Alchemy of Politics with Rusha Modi: Recent Episodes
Rusha Modi
Our national politics are crazy right now aren’t they? Haven’t they always been? It all seems like a Jenga game about to topple at any moment and the piece about to be removed by the media is sanity. If you’re like me, then we’re both fed up with the hype that passes for hope.Our response is the The Alchemy of Politics Podcast. Beyond clickbait headlines and recycled left-right talking points are powerful unexplored ideas to level up our communities, country and planet.We traffic in solutions arbitrage: real policies and innovations that can expand the edge of what’s possible for our country.We are unafraid to take big swings at the hard policy and social questions confronting the US.Our guests will be a provocative mash-up of intellectuals, creative renegades, and leaders.Listen in and become more than just “cocktail party” smart.Set fire to the political status quo.Together, we can extend the half life of hope one citizen, one story, one possibility at a time. And that’s not crazy at all.
Dr John Allen is a giant in gastroenterology and a former president of the American Gastroenterological Association. He has joined forces to work with Dr Sameer Berry to create one of the most exciting breakthroughs in virtual care: Oshi Health. Oshi is a complete virtual care platform to help the numerous Americans with chronic digestive ailments. In this fascinating interview, we talk about where medicine is going, how innovation can help patients, and how to create models of care that are powerful in both finances and healing. If you are invested in the state of the industry and want to know where healthcare is really headed, this is a must listen.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 05:42] -Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces Dr. John Allen & Dr. Sameer Berry!
Developed innovative digital health solutions
[05:43 - 16:53] – Bringing Digital Health To A Traditional Provider
Digital health has seen a lot of hype and failure in the past
Intensive interventions over a short period of time
Resolve the patient’s symptoms and improve their health
[16:54 - 44:31] – Oshi: Bringing Digital Health Technology
Digital health companies are expanding into gastroenterologist space
Digital health works to help the patient achieve the goal
Identifying patients in the community
[44:32 – 47:37] - Closing Segment
If you want to learn more about their work, listeners can follow here on Dr. John Allen and Dr. Sameer Berry accounts.
Connect with Dr. John Allen & Dr. Sameer Berry:
LinkedIn: Dr. John Allen
Website: UCSF Rosenman Institute
Twitter: Dr. Sameer Berry
LinkedIn: Dr. Sameer Berry
Website: Oshi Health
CRAVING MORE?
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Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Dr. John Allen - "The transition of research that's been happening over the last 10 to 15 years from the traditional randomized controlled trial which is extraordinarily necessary to answer specific questions.”
Dr. Sameer Berry - "If you get someone feeling better faster, that's the best way to reduce unnecessary cost."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “When you're taking on risk, the number of questions and the type of questions that you were forced to ask and answer are just fundamentally different.”
Jessica Lall is in the LA Mayoral Race of the City of Angels, City of Leaders. In this episode, Jessica discusses the Housing Crisis and the Future of Political Engagement. Jessica Lall has been at the forefront of policy and social reform here in Los Angeles for years, especially with respect to housing and economic development. She ran a captivating campaign for LA Mayor with a groundswell of support before eventually pulling out to pursue other opportunities including a teaching scholar role at the University of Southern California. In this illuminating discussion, we explore what the new incoming Mayor will need to do to heal the city, how to improve housing development, and how to create a pipeline of leadership for young new talent.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 05:42] - Opening segmentDr. Rusha introduces Jessica Lall!
Civic engagement is key to solving the city’s problems
Providing information through education
What is an effective leadership?
[05:43 - 16:53] – Overcoming Obstacles To Leadership: Women, Minorities, and Economically Disadvantaged CommunitiesThe important role of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Housing development in Los Angeles is subjective and unclear
[16:54 - 44:31] – Building Trust And Empathy Through Vulnerability In Leadership
Centering women in the economy, small businesses, and minority-owned business is key to Los Angeles’ success
Revisiting the city charter is necessary to address the challenges of today
Creating a pipeline for people to engage in government and leadership
Campaign finance reform is important
The importance of vulnerability in leadership
[44:32 – 47:37] - Closing Segment
If you want to learn more about her work, go to Central City Association, as well as her Instagram and Twitter accounts!
Connect with Jessica Lall:
Website: LAMayor.org
Website: Corola.org
LinkedIn: Jessica Lall
Twitter: Jessica Lall
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Jessica Lall - "When we talk about our homelessness crisis overall, we have to realize that there is no one silver bullet that's going to address and solve the problem.”
Jessica Lall - "Every asset and every virtue can become a vice if we don't have leadership… Talking about these issues and figuring out ways to connect people in real meaningful ways, I do believe that's our biggest opportunity."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “When we're in challenging times, we need leaders that can kind of light that path forward.”
Michelle Dickinson has had her dark night of the soul and she has used her pain to create powerful advocacy and consulting platform to guide organizations to create emotional well-being. In this captivating interview, we talk about trauma, reference employee burnout, what workplace wellness really looks like, and how to be more resilient in chaotic times.
In this interview, Michelle and I discuss how employers can be supportive of their employees and help them achieve their goals. She explains that employers should focus on engaging their employees and creating a healthy work-life balance. This can help to ensure that employees are happy and satisfied with their careers, which in turn will lead to increased productivity and satisfaction within the workplace. To learn more about Michelle, visit Breaking Into My Life!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 07:10] - Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces Michelle Dickinson!
What is the “Great Resignation”?
The pandemic forced people to be more innovative and creative
Employers will continue to compete for talent and workers
[07:11 - 17:20] – Creating a Compassionate Workplace Culture That Supports Resilience
Americans are renegotiating what work means in their lives
Employees have a healthier relationship with brain health
Organizations need to shift their mindset and focus on engagement
Talent has the upper hand in the labor market
Shifting towards a four-day workweek
Different levels of leadership in today’s workplace
[17:21 - 33:32] – The Resilience And Gratitude To Face Job Burnout
Work can be a fulfilling personal mission
Creating a more fulfilling relationship with work
The keys to overcoming stress and anxiety
It takes time for the non-doing to have a compounding effect
Reconciling the desire to pursue their passion
[33:33 – 48:58] - Closing Segment
One way to find resources is to follow her on LinkedIn
Listeners are invited to visit Breaking Into My Life!
Connect with Michelle Dickinson at her:
Website: Michelle Dickinson
Twitter: Michelle Dickinson
LinkedIn: Michelle Dickinson
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Michelle Dickinson - "You will breed loyalty in your staff if you simply care for them, meet them where they are, support them, and you'll get the best out of them.”
Michelle Dickinson - "Stress is never going to go away, you just need to learn how to navigate it so that it doesn't consume you."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “We're finding out in real time that every job requires skill sets, expertise, and wisdom in order to do it safely and effectively.”
Ashley Johnson was put on a path. After losing a close friend to colon cancer at a devastatingly young age, she embarked on a mission to take away the fear and uncertainty around the dying process. It's so often clouded and hyper-medicalized in America and is bereft of the lack of humanistic discussion needed, especially in the wake of over 1 million individuals due to the COVID pandemic. In this raw and intimate conversation, we chat about why our culture has denied death for so long, how COVID has changed the dying process, and how we can find peace in the final moments for our loved ones - and hopefully ourselves.
In this interview, Ashley and I discuss the importance of having open and honest conversations about death with those who are grieving. She believes that these conversations are vital in helping to reduce the level of anxiety and stress that people experience in regard to deathTo learn more about Ashley, visit Loyal Hands!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 05:09] - Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces Ashley Johnson!
Her expertise in the transition process following the COVID pandemic
The state of confusion in America due to the high rate of death
[05:10 - 15:00] – Balancing Pragmatism When It Comes To Death
Balancing pragmatism and hope when it comes to death
Acknowledge family members’ feelings and lead with that
Death doulas provide emotional support and spiritual guidance
[15:01 - 40:13] – Acknowledging The Truths About Death And Grief
“The Denial of Death” by Ernest Becker
Acknowledging the truth about death and grief
Honor your feelings
Dedication to working in the death and bereavement field
[40:14 – 49:23] - Closing Segment
End-of-life doulas are important and necessary
Listeners are invited to visit Loyal Hands!
Connect with Ashley Johnson at her:
LinkedIn: Ashley Johnson
Website: Ted x Westshore
Website: Loyal Hands
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Ashley Johnson - "It's just the little things of that nature to make sure that we collaborate because everybody that we work with, to make sure our patient and client have that death that aligns with their spirit or their belief because they only get one shot.”
Ashley Johnson - "Honor your feelings. You don't ever want to mask your feelings."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “The emotional depth in which you can become true to yourself and true to the moment being equally as valuable.”
Magnus Lofstrom PhD is one of those sophisticated intellectuals that has mastered such a breadth and depth of knowledge, but with such a casual and unassuming manner, I was immediately impressed and more than a little envious. In this fascinating interview, I chat with him about his longstanding work in public policy and specifically on the "crime wave" affecting the country and in particular California. Follow home robberies, shoplifting, and theft as well as the violence on the streets have commandeered national attention and our doom scrolling as more cellphone footage of criminal acts spreads rapidly online. He breaks down the truth from the propaganda on what's really happening to public safety in America.
In this interview, Magnus and I discuss how public safety has been at the forefront of criminal justice reforms in recent years in California. How alternative strategies to incarceration must be identified if California hopes to reduce its reliance on imprisonment and maintain public safety, listeners can visit his website at PPIC!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 04:56] - Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces Magnus Lofstrom PhD!
