straighttalkwithcathy: Recent Episodes
Cathy Robinson Pickett
This is a podcast with nationally known motivational speaker Cathy Robinson Pickett. It's her take on tough health topics!
World AIDS Week is fast approaching, and I'd like to cover some key points regarding HIV/AIDS. There has been a lot of misinformation about HIV with all the news coverage of Charlie Sheen's announcement, and it's important people know the facts.
- How does a person get HIV/AIDS?
- What are the treatment methods?
- How do sexually active people avoid getting HIV/AIDS and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)?
Respect. Yourself. Enough. To. Protect. Yourself.
Get tested this World AIDS Week! There are hundreds of free testing sites throughout the U.S. https://locator.aids.gov
Additional Resource Links: www.CDC.gov (HIV/AIDS, STIs) www.ProjectInform.org www.TheAIDSInstitute.org
Did you know the recent FSU shooting was the 91st school shooting since Newtown? INCOMPREHENSIBLE. It's time for our country to make a change -- NOW! We NEED Congress to pass major gun control legislation, and we (particularly young people and parents) need to demand that from them.
In this episode, I'm sharing with you my plea for effective gun control. What do I think about hunting guns/small-caliber handguns vs. assault weapons? Listen to this episode to find out what this "woman with something to say" has to say. I'm also bringing up the important topic of mental health counseling. Lastly, I'll be talking about the pending grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri. I am sincerely concerned for the safety of people in Ferguson and across our country. We need to have honest conversations with our friends & family and stress they need to be safe in the coming weeks.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
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The Great American Smokeout is coming up on Thursday, Nov. 20. Do YOU currently use tobacco, and are YOU ready to quit? Whether you smoke, dip, chew, or vape, there's no better time to start making the commitment to yourself, your family and friends. According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.
Discussion:
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Tons of quit programs & resources (many are FREE)
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One great resource is 1-877-U-CAN-NOW
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The addiction to nicotine
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Typical process for quitting
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Jessica's remarkable quit experience (one year out)
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Get pumped about episode 2 of Straight Talk with Cathy...
We're enthusiastically talking about the relaunch of Friends-Together! Joining me for the first time on the show is my son, Garrett Robinson.
Topics:
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History of Friends-Together (how it formed, who came together in the early years, strong focus on HIV/AIDS)
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What Friends-Together has recently been up to
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Our Future -- Creating a "Better Tomorrow" -- expanding our mission to cover more social justice issues. Educating and providing safe spaces for open and informed conversations on topics such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, domestic health, bullying and sexual orientation.
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Climb For A Cause -- Returning to Africa!
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Our Need for Donations & Volunteers
Learn more about Friends-Together and check out the new site at www.friendstogether.org.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Welcome to Season 6 of Straight Talk with Cathy!
It's been hard turning on the news in the last several weeks and hearing all of the updates surrounding the recent domestic violence scandals plaguing the NFL and other sports. What will the punishments of the players ultimately be? What's fair, and whether it comes to an athlete or an everyday person, how do we tackle this issue?
What we all need to know is domestic violence knows no boundaries. It doesn't matter what your socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, or religion is when it comes to this topic.
In this episode, we're talking about:
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The recent news coverage & penalties/consequences
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My domestic violence experience -- why I stayed
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History of domestic violence -- when did it start?
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Stopping the "pattern of bad behavior" -- example, quarterback at Florida State
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The different types of domestic violence (physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, economic, self-imposed) -- sharing examples and true stories
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
TODAY is WORLD AIDS DAY...What are you doing about it tomorrow?
I'm proud to say I'm as fired up and passionate about this topic as I was 21 years ago at the first event I attended publicly.
I'm pleased and optimistic about the numerous HIV/AIDS campaigns going around the world. There's a lot of great people out there doing great work. I am troubled, however, with some activists out there who don't feel like they are getting enough individual attention. My wish is they focus more on the message and less about receiving praise.
Let's not forget -- our work is NOT done. New infections occur every day in your neighborhoods and communities. We need to stay committed to the cause. I have NO SHAME about being HIV+ and am thankful for all of the opportunities I've had to educate the young and old and to stand up against discrimination. My hope is that folks use WORLD AIDS DAY as a reminder that this disease doesn't just affect people one day of the year!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
In this episode, we're talking about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Sexual Assaults.
As we post this podcast online, we're right in the heat of the government shutdown in the U.S. Two of the major reasons for this shutdown have to do with power and control. Our elected officials (Democrats and Republicans) are letting us down and abusing the power they have in their positions.
Transitioning to our show topic, abuse and control issues are significant parts of domestic violence and sexual assaults. This October, we're asked to TAKE BACK THE NIGHT. Let's do that very thing by helping victims take back the control in their lives and by educating one another that physical abuse is a big part of domestic violence but that there are many other types of domestic violence that occur EVERY DAY that we all need to know about.
Take a stand against domestic violence! Tune in this show to learn about the different types domestic violence and what and your loved ones can do if you find yourself in troubling situations and need help.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
In this episode, we're talking about tobacco. You CAN quit, and I should add, successfully quit! Whether it's smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, spitting tobacco, smoking a hookah, using and snoozing -- it doesn't matter. It's all tobacco and none of it is good for us. I haven't forgotten about e-cigarettes either!
Tune into this show and you'll learn about the harmful effects of using tobacco, but more importantly, I'll share some of the key steps to help you kick this dangerous habit.
