Monthly Archives: December 2021

Jon Huntsman shares his life and commitment to public service



In this episode, Jon Huntsman Jr. shares his life and commitment to public service as a Utah Governor and our United States Ambassador to Russia and China – giving us an inside glimpse of how the world of diplomacy affects our ongoing Cold Wars and what we as citizens need to know about the global political scene!

About Jon Huntsman, Jr.:
Jon Huntsman Jr. is an American businessman, diplomat and politician who served as the 16th Governor of Utah from 2005 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the Ambassador of the United States to Russia from 2017 to 2019, to China from 2009 to 2011, and to Singapore from 1992 to 1993. Huntsman has served in every presidential administration since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, not counting the Biden Administration. He began his career as a White House staff assistant for Ronald Reagan, and was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Ambassador to Singapore by George H. W. Bush. Later as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under George W. Bush, he launched global trade negotiations in Doha in 2001 and guided the accession of China into the World Trade Organization. He served as CEO of Huntsman Family Holdings, a private entity that held the stock the family owned in Huntsman Corporation. He has also served as a board member of Huntsman Corporation, and as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Huntsman is the only American ambassador to have served in both Russia and China, having served as the U.S. Ambassador to China under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011 and as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019. While governor of Utah, Huntsman was named chair of the Western Governors Association and joined the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association. Under his leadership, Utah was named the best-managed state in America by the Pew Center on the States. During his tenure, Huntsman was one of the most popular governors in the country, and won reelection in a landslide in 2008, winning every single county. He left office with approval ratings over 80 percent and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. He ran for governor again in 2020, but narrowly lost in the Republican primary to Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox.


Sharon Lechter on what it takes to create personal wealth and professional influence



In this episode Sharon Lechter (Co-Author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and Think and Grow Rich For Women) shares her life story that kindled her passion to teach the world about Financially Literacy – giving us an inside glimpse on what it takes to create personal wealth and professional influence!

About Sharon:
Sharon L. Lechter is an American accountant, author, and businesswoman. She is the co-author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, and the founder and CEO of Pay Your Family First, a financial education organization. In January 2008, Lechter was appointed to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy to serve a two-year term. Lechter graduated from Florida State University with an Accounting degree in 1979,[3] then worked briefly for a small accounting firm, “Big Eight”. She met her husband, Michael Lechter, in 1980. Subsequently, the Lechters met Robert Kiyosaki and, together, formed the Rich Dad companies. Lechter has stated that she held various management positions with unnamed computer, insurance, and publishing companies, while maintaining her credentials as a professional CPA. In 1997, Lechter co-authored the book Rich Dad Poor Dad, along with 14 other books in the Rich Dad series, and was CEO of the Rich Dad company for over 10 years. She also annotated Outwitting the Devil (1938), in cooperation with the Napoleon Hill Foundation, and co-authored its publication, Three Feet from Gold. In 2007 Lechter created Pay Your Family First, a financial literacy education company.


Take 2 Podcast: School threats, failing municipal equality ratings



Host: Heidi Hatch
Guests: Greg Hughes, Maura Carabello

School Threats in Utah
A Long week of threats ends with student arrested after bringing gun to school at East High. Why is this happening and how do we fix it? Is this a side effect of the pandemic?

Biden Build Back Better Plan: Where are we?
Christmas Deadline will come and go.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate parliamentarian has said a Democratic effort to let millions of immigrants remain temporarily in the U.S. should be dropped from an expansive social and environment bill, people informed of the decision said Thursday, dealing another blow to a long-time priority of the party and migrant advocates.

Salt Lake City celebrates 100-point score on municipal equality index.
The Human Rights Campaign ranks cities and overall Utah fails. The report from the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Federation analyzed more than 500 cities across the country for their inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in laws, policies, and services.

Scores of Utah Municipalities:

  • Logan 48
  • Ogden 58
  • Orem 22
  • Park City 70
  • Provo 40
  • Salt Lake City 100
  • West Jordan 36
  • West Valley City 48

Ben McAdams is backing Evan McMullin for US Senate
Does his support weaken the Utah Democratic party?

Opinion: “Why we support Evan McMullin for the U.S. Senate”
Former Democratic congressman Ben McAdams and former United Utah Party candidate Jonia Broderick are supporting the independent candidate vying to unseat Sen. Mike Lee.