[04:57 - 15:29] – Addressing The Issue On Persistent Crime Rates Despite Reform
California’s incarcerated population is due to a multitude of factors
COVID's significant impact on crime rates
Factors contributing to changes in crime rates
Reducing reliance on incarceration
Recruitment and retention of law enforcement staff is challenging
[15:30 - 43:19] – Better Policing Is An Effective Strategy For Risk Mitigation
Violent crime rates have not increased dramatically in recent years
Identifying what drives the increase in crime rates
Public safety
Significant justice reforms in the past decade
[43:20 – 55:24] - Closing Segment
Magnus believes suggests that changes in law enforcement personnel, recruitment issues, and tension between communities
Listeners are invited to visit https://www.alfiekohn.org/!
Connect with Magnus Lofstrom PhD at his:
Website: PPIC
Website: IZA
LinkedIn: Magnus Lofstrom PhD
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Magnus Lofstrom PhD - "Whatever we think are key contributing factors to these changes, we need to look for things that are taking place throughout the nation.”
Magnus Lofstrom PhD - "When we are talking about these changes, what you really would like to have is a very clear and direct answer."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “Reintegration is really a challenge for not just people who were incarcerated, but for a lot of dispossessed and underserved communities just in the country, and it highlights that social inequality.”
Alfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer in the areas of education, parenting, and human behavior. He is a proponent of progressive education and has offered critiques of many traditional aspects of parenting, managing, and American society more generally, drawing in each case from social science research. He lectures widely at universities and to school faculties, parent groups, and corporations. In addition to speaking at staff development seminars and keynoting national education conferences on a regular basis, he conducts workshops for teachers and administrators on various topics.
In this interview, Alfie and I discuss how standardized tests and grading systems are not actually about assessing a student’s learning but instead are designed to measure how well students can answer questions on the test. He believes that assessment should be geared towards measuring what students are naturally capable of. To learn more about intrinsic motivation in learning and how it can be fostered in a hybrid learning environment, listeners can visit his website at https://www.alfiekohn.org/!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 06:19] - Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces us to Alfie Kohn!
[06:20 - 12:22] – The Negative Effects of Standardized Tests
Negative effects of standardized tests on students
The intrinsic joy of learning
Focusing more on student engagement and creativity
Using effective assessment methods
[12:23 - 21:27] – The Focus On Excellence Over Quality
Differences between academic and non-academic issues
A major course correction in how we educate kids
Unfairness in the college admissions process
Focus on excellence over quality
[21:28 – 26:20] - Closing Segment
Alfie believes that it’s time to rescue the essence of excellence, listeners are invited to visit https://www.alfiekohn.org/!
Connect with Alfie Kohn at his:
Website: Alfie Kohn
Twitter: Alfie Kohn
Amazon: Alfie Kohn
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Alfie Kohn - "if kids were helped to design an experiment, to figure out how to isolate a variable and know what's causing these tendencies to grow more rather than just memorizing, you don't forget that, you don't lose it, and that doesn't slip away when you're out of school for a summer.”
Alfie Kohn - "You can't bypass or do an end run around interest in learning and force feed kids, knowledge or skills. You have to encourage them and support them in their interest in learning. When that happens, when kids are really excited about what they're doing with proper support, they tend to do it well."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “Everyone may not get there, but at least in theory, all of us could. That I feel is really the avenue forward.”
Rami Webhi is one of those rare polymaths in medicine that is able to serve patients, understand clinical research, and innovate on the enterprise and business side of healthcare. If the traditional physician-scholar worked "bench to bedside," Rami has pioneered from "bedside to web-side." In this far-ranging interview, we talk about digital therapeutics in healthcare, the unique role physicians can play, the future of healthcare technology, and his own journey to compelling podcast host.
In this interview, Rami and I talk about one of the biggest challenges for companies in digital health, which is a way to bridge the gap between technology and clinical practice. How physicians can lead teams in digital health and help identify the right technology solutions for their patients. Feel free to reach out to him on Twitter or email!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 07:56] - Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces Rami Webhi DO!
The shift in healthcare towards digital health
[07:57 - 27:48] – The Future of Medicine is Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a way to connect with doctors and patients remotely
Consumer-centric trend in digital health
The trend of direct primary care
Innovative companies in digital health
A problem with training new physicians
[27:49 - 45:17] – The Role of Technology With Future Healthcare
Technology is changing the way care is delivered
The pressure on students to get good grades and match it into residency
How to protect oneself from scams in digital health
[45:18 – 50:07] - Closing Segment
Remote patient monitoring is the future
Rami's organization is open to collaboration with others, and encourages listeners to visit Beyond Medicine!
Connect with Rami Webhi DO at his:
Website: Beyond Medicine
LinkedIn: Rami Webhi DO
Instagram: Rami Webhi DO
Podcast: Beyond Medicine
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Rami Webhi, DO - "I'm really passionate about building digital health, and I'm really passionate about getting our colleagues, specifically physicians, involved with, digital health and being part of the leadership teams.”
Rami Webhi, DO - "We want to be part of innovation. We all want to be part of building this next thing, but there's not really a lot of knowledge of how to get into industry or how to position yourself to be one of those doctors."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “Clinicians need to understand. Technology is a major disruptive force that they need to leverage.”
Peter Kelly is one of the leading agricultural scientists in the world, and has started a novel advocacy, research, and policy non-profit Grow Further. It is focused on creating a food secure world. They engage farmers, scientists, and individuals in participatory innovation for global food security and sustainable agriculture. Their members come from different backgrounds, but we all come eager to learn from each other, invest in the future of food, support scientists with overlooked ideas, and help small-scale farmers.
In this interview, Peter and I talk about the technologies that can innovate our food industry and feed over 7 billion people (and counting), the challenges of scientific advocacy, and what the future of sustainable development is. Learn more about his personal journey and the inspiration that led him to build Grow Further.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 11:20] - Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces Peter!
Whether or not there is a crisis situation with food supply
What contributes to food insecurity?
Climate change
Water shortage
Soil degradation
Conflict
[11:21 - 37:58] – Providing Solutions To The Current Food Distribution System
Current food distribution system
Viable innovative solution
Vertical farming
Technological innovations of Kelly’s organization
Testing indigenous veterinary herbs
Building a movement for food security
[37:59 - 37:45] – Developing Wheat Crops To Solve The Food Crisis
Partnering with nonprofit organizations
The current state of food in America
Plant-based meats
The role of livestock moving forward
[37:46 – 53:21] - Closing Segment
Peter’s organization is open to collaboration with others, and encourages listeners to visit !
Connect with Peter Kelly at:
Website: https://www.growfurther.org/
LinkedIn: Peter Kelly
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Peter Kelly- "There is a path forward. our strategy at grow further is to focus on innovations that are relevant to smallholder farmers and to other disadvantaged populations.”
Peter Kelly- "Success would mean higher incomes for farmers. It would mean better nutrition, both for farmers and for consumers. And it would mean more stable yields, even in the face of a changing climate."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “We can innovate despite our shortcomings as a species, and that has saved us before.”
Corey Nathan is an iconoclast and a free thinker in the best sense of the word. Like me, he hosts an amazing podcast - called Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other. And like me, he shares a spirit of civil discourse with people of all views to work through the difficulties and pressing challenges of the moment. He's part of a movement to reclaim the public square from internet trolls and light a path forward on how to talk about some of the most divisive topics in our body politics with sanity, clarity, and openness. Listen to this fascinating discussion as we compare notes on the art of podcasting, discuss where America as a country is headed and how the media can shape our dialogue for better or worse.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 11:20] - Opening segment
Dr. Rusha introduces Corey!
Distinguish the constitutional right of free speech
Marginalized groups
“Constitution of Knowledge” by Jonathan Rauch
[11:21 - 37:58] – Creating a Narrative Based On Data Points
Culture war
Problem with cancel culture
Creating a narrative based on data points
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
Achieving a larger aim
Cultivating conversations
Encourage to do good work
Influenced by prominent people
[37:59 - 37:45] – How Media Shapes The Dialogue For Better Or Worse
Loneliness epidemic
Living in a pluralistic society
Solution for legislation
Encouraged by decentralization
Varying degrees of success for generations
[37:46 – 53:21] - Closing Segment
Corey encourages listeners to follow him on social media and listen to his podcast!
Connect with Corey Nathan at:
Podcast: Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other
Twitter: Corey Nathan
Website: C-Span
Instagram: Corey Nathan
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Corey Nathan - "We can learn about each other across our differences. We don't have to come to conclusions and even find common ground.”
Corey Nathan - "I want to cultivate the conversations that I want more of in the culture."
Dr. Rusha Modi - “If I'm not careful, I tend to see the blackness, not the luminescent.”
Ellie Lak is a hero, advocating for the well-being and care of some of the Earth's most vulnerable creatures. As more attention is being paid to the climate and the way humans treat the planet, Ellie has been a pioneer for decades in demonstrating how humans are part of the larger ecosystem around us. Her seminal organization, the Gentle Barn, is a sanctuary for both people and animals to find common ground, respect, and love. In this fascinating interview, we talk about "pandemic puppies," the role of diet and health, her journey towards becoming an animal rights advocate, and some of the challenges and opportunities facing humanity and animals alike. She expresses her desire for a world where animals are treated with respect and not used as commodities for human consumption. To learn more about her and her mission, visit her website at The Gentle Barn!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 05:44] - Opening segment
Rush introduces Ellie!
