ERS Walk & Talk Podcast Lacy Wolff

In this episode of the ERS Walk & Talk Podcast, host Lacy sits down with Alexis Schminke, a Senior Training Specialist at DPS in the Aircraft Division, and a Certified Holistic Nutritionist with a background in chemistry and exercise physiology. They delve into key takeaways from the book "Metabolical" by Robert Lustig and discuss strategies for understanding and reducing sugar intake for improved health.
Key Points Discussed:
What is sugar? and how it's hidden in foods.How sugar gets processed in the bodyHow sugar is hidden in foods and why juice isn't good for usThe NOVA food scale- what is processed foodStrategies to eliminate some sugar from our dietsCheck out our full Sugar Savvy webinar for more info or read Metabolical for yourself! 

Lacy interviews her own Airrosti (AIR-ROSTI) health care provider who has helped every member of her family with their injuries and pain over the years. Dr. Renfro talks about the most common types of pain he treats, like lower back, shoulder and neck pain, and some of the more interesting cases he’s treated. Airrosti’s unique approach to the recovery of soft tissue resolves most issues in roughly three visits. Find out what an hour of one-on-one, individualized patient care looks like with Airrosti providers, who are in-network (no referral necessary) to HealthSelect of Texas plan participants for a $25 copay.

Resources: 

https://www.airrosti.com/

Lacy talks with Sarah Karnes, Director of Library Development and Networking at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) and Andrew Glass, Director of Records Management at ERS about the boundless resources available through state and local libraries!  

Resources:
Texas State Library and Archives Webpage
Current Lobby Exhibit: Extra, Extra, Eyes of the World on Texas
TexShare Program
Find your Local Library 

Lacy talks with Oscar Mendoza, Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, who experienced a profound shift in his leadership after experiencing profound grief and introspection. When he lost Warden Sergio Perez to a preventable health event that cut his life short in his forties, Mr. Mendoza started to ask himself how he, a longtime TDCJ employee and a leader, could be contributing to a culture in which an employee would prioritize work over their own health, and how he could change that by changing himself. He talks about how “we can still be committed, … but not at the cost of neglecting ourselves,” and what TDCJ is doing to shift agency culture to one that values not just the employee, but also the person.

Resources to help you prioritize your health: 
 
Order a VirtualCheckup home kit and complete your annual preventive examWondr HealthReal AppealERS Wellness WebinarsFree Virtual Fitness Classes TDCJ Employees Check out TDCJ PEAK Performance Webpage for more info


 


 

Lacy talks with Dr. Jonathan Singer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the GRILL Lab at Texas Tech University, which studies and provides support around Grief and Response to Illness into Late Life (GRILL).  Dr. Singer shares his scientific understanding about the grieving process (spoiler alert: it looks different for everyone), how long grief can last, ways we can prepare ourselves to face grief, and when it may be appropriate to seek professional help with your grief. You are sure to learn something new, positive and useful in this episode, including the free resources available to family caregivers of someone with life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer or dementia.
Jonathan Singer
GRILL Lab
HealthSelect Mental Health Resources
The Grieving Brain: the Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss by Mary-Frances O’Conner, Ph.D. (book)

Lacy talks with David Michel, CEO of Catapult Health, the provider of an exciting NEW benefit for those who want to stay healthy or improve their health – the Catapult Health VirtualCheckup®. By making it easy to get a check-up from the comfort of your home, David embodies the adage: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Hear about the personal journey that led him to his new purpose: to improve the lives of others.
You’ll also learn:
what a VirtualCheckup looks like,top conditions that VirtualCheckups catch, helping you prevent a life-threatening health event. Whatever stands in the way of getting your annual check-up with your doctor, you will want to get a VirtualCheckup after listening to this episode. HealthSelect plan participants pay nothing for VirtualCheckups.
 Apply for your Virtual Checkup Kit
More Resources:
 
Virtual Checkup Flyer
Government Code Chapter 664- State Agency Wellness Policy