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U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) Proposes Abolishing Home Rule - WHAT NEXT?
A Conversation with COUNCILMEMBER BILL LIGHTFOOT What Should We Expect?
Bill Lightfoot was on the Council when Congress imposed the "Control Board" on the DC government in 1995. Some Republican senators are now hinting on Twitter that they want to roll back Home Rule. Is local DC headed for another show-down with the federal government? Could this really happen? We'll ask Bill for his take on this latest threat to democracy in DC and what we can expect in the future.
In the second part of this mini-documentary, Responder Resilience continues the deep dive into the topic of first responder retirement. We are joined by a panel of twenty one retired or active first responders and resilience experts, representing law enforcement, the fire service, EMS, dispatch, animal control, and mental health clinicians.
Most people view retirement as something to look forward to with joy and anticipation. At the same time, when it comes to life stressors, retirement is among the top 10. It’s the nature of most law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, dispatchers and firefighters to put others' needs first. They sacrifice time with family to serve the community - working long hours, overtime, nights, holidays and weekends.
When it comes to preparing for their own retirement, unfortunately, many first responders put off important decisions or neglect to ask critical questions. First responders certainly deserve a fulfilling and well-funded retirement, but preparation is crucial. This episode will explore some essential criteria to ensure a rewarding career all the way from hire to retire.
Our guests include Ernest Stevens, Jonni Redick, John Kelly, Patrick Fitzgibbons, Mike Gagliano, Dr. Olivia Johnson, Scott Medlin, Adam A. Meyers, David H. Ferris Jr., Ray Connors, Angela Matthews, Edmund Russell, Peter Marengo, Matt Domyancic, Jeff Ward, Steve Zagami, Dan Welch, Mike Grasso, Gordon MacCalla, Kasey Brainerd and Denise Beard.
If you were a betting man or woman, where would you place the odds of New York DA Bragg ever indicting Trump?
We give our take.
Adult & Child Psychiatrist
Dr. Denise McDermott, M.D. has been in private practice since 2001. She completed her Adult Psychiatry residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and her Child Psychiatry fellowship at UCLA. As a medical doctor with board certifications in both Adult and Child Psychiatry, she treats children, adolescents and adults. Her goal is to empower you, your child, and your family to live the best life possible. Her approach is to encourage people to believe in wellness, not illness, and to lead a balanced healthy lifestyle.
“When you are going through a crisis in your life, remind yourself that on the other side of that is stabilization and then a place of thriving,” she tells her patients everyday.
Dr. Denise includes a multi-disciplinary approach to medicine, where she integrates many holistic modalities such as Eastern medicine, healers, nutritionists and many more. She has collegial relationships and collaborates with other physicians, psychologists, marriage and family therapists and educational therapists. She believes in prescribing the least amount of medication possible and creates an integrative wellness plan that resonates for each patient.
She is a sought after medical doctor for second opinions, specific diagnostic assessments, medication management, and psychotherapy.
Website: http://www.drdenisemd.com/
Singer
VEE NELSON
In 2013, fourteen year old Southern California native Vee Nelson burst into the music scene with her debut pop single and subsequent video, “Swing of Love.”
Refusing to be pigeonholed into the oversaturated young pop star market, Vee set herself apart following the catchy “Swing of Love” by infusing soul, rock, and pop to create a surprisingly sophisticated sound. She then boldly paired this sound with lyrical content that is relatable for all ages, and a voice (both literally and figuratively) that is reminiscent of Billi Holiday and Patsy Cline with the gusto of Celine Dion.
Her debut EP appropriately titled “Kaleidoscope” showcases the artist’s versatility as a triple threat (singer, songwriter, AND musician). From the soul searching ballad, “Surrender” to the anti-bullying anthem “Stronger Now,” Vee takes her listeners on the universal journey of despair and hope through the eyes of someone who is coming of age, while simultaneously reflecting on her youth.
The much-anticipated follow up to the Kaleidoscope EP is excepted to be released soon and is already getting huge buzz based on the nostalgic summer feeling single “Crash,” and the titillating single “Dangerous” that is featured on E! Network’s hit reality show Total Bellas. Vee’s trendy and wearable merchandise line is also fueling the hype surrounding her sophomore album and fans everywhere can’t wait to see what’s next!
You do not want to miss what’s coming up for this rising artist!