The Gentle Barn is a place to bond over their shared love of animals
[05:45 - 31:09] –
The Gentle Barn provides therapy for people in crisis
It allows us to connect with our emotions and heal
How people and animals are all interconnected
Protecting nature and the environment
Become more aware of animal sanctuaries
People should not use animals for their own gain
[31:10 - 37:45] –
Reconciling the reality of the need for humans to eat meat
Humane animal practices
Growing interest in plant-based eating
Dilemma through cell meat
Make informed decisions about food
[37:46 – 53:21] - Closing Segment
Ellie encourages people to connect with The Gentle Barn and support its movement regardless of where they are on the animal welfare spectrum
She invites us to visit her website: Ellie Laks!
Connect with Ellie Laks at her:
Website: The Gentle Barn
Website: Ellie Laks
Instagram: @ellielaks
Twitter: @EllieLaks
Book: My Gentle Barn
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Ellie Laks - "I really believe that in history of humanity, that is when that connection to nature started falling away because we started congregating among ourselves, separating ourselves from nature. And then, of course, going out and hunting and destroying nature for our own uses.”
Ellie Laks - "Nature is always here to heal us."
Rusha Modi - “Passion is probably the antidote to a lot of the antipathy and apathy that exist right now, where people are either fuming with anger or burnt out and they're just exhausted.”
That feeling of needing to get more done but not having the energy to do is a ubiquitous feature of the ambience that characterizes modern life, and one that Professor Anna K Schaffner knows well. Having gone through her own burnout experience, she is one of the most insightful commentators on our relationship to work. She analyzes it through modern lenses - including political, economic, technological, cultural, and gender identity based. Her provocative and nuanced book, Exhaustion: A History, is an anthropological chronicle of the historical roots of exhaustion and the implications those antecedents have for our current zeitgeist of interminable world weariness.
For anyone who feels perpetual fatigue and the sense of not being enough because you cannot do enough, that life should be more than getting through your to do list, this conversation is a must listen.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 11:49] - Opening segment
Rush introduces Professor Anna K Schaffner!
Discussion on Exhaustion
Symptoms of burnout
[11:50 - 18:47] – Finding The Root Cause of Burnout
History of burnout
Effects of Home-based work environments
Low autonomy and no sense of community
Treatments for burnout
[18:48 - 44:47] – Using Human Energy To Heal Burnout
Identity-based culture
The concept of human energy
People need to be self-aware of their triggers and stressors
State of vitality
[44:48 – 46:54] - Closing Segment
Professor Anna discusses the importance of destigmatizing burnout and helping people understand what’s going on
She invites us to visit her website: https://www.the-exhaustion-coach.com/!
Connect with Professor Anna at:
Website: https://www.annakschaffner.com/
Website: Professor Anna
LinkedIn: Professor Anna
Book: Exhaustion: A History
CRAVING MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Professor Anna K. Schaffner - "In a large number of cases, it's our working environments that are making us ill. It's not our fault.”
Professor Anna K. Schaffner - "We need to understand what depletes our energy."
Rusha Modi - “We don't have a great concept of energy, but we are very elaborate about talking about its absence.”
In this episode, Rusha interviews Dr. Nina Shapiro, Dr. Nina is the Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology and a Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She has the rare ability to understand complex medical science but also communicate it to the public in a concise, clear, and comprehensive way. The pandemic has brought to the forefront the weaponization of medical mis and dis information. We discuss the nature of medical information online from its historical roots to today.
We hit upon the rise of the anti-vaxxer trend, debates over mask mandates, the Theranos scandal, and the nutritional myths and fad diets that seem to perpetuate themselves. We also discuss in detail her fabulous book, "Hype: A Doctor's Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims, and Bad Advice - How to Tell What's Real and What's Not."
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 07:45] - Opening segment
Rush introduces Dr. Nina Shapiro!
Hype is a problem
Physicians should be more vocal
[07:46 - 19:29] – The Dangers of Hype in the Medical Field
Hype can be dangerous and deceptive
The placebo effect
Informing patients about the risks and benefits of treatments
[19:30 - 27:08] – Breaking Down Complex Topics Into Easy To Understand Language
Breaking down complex topics
The lost trust during the COVID response
It led to a decrease in the number of people who are seeking medical advice
[41:09 – 51:15] - Closing Segment
Dr. Nina discusses how physicians need to be more aware of the public’s distrust of the medical profession
Communicate with patients in a way that is both effective and non-confrontational
Connect with Dr. Nina at her website, get her book: Hype: A Doctor's Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims, and Bad Advice - How to Tell What's Real and What's Not., http://drninashapiro.com/, https://twitter.com/drninashapiro, https://www.amazon.com/Hype-Doctors-Medical-Exaggerated-Claims/dp/1250149304, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-07-21/mask-mandate-covid-pandemic-los-angeles
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Tweetable Quotes:
Dr. Nina Shapiro - "If you're just looking at the media, where you trust the people and you like what they have to say, you're missing literally half of what the country.”
Dr. Nina Shapiro - "I don't think of medicine or science as a belief system. I think of it as what it is, a fact system."
Rusha Modi - “You're going to have to find a way to package it so that people are willing to kind of take the medicine.”
In this episode, Rusha interviews Praveen Suthrum, Praveen is the healthcare whisperer. A well-known thought leader on the GI business industry, he has become the go to figure to predict the headwinds of the future of healthcare. His insights and interviews on digital health, business consolidation in the industry, and the implications of emerging medical technology are must reads. In this episode, we talk about all these topics and more and you'll learn Praveen's breakdown of the fundamental forces reshaping modern healthcare.
NextServices is a company provides a platform that practices need to thrive while facing tougher reimbursements, higher operating costs and increased regulation. Under his leadership, the company developed a cloud-based GI EHR and endoscopy report writer called enki. He has an engineering degree from Manipal Institute of Technology and an MBA from University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He also completed the Exponential Medicine program at Singularity University. Additionally, he studied sculpture at the New York Studio School and music at Trinity Laban.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 07:45] - Opening segment
Rush introduces Praveen Suthrum!
Technologies used in healthcare
Business consolidation
Patient behavior
[07:46 - 19:29] –
Praveen Private equity-led consolidation is one of the forces physicians are most worried about
The trend on non-invasive screening
It leads to decreased access to colonoscopies
He discusses the role of physician is changing
[19:30 - 27:08] –
Praveen believes that physicians are the most brilliant people on the planet
Abundant mindset versus Scarcity mindset
The disruption happening in healthcare
Unbundling of services
[27:09 - 41:08] – The Politicizing of the Public-School Sector
Physicians to reflect on their role in healthcare
Burnout is a common issue
Patient education as opposed to technology
AI’s role in healthcare
[41:09 – 51:15] - Closing Segment
Praveen discusses how change is difficult to come by, but it has to happen now
Connect with Praveen at her website, get her book: https://scope-forward.com/, https://www.nextservices.com/, http://redohealthcare.com/, https://twitter.com/suthrum!
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Tweetable Quotes:
Praveen Suthrum - "If you want a different system and if you want to step up, and if that is important enough for you.”
Praveen Suthrum - "The answer lies in better patient education and awareness as a society."
Rusha Modi - “The unique thing in healthcare that you've been very, very articulate about is this balancing act between needing to enhance the efficiency and the productivity and the effectiveness on a business level.”
In this episode, Rusha interviews Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Natalia is a burst of energy, both professional, personal and physical. She is a historian of contemporary American politics and culture, an activist, as well as one of the most sought after fitness trainers in the country. She explains that the underlying ideology behind wellness is broadly appealing but can be claimed by conservatives and liberals alike, which makes it easy to sell. Listen as Natalia talks about how wellness is more than just the absence of illness, it encompasses a holistic approach to physical, emotional, and mental health.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 04:09] - Opening segment
Rush introduces Natalia Mehlman Petrzela!
[04:10 - 13:44] – Seeking Out Social Interaction and Human Connection with Exercise
Natalia discusses how wellness has become commercialized
Commercialization has led to wellness becoming inaccessible for many people
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert Putnam
People seek out social interaction and human connection over digital alternatives
[13:45 - 34:44] – The Obsession in Modern Culture
Be deliberate about thinking about what’s going to get people out the door
Fitness culture has become a way to discipline the body
[34:45 - 50:54] – The Politicizing of the Public-School Sector
She explains how equity and social justice are not being upheld when strict regulations are put in place
Public schools are essential and should be one of the first things to prioritize when it comes to keeping children healthy
[50:55 – 58:21] - Closing Segment
The challenges that America is facing with regards to wellness, and how structural changes are necessary in order to move forward
Connect with Natalia at her website, get her book: Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession, Welcome To Your Fantasy Podcast, and Past Present Podcast!
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Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
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Tweetable Quotes:
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela - "People are realizing that, home fitness is great, it's convenient, there are so many great things about it. I don't think it's going away; it is almost impossible to replicate what you get from being with other humans in space and moving together.”
Natalia Mehlman Petrzela - "People are finding community through fitness, and it's not this purely individualistic project of self-improvement or physical improvement."
Rusha Modi - “Access, opportunity, and inclusion. Those are the ways to move forward.”
