Can We Talk? 360 Podcast

In honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our podcast guest today is Maimah Karmo, founder of The Tigerlily Foundation. This trailblazing organization supports young women dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. Maimah walks us through her own journey, from when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer at only 32 years of age, to how she made a promise to God that if she survived, she would create an organization focused on the issue of breast cancer that would address the limited resources available to women of all backgrounds, including those at heightened risk, those facing health disparities, and those with less access to care. I hope you have time to listen in to this podcast and be inspired by our shared mission to support women at every stage of their health journey when fighting breast cancer. I also encourage you to visit tigerlilyfoundation.org to learn how you too can make a difference in the lives of these women!

10/29/25 • 49:47

Today we are pleased to share with our listeners a very timely podcast on the topic of Artificial Intelligence. Our guests are Dr. Nancy Jean Ruzycki, Master Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Laboratories, Material Science & Engineering at the University of Florida, and Hermes Abrantes, the Cybersecurity & AI Programs Director at Nova High School. These two AI experts are on the cutting edge of this exciting new technology and our conversation tackles some big questions and concerns! How can we make AI education more equitable across all demographics? How can we be sure to teach the younger generation that AI is a learning tool, not a cheating tool? What do we need to be aware of to make sure our children’s personal data is being protected? Embracing the AI revolution is essential for our progress! But as we innovate, we need to prioritize humanity and safety. I hope you enjoy this episode!

7/25/25 • 59:15

There have been many situations throughout U.S. history where warnings of significant events were either heeded or ignored, and those that were ignored, lead to devasting consequences. We are at that point now when it comes to protecting our judicial system by the legal community and by legal leaders. In today’s podcast I ask the question, what if we, the lawyers, who are responsible for promoting and defending the rule of law, continue to ignore the warnings? What path will our society be led down when our very rights and freedoms are in danger?

6/12/25 • 09:04

Join me in welcoming Dr. Ayesha Farooq Malik and Dr. Doured Daghistani as our latest podcast guests! In this episode, we focus on the Muslim community, delving further into my mission of educating ourselves on healthcare disparity issues and solutions. Listen in as the good doctors discuss the unique cultural competency needs when caring for their Muslim patients, from fasting during Ramadan to addressing gender-specific modesty concerns. We also talk about overcoming language barriers and the need to improve health literacy among our elderly, which are actually a lot of the same problems many other minority groups face! And how at the end of the day, it is our duty as an advanced modern society to be respectful and sensitive to those from every culture.

5/19/25 • 55:41

On today’s Motivational Moment podcast, I discuss the closing letter to all Americans from the immediate past Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy. His letter reflects on how there are a majority of us today living our lives chasing the status quo, feeling disconnected and disappointed. He saw this recurring theme of unhappy and pessimistic American sentiments during his experiences travelling across the country in his Surgeon General role. Tune in to hear his recommended “prescription” to fix this problem!

3/28/25 • 09:38

On this, the last day of Black History Month, we celebrate by sharing with you this fantastic interview with a model of Black excellence, a leader of OB/GYN Miami medicine, the Dr. Nelson L. Adams, III. Listen in on his fascinating journey through life, from being born at an all-Black hospital in 1953, his experiences growing up in the 60s at Miami Jackson Senior High School, up to and including going to Howard University in 1974 and Meharry Medical College in 1978. As a member of the Board of Trustees of Meharry Medical College, he speaks firsthand on the benefits of attending HBCUs, including the unique opportunities young Black people have at these specific institutions to hone their leadership skills. Dr. Nelson and Gene also reflect on one mission they have in common, educating the public on the healthcare disparity issues minority groups face, from both the healthcare professional and the patient perspective. Throughout this interview Gene and Dr. Adams reflect on the fact that these days it may seem that “the more things change the more they stay the same.” But now, more than ever, you must hold fast to what is right and good, to become your best self, and to nurture the others around you so they can do the same. We hope you enjoy this inspirational episode!

2/28/25 • 61:57

In honor of recognizing that January is Human Trafficking Awareness month, we invited Jessica Kahn Obenauf, Esq. to be our podcast guest and give us some updated information on this major global and regional issue. Jessica is an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Southern District of Florida. She specializes in prosecuting human trafficking cases and was able to share her in-depth perspectives in this episode. Jessica reviewed some of the common vulnerabilities that victims of sex trafficking share (ex. foreign nationals and their fear of deportation preventing them from reporting crimes to law enforcement). How the victims of these types of crimes are most frequently female minors, and that traffickers use emotional/brainwashing tactics, not necessarily physical violence, in order to manipulate them. Finally, she outlined what even the most vigilant of parents need to avoid and look out for (ex. social media monitoring) in order to protect their loved ones.

