Season 7 Is Here
Season 7 of The Whitney Reynolds Show is here. Tune in Monday's at 6:30 on Lakeshore Public Television for topics that creating positive change. Our topics this season include:
April 10th: Confronting Wellness- An alternate route to combatting breast cancer.
April 17th: Special Olympics- A look at an organization that is impacting our nation one competition at a time.
April 24th: Rape on College Campuses- Stories from survivors that hope to put an end to this horrible crime.
May 1st: The Power Of Influence- How to use your influence to help the world around you.
May 8th: Women Entrepreneurs- Our 2017 class of jet-setting businesses and the women behind them.
May 15th: American Made- An inside look at amazing people & products made in America.
Make sure to tune in Monday's at 6:30 on LAKE PBS in Chicago for topics that our creating conversation and change. You can also TWEET LIVE with us @whitneyreynolds during the show.
Ending Fall Season With Mental Health
As we finish up our 2016 fall season, we are ending with a topic that EVERYONE watching is impacted by in some capacity. We are talking mental health.
With about 57.7 million people aged 18 and over suffering from a mental disorder each year in the United States alone, this health issue is one to take very serious. When you think of health we tend to go straight to our physical health however, as we learn it's vital to prioritize our mental health too. With numbers on the rise it's crucial that people receive the help they need. This week on The Whitney Reynolds Show we explore some of the options that are available out there and hear from real people opening up about the hope they've found.
No Shame on You
Dr. Scott Langenecker, is the Director of Cognitive Neuroscience and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research focuses on mood disorders across one's lifespan. Specifically, he is involved in studies to understand the abnormalities observed in depression and bipolar disorder. His research has resulted in translational neuropsychological measures that can be administered in clinical settings. He talks about how he offers assistance in treatment, educational, and occupational plans to the adolescent and their families.
Next we talk with Mike Bushman, author of Suicide Escape, a memoir exploring teen depression. Mike also mentors at 360 Youth Services and volunteers for mental health groups. Hear what he has to say about mental illness and the role he plays in prevention and treatment.
We also speak with Miriam Ament, Executive Director of No Shame on U, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the stigma associated with mental health. After suffering from depression herself and encountering stigma and isolation from many friends and family members, Miriam founded this organization.
Veterans have served our country and now it is time to offer them our support. Hear Veteran Justin Orick speak of his challenges with mental illness upon returning from war and how he has learned to adjust to life back home. Many veterans face the same problem as Justin and it is substantial that they or anyone who knows a veteran hear his story.
Justin Orick
A big THANKS to our guests for trusting us with their stories this season. To recap these shows visit www.whitneyreynolds.com and be sure to tune in tonight, November 21st at 6:30 on Lakeshore Public Television for Mental Health.
SPONSORS THIS SEASON- Volvo, Volvo Oak Park, American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, Respiratory Health Association, Pearls Southern Comfort, Whiting Law Group & Modern Classics Furniture. THANK YOU for supporting women in business!
A Weekend To Remember (TWRS Gala, 3-0 & Gender Reveal)
My Team (Left- Camera Art Cohen, Supervising Producer Sheryl Rosen, Executive Producer/ Host ME-Whitney Reynolds, PR Janiece Noel, Director Gary Brook, Assistant TD Dennis King). PHOTO CREDIT- RAY THOMPSON/ DRESS- Teri Jon Dresses
This past weekend was the first ever "A Night With The Whitney Reynolds Show" Gala! It was extremely special because our family, friends and viewers had a chance to come together and get to know the show better. We featured topics close to heart and also raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Cherry on top- it was my big 3-0 birthday and at 9 PM we found out our twins' genders with everyone who attended.
We had the most amazing food vendors in Chicago bring their favorite dishes. BIG THANKS to- Johnny Van's Smokehouse, Kitty O'Sheas, Heartfelt Catering, Beef and Barley, Kenmare Catering, Rachel Rosenberg Arbonne Treats, Reggies Live, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Goddess and Grocer. Take a look at my 30th birthday cake provided by Windy City Savories and Sweets!
