I thought COVID-19 had shown us the worse it could bring but I was wrong. The virus is raging stronger than ever and the death tolls are at unprecedented levels here in the U.S.  As of Friday, the U.S. was averaging 247,200 new cases a day and averaging 2,982 deaths per day.  Whether you agree or disagree with taking the vaccine available, you should understand the pros and cons. And for that, we go back to a conversation with Gary Spinner of the Southwest Community Health Center in Bridgeport.

Real talk, Real people

An HIV specialist talks about the pros and cons of vaccines in America

We finally have our own website. Our new podcasts will now be uploaded to jameswalkermedia.com --- but we will continue to also upload them here for a period of time.  A little more than a year ago, Real talk, Real people put out its first podcast. It took about five months before people began to show interest, but little by little, we began to pick up more listeners. We decided to add a website, which allows us more flexibility and gives us the space to add more content and explore other ideas we are interested in bringing to you. 

A new year and a new adventure as we launch jameswalkermedia.com

Wow. What a year it has been. Who could have imagined that a virus would not only become the dominant story of the year, but bully its way through a nation mired in chaotic social upheaval to take over the way we live, work and socialize? It was a year of protests, rioting, looting and shooting -- all which took a back seat to COVID-19. We talked about all those issues with everyday people sharing their experiences and weighing in on everything from domestic violence to breast cancer to health issues, such as sickle cell and diabetes, and the benefits of community gardens. Here is what the people we talked to had to say.

Recap: The year in review

What does it mean to have faith -- and how far can it carry you during dark periods in your life? My guest is the Rev. Alfred Smith of Macedonia Baptist Church in Ansonia.  He said it was his faith that kept him strong during a year in which his left foot was amputated, family members died from COVID-19 and between the surgery and recovery time, spent 117 days alone due to the virus. He said life doesn't play fair but faith will pull you through.  

Faith? A minister uses loss to inspire others to stay strong in their faith

If 2020 has done nothing else, it has reinforced my fear of being old and stuck in a nursing home.  The CT Adult Family Living Program offers an alternative for those people who wish to stay home by paying a family member, loved one or home aid to take of them. My guest is Monica Perry, a soft spoken, longtime home health care worker. She has spent 40 plus years caring for others.

Family members can be paid to keep loved ones out of a nursing home

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am frustrated with people who refuse to wear a mask in public even as COVID-19 resurges more deadlier than ever. Deaths nationwide may exceed 300,000 before Christmas.   This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year but I have never known the news to be so grim. I also have never known people to be so callous and have such disregard for the value of human life by refusing to wear a mask. 

What's it going to take to get people to strap on a mask and help save lives?

I know what they say in front of the cameras and what they say when they stand at a podium delivering a speech. But has anyone tried to contact Democrats U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal with a problem?  I did.  They are two of the most recognizable “liberal” names in politics.  I guess that is why I was bitterly disappointed by the response or lack of response from their offices -- and I am not alone.  

Should there be term limits on the time spent in political office?

As we look forward to Thanksgiving, we here at Real talk, Real people have a lot to be thankful for. We have been up and running for more than a year. October 25th was our anniversary and as we head into the new year, we have a lot of changes coming that will offer more than our podcast. These changes include the launch of a new website -- jameswalkermedia.com, -- which will have content such as my columns -- both written and spoken -- video interviews and a lot more. We are also recording our new podcasts in a way that we hope makes them a better listening experience.

Something new and something old as we expand and highlight upcoming changes

My guest this week is Brock Bacote, a New Haven resident. He had just been released from the Brooklyn Correctional Institute 3 days when this conversation took place. I wanted to talk to Brock to get an idea what it is like being locked up and in close quarters with other inmates after learning about COVID-19.

Throwback Monday: Inmate from New Haven talks about being behind bars with COVID-19

A lot of people are having a hard time feeding the body what it needs to stay healthy and obesity is a huge problem. My name is Kelly Gruber, the outpatient dietitian at Yale New Haven Health-Bridgeport Hospital.  She is here to brush us up on what nutrition is and how to use key food groups to stay healthy. 

Dietitian says using food groups properly are key to staying healthy

My guest is Bernard Macklin, a flu vaccine outreach coordinator from Southern Connecticut State University. He is urging people of color to stop potentially putting their lives at risk by clinging to myths, not facts, when it comes to vaccines and the flu.

People of color are highly affected by flu season

Can you imagine losing two daughters and a granddaughter at the hands of men filled with rage? My guest is West Haven resident Corrinna Martin, the founder of Mothers of Victim Equality, a nonprofit to help women victimized by domestic violence. If anyone can speak to the horrors of this disease, she can.

Hear her voice: Domestic violence took the lives of two of her daughters and a grandchild.

The conversation continues about Black women and breast cancer. This is part 2. In Part 1, breast cancer survivor Lolita Bonilla Brooks shared her story and the support she received. My guest today is Kaprice Miller, the recording secretary from Sister’s Journey, a New Haven, faith-based support group founded in 1999 by the late Linda White-Epps. The group helps women on their journey to recovery and beyond. 

Black women with cancer find support and friendship at "Sister's Journey"

Nearly 34,000 Black women were expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, and sadly, an estimated 6,540 were expected to die from it. My guest today is breast cancer survivor Lolita Bonilla Brooks, a native of Stratford, now living in Virginia. Due to the importance of this issue, we are doing two segments on it. Part 2 will highlight a local support group founded for Black women by the late Linda White-Epps.

A breast cancer survivor shares her journey

Eating healthy isn’t cheap and that is where community gardens comes in. My guests are Eliza Caldwell, a community gardens manager at Gather New Haven who oversees 50 gardens; and Alexander Morales, an operations assistant at the Green Village Initiative in Bridgeport, which has 12 gardens. They’re here to talk about how their gardens are benefiting low-income communities.

Eating healthy can help low-income people control obesity and diabetes

Real talk, Real people is a podcast that turns the mic over to everyday people to hear what they have to say about the problems and social issues we face as a society.

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Real talk, Real people

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