Episode 29 - Radioactive - Mental Health Matters - Host Donna Valente details her long absence from the airwaves, recounting physical illness that brought her thrice to the hospital emergency room in six months, and the last time landed her in the hospital for over a week. The deeply profound experience forced her to realize the importance of mental health and self-care. 

With the global pandemic, climate change, and extreme social unrest on many fronts compounding the already high stress levels of living in this world, it makes sense that our collective and personal mental health are affected, even if we don't want to admit it.

We have to learn how to take care of ourselves. So often we are so busy taking care of others that we put our own needs last, and eventually, even if it takes years, that neglect manifests. 

Please be kind to yourself and mindful of your loved ones. So many are suffering in silence and think they are alone in their pain. Every person you meet is dealing with hard stuff at some level because it's part of being human.

We must normalize therapy and prioritize mental health, and close the huge disparities in access to mental healthcare. Thankfully, online therapy services such as BetterHelp overcome some of the major barriers to accessing care--making it easy to find a  therapist that matches your needs; convenient to schedule sessions; eliminates the need for transportation to an office; and offers various means of communicating with your therapist and a host of helpful tools. BetterHelp even offers financial assistance.

Cost of care is still a huge barrier for many people. Even with some financial assistance, it may be out of reach for many.

Click here to receive a free week of therapy with BetterHelp.

If you or someone you know is in crisis:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 or call 911

Text "NAMI" to 741741

National Alliance on Mental Illness. 800-950-NAMI(6264)  info@nami.org

Connect with Giving Heart Beat! 

givingheartbeat@gmail.com

@donnaleevalente on FB and IG

Use discount code SWEETD to get 20% off the coolest magically-soft handmade tie-dye clothing at PinkGemArt.com

Thanks for listening!! xoxo

Episode 28 - Interview with Amy Rivera - Founder of Ninjas Fighting Lymphedema Foundation, Advocate, Entrepreneur, Mom, Wife, soon-to-be-published Author. Amy was born with primary lymphedema that affected one side of her body, but doctors failed to identify the correct diagnosis until she was 31 years old and required surgery.

Despite being the target of relentless bullying, as a teen Amy entered and won a beauty contest, and went from being "the girl with the big leg" to "the beauty queen with the big leg." Not wanting her big leg to be the focus of her identity, for years Amy wore long skirts to hide it while working at her successful corporate career. After finally getting her diagnosis and learning that there was no cure, and that surgery was the only way to remove the toxic tissue in her leg, Amy vowed that if she were to wake up pain-free from surgery, she would devote her life to helping other people who are dealing with lymphedema and other lymphatic issues. She formed Ninjas Fighting Lymphedema Foundation to spread awareness, educate, advocate and support people living with lymphedema, including helping to defray the cost of essential compression garments. 

Amy's first book called "Drop The Skirt: How My Disability Became My Super Power" is coming out in July 2021, and she is currently writing her memoirs. And, Amy is training for fitness figure competitions! Go Amy Go!!

AmyRivera.com

winourfight.org

GivingHeartBeat@gmail.com

Podcast Merch!!
 

Episode 27 - Interview with Priti Mehta - Managing Director Foundation Operations, Investors Bank. Priti talks about growing up the daughter of parents that immigrated to the United States from India, and learning the practice of SEVA - giving back, from their example. Priti lends her experience to a number of philanthropic endeavors, including the boards of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Girls On The Run, and as a grants reviewer for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grants Program. 

Shout out to County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph, New Jersey for being the source of so much synergy and serendipity! Donna and Priti both graduated from CCM (many years apart), and it was through CCM's job board that Donna picked out Priti's resume 15 years ago and hired her at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to help with the Quality of Life grants program after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Priti shares her insight on how COVID affected philanthropy. While food insecurity needs overwhelmingly increased, the COVID pandemic actually facilitated better trust-based communication between funders and grantees. Priti offers sage advice for donors and grant seekers on the importance of being transparent about your most critical needs and passions to find the best philanthropic match.

Priti talks about caregiving and the critical importance of adult day care to provide safe, fun, medically-supervised activities for adults, while providing respite for caregivers who can be assured that the needs of their loved ones are being met. COVID shut down adult day care centers in 2020, and hundreds of families are still coping with the effects of the isolation and depression resulting from this invaluable service being shuttered.

info@investorsfoundation.org

GivingHeartBeat@gmail.com

Podcast Merch!

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