In this episode, Rusha interviews Pete Bombaci, Pete is the head of a non-profit from Canada that seeks to connect people to people. His organization has been a major voice in the battle against isolation, alienation, tribalization, animosity, and the numerous other ways we all “bowl alone.” Listen as Pete talks about the social implications of mistrust and distrust of each other, and how kindness, connection, and community can rehabilitate the social fabric.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 03:27] - Opening segment
Rush introduces Pete Bombaci
Pete emphasizes the importance of human connection, which was highlighted in an op-ed in the New York Times
He discusses how dogs can be a way to reconnect with your neighbors
Humans have been increasingly disconnected from each other due to changes in technology and society
People need to be educated on the importance of human connection
[03:28 - 08:52] – Technology Makes It Harder To Have Authentic Conversations
Pete discusses the importance of relationships, and how technology is changing how we connect
He discusses how technology is making it harder for people to have authentic conversations
Conversation is the key to resolving political differences
[08:53 - 36:00] – The Importance of Human Connection In The Workplace
Pete discusses the American political divide
Human connection movement is aimed at encouraging this type of communication
Corporations play a role in creating social connections in the workplace
It benefits both employees and customers
He advises businesses to advocate for policies that support human connection
[36:01 - 56:14] – Success Depends On The Strength Of The Relationships Between Employees
Pete emphasizes the need for corporations to shift their focus from consumers to the employee
Success of an organization depends on the strength of its relationships between employees
[56:14 – 01:07:58] - Closing Segment
Pete discusses how social health is key to success in the modern era
How can people connect with general learning about its organization and get involved
How to connect with Pete Bombaci at Genwell Project
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Tweetable Quotes:
Pete Bombaci - "I never even recognized the power of schools to bring people together until the pandemic forced them all to come home. That socialization that happens at school, and we know that leads to brain development, we know that that's educational success, cultural success."
Pete Bombaci - "Spending time with other people because it gets us out of here, when we're not very kind to ourselves, helps us find solutions, and it helps us build resilience."
Rusha Modi - “It seems to be that the less contact that we have, the harder it is to not only converse, but have an ability to empathize with people and I think technology is making that problem even worse.”
In this episode, Rusha interviews Jeff Garner, Jeff is a self-described Southern Gentleman, is one of the hottest fashion designers in the world. He’s dressed some of the biggest celebrities of today including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Gisele and Kings of Leon. He believes that it will be difficult for policy makers to regulate an industry that is predominantly commercial and based on profit. He argues that there is value in sustainable fashion, in creating clothes that are made from natural materials that will last. He says that this is something that could be achieved if consumers demanded it, and elites in the industry followed suit.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 03:35] - Opening segment
Rusha introduces Jeff Garner
Jeff discusses how man and nature are in a constant dance, and how this has led to many problems in society
Jeff believes that slower fashion is the way-to-go, and that consumers need to be educated about what true price should be for clothing
[03:36 - 20:14] – Changing The Mindset To Promote Sustainable Fashion
Jeff discusses how fast fashion and other trends are due to addiction and how to break that cycle
[20:15 - 31:35] – The Disconnect Between Ethical Fashion and Traditional Fashion
Jeff says that consumers want sustainable fashion, but are hesitant to change their entire wardrobe
Jeff says that there is a disconnect between ethical fashion and traditional fashion
[31:35 - 50:26] – Environmental and Health Implications of Clothing Consumption
Jeff believes that if we can work together to get something out there, but everyone has a different platform
Jeff shares those designers are creating products that will fall apart sooner, leading to a “design addiction” and an increase in fast fashion
Consumers are discarding clothing quicker, leading to a decrease in quality and an increase in prices
[50:27 – 01:01:20] - Closing Segment
Jeff shares that fashion designers need to be more conscious about the materials they are using, and consumers need to demand more sustainable fashion
Jeff encourages listeners if they are looking for guidance on how to move forward in their careers or their lives
How to connect with Jeff Garner at http://www.prophetik.com/
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Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes:
Jeff Garner - "Your intimates, your bed, sheeting, things that you spend the most time in your towels, your detergents, you make sure those are in alignment with a sustainable ethos.”
Jeff Garner - "I think if people approached it more scientifically, but the problem is people buy clothes based on first: design, second: price point, third: whether it's a good cause or what it's made of and that's what we're dealing with."
Rusha Modi - “There has to be a wholesale shift in what consumers are willing to pay for and cultural taste regarding fashion needs to change.”
In this episode, Rush interviews Eric Loucks PhD, Eric discusses how mindfulness can be beneficial for students in their academic and personal lives. He also discusses the difference between mindfulness and self-awareness. He shares how mindfulness can be helpful in managing these stresses and he discusses examples from his own experience teaching mindfulness to students. He shares his take on the popularity of mindfulness in the corporate world, noting that while it is good that mindfulness is being incorporated into workplaces, it would be better if more people were taught how to deliver it effectively.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 03:35] - Opening segment
Eric has a deep interest in mindfulness and its potential benefits for individuals and populations
Eric believes that mindfulness can be easily learned and applied in one’s life, even without social support
[03:36 - 20:14] – Interconnectedness is Key to Living a Full and Meaningful Life
Eric discusses how interconnectedness is key to living a full and meaningful life, and how mindfulness can help us to be more aware of our thoughts and emotions
Mindfulness can help individuals manage these stresses
There is a new age stage called, “Emerging adulthood” which provides more opportunity for self-reflection and self-actualization
[20:15 - 25:24] – Mindfulness Develops Greater Self-Awareness and Control
Eric discusses that young adults today have a higher requirement for self-awareness than in prior generations
Mindfulness can help young adults develop greater self-awareness and control over their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations
[25:25 - 34:24] – Demand for Self-Awareness has Increased Due to Anxiety and Depressions in College Students
Eric discusses how young adults today have a higher requirement for self-awareness than in prior generations
This increased need is due to the complexity of life, which includes a greater number of opportunities and challenges
[34:25 - 41:23] - Books and Recommendations
Eric discusses the book called, “Unwinding Anxiety”
He introduces, Dr. Jud Brewer
He teaches mindfulness through digital platforms and has created a digital community of mindfulness practitioners
[41:24 - 46:31] - Closing Segment
Eric suggests his listeners to find information about mindfulness and learn how to practice mindfulness online
How to connect with Eric Loucks PhD at http://ericloucksphd.com/
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Share it with your friends, and family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
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In this episode, Rusha interviews Merrick Rosenberg, who discusses the new media landscape and how we all interact wit each other. Merrick discusses the four styles of communication, which are the: Eagle, Dove, Owl, and Parrot. He explains that these styles play out in all aspects of our lives, including our relationships, work, and presidential elections. Merrick goes on to say that this framework is intuitive and similar to the Apgar score used to assess a child’s health. He discusses further the importance of having a good team and how they can help you achieve your goals.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 03:35] - Opening segment
Merrick describes the four types of communication styles: Eagle, Dove, Owl, and Parrot
[03:36 - 07:41] – Identify A Person Style by their Body Language
Merrick discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each communication style
The Eagle is a strategic thinker and confident
The Dove want people to be happy and get along
The Owl are analytical and detail-oriented while being relatively quiet
The Parrot like to be around others and are very vocal
[07:42 - 18:02] – The Correlation of Powerful Personalities
The gender element of the distribution across industries for personality types
Men are likely Eagles and Women are likely Owls
Merrick describes the correlation between powerful personalities
Mark Zuckerberg
Warren Buffet
Bill Gates
[18:03 - 27:29] – How Different Personalities Shape the Political Space
Merrick discusses how the personality of a presidential candidate
Eagles and Parrots have big personalities winning more often than Owls
[27:29 - 31:38] – Personality Biases are Evident in Elections
Merrick stresses that the leadership ability is different in owls and eagles
Owls are more policy experts while Eagles are more salespeople
[31:39 - 38:46] – How Different Environments Affect The Children’s Values and Personality
Merrick discusses how different children are raised in different environments and how this impacts their values and personality
Joe Biden has been successful in communicating his values through his actions
[38:47 - 38:46] – The Chameleon’s Adaptability in Government
A leader must be able to display all four styles in order to be successful
Merrick describes the Chameleon as being able to display all four personality types
Merrick discusses how Bill Clinton is a master in public speaking
[38:46 - 44:30] - Closing Segment
Merrick discusses the importance of being an effective leader
How to connect with Merrick Rosenberg athttps://merrickrosenberg.com/
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You can connect with Dr. Rusha on
In this episode, Rusha interviews Dr. Shenelle N. Wilson, M.D. She is a fellowship-trained urologist/urogynecologist and pelvic surgeon who specializes in urinary and sexual health issues in women and men. She also specializes in urologic care for patients with neurogenic bladder. Dr. Wilson sat down to discuss how physician diversity can improve patient care and reduce health disparities. They discuss how having a diverse physician workforce can lead to better patient care across all demographics, the importance of non-scientific knowledge in medical education, and the challenges that black and Latin physicians face in the healthcare field. This conversation is important because it touches on the topic of social determinants of health and how they play into the workforce and quality of care.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 03:24] - Opening segment
- Rusha introduces Dr. Shenelle N. Wilson
- Shenelle talks about the importance of diversity
- The disparities between black and brown patients’
[03:25 - 12:49] – Minimizing disparities for a diverse physician workforce
- Shenelle stresses about the importance of having a diverse physician workforce
- The disparity for treatment for an overactive bladder for black and latin person
- Health issues affect gainful employment
- Find out what’s your patient’s social situation
[12:50 - 18:46] – The importance to have more of the minority in the workforce
- Shenelle shares a story about being the only black doctor
- Increasing minority physicians breeds trust towards the communities
- Having conversations with your patients increases trust
- Shenelle discusses how we navigate the healthcare system as a minority
[18:47 - 27:13] – The need to speak up and overcome invalidation
- Shenelle tells us the importance of speaking our mind
- Dealing with invalidation when you’ve perceived to reach the top
- She shares how it was such a toxic system while she was training in her academic medicine
- Shenelle shares her long-term goal and start a urology residency school
[27:14 - 31:02] – Closing Segment
- Shenelle and Rusha discusses the unbridled enthusiasm of healthcare workers
- Shenelle explains the need of additional passion so that we can have a well-rounded life
- Find Dr. Shenelle at her website and urologyunbound.org
CRAVING MORE?
