Anna Marie's Sunday Focus

Anna talks with Gabe Horton, Executive Director of Pawster, which is a pet fostering non-profit for pets whose person is in a crisis situation.   He discusses the reasons one might find themselves unable to care for their pets, including loss of housing, leaving a domestic violence situation, or health crisis.  Listeners also learn how they can support Pawster, either financially or...

Anna's guest is Paige Zulandt, Regional Communications Director of the American Red Cross of Tennessee. She shares some easy-to-remember tips to be ready for the extreme heat we have in Tennessee summers. They include preparing NOW in case you lose electricity or air conditioning in the heat and how to find places to cool down.  She also discusses learning CPR.  Summertime also means mor...

Anna speaks with LPC-S David Wood,  the Regional Director of Family Care Center, the largest outpatient Mental Health provider in Tennessee,. In this interview, they discuss issues effecting older persons.  Many men don't last very long in retirement; they feel the need to be contributing.  Some late in life get stuck on regrets, without realizing there is still time to do things.&n...

Parenting is an important job and there are some things you find out LATER ON, that you might have done differently. Anna talks with the authors of the childrens book "World Records of the Stuffed Animal Kingdom, Declan Brenna, who wrote the book when he was eleven, and his father, Mike Brennan.  Their book will help give you insight into your child's imagination, a guideline to help them lea...

Dr. John Lazar,  Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville  speaks about lung cancer, treatments, causes, and risk factors. The lung cancer rate is higher in Tennessee and other Southeastern states because the smoking rate is higher.  He discusses an unexpected rise of lung cancers in women of a particular demographic with NO obvious risk factors...

Anna continues her discussion with financial advisor Paris Jackson of Northwestern Mutual.  They talk about where to start if you're already struggling with your finances. Situations arise that are out of your control, like illnesses, or job loss, as well as poor choices that lead to debt. Also, the issue of college loans now coming due is a whole new problem for budgets.  Jackson tells...

Anna chats with Fahad Tahir, President and CEO of Ascension St. Thomas Hospitals, He discusses their new hospital planned for Clarksville, making access easier for residents of Montgomery Country without having to drive to Nashville.  They currently have same day surgery centers there, but will be able to more complex surgeries require overnight stays.  Tahir also talks about the mission...

Kimberly Fielding, founder of Kicks and Flutters Mobile Ultrasound, discusses her service.  They allow Nashville-area residents the flexibility to choose where to have your ultrasound, and who to invite. The At-Home Pregnancy Ultrasound Boutique offers 4D, 3D, & 2D technology, progress packages, live ultrasound gender reveal parties and live ultrasound baby showers. All services are in-ho...

In this week's Focus, Ann speaks with Daniel Fielding, speaker, accomplished podcaster, and the author of the insightful book, "The Asset Mindset: A Special Forces Perspective for Achieving Success." Daniel brings his unique experiences as a Special Forces Green Beret and celebrity bodyguard to offer practical, step-by-step guidance on developing a powerful mindset for achieving your goals. His we...

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month and Anna continues her interviews on the topic. This week, her guest is David Wood, licensed therapist and Regional Director of Family Care Center, the largest outpatient behavioral health provider in Tennessee. They talk about how the mental health needs change throughout one's life, from the simple needs of a small child, through the teen years, adult years,...

With the current economy on shaky ground, finances are a worry to all Middle Tennesseans. Anna chats with Paris Jackson, Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual.  This visit, Paris gives some insight on the current financial situation. With tariffs, a dropping stock market, new laws affecting investments, and rising costs of foods and goods, what do we do? She gives advice about how to react...

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Anna speaks with LPC-S David Wood, the Regional Director of Family Care Center, the largest outpatient Mental Health provider in Tennessee, In this interview, he gives some insight on why May can be extra stressful. He also discusses women's mental health issues, which can often be linked with caregiver roles, and the realization that women have needs th...

