Talk! With Audrey

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: MARK VELLECA,Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is my guest. On October 1, 2013, as part of the new Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance exchanges opened for enrollment and millions of Americans who were previously uninsured now have the opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage effective in 2014. The new health care legislation poses some specific challenges for cancer patients, including those with a blood cancer.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: CLAUDIA CHAN is an inspirational women's leadership and lifestyle expert who has dedicated 12 years to entertaining and empowering women. Her mission is to empower and inspire a generation of women to dream and do big with passion and purpose and to do it with impact! Claudia joins me on the show this week to talk about S.H.E. SUMMIT WEEK, a Global Leadership and Lifestyle Event for Women, designed to inspire modern women personally and professionally.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Although everyone is aware of skin cancer and the role of sunscreen in helping to prevent it, the details that will save lives are often surprising even to savvy consumers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken steps on multiple fronts to protect consumers from the skin damage that can be caused by too much exposure to the sun. DR. REYNOLD TAN, FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Regulation Development joins me with sun protection tips, how the FDA is helping protect consumers and to tell us all about NATIONAL DON’T FRY DAY.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: Do you know someone affected by breast cancer? No doubt we all do, and sometimes it’s hard to know how to help. FujiFilm Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc. and the National Breast Cancer Foundation are working together to raise awareness and encourage all women to understand the importance of early detection of breast cancer. The partnership recently launched Images of Health, a campaign designed to provide educational resources and support for breast cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones. BETTY DEDON, is a Breast Cancer Survivor and the Product & Marketing Manager, Women’s Health Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A. Inc.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: This week, I decided to go back to into my archives and because Mother's Day is Sunday, I thought my exclusive interviews with celebrity moms might be of interest to you.These interviews were recorded in 2007 to promote the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment's ( NABFEME) Annual Conference. Founded by former entertainment executive, JOHNNIE WALKER, NABFEME promotes the entry, development and advancement of women of color in music and entertainment. During each conference, Johnnie held a luncheon to honor the mother's of the industry. There wasn't a dry eye in the house! I spoke with Dr. Mahalia Hines, mother of Common; Sharon Benjamin Hodo, mother of Andre 3000; and if you like those; I also have Will Smith's mom! Check out my conversation with CAROLYN BRIGHT SMITH, the mother of WILL SMITH! Hear what she has to say about her life and her famous son!

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: This week, I decided to go back to into my archives and because Mother's Day is Sunday, I thought my exclusive interviews with celebrity moms might be of interest to you.These interviews were recorded in 2007 to promote the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment's ( NABFEME) Annual Conference. Founded by former entertainment executive, JOHNNIE WALKER, NABFEME promotes the entry, development and advancement of women of color in music and entertainment. During each conference, Johnnie held a luncheon to honor the mother's of the industry. There wasn't a dry eye in the house! I spoke with Dr. Mahalia Hines, mother of Common; Sharon Benjamin Hodo, mother of Andre 3000; and Will Smith's mom, CAROLYN BRIGHT SMITH! Check out my conversation with SHARON BENJAMIN HODO, the mother of ANDRE 3000! Hear what she has to say about her life and her famous son!

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: This week, I decided to go back to into my archives and because Mother's Day is Sunday, I thought my exclusive interviews with celebrity moms might be of interest to you.These interviews were recorded in 2007 to promote the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment's ( NABFEME) Annual Conference. Founded by former entertainment executive, JOHNNIE WALKER, NABFEME promotes the entry, development and advancement of women of color in music and entertainment. During each conference, Johnnie held a luncheon to honor the mother's of the industry. There wasn't a dry eye in the house! I spoke with Dr. Mahalia Hines, mother of Common; Sharon Benjamin Hodo, mother of Andre 3000; and if you like those; I also have Will Smith's mom! Check out my conversation with DR. MAHALIA HINES, the mother of one of the most respected and conscious rappers in hip-hop history, COMMON! Hear what she has to say about her life and her famous son!

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: In May 2010, with her father’s legacy of duty to country instilled in her heart, Marie-Yolaine, a Haitian-American took action. The January 12, earthquake that struck Haïti, killing over 300,000 people, some in her own family, and displacing more than 1 million people, compelled her to move. She resigned from her position at American Express and with her experience in communications and business management created Community2Community (C2C) to help rebuild her father’s hometown of Petit Goâve. Her goal: to replicate the pilot project throughout Haïti, offering Haitians across the Diaspora and those with a heart for Haïti an opportunity to be a part of something greater then themselves.

This week on TALK! with AUDREY: April is National Minority Health Month, a time to increase awareness of diseases and health conditions that disproportionately impact minorities and for African-Americans hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of them. Dr. David S. Kountz, President, International Society on Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB), is here today to talk about the risk factors and cardiovascular disease prevention.

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: Ensuring that all academically-prepared high school students have access to rigorous course work that will prepare them to succeed in college is critical for the United States to remain competitive in a global economy. Recently,the College Board announced results from The 9th Annual AP Report to the Nation, highlighting the progress of America’s public high schools in preparing students for college-level course work. PATOULA CHRESOMALES, Executive Director, Advanced Placement, for the College Board 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.