Meanwhile, Utah Democratic Party Chair Diane Lewis says- Now is the time to recruit & support good candidates, statewide, up & down ballots.


Maintaining good mental health in parents and infants



It’s important to make sure parents and babies are happy and healthy. New parents are sometimes diagnosed with depression or anxiety. An infant’s mental health can impact their overall development.

Jade Elliott sits down with Heather Kunz, social worker, Salt Lake County Health Department, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast to talk about parental and infant mental health.

Maternal Mental Health

Depression

Approximately 15% of women experience significant depression following childbirth. The percentages are even higher for women who are also dealing with poverty and can be twice as high for teen parents. 10% of women experience depression during pregnancy. In fact, perinatal depression is the most common complication of childbirth.

A woman might experience feelings of:

  • Anger
  • Sadness
  • Irritability
  • Guilt
  • Lack of interest in the baby
  • Changes in eating and sleeping habits
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Thoughts of hopelessness

To listen to the Baby Your Baby Podcast on how new and expecting moms can manage their mental health by using the acronym SNOWBALL, click here.

To listen to the Baby Your Baby Podcast on postpartum depression and dads, click here.

Anxiety

Approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women develop anxiety. Sometimes they experience anxiety alone, and sometimes they experience it in addition to depression.

This could include:

  • Constant worry.
  • Feeling that something bad is going to happen.
  • Racing thoughts
  • Disturbance of sleep and appetite
  • Inability to sit still
  • Physical symptoms like, dizziness, hot flashes, and nausea

To listen to the Baby Your Baby Podcast on postpartum anxiety and OCD, click here.

It’s important to seek help if you’re having any of these feelings, and family members can encourage the women in their lives to take care of themselves. There is no shame or embarrassment is acknowledging these feelings and in asking for help. You are not alone—in addition to seeking individual help from a mental health provider, support groups are a great way to help deal with these feelings. Utah Postpartum Support International is a good resource to use.

Infant Mental Health

Infant mental health is reflected in appropriate cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Recognizing the unique characteristics of each infant and family—the circumstances in which they live—we characterize good mental health for children under 5 as:

  • Secure attachments
  • Positive relationships
  • Confidence
  • Curiosity
  • Effective communication
  • Increasing self-regulation
  • Social competence
  • Self-awareness
  • Expressions of love and happiness

Infant mental health changes and develops within the context of relationships between infants and caregivers, families, communities, and cultures. Parents should talk to their pediatrician if they’re concerned about their child’s development. There are also resources available at the Utah Association for Infant Mental Health.

Materials to use (or things to do) with infants or toddlers (0-3)

  • Books, such as the picture book by Chandra Ghosh Ippen “Once I Was Very Very Scared” (available in English and Spanish)
  • Safe place to hide (e.g., a tent, cardboard box, sheets and pillows)
  • Weighted blankets/Weighted items (e.g., beans in socks)
  • Sensory bin (e.g., rice, sand, water with toys or other objects to find and explore)
  • Lovey / stuffed animalM
  • Soothing music or singing
  • Pretend play toys
  • Essential oils (or play with smells from fruit, flowers, etc)
  • Feel things with your eyes closed
  • Story massages
  • Dance & movement (alternated with calm/quiet activities)
  • Rhythmic or activities (e.g., rocking, swinging, swaying)
  • Mirror Game/Imitation play (i.e., copy all the sounds and actions of the child)
  • Blow bubbles (and pop with different body parts)
  • Art play (e.g., finger paints, dough, large motor movements on big sheets of paper)
  • Nurturing, fun games involving food (i.e., bit size pieces with different textures, colors, shapes)

To listen to the Baby Your Baby Podcast on the program, Parents as Teachers, which provides parents with child development knowledge and parenting support, click here.

Find Statewide Resources Via:

Help Me Grow Utah – for individualized parenting support & information & connection to resources (connected with 2-1-1)

Medical Home Portal

The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.


Amy Rees Anderson gives a glimpse into how she ignited her passion, creativity, personality, and work ethic to climb to the top of her industry



In this episode Amy Rees Anderson (who founded her company: REES Capital and sold it for over 350 million dollars) – shares her life and climb to the top of her industry – giving us an inside glimpse to how she ignited her passion, creativity, personality, and work ethic to innovate in a unique way that allowed her to build her amazing company into an organization worth buying!

