Talk! with Audrey

Did you know? That Black Americans are up to 50 percent more likely to have high blood pressure when compared to other racial and ethnic groups, and Black/African American men have the highest rate of uncontrolled blood pressure?  Joining me to talk about the importance of controlling blood pressure in midlife (particularly for Black men ages 28 to 45 who are most at risk) to help reduce the risk of having a stroke and developing dementia and Mind Your Risks® campaign, Dr. Richard T. Benson, Ph.D. – Director, Office of Global Health and Health Disparities at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Despite representing a large proportion of the general population with a high disease burden, racial and ethnic minority populations have been consistently underrepresented in clinical trials. Dr. Elizabeth Ofili, professor of medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine and a practicing cardiologist with Morehouse Healthcare in Atlanta has information about a collaboration between Amgen, the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

According to PETA, a Harvard Medical School experimenter is permanently removing newborn monkeys from their mothers and depriving them of normal visual input, and students, faculty, and scientists—Including Dr. Jane Goodall— are demanding an end to outdated, curiosity-driven experiments. Katherine Roe, Ph.D., former NIH neuroscientist and chief scientist with the Laboratory Investigations Department at PETA, joins me to talk about the Harvard experiments and what PETA is doing to stop them.

33 Million Americans suffer from bothersome over-active bladder symptoms  or OAB,  a highly stigmatized condition, and many patients may feel embarrassed to talk about it or assume it is a normal part of aging. You don’t have to suffer unnecessarily, actor Holly Robinson Peete started having OAB symptoms several years ago and she joins me today to share her story. 

There are over 4,000 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from this year. It can be overwhelming, and confusing trying to understand if you need Parts A, B, C, or D. With the deadline looming it’s easy to make hasty decisions but that can all be avoided with careful planning. Medicare expert Fran Soistman, CEO of eHealth, joins me with tips to help you  beat the clock and make smart coverage selections. 

In California, the largest use of all urban water happens outdoors while watering landscapes.  Master Gardener and Community Restoration Ecologist, Cris Sarabia has tips to help you  transform your yard and outdoor space with beautiful native, water wise plants this fall.

Even though it affects nearly two-thirds of U.S. women, talking about bladder leaks, incontinence has always been taboo. Something to be embarrassed about. Well it’s time to talk about this very common condition and take control. Laura Gimbert is a certified doula, understands female biology, the challenges woman can face, and what they can do to help themselves. 

At 31-years-old, Meghan McKee was the picture of health. She worked as a physical therapist, ran, biked and did yoga, often exercising twice a day. She also ate a healthy diet filled with raw, unprocessed foods. Unfortunately, her healthy lifestyle wasn’t enough to stop a stroke. Meghan McKee, Stroke Survivor and Dr. Sheryl Martin-Schild, Stroke Medical Director at Touro Infirmary join me to talk about why everyone needs to learn the signs of a stroke.   

Dr. Ken Mask is a diagnostic radiologist and a true Renaissance man, with deep ties to New Orleans. He has written suspense novels inspired by New Orleans and produced a feature film, entitled "The Opera Game" set against the backdrop of 1850s New Orleans when child prodigy Paul Morphy rose to world chess champion stature.  Recently, Dr. Mask co-produced and directed the short film "Building Minds With Chess" a documentary focusing on the brain-building impact of chess and the value the game could have to children. 

"Building Minds With Chess" is an official selection of the 2023 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase.

An estimated one in 23 men and one in 25 women will develop colon cancer in their lifetime and with colorectal cancer, now the second most common cancer death in the US, it's vital that all adults get regular screenings for the disease. My guest today is Dr. Brian Caveney, Chief Medical Officer and president of LabCorp Diagnostics. We're going to talk about Labcorp's Count On You campaign and why early detection of colorectal cancer is vital, and an at-home test collection screening option.

A new survey from IBM reveals a variety of misconceptions about STEM skills. Joining me, Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM Chief Impact Officer. We talk about how IBM is helping underrepresented communities access STEM skills training and digital credentials, the impact of this work, how IBM SkillsBuild is helping learners worldwide, and how people can get involved. 

Millions of people in the United States live with eye conditions that can cause blindness if left untreated. One of the most common causes of vision loss later in life is age-related macular degeneration and wet AMD, an advanced form that can cause severe and rapid vision loss, but it can be stopped or slowed if caught early enough. Dr. Talia Kaden, is an ophthalmologist at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital joins me ways to help you prioritize your eye health and about treatments for wet AMD.

According to a recent Bank of America survey, more than three-in-four (77%) consumers think inflation will impact their ability to save toward their goals. Joining me, Robin Growley, Head of Consumer Deposits at Bank of America has some tips to help us reach our financial goals and information about America Saves Week.

The birth of a child is a joyous occasion for an entire family.  But for the families of American babies born each year with congenital heart disease (CHD), it can also bring fear and uncertainty. Dr. Matthew O’Connor, attending cardiologist and the Medical Director of the Heart Failure and Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)has information about innovations in cardiac care that can save and improve the lives of children with heart disease worldwide.

Technology innovation continues to accelerate exponentially and become more deeply linked with human capabilities. Jim Wilson, Global Managing Director of Thought Leadership & Technology Research at Accenture and co-author of “Radically Human” joins me  to talk about why companies are taking a human-centric approach to using technologies to innovate, grow and transform their businesses.

Following its groundbreaking announcement of the first scientifically-authenticated documentation of unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) in 2020, Genesis 2 Project LLCÔ (G2P) has continued their investigations of UAP recordings. Former Los Alamos National Labs biophysicist Dr. JC Van Velkinburgh and  former FBI Special Agent and Forensic Scientist in the Evidence Response Team Unit at the FBI Lab, Debra LaPrevotte join me to talk about  the worldwide expansion of its investigations into unidentified aerial phenomenon and the ongoing release of scientifically-authenticated UAP recordings from the Genesis 2 Project.

American Legion National Commander Vincent “Jim” Troiola  is hoping that Americans use Veterans Day as a time to remember and honor all who have served in the U.S. military since the nation’s founding. This year he is also imploring all Americans to “Be the One” to stop veteran suicide.