PHOTO CREDIT- RAY THOMPSON
The live piano music was flowing thanks to David Rothstein and the flower arrangements from Stems made the evening complete. On each table we featured topics that have aired on our show over the years. Some of them included Domestic Violence, Fear and Cancer. This whole event was a chance for our 250 guests to understand what we are all about and that is: creating a show that provokes positive change through tough topics.
PHOTO CREDIT- RAY THOMPSON
Since the event fell so close to our 20 week ultrasound (2 days before) we decided not to find out the genders until the gala. At 9 PM we called everyone to the front and unwrapped two boxes with our twins' genders. WATCH- https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyReynoldsW3/videos/vb.9203122/10102604877591313/?type=3&theater
PHOTO CREDIT- RAY THOMPSON
PHOTO CREDIT- ANDREA PLECKO
As you can see from the pictures above we are OVER THE MOON for our little Twin A- Marlowe McKinnley Heiner and Twin B- David Acheson Heiner III "Acher." It was special to share this moment with everyone who attended.
We rounded out the night with raising just shy of $3,000 for LLS and announced our new season coming to Lakeshore PBS April 25th at 6:30 PM.
This was an evening I will cherish forever and it wouldn't have been possible without support from all our sponsors (especially Volvo Of Oak Park), my loving husband and each of YOU.
XOXO,
Whitney
(Don't forget to get your ticket for our next live event on April 30th. Sit in our studio audience by requesting tickets to tickets@thewhitneyreynoldsshow.com).
Sweet Home Chicago
Welcome to our new home! Earlier this month we made a big decision, to buy our future family home. We started the journey back in February and finally in June found the house of our dreams. Sure, some of you are thinking yeah yeah, you bought a home, what's the big deal? Well for Dave (my husband) and I this was a decision to officially plant our roots in Chicago. We are so excited to call this city our home. Today, I will be giving you a look at our house and also the tips I learned along the way. ENJOY!
My parents joke that every two years I move and even though their statement is true, I am happy to say this will be our home for many years to come. During the search process we decided our "MUST HAVES" and then worked our way down. His were: Price point, bedrooms and location. Mine were: School district and layout. I'd say we both got what we wanted.
Okay enough with the small talk- Let the tour begin!
Living room
First stop our, living room. When people walk through our front door I want them to feel the love and also right at home. I wanted to create a space that was inviting and hip. First thing we did was clean the windows. We lucked out with great natural light throughout the house, however, the windows needed a good cleaning. Once we were in the house for a few days we realized our couch was not enough and needed to fill the space a little bit more. Shoes aside, I am a bargain shopper so I went online to my favorite stores and sought out the best sale (and that's when we got the chairs). Eventually, we will be having a custom mantle and gas fireplace put in.
We couldn't leave out the fun details. I try to have a story with our house accessories. The flower in the picture below was not only created by one of my best girlfriends but it also was part of our centerpieces at our wedding. This glass sculpture is not only a statement but it's also a big party of our story!
Anna Lou Glass
White Cabinet done by Petronella Designs
The Dining Room- This is probably my favorite room for a number of reasons but I'd say my main one: It's where all the conversations happen. I love nothing more than to sit around the table and gab. This room is right off the kitchen and is great for entertaining guests and Chef Dave. In the kitchen we went with stainless steel appliances. We knew we were going to need more cabinet space when we moved in, so we had a custom piece (picture above) created by Nellie Fuder of Petronella-Designs. She makes pieces to fit any style and budget. I will definitely be having more of her collection around my house in years to come! We needed a focal point in the room and luckily with a few clicks on Craigslist I found this painting for only $35.00! The light fixture in this room was given to us by dear friends and I think it is the cherry on top!
Every house should have one wallpapered room and this will be our main floor powder room. I've heard wallpapering is tough to do, so for this task we will be bringing in the experts. Okay let's head upstairs.
My art collection
The Caribou chalk board Dave proposed on.
Greetings from our second floor-
I have always wanted to have what I call, "A museum wall." One location to show off my art collection and we decided to do this upstairs (picture above). On this floor we also have our master bedroom/bath and what will one day be the nursery and this kids bathroom. Right now the extra room is serving as Dave's office. The chalkboard in the picture above is from the Caribou Coffee where I met Dave. Six months later we went in to that same coffee shop and on this board were the words "WILL YOU MARRY ME!" We had to keep it!
