TALKING TURKEY...With Your Doctor!

Guests: Ann Albert, Executive Director of Supporting Active Independent Lives (SAIL) and SAIL S.O.S. Personal Emergency Response Service Sue Gaard, RN, Founder of Confident Conversations

Navigating the healthcare system is a challenge for the best of us. With about 43 million caregivers in the United States - most unpaid family members or friends and two-thirds of them women - determining who is in charge, how to get answers, what questions to ask, and how to speak up in an effective way have been determined to be areas of greatest difficulty.

Thanks to funding from A Fund For Women, SAIL, in collaboration with Confident Conversations and colleagues from Oakwood Village, State Medical Society, Dane County Caregiver Alliance, and community social workers is offering Confident Caregiving Workshops designed for women caregivers to help them navigate the healthcare system more effectively and plan for the future - financially and legally.

In addition to "Talking Turkey with the Doctor," workshop topics include "Straight Dope on Medications," and "Legal Lessons and Money Matters."

On this program, Ann Albert and Sue Gaard, RN discuss the keys to building successful relationships with the medical team, outline strategies for better communication, and give tips to coordinating the care of an individual. All of this - and how to take care of yourself in the process!

For more information on upcoming Workshops, contact SAIL at info@sailtoday.org or call 608-230-4321.

EILEEN MERSHART REFLECTS ON YWCA

Guest: Eileen Mershart, Executive Director (Retired), YWCA of Madison

Eileen Mershart retired this week after 13 years as Executive Director of the YWCA Madison. On her busy "to-do" list during her final weeks leading the effort to Eliminate Racism and Empower Women, Eileen included a visit to the All About Living studio to reflect on those YWCA programs that she initiated and are near and dear to her heart. The YWCA commitments to women begin with safe and affordable housing and emergency shelter but then have expanded to racial and restorative justice, education and training for women and people of color, and enrichment programs for girls to grow healthy, strong and confident lives.
While these endeavors sound ambitious, progress is being made. Eileen Mershart shares the specifics on this All About Living program.

For more information, go to ywcamadison.org or call (608) 257-1436.

THE FORT HOOD SHOOTING: A SURVIVOR'S STORY

Guest: Dorothy Carskadon, Team Leader, Madison Vet Center - Captain, Army Reserves

Army Captain Dorothy Carskadon arrived at Fort Hood, Texas on November 4, 2009. This was her last stop on her way to Afghanistan. She had just completed a month's combat training in California, and on Saturday, November 5, 2009 was sitting in a crowded processing center at Fort Hood to begin her check out review to make sure she was physically, mentally, and spiritually ready to be deployed. Suddenly there was a voice shouting in Arabic, and a loud command for everyone to get down. Within the next harrowing few minutes, 13 people were killed and 32 others wounded. Dorrie was among the wounded. "When I woke up after a 15-hour surgery, the first people I remember seeing were George and Laura Bush standing next to my bed," recalls Dorrie. That was only the beginning of her recovery.

Before her deployment in 2009, Dorothy Carskadon was the Team Leader at the Madison Vet Center, 706 Williamson St. After her hospitalization, she returned to this position and granted this exclusive interview on All About Living to honor those that died and were injured at this worst shooting ever to take place on an American military base. She shares the story of the tragedy at Fort Hood in this program.

For more information on the many resources available to veterans, go to www.vetcenter.va.gov or call 1-877-WAR-VETS

DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICES PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

Guests: Shannon Barry, Executive Director, DAIS - Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney

The statistics get our attention. Here are just some: 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in her lifetime; women make up over 84% of victims of abuse between spouses, and 86% of victims of violence between boyfriends and girlfriends; children exposed to domestic violence suffer low self esteem, depression, sleep difficulties, PTSD, and are at higher risk for problems in school, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual acting out, running away, fear and suicide. And incidences of domestic violence keep our law enforcement officials busy. Approximately 1/3 of all arrests in Dane County are domestic violence-related.

Shannon Barry and Sheriff Dave Mahoney are forthright in their description of what domestic abuse looks like in our community, the growing willingness for victims to come forward, and the support victims receive from the services of DAIS and law enforcement officials. On this program, they highlight the sometimes subtle danger sign of domestic abuse and give specific tips and tools that they use to prevent and confront domestic abuse.

Help and support are available: Go to abuseintervention.org or call DAIS at 608-251-4445 or 1-800-747-4045. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

If you are concerned about the safety of your pet, contact the Dane County Humane Society, giveshelter.org, or call 608-838-0413.

JEREMI SURI ON NATION-BUILDING

Guest: Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Global Leadership, History, and Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin; former E. Gordon Fox Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Nation-building is in America's DNA." states Jeremi Suri in his latest book, Liberty's Surest Guardian: AMERICAN NATION-BUILDING FROM THE FOUNDERS TO OBAMA. On this program, Professor Suri explains nation-building as not conquering other countries but helping local citizens build stable, self-governed societies that they "own" and do not feel are forced upon them. He then walks us through specific successes and failures that have marked America's history. From the examples that Jeremi Suri describes, key people emerge who had the experience and skills to take George Washington's revolutionary vision of a Union of politically-empowered citizens and apply it to Reconstruction after the Civil War, the Philippines, and Western Europe. Our subsequent failure in Vietnam is an equally strong lesson in what doesn't work.

We now have an opportunity to have a dramatic impact on international stability in the Middle East says Jeremi Suri. He asserts that the lessons from history can provide guidance for America's leaders as we define our role in helping to build stable, representative societies in an increasingly complex world. Named one of Smithsonian magazine's "Top Young Innovators," Jeremi Suri blogs on global affairs at globalbrief.ca. His professional webpage is: jeremisuri.net.

