57: Sending Letters and Saving Lives

It is the simple things that make the world a better place.

Through his own journey of depression and darkness comes a light so bright that people all over the world are reaching out to embrace and heal their wounds with personalized, handwritten hope. After spending time writing and journaling, Robert Mason’s situation had improved. He immediately felt compelled to lead others to the same destiny by sending letters of inspiration and healing, illuminating a benevolent path sometimes hard to find when we feel lonely.

Originally aired on February 20th, 2023 on KPOV’s The Monday Point

56: Give In And Give Back

Volunteerism means connection.

All humankind has a generous heart, and it is people like Mary who remind us how many different ways there are to give back to the community. In her younger years, she herself was homeless and continued to work at the food bank to make the world a better place. We all have gifts to share and the opportunities are endlessly available to be helpful to others in order to connect to the greater world around us.

Originally aired on January 24th, 2023 on KPOV’s The Tuesday Point

55: More Then Kegels

Pelvic floor therapy builds strength, endurance, range of motion, coordination and power to enhance the whole body connection.

Young and old, it turns out urinary and sexual dysfunction are super common, but it doesn’t have to be anyone’s reality. Open conversation successful treatments to support struggling individuals to bring comfort and formality to an experience that’s generally left unattended. There is no shame in leakage, but there are ways of moving through with dignity to get back to sharing healthy intimate time with the ones we love.

Originally aired on February 3, 2023 on KPOV’s The Friday Point

54: Woman on Woman Action

Although networking with other genders and groups of people is beneficial, there is a certain vulnerability and more relaxed opportunity when just women are together.

The scope of women in the workplace has shifted immensely during the recent past and the professional world is offering more resources than ever for female business owners. Women have also stepped up to listen to and support fellow women; connecting to and for each other. The simple act of networking and sharing ideas creates more mental agility and the consistent communion encourages strength.

Originally aired on February 17, 2023 on KPOV’s The Friday Point

53: Look Up, People

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) aims at limiting the amount of sunlight reaching Earth in order to cool the planet.

A highly controversial topic, the existence of contrails or chemtrails in the skies above and a current government program designed to alter planet Earth’s climate, is brought to light in this fringe conversation. A group of climate activists questions and spreads awareness about dangerous and multifaceted weather control technology and its use of toxic nano-materials linked to several life-threatening conditions.

Originally aired on February 14, 2023 on KPOV’s Curiosity Lab

52: Beer Profits Local Community

Cascade Lakes Brewing Company’s new nonprofit status is similar to that of the Bob’s Red Mill company.

In true craft spirit, the owners of Cascade Lakes Brewing Company are breaking the beer industry mold by becoming the first nonprofit brewery in Central Oregon. In the past, they have worked alongside Habitat For Humanity, Central Oregon Trail Alliance and Brightside Animal Center but decided to take it to the next level. In addition to donating all proceeds to local nonprofits, they are also significantly expanding the benefits packages for their employees and bumping up wages, to have a positive impact on their local community and place they call home. Will it become a new industry standard?

Originally aired on December 21, 2022 on KPOV’s The Wednesday Point

51: Continuing Reproductive Services

Even if you have no resources or money at all, these clinics will still take care of your reproductive health needs.

Planned Parenthood’s Bend Health Center Manager, Joanna Dennis-Cook, gives us an update on services and affairs after the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade. Neighboring states have since banned abortion and other reproductive services, putting more pressure than ever on the clinics in independently-supported states. Anytime someone has to travel for health care, the risks and costs skyrocket, and, begs the question, how do we continue to support all women to live their happiest and healthiest lives?

Originally aired on January 20, 2023 on KPOV’s The Friday Point

49: Achievable Housing For All

Homelessness is a symptom of larger societal issues and current services merely a safety net.

Homelessness has increased at an amazing rate in recent years in Central Oregon, and the available homeless services don’t come close to serving this incredibly under-counted population of struggling community members. It is going to take full commitment to engaging diverse perspectives, having open ears and focusing on a solution-oriented attitude to understand the vastness of this issue and offer housing to all. No complicated problem can be solved today, but we can all be warm tonight.

Originally aired on January 11, 2023 on KPOV’s The Wednesday Point

46: Veterans Need Natural Healing

The power of this story can impact veterans and non-veterans alike.

An immensely brave veteran and human, Javier Romo, turns his back on the mainstream VA medical system and finds freedom from his trauma with natural ways of healing. After struggling for years with prescription drugs, alcohol use and criminal activity to suppress his pain, he knew he needed dramatic changes and leaned in to exercise, lifestyle changes and a healthy diet as the catalyst for well-being, with much success. He now spends his time leading other veterans and being a positive role model to improve their quality of life and find purpose.

Originally aired on August 30, 2022 on KPOV’s Curiosity Lab

44: Vulnerable To Violence

As we learn about the animal psyche, we can better understand our own humanity.

From rescuing rabbits and tortoises to studying PTSD in elephants in Africa, animals are in desperate need of our compassion to harness healthy relationships within their own communities and beyond. The fact is that every sentient being can undergo trauma and the lasting effects are devastating for them and for the continuation of inter-species understanding. It is within our power to limit their exposure to human-created violence and in turn heal the long-standing karma between the hunter and the hunted.