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Tweetable Quotes:
Dr. Shenelle N. Wilson
In this episode, Rusha interviews Dr. Gregory L. Taylor, II, MBA, MD. Gregory Taylor is the Founding Medical Director of Keck Signature Care of USC Concierge Medicine. He discusses that with the pandemic going on for around two years now, and the study of medicine has been making progress in terms of understanding the virus and developing vaccines. He shares that although the pandemic is causing a lot of deaths around the world, it’s also allowing us to look deep inside ourselves and reflect on our relationship with others. He reflects on how things are going in the pandemic and how it caused many people to distrust one another. He also points out that there are fundamental differences between how people in developed countries are handling COVID compared to those in developing countries, where there is still an understanding of traditional medicines and ways to deal with problems.
Key Highlights:
[00:45 - 04:55] - Opening segment
Rusha introduces Dr. Gregory Taylor
Gregory shares his story
Our mutually beneficial relationship with microorganisms in dealing with the pandemic
The concern you have for your neighbor who has the disease
Making progress with vaccines on a scientific level
[04:56 - 14:40] – How capitalism plays a big part in navigating the pandemic
Gregory stated the fundamental issues that we are not tackling that have brought us as a nation
What capitalism means to an average person and how much you can extract from a broken person
Staying positive to be able to negotiate and navigate the pandemic
[14:41 - 19:47] – A way to make sustainable long-term change
Gregory talks about seeing people’s true personalities in times of crisis
The state of the global environment in times of crisis
Behavioral change is key to the health in general
Achieving sustainable long-term change
[19:48 - 26:37] – Changing the healthcare system to make it better for the average person
The youth is the hope for our future
Streamlining the healthcare system
The disconnect between the service, the payer, and the person who benefited from the service
Changing the healthcare system and how to make it better for the average person
[26:38 - 34:22] – Getting over financial restraints by being a physician entrepreneur
Advocating for physician entrepreneurs
The cause of burnout as a physician
Getting over financial restraints
[34:23 - 43:18] – The fundamental difference between a small unit versus a well-seasoned legacy
Gregory discusses the lack of control of the environment by physicians
The business model that drives healthcare
How big companies envision a different world
Healthcare is ever-evolving
[43:19- 47:43] – Social Economics of healthcare
Gregory and Rusha discusses if change can occur
How the government is the primary player in terms of healthcare
The disconnect between
A lot of politicians talk about homelessness but few people have actual business experience in how to develop and invest in residential and commercial properties themselves. The housing crisis will not be solved by neat and clean white papers on the topic but by meeting the nitty-gritty realities of how to finance more construction of housing. Vikram Raya understands this dilemma. He is a board-certified cardiologist but also one of the topic real estate investors in the country. He has started numerous businesses, most relevantly Viking Capital, and a powerhouse real-estate investment firm that has hundreds of millions of dollars of assets under management. I wanted to talk to him because he embodies the duality of the humanistic ethos of medicine with the business savvy of real estate. You’ll find why he thinks the market is enough, what he would say to President Biden and other politicians who want to solve this problem, and his hot take on Millennial consumer habits and how that will affect the housing industry. Let's dive in!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 08:34 ] Opening Segment
Homeownership is no longer the "American dream" for many people
Why young generations are choosing to rent
The cost of housing has become too high for many middle-class professionals
[08:35 - 20:06] The New Hotspots for Real Estate
How the housing market is becoming more competitive with interest rates scheduled to go up in the near future
Dr. Vikram's insights about college tuition
Why people don't want any responsibility for homeownership, but want the benefits of homeownership
[20:07 - 33:33] Hypocrisy on Housing Issues
Administrations that worked on creating opportunity zones
How left and right-leaning people are found in real estate and how they draw the line on where they will buy and vote
The advantages of working with tenant-friendly states
[33:33 - 44:11] Disruptive Innovation Could Solve Homelessness Crisis
The multiple types of innovations, and how they are democratizing or consolidating
What needs to be done to really solve the root cause of homelessness
How housing and education are about to get disrupted
[44:12 - 50:59] Closing Segment
Why a data-driven mindset can revolutionize public governance
Want to connect with Vikram Raya? Follow him on LinkedIn, and Instagram. Head to Vikram Raya, and become a master of your own mind!
Key Quotes:
Vikram Raya - "Helping as many people as you can get to where you already got to is what will really spur a whole change in our world, our economy, our people, and our culture."
Vikram Raya - "Getting to the root cause of the problem is the solution."
Vikram Raya - "Keep emotions super low, keep logic pretty high."
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What happens when you face a once in a hundred year pandemic at one of the major academic medical centers in the second largest urban metropolis in the country? Felipe Osorno knows. He is the executive administrator for Continuum of Care Operations and Value Improvement at Keck Medicine of USC. This episode is a masterclass on how to be a transformational leader during a time of crisis. You’ll get inside the war-room POV as critical decisions about space, staff, stuff ,and systems as the pandemic moved westward to lay siege to Los Angeles in the spring of 2020. He explains how rapid decision-making, teamwork, and more than a little personal heroism allowed the hospital to survive. He talks about the challenges of vaccine distribution, speaking truth to power, and helping to protect healthcare workers who are sacrificing themselves to serve patients. Get a play by play behind the headlines look at the operations of how a major medical system had to course correct in the middle of COVID-19, and what the future holds for major healthcare systems.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 07:55] Opening Segment
Public health experts are concerned about the state of healthcare in the United States
The impact of the US government shutdown on people's lives
The lack of collaboration and communication within the health care system
[07:20 - 19:01] Overcoming Challenges In The Early Days of The Pandemic
Why healthcare professionals need to be agile to respond to changes in the virus
Social determinants of health that need to be addressed to improve healthcare outcomes for patients
How the decision-making process worked during the early days of the pandemic
[19:02 - 27:28] How to Address Mental Health Crisis
Felipe's journey in implementing a new project management protocol and remote working policy
The way Keck shifted from a linear big-box structure to a more collaborative circle structure
How the team was able to adjust accordingly during the peak of the outbreak
[27:29 - 37:03] In Crisis, Teamwork Drives Vaccine Roll Out
Why Covid-19 helps speed up decision making in healthcare and focus on patient safety rather than politics
How tensions arose during the vaccine rollout in December 2020,
It's hard to change systems and solve problems when everyone is not solving the same problem
[37:04 - 47:10] Tackling Equity in Vaccination Decision-Making
Keck's vaccine strategy
Hospitals need to have values-based leadership and make decisions that are in the best interest of their patients
The importance of being transparent and having good communication with the community partners
[47:11 - 59:35] There Are Structural Issues Within Our Health Care System
How hospitals have been compliant with state mandates to provide health care
How testing has been effective in preventing outbreaks, and how the hospital is preparing for future changes
The potential for a disruptive event affecting health care, such as a virus or climate change
[59:35 - 01:15:02] Hospitals Struggle to Keep Up with Rapid Changes in Health Care
Why it is vital to come to the table with clear intent, values, and fewer egos to solve a problem
Felipe's outlook on if healthcare is a public right or a commodity
Covid-19 shows that getting sick is not the same for everyone: the equity issue
[1:08:57 - 1:15:02] Closing Segment
The other big pandemic is going to be mental health
Want to connect with Felipe? Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
Key Quotes:
"I don't think it's a choice because the problems are going to be there. I'
Simon Chadwick grew up in apartheid South Africa and saw the horrors of how totalitarian regimens gain power and oppress their people. His father, Bishop Graham Chadwick, was a prominent anti-apartheid activist who was exiled from the regime. Seeing clear parallels between those early experiences to what is happening in the United States, he wrote the For the People: A Citizens’ Manifesto to Shaping our Nation’s Future. He holds a Masters's Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. We talk about Trump, political dialogue, and the state of American democracy. Is good governance still possible? What are the challenges facing civil society? What comes next? While this interview was conducted before the Russian incursion into Ukraine, there are some relevant takeaways.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 11:11 ] Opening Segment
Simon's outlook on the American democracy
An overview of the Trump phenomenon
The lack of trust and skepticism on a public scale
[11:12 - 22: 17] The Citizen's Manifesto
The reasons why people voted for Trump and why they justies their vote
Why certain problems gain existential traction with the left versus the right
People believe there's no need to compromise in politics
[22:18 - 32:31] Younger Generations Have The Ability To Change Direction
How to respond to the extreme amount of anxiety and fear towards the future
Simon's top three policy proposals that could get America back on the right track
We've lost the idea of fellow citizens and society
[32:32 - 43:39] The Solution To The Political And Human Condition
The individual focus vs the societal focus
Why the government's role is to do anything more than just ensure security
Simon's insights about the issue of homelessness
[43:39 - 52:23] Closing Segment
How people get money out of politics
Want to connect with Simon? Head to www.simonchadwick.us, a citizen's manifesto to shaping our nation's future!
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Resources Mentioned:
The Dictator's Handbook - Bruce Bueno de Mesquita & Alastair Smith
Blue States, You're The Problem
Key Quotes:
Simon Chadwick - "If our economy isn't collapsing, which it isn't, the social fabric to use your words of society is severely endangered."
Simon Chadwick - "We paint the other side as the enemy. We've lost sight that actually they're just as American as we are, they know the same rights as we do."
Simon Chadwick - "The most successful changes in society have always come from younger generations deciding that they're going to do something about it."
