Living Well with Robin Stoloff

Gilda's Club - A Support Community for People With Cancer and Their Families

Eileen Dillon, CEO of Gilda's Club South Jersey joins me to discuss how Gilda's Club is helping those affected by cancer and their families by offering support and services, all free of charge.  Their model of care is based on in-person gatherings and when the pandemic closed everything down, they were remarkably able to pivot to virtual programs in a matter of days to continue to help their members.  Since central and north Jersey branches are no longer part of Gilda's, the south Jersey Gilda's now provides service to the entire state and will continue to provide their programming online, even as in-person meetings resume.

A Mother's Mission To Help People Battling Addiction - The Story of The Matthew Bee Memorial Fund

After the tragic loss of her 21-year-old son, Matthew Bee, to the disease of addiction, Lisa Bee vowed to do all she could to never let another family experience that kind of loss and pain. She created the Matthew Bee Memorial Fund to help individuals and families in our community battling the disease of addiction and mental health issues by providing scholarships to addiction treatment, recovery support services, resources, and sober housing.  In our open and honest discussion, Lisa shares her mission and how she is dedicated to helping others live a longer life free of addiction. 
About Matthew Bee
Matthew Bee’s all too brief life ended at just 21 years of age.  The gifted athlete, whose charm, infectious smile, and endearing personality made him beloved by all who knew him, succumbed to the disease of addiction on September 16, 2017.  Matthew’s memory lives on in the hearts and minds of individuals who have an opportunity for recovery from addiction and a new lease on life, thanks to the Matthew Bee Memorial Fund benefitting the Hansen Foundation Scholarships.
 

Caring For An Aging Parent with Kelly Marrero, President of Comfort Keepers, South Jersey

The decision to provide care for an aging parent or other loved one is not an easy one.  Do they leave their home and go to an assisted living community? Do they maintain their independence and stay in their home with help of in-home care? It starts with accessing their needs and having a frank conversation.  I talk with Kelly Marrero, owner, and president of Comfort Keepers serving South Jersey about the challenges of caring for an older parent and the benefits of providing an in-home caregiver. Comfort Keepers provides award-winning in-home care for seniors and adults who need assistance at home.  According to Kelly, their expertly-trained home care aides let your loved one remain at home for as long as safely possible. Caregivers have one goal: enriching the lives of our clients and their families. They achieve this by maintaining their safety, well-being, and comfort as they continue to live independently. In-home care gives seniors freedom despite limited mobility, chronic conditions, and other age-related considerations.
Kelly Marrero, President of Comfort Keepers, South Jersey, and June Neustadter with her Comfort Keeper, Belinda Nortey.

150-Pound Weight Loss Journey with Amy Freinberg - Trufas

Many of us struggle with losing weight but imagine losing150 pounds. That is what my guest, Amy Freinberg-Trufas did and it radically changed her life. Here is the story of how her father's dying wish inspired her to finally lose the weight she has struggled with for years. She has been featured on national television, magazines, and newspapers sharing my 150-pound weight loss story which has nothing to do with deprivation and everything to do with finally creating ease around food! She has just released her new book. “FOOD: Eat with Ease Every Day. Make the Life You Want. BE HAPPY!”
 
Reserve Your Copy Now
 
 

Mindfulness and Communication - Your New Superpower

Turn ordinary conversations into extraordinary experiences with mindful communication skills. Discover how mindfulness changes the conversation to help connect authentically, listen deeply, and have better outcomes personally and professionally. This new and better conversation is The Language of Mindfulness. Mindfulness coach and TEDx speaker (2021), Brett Hill, discusses how mindful communication can positively impact our relationships and improve every aspect of our life.

The Mindset Behind Weight Loss With Weight Loss Expert Nicole Simonin

We could have the perfect nutrition plan, detailed workout program, and the best of intentions, but guess what?  We need to actually DO IT, for it to work.   It is not a lack of information, but a lack of the right mindset, according to Nicole Simonin, weight-loss expert and owner of Shape It Up With Nicole - "helping women over 40 lose weight for the last time." Nicole talks about the psychology of eating and the reasons behind our eating habits. She helps women analyze their "why" and their thoughts behind the decisions they make. 
 
