There is so much information about COVID-19 out there, and I wanted to get information from a trusted source in person. It was an honor to interview Dr. Gonzalo Bearman. I'm extremely grateful that he found time out of his packed schedule to sit and talk to me about COVID-19 during these chaotic times. Please share this podcast to help spread better information about COVID-19. At times like this, we need to know what we are truly facing. This interview was done on March 11th! Time stamp: 2:00 -What is COVID-19, and how is it different from something like the flu? 3:02 -If someone is infected with the virus with mild to moderate symptoms, are there any at-home or over-the-counter treatments we can use to prevent more severe symptoms from developing?  4:28 - How long do you expect this virus to last? 4:51- If the virus continues to spread in densely populated areas, what are our options when facilities fill up? 5:23 - How much do people’s “fear of the unknown” play a part in magnifying the dangers of COVID-19? 6:30 - The xenophobia that came along with the COVID-19 virus 7:40 - What are some severe and non-severe symptoms of COVID-19 10:00 - How do we de-cyphe the information overload we see in the news? 11:46 - What are our alternative protection options besides the normal gloves and mask? 13:10 - Final words about COVID-19 and what VCU health is doing?

Happy Valentine's Day! In this episode, I combined my interviews with Julie Wilcox and Mary Davis from the previous two episode to answer three important questions: What makes a healthy relationship, what are some misconceptions of a healthy relationship, and how do you love yourself? If you guys like what you heard, please check out the episodes Communication is Key with Julie Wilcox and Needs = Expectations with Mary Davis to learn more about relationships! Also please share this podcast on Facebook and tag me in your Instagram story @paragonproject1! Have a wonderful rest of the day. Links to the interviews used in the episode: Needs = Expectations: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2iiwSl6VeiZ0ksJDdbG0k0 Communication is Key: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lUuCYu9DJqiZ3oKdURtOZ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Julie Wilcox is a license relationship councilor at Thriveworks Short Pump. In our interview, we talked about polyamorous relationship, the 5 love languages, the honey moon phase and much more! She was a great guest, and I hope that y'all learned something from this interview. If you like what you hear, let me know by sharing on Facebook or tagging me on Instagram @paragonproject1. Thank you so much and have a awesome rest of the day. Below are the time stamps for the video: Times stamps: · 1:08- Expectations and communications · 2:23- Making a comfortable place to voice expectations · 4:30- “Fair Fighting Rules” for conflict resolutions · 6:30- Having multiple partners (Polyamorous relationships) and the expectations for them · 9:26- Get to know each other again · 11:34- Being a best friend with your partner  · 12:34- What is something your clients think are healthy for a relationship but are actually unhealthy · 13:48- How do you bring up a problem without accusing them · 16:06- Transparency is a lot healthier than we think · 19:25- Handling long distance relationships · 21:17- The honeymoon phase? Not realistic at all · 22:55- The 5 love languages and our basic needs · 26:41- The role of a counselor in a relationship · 28:05- What does it really mean to love yourself? · 29:05- What does it mean to be a Paragon?

Mary Davis is a license couples therapist at Thriveworks Short Pump who is very knowledgeable and passionate about relationships. I had an amazing time interviewing her and gained an important perspective on relationships and we talked about self-love, expectations, etc! If you got any value from this episode, please let me know and share in on Facebook and Instagram story @paragonproject1. Thank you and have a nice rest of the day! Below are time stamps for the episode.  Times stamps: 1:01- Introduction to Mary 2:17- What are the foundations of any healthy relationship? 3:04- What to do when trust has been lost in a relationship? 4:26- How much of our past should we reveal to our partner? 5:54- Why would people rather direct their love towards other people than themselves? 8:04- How to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself without being too self critical 9:50- Perfectionism blocks vulnerability 10:20- What makes unhealthy relationships with ourselves? 12:06- What are healthy expectations we should have for our partner? 13:51- Should we have little to no expectations for our partner? Title? Our needs are ultimately our expectations 16:08- What do your clients believe are unhealthy to have in a relationship but are healthy to have? Could use this to transition to self love after healthy relationship 17:03- Why an individual identity is healthy for a relationship? 19:50- What are somethings your client believe are healthy in a relationship but are actually unhealthy to have? 21:19- What’s a soulmate and could there be such thing? 23:30- How do you get your clients to open up about their past? 26:32- How do you maintain a healthy long distance relationship? 28:33- What does it mean to be a paragon?

With the new year comes a new season! I revisited several interviews I during season one, incorporated my commentary, and used some research to bring a new style and format to the podcast! Below are some of the references I used to make this podcast. If you like the new format and want more of this, let me know and share my podcast to promote the new season! Thank you and have an awesome new years. References: YMCA commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho8Xuwbfa-0 Statista Research Department: https://www.statista.com/statistics/378105/new-years-resolution/ Health.us.news.com link:  https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-29/why-80-percent-of-new-years-resolutions-fail Journal of personality and social psychology: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.88.6.918  Previous podcast episode:  Alex Vega: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4rYChhdYzTeT7hSLwTjSnk Sam Thana: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WyrxPFyaqjSMlMo74KyQ0 Vinny Seng: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FKptPLvBSvv5fMKi0Jh1S --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