THE CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART EXPANDS

Guests: Russell Panczenko, Director, Chazen Museum of Art
Petie Rudy, Docent, Chazen Museum of Art

In 2005, Simona and Jerome A. Chazen stepped forward with a visionary gift of $25 million toward the expansion of the Chazen Museum of Art. More than 140 additional donors, all private sources, then completed the $43 million needed to make the vision a reality. Groundbreaking for the expansion began in 2009, and the new building, considered a work of art in its own right, provides much-needed space to showcase the growing permanent collection, dedicated galleries for temporary exhibitions, an auditorium for film and lectures, and a grand lobby. Tours, talks and other educational programs will also be standard fare.

Russell Panczenko and Petie Rudy walk us through the complex process of turning a vision into a reality and what the public can expect to see when the Chazen Museum of Art celebrates the grand opening of its expansion on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23. The Chazen is an educational resource, part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's mission of education, research and public service, and it is a community treasure - free and open to the public to enjoy.

For more information about the Chazen Museum of Art and the Grand Opening Celebration, go to www.chazen.wisc.edu.

CONQUER CYBEROVERLOAD

Guest: Joanne Cantor, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, UW-Madison;
Author of Conquer CyberOverload: Get More Done, Boost Your Creativity, and Reduce Stress

Many people think they can multitask. The truth is, tasks that involve language processing or decision making need your full attention. So when you try to do two such tasks at the same time, you end up switching your attention back and forth. To make matters worse, both tasks take longer, and there are typically more errors. So why do we do it?

On this program, Dr. Joanne Cantor answers that question and more. She explains how the digital revolution has changed everything and what a powerful hold it has on each of us. "The design of our brains is suited for a more low-tech environment," says Dr. Cantor. "Information overload can block creativity and create significant stress." But the good news is, we can take charge of our digital devices and dependence on technology and actually enhance our productivity, creativity, and sanity.

On this program and in her book, Cyber OverLoad, Joanne Cantor explains the relevant research and provides practical steps for balancing our access to limitless information with time for thoughtful reflection and relaxation.


More information is on the website: www.yourmindonmedia.com. You can also sign up for Joanne Cantor's e-newsletter.

HEALTH CARE REFORM: AN INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE

Guest: Allan Wearing, Sales and Marketing Director, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin

Allan Wearing has had a long and extensive career in the Wisconsin health insurance industry spending 30 years with Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin before joining Group Health Cooperative. On this radio program, Al Wearing uses his trained eye and on-the-job experience to give us a consumer-friendly overview of the health care reform legislation, the Affordable Care Act.

You'll hear about both Phase 1, the basic changes to health care that have already occurred, and phase 2 which begins in 2014 and will include the new health care exchanges (an online "insurance shopping center") opening in every state. There will be other changes, too. With a new emphasis on prevention, health insurance plans will be required to pay 100% of the cost of preventive care such as screenings and vaccinations. Tune into this program for further details on this all-encompassing legislation.

"While the legislation is not perfect, it does provide a foundation to simply make it better to obtain health care in this country," says Al Wearing.

Recommended sources for accurate information on health care reform are:

www.healthcare.gov

www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform

www.healthreform.kff.org

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/12/28/what-health-care-reform-will-mean-for-you.html

WISCONSIN INNOVATIONS ON DISPLAY

Guests: Dave Driscoll, Principal Curator, Wisconsin Innovations: From the Iconic to the Unexpected Exhibit

Laura Beam, Coordinator, History on the Square Event, Wisconsin Historical Foundation

Wisconsin ideas, ingenuity and artifacts all come together at the Wisconsin Historical Museum in its recently opened exhibit,Wisconsin Innovations: From the Iconic to the Unexpected. Even the exhibit is "new" to Wisconsin history. Never before has the Museum created such an exhibit of those inventions and ideas that are rooted here in Wisconsin and continue to influence our lives today. Two years in the making, Dave Driscoll describes the meticulous research that went into the selection of each object and story that are grouped into five categories: Big Ideas, Business and Industry, Local Flavor, Pop Culture, and Sports and Leisure. From stem cell research to Stephen Babcock's butterfat tester (making possible 2%, 1% and fat-free milk), you'll get a taste of Wisconsin at this amazing exhibit.

For a one-day opportunity to step back into Wisconsin history, Laura Beam invites everyone to History on the Square, Saturday, October 1st from 1 - 3:30 p.m. This free, family-friendly special event highlights Wisconsin's past, present and future at the Wisconsin Historical Museum on Capitol Square - exploring the Historical Society's best work from around the state.

For more information, go to historicalmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org

PARTING THOUGHTS FROM JEREMI SURI AND ALISON ALTER

Guests: Jeremi Suri, former UW Madison History Professor

Alison Alter, former Development Director, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters

"History is about change," says Jeremi Suri who, with his wife, Alison Alter, departed this summer from the University of Wisconsin Madison where they built a formidable reputation over the past ten years, to continue their academic careers at the University of Texas at Austin. Before they left, they stopped by the All About Living studio and shared their thoughts on a breadth of issues confronting society today.

Strong advocates of education, Jeremi and Alison give their perspective on the power of The Wisconsin Idea, the lessons history can teach us to improve the present, and the need for all of us to reach beyond what we know to build community in a diverse world.

Jeremi Suri's latest book, Liberty's Surest Guardian: AMERICAN NATION-BUILDING FROM THE FOUNDERS TO OBAMA is scheduled for release this month. More information is available at www.jeremisuri.net.