About Amy Rees Anderson:
Amy Rees Anderson is a successful entrepreneur, public speaker, angel investor, author, and philanthropist. Amy is the Managing Partner of REES Capital and is the author of the recently released book What Awesome Looks Like: How To Excel In Business & Life and has been been a contributor to both Forbes and the Huffington Post. Amy is an in-demand keynote speaker and she is a regular guest lecturer at a number of Universities. Prior to founding REES Capital, Amy Rees Anderson was the founder and CEO of MediConnect Global Inc, a healthcare technology company and one of the largest cloud-based health information exchanges. In March 2012, Amy successfully led MediConnect to being acquired by Verisk Analytics (VRSK) for over $377 million. Upon selling her company, Amy founded the IPOP Foundation (In Pursuit of Perfection), a charity focused on helping promote, educate and perpetuate entrepreneurship as a pathway to self-reliance. Amy has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards which include receiving the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, being named CEO of the Year, and being the first women to be named BYUs Entrepreneur of the Year. Amy has been featured on the cover of Inc. Magazine, in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fast Company, Bloomberg, Businessweek and many other national publications as a result of her many accomplishments. In 2015, Amy received an honorary PhD. Amy currently serves on the boards of numerous organizations, including: Governor Herbert’s Advisory Team, Chair of Utah Valley University National Advisory Board for Woodbury School of Business; University of Utah National Advisory Board for David Eccles School of Business, Center for Medical Innovation, and Technology Commercialization Board; Brigham Young University Founders Board and BYU’s Wheatley Institute Ethics Advisory Council; Utah State University Clark Entrepreneur Founders Board; Stella Oaks Foundation Board; and The Hale Center Theater Board.


Tim Ballard shares his life and reasons behind starting Operation Underground Railroad



In this episode Tim Ballard (former CIA Operative and founder of Operation Underground Railroad – focused on rescuing children and eradicating sex trafficking throughout the world) shares his life and reasons behind starting this incredible organization – telling hair-raising stories from some of the hundreds of covert missions he has conducted and why and how we can get involved!

About Tim Ballard:
Tim Ballard is a anti-human trafficking activist and author. He is the founder of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) and a board member of The Nazarene Fund and Slavery Free World. His work includes the development of software and internet investigations specifically to infiltrate file-share networks where traffickers exchange child pornography. Ballard has assisted in the training of many law enforcement officers in these procedures. Additionally, he has also testified before the United States Congress and has recommended procedures and practices for rescuing children from trafficking rings. Ballard has credited his organization with rescuing thousands of trafficking victims, although his numbers have been disputed, and O.U.R. has been criticized for a lack of transparency and exaggerating stories. In 2020, Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad were the subjects of several investigations.

 


Take 2 Podcast: 2022 Budget proposal, Utah election audit



Host: Heidi Hatch
Guests: Greg Hughes, former Speaker of the House, and current Minority Leader Rep. Brian King UT HD 28

Utah Legislative Audits
Lt. Gov. Henderson defends election system as Utah lawmakers move ahead with audit

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Legislative audit of Utah prison system healthcare called ‘troubling’
Inadequate medical care in the Utah State prison system – that’s the key finding in an audit from the Utah Legislative Auditor General. That audit found “systemic deficiencies” in how the state delivers healthcare to prison inmates as it is constitutionally obligated to do so under the Eighth Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment.

2022 Budget Proposal: Gov. Cox announces $45 million proposal to help protect Great Salt Lake and drought relief
$100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds: Gov. Spencer Cox wants to use another $400 million in federal relief funds. The $500 million: Cox says the money will be used “to proactively respond to drought challenges, degrading infrastructure and to meet the needs of future growth.”

GERRYMANDERING
Utah Legislators have been accused of Gerrymandering. Utah will not be the first or last. Republicans and Democrats both do it- but do 2 wrongs make a right?

North Carolina’s Supreme Court has ordered a 2-month election delay because of gerrymandered maps.
“The North Carolina Supreme Court ordered a two-month delay in the state’s 2022 primary elections on Wednesday, giving critics of the state legislature’s gerrymandered political maps additional time to pursue a legal battle to redraw them.” NYT

“In a state split almost evenly between Republican and Democratic voters, the new maps give Republicans a sweeping political advantage. The new House map, for example, would all but ensure victory for G.O.P. candidates in 10 of the 14 districts, with a decent shot at winning an 11th seat.” NYT 

In Maryland Governor vetoes congressional redistricting maps passed by General Assembly
Governor Hogan said Thursday afternoon. “I think gerrymandering is a cancer on our democracy. There’s no question that both parties are guilty of it. It happens across the country. Republicans do it just as much as Democrats.”

