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New York State has one of the largest populations of adults over 60, and the older adult population is growing faster than any other group. For the first time, New York State has proposed a Master Plan for Aging, as a roadmap to address a range of issues and challenges for older New Yorkers. For details, our guest is Jeremy Kaplan, the Executive Director of Encore Community Services, a 2024 Nonprofit Trailblazer, and a vocal advocate for older adults and the care workforce that supports them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most people, it’s hard to imagine life without access to a computer or broadband. And yet, according new a study by The Center For An Urban Future, tens of thousands of Bronx residents remain cut off from these basic tools for work, school, and everyday connectivity. Jonathan Bowles from the Center for an Urban Future talks about tackling the digital divide in the Bronx.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While never ending policy debates about the mental health and homelessness crisis in the Subway persist, our guest is on the front lines every day with solutions that work. Melissa O’Brien is Medical Director of Psychiatric Services at Project Renewal, one of New York City’s largest providers of comprehensive health services to homeless individuals. We’ll talk about what she sees on the ground and what gets in the way of getting people the help they need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New York City based Indo-American Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an awareness of arts and artists of Asian Indian heritage. From September 18-21 in Manhattan, IAAC presents the Erasing Borders Dance Festival, featuring classical dance from India. Our guest is Deepsikha Chatterjee, Festival Director.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year around the country, many thousands join the fight to end breast cancer, fund research, and support survivors through the Susan G. Komen Walks & Races. Sunday, September 7, Susan G. Komen celebrates the 35th year of Race for the Cure in New York City! For more on the event and the advancements made possible through decades of work and support, our guest is Stacie Spitzkoff, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the National Endowment for the Arts and public arts funding is threatened, our guests are Emmy nominated actor Tim Daly, President of The Creative Coalition, and author and producer Robin Bronk, the organization’s CEO, on the urgent fight to protect the NEA and how arts funding benefits communities across the across the country. Founded in 1989 by entertainment professionals committed to meaningful civic engagement, The Creative Coalition champions federal arts funding, free speech, and education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After much debate and delay, NY City Public Schools begin a ban on personal internet enabled devices as of the 2025-26 school year. With the bell-to-bell ban, students will not have access to cell phones, personal tablets or smart watches during the school day. What should parents, teachers, and most importantly, students expect? Our guest is Dr. Curtis Palmore, CEO of United Charter High Schools, who has implemented bell-to-bell cell phone bans at every school he’s led over the past decade, including the seven high schools in his network, as of 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alison Manning, Co-Executive Director of Harkness Dance Center and Director of Harkness School of Dance, returns for a preview of Harkness Mainstage Series at 92NY, “Women’s Move The World”, featuring ten different offerings from women choreographers from September 13 through May 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NOT MY TYPE: One Woman Vs. A President, by celebrated writer E. Jean Carroll—who successfully stood up to Donald Trump in court twice and won twice— is a candid and uniquely personal account of the defamation and sexual assault trials that captured the nation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York State has officially renewed two programs that offer businesses funding to relocate to The Bronx. Rob Walsh, President, Bronx Economic Development Corporation, talks about the potentially game changing policies of The Relocation and Commercial Expansion Program (RACE) and The Relocation and Employment Assistance Program (REAP).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In times of rising chronic diseases, and challenges, costs and threats to health care, Plant Powered Metro NY, a leading nutrition and health-focused nonprofit in New York, offers a powerful solution to treating and preventing chronic diseases. Our guest is Lianna Levine Reisner, President and Network Director, to talk about plant-powered diets as an evidence-based approach to well-being, and their Jumpstart Program, based on a whole food, plant based diet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Open kicks off next Monday with Fan Week! From Monday, August 18 through Saturday, August 23, the grounds of The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens are entirely free and open to the public with activities for everyone. Our guest is Nicole Kankam, Managing Director, with details on this year’s events and tips for the best experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we talk about taking care of our mental health, we don’t often talk about the people who take care of us. What are the unique mental health challenges for first responders and how might their treatment and approach be different? Our guest is Dr. Brendan Guarino, clinical psychologist at Baker Street Behavioral Health, specializing in treatment for athletes and first responders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Battery Dance Festival is New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival. Now in it’s 44th year, the Festival draws a combined audience of over 12,000 in-person and over 35,000 virtual viewers. For a backstage preview of this year’s festival, August 9-16 in Battery Park City, our guest is Battery Dance founder and artistic director Jonathan Hollander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Affordable housing is hard to find. We talk about it at every level of income. But what is the affordable housing crisis like for working people at the low income end of the spectrum, for whom even an average monthly rent is out of reach? Our guest is Brian Goldstone, author of THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US: Working and Homeless in America. Brian Goldstone is a journalist whose long form reporting and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, The New Republic, The California Sunday Magazine, and others. He has a doctorate in anthropology from Duke University and was a Mellon Research Fellow at Columbia University. In 2021, he was a National Fellow at New America. He lives in Atlanta with his family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kofago Dance Ensemble, a premier African Diasporic dance ensemble based in New York, is training dancers this summer to perform across the state, as a means to build the next generation of dancers and cultural ambassadors. The company founded by our guest, Kevin McEwen, is also hosting the The Culture Rising Dance Conference, August 22-23rd at Lehman College, free to Bronx residents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to studies, people tend to be happier, healthier, and more successful when they have a balance of the “Big Five” personality traits:  Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. But can we change our personalities to suit? Olga Khazan is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic covering science, health, and psychology. In her book ME, BUT BETTER: The Science and Promise of Personality Change, she reveals the science behind lasting personality change, and how anyone, at any age, can seize the reigns of their destiny.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year's National Assessment of Educational Progress shows only 31% of New York's fourth graders are reading at grade level.  It's a dismal number mirrored in many states—and one that drops significantly for students from economically disadvantaged communities. In response, New York City’s Public Schools and other districts have increasingly embraced "The science of reading” instruction model—in part, a throwback to earlier decades of teaching. Our guest is Dr. Katie Pace Miles co-founder of CUNY Reading Corps and The NYC nonprofit The Reading Institute providing teacher training and resources.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded by Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman, The Flag Award For Teaching Excellence recognizes and celebrates extraordinary New York City public school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. Our guests are 2025 Flag Award Winners Alhassan Susso, a Social Studies teacher from International Community High School in The Bronx, and Emily Chandler a special education teacher at District 75 school, PS 371K Lillian Rashkis in Brooklyn. For more on this year’s winners and applications for 2026, visit flagaward.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Guns are the leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 1 through 17. Dr. Katherine Hoops talks more about the dangers and what you can do to promote gun safety, even if you don’t own a firearm. For more, visit The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.