Talk! With Audrey

As millions of Americans continue to spend unprecedented amounts of time at home, it also means spending more time with their pets – including cat owners with cat allergen sensitivities. A team of innovative scientists has developed a new way to manage allergens through cat food. Dr. Kurt Venator, Chief Veterinary Officer, Purina  joins me to talk about the science behind this breakthrough and he has some tips for bonding with your cat while managing cat allergens at home.

Approximately 44 million Americans are uninsured, making it nearly impossible for them to regularly fill their prescription medications and get regular access to healthcare. Even many of those with health insurance – more than 40% - still find that it doesn’t always cover every type of medication or healthcare service. This often results in people making the difficult decision to forego medically necessary medications and skip doctor visits due to cost. Tori Marsh MPH, public health expert and Health Insights Analyst for GoodRx joins me to talk about what Americans can do when health insurance doesn’t cover your healthcare needs.

Prior to the pandemic, the disability community advocated to work from home, as a reasonable accommodation, and was often denied.  Ongoing stay-at-home orders in many U.S. states and cities have normalized working from home and modified work schedules. Managers are seeing that being in the office is not the only path to collaboration and creativity. The new workplace environment is a ‘silver lining’ that may create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. My guests are David Shurna, No Barriers USA executive director and Kathy Martinez, Disability and Accessibility Strategy for Wells  Fargo.

Every year, close to 800,000 Americans have a stroke. Even during a pandemic, stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency and health officials and medical groups across the country, including the American Heart Association, are urging people to seek immediate medical attention. Joining me with the signs and symptoms, world-renowned stroke expert Dr. Patrick Lyden, Professor of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai – Los Angeles.

The ESSENCE Festival, is an unprecedented weekend of cultural celebrations, empowerment seminars and nightly musical performances by top tier artists is regarded as the event of the year for black talent and culture.  For the first time ESSENCE Festival 2020 is going to be virtual. Head of Brand Strategy and Growth Audience Marketing at Ford Motor Company, Raj Register joins me to talk about their commitment to African American women, their presence at ESSENCE Festival and what we can expect to see from the panel discussions.

Patients with autoimmune diseases are at higher risk for severe complications of COVID-19 which means that social distancing guidelines may be in place for autoimmune patients longer than the general public, joining me with information about a new online platform to offer personalized resources and unite patients with Myasthenia Gravis in a time of social distancing,  Dr. Ericka Greene, Program Director, Neurology Residency and Neuromuscular Medicine Residence, Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas and Rachel Higgins, patient and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Community Leader, from Austin, Texas.

We all love our pets and want to keep them healthy. Merck Animal Health created the BRAVECTO Cares program, which focuses on the wellness of family pets and also supports National Education for Assistance Dog Services, NEADS® – an organization that trains service dogs. Joining me to discuss the program and share some pet wellness tips are veterinarian and U.S. Army Major with the Veterinary Corps, Dr. Mark Pelham, and NEADS® service dog trainer, Becca Hill.

It’s no secret that loneliness among our older adult population was at an all-time high even before COVID-19.  With orders to stay at home blanketing the nation, the issue of isolation and loneliness was magnified. Cox Communications addressed this issue head-on with their One Call a Day volunteer program. To tell us all about it, Cox Broadcasting Order Management, San Diego volunteer and mom of 4, Cynthia Fletes and her friend Lucy, 82 years young and grandma to 19.  We talk about how the program has made a positive impact on their lives.

Businesses across the country are preparing to reopen their offices, and with that, health and safety has become the number one priority. Workplace solutions expert and Vice President, Members and Brand at The HON Company, Jennifer Petersen joins me has insight into what the traditional office setting will likely look when employees return to work.

Dr. Cherian Karunapuzha discusses the impact of Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) and how it can cause physical changes that may lead to functional and emotional changes.

Dr. Jay Shubrook, is a board certified Family Physician and a Fellowship Trained Diabetologist.He provides clinical care at Solano County Family Health Services and NorthBay Diabetes and Endocrine Center and Director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Services, Touro University California, College of Osteopathic Medicine. We talk about COVID, diabetes and testing.

The current pandemic has upended so many aspects of everyday life, but for people considering pregnancy or already pregnant, those changes can feel even more overwhelming. Women’s health expert and genetic counsellor Julia Wilkinson has some specific steps you and your partner can do during this time while you’re at home to make sure you’re ready for your next appointment – either via telemedicine or in person.

Have you packed on a few pounds recently and want to shed a few pounds? Conventional diet wisdom tells us we should avoid carbs, have an early dinner, and never eat before bedtime. My guest is fitness expert, nutritionist, and BioTrust Co-Founder, Joel Marion. He's authored the book Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight and he tells us all about it.

For many businesses, e-commerce is booming but others are scrambling to get customers to their website and funnel. Every year, tens of thousands of businesses start and fail because the entrepreneurs don’t understand one essential skill: the art and science of getting consumers to find you. My guest is best selling author and CEO of $100M software company ClickFunnels, Russell Brunson. We talk about his new book Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers.

The coronavirus pandemic has reminded us all about the power and importance of helping each other. For many people, there seems to be little that they can do to help scientists find medical treatments for coronavirus, or they might be unsure how to get involved in the fight against COVID-19.  Juan Hindo, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, IBM joins me to discuss their World Community Grid project on coronavirus, "OpenPandemics - COVID19,” the potential for the research and how everyone can get involved and join the fight against COVID-19.

Daniel Krook, the Chief Technology Officer of IBM Code and Response and Call for Code joins me with information about IBM Call for Code, a $30 million five-year global challenge,  working with the global developer community to find new solutions to help fight the pandemic now and in the future.

With the spread of COVID-19, the dental profession is doing its’ part to mitigate the spread of coronavirus by postponing non-emergency dental procedures. But what should people do in a true dental emergency? What constitutes a dental emergency and where to go so as not to further overload already overwhelmed hospitals? My guest is Dr. Alan H. Gluskin, D.D.S: President of the American Association of Endodontists.

When crises occur, our first responders put their own lives on the line to save others. Part of the mission of the Gary Sinise Foundation is to serve and protect those who so bravely protect us. Jess Egerton, Director of Brand Development for Cooper Tires, and Elizabeth Fields, COO at the Gary Sinise Foundation, join me to recognize the heroic work of our nation’s first responders.

Whether it is automobile, homeowners, renters, or life insurance, now is a good time to review your current policies to see how you can save money on premiums and; which policies may need to be adjusted.  Janet Ruiz, Director, Strategic Communication, the Insurance Information Institute has tips to help you make remain savvy with your coverage during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Contracting and treating COVID-19 can be worrisome for people with diabetes, with this in mind, Eli Lilly and Company and Beyond Type 1, a diabetes advocacy group, are working to ensure that people living with diabetes are prepared to manage their condition throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. My guests are Andy Vicari, Senior Director & U.S. Brand Leader, Insulins, Eli Lilly and Company and Dr. Anne Peters, Beyond Type 1 Science Advisory Committee.