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
July 4, 2025 • 30 mins
A Virginia family answered the call on their hearts when they made the leap from being homesteaders to a full scale farming in 2022. The Weldon Cooper Center reports the number of farms in Virginia was falling and dropped 18 percent between 2002 to 2022 - not to mention the drought that year. In 2025, Maranatha Farms seems to be thriving with a new storefront. On this episode, we're talking to Phil Miller the Farm Retail Manager of...
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June 27, 2025 • 29 mins
Hundreds of thousands of workers frequently face outdoor hazards such as high heat and humidity. In the absence of laws in Virginia and other states for worker protections, Virginia's Department of Labor and Industry does have regulations and is actively developing new rules to address the issue. The American Society of Safety Professionals is also offering guidance on protecting workers, explainations on how to acclimate workers t...
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June 20, 2025 • 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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June 13, 2025 • 30 mins
Few people know that not everyone accused in the infamous college admission bribery scandal, that included celebrities like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, was guilty. One innocent family continues fighting to clear their reputation after being caught in the net of the Varsity Blues Scandal in 2019. Those parents have written a book called "Varsity Blues: The Scandal Within the Scandal" and started a charity to help other Ameri...
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June 6, 2025 • 30 mins
The American Dream may feel fragile today, but for Greek immigrant and entrepreneur George Danis, it’s alive, achievable, and worth fighting for. In his new book "Go Far, Give Back, Live Greek" Danis shares his colorful life story with anecdotes and lessons on being successful in life and business. On this episode we're getting a dose of inspiration and a look at America from outside it's borders.
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May 30, 2025 • 30 mins
People are dying on our roadways and it’s not just a U.S. problem, it’s a global issue that continues to claim thousands of lives each year. Admit it or not, most of us are addicted to our phones. Your crash risk increases from between 2 and 6 time highers when you use a phone behind the wheel. On this episode, we're talking to Dan Glaser, General Motors Driver Distraction Engineer, to get some tips on how to break bad habits and s...
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May 23, 2025 • 30 mins
Nearly 80 million Americans unknowingly live with conditions that can silently lead to vision loss. The National Eye Institute has designated May as Healthy Vision Month, highlighting how routine eye exams can spot early signs of broader health issues. On this episode, we're learning more from Dr. Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, an Ophthalmologist with the National Eye Institute who also spent 3 years as a flight surgeon with the U.S. ...
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May 16, 2025 • 30 mins
Americans love their dogs with nearly 60 million homes having at least one! And most people undoubtedly think that their pup is the cutest and most entertaining pup on the planet. Now they will have a chance to prove it! On this episode we're talking to the co-founder of BarkTV, Brendan Canning, to find out how you can nominate your furry friend for the Barkademy Awards.
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May 9, 2025 • 30 mins
Every year, thousands of kids across the U.S. will visit workplaces to gain first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to have a job and work with others. Junior Achievement, which leads Take a Child to Work Day and Beyond, has expanded the program to give kids who can’t visit a parent’s workplace for one reason or another the flexibility to experience a visit at other times throughout the year. On this episode, we're talking to Gina G...
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May 2, 2025 • 30 mins
Few people who were targeted survived the Holocaust of World War Two. Their stories of escaping the Nazis and building lives and families should not be forgotten in order to prevent such trauma from happening to anyone else. In the new book, "Family Treasures Lost And Found", journalist, author, and documentarian Karen A. Frenkel shares her journey and discoveries of digging up the truth about her parents survival stories.
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April 25, 2025 • 30 mins
April is National Stress Awareness Month and what better time to talk to a Neurologist who can explains how stress literally hurts. Between work and family pressure, financial burdens, constant social media exposure, political strife and more some surveys find as many as 62% people experience stress weekly. Neurologist Dr. Ella Akkerman with the Virginia Spine Institute breaks it all down for us.
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April 18, 2025 • 29 mins
A report from the Partnership for Safe Medicine and the FDA show unauthorized and potentially harmful ingredients in knockoff weight loss drugs are pouring into the U.S. from foreign sources, bypassing FDA regulations. Experts warn that unsuspecting Americans are at risk, and immediate action is needed to stop these illegal imports. To learn the warning signs of illegally imported weight loss drugs, we're talking to George Karavets...
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April 11, 2025 • 30 mins
With college debt becoming a major issue, many Gen-Z’ers are attracted to the trades as an alternative and as an immediate entrance to a rewarding and well-paying job. National Careers in Trades Week, which is April 7th through 11th, is a nationwide initiative to connect students with rewarding and lucrative jobs in the skilled trades. On this episode, we're learning more from the CEO of the non-profit Sheet Metal and Air Conditio...
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April 4, 2025 • 30 mins
Cancer sucks. No argument there. But once you or a loved one has been diagnosed, what are the first steps and next steps to getting through this in one piece? On this episode, we're talking with Michelle Rapkin - a three-time cancer survivor who is deeply acquainted with the ins and outs of the disease. She decided to share her hard won lessons as an author herself in the new book, "CANCER SUCKS: But You’ll Get Through It."
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March 28, 2025 • 28 mins
The American Society of Civil Engineers gave America a "C" on their latest report card. Results show more work and investment is needed to overcome decades of underinvestment in our transportation networks, water system, electric grid, and broadband capability. To learn more, we're speaking with Tom Smith, ENV SP, CAE, Executive Director, ASCE.
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March 21, 2025 • 30 mins
With deaths from gun violence at top of mind, researchers at Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy just released a new report detailing how a firearm purchaser licensing (also known as permit-to-purchase) can drastically lower gun violence. Existing licensing laws are already associated with 56% fewer mass shooting incidents and an 11% reduction in urban county homicides. W...
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March 14, 2025 • 28 mins
The current pushback against DEI initiatives is multifaceted, but one key shift is a move toward placing the responsibility on the individual rather than on organizations or systemic structures. A new book written by a Human Resources professional encourages everyone to embrace personal responsibility as the way to driving meaningful progress and creating a truly inclusive culture. On this episode, we're talking to Delphia Howze ab...
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March 7, 2025 • 30 mins
While women make up 48% of the workforce, women only hold about 29% of positions in STEM specialties. A new book, "Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Leaders in STEM" shares over 30 success stories from women holding leadership positions in STEM fields. On today's episode we're talking to one of the authors of the book, Dr. Peter Angood - who is also the CEO of the American Association for Physician Leadership.
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February 28, 2025 • 30 mins
When the time feels right to sell your business, how do you even get started? On this episode we're talking about what business owners need to know when selling their business to avoid making the mistake of a lifetime and what factors they should consider in today’s dynamic marketplace. The guest on the show is Andy Goldberg. He's an attorney with decades of experience in the field of business and the author of a new book, THE BIG...
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February 21, 2025 • 30 mins
Some Virginians grow up in the commonwealth and don't take notice of the depth of history available around every corner. But others, like Coleen Dixon, who grew up in Arlington, find themselves mezmerized by the richness of American history at every turn. Ms. Dixon calls herself the historical homemaker and believes it is important to cherish and share the memories of those that have gone before us and made our country so great.
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