Originally aired on September 28, 2021 on KPOV’s All Things Vegan

43: Doula Drawn To Death

Any experience of death is life-enriching.

Virtually every conversation we have about death is actually about life and can positively alter the way we perceive our time, the people we spend it with and our all-around life experience. If we can be more involved in the end-of-life process with loved ones, it can give us the renewal to honor life and chase unfulfilled dreams. This amazing discussion reveals that we must face our own mortality in order to live the most realized versions of ourselves.

Originally aired on January 4, 2023 on KPOV’s The Wednesday Point

40: Respond Rather Than React

We don’t have to be perfect during hard times with children, but we can be present and curious.

Helping students succeed socially and emotionally is the end-goal for parents and teachers, but we all run into tough times one way or another during the process. The best thing we can do for children and ourselves is to stay calm and connected in order to remain regulated and ready to teach. We must demonstrate to kids how to use these skills, be empathetic and create a sense of accountability if they are to develop and practice problem-solving skills that will ultimately benefit all of humanity.

Originally aired on September 13, 2022 on KPOV’s Curiosity Lab

39: Life's Messy, Live Happy

If you’re bored with life, it’s probably because you’re not willing to be out in the mess of it.

Most negative feelings we experience are about things that never happen and can be described as self-imposed suffering. Cy Wakeman gives timeless strategies for making subtle shifts in moving through the world to raise your level of daily contentment. We cannot prevent adverse human experiences, but we can become skillful at emotionally processing them. We must feel our feelings instead of intellectualizing them to truly embrace the juiciness of life.

Originally aired on August 3, 2022 on KPOV’s Open Air

38: From Taboo To Yahoo

Laugh, Dance and Love Freely Again

Topics our grandmothers would frown upon are taking the spotlight in this important discussion about women’s sexual, urinary and reproductive health. Incontinence, pain during sex and other dysfunctions prevent women from having a healthy and life. The good news is that treatment is approachable and there are options to support the body to be at its best. Working with the body to help heal itself, or regenerate, can bring the spark back to the bedroom and create comfort in social situations so you can laugh, dance and love freely again.

Originally aired on November 18, 2022 on KPOV’s The Friday Point

37: Pain Shared Is Pain Halved

We can get through tough stuff and we don’t need to do it alone.

During any traumatic time in life, Dr. Elena Lister encourages everyone to be open, honest and share their experience with trusted loved ones in order to ease their pain. This is especially true with children, who are instinctively very perceptive of and continually seeking guidance from their role models. The best way to arm the youth for the future is to face the tough stuff by having real conversations and courageously learning to heal together as a community.

Originally aired on August 31, 2022 on KPOV’s Open Air

36: Slow Down, Show Up, Let Go

We have all been inadvertently affected by the mainstream portrayal of sex.

Sex is an exceedingly interesting yet provocative part of life, experienced by most, but discussed very little in mainstream conversation. Author of the book Too Busy To Get Busy, Dr. Jane Guyn gives a holistic approach to “bedroom talk” and implores individuals and couples to continue to explore, be authentic and co-create in their shared sexual connections. She explains how we can get out of our heads and into our bodies, remove associated stress and erase preconceived ideas to define our own unique needs and desires.

Originally aired on November 4, 2022 on KPOV’s The Friday Point

35: Dignity Is My Lens

Habitat For Humanity and Mellissa believe in a world where everyone has the right to a home.

Presenting part three of our series examining the housing crisis in Central Oregon, featuring Mellissa Kamanya, Grants Director for Bend-Redmond Habitat. She shares her own family’s struggles with housing instability and the programs and promise of Habitat for Humanity as one solution to our community’s difficulties. Infusing hope and enabling transformations makes this organization a community gem.

Originally aired on November 17, 2022 for KPOV’s Critical Conversations

33: Future's So Bright, Gotta Buy Shades

Part 2 of our in-depth interview series with Bend-Redmond Habitat For Humanity and the examination of the housing crisis in Central Oregon.

After the life-changing opportunity to own her own home came to fruition through the support of Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity, Jodie is glowing. All she ever wanted was stability for her children to thrive and was able to access custom support to make it a reality; and through the sweat equity program, community builds community. She now makes her living as a real estate agent and helps pass the torch for others to shine brightly into their futures.

Originally aired on November 10, 2022 on KPOV

32: Something To Squawk About

To care about the well-being of other sentient creatures does not make you a trader of your ‘own kind’.

Understanding what it means to be earthlings, animals and then humans is the center of this discussion with Debra Merskin and Carrie Freeman, animal rights activists and authors in the field. Non-human animals must have equal and proper representation in the media to both honor and respect, with accuracy, these other communities of species. In re-empowering the notion of animality, we are all someone, never something.

Originally aired on August 10, 2021 on KPOV’s All Things Vegan

31: Housing From The Heart

Just the possibility of owning a home provided the opportunity to hope and dream as a family again.

This is part one of our series examining the housing crisis in Central Oregon. The Hohman’s walk us through the process of how they first started volunteering for and, ultimately, buying a house in partnership with the Bend-Redmond Habitat For Humanity. Moving into their own home was life-changing, offering space for their family to flourish, creating a positive ripple effect and opening up endless possibilities in their lives. It’s a Hand-Up, not a Hand-Out.

Originally aired on October 20, 2022 on KPOV