Perspectives with Condace Pressley is an hour where conversation about the ways we may be different actually shows us how much we really have in common.
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Having health insurance is supposed to give us some peace of mind. But for millions of Americans, being insured does not necessarily mean they can afford to get sick. New data show nearly half of working-age adults struggle to afford needed healthcare and here in Georgia, more than one in three say they have skipped care because of the cost. Camille Busette of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation joins us to talk about why so many Americans are being priced out of care, and a new campaign called One Nation, Overcharged.
Housing is one of the biggest expenses facing American families and in metro Atlanta, finding a home you can afford has become increasingly difficult. Now, new federal legislation is being called the most significant housing bill in decades. But will it lead to more homes and lower costs? We are talking with Atlanta architect and housing technology expert Patrick Chopson about what the 21st century road to housing act could mean for Atlanta.
Many of us spend our lives caring for others. We care for our children, our spouses, our parents, our friends and neighbors. But what happens when the person you've always depended on begins depending on you? More than 100 million Americans now find themselves serving as caregivers for a loved one, many because of Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. It is a labor of love but it can also bring exhaustion, financial strain, guilt, grief and isolation. August is National Wellness Month, and today we're focusing on the wellness of the people who so often put everyone else first, the c
Reading opens doors. It sparks imagination, teaches history, and sometimes even gives us the courage to face our greatest fears. As students head back to school across Georgia, we're talking with one of today's most celebrated authors for young readers. Tiffany D. Jackson joins us to discuss her newest middle-grade mystery, Ghost in the Night, a thrilling adventure set in historic Savannah that blends suspense, family, Black history, and just a touch of the supernatural.
It's hard to believe, but the first day of school is just around the corner. While families are checking off school supply lists and getting those backpacks ready, there's another checklist that's just as important—making sure our children are healthy, physically, emotionally and mentally, before they head back into the classroom. Today we're talking about what parents need to know to help their children get off to a healthy start and stay healthy all school year long. Joining us is Dr. Stephen Palte, Chief Medical Officer for UnitedHealthcare of Georgia.
Every day, millions of Americans get up, go to work, earn a paycheck...and still feel like they're falling behind. Rising prices, debt, housing costs and unexpected expenses have made financial security seem just out of reach for many hardworking families. Today on Perspectives, we're talking about why that happens and more importantly, some practical, common-sense steps we can all take to begin moving forward. My guest is financial expert Kimberly Castle Royster.
Artificial intelligence is changing almost every aspect of our lives - everything from how we work and learn to how businesses make decisions and even how we communicate. Some people are excited. Others are nervous. But one thing seems certain: AI isn't coming. It's already here. Today we're talking about what that means for all of us and how organizations and individual can thrive in what some experts including our guest are calling the Wisdom Age. Joining us is Mike Pino, expert and author of Human Corps: Redesigning Organizations for the Wisdom Age.
As America grows older, a new report suggests our biggest challenge may not simply be adding years to life — but adding life to those years. The 2026 America’s Health Rankings Senior Report paints a complicated picture for older adults nationally and here in Georgia: encouraging gains in preventive care and access in some areas, but troubling increases in behavioral health concerns, social isolation, and barriers that can affect healthy aging. Today we’re joined by Dr. Joel Caschette, Chief Medical Officer for UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement, to help us understand what these numbers r
As America marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there’s celebration, reflection, and for many people, some difficult questions. Who gets included in the American story? Have we lived up to the promises written into our founding documents? And is patriotism something to reclaim, redefine or reject? My guest today says the American Revolution isn’t just history ... it’s unfinished business. Thomas Richards Jr. is a historian, educator and author of The Unfinished Business of 1776: Why the American Revolution Never Ended. In the book, he argues that the struggle o
We have two very special conversations to share. First, as we move toward Independence Day and America’s 250th birthday celebration, we’re revisiting one of the most quoted—and perhaps least understood—documents in our nation’s history. You know the words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident…” But what did the authors of the Declaration of Independence actually mean? What promises did the document make—and who was left outside those promises? And nearly 250 years later, what responsibility do we have to understand our founding ideals in full context? My guest today is Katie Kennedy, Ameri
Summer is supposed to be the season of escape — vacations, family road trips, reunions and making memories. But for many people, getting away can bring something unexpected: stress, overwhelm and anxiety. From crowded airports and delayed flights to fear of flying, overpacked itineraries and financial pressure, travel can trigger emotions that make it hard to relax at all. Today we’re talking about why travel anxiety is more common than people realize — and what we can do to make travel healthier, calmer and more enjoyable. Joining us is Dr. Phillip Yam, psychiatrist with Serenity Mental Healt
A wedding lasts a day. A marriage, if we’re fortunate, lasts a lifetime. But somewhere between the flowers, the first dance, the seating charts and the perfectly posed photos… there are stories guests never see. Quiet moments. Big emotions. Family dynamics. Last-minute saves. Unexpected tears. And sometimes, lessons about love that have nothing to do with centerpieces. My guest today is Jade Lason. She has spent more than twenty-five years helping couples navigate one of life’s most meaningful—and occasionally chaotic milestones. From Atlanta to destination celebrations around the world, she h
There are movies we watch… and then there are stories that stay with us. For more than two decades, audiences have laughed with them, argued about them, rooted for them, and maybe even seen pieces of themselves in them. The friendships, the romance, the ambition, the mistakes, and the complicated, beautiful work of growing up and growing older. From the original film to television and now into a brand-new chapter, our next guest has continued to invite us into one of the most enduring friend groups in modern storytelling. Filmmaker, writer, and director Malcolm D. Lee joins us today to talk ab
Today we’re talking about food, culture, community, and a creative new way to experience Atlanta. Two sisters have turned a love for storytelling and dining into something interactive and intentional. Their company, Clues & Culture, takes guests on a self-guided culinary journey through Atlanta neighborhoods, using curated clues to lead people to Black-owned restaurants and hidden gems across the city. It’s part food experience, part cultural exploration, and part celebration of community connection.