The Master Bedroom
The master bedroom was a little overwhelming to me when we first moved in, because of its size. One of the first things I learned with buying this house is: It's fun to fill it up and change things over time. Not everything must be done overnight! The inspiration behind this room came from the Pottery Barn bed spread, I purchased the day we closed. The master bath is huge but needs updating; we are looking forward to putting in a steam shower and double sink.
To conclude our tour we will finish in the basement- On this floor we have our laundry room, a guest room, a full bathroom, bonus room and storage. My home office for the show and my jewelry line is is in the main room. I am surrounded by inspirational thoughts, articles and keepsakes. I finally have the space I need to be creative at home! In the guest bedroom on this level we have a bedroom ready for guests.
Below I have some tips to highly consider when moving-
1. STI Movers were a huge help to us during this whole process. And something I loved about them is their effort to Go Green. They have reusable eco-friendly boxes. All you have to do is order them, then the company will deliver them right to your doorstep. They help you move your boxes to your new location, and the best part is when you’re done they come and take the boxes away for you. No longer will you be stuck with big bulky cardboard boxes wondering what on earth you’re going to do with them. I may be a little biased, but I most definitely have to recommend them for your next move. www.stimovers.com
2. This may seem like an obvious statement, but, take some time before you start packing to get organized. Plan out what sections of your house you’re going to pack at what times, this way you don’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of packing required of you. If you try and do it all at once you’ll only regret it later on. By spending all of your energy on packing up your entire house in one swoop you’ll burn out and lose all motivation to unpack in your new house. This leads to what I like to call the year-long-move. It may take you one week to move to a whole new house, but unpacking is still part of the process.
3. Once you find the house you want to buy, get a good inspector. GS & TJ Services did a fantastic job making sure our house was safe and ready for us. Leon (the owner) walked us through potential issues and things that needed to get fixed. This is very important because you will get stuck with problems the previous owner created...As Dave would say, fight for the dollars and cents on the front end. Leon was great to work with: www.illinoisinspectors.com.
4. One of my favorite tips for moving is this “life hack” for switching closets. Instead of taking everything off their individual hangers and packing them into boxes, only to unpack them and rehang them one-by-one, two words: garbage bag. While your clothes are still hanging in the closet, take a garbage bag and scoop up a section of your clothes into the bag. Finally, tie the bag around the hangers so that the tops of them are sticking out. This way you’ll have a handle for your bag of clothes and you can easily transition them from one closet to the next.
Finally, even if you dread moving more than anything else in life, try and find some enjoyment out of the process. This is a life event you’re going to remember always. It’s the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new. Whether you’re moving across the country for a job or you’re moving down the street, old memories are to be archived and the prospects of new memories await you. So take a moment and take a deep breath before you allow yourself to be overcome by stress.
Change really can be a beautiful thing! <3
What's Your Story
Whitney Reynolds- Hello 6th PBS Season!
I’ve been very nostalgic recently here at the Whitney Reynolds Show and have gone through some of my past episodes. I wanted to highlight a few inspirational stories that I believe everybody could benefit from past seasons. ENJOY!
In our first PBS season we did a show "Second Chances." On this episode we sat down with we Danni Allen, Season 14 winner of the hit TV series "The Biggest Loser", about her second chance with her health. After witnessing her father struggle with his health, and almost lose his life, she decided that she needed to make a change. After auditioning for, and ultimately winning, the Biggest Loser she was given a second chance to live her life to the fullest. This episode taught us when life is generous enough to give us a second chance we need to take advantage of it!
UPDATE: We recently caught up with Danni and she still has the same mindset and even more excited about what's ahead!
Our "No Limits" episode focused on different individuals who didn’t let their circumstances get in the way of achieving their dreams. I was fortunate enough to sit down with an incredible young woman named Mary Kate Callahan. Mary Kate was paralyzed from the waist down at only 5 ½ months old. But she didn’t let that stop her from doing what she loved. As a high school swimmer the only thing in her way from the State Championships was the lack of a policy to include swimmers with disabilities. But once again she refused to give up. She teamed up with lawyers and fought the system until finally during her senior year of high school she was able to compete at the Illinois Swimming State Championship. This just goes to show you that no matter what roadblock is in your way you can’t let it stop you from being all that you can be.
