Advertise on podcast: Perspectives with Condace Pressley

There are some stories that entertain and then there are stories that ask something of us. What happens when faith is tested by unimaginable loss? When identity is reshaped by survival? And when two communities each marked by deep historical pain find connection in the most unexpected way? Today, we’re talking about a novel that lives in those questions. The Last Dekrepitzer by Howard Langer. This is a story about loss—but also about what we rebuild through faith, through love, through music, and through one another. The Last Dekrepitzer reminds us that even across cultures, histories, and unimaginable pain, there is still the possibility of connection and maybe even healing.

Think back for a moment to middle school that in-between space where you’re trying to figure out who you are, where you belong, and why it can sometimes feel like everyone else got a guidebook you didn’t. For many of us, those feelings don’t just disappear—they grow up with us. My guest has taken those tender, awkward, and deeply human moments and turned them into something both funny and profoundly relatable. Sara Amini is an actress, voice artist, and now author of Mixed Feelings, a semi-autobiographical graphic memoir that explores identity, friendship, family, and what it means to live between cultures—and sometimes between worlds. And while this story is told through the eyes of a young girl, its message speaks to all of us.

You know, some of the most powerful leadership training in this country didn’t happen in a boardroom… it happened in the Black church. From leading choirs to organizing communities, from speaking in front of a congregation to learning how to bring people together — generations of leaders have been shaped in those spaces, often long before they ever held a formal title. Well, my guest today has written a fascinating new book that explores exactly that idea. It’s called Call and Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church, and it looks at how culture, faith, and community have quietly prepared so many people to lead in every area of life. I’m joined now by author and leadership expert L. Michelle Smith.

American higher education is at a crossroads. Colleges and universities are facing enormous pressures from shifting demographics and rising costs to political scrutiny, artificial intelligence, and questions about the real value of a degree. So what happens next? My guest today says the moment we’re in is not just a crisis it’s an opportunity. Arthur Levine, president of Brandeis University and coauthor of the new book From Upheaval to Action: What Works in Changing Higher Ed, has spent years studying how colleges are responding to one of the most significant transformations in their history. And today, we’re talking about what’s changing, what’s working and what the future of higher education may look like.

Today on Perspectives, we’re exploring a quiet but profound shift happening in American life. Nearly one in four U.S. adults — more than 50 million people — do not have children. Yet our financial systems, estate laws, and even our expectations around aging still assume that adult children will eventually step in to help make decisions or provide care. So what happens when that assumption doesn’t exist? My guest today, Dr. Jay Zigmont, says millions of Americans are facing what he calls a “fiduciary void” — a growing gap between how people actually live and how financial and legal systems are designed. Dr. Zigmont is a Certified Financial Planner, TEDx speaker, and founder of Childfree Wealth® and Childfree Trust®, where he studies how childfree adults are redefining legacy, caregiving, and long-term planning.

Dementia is a word that touches more families than many of us realize. Behind the diagnosis are real people — parents, spouses, friends — and caregivers trying to navigate an often overwhelming journey. Next week in Roswell, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity and purpose for older adults is bringing together national experts and local leaders for an important conversation about care, innovation, and compassion. It’s called the Take On Dementia Symposium, hosted by the nonprofit Second Wind Dreams. Joining me today is the organization's director of development Anna Wyatt.