Anna discusses the lifesaving gift of organ donation with Emily McKinley, Director of External Affairs, at Tennessee Donor Services. Their goal is to save and improve lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. As a non-profit organ procurement organization, they serve more than 6 million people in Tennessee and Virginia.  Emily tells us what organs can be donated, how it can save or change...

Anna chats with Kimberly Wells, Vice President of Women's Services at Ascension Saint Thomas.  They discuss the Women's Health services offered, things and their efforts to make medicine easier through the use of Navigators who advise patients about what options are available. They also talk about women may not have known, what they should be checking, and a free event on Thursday, May 8th at...

This month on Focus we're honoring National Donate Life Month, with interviews that give you more information about organ, eye,  and tissue donation and transplantation. In this interview, Dr. Jacfranz Guiteau, a kidney transplant surgeon at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, discusses kidney disease, treatments and transplantation. He discusses what's new, why transplants are needed, who c...

Our Place Nashville empowers adults with developmental disabilities by providing affordable housing, work that is meaningful, and inclusive communities in which to live.  Isolation is a frequent problem for this group.  Executive Director Jordan Collins tells Anna about the non-profit, and explains that half of the residents are neurodivergent (“friends”) and the other half a...

Allied Behavioral Health Services is committed to offering diversity-informed, strengths-based, and affirming therapy for all clients. Executive Director Alison Peak, LCSW,ISH-E, says their therapists have experience in helping clients of all ages navigate life transitions, family stress, identity exploration, and relationship issues as well as mental health concerns including depression, anxiety,...

Anna talks with Paula Mangrum, founder of The Pet Pantry in Nashville.  When financial issues occur, feeding your pet may be almost impossible. The Pet Pantry is a non-profit that provides food and supplies to pet parents in need so they can keep their furry family members with them.  The organization needs donations of money and foods to meet the need in Middle TN.  Listeners can h...

Anna talks with local financial advisor Paris Jackson. They discuss reasons for the disparity in finances between minorities and white families (education about money is a large reason) and how having a budget and game-plan can change one's future.  Also discussed is generational wealth and why it's important, as well as investing and planning for retirement. See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Beaman Park is one of Tennessee's most beautiful natural areas, yet many of us in Tennessee haven't taken advantage of all it can offer. Beaman Park is a state park, and has a nature center, hiking trails, and the ridges, hollows, creeks, forest vegetation, wildflowers and birds that are characteristic on the Western Highland Rim. Admission, parking and almost every event are all free. Dogs are al...

As you get older, your transportation options can get smaller. Health issues and cost concerns can put you into a space where driving is not an option. That's where Senior Ride Nashville comes in! In this podcast, Carrie Brumfield, CEO of Senior Ride Nashville talks about Senior Ride's goal to foster a community that connects and empowers older adults, by connecting seniors who no longer drive wit...

This podcast contains info to help you love life after 50 years of age.   Anna talks with Sallie Hussey, Chief Executive Officer of FiftyForward. The non-profit organization supports, champions and enhances life for those 50 and older. FiftyForward offers Adult Day Services, Supportive Care Services, Lifelong Learning Centers, FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels, Care Teams, and numerous...

Anna talks with Dr. Nishtha Sareen, medical director of the medical heart program at Ascension St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville.   There are conditions that affect women disproportionately to men, for example microvascular disease.  She tells us that exercise and healthy eating are more likely to benefit women than men. Also, certain heart conditions can occur during and after pregn...

Anna talks with Dr. Ameshica R. Linsey, the Associate Executive Director of the GOAL Collective--goal standing for Growing Opportunities for Adult Learners.  This local organization acts as a hub that connects adults with the education opportunities available to them, and provides information and connections to services and programs that help to make schooling happen. This includes things as...

In this interview,  Anna talks about AgeWell. It's a trusted resource and organization that works to advance solutions to meet the needs of older adults and caregivers. In this interview, Grace Smith and Paula Daigle with AgeWell Middle Tennessee discuss the shifting needs of older folks, about some of the issues they're facing (like the costs of housing and medicine), and how they, and those...