DOJ filing suit against Texas


Don’t worry, most pregnancies are normal



When women are thinking about getting pregnant or first find out they’re pregnant, all kinds of thoughts, questions and worries might run through their heads. Even though they might have friends, sisters or mothers who’ve had children, this is the first time they’re really thinking about themselves and what to expect and what might happen to their body, their baby and how their life might change.

It doesn’t help that mostly what they hear from other women are stories about when things didn’t go well.

Jade Elliott spoke with certified nurse midwife, Emily Hart Hayes from Intermountain Healthcare, on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast, to help allay some of those common fears that pregnant women have.

The statistics show that 96 to 97 percent of the time, babies are born normal and healthy

“Birth defects only occur in about 3 percent of births according to the U.S. National Institute of Health,” says Hayes. The US Healthy People 2020 initiative estimates that about 85 percent of pregnant women enter labor at “low risk” for problems. While complications can arise in pregnancy and birth, they are not the norm.

How to prevent birth defects

There are ways to help prevent birth defects. Starting out your pregnancy at a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid when you’re planning a pregnancy or could become pregnant. Other ways to prevent birth defects are to avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs, and discuss any medications you take with your doctor or midwife. See your provider as soon as you think you’re pregnant and then go to regular prenatal visits as recommended by your provider.

It’s common for women to worry about their health and their baby’s health during pregnancy

“Pregnancy is a normal, natural condition, but it can also be an uncomfortable condition. Women’s worries during pregnancy are often centered around whether what they are feeling is normal. Common worries include concerns about miscarriage, birth defects and preterm labor,” says Hayes.

Fear of miscarriage – when to call your doctor or midwife

“Being uncomfortable during pregnancy is normal. But sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between what’s normal and when it’s reasonable to call your provider. If you have persistent pain, consistent cramping, or bleeding, call your provider,” says Hayes.

“Pregnancy can cause lots of discomforts that aren’t dangerous to the mom or baby. Common causes of pain are due to stretching of ligaments and muscles, muscle strain from extra weight of a growing uterus and baby, swelling from extra fluid levels, or even constipation from the extra hormones from the pregnancy. That said, persistent pain could signal something that needs attention, ranging from an ectopic pregnancy during the first trimester to a placental abruption that can occur later in pregnancy. Light spotting during the first trimester is not uncommon, but you should always call your provider if you experience bleeding to make sure it’s not a sign of a complication.

“First trimester miscarriage is common, but most of the time, people don’t miscarry. Incessant worrying is not good for a pregnancy. Many times women think they’ve done something that caused a miscarriage, but most miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities or where cell division didn’t go right,” says Hayes. If you miscarry, don’t feel like you did something wrong.

Other reasons to call your doctor or midwife include if you have a fever, body aches, chills, or pain that doesn’t get better with rest or Tylenol.

Prenatal visits are important

“Your doctor or midwife’s goal is to help you and your baby stay healthy. We have prenatal care to help you be as healthy as possible and to treat problems if they occur,” says Hayes. Your provider will recommend regular screenings to check for high blood pressure, infections, anemia (low iron levels), gestational diabetes, or other problems. They will help manage issues that arise. They’ll check your blood pressure at each visit.

“Blood pressure disorders are common. They are silent and then suddenly you have a problem, so it’s good to keep an eye out for them,” adds Hayes.

Preventing premature birth

Preterm birth is another complication that affects some pregnancies. The biggest risk factor for preterm birth is having a previous premature birth. Avoiding smoking and drugs before and during pregnancy will also reduce your chances of having a preterm birth. Infections, having twins or other multiples, conceiving via in vitro fertilization, and having problems with your uterus, cervix, or placenta, are other factors that can increase your risk for preterm birth. Be sure to watch for signs of infection including fever, body aches, or chills. You should also call your doctor or midwife if you experiences symptoms of preterm birth including pelvic pressure, leaking fluid, or contractions.

To learn more about pre-term births, click here for the Baby Your Baby podcast on this topic.

Keep exercising – it’s good for you

One of the most effective ways you can help your pregnancy stay health and normal is to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. It’s best to start pregnancy at a healthy weight. Continuing to exercise will help you stay health and not gain too much weight.

