THE ALLIE WAY - INTERVIEWS

The Michael J. Fox Foundation: Genetic Testing for Parkinson's Disease

7/16/2015

GUESTS: DR. TATIANA FOROUD & JON GILMAN
HOST: ALLIE MERRICK TOPIC: PARKINSON'S PROGRESSION MARKERS INITIATIVE

In the U.S., Parkinson’s disease, a chronic, degenerative brain disorder second only to Alzheimer’s in prevalence, affects more than 1 million people. Most researchers believe that a combination of genetics and environmental factors can influence risk and no cure has yet been found.

Dr. Tatiana Foroud, a molecular geneticist and Jon Gilman, who discovered he has a genetic mutation related to Parkinson’s, joined me to discuss the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research global clinical study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).

Good Times w/Good Graeff

7/7/2015

Join me as I talk with the twins (Brooke & Brit Graeff) about the latest & greatest on Good Graeff. In split-screen style, get to know a bit more about these talented, gorgeous girls in a 20 minute chat.
www.goodgraeff.com

Chef Fabio Viviani & America's Better Sandwich Contest

7/6/2015

"After my morning interview with Chef Fabio Viviani, I was no longer in the mood for yogurt and granola. 'Breakfast In Bread' in the form of a gourmet breakfast sandwich sounded much more appetizing. As an American staple, a sandwich can be both delicious and nutritious. According to Chef Fabio, you have to start with good bread and then build from there with 'better-for-you' ingredients. Cheers to getting creative with sandwich concepts!"
-Allie Merrick

From June 15 to August 23, 2015, sandwich lovers nationwide can compete in the America's Better Sandwich contest by visiting www.americasbettersandwich.com to submit up to two recipes in five sandwich categories: Open Face Artistry; Breakfast in Bread; Love, Healthfully; Creative Classics and Fueling Good -- all for a Grand Prize of $25,000. Entries will be judged on nutritional quality, perceived ease of preparation, unique and creative flavor profile. Winning sandwiches will be announced on National Sandwich Day, November 3.

For every eligible recipe submitted, and every consumer vote received during the online voting phase (September 21-October 18), a loaf of bread (up to 100,000 loaves) will be donated to Feeding America.

Marc Roberge, Madison Tevlin & Coca-Cola 'Reach Up' for the Special Olympics

6/22/2015

Founding partner of the Special Olympics, Coca-Cola, sponsors 'Reach Up' - the official anthem of the Special Olympics 2015 World Games in LA.

GUEST: MARC ROBERGE & MADISON TEVLIN
HOST: ALLIE MERRICK
TOPIC: SPECIAL OLYMPICS 2015 WORLD GAMES ANTHEM

This summer, Los Angeles will welcome 7,000 inspirational athletes from 177 different countries to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities, the World Games is the largest sports and humanitarian event on the globe. To celebrate, The Coca-Cola Company, Founding Partner of Special Olympics, has assembled a star-studded team to record a unified song for the 2015 World Games, titled “Reach Up.” The new song debuted Monday, June 15, and will be performed during the Opening Ceremonies at the World Games on July 25.

“Reach Up” features Marc Roberge of the rock band O.A.R., recording artist Cody Simpson and, accompanied by Breanna Bogucki, a singer and decorated Special Olympics athlete from Illinois who has Autism, and Madison Tevlin, a young Canadian woman with Down Syndrome who became a viral sensation earlier this year. Inspired by Special Olympics Unified Sports – a program that brings athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same team to compete – “Reach Up” embodies the values of optimism, acceptance and inclusion shared by Coca-Cola and Special Olympics.

Want to get involved online? Click HERE to watch the official video and then share it. Coca-Cola will donate one dollar to Special Olympics for each fan that shares the “Reach Up” music video on social media using the hashtag #ReachUp. Visit Coca-Cola online to get the whole story: www.coca-colacompany.com/reachup

"Some reach for the stars. Others reach out to lift up others, recognizing the every day heroes for the stars that they are. The 2015 Special Olympics Summer World Games are returning to the U.S. next month for the first time in sixteen years. Coca-Cola, founding partner of the Special Olympics, wanted to support the event in a major way, and assembled a star-studded group to record the official anthem for the games. Called “Reach Up,” the song features artists both with intellectual disabilities and without, including O.A.R. lead singer Marc Roberge and YouTube singing sensation Madison Tevlin. Cheers to beautiful voices that validate the spirit of the games."
- Allie Merrick

