Canine Companions Breaks Records
It was a record breaking event for Canine Companions! This amazing non-profit trains and provides service dogs FREE OF CHARGE to our Veterans, special needs and more. I had the honor of walking for my 3rd year with David (my husband) and 14 year old Puffy Doo-Little. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO…
It was truly a night full of smiles and love. For more info CLICK HERE
July 4th Staycation and Honoring our Troops
Happy Birthday America! We had an amazing holiday with my Oklahoma family in town. We statycationed in Chicago and became tourist in my home city! It was a an absolute blast! The highlight was this amazing architecture cruise with The Chicago Architecture Center. TAKE A LOOK!
City River Cruise
The weekend off with the family also allowed me some time to reflect on this amazing country! Take a look at our Emmy Nominated show honoring our Veterans and the USA!
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!
Emmy Nominated
After years of applying we finally got nominated for our first Emmy! Thank you so much to everyone who has believed in us and helped us get here.
We were nominated in- Category 10: Outstanding Interview and Discussion Special Programming. Make sure to watch LIVE on November 7th on CLTV for the 2015 NATAS Chicago Emmys. Thank you so much again for making this possible. #TheBestIsYetToCome
One Exciting Memorial Day Weekend
Thank you to everyone who has served for our freedom. #USA
Well hello summer and long weekend! I want to kick things off with a shout out to all of our military... THANK YOU for serving & HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
This season we’ve talked about conquering fear. And so I thought it would be fun to give you all a little challenge. This will get you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to break through your fears! Below I’ve compiled a list of 5 exhilarating things to do this Memorial Day Weekend. You don’t have to try all of them of course, but think of how empowered you’d feel if you do! I say you pick the one that makes you the most scared and go for it.
1. Skydeck Chicago- Afraid of heights? You HAVE to try this out! Right in Downtown Chicago at the Willis Tower you have the ability to step out on a glass panel that’s 1,353 ft above the ground. When you visit the Skydeck you will be able to step outside the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. If that’s not facing your fear head-on I don’t know what is!
2. Preform your own slam poetry. Does public speaking scare you more than death itself? I have just the cure for you! Try out your own slam poetry up in front of a crowd at The Green Mill. On top of some incredible live jazz, there is a fun little contest for new comers and veterans alike. Try your hand at some slam poetry and you may even go home with a prize!
3. Chicago Flyboard- Have you ever thought about floating above water? Well with Flyboards you will have the opportunity to do just that. With a board strapped to your feet the water from Lake Michigan will be blasted through the bottom of the board at a speed so fast it causes you to float above water. Think jetpack with water. It’s a fun way to spend a day in the sun doing something you’ll never forget. You can make it a family day too by renting some Stand Up Paddle Boards or Canoes too!
4. Absolutely Chicago Segways- You’ve seen those strange contraptions that look like a scooter mixed with a pogo stick, now it’s time to try one! Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours will you show you this incredible city from standpoint you’ve never taken before. These tours are fun and easy to book. Try it out! You won’t be disappointed.
5. Trapeze School- Yes. You did read that right! Trapeze school! Try out flying through the sky for a day with nothing to hold on to but a trusted partner. Your childhood dreams of running away to a circus could finally come true. Not only will you conquer fear but you can learn to trust in not only other people but yourself! Give it a try!
Don’t forget to document your fearless feats by using the hashtag #fearlesswithwhitney! And make sure you tune in to the Whitney Reynolds show Sundays at 10:30 am and Mondays at 6:30 pm! Have a great holiday weekend! Xx
Surviving a Hurricane, Cancer and Homelessness
It’s been another incredible week at the Whitney Reynold’s show! On our last show we spoke with some amazing individuals who taught us that you can be the change this world needs if you just step up and try! Don’t forget: If you missed the episode you can catch it again on Sundays at 10:30 AM.
Our first guest on our show Survivor is Jaspen Boothe. She's a woman who, throughout all adversity, has remained strong. She survived Hurricane Katerina along with a vicious bout with cancer. As the creator of The Final Salute she has dedicated her life to helping veterans such as herself to find proper housing and employment after service.
Survival expert and professional stunt person, Ky Furneaux, will be telling us all about her thrilling career of performing stunts and may even give us some useful survival tips! Ky has appeared in over 80 films and tv productions including: The Avengers, Thor, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Talk about girl power! This survivor found her passions after almost completely loosing her mobility due to an injury she sustained from a horrible car crash. After a year of intense physical therapy she was back up and moving better than ever. She decided nothing was going to keep her from doing what she loved.
For all of you Survivor fans Ethan Zohn will be joining us! This man was the winner of the Survivor: Africa season. He’s also been seen on Survivor: All-stars and The Amazing Race. Ethan was previously a professional American soccer player and used his prize money to cofound an incredible charity called Grassroot Soccer. This charity uses soccer to educate and mobilize communities in order to fight the spread of HIV. Not only did Ethan survive in the wilderness he is also a cancer survivor! His story is one you won’t want to miss.
See you this Monday for a powerful episode filled with amazing stories of survival and inspirational guests!
My Move To Weeknights
I am thrilled to announce we are moving to weeknights across Chicagoland! Starting April 6th our show is moving to Monday's at 6:30 PM CST on Lakeshore Public Television. (Comcast 239, RCN 4, Dish/Direct/AT&T 56).
This move comes with mixed emotions because my show has always played on the weekends. When we switched channels from NBC to PBS back in 2012 we became dedicated to tough topics. I decided to use our platform to shine light on subjects that sometimes get lost. Having a serious show air on Saturday afternoons was tough and we are extremely excited for our new night and time. The lineup on PBS that surrounds our show is amazing and we are thrilled to reach more viewers this season.
The switch to Monday nights did not happen overnight (No pun intended lol) in fact, it took some serious meetings and loyal viewers to make this change. I want to encourage you to have patience with your dreams yet work towards the end goal daily. Stepping out of your comfort zone is hard, but standing on this side of things, it is totally worth it.
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for believing in and watching our show. I want to thank Chicagoland by throwing a launch party! Tickets are free but there's limited space. Email tickets@thewhitneyreynoldsshow.com for a fun night of: show watching, food and drinks! Our friends from Action Booth will be taking pictures and my first magazine cover will be revealed. If you live in The Quad Cities (our 2nd market/ WQPT) you also are invited so RSVP & COME!
Remember to set your DVR before the party and get ready for a fabulous season of fresh topics!
Coming up this season: Veterans, Be The Change, Puppy Mills, Survivor, Fears and A Life Story: The Holocaust.
Excited to be back in your living rooms next month!
Xx -Whitney