I truly thought that at the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 would help bring us as a nation together. I was quickly disabused of that notion. More surprisingly were the attacks on the credibility of physicians and scientists themselves. Dr. Purvi Parikh knows these issues well and has been a frequent television commentator and bringer of sanity amidst the craziness of the last two years. She’s Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology at NYU Langone. She talks about the scientific method itself and the future of the medical establishment in a “post-pandemic world." the audio cuts out a bit in the beginning. hopefully, you can help clean it up a bit.
Purvi Parikh, MD, is an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit patient education organization for people with allergies, asthma, and related conditions. Dr. Parikh practices in New York City at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Murray Hill and New York University School of Medicine. She sits on the Board of Directors for the advocacy council of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 09:28] Opening Segment
An overview of the current state of the pandemic
What was once considered the end game for the pandemic may not be the case in future years
People are advocating for different ways to be more careful during flu season
[09:29 - 18:18] The Vaccine Recommendations
The reason why people need to be realistic about the normalization of 2019
The medical establishment has not done an effective job in communicating new recommendations
Vaccine hesitancy is due to myths propagated by the media
[18:19 - 27:04] The Lack of Coherent COVID-19 Strategies
Antibody tests are not the only measure of immunity
Dr. Purvi's outlook on the lack of a coherent COVID-19 strategy and confusion about how decisions about the virus have been made
There's a miscommunication between the administration and the medical community
[27:05 - 38:37] How The Government Has Responded To Different Crises
Why there is a lot of frustration with the government and politicians for their involvement in health care
People are concerned about other health crises that have been going on while COVID has been dominating the news
How the COVID pandemic has revealed different aspects of America
We need to be more understanding of both sides of the antiviral and vaccine controversies
[38:38 - 39:35] Closing Statement
Want to connect with Purvi Parikh? Follow her on LinkedIn, Instragram, and Twitter. If you want to learn more about her work and publications, head to https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1629212592/purvi-s-parikh
Key Quotes:
Purvi Parikh - "We're going to have to learn to live with this virus. I don't think it's going to go away, but hopefully it will become more manageable so that we don't have to go into panic as much."
Purvi Parikh - "Science is meant to evolve, it's meant to change, but it has to be based on data and evidence."
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Dr. Stanford is nothing less than an all-star. She is the most credentialed academic physician I’ve yet to meet and that’s saying something given the people I have had the privilege to work with. She’s a world-renown expert on obesity and operates a Harvard-based clinic and teaches in Boston, Mass. She discusses the genetics and stigma surrounding weight, the macro forces pushing us to eat more, and the stakeholders in our obesogenic environment. She offers a compelling throughline on the intersection of race, COVID-19, and weight. She explains why she feels fat is not people’s fault and the biology of obesity. She answers a puzzling question I have had in my clinical experience for years: why are physicians so reluctantly prescribing obesity and weight management medications? Metabolic-related conditions are already a leading river of disease in America and her insights are valuable for anyone looking to heal others or become healthier themselves. Listen and enjoy!
Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, MBA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FAMWA, FTOS is an obesity medicine physician-scientist, educator, and policymaker at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She is a national and international sought-after expert in obesity medicine who bridges the intersection of medicine, public health, policy, and disparities.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 12:30] - Opening Segment
Dr. Fatima's outlook on the parallel discussion about COVID and obesity
Why obesity is a complex disease and that targeting food alone is not effective
A moonshot for obesity is necessary to address the problem comprehensively
[12:31 - 21:03] Obesity, COVID-19, And Racism
How government interventions would be beneficial for both obesity and minority communities
How a woman's weight and minority status were factors that contributed to difficulty finding work
Why food policy and obesity policy are not the same
[21:04- 31:22] - The Reluctance To Use Medications
There is a lack of training for providers in obesity medicine
The reason why there is a lot of fear and reluctance to use medications to treat obesity
Care delivery for obesity will move beyond the clinic walls and into digital spaces
[31:23- 38:46] - Obesity Is Not About Aesthetics
The importance of understanding the brain in order to treat obesity
Obesity is a complex condition that is not simply a result of eating too much or not exercising enough
There are different factors that contribute to obesity
[38:47 - 39:25] - Closing Segment
Want to connect with Fatima Cody Stanford? Follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. If you want to learn more about her work, head to Harvard University, and Harvard Catalyst.
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Ethan Brown, the host of his amazing podcast the Sweaty Penguin, proves that satire can be smart and insightful. He studied at Boston University, obtaining a training in Environmental Analysis and Policy and Film and Television. He talks about science communication, his late-night approach to breaking down the climate news of the moment, and what he’s learned about bringing people together on the same page. Climate science much before COVID-19 has been politicized, trivialized and the wellspring of many false prophets. Ethan demonstrates how to cut through all that, describes his own experience crafting a podcast, and demonstrates how humor may be the best (climate) medicine. Listen and enjoy!
Ethan Brown is a graduate of Boston University and studied Environmental Analysis & Policy and Film & Television. Ethan was never the outdoorsy type growing up, but after studying the risks associated with climate change, he felt compelled to use his years of comedy writing experience as Editor-in-Chief of both his high school and college satire publications to communicate environmental issues to others in a fun and entertaining way.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 12:00] - Opening Segment
Humor is a tool that can be used to make climate change conversations more accessible and fun
How comedy can help to motivate people to engage with the issues more
The political and healthcare-related public health issues have become more politicized
[12:01 - 22:13] Comedy Was The Tool That Made Sense
Why conveying complex scientific information in an era of polarization and politicization is key
The reason why there has to be some entertainment value
Ethan’s experience using comedy to reach a new audience
[22:14- 29:15] - Climate Change is Already Causing Major Damage
How cities that are on coasts will be affected by sea-level rise
The main points about climate change and its effects on the economy
[29:16- 42:31] - Climate Change Requires a Multi-Faceted Approach
Individual action and sacrifice for the public good are important
Ethan’s outlook on the gap between Liberals and Conservatives when it comes to climate change
Leaders need to understand is that we need to be on the same team
[42:32 - 47:35] - Closing Segment
How nuance is important when making policy decisions
How The Sweaty Penguin educates people about climate change
You can connect with Ethan Brown through LinkedIn. Make sure to follow The Sweaty Penguin on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok. Head to https://thesweatypenguin.com/, learn more about climate change, and how humor may be the best (climate) medicine!
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Rememb
Larry Forletta and I don’t agree on many issues, but that’s why it was so valuable for me to have him on the show so I can learn from him. He’s a former DEA agent and now a private investigator and consultant in Pittsburgh. He’s got a hardboiled affect and demeanor that wouldn’t be out of place in a noir detective thriller. But he also speaks to the widespread anxiety that many people have about the safety of our communities and how our institutions of justice are failing to protect America. Now public safety concerns have hit Los Angeles and other cities with high-profile and smash grab thefts and follow home robberies. We are also in the aftermath of high-profile cases of George Floyd’s murder and the Rittenhouse verdict. I wanted Forletta’s thoughts on these topics who has a very clear sense of the world informed by his multiple years fighting the drug and crime epidemic on our streets. It was exciting to have a respectful conversation with someone who has an intelligent albeit different view of the world than I do. He also explains how the narcotic epidemic has become such a problem in America and how he feels that intersects with our immigration challenges.
Larry Forletta is the founder and CEO of Forletta Investigative Security Consulting and has over 25 years of professional law enforcement experience working for the Maryland State Police and the DEA. Forlettatakes a close look at topics within the worlds of criminal justice and true crime, as well as in-depth conversations about current issues facing law enforcement.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 11:09] - Opening Segment
An overview of the true-crime genre and its popularity in the United States
Larry’s insights about places where the law and order exist but have been subverted
The jury system is a valuable tool when used correctly, but can also be substandard when done improperly
[11:10 - 20:40] We’re Going Through a “Split In Our Country”
How the disparity between the treatment of white and black affects perceptions of justice
The application of law enforcement resources often results in black perpetrators being more likely to be prosecuted for crimes than white perpetrators
[20:41- 33:46] - We Should Be One with The United States of America
Why opioids such as fentanyl are becoming more dangerous in America
When the public does not talk about the problem of drug overdoses and addiction
What happens when law enforcement can disrupt the flow of drugs coming into the country
[33:47 - 41:23] - The Crime is Out of Control
We cannot have a society with people shooting at each other at midday
We do put major drug traffickers in federal prison, although it's not talked about all the time
How law enforcement treat people when the crime is different
[41:24 - 53:57] - Respect People Regardless of Their Political Affiliation or Socioeconomic Status
People should be fair and realistic in their approach to law and order in minority communities
Blaming minority communities alone for issues like gun violence and poverty is not productive
An overview of a law enforcement professional's perspective on the sense of danger in society
[53:58 - 1:04:35] - Closing Segment
Larry’s outlook on the role of social workers dealing with domestic violence
Law enforcement must be able to identify and deal with mental health issues
Want to connect with Larry Forletta? Follow him on LinkedIn. Head to Forletta, you can trust that your best interests are our top priority. Our private detectives are ready and able to assist you with finding the solution to any issues you are experiencing. Don’t forget to listen to
Have you ever wondered how you can transform your body and life for good? In this week’s episode, Akash Vaghela will share his insights about the current status of the fitness industry, and why he believes people should begin to take ownership of their own health and wellness. Akash is the Founder of RNT Fitness, where his mission is to see a world where everyone experiences the power of a physical body transformation to act as a vehicle for the greater good in their lives. He’s the author of Transform Your Body Transform Your Life and host of the RNT Fitness Radio. His book gives you the blueprint for transforming your body and your life, by guiding you through the RNT Transformation Journey. This five-phase process will arm you with the tools to finally get into the shape of your life, for life, and experience incredible benefits that transcend the physical.
