Hosted by Marita Gumbs of Fight 2B Fit DC, this Zoom Talk Show dissects the many implications on our health. From economics to racism, anything that influences our environment, our minds, our movement or our food, impacts our health. Here are some highlights featuring each of the nine episodes.

As we look back at the first season of Surviving, Living and Thriving During COVID-19, we have covered everything from finances, mental health, patient safety, nutrition, racism, ergonomics, fitness, wellness, and politics. Each and every one of these items affect our health and our ability to thrive. Now more than ever, we are keenly aware of how important it is to live a health lifestyle when so much is at stake. However, beyond our access to resources and our daily lifestyle choices, we need to make moves to protect the world we live on. While we battle to combat this pandemic and racial tensions, we have can't ignore the actual earth on which we battle on. In this episode, Dr. Ife Kilimanjaro Sr. Director of Engagement, US Climate Action Network and Co-Founder of The Wind & The Warrior and Miguel Sossa, Sustainability Advisor who works in the airline industry will discuss the state of emergency that our earth is in, how we can do our part and the work that is currently being done. Please take notes, make changes and make a commitment to keeping our earth safe, beautiful and sustainable for free human life.

Our health is impacted by many factors including stress which can largely be driven by finances. Whether you have a distaste for capitalism or not, the truth is money governs our ability to live a healthy lifestyle in many ways. Our access to adequate housing, wellness facilities, quality foods, vacation and recreation are all based on income we have at our disposal. In this episode, we will explore the world of investments, cash flow and forecasting for an uncertain economy. Come with questions and be ready to pick the brain of Angel Investor and Venture Capitalist, Mark Monroe, and one of his most successful clients, Jolyn Gardner, who has experienced major gains in just one year. NOTE: Following the introduction (that was separately recorded), the record button was neglected for 20 minutes. Please excuse the absence of this footage. To learn more from the guests, check out their Facebook Live Talk Show at: https://www.facebook.com/thecomeupseries/

Since the onset of the pandemic there has been both evolving information and misinformation. As medical professionals were learning on the job about how this virus worked, information was dispersed prematurely and haphazardly. Now that we are three months into the stay at home orders in the United States. Where are we at? Does the virus have the same threat it had last month or the month before? For this episode, Dr. Benita Ikegwuoha DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC and Dr. Garrick Baskerville, Internal Medicine Physician will be joining us to discuss the facts, precautions to take and what to expect moving forward. Additionally, we will discuss how we can learn from African countries that were more prepared, had protocols in place to ensure the safety of their citizens and who have been successful at minimizing the impact of COVID19.

Politics. Outside of Washington, DC, politics is often a topic people treat as taboo. "Stay away from talking about religion and politics," they tell you. However, not only is the sentiment outdated, but it is also dangerous. Our country has a history of repeating history and maintaining a status quo. As we are seeing now and as we have seen in the past, politics affects every aspect of our lives. We need to have these conversations if we expect to move forward without constantly taking two steps back in the process. Additionally, at this point, it has gone beyond Republican versus Democrat and has moved into being more about right versus wrong and racist versus inclusive. If we want change, we cannot afford not to vote and we cannot afford to be silent. Join us for a conversation with Kevin B. Chavous, Washington, D.C.-based Attorney and Political Strategist and Carrie Blackwood, Former Candidate for the Washington State Senate and a Labor and Employment Attorney. We will discuss the issues that are at the forefront as well as issues that have been overshadowed with a particular focus on cities reopening amid the pandemic, employment and labor issues, the economy and police brutality.

Mental health has long since been a taboo topic. Needing a therapist was only confirming you're crazy. In recent years, mental health Instagram pages have emerged making it cool to spend time and work through all that is going on through your brain and soul. Additionally, recent studies have shown that epigenetics plays a role in trauma being passed down from our ancestors. Furthermore, it is undebatable that racism and discrimination have a present day affect on our health and even when the world is in crisis together, racism continues to bear it’s ugly horns giving us a double dose of hardship. In this episode, we will hear from two experts, Jardin Dogan, M.Ed., Ed.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Dr. Myles D. Moody, PhD in Sociology who have dedicated their careers and efforts into studying and understanding these issues. We will identify coping mechanisms to handle circumstances we cannot control and empower ourselves to live mentally sound lives in any situation.

Taking a look at underrepresentation in activities that promote wellness. Lack of access and exposure. Plus, continued discrimination that present obstacles and block opportunities. Learn what has been done to change this and what NEEDS to be done.

In recent years, despite it being muffled the last four, there has been a lot of discussion and action surrounding improving access to healthcare. However, I think it is of great importance that we recgonize that we don't get healthy from going to the doctor or the hospital. We get cures or help with managing a condition, but we get healthy from what we do on a day to day basis. In this episode, I will have Charmaine Jones, Registered Dietician and owner of Food Jonezi, join me for a discussion on fitness and nutrition. Learn how you can build your immunity and prevent chronic diseases through exercise and the foods you choose to put in your body!

Get inspired to build and be innovative during a time where we could use extra streams of income. In this segment, learn from long term entrepreneurs about how they got started and what drove them to get out on their own. What strategies did they use? What does it take? What mistakes did they make? What challenges did they have? Also hear from an individual who was laid off at the very beginning of the shutdown, but quickly created a Plan B that landed her in the Washingtonian and DCist. A true story of making lemonade out of lemons. Lastly, learn how each of these individuals are giving back and having an understanding that there are less privileged individuals that need a helping hand especially during these unprecedented times. This will be the most important part of the conversation as we speak into existence the end of the "Me" era.

Learn about the effects of a quarantine on our mental health, what to look out for and what preventative measures can be taken from Psychiatrist, Dr. Petronella Mbu. Gain valuable insight on working from home, managing pain and maintaining physical function in enclosed spaces from Physical Therapist, Dr. Christen Gumbs. Lastly, understand the issues that exist in the health care system, how COVID-19 is overtaxing our system nationwide and how this is doubly impacting hospitals and clinics serving underserved, black and brown communities. Together, we will talk about solutions now and moving forward as we work to Survive, Live and Thrive During COVID-19. Charlise Randall, MHSA, Author of Black Splash: Being Black and Upwardly Mobile in White America https://www.amazon.com/BlackSplash-Being-Upwardly-Mobile-America-ebook/dp/B07WK76CWG Dr. Christen Gumbs, PT, DPT, ICDN Physical Therapist and Running Specialist Owner and Founder of Latitude PT Latitude PT www.latitudept.com