March is National Nutrition Month, and with spring break right around the corner, many of us are thinking about resetting our routines—maybe getting a little more rest, getting outside more, and hopefully making healthier choices when it comes to what we eat. But here’s a statistic that may surprise you. According to the UnitedHealth Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Report, only 7.4 percent of adults report eating the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. That means the vast majority of us know healthy eating matters… but putting it into practice can be a challenge. Poor nutrition is linked to serious health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, yet many people simply aren’t sure where to begin or how to make sustainable changes. Joining me today is Courtney Schauder, Health Engagement Consultant with UnitedHealthcare of Georgia. She works with individuals and communities to help people understand the role nutrition plays in long-term health and to make healthier eating feel practical and achievable.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “your health is your wealth.” But for many people in the Black community, achieving and maintaining good health can come with unique challenges. From higher rates of chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, to disparities in access to care and preventative screenings, the reality is that health outcomes are not always equal. That’s why conversations around education, prevention, and advocacy are so important. Today we’re talking about an organization working to close those gaps and empower people to take charge of their wellbeing. Black Health Matters has been traveling the country bringing together medical experts, wellness advocates, and community leaders to focus on the health issues that disproportionately impact African Americans. Joining me today is Rosalyn Young Daniels, creator of the Black Health Matters initiative and is helping lead these important conversations about awareness, prevention, and healthier living.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Perspectives highlights a powerful gathering of women leaders working to uplift and empower communities across DeKalb County. Host Condace Pressley sits down with Carla Morrison, CEO of Chit Chat Communications and producer of the 15th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration; wellness expert Rev. Theresa Waters-Dunston; and Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks. Together they discuss the inspiration behind this year’s theme, “Celebrating Women of Color… DeKalb Women Speak: An Inclusive Sisterhood,” and the importance of creating spaces where women can connect, support one another, and lead with purpose. The conversation explores leadership, wellness, public service, and the power of sisterhood in strengthening communities.

It is a fund raising event and tons of fun for Atlanta and the Georgia State University Community. Go Dancing with the Panthers on Monday, March 2, 2026, 6:30pm at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The event will bring together the schools most beloved faculty, staff, alumni, students and athletic leaders for a dazzling dance competition. There are even local celebrities and community leaders acting as judges. We go in depth on why this event matters and who will benefit with the first lady of Georgia State University, Bridget Blake.

On the program today, an introduction to a new author. This is a gripping story about secrets, loyalty and consequences. Lori Miller Kase joins Perspectives to discuss her debut novel, The Accident. It is a psychological thriller set in a seemingly quiet Connecticut town. The story unravels after a popular high school football player is killed in a hit and run accident. What follows is a suspenseful "whodunit" that delves deep into themes of family dynamics, teen love, loyalty, guilt, identity, the law, and the line between right and wrong. Kase is a creative writing graduate of Wesleyan and former reporter-trainee at The New York Times. This interview first aired in Jan '26.

The Black Health Matters Expo and Summit returns to Atlanta on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The event moves this year to Atlanta's Friendship Baptist Church. It is a day of health education, free screenings, movement and connection. Rosalyn Young Daniels, the expo's founder and CEO joins Perspectives to talk about what attendees can expect and experience.

Few artistic institutions carry the weight of history, excellence, and cultural truth quite like the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. For more than six decades, Ailey has told our stories—stories of struggle and triumph, sorrow and joy—through movement that speaks when words fall short. Today, I’m joined by a woman who understands that legacy not just as a scholar and leader, but as a steward of its future. Alicia Graf Mack is a celebrated dancer, educator, and now one of the guiding voices helping shape the next chapter of Ailey—where tradition meets innovation, and where new generations see themselves reflected on the world’s greatest stages. And the Super Bowl is today. We talk with former GM, analyst, player and author - Frank Lombardi about his book Football Done Right.

If you made a New Year’s resolution to eat better, feel better, or take better care of yourself—and you’ve already slipped—you’re not alone. In fact, January 9th has earned the nickname “Quitter’s Day,” when many people quietly give up on the goals they set just days earlier. But what if the problem isn’t discipline—what if it’s trying to change everything at once? My guest today believes better health doesn’t require perfection, privilege, or a PhD in nutrition. It starts with intention, access, and small daily habits that add up over time. Leslie Zinn is the founder and CEO of Arden’s Garden, a second-generation, woman-owned Atlanta company started more than 30 years ago by her late mother, Arden Zinn. What began with a single juicer has grown into 19 brick-and-mortar locations—many in food deserts—and a growing national footprint. Leslie is passionate about clean eating, functional nutrition, and reminding us that food is more than fuel—it’s information for the body. And she says one of the simplest tools for reclaiming our health might already be sitting on our kitchen counter.

Last week, the American Cancer Society released its annual Cancer Statistics Report—and there’s some news that truly matters for families everywhere. For the first time, the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined has reached 70 percent. At the same time, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in this country, with more than two million new diagnoses expected this year. Joining us now is Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, Senior Vice President of Cancer Treatment Support at the American Cancer Society, to help us understand what this progress means, where challenges remain, and how patients and families can get support today.