Virginia Focus
Virginia Focus is a half hour weekly Public Affairs program from the Virginia News Network hosted by Rebecca Hughes. The program features interviews about issues if importance and interest to Virginians such as politics, non profits, history and economic development.
Episodes
February 20, 2026 • 30 mins
Some people go through life not realizing their inherent worth, which is different from earned value. Author John Miles is also a Navy veteran, a businessman, and has written two other non-fiction books for adults. But he says his newest piece of literature, a book entitled "You Matter, Luma", encourages authenticity, kindness, and the idea that everyone has a unique contribution to make, regardless of their age, size or loudness.
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February 13, 2026 • 30 mins
Our environment, rising energy costs, and the health of American families are all hot topics but also ongoing debates with seemingly no clear, undiputable answers. On this episode, we will discuss policies, politicians, and the many factors that play a role in our every day lives and affect our wallets. Let's welcome EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, and we're speaking to the group's President, Dav...
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February 6, 2026 • 30 mins
The Trump administration has announced many changes to the prices of prescription drugs for Medicaid and Medicare as well as Trump RX, a website for people to get deeply discounted medications online. The Biden administration used the Inflation Reduction Act to also begin lowering prices in 2026. With all the changes, does it really change the situations for the better? President of 3 Axis Advisors Anthony Ciaccia is here to help u...
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January 30, 2026 • 30 mins
Hundreds of thousands of people aspire to break into Hollywood and only about 2% actually make it into the industry. On this episode we're chatting with a successful actor, producer, stunt coordinator, former athlete, and model with family ties to Virginia. Raw Leiba recently shot the movie, "Bloodspawn," in Loudoun County and we'll find out what's next for him and learn more about the man behind all the characters.
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January 16, 2026 • 29 mins
One of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive human services organizations is now in their second century of service. Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas is an affiliate of Volunteers of America, a national nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping people rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. On this episode we will hear from a man who says his life was saved and changed by the work of...
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January 9, 2026 • 29 mins
From control freak micromanagers to dishonest manipulators, toxic people exist in every industry and sometimes they get promoted into positions managing other people. Surveys show 87% of people have had at least one toxic boss during their career. Workplace and Organizational Psychologist Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett has written the book "I Wish I'd Quit Sooner" with tips for ways to deal, and it includes practical steps with options.
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January 2, 2026 • 30 mins
There's a new hidden epidemic in the workforce and it involves managers pushing employees out of the company without ever saying a word. In Zety’s new Quiet Firing Report, we explore how common "quiet firing" is, what tactics managers are using, and how it’s affecting employee morale and retention. Career Expert, Dr. Jasmine Escalera, will tell us more about the new workplace challenge potentially facing us all.
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December 26, 2025 • 28 mins
When you want to hear the inclusive story of Virginia's history, some people hope you turn to Encyclopedia Virginia. The mission of the site is to provide a free, reliable, multimedia resource for students, teachers, and communities who seek to understand how the past informs the present and the future. On this episode, we're focusing on the story of Thomas Fuller, an enslaved man born in the 1700's who earned renown at the end of ...
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December 19, 2025 • 29 mins
People all ages, from children and families to older adults, in need of help living in southwest Virginia can turn to a charitable agency known as Mountain Empire Older Citizens for a variety of services. From care coordination for older adults to public transportation and from crisis intervention for children to employment programs, the MEOC located in Big Stone Gap offers resources to those parts of rural Virginia. This holiday s...
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December 12, 2025 • 30 mins
One in seven children in Virginia are experiencing hunger and it isn't their fault. The guest on this episode grew up in Virginia in a home that needed support, not only for food insecurity, meaning countless hours of aching hunger, but also support for financial and mental health struggles. Elizabeth Ford left her highly successful career in IT to found Better A Life, a charity in Loudoun County aiming to create a brighter future ...
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December 5, 2025 • 30 mins
Gingerbread and mistletoe also bring out the scammers and thieves and protecting yourself is important. Experts say consumers should be checking their credit report regularly and some of us need a "credit literacy" refresher. On this episode, we're talking to Margaret Poe, Head of Consumer Content & Global Digital Experiences for TransUnion, to learn about new tools and be reminded of other options to protect ourselves this hol...
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November 28, 2025 • 30 mins
Farmers and scientists are working together with goals to grow more with fewer resources, protect crops from growing threats, and build resilience against climate volatility. Since February of 2020, overall grocery prices have risen 29%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We're welcoming Jessica Christiansen, Head of Bayer’s Crop Science Communications, to the podcast. She is going to discuss how modern science and techno...
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November 21, 2025 • 30 mins
As more people are working well into their 60s and 70s, a new survey shows most businesses aren’t taking advantage of their skills. Experts with the Society of Human Resources Management say tapping into the experienced workforce could be the solution to America's labor shortage. On this episode, we're talking to Dr. James Atkinson, the VP of Thought Leadership at SHRM, to find out more.
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November 14, 2025 • 30 mins
The Wall Street Journal and other media are picking up the story that Gen Z is being called the Toolbelt Generation because they are disenfranchised with the college track and see rising pay and more jobs in the trades. Aaron Hilger CEO of SMACNA [[smack-na]], the trade association for the sheet metal and HVAC indust ry, can help us understand more about this trend.
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November 7, 2025 • 29 mins
A new survey by Live Career says menopause is one of the least discussed yet most disruptive workplace experiences for women. Out of the 900 women who have experienced it or are going through it currently, an overwhelming 97% feel pressure to hide or minimize the physical, mental, and emotional struggles they face while at work. Let's find out more by talking with Career Expert Jasmine Escalera.
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October 24, 2025 • 30 mins
Americans living in the White House today and throughout history are no strangers to critcism and controversy. However, one child of a former president seems to be a favorite because of her outlandish antics. On this episode, we're discussing the fascinating historical biography of America's most memorable first daughter, Alice Lee Roosevelt. Shelley Fraser Mickle is the author of the book "White House Wild Child: How Alice Roosev...
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October 17, 2025 • 30 mins
Debt is the real factor that drives both economic growth and financial crises from recessions to extreme inequality. In order to understand this paradox, we need to address why a certain amount of private debt is vital to the economy. On this episode, we're talking to Richard Vague, an author, Former Secretary of Banking for Pennsylvania, and former CEO of two banks. His book "Paradox of Debt" reveals the role that debt plays in ou...
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October 10, 2025 • 30 mins
If you were to suffer a spinal cord injury and subsequent paralysis, would you know where to turn? Thousands of individuals with paralysis and their families across the country are watching Congress to see if critical services will be included in the budget. On this episode, we're going to discuss how the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation helps people with paralysis live independently and learn how people can connect with thos...
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October 2, 2025 • 30 mins
On this episode, we're putting the spotlight on ALICE. Who is ALICE, you may wonder. Well, ALICE lives in every community and can be found working in a diverse range of careers, including essential workers, such as teachers, healthcare providers, and retail clerks. United Way describes A.L.I.C.E. households as those who have incomes above the Federal Poverty Level but do not earn enough money to afford a basic survival budget in t...
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September 26, 2025 • 30 mins
Most people think pencils and paper, books and backpacks when they think about the back-to-school season. Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security say it is a critical time to spot and stop human trafficking. To learn more about how to start a conversation about it with the young people in our lives, we're talking to Erica Reid, the Acting Section Chief for the Center for Countering Human Trafficking.
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