Ann Quasman's WomanTalkLive A more conscious conversation

What YOU Can Do to Tackle Our Nation’s Leading Killer of Women

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Dr. Shannon Winakur, Ann
and Debbie Phelps

Why do women need to be aware of the threat of heart disease and get “heart smart” at an early age?  Because only a minority of women view heart disease as a threat and an overwhelming number of women – of all ages -  are leading lives with big risk factor behaviors.  When stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure is included with coronary heart disease… these diseases kill one woman every minute in the U.S.  The good thing about knowing the symptoms and your own risk factors?  You can then do something – often, only making some lifestyle changes – that will add years to your life and give you a quality life.  And, that may mean, you’re able to walk or ride bikes with your children.  It may mean that you’re able to get up the stairs without huffing and puffing.  It may mean that all of the people who love you get to enjoy you for a long time.  Dr. Winakur and Debbie Phelps encourage women as young as twenty – and, younger, if symptoms are present – to get heart smart.  One way to do that is by scheduling your 60-Minute Heart Check.  And, after you schedule your appointment?  Get all the women you love to do the same thing.  Spread the word of good heart health.

Guests:  Shannon Winakur, M.D., Medical Director of the Women’s Heart Center at Saint Agnes Hospital 

Debbie Phelps, Director of The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, community activist, volunteer, speaker, author, mom and grandmother – and, heart smart

Loves Saves the Day: How the Love of an Animal Can Make Us All Better Humans

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Gwen Cooper

For anyone who has ever had a pet, you know what the unconditional love from that animal can do for you.  It’s a pure love that we hope to replicate in our relationships with other humans.   My guest this week, Gwen Cooper, the New York Time’s bestselling author of  Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat, joined me and my guest co-host to talk about her latest book. Love Saves the Day is a novel for anyone who’s ever lost a loved one, wondered what their cat was really thinking, or fallen asleep with a purring feline nestled in their arms.  It’s a real story of love lost and love found, and one that you and any pet owner will “get”.  I daresay it will touch the heart of anyone who picks it up.  In the end we all know that love truly can save the day.

Guest: Gwen Cooper, author
Guest Co-Host: Andrea Hylen, Founder of Heal My Voice

5 Secrets to Relationship Survival After Children

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Bob, Ann, Lori and Tori

Most couples are not prepared for the changes that will happen to their relationship once a child or children join the family.  It’s a whole new ball game, and while the focus has been on doctor’s appointments, baby showers, fixing up the nursery and stocking up on Baby Magic… the real life impact of children can be overlooked or even ignored by many couples.  Our guests this week know about relationship challenges and have seen what happens with many couples when a baby comes along.  The perfect conversation to have since my guest co-host is a mom-to-be.  We covered the physical emotional and tremendous lifestyle challenges that result when a couple turns into a family.  But, our Relationship Experts did not leave us high and dry.  Of course, they left us with 5 solid tips to avoid the postpartum relationship rut.  Nobody said raising kids, having a family and having a loving relationship would be easy.  But, it’s so incredibly rewarding when both partners are on board together from the start.

Guests:  Lori and Bob Hollander of Relationships Work
Guest Co-Host:  Tori Maith

Changing Lives. Changing Communities. – Women Build

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Cynthia, Ann, Staci & Shanita

One of my guests this week dared us all to volunteer some time with Habitat for Humanity and just see if you come away untouched.  In fact, she predicted you would want more.  Joining me in the studio were three women who in their various roles as Habitat homeowners, volunteer, advocate and employee, all have one thing in common – they are passionate about the work being done to change lives and revitalize communities.  And, they especially love the opportunity to involve more women in Habitat’s work through the Women Build program.  Tune in to soak up their passion and find out just how volunteering with Women Build, Global Village or any Habitat program will be a game changer not only for a future homeowner, but for you, too.

Guests:  Staci Summers, 20+ year volunteer, Global Village Leader and Advisory Board member for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake Women Build Program

Cynthia Wiggins, Habitat homeowner, advocate and former board member of Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake

Shanita Modlin, Habitat homeowner, Volunteer Engagement Manager for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake

When Social Media Turns Lonely

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Denise Buchman, Colleen McKenna
and Amy Price

Social media is here to stay, no doubt. Go anywhere, I mean anywhere, and you will find people online socializing. It’s our newest currency. And for many of us, it’s what we do, at least in some form, for a living. There is not a day that goes by that social does not come up in conversation whether at work or at home and I have come to see the good, bad and the ugly of social media in new ways.  On the show, we took a look at social media and women. If social media is social, why does it so often make us feel bad, lonely and unaccepted? And, what does it take to create community on social media?  Tune in to hear the conversation on how social media touches our lives.

Guests: Colleen McKenna, Guest Host, Principal of Intero Advisory
Amy Price, Professional Counselor at Wellspring Counseling
Denise Buchman, Social Media & Marketing Consultant