Ann Quasman's WomanTalkLive A more conscious conversation

WTL Wrap-Up: “This Chapter – It’s a Wrap”

Colleen McKenna, Ann & Kim Fabian

Before the show last week, I was feeling kind of weepy.  And, even though I am totally excited about the future, there was some “sadness” for leaving something I love doing here in Baltimore.  After spending a bit of each Saturday night at the studio for the past 7 years, what would I do on Saturday nights going forward???  (That was just a rhetorical question… I’m sure I’ll figure out the answer!)

Before heading out for the show, I packed up a bottle of prosecco and three goblets – after all, I may have been weepy, but I do like to celebrate.  Imagine my surprise when I met one of my guests, Colleen McKenna, in the parking lot with you guessed it, a bottle of prosecco and three goblets.  Umm… a fun night, for sure!

We headed into the studio and a few minutes later, Kim Fabian, my other guest shows up.  With what, you ask?  A bottle of prosecco!  Talk about fabulous minds being in sync!

So, we sipped prosecco and talked and talked and talked about the fun of doing the show, fabulous guests, the support of so many wonderful listeners, readers and sponsors, Girls Gone Great, Conscious Conversations Café, and finding my voice to be an advocate for sexual assault/domestic violence victims and survivors.

Looking back, I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap it all up here in Baltimore – with good friends, good memories and prosecco.

I am so extremely grateful for my opportunity to host WomanTalk Live and connect with so many incredible souls and know I’ll take so many wonderful memories with me as we head to Vermont.

If you missed the show, you can listen to the podcast which will be posted in the podcast archive later on this week.  It’ll be the final show in the archive – the December 28th show.

But stay tuned… there will be more to come.

Wishing you all the most magnificent 2014!

WTL Wrap-Up: “Lynette’s Law – Catching the Professional Predator”

Heather Lynette Sinclair & Ann

Joining me this past week was a young woman whose life has not been easy.  Taken advantage of and being abused as a child, a teenager and a young adult would leave many totally broken down; however, she has become a tireless advocate and activist for victims’ rights.

Heather Lynette Sinclair is the force behind Lynette’s Law for Maryland, a grassroots movement that seeks to spread awareness about sexual exploitation by mental health professionals.  You may be shocked to hear not only her personal story and what gave her the momentum to start this movement, but the fact that therapist abuse happens more often than we would believe possible.  And, depending on state laws and the various governing state boards for mental health professionals, many times the recourse is slight and a professional predator can continue inflicting harm on clients and patients.

Listen in to hear about what Lynette’s Law for Maryland currently does to protect clients and what the plans are for 2014.  In addition, Heather will be launching a national non-profit, the National Alliance Against Exploitation by Professionals (NAAEP) to provide support and advocacy for victims/survivors of therapist abuse.

If you missed the show, you can listen to the podcast which will be posted in the podcast archive soon.  It’s the December 21^st show.

WTL Wrap-Up: “Well, If You’re Going to Eat Cookies…”

Taylor Williams, Ann, Amy Lettman and
Danita Terry

I can’t think of anything much better than to spend an evening in the studio with three fabulous women and cookies.  More specifically… Girl Scout cookies.  Yum.

This past week, we were able to hear all about the brand new and improved Girl Scout cookies that millions of Americans have been enjoying for as long as we can remember.  What’s exciting is, they’ve gotten healthier and there are now new options available for those with special dietary needs – vegan and gluten-free.

Joining me in the studio to talk cookies was Taylor Williams, a 16 year-old junior from Howard County, MD who is a real cookie-selling veteran; Danita Terry, the Director of Communications & Media Relations for Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and Amy Lettman, MS, RD, LDN, CDE with the Diabetes Center of The Maryland Metabolic Institute at Saint Agnes Hospital.

Taylor shared her selling strategies that will help her reach her personal best cookie sales this year to help her Howard County troop meet their goal of funding a trip to Europe – yep, you read that right.

Danita talked about the value “cookie selling” has for the girls and all of the skills it teaches them and shared specific info on the healthier new cookie lineup, and Amy educated us on who will really be loving these gluten-free cookies.

If you missed the show, listen to the podcast and find out how you can get your own cookies (yep, there’s even an app to let you know where to find them) or how to donate boxes to members of the military, firefighters, EMS personnel, police women and men, teachers and other special people in your community.

The show will be posted in the podcast archive later on this week.  It’s the December 14th show.

WTL Wrap-Up: “Setting Boundaries in an Overconnected World”

Anne Katherine

With the internet, we are learning that our lives will never be the same.  There are incredible resources available to us that we couldn’t even dream of in the past.  And, with that has come emails, social media, and texting which can be wonderful sources of connections for us but can also take over our time and our lives if we aren’t able to set some limits.

My guest this past week,  Anne Katherine, therapist and author of the newly released, Boundaries in an Overconnected World, joined me to talk about how to establish healthy boundaries to protect your safety, your privacy, your sanity and help you save some time on a daily basis.

Let’s face it…none of this stuff that is supposed to make our lives easier is going away.  In fact, everyday, new programs and apps show up and invite themselves into our lives.

Tune in to hear some practical advice on how to take your life back and put your attention on the real relationships and connections that make a difference to you.

Listen to the podcast when it’s posted in the podcast archive later on this week.  It’s the December 7th show.

WTL Wrap-Up: “What All Women Need to Know About Social Security – Right Now and for the Future”

Ann and Leonard Raskin

Maybe not the sexiest topic to talk about on a radio show for women – but an important topic, nevertheless.

So often we receive our annual social security statements and stick them somewhere that feels like an official holding place for them.  But, when was the last time you really paid attention to what info was on that statement, and if it was even correct?

My guest last week, Leonard Raskin, the CEO of Raskin Global and Women Getting Wise on Wealth, joined me in the studio to enlighten us about the importance of paying attention to those statements right now, being aware of what we are entitled to under various situations such as divorce or widowhood, what our children may be entitled to, how to increase our future benefits and how to make the wisest choices for payment distributions in the future.

Just another part of being money smart and wise about your finances.

Listen to the podcast when it’s posted in the podcast archive later on this week.  It’s the November 30th^h show.