Talk! with Audrey

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Almost everyone would agree that health care is expensive, more specifically that illness or injury can be exceedingly costly, even with major medical insurance. But what many people don't know is that even with medical coverage, serious medical conditions could result in thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses, Personal Finance Expert, MANISHA THAKOR with information about how to prepare for the unexpected costs of illness and injury.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: One in two Americans suffers from diabesity, the condition of metabolic imbalance and disease that ranges from mild blood sugar imbalance to full-blown diabetes. Diabesity is the underlying cause that drives most chronic illness in the 21st century, including heart disease, stroke, dementia, and cancer, and the numbers of sick people keep growing. One in three children born today will have diabetes. We are now raising the first generation of Americans to live sicker and die younger than their parents. In The Blood Sugar Solution, Dr. Mark Hyman, Chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine and founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center, reveals the secret to losing weight and preventing diabesity.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Globalization is benefiting the medical field, opening the doors to adventures abroad for U.S. Educated critical care nurses who want to earn a great income and accelerate their career growth. ANN GRIFFIN, Senior Recruiting Specialist and Managing Director with Professional Connections joins me with information about how to apply for international nursing opportunities.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: For many schools, finding money in the budget for upgrades can seem impossible, especially if it means coming at the expense of the education offered and other necessities. Higher learning institutions across the country have been struggling with how to stretch this money as far as possible, and it’s no different for the United States’ 105 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). MELISSA GRAY BROWN, Manager, Multicultural Marketing, Home Depot joins me with information about The Home Depot Fourth Annual “Retool Your School” HBCU GRANT PROGRAM.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: New York Voices Against Gun Violence, a broad, newly-formed coalition of advocates, victims, youth organizations, health care workers, unions, elected officials, faith leaders and artists, announced today that they will hold a massive mobilization to promote the NY SAFE Act as a model for legislation at the federal level and in other states. Joining me on the show, Event Organizer and Community Advocate, APRIL TYLER and MARIE DELUS of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Thousands of people will gather in New York City, and others will speak out across the state, to focus attention on the human toll of the gun violence that is plaguing our nation on a daily basis. The coalition includes Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E., New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Doctors for America – NY State Chapter, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Million Moms March and many other groups.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: You’ve probably heard of hypertension or high blood pressure, but may not fully understand what it is or the risks it poses. To help us get to the heart of the matter, so to speak, DR. ANA STANKOVIC, a board certified nephrologist and medical director of nephrology at Parkland Medical Center in Derry, N.H. is my guest.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: New York Times bestselling author CARL WEBER is back with another story of drama, mystery, scandal, and intrigue. Meet Darryl Graham, or as his new neighbors call him, The Man in 3B.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: As we have all heard, the United States Postal Service announced plans to transition to a new delivery schedule during the week of August 5, 2013. Ronald Stroman, Deputy Postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service joins me to tell us all about the changes, I like to think of them as NO B.S. . . . No Bills Saturday's!

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: According to the Small Business Administration, there are over 27 million small businesses in the United States. Surprisingly, only 9 million of small businesses are active on social media. Joining me with tips for small businesses to maximize their online presence and get social, STEVE STRAUSS, Small Business Expert, USA Today Contributor.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: More than two-thirds of women are the primary breadwinners in their households, and more than half of supervisors and managers are women. Now that the workplace is transforming, what are the leadership skills that give women the edge? And how are women creating innovative career paths for the next generation? Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti,Vice President and Managing Director, Apollo Research Institute and Editor, Women Lead: Career Perspectives From Workplace Leaders.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: JAMES L. SWANSON is the Edgar Award winning author of the New York Times best seller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer. Swanson joins me on the show to talk about his book BLOODY CRIMES:The Chase for Jefferson Davis -and the- Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse. It is the in depth and untold story of two fallen leaders and their final journeys, one vilified and marked for vengeance; one revered and mourned. In April 1865, as the Civil War drew to a close and the hunt for John Wilkes Booth transfixed the nation, two other men embarked on their own, dramatic, final journeys. Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, was on the run, desperate to save his family, his country, and his dignity. The body of Abraham Lincoln, the recently assassinated president of the United States, was on a train bound for home, the grave, and everlasting glory.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: With Valentine’s Day come visions of flowers, chocolates and other tokens meant to demonstrate love and affection. However, no relationship comes without its own stresses. Joining top traditional couple-dom issues like work and finances as major causes of friction within marriages and serious relationships, computer and technology problems! JOHN GRAY, relationship expert, author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus joins me with tips to give your relationship a reboot!

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: From the archives . . . REVEREND LAURIE SUE BROCKWAY, the former editor for Beliefnet’s Family and Inspiration pages spoke to me in 2010 about Beliefnet’s Valentine’s Day collection, how to find your soul mate and how to celebrate all the possibilities of love. She is widely recognized as an expert on interfaith, intercultural and nondenominational weddings. You can now find REVEREND LAURIE SUE BROCKWAY at Everyday Health.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Joining me with countless ways to shake off the pressure to be in love, and how to cope, maybe even have a good time, on the dumbest holiday of the year (V-Day.) Maryjane Fahey and Caryn Beth Rosenthal the authors of DUMPED, the ultimate post-breakup bible for women. It’s a smart, sassy, and visually fun book that will inspire you to take charge of your lives, get over your exes, and get off your a-- and have fun!

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year’s flu season has been dominated by the influenza A (H3N2) strain. There are preventative measures we can take to reduce our risk of exposure and boost our immune systems; and joining me with Important Tips to Help you Survive this year’s Flu Season is Registered Pharmacist and Nationally Recognized Medical Correspondent, JIM MORELLI.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Automakers purchased a significant amount of the ad time during the 2013 Super Bowl game; but which ones captured the attention of people actually shopping for a car? AutoTrader.com analyzed the activity of millions of consumers who visit the site to determine which ads worked, which didn’t and why, JOHN KOVAC, Vice President of Consumer Marketing for AutoTrader.com joins me with the results.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: One of the world’s leading experimental psychologists and an expert on the science of optimism, ELAINE FOX has spent more than twenty years studying how people interpret the world around them. Her research heralded discussion about a possible “optimism gene” and her work has been featured in a range of publications, including Nature, Science, New Scientist, The Economist, and the New York Times. In 2009, she appeared on-camera with Michael J. Fox in the documentary, “Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.” In her book RAINY BRAIN, SUNNY BRAIN Fox explores the ways in which we can retrain our brains to view the world with a positive outlook.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Americans love a great steak no matter what time of year but especially during football season and for those of you ready to tackle the grill I called an expert, LongHorn Steakhouse Executive Chef KURT HANKINS to give us some tips and tricks for grilling a perfect steak.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: The U.S. Postal Service is known as the “Official Shipper of the Holidays” and they are expecting more than 15 billion cards, letters and packages to be sent between now and Christmas Eve this year! RONALD STROMAN, Deputy Postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service has tips on how to send holiday cards and packages this season to ensure they arrive on time and help you avoid Holiday headaches.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: One of the most worrisome moments in any mom’s life is when her child is diagnosed with a health issue that she is unsure about. A recent survey found that over three quarters of moms with children who suffered from eczema did not feel knowledgeable about the condition. As Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital, in San Diego, DR. LAWRENCE EICHENFIELD has spent his professional life researching and practicing pediatric and adolescent dermatology and tells us about a new Free Eczema App that provides a one-stop information and tracking resource for patients and parents.