Vee has performed numerous times at the House of Blues in both San Diego and Anaheim as well as the infamous Chain Reaction of Anaheim and The Legacy Room.
Author, Holistic Parenting Coach, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Julie Hatch is a holistic parenting coach. She counsels parents through the ups and downs of the parenting years and helps them find solutions to their parenting challenges. She has 30 years of experience as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Fifteen years ago she changed her trajectory to pursue traditional Chinese medicine including acupuncture and herbal remedies.
Her parent coaching practices are unique in that Julie blends the east with the west - she takes the wisdom of eastern medicine and blends it with her experience in western medicine.
She has recently published a book called “A Parenting Revolution for Higher Evolution – Raising Resilient, Responsible, Compassionate Kids from the Inside Out,” which is available on Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.
You can learn more about Julie and her work by visiting her website: www.juliephillipshatch.com
Development of operations, Profit Coach, Serial Entrepreneur
Susie Carder started out as a low paid hairdresser supporting her 2 little girls. Working for someone else became a challenge, so Susie decided to do whatever it took to create her own business. After much blood, sweat, and tears (mixed with cheap mascara) she went on to create, not one, but two $10 Million companies! Her core genius is the ability to simplify complicated issues by creating simple proven systems that are guaranteed to create dramatic growth for any company. She has helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs increase their revenues by more than 3000% and worked with top business moguls including John Assaraf, Lisa Nichols, Steve Harvey, Doug Carter, and Paul Mitchell. Her newest book (number 10) ‘Power Your Profits' is a bulletproof start-to-finish plan for taking your business from startup mode to the multi-million-dollar mark.
Sports Science Researcher, Performance Coach, Professor, Author, Public Speaker
Dr. Kovacs is a renowned performance physiologist, researcher, author, speaker and coach with an extensive background training and researching athletes and elite performers. His unique skillset has made him one of the worldwide leading performance experts in the area of optimizing human performance through the application of cutting edge, evidence-based information. He formerly directed the Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning and Coaching Education departments for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University and earned his PhD from the University of Alabama. He is a Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS) through the iTPA, and in 2012 he was the youngest ever recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award. He has worked with more than two dozen top professional tennis players on all aspects of physical training including John Isner, Robby Ginepri, Ryan Harrison and Sloane Stephens.
As a sports administrator and executive he has worked at the highest level of sports and industry. Most recently he was the Director of the Gatorade Sport Science Institute which was established in 1985 and is committed to helping athletes optimize their health and performance through research and education in hydration and nutrition science. He was also an executive at Pepsico working in the area of long term research and innovation focused on improving athletic performance and monitoring using science and technology. He also directed the Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning and Coaching Education departments for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The USTA is the largest National Sports Governing Body in the US. During his tenure at the USTA he created the integration of the medical and sport science services for full time athletes at the National Training Center in Boca Raton, Florida as well as the development of full service care and training at satellite facilities in Los Angeles and New York. He was instrumental on securing a long term partnership with Cleveland Clinic Florida as well as creating a systematic approach to the training and treatment of tennis athletes throughout the US. He is also the co-founder of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), which is the worldwide leader in tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention education and certification. It is an international organization with members in over 23 countries focused on improving standards in the training and treatment of tennis athletes from the weekend warrior to the top professional players. The organization offers in-person and online educational opportunities for Strength & Conditioning professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, tennis coaches and other healthcare providers who work with tennis athletes. The iTPA is also the official education provider for major tennis federations throughout the world. Dr. Kovacs has also served on the investment and finance committees for the National Strength & Conditioning Association and gone through a Finance program for executives through the Emory University Goizueta Business School.
As a leader in the scientific community Dr. Kovacs has earned Fellow status in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and abstracts in top research journals, in addition to presenting workshops and keynote addresses on five continents and well over 100 presentations. His research has been published in top tier scientific publications including the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Sports Health, International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance, Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research among others. In 2010 he was awarded the prestigious Plagenhoef Award for sport science achievement (youngest ever recipient), and in 2012 he was the youngest ever International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award winner. He currently chairs both the PTR Sport Science Committee and the ITF Health Benefits of Tennis Taskforce. He also is a member of the USTA National Sport Science Committee and the International Relations Committee of the ACSM. Over his career he has served on editorial review boards and as a peer reviewer for more than a dozen scientific journals.