I first met Charles Andrean at the national convention for Lambda Phi Epsilon. The speech he gave was very moving, and I wanted to have an opportunity to talk to him one day. Well this past week was the day, and I had a very interesting conversation about masculinity, authenticity, and vulnerability. Charles mentioned Brene Brown in this episode, and I think shes a great reference to learn more about vulnerability. The link to her Ted talk is below! If you got any value from this episode, please share the podcast or let me know how it impacted you! Ted talk link: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=en Episode 17 timestamps: 0:56 - Your dedication to Greek life 2:50 - Our identity box and defining masculinity  6:35 - How do we make an authentic identity box that is true to us? 10:56 - How can communities create environments to help individuals find their identity 13:30 - The self-help movement and what the right mindset for that is    16:18 - The stigmas of being vulnerable and why we should be more vulnerable 19:06 - The right time to be vulnerable? 23:30 - What does it mean to be a Paragon? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Domestic violence (DV) is a very broad topic that is very complex. I really loved the perspective that I got from this episode, and I am really grateful to interview Ruth Glenn. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is doing amazing work to prevent and bring awareness to domestic violence. The Remember My Name and the Take a Stand for Health Relationships are two great programs the NCADV have, and we touched on these programs briefly in the podcast. Below are the links to all the references mentioned in the podcast and the times stamps. Thank you for listening! References: - The NCADV homepage: https://ncadv.org/ - The NCADV webinars: https://ncadv.org/webinars - Remember my name: https://ncadv.org/remember-my-name - Take a Stand for Health Relationships modules: https://ncadv.org/teens4healthyrelationships - Understanding arms regulations for victims of DV: https://www.disarmdv.org/ Time Stamps: 1:20- How did you get to your position as President of NCADV 2:45- The definition of domestic violence (its more than just physical or sexual violence) 5:35- Why do abusers abuse? Why do victims stay? 10:36- How is the NCADV helping survivors get over their fear caused from domestic violence 13:47- The goal of the "Take a Stand for Health Relationships" Program and its future 22:00- The Remember my Name Program. What it is about and its future. 25:41- The next step for NCADV 28:56- What does it mean to be a paragon? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

I had the honor of interviewing an incredible man who took the leap of faith and pursued his passion. As a founder of the Ronin, he has a strong desire to elevate other so that they can someday pursue their passions. This man has a mindset and perspective that we can all learn from. I truly learned a lot from this interview, and I know that everyone listen will learn something too! Below are the timestamps for the episode and the link to the Ronin website and facebook page. Enjoy and have a nice rest of the day! The Ronin FB: https://www.facebook.com/theroninmedia/ The Ronin Website: https://www.theroninmedia.com/ Alex's fb: https://www.facebook.com/roninvega Time stamps: 0:42- How your childhood thought you what it means to survive 6:35- Moments that defined your mindset 11:50- Defining moment that made you pursue your passion 17:10- What would you change about your past? 19:45- Why aren't people taking the leap of faith? 21:53- Methodology of success; put your head down and work 23:55- You need to learn how to communicate 25:14- The biggest risk is not taking one at all 26:01- Support from family and Asian culture 31:55- An Asian american success story and being giving in nature 35:09- Using and acknowledging your core strengths. 37:00- What is a Paragon to you? 41:31- Sacrifice is key. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For my second BCA episode, I came in contact with Deb Kirkland through the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and it was an honor to have her on the podcast! Deb is a breast cancer survivor who dedicates her life to breast cancer advocacy by being a part of the Young Survivor Coalition, a former advocate reviewer for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the DoD, and is currently working in the Mercy Hospital in Baltimore Maryland. There are several important links below about self assessment, the young survival coalition and metastatic breast cancer! Furthermore, the timestamps for the episode are below! Important links: Self assessment that tells you your risk: Brightpink.org  More information about metastatic breast cancer: http://www.metavivor.org/take-action/ This is a great resource for young women who are diagnosed: https://www.youngsurvival.org/ Timestamps: 1:00- Being diagnosed with breast cancer  2:55- Ways of detecting breast cancer 4:45- Your role in the Young Survivor Coalition and the Mercy Medical Center 7:31- Stigmas with breast cancer in countries outside the U.S  8:47- Are we doing enough to find the cure? 9:45- How can we contribute to the cause? 11:23- Common breast cancer myths 12:42- What should men do if they think they have breast cancer? 13:40- Metastatic breast cancer 14:50- Being an breast cancer advocate reviewer for the DoD and Susan G. Komen 16:20- How to be an advocate reviewer --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

As many of y'all know, this month is breast cancer awareness month. Many different organizations around the world are pushing to fund more research in order to find the cure for breast cancer. I decided to take the time to interview a local foundation in my area who is actively working towards the cause. The perspective and informative interview was amazing, and I hope that y'all who are listen become more aware of this movement and decided to contribute to it! Below are the time stamps for the episode : Link for the VBCF (Also check out their events!): https://www.vbcf.org/ Timestamps: 0:34- What does it mean to be education manager for Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (VBCF) 1:09- Newly diagnose, care giver, surviver, and metastatic info packets 1:55- A possible side effect from breast cancer surgery: Lymphedema 3:26- The history of the VBCF and what they do 6:50- Why don't we have a cure for breast cancer yet? 8:48- Hormone Receptor Positive & Negative, HER2 Negative, and Triple Negative Breast Cancer 10:58- Metastatic breast cancer 13:09- Common ways to detect breast cancer 14:14- How to contribute to the cause! 15:33- How has breast cancer affected you? 16:28- Support VBCF!  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app