Episode 1-PFAS

Episode 4 - Autism 101

On this episode, were going to talk about Autism. It's a word that we hear often. But what exactly is Autism? We'll get the answer to that question and learn about autism spectrum disorder. Darren Gibson is joined by Kathleen Larson, Health Education Coordinator for the Autism Alliance of Michigan for this episode we call Autism 101. Here are some links Kathleen provided to me: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/ss/ss7011a1.htm [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/ss/ss7011a1.htm] (Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2018) https://autismallianceofmichigan.org/employers-how-to/ [https://autismallianceofmichigan.org/employers-how-to/] (Autism Alliance of Michigan Employment Program) https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html [https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html] (Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder) https://www.mischooldata.org/special-education-data-portraits-disability [https://www.mischooldata.org/special-education-data-portraits-disability] (Special Education Data Portraits for Michigan)

Episode 3 - COVID-19 and the Mental Health of Young Adults

Katy Jaramillo, Licensed Professional Counselor, joins Darren to talk about COVID-19 and the mental health of young adults. A new study from the University of California San Francisco was recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. It found that 48% of young adults had mental health symptoms during the pandemic and more than a third of those were unable to access therapy options. So why are so many young adults going untreated? What are the obstacles to obtaining mental health services? And how are those obstacles overcome? I was originally scheduled to talk to one of the study's authors. However, that author thought that a clinician would better explain the human aspects of the study. Luckily, I know someone who's looking at the connections between the Covid pandemic and mental illness. Joining me today is my best friend. Katy Jaramillo is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Provisional Registered Art Therapist based in the Grand Rapids, Michigan metropolitan area.

Episode 2-Ghosting

Technology has changed the way people interact with each other. Forty years ago, the primary methods of interaction were in person, over the phone, or through written communication. Today, we live in a world of email, text messaging, and video calls. As much as technology has made it easier to interact with each other, it also makes it easier to cut off interaction. There's even a term for it: ghosting. So what is ghosting? And what are the negative impacts on mental health for those who have been ghosted? Darren Gibson discussed this topic with Dr. Zoe Chance, author of "Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science Of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen." Dr. Chance earned her doctorate in behavioral science from Harvard and is a professor at Yale School Of Management, teaching the course "Mastering Influence and Persuasion." She recently wrote an article for Psychology Today titled "Why Ghosting Is More Harmful Than We Thought."

Episode 1-PFAS

On the inaugural episode, Darren Gibson is joined by Tony Spaniola, attorney and co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN). They talked about what PFAS is, what it's used for, and how this dangerous family of chemicals have ended up on our dinner tables. The answers may surprise you. This full 29 minute episode is also made available to Pacifica Radio stations across the United States.