KUCI: Get the Funk Out!

ELINOR CLEGHORN Shares a trailblazing, conversation-starting history of misdiagnosis and myth in women’s health

Elinor Cleghorn became an unwell woman ten years ago. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease after a long period of being told her symptoms were anything from psychosomatic to a possible pregnancy. As Elinor learned to live with her unpredictable disease she turned to history for answers, and found an enraging legacy of suffering, mystification, and misdiagnosis. In her book UNWELL WOMEN: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World, Cleghorn traces the almost unbelievable history of how medicine has failed women by treating their bodies as alien and other, often to perilous effect. The result is an authoritative and groundbreaking exploration of the relationship between women and medical practice, from the "wandering womb" of Ancient Greece to the rise of witch trials across Europe, and from the dawn of hysteria as a catchall for difficult-to-diagnose disorders to the first forays into autoimmunity and the shifting understanding of hormones, menstruation, menopause, and conditions like endometriosis.
Packed with character studies and case histories of women who have suffered, challenged, and rewritten medical orthodoxy—and the men who controlled their fate—this is a revolutionary examination of the relationship between women, illness, and medicine

Renée K. Nicholson talks about her new memoir-in-essays, “Fierce and Delicate”

Renée Nicholson’s professional training in ballet had both moments of magnificence and moments of torment, from fittings of elaborate platter tutus to strange language barriers and unrealistic expectations of the body. In “Fierce and Delicate” she looks back on the often confused and driven self she had been shaped into and finds beauty in the small roles she performed. When, inevitably, Nicholson moved on from dancing, she discovered that she retained the lyricism and narrative of ballet even as she negotiated life with rheumatoid arthritis.
“remarkable... as breathtaking and beautiful as ballet itself” – Dinty W. Moore, author of Between Panic and Desire

Former spy turned stay-at-home mom Christina Hillsberg provides a possible antidote for anxious parents in LICENSE TO PARENT: How My Career as a Spy H...

Parents today have never had more reason to be concerned for the safety and security of their children. Former spy turned stay-at-home mom Christina Hillsberg provides a possible antidote for anxious parents in LICENSE TO PARENT: How My Career as a Spy Helped Me Raise Resourceful, Self-Sufficient Kids, a groundbreaking guide to raising resilient, self-sufficient children based on Christina’s experience as a CIA analyst. This unparalleled approach to child-rearing provides both an inside look into one of the world’s most clandestine organizations and a practical guide for how to utilize key spy tactics to teach kids important life skills—from self-defense to effective communication to conflict resolution.
Christina Hillsberg was a single, successful CIA analyst with a burgeoning career in espionage when she met fellow spy, Ryan, a hotshot field operative who turned her world upside down. They fell in love, married, and soon they were raising three children from his first marriage, and later, two more of their own.
Christina knew right away that there was something special about the way Ryan was parenting his kids, even if initially their obsession with surviving end-of-world scenarios and their ability to do everything from archery to motorcycle riding gave her pause. More than that, Ryan's kids were much more security savvy than most adults she knew. It wasn’t long after they married that she realized the secret to Ryan’s parenting success: he was using his CIA training and field experience in his day-to-day child-rearing. And why shouldn't he? The CIA trains its employees to be equipped to deal with just about anything. Shouldn't parents strive to do the same for their kids?
As Christina grew into her new role as a stepmom and later gave birth to their two children, she got on board with Ryan's unique parenting style—and even helped shape it using her own experiences at the CIA. Told through honest and relatable parenting anecdotes, Christina shares their distinctive approach to parenting and gives practical takeaways rooted in CIA tradecraft along the way. LICENSE TO PARENT aims to provide parents with the tools necessary to raise savvier, well-rounded kids who have the skills necessary to navigate through life.

Debut author Jodi Rosenfeld is releasing one of the most relatable, warmest new adult novels of the year,

Coming soon! Debut novel by Jodi Rosenfeld candidly explores coming-of-age with meaningful discussions of sexuality, religion, mental health “[Closer to Fine] will resonate for anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world” – Idit Klein, president and CEO of Keshet—for LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life

Veteran dancer, Lillian Colon on her journey from being the First Latina Radio City Music Hall Rockette to performing in In the Heights