1/30/25 • 53:45

Today’s Motivational Moment tackles the issue of fake news. Fake news is a dangerous and global trend. We see negative impacts in politics. It has put marginalized groups and even our own health in danger! How can you avoid being one of the misinformed? What are the five major impacts? What are the consequences? What are some countries doing to try to combat these issues? I address these questions and more in this episode. Because people have the right to their own opinion, but people don’t have the right to create their own facts. This podcast was originally recorded in October 2024.

11/20/24 • 08:20

We welcome my friend Karim Giscombe to today’s podcast to discuss his innovative $9 billion startup, PLANT-AG. This entity wholly embraces the controlled environment, using greenhouse farming and technology to grow delicate crops like tomatoes, strawberries and lettuce. This concept solves many of the agricultural problems we face today, by reducing water usage, removing the need for pesticides and shrinking the amount of land needed to plant crops. We also talk about the growing health crisis as it relates to foodborne illnesses, such as the recent Listeria and E. coli outbreaks, and how PLANT-AG’s technological advances gives consumers a better way to track where the food came from, while also no longer needing the food to be genetically groomed to increase shelf life and avoiding transport-related spoilage. It is a truly fascinating discussion, and I hope you can tune in!

10/31/24 • 61:37

Welcome to our newest Motivational Moment podcast episode, where I ask the question: How are we going to shape our society for the better? BY VOTING! This message is particularly important to share with our young voters. If you have a young voter in your circle, I encourage you to support and guide them as they navigate through this voting season. October 7 is the last date to register to vote. Visit and share the link https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home for online voter registration in Florida. But do not delay! Our freedom and our democracy are on the ballot.

9/20/24 • 07:32

Here are my thoughts on the current misunderstandings surrounding the concept and definition of inclusion. History has shown that we are better as a society when we allow everyone to prosper. But there is still work to be done. Statistics show that certain leadership roles (superintendents, government officials, etc.) are still overwhelmingly white and male. I have personally been involved in many public and private organizations that have embraced diversity efforts and have evolved stronger than ever due to those efforts. So, there is no reason to pull back programs and efforts to increase diversity throughout our society, clearly there is still a need to “help EVERYONE develop their talents and use their gifts for the good of the community.” Do not get caught up in the culture wars. Remember that inclusivity brings progress and evolution, not exclusivity.

7/10/24 • 09:22

Today’s podcast features an interview with our friend, Joe Scott, who is the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. This year is obviously a very important year for voters and there have been some major changes for voters in Florida since the last Presidential election that you need to know! We run through all the major changes and the questions and answers voters may have this year. What do you need to do to register for a mail-in ballot? What is the deadline to register to vote? Who can register to vote? Where can you vote? What are the six MAJOR constitutional amendments on the ballot this year in Florida? Once you listen in on this podcast, we urge all our listeners to visit https://www.browardvotes.gov/ to make sure your voter registration is up to date. Also please pass along this informational podcast to your friends and family. Remember, let your voice be heard! Every vote counts!  

6/14/24 • 56:38

I kickstart my latest podcast by discussing the historical significance of the saying “Rome is burning,” which is used in situations where people focus on the trivial and take no productive action during a crisis. I believe that one just needs to turn on the news to see that this theory is more relatable than ever. We are being distracted when there are real problems we need to address – some examples include the failures of our educational institutions, the ineffectiveness of our healthcare systems, the lack of affordable housing, etc. I encourage everyone to ignore these fabricated cultural wars politicians are trying to get us to obsess over and redirect our energies to educating ourselves and resolving the real crises that are impacting us.

6/5/24 • 08:04

We welcome Delvin Rogers, Behavioral Technician Specialist and Executive Director of C.A.L.M. 24/7, as our guest of today’s Can We Talk? 360° podcast episode. Our conversation focuses on his work with students in the local schools and young adults in the juvenile detention system, and how he found a need in the community to create his organization C.A.L.M. 24/7. This groundbreaking organization teaches young people how to develop better communication skills, coping skills and conflict resolution skills as they navigate through this complicated thing called life!

5/9/24 • 42:35

I continue to focus on my Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm Healthcare Disparity Initiative’s mission to educate the minority community on healthcare issues. What individuals can do to take ownership of their own healthcare journey and learning how to navigate being a better healthcare consumer. Today’s podcast focuses on one healthcare disparity issue in particular, minority maternal mortality rates. The statistics are startling, Black women are 2x more likely to become victims of maternal mortality than white women. But it is not only the mother’s responsibility to maintain her and her baby’s health and avoid becoming a victim, the government and the healthcare industry also needs to aid and take ownership of these issues.  I encourage my listeners to consider sending this podcast episode to any of your loved ones, young and prospective mothers and families to be, who may find this discussion of the problem and some of the solutions helpful.

