18: Episode 18

 Through this lighthearted and fun CONVERSATION, my guests and I debunk the theory that all high school reunions are a potential pain-point and gatherings of people who don’t care about each other.  And while it might be true that you didn’t have relationships with many who might attend, something else might come out of the experience for you.  It did for me, every time!   In school, I wasn’t really in “a group”. I wasn’t friendly with the jocks, or the cheerleaders or the cool band kids or those who just hung out around the building.  And yes, that first 10-year reunion was a little awkward – we were all trying to prove that we “made it” in some way.  This episode of CONVERSATIONS dives into all of that, and the awkward experiences we had – but now 45 years later – our high school reunions are incredibly well attended and so much fun. My guests are the two people who are the glue to the connections of our past who bring us into the present day with fabulous engagement.  They share fun stories about how they keep us together.  Monthly birthday and life experience updates, Facebook posts and pictures.  And they also offer tips on how this work can be translated into other re-connection experiences – former co-workers, long-lost family, friends, etc. So, listen in to hear the fun stories and guidance of my guests - that with an open-mind, reunions can actually be something to look forward to – that’s a promise! 

 Gary brown, noted NFL and SUPER BOWL player is a native of Brentwood, Long Island, where he “escaped the evil call of the streets”.  He made it to the big leagues and got to experience things that most of us wouldn’t even know to dream about.  But then the worst happened.  After leaving a lifelong career and dream – he was lost and alone in his own despair,  fighting terrible paralysis and an uncertain future.  In this fascinating interview, you will hear Gary Brown’s amazing story and what motivated him to turn his life around. As he notes, “when the fame ends, there are a lot of emotions that arise.”  “When you shut down the pity party, it opens up a lot of room for positive energy.” Gary moved to a place he sees as a blessing in his life – giving back and helping veterans, kids, and families in his newfound life. 

Many of us are presented with challenges as we grow up.  As a young child, Norman found many barriers in his single-parent home.  It became more challenging when as a young child, he had to translate for his mom, as he was first learning English.    His mom found the right resources to give Norman access to mentors who would eventually give him a healthy, safe direction to follow.  At the young age of 28, Norman is now a former Marine, and a successful Insurance salesman. 

This weeks’ show will highlight how doing outreach in your local community can literally change your life and help you discover your “WHY” in your own life.  Randi is joined in studio by Rev. Jannie West-Mays of the St. John's Baptist Church of Westbury.

Language can be a powerful—and consequential—tool. The words we use to shape our messages impact people deeply. They can create positive messages—or be demeaning. In most instances, that harm was unintended, but it might be too late after the words are shared. In this Episode of CONVERSATIONS with Randi Shubin Dresner, our host dives deep into the way we address people and talks openly about her own experiences with how her mother, who was challenged by major health issues, related to her often paralyzed limbs. She suggests that rather than using “THE” phrases such as “we are helping the hungry”, we might consider rephrasing the sentence to something like, “we are helping PEOPLE WHO ARE hungry”. By definition, People-First Terminology highlights the individuality, equality, and dignity of people. It recognizes the common humanity of all and builds on it by acknowledging that we are people first and foremost. By using our words to reflect this, it serves as a foundation for our act

In this episode we are discussing a very difficult topic, MENTAL ILLNESS, a topic often swept under the rug . If we break an arm or get sick, we talk about it to our friends and family. But if we are impacted by some form of mental illness – suddenly our health becomes a secret, and we are afraid that someone might find out about it. We are joined by David Nathan, a father whose son, Jack, struggled with anxiety and depression. Jack lived his young life with perseverance and determination. His painting and design work proved to be an important component in how he managed his mental illness. He passed away suddenly at the age of 19 (unrelated to his mental illness) but his dreams of “ITS OK TO NOT BE OK” continue through his family’s’ advocacy work to bring this struggle to the forefront in CONVERSATIONS such as this one. We are thoughtfully guided by Dr Jeffrey Steigman, a clinical psychologist with Family Service League of Long Island. Dr Steigman shares important information

In this episode, we are discussing a fun topic: INSIGHTS INTO RETIREMENT. We are joined by two senior executives from the Long Island business community who have both built successful careers. Martha Stark and Sally Ballweg have found the formula that works for them on when and how to retire and they share their experiences with us through this fun CONVERSATION. You will hear our deep dive into questions like: How can your network help you in retirement? You’re still working and haven’t thought about retirement much, or maybe retirement is right around the corner and you’re simply waiting for the right time to take that next step. No matter what your age or where you are in your career, the time to think about your retirement is now. Martha and Sally also chose to retire while their spouses continued to work. They spoke bluntly about how they navigated through those complications. They also talk about the misconceptions about some of the basic facts of retirement planning, sha

You’ll want to hear this CONVERSATION about the business side of the non-profit sector; should there be profits at the end of the year? Why don’t funders cover administrative costs? Should the entire organization be volunteer run? What IS the difference between a for-profit and non-profit enterprise? There are major differences: when a business delivers a service, there is income. The completion of their mission provides a profit. When a nonprofit delivers a service, and effectively deliver on their mission, they have spent their dollars, they have less dollars than they started with. As we move into the holiday season where giving typically increases, this is a good time to understand how this sector operates. Contributions are investments and in this sector, it supports a mission rather than a corporate bottom-line.