Today on the show, we break down the latest COVID-19 headlines. Also on the show, we discuss the hiring of the Los Angeles Times' new executive editor; discuss the recent trends in mindfulness; and more.
DOC AMA: Young Teens Could Soon Get Greenlight For Vaccination, The Best Ways To Incentivize People To Get Shots And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Today’s topics include:
FDA expected to OK Pfizer vaccine for teens within week
Pfizer releases first quarter earnings
Pressure builds for Biden to back vaccine patent waivers
$100 as a vaccine incentive? Experiment suggests it can pay off
It’s not just India. New virus waves hit developing countries
LA expands operations at COVID-19 vaccine sites
Scientists scramble to see why, in rare cases, even the vaccinated can get COVID-19
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
Mindfulness Consumerized: Apps, Streaming Wars And A Turn To Mindfulness Amid The Pandemic
When the reality of the pandemic started setting in last year, the LA County Department of Mental Health announced a partnership with the meditation app Headspace - anyone living in the County could get a free subscription.
Regardless of whether you took advantage of that, it does seem like more folks are turning to meditation and mindfulness practice in the stress of the last year. And that also means more tech platforms entering the space. As reported by the L.A. Times, wellness is now a part of the streaming wars, with Netflix partnering with Headspace for a three part program this year, as a counter to HBO Max’s “A World of Calm” series.
We sit down with Diana Winston of UCLA to discuss the recent trends in mindfulness, the impact of tech as an avenue into meditation and the benefits of the practice. Plus, if you’ve started meditating because of pandemic-related stress or have questions about how to get started, we want to hear from you via 866-893-5722.
Disclosure: Diana Winston has guided meditations on the UCLA Mindful App, the Ten Percent Happier App, Sam Harris’ Waking Up App and the Ultrahuman App.
Guest:
Diana Winston, director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center; she is also the author of several books, including “The Little Book of Being: Practices and Guidance for Uncovering Your Natural Awareness” (Sounds True, 2019)
The LA Times Announces New Executive Editor Following Reflection, Apology Over Past Coverage
The Los Angeles Times on Monday said that Kevin Merida, who built ESPN’s The Undefeated into a multi-media presence and spent a lengthy career in newspapers before that, will be its new executive editor.
Merida, 64, is being challenged by the newspaper’s owners, Patrick and Michele Soon-Shiong, to speed its transition into a digital news leader. Merida is moving to Los Angeles from Washington, where he spent 22 years at the Washington Post before joining ESPN in 2015. He also worked at the Dallas Morning News and Milwaukee Journal. The Post is searching for its own new leader following the retirement of Marty Baron. Merida replaces Norman Pearlstine, who stepped down late last year. The Times chose a Black editor as its leader following a period where the newspaper and other journalistic institutions have taken tough looks at their own diversity in both staffing and in who and what they cover. Last September, the newspaper published a lengthy apology for having “a blind spot, at worst an outright hostility” toward Los Angeles’ nonwhite population. The newspaper said then that 38% of its editorial journalists were journalists of color, and that “we know that is not nearly good enough.” Today on AirTalk, we contextualize the Times’ history with coverage on race among other topics and how bringing in the new editor will impact the paper’s attempt to improve. Do you have thoughts? Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
David Folkenflik, NPR media correspondent; he tweets
S. Mitra Kalita, veteran journalist and CEO of URL Media, a network of Black and brown community news outlets. She also publishes the newsletter Epicenter-NYC; she tweets
Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and Chicana/o Latina/o studies and director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University; emeritus member of the KPCC Board of Trustees
‘Sharing The Covers’: A Clinical Psychologist On How Couples Can Get A Good Night’s Sleep
Sharing a bed can be a big step in a relationship. In popular culture, it often represents a new level of intimacy and romance. But in the real world, it can also mean a terrible night’s sleep.
“Sharing the Covers: Every Couple's Guide to Better Sleep” by behavioral sleep specialist and clinical psychologist Wendy Troxel dives into the issues that might come up for couples sleeping together, from snoring to sleep disorders, and how partners can manage these issues - including how to ask for a “sleep divorce.”
We sit down with Wendy Troxel to discuss her book. Plus, we’re taking your calls. If you have had issues sharing a bed with a partner, what happened and how did you manage? Is this currently a tension point in your relationship?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Wendy Troxel, senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation, a global policy think tank headquartered in Santa Monica; she is the author of the new book “Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep”