Episodes

  • Osteoporosis Awareness PSA - Hawaii Rep. Lauren Matsumoto

    Osteoporosis Awareness PSA - Hawaii Rep. Lauren Matsumoto
    Nov 1 2025
    Every 20-seconds in the U.S., a woman aged 50 or older suffers a fracture. That’s about the time it takes to tie your shoes. It could be your mom, your neighbor… or even you. And it usually happens doing something common and low-impact, like bending over, lifting something heavy, or falling from standing height. It’s time to get serious about bone health. Nearly 2-million fractures happen every year and they’re often the first sign of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Spinal fractures are the most common, yet 70% go undiagnosed, because patients don’t have symptoms, or height loss and back pain are overlooked. This lack of diagnosis leads to a domino effect where patients are 5-times more likely to break another bone within a year after their first osteoporotic fracture. Talk to your healthcare provider about osteoporosis screening and treatment. Find more at WomenInGovernment.org. ••••• ••••• ••••• Women In Government Foundation, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization of women state legislators that provides leadership opportunities, expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues to all women state legislators across the country. ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit womeningovernment.org Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, osuchluck.com
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    1 min
  • World Osteoporosis Day PSA - Connecticut Rep. Christie Carpino

    World Osteoporosis Day PSA - Connecticut Rep. Christie Carpino
    Sep 11 2025
    It’s called a silent disease, because we most likely won’t feel pain or weakness until a fracture occurs. October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day. Osteoporosis can affect anyone over 50, even vibrant and athletic women. A hunched back may appear in advanced cases, but most of us don’t show outward signs of bone loss at all. That’s what makes this bone disease invisible and potential bone breaks so serious. Spinal fractures are the most common, yet heavily undiagnosed, because height loss and back pain are often associated with aging or strain. This lack of diagnosis leads to a domino effect where patients are 5-times more likely to break another bone within a year after their first osteoporotic fracture. Talk to your healthcare provider about osteoporosis screening and treatment. Find more at WomenInGovernment.org. ••••• ••••• ••••• Women In Government Foundation, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization of women state legislators that provides leadership opportunities, expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues to all women state legislators across the country. ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit womeningovernment.org Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, osuchluck.com
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    1 min
  • From Trauma to Treatment: PTSD Access to Care

    From Trauma to Treatment: PTSD Access to Care
    Jun 12 2025
    Women In Government Podcast From Trauma to Treatment: PTSD Access to Care Based on current findings, about 20-million Americans will develop post-traumatic stress disorder or (PTSD) at some point in their lives. While most associated with military service, this condition touches people of all ages and sexes, including survivors of sexual trauma, natural disasters, and chronic medical conditions… just to name a few. Although most people who go through a traumatic event will not develop PTSD, current research finds that about 5% of the U.S. is living with the condition in any given year. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic about 13-million Americans had PTSD. Up to 40% of people with PTSD recover within one year. There are many effective treatment options for people living with the condition. Evidence-based psychological interventions are usually the first choice, and can be delivered to individuals or groups, in person or online. Self-care can also play an important role in supporting treatment for PTSD, along with medication. This is a decision for both the patient and health care professional. However, there are barriers to care, including lack of awareness that PTSD can be treated, lack of availability of mental health services, lack of trained mental health care providers, and social stigma. On this episode, Trauma to Treatment: PTSD Access to Care, the panel discusses different types of PTSD, how communities can come together to provide more access to care, and what legislation is helping, or hindering recovery. Listeners will also hear a few personal stories from people who have experienced PTSD, sharing how it all started, how they managed to keep moving forward, and how they’re feeling today. PTSD impacts millions of individuals in the United States, including new mothers, disaster survivors, veterans, and individuals living with limb loss… just to name a few. The good news is that awareness is growing, and action is being taken. We're creating a future where mental health is prioritized through legislation, research, peer support, and education. ••••• ••••• ••••• MODERATOR: Trish Ranson, Oklahoma Representative GUEST #1: Jamie Belsito, Former Massachusetts State Representative, and Founder of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance GUEST #2: Haneefa Rakeeb, Medical Science Liaison, Otsuka GUEST #3: Ashlie White, Chief Strategy & Program Officer, Amputee Coalition ADVOCATE SOUNDBITES: 1. Nikki Grace, Director, OPGA 2. Naomi Mathis, Assistant National Legislative Director for Disabled American Veterans ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org Audio & artwork courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, www.osuchluck.com
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    57 mins
  • Pain, Policy & Progress: Leading the Charge on Pain Management

    Pain, Policy & Progress: Leading the Charge on Pain Management
    Mar 1 2025
    Women In Government Podcast Pain, Policy & Progress: Leading the Charge on Pain Management It's a story so often heard, someone suffers an injury requiring medical attention and ultimately is prescribed post-surgery pain medication as part of their treatment plan. From there, the grim statistics take over, with millions of newly persistent opioid users walking down a slippery slope which can lead to addiction, overdose, and maybe even death. It has been found that more than 100-million Americans are living with pain or addiction, and more than 90% of surgical patients receive an opioid prescription following surgery. On this episode, our panel discusses chronic pain, and how they’re working to prevent opioid addiction in the United States by increasing access and use of non-opioid pain management approaches. You’re also going to hear personal stories from two women about their journey with pain and the choices they made along the way regarding health and treatment options. ••••• ••••• ••••• MODERATOR: Maryland Delegate and Women In Government Board Chair, Sheree Sample-Hughes GUEST #1: Montana Representative, Kim Abbott GUEST #2: Illinois Senator and Women In Government Midwestern Director, Mattie Hunter GUEST #3: West Virginia Senator and Women In Government First Vice Chair, Patricia Rucker ADVOCATE SOUNDBITES: 1. Former Navy Veteran and Ambassador for Global Genes, Corrina Dahlin 2. Peer Support Specialist for Chronic Pain, Michelle Marikos ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, www.osuchluck.com
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    35 mins
  • Motherhood in Mind: Navigating Mental Health and Public Policy

