by Rona | Aug 29, 2020 | KPFA, Podcasts, Radio Shows
Listen Now to our show on About Health @KPFA.org— 94.1FM
We discussed health issues facing our firefighting heroes, and also looked at common chemical exposures that occur in your home, school, and work. We are all exposed to chemicals in our homes that are harmful, but in fact these chemicals can cause great harm to our families and to firefighters.
“Air, water, food, and consumer products should be free of dangerous and untested chemicals. We believe that chemical makers have no right to expose you to concoctions that affect your family’s health. That’s why we work with parents, communities, businesses, workers, and government to protect children and families from toxic chemicals in our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods.—Center for Environmental Health.
“Firefighters face occupational hazards on a daily basis. Now, new research shows they face additional risk just by gearing up. Through research and advocacy we aim to improve public health and end this threat of job-related cancer in the firefighting profession.” —San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation.
Judy Levin is the Pollution Prevention Director at the Center for Environmental Health. For the past 10 years she’s been leading the Center’s campaign to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in a variety of products. Most recently, Judy has focused on healthier furniture, carpeting, and flooring. She has amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in buying power from government, higher education, and private businesses who want healthier furnishings, and this in turn has incentivized manufacturers to create these products. Judy was awarded the International Interior Design Association Leadership Award of Excellence for her work in the area of reducing the use of toxic flame retardant chemicals in furniture.
Tony Stefani is a retired Captain with the San Francisco Fire Department. In 2001, after 27 years of service, he was diagnosed with Transitional Cell Carcinoma in his right renal pelvis. After successful treatment Captain Stefani retired in 2003. Three years later he founded the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, a foundation that has been dedicated to the early detection and prevention of cancer in both active and retired San Francisco Firefighters. Captain Stefani has also been involved with the Women Firefighters Biomonitoring Collaborative for the past 3 years and is a dedicated advocate supporting legislation on both the State and National level to reduce toxic chemical exposures to Firefighters and the population in general. He has been the recipient of many awards, including the Heroes and Hearts award, given by San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, which recognizes exceptional community service.
by Rona | Aug 14, 2020 | KPFA, Podcasts, Radio Shows
Listen now to me and my guest Allison Briscoe-Smith for a discussion about what grandparents and families are dealing with during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
8/17/20, KPFA.org—94.1FM
In the US there are approximately 70 million grandparents, and for too many, physical contact with their young grandchildren has been cut off. Other grandparents have stepped into the role of childcare providers, and some have opened up their homes to their kids and grandkids full time. How has this pandemic changed your role, and how are you dealing with the anxiety, isolation, or exhaustion from all the changes that have occurred?
by Rona | Jul 24, 2020 | KPFA, Podcasts, Radio Shows
This pandemic has brought an unprecedented amount of stress to parents as they figure out how to hold down their jobs while having their kids doing school from home. Unlike people who have chosen to provide their children with homeschooling, most parents want their kids in school with a trained teacher…and out of their hair. But we must all think about what we can do that preserves the loving relationships in the family, and work together to make a plan that accounts for everyone’s needs.
On 7/27/20 my guest was Denise Pope, Ph.D, on KPFA.org radio online—94.1FM
Guest:
Denise Pope, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, where she specializes in student engagement, curriculum studies, qualitative research methods, and service learning. She is co-founder of Challenge Success, a research and intervention project that provides schools and families the tools they need to raise healthy, motivated students. Challenge Success is an expanded version of the SOS: Stressed-Out Students project that Dr. Pope founded and directed from 2003-2008. She is the author of, ”Doing School”: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students, which was awarded Notable Book in Education by the American School Board Journal, 2001, and lead author of ”Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids.” She also co-hosts the Stanford University SiriusXM radio show called “School’s In.”
Dr. Pope lectures nationally on parenting techniques and pedagogical strategies to increase student health, engagement with learning, and integrity. She is a 3-time recipient of the Stanford University School of Education Outstanding Teacher and Mentor Award and was honored with the 2012 Education Professor of the Year “Educators’ Voice Award” from the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences.
by Rona | Jul 9, 2020 | KPFA, Podcasts, Radio Shows
Listen now! My guest was Dr. Adam Front on KPFA.org—94.1FM
During the Covid-19 Pandemic some people are drinking more or using other substances to help them cope with stress, anxiety, frustration, relationship problems, or previous trauma. These are challenging times, especially for people who have a history of substance over use or abuse.
If you’re trying to stay sober, professionals remind us that recovery happens in community, with support from loved ones or other people who understand what you may be dealing with.
“According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 1/3 of people say the pandemic has had a significant impact on their mental health, and 8% say that it has caused them to drink and misuse drugs more than before.”
Guest: Dr. Adam Front is a Clinical Psychologist who has been helping clients with addictions, anxiety, and other issues for over 35 years. He has developed and run programs in Florida, Minnesota, and California, and has been in the San Francisco Bay area since 1987. He currently has a private practice in San Ramon, CA. Dr. Front works with individuals seeking help for a wide range of issues, and his particular specialties are in the areas of addictions (chemicals like alcohol and other drugs, but also addictive behaviors such as food, sex, gambling and shopping), and anxiety issues (including worry, obsessions and compulsions, traumatic fear responses, agoraphobia and panic attacks). He also helps clients with relationship issues, self-esteem, assertiveness, anger management and a variety of other problems. He is currently working on a book, Relaxing Into Recovery
For referrals from the National Help Line at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
by Rona | Jun 25, 2020 | KPFA, Podcasts, Radio Shows
About Health on KPFA.org, 94.1FM, (6/29/20)
A recent article that caught my attention in the New York Times stated: “Climate Change Tied to Pregnancy Risks, Affecting Black Mothers Most.”
We can’t tackle the Climate Emergency, Health Disparities, and Social Justice in isolation. We need to look at policies and approaches that promote health and well being for individuals, communities, and the world.
Guest: Angel V. Shannon, MS, CRNP, is a board-certified adult-geriatric nurse practitioner with over twenty-five years experience in chronic disease management and mind-body medicine. She is the founder and clinical director of Seva Health and Seva Health Media, providing integrative healthcare and education for adults and seniors. Drawing upon a childhood immersed in environmental stewardship and decades of diverse clinical experiences in critical care, emergency medicine, trauma care, community home health, and insurance administration, Angel takes a unique, whole person approach to disease prevention in her private practice.
Angel holds strong ties to community and public health, serving as an active board member of the Maryland Community Research Advisory Board at the University of Maryland School of Public Health Center for Health Equity (MD-CRAB), and a former adjunct professor of Family and Community Health at Pennsylvania State University College of Nursing. An avid gardener, she recently earned her Master Gardener Certification from the University of Maryland Extension and is working to develop community based gardening programs for active seniors. Her latest career endeavor is creation of the Seva Institute, an organization that redefines healthcare and continues her scholarship in mind-body medicine, provides organizational training in mindfulness based stress reduction, individual coaching and personalized restorative retreats. Learn more at www.sevahealthgroup.com
by Rona | Jun 12, 2020 | KPFA, Nurse Rona, Podcasts, Radio Shows
It’s vital that we all reflect on how we talk with children about racism and understand how our spoken and unspoken words and actions shape them. Are you raising your kids to be anti-racist and compassionate people? How do we help them see that Black Lives Matter? And do they see you stand up for antiracist policies?
As parents, grandparents, teachers, aunts and uncles, we have a big responsibility. Our kids are always watching us and listening to how we understand the world. Let’s help each other, for our kids sake.
Allison Briscoe-Smith, Ph.D—6/15/20 on KPFA.org—94.1FM
