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Empathy Affect

Empathy Affect

By: Fors Marsh Media
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On Empathy Affect, we explore the human side of government. We get to know the real people in government who serve us. We learn about their missions, the people they serve, and the true impact of their work. In each episode, we'll speak with real people about how they weave empathy into the policies and programs of government.

© 2025 Empathy Affect
Economics Management Management & Leadership Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • S3E10: From Research to Recovery: How the VA is Changing PTSD Care
    Sep 4 2025

    PTSD is often called the “invisible wound” of military service. For many veterans, it shows up in nightmares, sudden triggers, or the feeling of being constantly on edge, making everyday life feel like another battlefield. But there’s hope: PTSD is treatable, and recovery is possible.

    Since 1989, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD has been the world’s leading resource for understanding and treating this condition. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Paula Schnurr, the center’s executive director, about how science becomes healing—through groundbreaking research, innovative therapies, and real stories of veterans reclaiming their lives.

    Dr. Paula Schnurr is the executive director of the National Center for PTSD and had previously served as deputy executive director of the center since 1989. She is also a professor of psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the editor of the Clinician’s Trauma Update-Online.

    More Links and Information

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    Explore the National Center for PTSD

    Learn more about PTSD through AboutFace

    Contact the Veteran Crisis Line if you’re a veteran in crisis or concerned about one

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    36 mins
  • S3E9: Florida’s Strategy for Resilient Homes and Insurance Stability
    Aug 7 2025

    As storms grow stronger and insurance becomes harder to access, Floridians are looking for answers—and support. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is working to stabilize the insurance market while giving homeowners the tools to build resilience before disaster strikes.

    Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky discusses the launch of new wind mitigation resources, the expansion of the My Safe Florida Home program, and how Florida is investing in smarter, safer homes through inspections, grants, and homeowner education. He also explains how these efforts are helping to attract more insurers back into the state and keep premiums manageable.

    Whether you’re a homeowner navigating insurance decisions or a policymaker seeking scalable solutions, get insight into how state-led strategies can empower people to protect what matters most.

    Mike Yaworsky has served as Florida’s insurance commissioner since March 2023. Prior to his position his was the vice chairman of the Florida Gaming Control Commissioner and was OIR’s chief of staff from 2017 to 2021. Prior to joining OIR, Yaworsky served as legal counsel for the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

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    Explore My Florida Home to apply for a free inspection or grant

    Keep up to date with OIR’s resources, information, and more

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    38 mins
  • S3E8: Redefining Recovery in California: San Francisco’s Public Health Approach to SUD
    Jul 3 2025

    Stories around substance use disorder (SUD) have too often been framed around crisis and moral failing. But SUD is a health condition—no different from heart disease or cancer—and it deserves public response rooted in care, not stigma. San Francisco is working to change that narrative. Through evidence-based treatment, innovative telehealth programs, and groundbreaking stigma-reduction campaigns like Living Proof, the city is reimagining recovery and how public health can meet people where they are.

    Dr. Jeffrey Hom, Medical Officer for Science and Policy in San Francisco’s Department of Public Health Substance Use Services joins us to discuss how storytelling can shift public perception, and accessible services can guide people onto paths of recovery. The conversation is a reminder that recovery becomes possible when health systems lead with both science and empathy.

    Dr. Jeffrey Hom is the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Substance Use Services Medical Officer for Science and Policy. He previously served as medical director for the City of Philadelphia’s Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction and has lectured for Jefferson Health and the University of Pennsylvania.

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    Learn more about San Francisco’s Night Navigator and street care programs

    Hear from people recovering from SUD in San Francisco through Living Proof

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    34 mins
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