NICOLE SIMONIN is an ACE Personal Trainer, ACE Health Coach, TEDx Speaker, host of “Shape It Up Over 40” podcast, author of “The No Fuss, No Mess Shape It Up Cookbook” founder of Shape It Up, LLC, licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and former professional ballet dancer. Nicole has been featured in Racheal Ray in Season, Bicycling Magazine, Real Simple, and MSN. Since 2006, Nicole has been helping women lose weight for the last time.

Taking Care of Our Mental Health with Mental Health Expert, Jaime Angelini, Mental Health Assoc. Atlantic County

Since the pandemic began, there has been a surge in depression, anxiety, loneliness, and substance use.  This is not surprising when we consider the tremendous challenges associated with the COVID-19.  It affected people who were already struggling before the pandemic as well as others who developed mental health issues. In this frank conversation, I talk with Jaime Angelini, Statewide Director of Disaster Services and Special Projects of The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County about the importance of taking care of our mental health, how it is affecting our kids, and the free services offered by her organization.  We also discuss "Mental Health First Aid" a public education course that teaches us how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. I took the course with Jaime, and I believe it is something all of us should know. 
                                Jaime and I at a pre-COVID event for the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County

The Nutrition Sleep Connection

Sleep and nutrition are two important aspects of a healthy life and they are closely linked to each other.  What and when we eat affects our sleep, and the amount and quality of our sleep affects our hunger hormones and other aspects of our nutrition.  Sleeping well can help to control your cravings and maintain a healthy weight. Some foods and minerals can make you feel sleepier and others may interfere with sleep.   
In this episode, Registered and Licensed Dietician Tricia Silverman discusses these two basic and vital human functions, how they are related and what we can do to improve both our sleep and our nutrition.
 
Tricia Silverman, RD, MBA has been a fitness and nutrition enthusiast since she was a child. She is a registered and licensed dietitian, certified wellness coach, fitness instructor (certified as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor), and author. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics from the State University of New York and completed her dietetic internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She graduated with honors from the Babson College MBA program.
 
She has extensive nutrition education experience including time spent as the director of nutrition for the prestigious Canyon Ranch Health Resort in the Berkshires. During her employment at Boston Public Schools, she taught nutrition and was responsible for the operations of over 20 school nutrition meal sites that employed over 100 people. Her vast school nutrition experience also includes three years as the director of food services at Watertown Public Schools where she was responsible for operations and developed and implemented innovative nutrition education opportunities for the students. She has been educating clients and groups through her business for many years.
 

Different Not Less - Life On The Bright Side of The Autism Spectrum - Faces 4 Autism Founder Isabelle Mosca

When Isabelle Mosca's son, Kyle, was diagnosed with autism at the age of one and a half, there were not many support options for families of kids with special needs, so she decided to start her own support group called Faces 4 Autism.  Kyle is now 22 and Faces 4 Autism has grown from a grassroots effort to a thriving non-profit that supports children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum.  Faces 4 Autism provides education, resources, and opportunities to families in South Jersey who share common experiences.  They are dedicated to improving the lives of people on the spectrum "through special opportunities and programs that will foster self-advocacy, independence, and dignity."
Isabelle shares her personal experiences with her son, the goals and mission of Faces, and her initiative to do 30 podcasts in 30 days in April which she calls Life On The Bright Side. In fact, after our podcast interview, Isabelle turned the tables and asked me to be a guest on her new podcast since I have a family member on the spectrum and have been advocating for special needs communities for years.  Listen to our episode here. 

The One Ingredient Your Workout Needs to Keep You Coming Back

Check out the video of this episode here. Does this sound familiar?  You set a fitness goal, you are determined to stay with it.  You start your plan and hit it hard and then you miss a workout, and then another, and finally, you just quit.  What is it that keeps some people going back? What is the secret ingredient to staying consistent with your workout?  In this episode, I have some laughs and have a fun conversation with fitness expert, Chris Stevenson, owner of Be Military Fit Los Angeles, who shares his thoughts on sticking with it for a lifetime.  We talk fitness, nutrition, and why I hate the word diet.  
Chris Stevenson is the Owner of Be Military Fit Los Angeles. BMF, with Bear Grylls, is the world’sbest outdoor workout. Chris is also the founder of The Empower Group, a full-service consultingfirm. In addition, he is an international speaker who regularly presents at IHRSA, IDEA, and manyother events. Chris has the unique ability to instantaneously connect with people and presentviable, applicable lectures that resonate with every audience.