In Clear Terms with AARP California™

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life, whether we realize it or not. From online searches and digital assistants to customer service and fraud prevention, AI is changing how people access information, communicate, and make decisions. In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon welcomes Siddharth Hiregowdara, CEO and Co-Founder of CivAI, a no...

In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with fraud prevention specialist and former District Attorney investigator Jason Collom to talk about how travelers can stay safe and avoid scams before and during their trips. Drawing from more than 30 years in law enforcement and decades of personal travel experience, Jason shares practical ways to protect...

What happens after a scam goes beyond financial loss. It often leaves people dealing with emotions they are not prepared to face or talk about. In this episode, Dr. Thyonne Gordon speaks with Randi Izdonavicius, Program Manager for AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Victim Support, about the real impact scams have on victims. Randi shares what she hears from callers, from shock and embarrassment to anger...

In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon welcomes Michael Murray, the new State Director for AARP California. Michael shares his journey with AARP and explains how the organization works to support the more than 3.2 million AARP members in California. The conversation explores what AARP really does, clears up common myths about the organization, and highlight...

In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Lester Kwok, a retired FBI Special Agent with over 20 years of experience investigating fraud. Lester brings deep insights from his time working financial crimes and leading elder fraud initiatives, both within the FBI and now in the private sector. They break down the evolving tactics scammers use to target...

Family caregivers are the unsung backbone of California’s long-term care system and they’re under increasing pressure. In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon is joined by Dr. Donna Benton, Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center, and Dr. Nina Weiler-Harwell, Associate Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement with AARP California. They break...

In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Heather Tinsley-Fix, Senior Advisor of Employer Engagement at AARP, to discuss the value of experience in today’s workplace. Heather shares data and insights on how older workers are shaping the modern job market, the myths that still hold many back, and the growing movement toward intergenerational org...

Older Californians face growing transportation challenges as they age, especially in rural and underserved communities. In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon is joined by Arun Prem, Executive Director of Full Access and Coordinated Transportation (FACT), and David Azevedo, Associate Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement with AARP California. The d...

Paid family leave is often the difference between stability and stress for working families. In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon talks with California State Senator María Elena Durazo and Katie Duberg, Political Organizing Director at the California Work & Family Coalition, about how California’s paid family leave policies are evolving and why those upd...

Older adults are especially vulnerable during natural disasters and staying safe goes far beyond just having an emergency kit. In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon speaks with Luke Beckman, Division Disaster State Relations Director for the Pacific Division of the American Red Cross. Luke shares practical steps older Californians can take to better prepa...

Getting older comes with a lot of questions, some practical, some emotional and some that are hard to even bring up. In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California host Dr. Thyonne Gordon talks with Debra Whitman AARP’s Chief Public Policy Officer and the author of The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond . Debra shares the key questions that guided her own th...

Utility costs are top of mind for many Californians but there are practical steps being taken to address them. In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon speaks with Mark Toney, Executive Director of TURN—The Utility Reform Network. Since 2008, Mark has led TURN’s efforts to advance energy affordability, broadband equity, and consumer protection throughout the...

In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon speaks with Dr. Brandie Nonnecke, Director of the CITRIS Policy Lab and host of TecHype, about the latest developments in artificial intelligence. They break down what AI really is — beyond the hype — and how it’s already impacting daily life, public services, and even medical advances. Brandie shares practical ways A...

In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon speaks with Rachel Tate, Vice President of Ombudsman Services at WISE & Healthy Aging. They explore the critical role of Long-Term Care Ombudsmen in California. Rachel explains what ombudsmen do, how they advocate for quality facility care and residents’ rights, and the types of concerns they handle — from neglect and...

In this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California , host Dr. Thyonne Gordon speaks with Kathy Stokes, Director of Fraud Prevention Programs at AARP, about the increasing risk of scams following disasters. They discuss why fraud spikes after major events, how scammers exploit disaster victims, and what you can do to stay safe. Kathy shares insights from her work at AARP’s Fraud Watch Network,...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Dr. Nina Weiler-Harwell, Associate Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement for AARP California, and Dr. Donna Benton, Research Associate Professor of Gerontology at USC and Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center. They discuss the evolving landscape of caregiving, the challenges faced b...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Dave Morrow, President of Plateau Security Advisors, LLC, which provides cyber security and threat consulting to large and small businesses. Dave joins Dr. Gordon to discuss what you need to know about the latest trends in cyber security, including how to tell if someone has stolen your identity, behavio...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with David Eisenman, MD, MSHS, Director of the Center for Public Health and Disasters at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and Co-Director of the UCLA Center for Healthy Climate Solutions. Dr. Eisenman joins Dr. Gordon to discuss what you need to know about wildfire smoke, including: the effects of smoke...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with  Shirley N. Weber PhD., California Secretary of State. Secretary Weber joins Dr. Gordon to discuss where, when, and how to vote in California – as well as topics such as what her office is doing to boost voter turnout, how they are ensuring integrity in our elections, and how you can get involved as an e...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Dr. Nina Weiler-Harwell, Associate Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement with AARP California, and Tony Chicotel, Senior Staff Attorney with California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) . Nina and Tony join Dr. Gordon to provide an update on nursing homes in California. Together they discus...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Dan Evon, Senior Manager of Education Design at The News Literacy Project. Dan joins Dr. Gordon to discuss how we can spot and stop misinformation. Together they discuss key tips to identify misinformation, how social media affects the spread of misinformation, how the public can be better stewards of sh...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Jennifer Jones, Vice President of Financial Security and Livable Communities for AARP Government Affairs. Jennifer joins Dr. Gordon to talk about financial security, with a focus on Social Security. Together they discuss how Social Security is financed, the challenges Social Security faces in the coming...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Tim Morstad, a Government Affairs Director for AARP’s Livable Communities national team. Tim joins Dr. Gordon to  discuss how complete streets benefit people of all ages, models for complete streets that communities can follow, and how both residents and local governments can create safer streets. Listen...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Lucia del Puppo, Senior Vice President of public-opinion research firm FM3 Research, and Patricia Pérez, AARP California volunteer and its first State President Emeritus. Lucia and Patricia join Dr. Gordon to discuss the results from She’s the Difference California, a recent survey conducted by AARP Cali...

On this episode of In Clear Terms with AARP California, host Dr. Thyonne Gordon sits down with Seth Boffeli, Senior Advisor on AARP’s Fraud Prevention Programs Team. Seth joins Dr. Gordon to talk about common tax season scams and frauds – how to spot warning signs, how to take immediate action if you think you have become a victim, and more practical advice. Listen in for another important episode...