MEET LILLIAN COLON
Lillian Colon is a veteran dancer, having been in the entertainment industry since the age of 16. She currently teaches jazz in New York City. Among many of her accomplishments in the dance world, Lillian is the First Latina Radio City Music Hall Rockette and honored by the newspaper El Dario in 1997 as The Puerto Rican Woman of The Year. She has appeared as a Guest of Honor and Godmother in 3 Puerto Rican Day Parades.
Graduating from The High School of Performing Arts, Lillian began her career at Lincoln Center as a shark in West Side Story. After performing in various Latin night clubs, such as the Chateau Madrid, Lillian headed to the West Coast’s Los Angeles Playboy Club where she performed nightly in an act with Lainie Kazan. Since her roots were founded in the New York theatre world, Lillian performed at the famed Sacramento Music Circus
Lillian caught the eye of Steve Merritt and quickly became one of the lead dancers for the 61st Academy Award Show. She quickly became a favorite as a Steve Merritt dancer touring Mexico with Olga Breskin. Lillian performed in Olga’s TV show, night club act and the Spanish film, Nora La Rebelde. After returning from Mexico, Lillian became a dancer and assistant choreographer with Menudo ultimately replacing Miguel Gonz as their choreographer. A highlight of her career was having the opportunity to perform in Can Can with one of her idols, Chita Rivera. This experience introduced her to Alan Johnson, once one of entertainment's most talented choreographers. Among the many well known choreographers, Lillian also worked with Joe Layton, Donald McKayle and with the famed Michael Bennett in the 10th Anniversary of, A Chorus Line.
All this led to her dancing on the great stage that Lillian had always dreamed of, The New York Radio City Music Hall, as a Rockette in the Christmas Spectacular and as the first Latina Rockette.
Lillian currently lives in New York City with her husband Carlos and their daughter Roxanne.

Writer/Director Scarlett Li joins Janeane to talk about her short film Double Happiness, an official selection of the Palm Spring International ShortF...

Scarlett Li is a writer/director born and raised in Shenzhen, a young city on the south coast of China. She is currently pursuing her MFA in film directing and writing at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she is an Ang Lee scholar. Her latest short film Double Happiness was nominated for Best Film, Best Writer, and Best International Film at the BFI Future Film Festival, and is an official selection of the Palm Spring International ShortFest. Scarlett has been a published writer since the age of 13.

Lili Rodriguez - Artistic Director for the Palm Springs International Film Festival

Lili Rodriguez has always been a film enthusiast, and following that passion has helped her shape a notable role in the industry. From majoring in film studies during her undergraduate work to being selected as the latest Artistic Director for the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Rodriguez has seen a consistent incline in her role with the Palm Springs International Film Society since she first joined in 2013.

Eunice Lin Nichols - Vice President, Innovation, Encore.org

EUNICE LIN NICHOLS
Vice President, Innovation, Encore.org
@eunicelnichols
ABOUT EUNICE
Eunice Lin Nichols is obsessed with bringing older and younger generations together to solve society’s greatest challenges, creating a better future for all. She is Vice President of Innovation at Encore.org where she leads the Gen2Gen Innovation Fellowship.
Previously, she ran the Generation to Generation campaign, an initiative to mobilize 1 million adults 50+ to help young people thrive and The Purpose Prize (now a program of AARP), which has awarded over $5 million in prizes to nearly 100 social entrepreneurs over the age of 60 since 2006. She also spent 11 years leading a portfolio of initiatives to expand the social contributions of older adults in California, including scaling Experience Corps from one neighborhood school in San Francisco into a thriving Bay Area program helping thousands of kids read by third grade.
Eunice has been recognized as a Next Avenue Influencer in Aging and is a graduate of the Billions Institute Fellowship for Large-Scale Change. In 2019, she received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for advancing innovative and effective solutions to California’s most significant issues.

Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation chats with KUCI’s Janeane Bernstein

Lisa Marsh Ryerson is president of AARP Foundation, the charitable affiliate of AARP. A bold, disciplined, and collaborative leader, she sets the Foundation’s strategic direction and steers its efforts to realize an audacious vision: a country free of poverty, where no older person feels vulnerable.
Since she took the helm, AARP Foundation has implemented pioneering initiatives, explored new avenues for collaboration, and secured unprecedented funding to support programs and services that truly change lives. In its last three-year strategic plan, AARP Foundation generated over $5 billion of income for older adults through work and jobs, tax refunds, and credits and food security benefits.
She also has served on the boards of numerous higher education and nonprofit organizations, including the Council of Independent Colleges, Southern New Hampshire University, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, the Congressional Hunger Center, and National Women’s History Museum.
Lisa has spearheaded innovative partnerships with other organizations to create and advance effective solutions that help vulnerable older adults increase their economic opportunity and social connectedness. Before joining AARP Foundation, Lisa served as the president and CEO of Wells College in Aurora, NY.
Twitter: @PresRyerson
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Ernest Gonzales, PhD, MSSW - Associate Professor; Director of the MSW Program and The Center for Health and Aging Innovation - NYU

Ernest Gonzales, PhD, MSSW - Associate Professor; Director of the MSW Program and The Center for Health and Aging Innovation
Areas of Expertise: Gerontology and productive aging: employment, volunteering, and caregiving; health equity; discrimination and prejudice; intergenerational research; cross-national aging research; social policy
Biography
Ernest Gonzales is an Associate Professor, Director of the MSW Program at NYU Silver, and Director of The Center for Health and Aging Innovation. He is a scholar in the areas of productive aging (employment, volunteering, and caregiving), health equity, discrimination and social policy. His research advances our understanding of the relationships between healthy aging, social determinants of health, productive activities, and intergenerational contexts. His research has been supported by The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute on Aging, U.S. Social Security Administration, AARP Foundation, Fan Fox and Samuels Foundation, and other public and private funders. Dr. Gonzales publishes in leading scientific journals and he is on several editorial boards.
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