In the show’s second season we talked about the Youth of Our Future. Violence amongst teens, especially in the Chicagoland area, is stealing the lives of the next generation. But this doesn’t mean we have to stand by and watch it happen. I spoke to David Diaz, WBC World Lightweight Champion, about his after-school program where he teaches kids how to box. Coming from a background of boxing he uses his talent to keep kids out of violence. Through boxing he is able to teach kids discipline and turning their aggression into positive energy. It’s people like David who are changing the lives of everyone around them by simply taking a stand for what they believe in.
Next I took a look at one of our recent episodes, "Be the Change." We live in a world where corruption is stealing away the joy and love throughout the world. But we don’t have to just sit by and let it happen. We can be courageous and take a stand for what we believe is right. Our social sizzle for this episode was the founders of the Kind Campaign: Molly Thompson and Lauren Paul. Through witnessing and experiencing girl on girl crime they took it upon themselves to educate young girls across the US and Canada about the harmful effects of girl on girl crime. They have taught thousands of young girls that kindness is the only option.
Finally, in our Survivor episode I was able to sit down with Jaspen Boothe. Her story was one of the most inspiring of them all. Jaspen is a Veteran who not only survived Hurricane Katrina but also cancer. However, this is not even the most incredible part about her. After bad treatment by the VA she decided that she wasn’t going to allow future veterans to be treated the way she was. She started an organization called Final Salute that provides homeless women veterans and their families with safe and suitable housing. Her organization has now raised over $650,000 for female veterans. After hearing this story I never want to complain about my life being hard ever again! But it also has showed me that with the right mindset, strong will, and faith you can survive anything.
Going through these episodes have me feeling so inspired and empowered! I love hearing all of your stories. So I want to encourage all of you, my incredible viewers, to write the show and tell me about your journey. You never know how something that changed your life, could help others! Go to our contact page now and get to typing! <3
Discussing Autism, Saturday on WYCC
According to autismspeaks.org: Autism, the fastest-growing serious developmental disability, affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys, and those figures are continuing to grow.
Let’s educate and learn how we can help! Join us this Saturday as we sit down and talk to Julie Obradovic and WGN Radio Host Patti Vasquez, both mothers who have dealt with autism first hand.
We will see how autism is accommodated in the Chicago school system and talk to the teachers that are the everyday heroes in the classroom.
Finally, we talk to Tom Dempsey, the program administrator for Have Dreams. Tom tells us about the organization and what they are doing to help fight autism.
Join us this Saturday as we discuss ways that you can help in the fight against autism and how to spread awareness, because we are dedicated to make a difference but we need your help too!
What I've Learned in 28 Years
I've learned more in my late 20's than ever before & I am going to tell you some of my top lessons! If only I could have written a letter to the "younger Whitney" and explained where we'd be in 2014.
Work: When I first started my career I was very competitive. One thing I've learned with age is there is beauty in EMPOWERMENT. "Girls Compete with one another and women empower each other." It's simply, be the best YOU! CHANGE... In the past, I always looked at change as a bad thing and this year it has proven to be the best news I could have received. In a few months we will be making a huge announcement and if it weren't for a little of change we would still be stuck in the past. Get ready for some exciting news and pumped up for major change!
Life: This year for lent I decided to take an hour a week and reflect on things/people I am thankful for. I am writing hand-written letters to people who have invested in my life and helped mold me into the woman I am today. What I discovered in this process is, GRATITUDE leads to JOY! A thankful heart = a joyful heart!
Love: In November of last year I got married to the love of my life and we decided to write our own vows. One of things I value about David is our differences. In my vows I promised, "Not to change him, rather GROW with him." I know that the David I married in November, will not be the same a year from now. Yes, we will still love each other, but we must remember to grow together. ACCEPT people for who they are and embrace the person they are becoming!
Take a moment today and think about your last year. It doesn't matter what birthday you are celebrating, embrace the lessons you have learned and try to make this year the best! That's my birthday wish for you!