Deciding to quit using tobacco products is a big decision. If you're making this life change, I am there with you and will do my best to help you succeed!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Technology has come so far and so fast! Long gone are the days of the 56k dial-up Internet connection and mobile phones the size of Zack Morris' phone on the hit TV show Saved by the Bell. Parents are giving their children as young as seven and eight years old brand new mobile devices. To get a sense of how many cellphones are really out there, listen to this new statistic released by the United Nations last month. Six billion people around the world have cellphones, but only 4.5 billion people have access to a clean a clean toilet!
In this episode, I'm starting a conversation on Straight Talk with Cathy about taking responsibility (no matter what age you are) when it comes to using mobile devices. Sexting and cyber bullying are becoming huge issues for K-12 and college students these days. We have to start talking about this issue more and educating youth and adults to make healthy and safe decisions when it comes to texting, posting words and images on social media sites and even being careful with emails.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Did you know 1 in 4 women report experiencing domestic violence in their lifetimes (CDC)? Nearly 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are assaulted by their partner each year in the U.S.
In recognition of the inability for Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, this podcast episode is all about domestic violence. February is also one of the domestic violence awareness months in our country.
We'll be talking about what types of abuses there are (including physical, verbal, economic, sexual and isolation) and how they impact people just like YOU.
Stand with us against domestic violence!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Did you know every 9 1/2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV?
In this podcast episode, I'm talking about World AIDS Day. This disease is not gone. Education and awareness are ABSOLUTELY NEEDED in our country!
My World AIDS Days over the years have been filled with joy, laughter, tears, hope, sadness, every emotion you can feel, but I have lived every one of those days. I'm still fighting the good fight and trying to educate and advocate, but I need YOUR help! This is not a "disease of the week." Until there's a cure, we have a lot more educating to do!
Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
You're a parent, grandparent, teacher, friend -- and you see school bullying going on. How do YOU respond? The school year recently started, and we're talking about this important subject. What are the signs of bullying, and how can you take action when you see it? There are plenty of great resources out there for everyone on this issue!
Podcast Episode Web Resources -- Bullying Resources for Parents, Teachers & Students http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Straight Talk with Cathy is tackling a tough issue this week -- sexual assault. Representative Todd Akin's remarks about rape and "legitimate rape" are alarming. This isn't a podcast episode about the politics of this issue. Sexual assault affects all people -- all races, it doesn't matter what initials you have around your name, how much money you make, what language you speak. Anyone can be a victim, including families and friends who have loved ones who have been victims. In this episode, I'll be talking about my personal story, sharing some important national statistics, and most importantly, I'll be providing resources. Sexual assault is a serious issue and communication around it is VERY important.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
It's that time of the year again -- back to school! As if you couldn't already tell with all the television commercials for notebooks, backpacks and pencils. Don't forget the expensive graphing calculator! Anyhoo, this episode, which starts season 4 of Straight Talk with Cathy, is all about getting ready for school. Parents and students -- please tune in -- we're talking about starting the year with excitement and hope. The start of school, whether elementary, middle, high school or college can be stressful. Bullying, new locations, dorm situations, drugs/alcohol are all safety topics that must be talked about. Having a plan for the year keeps everyone focused!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Over 100,000 people in the U.S. are currently waiting for organ donations. About 79 people each day receive transplants, but about 18 people each day die waiting on them. If those numbers don't drive the point home…one organ donor can save up to 8 lives. Those numbers are staggering! I am a proud supporter of organ donations. This episode is all about why donations are so important!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
In this episode, Sheila Hollowell joins us in studio for part two of a discussion about suicide awareness and dealing with crises. Sheila shares her story about being raped and her experience counseling victims. How do you overcome adversity and create a better life for yourself?
Sheila is the former director of community relations for Columbine High School Recovery Program, the former executive director of Crisis Service for Fairbanks, Alaska, the former executive director of Crisis to Help in Kanehoe, Hawaii, facilitator of the Surgeon General's National Strategy for Teen Suicide Prevention and facilitator for the National Suicide Help Line.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Season 3 of Straight Talk with Cathy is here with the New Year!
In this episode, Sheila Hollowell, joins us in studio to talk about suicide awareness. From school kids being bullied to adults in the workplace, suicide is a serious topic that needs to be talked about.
Sheila has a wealth of experience in this health area. She's the former director of community relations for Columbine High School Recovery Program, the former executive director of Crisis Service for Fairbanks, Alaska, the former executive director of Crisis to Help in Kanehoe, Hawaii, facilitator of the Surgeon General's National Strategy for Teen Suicide Prevention and facilitator for the National Suicide Help Line.
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
Perhaps the most powerful line we can put for in the description of this episode on Dec. 1st…
TODAY is World AIDS Day…What are YOU doing about it tomorrow?
This episode is dedicated to Debbie. We miss you!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
October kicks off National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Guess what -- I want YOU involved! I am joined in this episode (recorded earlier in the month) with Pastor Lee Steele and with two guests who are going to talk about their coming out experiences and bullying.
Don't be silent -- take a stand!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod
In this episode, I am reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the first U.S. HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Is HIV/AIDS still on the radar of Americans? Are we making progress fighting this battle? What ever happened to prevention? This year marks my 27th anniversary living with AIDS, and I can say one thing with certainty. I'm very grateful for all of the people in my life!
http://straighttalkwithcathy.com
http://twitter.com/straighttalkpod