4/24/24 • 07:39

Today’s guest is Victor Williams, President of the Anti-Human Trafficking organization Quest2Freedom. Victor has made it his mission to inform the public on how truly insidious the issue of human trafficking and exploitation is today. It is the fastest growing criminal industry, with more that 50 million victims worldwide and counting. Victor reviews the three-tiered approach his group focuses on to combat this problem, which consists of education, awareness and advocacy. He reminds us that traffickers target their victims by preying on their insecurities and vulnerabilities and that we can only begin to fight by advocating for systemic and cultural changes to protect our children and our future.

4/11/24 • 61:17

Welcome back to our second Can We Talk? 360° Motivational Moment for 2024! Today I speak of the miracle when someone briefly enters your life but changes it for the better forever. I recall those instances where my life was changed due to these “angels” and also how I have unknowingly influenced others’ lives in the positive by just the shortest of interactions. We all should always remember that our actions and reactions towards others matter. Be kind to each other. Give of yourself. You never know how much it could impact those around you.

4/2/24 • 07:41

Our first Can We Talk? 360° podcast interview of 2024 features Jerry Girley, Founder and Managing Partner of The Girley Law Firm, and his daughter, Brooke Girley, Professor at the Delaware Law School and Of Counsel at The Girley Law Firm. Jerry and Brooke talk to me in this episode about the origins of civil rights and civil rights law, examples of transformative civil rights battles, and the ongoing efforts to redefine civil rights in the United States. We discuss their own personal legal battles, after a Florida judge recommended 30-day suspensions based on their vocal criticisms following the overturning of a $2.7 million jury ruling in one of Jerry’s cases. Finally, we review how some legal experts have now raised concerns that these proposed suspensions may have more long-lasting and far-reaching negative impacts on the free speech rights of lawyers in Florida.

3/11/24 • 62:13

Hello and welcome to our first Can We Talk? 360° Motivational Moment of 2024! Keeping with my mission to discuss topics on tolerance and inclusion, I ask you, have we lost the thread when it comes to doing what is best for our people and our country? Why in some spaces has the term patriotic mutated to mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want, despite the consequences that may harm our neighbors, our communities or our entire country? The hope of society is to bring people together to build a beautiful tapestry and let that lead us to a more perfect union. So, this year, let us all strive to be better listeners, be more accepting and do more acts of kindness for each other.

2/15/24 • 07:01

Did you catch Gene’s interview today on Hot 105! with Rodney Baltimore promoting his October 7th Healthcare Disparity Initiative presentation? If not, listen to the interview here and as a reminder, the presentation will take place at New Mt. Olive Baptist Church (400 NW 9th Ave., Fort Lauderdale). This event, which starts at 10 am, is being co-sponsored with MOUNTMENTUM, a strategic initiative of 3 churches in our community (New Mount Olive Baptist Church, Mount Bethel Ministries and Mount Hermon AME Church) and Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm. For decades, studies have shown that African Americans face greater healthcare challenges than other racial groups. Despite this knowledge, over the past 60 years, there have been insufficient changes and improvements to these disparities. Gene will discuss this crisis and the ways how community members can navigate the healthcare process, more knowledgeably and safely. Visit Mount Olive Baptist Church’s website to learn more about this event: https://mountolive.org/event/combathealthcaredisparity/

10/4/23 • 03:34

During this podcast, we are once again joined by Dr. Carl B. Mack for another fascinating discussion around the history of black history. We tackle the controversial relationship between sports and politics in this episode. Some have said and may say today that politics has no place in sports. However, whether it was Jackie Robinson and his trailblazing role in 1947, to the 1968 Olympics, all the way to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during an NFL game in 2016, history has proven otherwise. America has always fit politics into the sports agenda! The public needs to accept it. Professional sports figures need to accept it and realize their related community responsibilities. Change may be risky, but we need to continue to honor our legacy, take those risks, and use the platforms we have to keep moving forward. Justice and equality for all mankind is the ultimate goal.

7/27/23 • 54:20

For this podcast session, one of two in the series, I am joined by the esteemed scholar Dr. Carl B. Mack, Civil Rights Activist, Author and Lecturer. Dr. Mack and I review some of the most important and painful Black American History milestones, especially when some historians seem to get it wrong. Our topics include preserving our heritage in this current polarizing U.S. political climate, the misrepresentation of Juneteenth, and all the complexities that surround the issue of Reparations. Unlike past podcasts, this session comes with visual aids supplied by Dr. Mack, so if you can, I recommend checking out the video version of this podcast, which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_elhU1x094. And stay tuned for our next session, continuing our discussions on Black history with Dr. Mack, coming soon!