Donald Faison & Grilling Out

6/18/2015

GUEST: DONALD FAISON
HOST: ALLIE MERRICK
TOPIC: GRILLING OUT (WITH PORK)

'While I am very happily married now as an adult, there was a time when I was growing up that I had a HUGE crush on this guy - Donald Faison. I watched Clueless on repeat and tuned into Scrubs religiously when it hit the air. So, when I had the chance to speak with Donald, I confessed my former crush, and then we got into the meat of our conversation - PORK. As it turns out, he is just as incredibly carnivorous as I am. Faison recently partnered up with the National Pork Board and is inspiring greatness on the grill this summer with The Grill Crashers project. For recipes, tips & tricks, visit www.porkbeinspired.com/grillcrashers. And when you're grilling out next with port, take a 'grillfie' and post it online with #grillpork. Cheers to confessing girlhood crushes & getting great tips for the grill!" - Allie Merrick

Pro Cyclist Lucy Garner & Best-Selling Author/Dietitian Brooke Alpert

6/16/2015

GUESTS: LUCY GARNER (Pro-Cyclist) & Brooke Alpert (Dietitian)
HOST: ALLIE MERRICK
TOPIC: PROBIOTICS

Lucy won her first junior world title at a road world championship in Copenhagen, returning a year later to claim a second world title at Valkenburg, Netherlands. Joining the senior levels at the start of the 2013 season, she claimed her first professional victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Chongming Island in Shanghai, China.

Brooke Alpert, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., is a nationally recognized nutrition expert and author of The Sugar Detox: Lose Weight, Feel Great and Look Years Younger (Da Capo, June 2013) and Healthy Eating During Pregnancy (Kyle Books, 2011). Alpert received her Master of Science at New York University and completed her training at Mt. Sinai Hospital, in affiliation with NYU. A former tri-athlete, Alpert is currently focusing on how nutrition can fuel our daily race in life.

WOMEN TAKE THE WHEEL REDESIGNING THE 2016 CHEVY CAMARO

6/10/2015

Muscle cars have long been a staple of the American auto industry. But, can these classics be redesigned to have speed, horsepower and protect the environment at the same time?

Engineering students from across the country are taking on the challenge, going under the hood of a 2016 Chevy Camaro to find out.

Joining me from Seattle, the site of the Eco Car 3 Competition, is Alyse Waldhorn from Wayne State University. Young women are leading the charge with the leadership of the Wayne State University team made up of females – a rarity in the automotive world and engineering departments nationwide.

LISTEN IN: INTERVIEW W/ALYSE WALDHORN

Actress Megan Park (Secret Life of the American Teenager) on Living with RA

6/9/2015

GUEST: MEGAN PARK HOST: ALLIE MERRICK TOPIC: RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

"Now, most people know Megan Park as a young and famous TV & film actress, well known for your role on 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager'. That title, by the way, is a long one. As shortening words and phrases with acronyms has become popular for texting and talking in general, perhaps the show will be referred to as 'TSLAT'. But that wouldn’t be the only acronym relevant to Megan. RA for Rheumatoid Arthritis is something Megan Park deals with on a daily basis." - Allie Merrick

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans and 24 million people worldwide. It causes joint inflammation, pain, stiffness and swelling throughout the body, primarily in the hands and feet.

Television and film actress Megan Park, who has RA but has never publicly discussed it until now, talks about living with an incurable autoimmune disease and her involvement with Joint Decisions, an educational program designed to support and empower people living with RA.

Launched in 2014 by Janssen Biotech, Inc. in partnership with advocacy organization CreakyJoints, Joint Decisions provides resources to people living with RA to improve their physical and emotional wellness. Joint Decisions also encourages those with RA to have open, honest conversations with their healthcare team in order to determine the best way to manage their symptoms.

Park will serve as a panelist on a live Joint Decisions video chat on June 15 to discuss the importance of movement and nutrition with RA. She will share how she stays physically active with RA and the importance for those with RA to modify movements. Open to the public, this chat – titled “Unlocking Energy: Understanding the Important Role of Movement and Nutrition in Managing Your RA” – will take place on June 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. During the chat, registrants will see and hear Park describe her journey with RA and ask her questions live.

To learn more about Joint Decisions, visit www.CreakyJoints.org/JointDecisions