    Motherhood in Mind: Navigating Mental Health and Public Policy
    Jan 15 2025
    Women In Government Podcast Motherhood in Mind: Navigating Mental Health and Public Policy Postpartum depression or PPD is a common condition that many mothers face. It’s more intense than the ‘baby blues’ and often lasts longer, usually three to six months. One in seven women develops PPD after giving birth. That is why it is so important to talk openly about its symptoms, like depression, fatigue, feelings of guilt, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with the baby… just to name a few. This episode is a safe space. The panel discusses a variety of topics, including screening, medication, and barriers to treatment, all while doing their best to help stop the stigma and empower each other to create change in our local communities. ••••• ••••• ••••• MODERATOR: Texas Representative Toni Rose GUEST #1: Jessie Colbert, executive director of the Mass. PPD Fund GUEST #2: Kentucky Representative Kimberly Moser GUEST #3: Aurielle Wilderman, president and director of The Wilderman Fund SOUNDBITE: Colorado Senator and Second Vice Chair, Women In Government, Dafna Michaelson Jenet ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, www.osuchluck.com
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    56 mins
  • State as a Model Employer to Engage the Disability Workforce

    State as a Model Employer to Engage the Disability Workforce
    Jan 15 2024
    Women In Government Podcast State as a Model Employer to Engage the Disability Workforce According to the most recent U.S. Census data, there are more than 42-million Americans with disabilities. Across all age groups, these folks are more likely to be unemployed. That’s why state leaders, government agencies, and task forces are uniting to help advance inclusive policies and best practices that lead to increased employment opportunities for disabled people, and a stronger, more diverse American workforce and economy. This episode highlights how states can send a clear message that employment of people with disabilities is a high priority by implementing a comprehensive set of policies, practices, and processes, known collectively as State as a Model Employer (SAME) policies, to increase representation of people with disabilities within their own public-sector workforce. When acting as model employers, the states also have an opportunity to serve as test cases for private employers, demonstrating the economic and organizational benefits of hiring people with disabilities. Now is the time for leaders to take action. ••••• ••••• ••••• MODERATOR: Women In Government Board Director, Oklahoma Senator, Jessica Garvin GUEST #1: Minnesota Representative, Liz Reyer GUEST #2: Chief of Staff for the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), United States Department of Labor, Anupa Geevarghese ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, www.osuchluck.com
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    52 mins
  • Mental Health Matters

    Mental Health Matters
    Jun 9 2023
    Women In Government Podcast Mental Health Matters We’ve learned a lot over the past few years, especially about our nation’s resiliency and ability to come together in times of crisis. However, we continue to uncover the hard truths about some people who regularly suffer and live with disadvantages based on their overall health and well-being. One area of interest that’s certainly capturing our nation’s attention is mental health. As it has been reported, more than 50-million Americans live with a mental health condition, and over half of adults don’t receive treatment. Untreated mental health conditions can negatively impact employee performance, rates of illness, absenteeism, accidents and turnover. People often quit their jobs, and some may entirely drop out of the workforce. This doesn’t just hurt our country on the human-level, but there are other consequences, like a smaller tax base, a reduced workforce and increased social expenditures for states and local communities. For all these reasons, and many others, (SEED) the State Exchange on Employment & Disability launched the Mental Health Matters National Task Force to develop a series of frameworks to help state and local policymakers craft and adopt policies to promote the inclusion of people with mental health conditions in the workplace and bolster the behavioral health workforce. What's more, the CDC finds over half of Americans are diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point in their lives, and one in five will experience a mental health condition in a given year. These are more than numbers and statistics. These are the faces of our neighbors, friends and family members. This episode highlights how state and local lawmakers can work on policy and strategies that lead to the best and most promising practices that advance legislation which supports, promotes, and enriches the lives of those living with a mental health condition. ••••• ••••• ••••• MODERATOR: Women In Government Board Member, Colorado Representative, Dafna Michaelson Jenet GUEST #1: Oklahoma Representative, Ajay Pittman GUEST #2: Arkansas Representative, DeAnn Vaught ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, www.osuchluck.com
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    54 mins
  • The Cost of Osteoporotic Fractures

    The Cost of Osteoporotic Fractures
    Nov 10 2022
    Women In Government Podcast The Cost of Osteoporotic Fractures Low bone mass and the deterioration of bone tissue are two ways to describe Osteoporosis. More the 53 million people either have this bone disease or are at high risk of bone fractures due to low bone mass. How does this affect us on the state-level, and what does this mean for our country’s overall health and wellness? On this episode of the Women In Government Podcast, our panel discusses the action steps we can take today to address the differences in the clinical and economic impact of fractures suffered by Americans on Medicare. ••••• ••••• ••••• MODERATOR: Hawaii Representative, Lauren Matsumoto, WIG Board Vice Chair GUEST #1: Illinois State Senator, Julie Morrison GUEST #2: Claire Gill, CEO, Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, www.osuchluck.com
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    27 mins