Anna Marie's Sunday Focus

There's a lot of damage to clean up after Nashville's recent deadly ice storm. Before you hire ANYONE to help you recover from the winter storm and ice damage, know that scammers are here NOW, knocking on doors, claiming they can help, repair, even file your insurance claims for you. Robyn Householder, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky lists the top scams, and tells you how to...

Financial Advisor Paris Jackson with Northwestern Mutual talks to Anna about paying for the repairs to your property caused by the recent Middle TN ice storm. She talks about where to find the money in your budget to build your savings or emergency fund - including how to "buckle down!"

Paris also gives ideas about ways to pay for repairs (since every repair doesn't have to be made immediately) and the deductibles involved, and wha...

In this episode, the guest is Dr. Joseph Sharpe, Chief Medical Officer at Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital. He talks about how to beat the winter blues.  He says it can be a serious issue in January and February, especially, here in Middle Tennessee with the short days, cloudy conditions, and isolation caused by weather.  He says regular sleep is vital, as well as exercise and healthful food.  Gettin...

Anna talks with Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Stephen Rich of Ascension Saint Thomas in Murfreesboro. 

The doctor discusses various weight loss options, including medication, Behavior changes and surgery. Dr Rich says obesity is a disease, not a character fault. Everyone is different and may need a different approach from someone else with the same illness. Hear more options, and why not to give up hope that you can get back to a heal...

Anna interviews Alan Pruitt, Tennessee State Advocate for the Middle Tennessee Area of Tops (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly). They talk about the power of starting SLOW with Weight Loss. Most people have started, and stopped, and started again, on various weight-loss plans, and lost (then gained back) hundreds of pounds. 
Alan discusses some things we're missing in sustaining weight loss: starting slow, making sustainable goals...

NASHVILLE AND MIDSTATE HOSPITALS NAMED TOP IN THE NATION*

U.S. News and World Report and Forbes have listed several local hospitals as cream of the crop!
For Maternity Care, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown (sometimes called “The Baby Hospital”, for delivering more babies than any other hospital in the state) has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of 2026’s &...

Anna Marie talks with Dawn Rutledge of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee about the organizations many activities.  They include:

• Northwest Xmas Tree1 – The YMCA of Middle Tennessee invites the community to join in spreading some joy and give a little extra support to families who need it this holiday season. Several YMCA locations are partnering with various organizations and encouraging others to join in holid...

Anna discusses the work of the Greater Nashville United Way. At United Way of Greater Nashville, their mission is to unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual and
family thrives.
So many people are struggling right now, and don't know where to start, to get help. Ace Timmermeier, the Director, Regional Community Impact, says United Way can be your first stop to find the resources you need. The...

As we turn the page on a new year, Paige Zulandt, Regional
Communications Manager with the American Red Cross of Tennessee asks
donors  to make an appointment to give lifesaving blood or platelets
now to help keep the blood supply strong during National Blood Donor
Month in January.
As a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for
blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to...

Anna talks with Salvation Army Area Commander Bill Mockabee, who says our financial support  helps them provide clothing, food, rent and utility help for families in crisis, a summer camp for kids, supportive housing including life navigation education, disaster services, the Annual Angel Tree program, and so much more.

You'll be surprised to hear how far-reaching those dollars given to the Salvation Army can be.   I...

Insurance is a Confusing topic. Health insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance, disability and long-term care insurance.. How do we get what we need, and where do we even start? Today's guest is Paris Jackson, Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual, and she's going to give you some simple, do-able financial things today, with a focus on Insurance. Be ready to take some notes if you can! 
Here's the link to get i...

Our tenth Mayor of Metro Nashville Davidson County joins us in this podcast. Mayor Freddie O'Connell updates us on the progress that's been made during the first two years of his term, including the "Choose How You Move" transportation program, which focuses on four key areas: sidewalks, signals, service, and safety. The initiative aims to make streets safer for everyone and includes upgrades like smart traffic signals, expanded pu...

Anna talks with a representative of Get Covered Tennessee, which offers free, unbiased, one-on-one assistance to help people understand their health care options and sign up for health insurance coverage. It's led by Family & Children’s Service that helps Tennesseans navigate their way through the confusion, and find the quality healthcare that fits their needs and their finances. Whether you're dealing with the Heal...

In this Podcast, Lieutenant Bill Miller shares some of the knowledge he's learned in his decades-long career with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. This includes keeping your child, and yourself, safe in vehicles. He also explains how to get your child safety seat installation inspected, or how to get the seat installed correctly, if you're not sure. Miller talks about the one demographic most likely to violate safety belt laws, and wh...

Anna talks with Brandon Dyce, President & CEO of the Pet Community Center in Nashville.   With so many animal shelters experiencing an emergency overflow of unwanted pets, Pet Community Center's mission is to work on PREVENTIVE care for pets, including low-cost spay and neuter, vet services, vaccines and more... but work on a sliding scale. You can get your pets vaccinated there, and pay probably less than y...

This podcast contains info to help you love life after 50 years of age.   Anna talks with Sallie Hussey, Chief Executive Officer of FiftyForward.
The non-profit organization supports, champions and enhances life for those 50 and older. FiftyForward offers Adult Day Services, Supportive Care Services, Lifelong Learning Centers, FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels, Care Teams, and numerous other services, assessments and ...

For most of our lives, there's been stigma and misinformation about women's pelvic floor disorders. It is common, but not NORMAL for a woman to experience leakage, pain and other issues. But if no one talks about it, it can't be treated. Dr. Lisa Jambusaria, MD, FACOG, is an urogynecologist with Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville and Murfreesboro and she's our guest today. She's board-certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Recons...