Kickin it with Kidneys

In this episode, the KIWK team poses the question...Is fat the new sexy? The show explores why obesity is a major issue in America. Guest speaker, Tony Jones, a Professional Trainer & Healthcare Advocate, joins the team to discuss this topic and provide the audience with workable solutions. Tony shares information on alternative ways to personally assess ideal weight, how to increase exercise with a busy schedule, what exercises can target problem areas and why it's not good to focus on just losing weight. He also gives quick and helpful clues on whether meals provide enough nutrition and what meal plan helps boost your metabolism. A surprise bonus is a very special Word on the Street segment created by Dr. Mary Washington aka Rapper M.D.

In the opening episode of Season 3, Cindy and the KIWK team broaden the scope of the show. The team will view the possibility of the repeal of Roe v Wade from a variety of viewpoints and opinions. Our goal is not to support either side of the debate on this topic. Instead, Episode 1 will explore questions and arguments on how this decision will affect the rights of all women and the rights of women of color specifically. Cindy and the team don’t hold back in their opinions. Tune in and enjoy the team as you’ve never seen them before. Are you currently receiving dialysis treatment? This podcast is a MUST! You are invited to join us every week. Submit your questions and your stories to kickinitwithkidneys365@gmail.com. Visit us online: kickinitwithkidneys.com

This episode concludes a three-part series on family caregivers of dialysis patients. The audience will hear about the remarkable journey of Mrs. Denise Trahan, a mother caring for her thirty-year-old son who began receiving dialysis at the age of seven. Mrs. Trahan is an amazing caregiver that gives voice to universal issues experienced by many family members taking care of a loved one. In their discussion, Cindy and the KIWK team highlight a few of the key topics featured in Mrs. Trahan’s interview such as, the need to prepare for healthcare costs not covered by traditional health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid benefits, how to find resources in the community to support family caregivers, and how faith, resilience, and positivity play major roles in helping caregivers be a good advocate for their loved ones and fulfill their own personal needs. Are you currently receiving dialysis treatment? This podcast is a MUST! You are invited to join us every week. Submit your questions and your stories to kickinitwithkidneys365@gmail.com. Visit us online: kickinitwithkidneys.com

In the second of three episodes spotlighting caregivers of dialysis patients, Estella Ames, a 72-year-old woman taking care of her husband of fifty years, shares her story of faith, love, and determination. Mrs. Ames is a devoted wife who feels she must advocate for her husband when she's told to give up hope. The KIWK team continues their discussion on the types of resources available for family caregivers, the need for end-of-life discussions before a loved one pass away and the tremendous toll on health and well-being caregivers experience. The team also probes how important the role of faith is in helping caregivers sustain and motivate them to continue providing unpaid care. Are you currently receiving dialysis treatment? This podcast is a MUST! You are invited to join us every week. Submit your questions and your stories to kickinitwithkidneys365@gmail.com. Visit us online: kickinitwithkidneys.com

This is the first in a series of three episodes that spotlight family caregivers of dialysis patients. By highlighting the experience of an actual caregiver KIWK achieves its goal of inclusivity and represents a spectrum of people affected by kidney disease. In this episode, we hear from Joanna Fuentes who is a mother of three and taking care of her 90-year-old mother who began receiving dialysis treatments in 2019. Joanna shares her heartwarming story of strength and sacrifice in providing hands-on care for her mother. The KIWK panel discusses the resources needed for family caregivers, the challenges of intergenerational caregiving, and the importance of end-of-life decisions. Are you currently receiving dialysis treatment? This podcast is a MUST! You are invited to join us every week. Submit your questions and your stories to kickinitwithkidneys365@gmail.com. Visit us online: kickinitwithkidneys.com

In this episode of Kickin It With Kidneys, we are joined by Melissa Sworab, who shares her story of receiving a kidney transplant. After being diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, Melissa was faced with the prospect of dialysis or a kidney transplant. After patiently waiting on the transplant list, she was finally given the gift of a new kidney. Now, Melissa is thriving and wants to share her story with others in the hope of inspiring them to never give up. She talks about what it was like to go through the transplant process and how her life has changed since the surgery. Melissa also offers advice to those who are considering a kidney transplant and urges everyone to stay positive and have hope. Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your story with us!

