The Paid Leave Podcast

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, I speak to a professional about osteoporosis and bone health. In October it is International Osteoporosis Day on October 20th, National Health Education Week October 21-25th, and is also International Day of Older Persons on October 1st. Two out of three women with postmenopausal osteoporosis will break a bone in their lifetime.

I speak with Joan Doback, a certified Physician Assistant cele...

On this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are talking about paid family leave policies and how they affect families and communities. Drexel University in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, has done a study called Making the Case for Paid Family Leave.  The study shows the benefits of taking time off for your own serious health condition or that of a loved one as well as taking pregnancy and bonding leave when adding to your family. Her...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are focusing on Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease affects about 100,000 people in the United States; more than 90% are non-Hispanic Black or African American. Many people with Sickle Cell Disease do not receive the recommended healthcare screenings and treatments mainly because of social barriers. 

My guests are Dr. Genice Ne...

It this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we take a look at Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15th through October 15th. During this month it is a celebration of the culture and diversity of the Hispanic population, but it also focuses on mental health and the challenges that Hispanics face. 

Evelyn Alejandro joins me to talk about Hispanic Heritage Month, and her parents struggles with mental health. Evelyn was th...

In this episode of The Paid leave Podcast, I am talking to a new author about her crusade for women's rights and health and her process of writing the new book. August is National Wellness Month, and that fits in perfectly with my conversation with Lauren Tetenbaum, who is a licensed clinical social worker, (in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Florida) she is a women rights advocate, and writer dedicated to supporting an...

It is National Farmers Market Week August 3 through the 9th, and it is Farmworker Appreciation Day on August 6th.  

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, I am focusing on Connecticut farmers. I talk with Ella Kennen, the Coordinator of the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance. We discussed supporting beginning farmers, particularly first-generation farmers. Caitlin Kimball is the Director of Agriculture at CitySeed, and she oversees...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, I speak with a liver specialist from the Yale School of Medicine. World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on July 28th to raise awareness of viral hepatitis. The theme for 2025 is: "Hepatitis, Let’s Break it Down." It calls for urgent action to dismantle the financial, social and systemic barriers including stigma that stand in the way of hepatitis elimination and liver cancer ...

 In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, I speak with Dr. Lindsay Rose Bullinger. Dr. Bullinger is an associate professor and researcher in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech and is the Associate Director of the Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative. We discussed paid leave policies and how it affects children and families. Dr. Bollinger's research in the paper titled, "More Than Snuggles, the E...

June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month also known as PTSD. Approximately 13 million adults in the United States are estimated to have PTSD.  80 percent of people are civilians with PTSD, surprisingly only 20 percent are military related. You can get traditional PTSD from a single traumatic event like a car accident or experiencing violence. But if you experienced multiple traumas, it may be diagnosed as complex PTSD...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are talking about headaches and migraines.  June is Headache and Migraine Awareness Month. Gretchen Michaelson, the founder of the Headache Care Center in South Windsor, she is an Adult Nurse Practitioner specializing in headache medicine. She explains the difference between headaches and migraines, the various treatments available, including prescription medications, neuromodulation, a...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast we focus on mental health and speak with a local politician who started a caucus dealing with black family health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month it is also Maternal Mental Health Month and National Adolescent Health Month, and it’s Children’s Mental Health Awareness week from May 5-11th.  CT Paid Leave gives up to 12 weeks of income Replacement for your own serious health conditions ...

In this episode, we are talking about auto-immune disease. Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system is overactive and attacks and damages the body's own tissues. May 9th is Autoimmune Arthritis Day, and it is also ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day (May 12).  ME stands for myologic encephalomyelitis, formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It is a chronic, complex, neuroimmune disease that af...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast we discuss Parkinson's disease, what it is, what it does, and how to treat it. Parkinson's Awareness Month is observed in April, and is an opportunity to increase awareness about the ailment and its symptoms, as well as to support victims. National Parkinson's day is observed on April 11 every year to raise awareness about this medical condition and its severity. Muhammad Ali...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and it’s also Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action on April 2nd; it is also National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 6-12.

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast I speak with Rachel McKnight, Program Manager from the Office of Victim Services (OVS), and Marc Pelka, Deputy Director. They explain how OVS assists crime victims with financial expenses, receiving around 2,000 appli...

LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week is in March and was started in 2003. It raises public awareness regarding the unique health needs and disparities in the LGBTQ+ community.  It also highlights many aspects of the LGBTQ+ community.

My guest Bill Ollayos, is the administrator of the Connecticut LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network and is a Law Fellow with Children, Women, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO). He says the network&apos...

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we speak with Kandi Pickard, the CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). Down Syndrome Awareness Week is celebrated across the world from March 15 to March 21 every year. The purpose of the week is to create awareness about individuals with Down syndrome and the difficulties they might face in their lives.  About 5,000 babies are born every year in the USA with Down syndrome. Due...

National Burn Awareness Week is in February, and it's recognized by the American Burn Association. It is a chance to promote burn prevention and awareness in communities. With more than 3,000 members, the ABA dedicates their efforts and resources to promoting and supporting burn-related care, prevention, education, and research.

The Connecticut Burn Center in Bridgeport Hospital is the only burn center in the state. Dr Roselle ...

February is National Heart Month and It's also Congenital Heart Defect Week. I spoke with CT. Representative Corey Paris, who reps the 145th district, about his serious heart issues. He suffered from TIA's, also known as transient ischemic attacks or mini strokes. Upon further testing Rep. Corey was diagnosed with a hole in his heart known as patent foramen ovale (PFO). Rep. Paris emphasizes the importance of seeking medi...

More than 84 thousand children live in poverty in Connecticut, and 122 thousand in near poverty. In this episode, we talk about a new program that has expanded into Connecticut that gives unconditional cash to expecting moms or new mothers. It takes them from pregnancy to prosperity and helps them invest in their baby's future. The program is aimed at stopping child poverty.

Laura Clancy, Executive Director of th...