Let’s dive into the future of fitness!
Key Highlights:
[00:01 -08:49] - Opening Segment
How fitness and nutrition are not emphasized enough by medical and governing bodies
What the fine line is between public safety and individual liberty
The government should have done more to protect its citizens from the pandemic
[08:50 - 18:49] Fitness Professionals Should Be Aware of The Obesity Crisis
Akash explains the current state of the fitness industry
The difference between the online fitness training vs the in personal training
Fitness professionals should help people become proactive about their health physically and emotionally
[18:50- 29:13] - Individuals Need to Be Engaged in Healthy Behaviors on Their Own
Why it is difficult to scale solutions to obesity and nutrition-related health issues
We need to dive into psychological states and mindsets to engage individuals in healthy behaviors
The government needs to shift its focus to serving the public and not fulfilling their own needs
[29:14 - 41:10] - Individual Behavior is Linked to Larger Social Consequences
It's important to target obesity early in life in order to make the biggest impact
Obesity is a problem that many people are not aware of, and they do not care about it
The role of social perceptions of what it means to be vegan, including myths around that
[41:11 - 48:38] - Closing Segment
The fitness industry is going to face challenges in the future due to the obesity crisis and people's unwillingness to change their lifestyles
Want to connect with Akash Vaghela? Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Go and visit RTNFitness, transform your body, transform your life!
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Resources Mentioned:
Do you want to be a more sustainable consumer but don’t know where to start? There are different ways in which we can keep ourselves healthy and save the planet. That’s what Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes discloses in her book Recipe for Survival: What You Can Do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life. This book outlines the problems we are facing and presents ideas or 'recipes' to empower us, to help us all make a difference. Pay close attention since Dr. Dana will show us how our daily choices have a great impact on the environment. Let’s dive into how to eat to save the world!
Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes is an Assistant Professor with the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA and a Senior Dietitian at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. She has dedicated herself to understanding the relationships between climate change, food choices, and food security, and how they affect our health. She earned her BS in nutrition and human biology from Cornell University, her RD at Emory University, and her Masters of Public Health (MPH) and Ph.D. in climate change and food security from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 -09:56] - Opening Segment
Dr. Dana’s insights about the climate implications of food
What could happen if we don't reform the way that we grow food and handle meat
What we eat is a big contributor to the environmental emissions
[09:57 - 18:31] The Ticking Clock Right Time is Critical Here with Climate Change
How showing people real-world comparisons can make the difference
Dr. Dana’s outlook on why meat oriented dishes, restaurants, and cuisine tend to be considered more sophisticated
Conflicts between personal health or what we believe some foods might be in terms of their health value versus their ecological impact
[18:32- 28:02] - Provide Healthy and Environmentally Friendly Foods
Dr. Dana explains what milk alternatives she recommends
The explosion and startups with mock meats and plant-based meats
The current status of private businesses providing healthy but environmentally friendly foods
What the implication for health differences are between different kinds of eggs
[28:03 - 37:40] - Keep Ourselves Healthy But Not Destroy The Planet At The Same Time
The reason why Dr. Dana decided to write the book
Understanding the role of food in our culture
How do we get a healthier dialogue about food
[37:41 - 39:11] - Closing Segment
Want to connect with Dana Ellis? Follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Head to Dana Ellis Hunnes, and learn more about the actions we can all take, starting today.
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Many people have talked about homelessness but few have actually talked to the homeless themselves. Fewer yet have seen them in their full humanity. And only one person has committed over a decade to chronicle their stories. Josh Hayes is that person with his seminal work The Invisible Class. He expertly weaves individual narratives of those on the streets with a breakdown of systemic causes of the homelessness crisis. He challenges both conservative and liberal orthodoxies on this topic. If you want to understand how homelessness in America has become a major humanitarian crisis in many urban cities in the country, including Los Angeles, this is a must-listen.
As the founder of Upstart Media Josh has worked in all aspects of media creation for nearly 15 years and specializes in all things video production. This includes filming, editing, directing, producing, podcast production, and more. Along the way he has worked with a broad list of clients ranging from technology companies (Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Facebook, YouTube), publishers (Washington Post, USA Today, New York Times), music acts (Moby, Cypress Hill, Santigold, Janelle Monae), sports organizations (Turner Sports, MTV Sports) and a large variety of small businesses and boutique brands.
Key Highlights:
[00:01 - 11:59] - Opening Segment
How Josh believes The Invisible Class can help shift the perception of homelessness in society
Advocates are there fighting for affordable housing and it's not always accessible or affordable
Josh’s insights about student debt
Why it costs 9 times more to make affordable housing than simply pay for the units to be fixed
[12:00 - 21:48] The Homeless Community is Diverse
The reason why the private sector is not the main player in solving homelessness
How the cost of living in cities affects people who are homeless and low-income
There are other ways to address homelessness other than through criminalization
There are many different types of people who are homeless
[21:49- 33:54] - The Goal of Documentary Film is to Educate and Agitate
People should change their mindset and not just focus on the negative aspects
Why the Olympics can be a powerful tool to bring attention to the city's problems with homelessness
The importance of being objective and real when making documentaries
[33:55 - 40:30] - It Can Be Difficult to Find Relevant Homeless Documentaries
Video is one of the most powerful tools to help people learn and understand complex topics
Why it is difficult for documentaries to be noticed
How much it costs to release a documentary on Netflix
[40:31 - 52:49] - The Importance of Acknowledging People's Humanity
Josh shares his outlook on street medicine documentaries
How impact distribution can be helpful for films
How to engage with people who are homeless and how to help end homelessness
Josh’s experience in an interview with a social worker
[52:50 - 1:01:27] - Closing Segment
The more time you spend volunteering, the more opinions you will have about important issues
It's important to find something that you're comfortable with
Want to connect with Josh Hayes? Follow him on LinkedIn, and Twitter. Make sure to visit https://www.visualanarchy.tv/upstartmedia, the history of homelessness in America. We Foster Equality Through Video Production.
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Fully indoctrinated into the cult of science, neuroscientist Mona Sobhani, Ph.D., aggressively defended the dogma of scientific beliefs--until a series of life-altering events caused her to reconsider spirituality and psi concepts and launched her into a two-year investigation into the ineffable mysteries of our world. In this episode, she will be sharing her outlook on the emerging field of psychedelic science, consciousness therapies, the convergence of neuroscience and mental health, psychology, spirituality, and technology.
Mona is a cognitive neuroscientist, researcher, and author with 14+ years of experience and a passion for exploring how science and technology intersect with society and affect human health and well-being. She has explored this theme through cognitive neuroscience, law + neuroscience, digital health, as well as working with startups and venture capital. Recently, She has become interested in consciousness and exploring how science (specifically neuroscience and psychology) can be bridged with spirituality to help us understand the world in which we live.
Let’s jump into the emerging use of psychedelics!
Key Highlights:
[00:45 -07:35] - Opening Segment
- An overview of the threats to consciousness
- How something that was very controversial in the 60s-70s get so mainstream
- Dr. Mona’s insights about psychedelics
[07:36 - 20:12] The Psychological and Healing Aspect of Psychedelics
- How to use psychedelics as opposed to just knowing what these compounds do
- How Dr. Mona conducts clinical trials on a topic that is subjective as anxiety and depression
[20:13- 31:17] - The Fascinating Commonality with How Users Have Described Their Experiences
- The limitations of the reductionist approach
- Dr. Mona's outlook on the model consciousness and the altered state of consciousness
- The language commonality in terms of how people experience psychedelics
[31:18 - 40:17] - The Distinction Between Having and not Having Boundaries
- Why people believe psychedelics effects are a manifestation of your own biases
- You feel there are no boundaries with psychedelics and other nonordinary states of consciousness
[40:18 - 48:35] - The Biggest Thing in Our Reality is Our Consciousness
- Dr. Mona shares her experience with psychedelics
- What is the role of psychedelics for us as species and as a country
- The reason why the relationship between us and our environments is important
[48:36 - 50:02] - Closing Segment
- Want to connect with Mona Sobhani? Follow her on LinkedIn, and Twitter. If you want to learn more about her work, head to Mona Sobhani Ph.D., and make sure to check her substack The Brave New World of Psychedelics Science.
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One of the biggest issues that COVID has brought is the debate on vaccine mandates and hesitancy. People have various opinions about vaccines, some are for and others are against them due to different factors. Today, I have a deep conversation about this topic with Michael Cousineau Ph.D. He will be talking about his outlook on the current status of American healthcare and politics. He also shares his thoughts about health care literacy and health-science education in the US. Pay close attention since Dr. Michael discloses future challenges that public health will face in the US.
Michael R. Cousineau is currently a Clinical Professor Emeritus in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Family Medicine at USC. He has a joint appointment in the Sol Price School of Public Policy. He teaches in both the Masters in Public Health program and the Professionalism and the Practice of Medicine. He attended U.C. Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in genetics and has a master's and a doctorate from the UCLA School of Public Health. His work focuses on health policy and health services and evaluation research, access to care for the low-income uninsured, governance and operation of safety-net providers including public hospitals, community-based clinics, and health centers; and health needs of vulnerable populations including homeless people.
Listen and enjoy!