Along with his academic and scientific background, Dr. Kovacs is also a coach and former professional athlete. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University. After playing professionally, he completed his graduate work at Auburn University and earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from The University of Alabama. Dr. Kovacs is a Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS) through the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Health/Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine, a United States Track and Field Level II Sprints Coach and USPTA-P1 Certified Tennis Coach. Over his career he has worked with more than two dozen top professional tennis players including John Isner, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Robby Ginepri, Donald Young, Taylor Townsend as well as dozens of top professional athletes in the NBA, NFL and MLB.
Best Selling Author, Speaker Consultant and Media Expert: Dr. Kovacs has published six books which have been translated into more than a dozen languages on sport and exercise science topics focused on stretching, recovery, mental skills training, anatomy and training. His expertise has been retained by major corporations, academic institutions and media outlets including Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Southern California, University of North Carolina, New York University Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pepsico, Gatorade, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, ESPN, NCAA, National Athletic Trainers Association, National Strength & Conditioning Association, American College of Sports Medicine, International Tennis Federation, Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association among others.
Co-Founder & VP at Stronghold Fitness, creator of innovative balance & stability Strongboard Balance Board
Practitioner - 7th Generation Healing
Proud Member of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation ( 1 hour North of Saskatoon)
- Board Director with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Investment Management Group ( since 2020)
- 25 years’ experience in IT with Specialization in Azure Cloud implementation (TELUS,SHAW,CP RAIL, WESTJET and ENMAX)
- Certified Reiki Master
- First Nation Spirit Talker
- Certified in Theta Healing, Master Spirit Guide and Medium
- Mother of 2 men (Jesse + Thomas) and dog mama to Iggy and Abbi
- Owner of new Healing Business – 7th Generation Healing (7thgenhealing.ca)/Doors open July 2nd,2022 (Teepee is my office)
Focus in 2022 and beyond:
- Healing our people of mother earth but first start with forgiveness to ones we have hurt or ones that have hurt us. We cannot heal without forgiveness
- Work towards the legacy and prophecy of 7th Generation Healing of the people on Turtle Island and the plants, animals and people of mother earth
- Start with the Elders - they are our knowledge keepers, they are our leaders. We cannot heal generational without starting with our leaders.
- My goal is to heal as “one nation” on our beautiful Mother Earth. We will align and come together a’ one’ under the sacred tree of Gaia.
Former federal judge and shamanic spiritual practitioner of healing
KAREN V. JOHNSON, JD
Karen Johnson’s 27 year-old son Ben died due to a drug overdose. One night he was at a party with his friends, they got drunk and decided to try heroin for the first time. While all of his friends tried the same drug, Ben was the only one to overdose. Instead of calling 911 and give Ben the lifesaving help he needed, the dealer spent his time disposing of the drugs and cleaning his place of evidence, all while Ben lay there dying.
Karen’s fast-paced life and 30-year career as a federal judge came to an abrupt halt as she was enveloped in unrelenting grief for the loss of her son. It was immediately after his death that Ben’s spirit began to communicate with her, and while this level of connection was foreign to Karen, she followed Ben’s nudges and her world has never been the same.
Having an unsupportive work, that initially allowed Karen only 2-hours off to attend her son’s funeral, she became unable to reconcile her working life with her communications with the spirit world. So Karen did the unexpected, she quit her job, sold her house with all her belongings, and went on a 2½ year journey that took her all over the world.
Led by her son in spirit, Karen’s path took her to a shamanic spiritual practice of healing.
Karen V. Johnson, JD, is a graduate of Georgetown Law Center (J.D.), a former Fulbright Scholar in Afghanistan, and holds Masters Degrees in Public Health and Public and International Affairs (MPH, MPIA). Karen is a retired federal administrative law judge who practiced criminal and energy law for more than 30 years. She also is a former U.S. Army officer, Major, USAR (inactive). Karen was personally trained by Alberto Villoldo, and is faculty at the Four Winds Society and a Master Practitioner of Energy Medicine.
“Living Grieving: Using Energy Medicine to Alchemize Grief and Loss” (Hay House, July 7, 2021), is her first book.
“In this time of what feels like fast-food spirituality, it’s refreshing to hear from a shamanic kindred sister who has undergone such a powerful journey so fully and has reemerged to reclaim her new life while sharing her wisdom and journey with the world.”
– Linda Star Wolf, Ph






