Talk! With Audrey

According to a new survey from Quickbooks, for small business owners across the country, the holiday hustle and pressure to make sales is real. In fact, U.S. small business owners may depend on holiday sales to make up at least a third of their annual revenue this year. Business owners across the country have to work extra hard— especially women business owners. Pam Seagle, Global Women’s Program Executive at Bank of America, joins me to talk about the challenges that women business owners may be facing this holiday season and how consumers can support women-owned businesses. 

A new survey of a thousand parents from The Toy Guy found parents are looking for toys that deliver outstanding and engaging play experiences. But, you know, not every toy works for every kid. Chris Burns. Also known as The Toy Guy, wants parents to know that the hot toy is only hot if it's hot for your kid. And he joins me today and he's also going to share some of the best strategies for finding, buying, and delivering great play experiences.

the deadline for Medicare's annual enrollment period, also known as AEP, is quickly approaching. And for those who qualify, the Medicare AEP is open now through December 7th. And this is going to be the last opportunity to secure comprehensive health coverage for 2025. And this includes Medicare Advantage plans, which are affordable and offer options beyond original Medicare. Joining me now, Gary Culp, the Chief Distribution Officer for Cigna Healthcare's Medicare Business, to tell us more about the different Medicare options.

New York City public schools are constantly facing financial pressures with the looming threat of losing funding for extracurricular activities, and often administrators have no choice but to reallocate funds, leaving less money available for after school programs, art, music, and cultural enrichment activities, such as off campus field trips and educational excursions abroad. The New York non profit, The Trip Foundation,  aims to bridge the gap by providing funds for public high schools in underserved areas so that all students can have the opportunity to explore a world that so many of us take for granted. My guest today is founder and CEO of the Trip Foundation, Lidge Lewis, and we're going to talk about the positive impact of educational field trips across the U.S.

Montez Davidson and her daughter and advocate, Kasara Davidson graciously share what it’s like to live with sickle cell disease.

The entrepreneurial journey can be a roller coaster of triumphant victories and humbling defeats, born from sweat, tears, and relentless determination. Shawn Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac, launched his business out of his parents’ house when he was still a student. Nelson won Richard Branson's "The Rebel Billionaire" on Fox and he joins me to share his personal story, his podcast series and new book, LET ME SAVE YOU 25 YEARS: A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS.

Dr. Phil Nimoityn with the Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia explains how heart disease develops and how to reduce certain risk factors through lifestyle changes and a new medication.   

Summer in Death Valley may be hot, but it offers a unique advantage: fewer crowds. This translates to a more intimate, affordable, and secluded experience in Death Valley National Park. If prepared for the heat, this could be the perfect time to explore one of America’s true national treasures. Laura Begley Bloom, a senior contributor with Forbes and senior writer for TripAdvisor, has an insider’s look at how to enjoy the park in the summer

Older adults (age 65 and over) often shoulder a significant portion of healthcare costs but may not always receive the care they prefer. This month, FAIR Health, with generous support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, launched FAIRHealthOlderAdults.org, a free website that offers tools, educational content and resources to help older adults and family caregivers plan for care relevant to older adults. FAIR Health Executive Director of Grants and Consumer Education,  Nicole Iny joins me to tell us more about the new website and how patients can have a voice in what happens as their health needs grow.  

Dr. Joanne Mortimer, a medical oncologist at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jessica, who was diagnosed with breast cancer join me to talk about the importance of BRCA mutation testing, and how knowing her BRCA mutation status led to routine cancer screenings that Jessica says saved her life.

From cash stuffing to loud budgeting, when there’s a new personal finance trend every month, it can be challenging to decipher the best way to keep your finances in shape. Rising costs haven’t made it easier, especially as consumers navigate building up their savings amidst higher costs of living.  America Saves Week is a time for people at all stages of their financial journey to reevaluate their finances, identify smart saving strategies and take control of their financial futures. Robin Growley, Bank of America’s Savings and Budgeting Guru, joins me to discuss strategies for conducting a financial wellness check.

What would make Tamim Hamid, a former NASA biomedical engineer working at the Kennedy Space Center invent a device that regrows hair and write a book about it? Well, today we're going to find out; he's the author of Grow It Back, How Laser Phototherapy Stops Hair Loss and Regrows Your Hair.

Registered nurse and psychotherapist Laurie Elizabeth Murphy draws on her own experience working in the field to create a uniquely intellectual and entertaining mystery in her new book, Dream Me  Home. It's a chilling mystery, a story of betrayal, infidelity, and love.

Genealogist and health educator Bernice Bennett, host of Alnylam’s  Family Health History Road Trip program, traveled and visited families affected by an inherited condition called hereditary ATTR amyloidosis – She is joined by Giselle, whose father’s diagnosis solved her own health puzzle and why it’s so important for families to discuss their health history with each other, and with their doctors. 

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.