UVA Speaks

Menopause, the Workplace, and the Law

This UVA Speaks podcast features Naomi Cahn, the Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Professor of Law and Armistead M. Dobie Professor of Law at the School of Law at the University of Virginia. Cahn and two co-authors have written a book entitled, Hot Flash: How the Law Ignores Menopause and What We Can Do About It [https://www.uvabookstores.com/Cahn-Naomi-Hot-Flash-How-the-Law-Ignores-Menopause-and-What-We-Can-Do-About-It]. The book explores the topic of menopause, which is often still considered a taboo subject, yet is a stage of life that half of the population will inevitably experience. She shares some of the cultural stereotypes that surround menopause and how it is treated in the law and medical field. Cahn calls for more medical research, better education, and legal reforms to support menopausal women, especially in the workplace. Transcripts of the audio broadcast can be found here [https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/gS68jJ5Nxks4BBxs5kDeIUHmD5ciG0Xbk1RGTZ-DkXRKaloqHqHYo-yrCgUCiOD2z8APZRL_RUHfJBg5LyD7i8iaEYQ?loadFrom=SharedLink]. Naomi Cahn, the Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Distinguished Professor of Law, the Armistead M. Dobie Professor of Law, and Co-Director of the Family Law Center at the School of Law at the University of Virginia. Cahn is an expert in family law, trusts and estates, feminist jurisprudence, reproductive technology, and aging and the law. She is a co-author of casebooks in both family law and trusts and estates, and she has written numerous articles that have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and the New Yorker.

Food Pharmacies and Heart Disease Prevention in Rural Communities

This UVA Speaks podcast features Kelley Anderson, Associate Professor of Nursing at the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia. Anderson explains that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, causing more deaths than all cancers combined. She shares how lifestyle and food choices can significantly reduce the risk and progression of heart disease, as recommended by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential Eight [https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/lifes-essential-8]. A collaborative, grant-funded initiative between the University of Virginia, Blue Ridge Medical Center, and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank offers crucial heart disease prevention services to rural communities in Central Virginia. Through a food pharmacy, clients receive fresh fruits and vegetables and sessions with nutritionists who educate them on sustainable lifestyle changes to prevent and manage heart disease. Transcripts of the audio broadcast can be found here. https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/f605CPAuJqp6KTDQh_bmteSZ0xsKzZR0mu_gSgNox3DwCOdjLjhc0gNqy6-mdkhtvNz9PXRRrqrAw4OhDvrf5sScqKw?loadFrom=SharedLink [https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/f605CPAuJqp6KTDQh_bmteSZ0xsKzZR0mu_gSgNox3DwCOdjLjhc0gNqy6-mdkhtvNz9PXRRrqrAw4OhDvrf5sScqKw?loadFrom=SharedLink] Kelley Anderson is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia's School of Nursing. As a nurse-scientist, her research centers on heart failure, cardiovascular health, assistive technology for heart failure patients, and innovative approaches to teaching and mentoring. As a family nurse practitioner, Anderson also studies nursing in global and under-resourced contexts and earned a Fulbright Program Scholarship to the Czech Republic.

Origins of the Universe, the Nature of Time, and Other Dimensions

This UVA Speaks podcast features Kelsey Johnson, Professor of Astronomy and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education at the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia. Earlier this year, Johnson captivated audiences at a popular Lifetime Learning virtual event entitled "Mysteries of the Cosmos: Science, Philosophy, and the Big Questions," [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYl9QOIzv6A&list=PLVamHHFbukVn9MRyZfP5Kkcu8I07JEb14&index=6] where she delved into some of life's most profound mysteries. Due to the large number of questions posed by participants, Johnson agreed to address additional inquiries in this podcast. Here, she tackles deep questions about the origins of the universe, the nature of time, and the possibility of other dimensions. Johnson underscores the importance of curiosity and humility when confronting such vast and potentially unanswerable questions, and she champions interdisciplinary thinking as essential for fostering innovation and breakthroughs. Transcripts of the audio broadcast can be found here [https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/c9kwFGfFuFRiYc54iNBq2BAK7gVw9JglBC6D7RbP_jzf2A3C6nA19VSrKC98bHRw7BSXdiOxE9FNmVeoHzk_Q7oUVjE?loadFrom=SharedLink]. Kelsey Johnson is a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia, an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Religious Studies, and she currently serves as the associate dean of undergraduate education at the College of Arts & Sciences. She is the past president of the American Astronomical Society and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the founding director of the award-winning Dark Skies Bright Kids program. Johnson has won numerous awards for her research, teaching, and promotion of science literacy. Her TED talk on the importance of dark skies has more than 2 million views, and her writing has appeared in nationwide publications, including the New York Times, Scientific American, and the Washington Post.

UVA’s National Security Data and Policy Institute

This UVA Speaks podcast features Philip Potter, Professor of Politics in the Department of Politics, founding Director of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy’s National Security Policy Center, and founding Director of the National Security Data and Policy Institute at the University of Virginia. Potter explains that the National Security Data and Policy Institute, a collaboration between the University of Virginia and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, seeks to bridge the gap between government and academia to address the country’s most pressing national security issues. The Institute researches the challenges of data proliferation and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology. Transcripts of the audio broadcast can be found here [https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/adEVxlrt1V_7LlRLjT3PgKaTjPBBA2Yo4XlubqQZa4uaM4wndK5zl8Mztdct0S5nom-gITiKW6B0lZKOk6UeeTWDxWk?loadFrom=SharedLink]. Philip Potter is a Professor of Politics from the Department of Politics at the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the founding Director of the National Security Policy Center at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the National Security Data Policy Institute at the University of Virginia. Professor Potter’s research focuses on US foreign policy, military affairs, and international security. He has published dozens of articles, policy papers, and government reports on these topics as well as two books. He also serves as a university expert for the Intelligence Community and a senior advisor in the Department of Defense.

Adapting Physical Activity for the Disabled

This UVA Speaks podcast features Abby Fines, Assistant Professor of Education in the Department of Kinesiology and Director of the Lifetime Physical Activity Program at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. Fines specializes in adaptive physical activity, focusing on tailoring exercise and sports programs to meet the unique needs of individuals with disabilities. She highlights that in kinesiology, exercise is regarded as medicine and advocates for equal access to sports and recreational activities. This involves breaking down barriers and advancing opportunities in adaptive sports. Transcripts of the audio broadcast can be found here [https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/hnzOOgANgiHnF7kEfRnI6C1pqJpD-XH318GS7cejg6LDrd0JdC7rSlkxrnQiOi25Q2IaZFYKqQUtV9GIK79gjIwfVis?loadFrom=SharedLink]. Abby Fines is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and the Director of the Kinesiology Lifetime Physical Activity (KLPA) program at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. She oversees more than 35 academic courses designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead physically active lives. With a specialization in adaptive physical activity, Fines focuses on sports development for individuals with intellectual, physical, and sensory disabilities across various levels of play and competition. Her research is dedicated to creating equitable opportunities for participation, particularly for para-athletes, in both school and community athletic settings.