Imagine walking away from a marriage with less than twenty dollars in your pocket and somehow finding the courage to rebuild not just your finances, but your entire identity. My guest today did exactly that. Lainika E. Johnson turned one of the lowest moments of her life into the foundation for a thriving business in an industry where few expected her to succeed. Today, she’s recognized as a leader in sustainability and waste reduction, proving that setbacks do not have to define your future. This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, purpose, and power. Lainika E. Johnson, is found
It’s a decision that takes just minutes, but has the power to save and transform lives for years to come. Across Georgia, thousands of people are waiting for a second chance, for healing, for hope. And that hope often begins with a simple “yes” to organ, tissue, and eye donation. But for many, questions remain. What does it really mean to be a donor? Who does it help? And why is the need so urgent right now? Today we’re joined by two leaders on the front lines of this life-saving work: Dr. Clark Kensinger with the Piedmont Transplant Institute and Hope Weed of LifeLink of Georgia. Together, th
Sometimes the most powerful stories begin with a simple question: Who are you, and where have you been? For journalist Melanie D.G. Kaplan, that question came after adopting her beagle, Hammy a gentle dog who had spent nearly four years inside a research laboratory. What started as curiosity about one dog’s past quickly opened the door to a much larger and more complicated world one where millions of animals are still used each year in research, testing, and education. In her book, Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research, Kaplan takes us behind labor
It’s decision season for thousands of students and families across our community. The acceptance letters are in… the choices are narrowing… and now comes the question that can feel just as overwhelming as getting in—how do we pay for college? For many families, the process is filled with emotion, pressure, and uncertainty. Do you choose the dream school? The affordable one? And is there a way to do both—without taking on a lifetime of debt? On today's show we’re talking about a smarter path forward—one that blends strategy, purpose, and financial reality. My guest is Shellee Howard, Founder an
A growing number of Americans are turning to artificial intelligence for health advice some for convenience, others because they feel they have no better option. But a new national poll reveals many are relying on these tools without ever seeking professional care. Today, we’re talking with board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Teejay Tripp about the promise, the risks, and what you need to know to protect your mental health in an increasingly digital world. As helpful as technology can be, our mental health is still deeply human and it deserves care that goes beyond an algorithm. If you’re struggl
There are some stories that entertain and then there are stories that ask something of us. What happens when faith is tested by unimaginable loss? When identity is reshaped by survival? And when two communities each marked by deep historical pain find connection in the most unexpected way? Today, we’re talking about a novel that lives in those questions. The Last Dekrepitzer by Howard Langer. This is a story about loss—but also about what we rebuild through faith, through love, through music, and through one another. The Last Dekrepitzer reminds us that even across cultures, histories, and uni
Think back for a moment to middle school that in-between space where you’re trying to figure out who you are, where you belong, and why it can sometimes feel like everyone else got a guidebook you didn’t. For many of us, those feelings don’t just disappear—they grow up with us. My guest has taken those tender, awkward, and deeply human moments and turned them into something both funny and profoundly relatable. Sara Amini is an actress, voice artist, and now author of Mixed Feelings, a semi-autobiographical graphic memoir that explores identity, friendship, family, and what it means to live bet
You know, some of the most powerful leadership training in this country didn’t happen in a boardroom… it happened in the Black church. From leading choirs to organizing communities, from speaking in front of a congregation to learning how to bring people together — generations of leaders have been shaped in those spaces, often long before they ever held a formal title. Well, my guest today has written a fascinating new book that explores exactly that idea. It’s called Call and Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church, and it looks at how culture, faith, and community have quietly
American higher education is at a crossroads. Colleges and universities are facing enormous pressures from shifting demographics and rising costs to political scrutiny, artificial intelligence, and questions about the real value of a degree. So what happens next? My guest today says the moment we’re in is not just a crisis it’s an opportunity. Arthur Levine, president of Brandeis University and coauthor of the new book From Upheaval to Action: What Works in Changing Higher Ed, has spent years studying how colleges are responding to one of the most significant transformations in their history.
Today on Perspectives, we’re exploring a quiet but profound shift happening in American life. Nearly one in four U.S. adults — more than 50 million people — do not have children. Yet our financial systems, estate laws, and even our expectations around aging still assume that adult children will eventually step in to help make decisions or provide care. So what happens when that assumption doesn’t exist? My guest today, Dr. Jay Zigmont, says millions of Americans are facing what he calls a “fiduciary void” — a growing gap between how people actually live and how financial and legal systems are
Dementia is a word that touches more families than many of us realize. Behind the diagnosis are real people — parents, spouses, friends — and caregivers trying to navigate an often overwhelming journey. Next week in Roswell, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity and purpose for older adults is bringing together national experts and local leaders for an important conversation about care, innovation, and compassion. It’s called the Take On Dementia Symposium, hosted by the nonprofit Second Wind Dreams. Joining me today is the organization's director of development Anna Wyatt.
