of people when they are sick, it's the Public Health Department that works to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. Public Health does this by working to prevent the spread of infectious disease, encouraging healthy habits, and setting safety standards for the workplace, among other programs. In this episode, Kristine and Radhika will delve into what a good public health system looks like and why this matters to everyone's health. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/healthcarewtf/message

In episode 5, food disparity experts in Scott County, Iowa, explain what it means to be food insecure, how the COVID-19 Pandemic has brought more awareness to the issue, and what programs in the Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois communities are doing to address this complex problem. This month's podcast host in Ann Garton, Director of the Institute for Person-Centered Care at St. Ambrose University

Leaders we are being called upon to led through uncharted territory, while simultaneously meeting increased personal and professional demands. Join co-hosts Dr. Undraye Howard and Dr. Sheryl White as they facilitate a discussion on ethical, health and legal factors that must be considered to successfully led, reopen, and deliver services amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Special guests bringing critical expertise and insight to this discussion include Dwight Smith, Legal Counsel/GM at the Neighborhood House Association in San Diego, CA, Dr. Suzanne Afflalo, Medical Director for the Alliance Health Clinic in San Diego, CA, and Dr. Durryle Brooks, Research Associate at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/91706680960?pwd=YU9CUG5oTEx6ZUQrYW8vYTNURlVndz09

Leaders we are being called upon to led through uncharted territory, while simultaneously meeting increased personal and professional demands. Join co-hosts Dr. Undraye Howard and Dr. Sheryl White as they facilitate a discussion on ethical, health and legal factors that must be considered to successfully led, reopen, and deliver services amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Special guests bringing critical expertise and insight to this discussion include Dwight Smith, Legal Counsel/GM at the Neighborhood House Association in San Diego, CA, Dr. Suzanne Afflalo, Medical Director for the Alliance Health Clinic in San Diego, CA, and Dr. Durryle Brooks, Research Associate at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/91706680960?pwd=YU9CUG5oTEx6ZUQrYW8vYTNURlVndz09

Verna Laboy and Annabelle Simmons both work with Live Well By Faith, a community health program that targets chronic disease among African Americans in Boone County.