“Exercise helps you keep morning sickness at bay. It keeps your body healthy and able to manage the physical strains of pregnancy, keeps muscles strong, and reduces back pain. There are mental health benefits, too. Exercise reduces the chance of perinatal mood disorders such as depression or anxiety. Exercise is hard, there is some discomfort involved even when you’re not pregnant. Even just walking can do wonders,” says Hayes.

Hayes recommends women avoid exercise that would increase the chance of a blow to the abdomen or a fall, such as contact sports, skiing, or horseback riding. During exercise, your heart rate should be such that you can you carry on a conversation. Listen to your body. Is it too much? If it doesn’t cause pain or exhaustion then it’s ok. If you’ve been a regular runner then you can continue, but you may find you need to adjust your routine as your pregnancy progresses. You may be more prone to injury. During pregnancy, your balance changes. Cycling could be an issue. You may want to look more to low impact exercise such as swimming. Don’t start a rigorous new sport or exercise program when you’re pregnant, but starting a low-impact program such as daily walks is not only ok, but it’s encouraged.

Be careful with your diet and weight gain during pregnancy

Gaining some weight during pregnancy is normal, but gaining too much or too little can increase risks of developing complications in pregnancy. “It’s easy to gain too much weight in pregnancy. It’s not like eating for two. It’s just 300 extra calories per day, which is about the number of calories in one extra snack. Because extra protein is needed, I recommend folks focus that extra snack on a protein-rich food, like nuts or Greek yogurt,” says Hayes.

The amount of weight gain recommended during pregnancy for women who start their pregnancies at a normal weight is 25-35 pounds. It you are underweight you should gain 28-40 pounds. If you are overweight, you should aim for 15-25 pounds.

Gaining more than that can put you at risk for gestational diabetes and other complications. Gaining more than that can make it difficult to lose the weight afterwards and increase risks to your health in the long-term. To learn about the weight gain guidelines, click here.

To learn more about nutrition during pregnancy, click here for our Baby Your Baby podcast on this topic.

Feeling your baby move is one of most reassuring things

Be aware of your baby’s movements in the second and third trimester. Feeling those regular movements reminds you that your baby is ok. By the third trimester you should be feeling your baby throughout the day. If you think your baby is moving less than usual, take a rest and feel for baby movements. If you don’t feel your baby 10 times in an hour, call your doctor or midwife.

Concerns during labor

There is lots of fear about labor and giving birth. It’s the fear of the unknown, something you’ve never experienced before. We hear the horror stories. We don’t hear all the normal stories.

In labor, many moms worry the baby will be harmed as birth is a difficult process.

One of the best things you can do to help reduce those fears is to attend a prenatal class with your birthing partner to learn what to expect during labor, what birthing options are available, how to adapt when things don’t go as planned and how to manage labor pain.

For more information and resources, click here.

The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.


John Lee Dumas on his passion to change the world – with a glimpse into creating one of the top podcasts



In this episode John Lee Dumas (a Lifestyle Guru who Hosts the Entrepreneurs On Fire Podcast) shares his life and passion to change the world – giving us an inside glimpse on what it took to create one of the top podcasts in the world!

About John Lee Dumas:
John Lee Dumas (JLD) is the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award-winning podcast where he interviews the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Past guests include Tony Robbins, Barbara Corcoran, Gary Vaynerchuk, and thousands more.


Jack Canfield shares his life and climb to the top of the self-development/personal coaching industry



In this episode Jack Canfield (who is the Co-Creator of the Chicken Soup For The Soul book series and author of The Success Principles) has sold more than 500 million books in 40 languages worldwide – shares his life and climb to the top of the self-development/personal coaching industry – giving us an inside glimpse of how he conceived the book series idea, and why inspirational stories and life coaching strategies are critical to everyone’s development in becoming the best versions of ourselves!

About Jack:
Jack Canfield is an American author, motivational speaker, corporate trainer, and entrepreneur. He is the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, which has more than 250 titles and 500 million copies in print in over 40 languages. Canfield coauthored Chicken Soup for the Soul with Mark Victor Hansen in 1993. According to USA Today, Chicken Soup for the Soul was the third best-selling book in the United States during the mid-1990s. Canfield later co-authored dozens of additional books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. The Success Principles In his book The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, Jack Canfield has collected what he asserts to be 67 essential principles for attaining goals and creating a successful life.