5/11/23 • 64:52

Join us as we once again take the time in our podcast series to interview a few Broward County Public Schools Debate Initiative student superstars! This episode features three extremely talented individuals – Malika Johnson and Faith Pierre-Toussant from Westpine Middle School, and Eli Seiden from Western High School. Listen in as they share their thoughts on how social media has impacted them and their peers (for better or for worse?), how has debate and learning debating skills helped them succeed in life and in an educational environment, and their goals/where they see themselves after graduation.

3/30/23 • 53:06

Our first Can We Talk? 360° podcast interview for 2023 is with Desmond Meade, proud father, Floridian, voting rights activist and Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC). We sit down to talk about the FRRC’s mission, which is to “end the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions” and his fight to remind the community at large that there is a redemptive value in each and every human being.  We also discuss Desmond’s activist journey and how in 2018, he led the successful effort to pass Florida Amendment 4, a state initiative that restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with previous felony convictions. Today the FRRC has been working on funding and counseling services for individuals who may have been inappropriately targeted for election fraud in Florida. If you would like to learn more about supporting the FRRC’s initiative, or if you know someone who may need their services, visit https://floridarrc.com/.

2/16/23 • 62:16

As the new year is upon us and we find ourselves in late January, some of us also find ourselves losing the momentum and motivation to keep our resolutions going. I often wondered why do we miss our mark so quickly and often? In my latest Motivational Moment podcast, I discuss how you need to be relentless in your pursuit of your goals. There is still time! Stay committed and continue to move forward towards your true and desired destiny.

1/30/23 • 04:44

The statistics show the facts that can’t be denied, there is a real problem with healthcare disparities in the U.S. among certain races, genders and ethnicities. In my latest Motivational Moment, I review some of those startling statistics. I also talk about my own personal health experiences and representing clients who have dealt with these types of situations. Most importantly, because of my professional and personal history, I outline some healthcare best practices you too can adopt to protect yourself and your loved ones going forward. And I know a lot of us have faced challenges when scheduling doctor appointments lately, especially due to COVID. So I urge each of you – don’t delay in talking to your doctor today! Because our health is our most valuable asset!

9/19/22 • 17:40

In our second episode on Critical Race Theory (CRT), we dig deeper into the concerning attempts by those in power to prevent the accurate teachings of the history of racism in America. Listen in as Dr. Butler makes the excellent comparison that “taking race out of the story of American history is like taking a leading character out of your favorite movie.” Now the plot doesn’t make sense. The same thing happens when they try to take the issue of race and racism out of the teachings of American history. It’s incomplete, doesn’t make sense and most importantly, it is dishonest. That is one of the reasons why omitting parts of our history should matter to all Americans. The intentional rewriting of the past is a tool that authoritarians use. It is dangerous for the future of democracy when we seek to alter history by erasing parts of it. Luckily our hosts say that there is hope, that they have seen the motivation of our young people  to learn the truth, and change our world for the better.

8/10/22 • 41:25

After a brief hiatus, the Can We Talk? 360° podcast series is back and better than ever! Our latest session is part one of a two-part series on Critical Race Theory, the myths, the misinformation and current state of affairs surrounding this topic today (especially in the Sunshine State). Gene’s discussion on this polarizing topic features an in-depth interview with esteemed Flagler College Professor of History, Dr. Michael Butler, author of “Beyond Integration: The Black Freedom Struggle in Escambia County, Florida, 1960-1980 (available on Amazon). You can also follow the Professor on Twitter at @dr_mbutler. We hope our listeners find this podcast as intellectually stimulating as we did producing it!

7/27/22 • 53:35

Most of us show our appreciation towards the special people in our lives during “the month of love” (aka February). But I challenge you now to share the love universally – 365 days a year. Sharing our love universally includes the act of showing empathy for others. It means you should love thy neighbor – even if they look, act, believe and love differently than you. If we could love our neighbors truly, then we would not have people bringing harm to others, like we are seeing with the people of Ukraine. My heart especially goes out to them right now. Please show the love to them, either by charitable donations (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/09/heres-a-list-of-top-rated-charities-to-help-the-ukraine-relief-effort.html) or by prayer. Remember we are all equal. And all we need is love.

3/15/22 • 07:17

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

3/3/22 • 00:15