Wake-Up Call With Bill Lundun & Gerry Snyder

Dr Bryan Ardis - Healthcare

DOCTORS SAY DEALING WITH HEALTH INSURERS IS ONLY GETTING WORSE
A primary care physician in the wake of a UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing has highlighted growing frustrations within the medical community over insurance company practices, particularly aggressive claim denials.  Dr. Saju Mathew, a 20-year veteran physician, told NewsNation Monday that insurance companies are increasingly blocking critical medical procedures through complex “prior authorization” processes.  “We as doctors have been crying, screaming on the top of our lungs regarding how lots of insurance companies are denying claims on a daily basis,” Mathew said on “NewsNation Now.” He cited examples of patients being unable to obtain routine tests like mammograms without extensive bureaucratic hurdles.  The doctor’s comments come after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, which has sparked a national conversation about health care industry practices.  On social media in particular, some users gloated about the killing, a reaction they framed as rooted in their enmity for the health insurance industry. That, in turn, brought rebukes from others who condemned those responses as inhumane, especially in the circumstances. Dr Ardis is ahealthcare whistleblower and the author of the bestselling book "Moving Beyond the Covid-19 Lies: Restoring Health and Hope for Humanity,"

Hot Fuzz Band

Isaac Barrager

Isaac is a local artist. See him on New Years Eve at Twisted River Saloon in Springfield. 8pm start

DR. MATT CHALMERS - NUTRITIONIST

 
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NUTRITIONIST EXPLAINS WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID SHAMING OR GUILTING YOURSELF OVER HOLIDAY MEALS
The holiday season can run your nutrition and fitness goals off-course.  The candies, pies, cakes, breads, and booze are tough to turn down during those big family meals and celebrations.  Also, avoid shaming or guilting yourself over food. Positivity is a more successful motivator.  When it comes to alcohol, think about adding mocktails to your menu. Ensure you're eating enough fiber and protein, and drink plenty of water to avoid painful hangovers.  For the family chefs, Lupoli also suggested swapping out some unhealthy ingredients for better options in traditional dishes.  Adding quinoa to a salad will increase its nutritional content. Using skim milk instead of whole milk can cut down on calories, and avocado is a healthier oil to cook with than seed oils.DR. MATT CHALMERS is a Health Living Expert Who Takes a holistic approach to healing by looking at the mind, body and sprit of his patients.

David VanderYacht - Transgender Athletes Washington

For the past 17 years, transgender student-athletes in Washington state have been able to fully participate in sports in a way that is consistent with their gender identity. 
That could soon change. A group of 14 school districts has proposed an amendment to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association handbook that would restrict participation in girls sports at the middle school and high school levels to students who were assigned female at birth.
A second proposed amendment would create a new “open division,” essentially a new coed division that trans students could participate in. How that division would come together and be run is not discussed in the initial proposals.
 
The language of the proposals will be finalized by the WIAA’s Representative Assembly, a 53-member body composed of 35 high school and 18 middle school administrators from the WIAA’s six geographic districts, during a virtual meeting Jan. 27.
 
The number of delegates allocated to each district is based on the number of member schools within each district.
 
Delegates are selected by each district and must serve a minimum of one year. There is no term limit. A list of current delegates is not publicly available, according to the WIAA, which serves approximately 269 school districts across the state.
 
The assembly will then vote on the amendments from April 9-18. An amendment needs 60% approval, or 32 yes votes, to pass. 
Lynden School District Superintendent David VanderYacht is helping to lead the effort to pass the amendments. He called the state’s current gender-identity guidelines “unworkable,” describing the current proposals as “female-forward” and aligning with Title IX’s intent to protect against discrimination and provide equal opportunity for female athletes.
 
The proposal comes amid increased discussion nationwide regarding transgender athletes. States such as Washington are operating with more inclusive policies, while states such as Texas have banned transgender students from from playing on sports teams that don’t correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth. 

BETSY ALLEN-MANNING - Gen Z Bosses

OK BOOMER: GEN Z COULD BECOME YOUR BOSS IN 2025
Next year, your manager at work could look a little different since for the first time, more Gen Zers are entering management positions, according to a new Glassdoor report on worklife trends in 2025. Since the oldest members of Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), will be 28 years old in 2025, some have had nearly a decade of experience in the workforce. They also make up just under 20 percent of the workforce, and based on these trends, one in 10 managers in 2025 will be Gen Z, Glassdoor said in its report that was published earlier this month.  Recent surveys have found hiring managers are skeptical of the younger generation's ability to navigate a workplace environment.  A recent Freedom Economy Index report conducted by PublicSquare and RedBalloon discovered 68 percent of small business owners said Gen Zers were the "least reliable" of all their employees. Meanwhile, 71 percent said these younger workers were the most likely to have a workplace mental health issue. Betsy is a Bestselling author, keynote speaker and the Owner & CEO of Destination Workplace, a company dedicated to helping people succeed in business and their personal lives

ELIZABETH MAHUSAY - Gen Z & AI

HARDLY WORKIN’?: SHOCKING 88% OF GEN Z USES AI TO DO THEIR JOBS FOR THEM
Gen Z’s all a bot getting the job done.  Fast-tracking it up the corporate ladder is now just a few clicks away, per new data which finds that 82% of youngish hotshots lean on artificial intelligence to do their work.  An eye-popping 88% say the use of advanced technology helps them overcome “task paralysis.” It’s an affliction, similar to the social media-viral “functional freeze” phenomena, that flares up when workday duties become too demanding.  And the Zs are nothing if not a generation that appreciates high-wired hacks for doing less and minimizing stress. Elizabeth is a Workplace Expert and Author of the International Bestselling Book “Pick Your Path”

Katie Brown - Scorpion Creek Ranch

https://www.scorpioncreekranch.org/

Danise Thomas - Heathly Moves

Denise Thomas, the founder and CEO of Healthy Moves. Bringing physical education into the elementary schools in our community for the kids to get a healthier start to their day and their life!

Jan Goss - Tipping

AMERICANS ARE CONFUSED, FRUSTRATED BY NEW TIPPING CULTURE
The state of tipping in America is, in a word, a mess.  Americans are divided and confused over when to leave gratuities and how much to tip for all kinds of services, according to a new study published Thursday by the Pew Research Center - and many don't like recent trends such as added service fees and suggested tipping amounts.  If it seems to you that almost everywhere these days, from coffee shops to takeout spots, there's an added service fee, you're not alone. People are feeling "tipflation" - the proliferating number of workers to whom consumers are expected to pay gratuities - with 72 percent saying that tipping is expected in more places today than it was five years ago.  Most don't like the addition of "service charges," the amounts that many restaurants and other businesses have tacked on to customers' tabs under various names, often to cover the higher costs of things like food and labor - without having to raise their prices. An overwhelming 72 percent of people oppose them, with only 10 percent saying they favor them.  And they are also more likely to oppose a suggested tip amount than favor it, something businesses have recently taken to putting on touch-screens at takeout spots or on printed bills - ostensibly to make calculating them easier, but often used as a prod to get customers to shell out. Forty percent of Americans oppose such suggested tips, while 24 percent favor them. (About a third neither oppose nor favor them.)  But with more opportunities to tip, and with some restaurants and other businesses offering prompts, there's still plenty of confusion about whether customers should leave a gratuity - and if so, how much. Jan is An etiquette expert, bestselling author, keynote speaker and runs Show Up Well Consulting, an executive protocol company.