Key Highlights:
[00:45 -11:28] - Opening Segment
- The current status of American healthcare and politics
- Dr. Michael’s outlook on health care literacy and health and science education in the US
- Why core facts that used to be uncontroversial are now tools in a political culture
[11:29 - 22:32] - Complex Social Educational Theories to Understand Health Behavior
- The reason why public health individuals are going from heroes to villains
- Facebook is destroying democracy and public health
- The issue of vaccine mandates and hesitancy
[22:33- 35:33] - COVID and The Abortion Debate
- Dr. Michael’s thoughts about people that avoid vaccines
- The role of states in healthcare
- Why the right doesn't see vaccine mandates as a pro-life mandates
[35:34 - 46:03] - The Issues of Culture, Trust, And The Breakdown in Civic Engagement
- Future challenges that public health will face in the US
- What we think as a society might mean about how we approach other health problems
- Being in a place where the common good is decimated
[46:04 - 58:06] - Incorporate More Public Health Functions Into Medical Education
- Why public health should enter into the new political sphere
- How we can focus on communal solutions as opposed to an individual focus
- The components of the modern armamentarium of the modern public health soldier
- Dr. Michael’s outlook on what historians will write about America's unique response to the COVID pandemic
[58:07 - 59:40] - Closing Segment
- If you want to learn more about Michael Cousineau and what he does, follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Did you know that soil can be one of our greatest solutions to climate change mitigation? If we understand the relationship between soil and humanity, we can rebuild our ecosystems and have healthy plants and people. In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Marci Zaroff about her mission of leveraging the power of fashion to expand organic and regenerative agriculture through education. She remarks on why we must give back to the earth what we take from it and how it is possible to change the world and look really good at the same time.
Marci has been instrumental in driving authenticity, environmental leadership & social justice worldwide for nearly three decades. With a degree from the Haas Business School at UC Berkeley, Marci co-founded a thriving health & environmental educational center in 1990 with an organic café, AVEDA concept salon, and national magazine. Now known as The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the largest professional health coach certification program in the world. Listen and enjoy!
Key Highlights:
[00:45 - 04:56] - Opening Segment
- Marci shares her background and story
- Marci’s outlook on how the way people live impacts business and the planet
[04:57 - 18:18] - Soil is The Skin of The Earth
- How Marci gained confidence in her vision since the ’90s
- The current status of oil as it relates to clothing and food
- Ways people could be more responsible when interacting with the immune system
[18:19 - 28:01] - Connecting Food, Textiles and Beauty
- How circularity and eco-fashion could help to address soil depleting effects
- Marci shares a transformative paradigm-shifting moment
[28:02 - 35:12] - Co-Creating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World
- The paradox about millennial consumers and their perspective of eco-fashion
- Marci introduces her book ECOrenaissance and her Thread documentary
- How to make sustainability easy for other brands and retailers
[35:13 - 41:12] - Taking Circularity and Regeneration
- Tips for consumers to make better choices at the moment of shopping
- How big companies are working together to transform the fashion industry
- The government relation and regulatory standard vs the industry's self-organizing
[41:13 - 45:54] - Business Models Built on People, Planet, Profit, Passion, and Purpose
- The future of fashion, clean living, and eating in the next 5-10 years
- The importance of embedding organic, sustainable, regenerative, and socially conscious strategies into your business model
[45:54 - 48:24] - Closing Segment
- Connect with Marci Zaroff through Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Check out Yes And. Head to ecofashioncorp, empowering conscious consumers and businesses to live in ways that are regenerative for body, soul, and planet!
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In this episode, Rusha interviews Nicole Dyson, who describes how she uses inquiry-based learning in her classroom to help students understand and remember the material. Inquiry-based learning is a future-focused approach to a curriculum where students are engaged in hands-on projects that allow them to explore their passions and develop their skills. Nicole explains many barriers to scaling inquiry-based learning, including the assumption that teachers know how to design this type of curriculum. The biggest challenge is that schools and systems invest in professional learning but not the capacity building necessary for teachers to implement inquiry-based learning.
Key Highlights:
[00:45 - 05:47] - Opening segment
- Rusha introduces Nicole Dyson
- Nicole shares her story
[05:47 - 11:38] - Staying relevant as an educator
- Nicole stresses the importance of making education purposeful for students
- It takes time and effort to build trust with students
- Educators should ensure that learning is contextual for their students
[11:38 - 18:24] - Making a difference in the classroom
- Nicole shares some early mistakes she made and two rules she created as a result
- Progress takes time and consistent effort.
- Simplifying your expectations is key
[18:24 - 26:14] - Maintaining control in the classroom
- The assessment may be mandated, but the way you get there is up to you
- You should be open to reimagining the learning experiences that you're providing
[26:14 - 30:51] - Preparing your student for the future
- The future is changing rapidly and you should make sure your students are prepared.
- Critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and innovation will be important in the future of work
- Educators will need to develop the skills necessary to help young people navigate this future.
[30:52 - 37:47] - Traditional Teaching vs. Project-Based Learning
- Nicole and Rusha discuss the differences between traditional teaching and project-based learning
- Nicole stresses the importance of ensuring that educators help students learn the application of knowledge
[37:47 - 44:37] - Inquiry Based Learning
- Nicole introduces a method of learning that allows students to ask questions and explore differently
- Nicole discusses the plan for implementing this method with schools and systems
[44:37 - 51:10] - Giving students autonomy
- We should be empowering students to love learning
- Helping students increase their capacity for learning is vital
- Inquiry-based learning supports this
[51:10 - 52:15] - Closing Segment
- Actionable tips to help educators make an impact in their classroom
- Nicole's vision of the education system in the future
- Avoiding a "beige" experience
- How to connect with Nicole Dyson at futureanything.com
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Welcome back to another episode of the Alchemy of Politics where we discuss solutions and avoid shouting. Today we get deeper into technology’s current affairs and the many ways experts try to push its improvements to our daily lives in this modern age. Let’s hear Professor Scott’s wisdom in regards to this matter.
Who is he?
J. Scott Christianson is the Associated Teaching Professor in the Management Department of the Robert J. Trulaske Sr, College of Business at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Few people are better able to comment on the role of technology in human capital development than him. In this wide-ranging interview, we cover his time in Ukraine and the early implications of Russia’s war on that country, what the role of technology is in society and how currency is changing with the rise of bitcoin and other block-chain technologies. Is the Zoom-ification of education good for kids and teachers ? Is Facebook really terrible for democracy? Can we ever close the technological Pandora’s box? Listen to the answers to these captivating questions and more.
[00:01 - 12:56] Opening Segment
- “Technology is a forced multiplier”
- Unique elements to technology that make it different
- We need to reclaim our right to decide
- Human agency and technological weather
- Amplification on Facebook is different
- Isn’t a threat we put so much emotion on technology?
[12:57 - 25:23] Resolved: I don’t want to be controlled
- Educate students to have deep thinking for other things
- Let’s quote Scott years back
- Technology and workforce
- The dawn of Artificial Intelligence
- The hope for a human-like approach to technology
- Conflicting interests existing
- Others say: technology needs to be taxed
[25:24 - 41:16] Technology’s use in Education
- Training students to be Globally Competitive amidst technology’s reign
- Can we “outsmart” Artificial intelligence?
- A collaborative work: feedback matters
- Behavior modification and technology
- “You actually use this?”
[41:17 - 50:19] Closing Segment
- Final words
Connect to Scott:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jscottchristianson/
https://jscottmo.medium.com/
https://frtech.substack.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPTIoqirZKP7bnI9h6_oymA
https://twitter.com/JScottMO
please see website for social media links:
https://www.christiansonjs.com/
Shoot him an email: christiansonjs@missouri.edu
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Why would a physician start a political and social commentary podcast? How is this show different from the other rant casts out there? Learn about the unique raison d'etre of this show and how you can participate to reform, reshape and rejuvenate the conversations that power our world to turn chaos into clarity.
And it all began here, today. Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Alchemy of Politics podcast!
[00:01 - 05:03] Opening Segment
- Why did I start this podcast
- A doctor talking about political issues? why?
- The premise of this show
- A response to a ‘viral’ seeker culture
- Here, we solve problems that matter
[05:04 - 11:48] A cure to misinformation
- A glimpse to the interesting conversations we’ll be having
- The larger motifs
- “Yeah, Rusha’s points really made sense!”
- You can learn here. You must learn something here.
- The policy solutions that can repair the world
- We seek to cross that existing divide
- We need to be honest about the problems we have
- Be a part of the community
[11:49 - 13:04] Closing Segment
- Tune in to the coming episodes for Season 1!
- Final words
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!
Share it with your friends, family, and spark a conversation. Contribute, comment, and disagree.
Remember: Solutions, not shouting.
Tweetable Quotes
"I needed an outlet to express my desire to comment and learn about the world beyond just pure clinical medicine.” - Dr. Rusha Modi
"Solutions, not shouting.” - Dr. Rusha Modi
"I hope you come away with the sense that, ‘I truly learned something’ and ‘I was trying to learn something.’ This is a seeker’s podcast in that regard. It’s not a progressive version of the Ben Shapiro show.” - Dr. Rusha Modi
"I’d rather you approach your own conclusions with greater intellectual and emotional clarity. That is the idea.” - Dr. Rusha Modi
The Alchemy of Politics Podcast is a place for weekly illuminating conversations on society's most wicked problems. Our host, Dr. Rusha Modi will be talking to creators, entrepreneurs, and local heroes, all of them professional troublemakers with worthwhile takes on world events. Dr. Rusa invites you into conversations that can push society forward and make the planet stronger and resilient in broken places. It’s the perfect time to address things differently and have a new and fresh perspective.
What are you waiting for? Head to Alchemy of Politics; join the conversation and start a change reaction! Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok.
You can connect with Dr. Rusha on LinkedIn, Instagram,Facebook, and Twitter.