Mental Illness is a topic still steeped in stigma and secrecy in communities of color. This episode of KIWK is working to help break the silence of an issue that continues to have destructive and dysfunctional consequences in families and communities throughout generations. The guest, Don E. Miller is a professional counselor with over 20 years of experience providing individual, family, and group therapy. Don gives the audience truthful and hard-hitting facts with a voice of understanding and acceptance. He breaks down the barriers to getting help and diffuses a very difficult topic with a unique blend of humor and humanity. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental or emotional difficulties watch this episode and reach out because help is available,

This is a high-energy, fun, fact-filled episode of Kickin It With Kidneys. The guest, Tony Jones is a professional fitness expert and personal trainer. He’s the owner of Mo-City Fitness and has 24 years of experience helping many clients reach their fitness goals. Tony brings his special ability of motivation through straight talk, passion, and humor to the show. He shares information on the difference between movement and exercise, how to find time to be physically active while juggling a busy schedule, how exercise can improve your sex life, and his opinion on the topic of obesity and body positivity.

Cindy and the KIWK team discuss a topic that has been acknowledged but not fully addressed. Salt Sensitivity is a worldwide problem; however, it affects communities of color specifically African Americans at a greater rate. Joining the panel is Uletta Carter, a Registered Dietician/Licensed Dietician. She shares facts about the effects of salt toxicity on the average person as well as dialysis patients. In this episode, viewers will learn useful tips on how to reduce their salt intake, what are the best types of salt to purchase, sodium-free ways to prepare food, and how to stay socially active during the holidays and avoid the dangers of excessive dietary salt.

This episode is a must see! It crosses all sectors of the dialysis community, those at risk for becoming dialysis patients, those currently on dialysis and those who are transplant candidates and recipients. The host and KIWK team are honored to welcome Melissa Sworab and Professor Ivy Jenkins. As dialysis patients, they share their personal journey from the moment of being diagnosed to their ongoing success in managing daily activities. They don’t hold back in expressing their opinion on a variety of topics including: the causes of their kidney failure; ways to advocate for self-care; overcoming challenges to get on the transplant list; how dialysis affected their relationship with family and friends and their accounts of some negative experiences while receiving dialysis. Listen to their stories and check out the resources they share to help improve the quality of life for dialysis patients.

This episode tackles some of the most difficult and often controversial topics of poverty, disparity, and race. The host Cindy Barclay and panelists welcome Dr. Charles K. Crumb, a noted physician, who has had spent decades serving a diverse patient population. Dr. Crumb unabashedly shares his thoughts and experience as a healthcare provider and provides information based on documented research and anecdotal inquiry. The audience is invited to listen and engage in what is sure to be an ongoing conversation.

In episode 2, the KIWK team discusses the universal concern of healthcare insurance. The episode discussed critical information every patient should know before making healthcare decisions. Guest speakers, Norma Davis and Stefanie Martinez represent a combined 48 years of experience in insurance management and patient advocacy. In their individual careers, they have fought to achieve a balance between insurance, employer, and patient interests. In this episode, the group will resume the discussion and provide a brief review of the types of healthcare plans and provide our listeners an insider look at the common mistakes and misconceptions made when navigating the health insurance system. Anyone struggling to understand the healthcare insurance maze should take time to listen to Part II. If you missed Part I, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/IVzvS7wdPzc

Season 2 continues to explore topics essential to the progress and betterment of communities of color. In episode 2, the KIWK team discusses the universal concern of healthcare insurance. Guest speakers, Norma Davis and Stefanie Martinez represent a combined 48 years of experience in insurance management and patient advocacy. In their individual careers, they have fought to achieve a balance between insurance, employer, and patient interests. In this episode guests and panelists discuss critical information that will provide a detailed description of the types of healthcare plans available, help listeners decode insurance symbols and abbreviations, explain the difference between in-network and out of network benefits and give guidance on where to go if there’s a dispute over medical charges. Anyone struggling to understand the healthcare insurance maze should take time to listen.

The premiere episode of season 2 of Kickin It With Kidneys is a powerful and engaging look at how politics affect healthcare in communities of color. If you’ve ever wondered what could be done to change and improve conditions for disenfranchised communities, this episode provides valuable information. The featured guest is Dr. Richard Johnson, an accomplished public policy analyst, licensed counselor, educator, and U.S. Veteran. Dr. Johnson gives an uncomplicated overview of the legislative process and offers practical solutions to long-standing problems. He reveals untapped opportunities for financial growth and provides sound advice on how community leaders and activists can best serve their constituents. Finally, he challenges viewers to become more informed as consumers of healthcare services and consider how they can best use their voting and buying power.

This edition of Kickin It With Kidneys addresses how to reduce the harmful and life-threatening effects of improper diet, stress, and negative cultural influences. Joining the KIWK team is the show’s first guest speaker, Dr. Mary Washington, also known as “RapperMD'' Dr. Washington gives an impassioned, no-nonsense presentation in which she challenges the panel and listeners to take control of their future and make the lifestyle changes necessary for health and wellness. Listeners will get valuable information on how to better manage reversible diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. For those interested in pursuing healthcare careers in minority communities, Dr. Washington offers practical and straightforward advice. You can connect with Dr. Washington with the following link: https://www.marywashingtonmd.com/

After weeks of advocating for community involvement and personal accountability, the KWIK team stepped back and reflected on their individual contributions to the community. Each panelist was asked, “What are you doing to promote awareness about the harmful effects of chronic kidney disease in your community”? This episode provides a closer look at the KWIK team and spotlights their personal and professional activities (both past and present) to further the efforts of education and treatment in the renal health community. The group also discusses the damaging effects of negative stereotypes of people of color and how it can be a detriment to community growth and sustainability. A secondary conversation includes the topic of the need for more collective support within minority communities and the need to educate using social media and non-traditional forms of communication.

Is the occurrence of kidney disease a self-inflicted illness or a generational curse? The host and panelists take on the myths and facts as it relates to how liable minority patients are for developing long-term illness and how much responsibility exists in the sustained practice of institutional racism. Interviews with current dialysis patients provide an insider perspective on the generational effects of kidney disease and prospects for the future. One panelist shares her shocking account of confronting direct racism during a family outing. The group also debates the significance of symbolic measures taken by the Federal government (e.g., recent legislation to prevent Asian hate crime and recognition of June 19th as a national holiday) to address the systemic problem of racism and advocates for more direct solutions.

This episode of Kickin It With Kidneys focuses on two areas of concern. First, the need to provide ongoing education to dialysis patients on the importance of understanding diagnostic terminology and knowing their lab results. Based on responses from dialysis patients a significant number didn’t understand the meaning of test results which often had a negative impact on their ability to comply with expected treatment plans. The second area of concern is the disproportionate occurrence of healthcare neglect among communities of color in comparison to their white counterparts. This episode explores causes and solutions to address this growing trend. Are you currently receiving dialysis treatment? This podcast is a MUST! You are invited to join us every week. Submit your questions and your stories to kickinitwithkidneys365@gmail.com. Visit us online: kickinitwithkidneys.com

A part of the Kickin It With Kidneys mission is to provide our listeners with information and suggestions to help them become their own best health advocates and increase awareness and education of community issues that affect their life chances. This episode will continue that goal by helping dialysis patients and their families maximize time spent with health care providers. We’ll explore what patients should expect from providers during their appointments and what to do if they feel they have received ineffective care. Are you currently receiving dialysis treatment? This podcast is a MUST! You are invited to join us every week. Submit your questions and your stories to kickinitwithkidneys365@gmail.com. Visit us online: kickinitwithkidneys.com