Go Ask Ali

If you’re like Ali, you may be curious why all the buzz around Bitcoin. It kinda seems crazy, right, a rogue monetary system completely made up by some guy? But it hasn’t fizzled away. In fact, cryptocurrency seems to be only gaining validation and steam. So perhaps it’s time to understand it, even just a little bit. Crypto billionaire Mike Novogratz, a pioneer of the industry, presents Crypto 101. He explains what it is, why it got a bad name in the early days, how it works now and how it will most likely work in the future…and speaking of future…Mike says it’s called the Metaverse. Fasten your seatbelts! //

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) //

Links of Interest:

Losing Millions Due to Password Loss:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/technology/bitcoin-passwords-wallets-fortunes.html

Irene Dao:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/irenedao-nfts-causing-a-stir-on-crypto-twitter

5 Things to Know About 3-D NFTs:

https://smartmfg.io/5-things-to-know-about-3d-nfts/

The Constitution Dao:

https://www.theverge.com/22820563/constitution-meme-47-million-crypto-crowdfunding-blockchain-ethereum-constitution

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/18/constitutiondao-crypto-investors-lose-bid-to-buy-constitution-copy.html

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New moms want help. Most of them experience some combination of anxiety, depression, insecurity, isolation and exhaustion. New moms also want to know they’re not alone. So what do they do during the 3am feeding time? They scroll. Journalist and host of the podcast Under the Influence Jo Piazza was one of these new mommies. When she snapped out of her postpartum daze she realized Instagram was bombarding her with mommy “influencers” and they were all trying to sell her something. Mommy influencers are all over social media making all kinds of money, but it’s a tough grind, with no safety nets but lots of hate, and their kids may pay the highest price. Piazza joins Ali to share what her in-depth reporting has uncovered. As dark as it can be, she still has respect. //

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) //

Links of Interest:

Under the Influence With Jo Piazza: 

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-under-the-influence-with-76687187/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/under-the-influence-with-jo-piazza/id1544171101

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is it about romantic comedies that leave such a soft spot in people’s hearts? And if that’s truly the case, where the heck did they go? Ali and Variety magazine’s Jenelle Riley have a heart-to-heart on all the ins and outs of rom-coms like the significance of streaming services, the increased diversity (finally) and the impact of the MeToo movement on our beloved stories. Jenelle shares her surprising favorites!

Plus, Ali went to social media to ask YOU if you think rom-coms are dead and what rom-com you can watch over and over again. And, boy, did you answer. We got a very enthusiastic response. Unfortunately we could not include all of the wonderful comments in the episode, but the verdict: Rom-Coms are NOT dead! //

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) //

Links of Interest:

Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast Co-Hosted by Jenelle: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/variety-awards-circuit/id1536666553

Jenelle’s Play, “A Kind of Love Story”, (an homage to rom-coms) is available at:

https://www.stagerights.com/allshows/a-kind-of-love-story/

https://www.amazon.com/Kind-Love-Story-Jenelle-Riley/dp/194625939X

75 Best Rom-Coms Ever (According to Marie Claire)

https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g4017/best-rom-coms/

Why We Need Romantic Comedies More Than Ever at This Moment (People))

https://people.com/movies/do-we-need-romantic-comedies-more-than-ever-this-woman-argues-that-we-do/

A Genre Reborn: Inside the Evolution of the Rom-Com (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/29/entertainment/romantic-comedy-evolution-trnd/index.html

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Description:

Women out there: Do you know how your life is sure to change? Menopause is called “The Change” for a reason. It’s nothing to bury your head about. The secret to fighting helplessness or fear is empowerment and nothing empowers like knowledge. Sally Mueller, co-founder of Womaness.com, and Dr. Ekta Kapoor, Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and menopause expert, are pioneering the menopositivity movement through education, community support and products designed specifically to address the needs of women in perimenopause and menopause. They go through what to expect, how to prepare, the importance of education, treatments available, changing the message, and more. This is a must listen for women - and men - of all ages. The earlier you’re prepared, the better off the future will be. //

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) //

Links of Interest: //

Womaness.com

Womaness Facebook After Party Group

National Women’s Health Network

Early Menopause

Time Magazine

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Go Ask Ali will return with more new episodes later in January. 

Optimism is a way of life and a survival tool for Ali and her very good friend actor, writer and activist Michael J. Fox. For both, humor is key to being able to deal with life’s toughest times. Soon after Mike got married at 29 (and at the height of his superstardom), he was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's disease, which triggered an alcoholic response. But with the support of his wife actress Tracy Pollan he got sober and they eventually had four kids including twins. Mike calls himself a “realistic optimist”, meaning he sees things for what they are, but says the first thing he looks for in any situation is what’s funny about it. Mike and Ali compare notes on the importance of humor, optimism and hope, especially in today’s world and as we begin a new year. //

Also, to close out 2021 Ali posted a call-out on social media to find out what helps YOU stay optimistic and you jammed our phone line! Hear what keeps you going and maybe be inspired with new ways to let the positivity flow.

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) //

Links of Interest:

https://www.michaeljfox.org/

Books by Michael J. Fox -

No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality - https://www.amazon.com/Time-Like-Future-Considers-Mortality/dp/1250265614

Always Looking Up (The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist) - https://www.amazon.com/Always-Looking-Up-Adventures-Incurable/dp/1401310168/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=1401310168&psc=1

Lucky Man: A Memoir - https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Man-Michael-J-Fox/dp/0786888741/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_i=0786888741&psc=1

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking up is hard to do. We all know that. But what of this newfangled idea that it doesn’t have to be riddled with bitterness, resentment, suspicion, or anger? Crazy? Gwyneth Paltrow called it conscious uncoupling. Isabel Gillies says it’s just what she did to get the best result for herself, her kids and her future. It’s the modern family where four people might show up for that parent-teacher conference and exs are vacationing together. Isabel says the keys are radical acceptance, wanting what you have and loving your lemons, seeds and all. It can happen. //

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) //

Link of Interest:

Isabel Gillies' Book, Happens Every Day: An All-Too-True Story https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4907301-happens-every-day

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women’s rights and protections are in peril. Roe vs. Wade is hanging by a thread as the Supreme Court is set to pass judgment on the most direct threat to a woman’s right to choose in nearly 50 years. Nobody is more connected to this fight than Rebecca Traister, a feminist writer, commentator and activist who joins Ali to talk about feminism today. So many of us, women and men, are angry about reproductive rights - but also LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, labor protections, environmental protections, etc. but don’t know what to do or where to begin. Rebecca shares her expertise on how to fight for issues that matter to you, the importance of knowing the history, standing shoulder to shoulder, and what we can do to raise engaged kids - girls and boys - aware of inequalities around them.

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes)

Link of Interest:

Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ali’s on a mission to understand what’s up with this “cancel culture” thing and she has lots of questions: what the hell is it, where did it come from, is this a bigger social problem than we realize and perhaps most importantly, Is Cancel Culture Killing Comedy? Internet culture reporter Aja Romano tackles the social piece and then award-winning kickass comedienne Amy Schumer shares her point of view about cancel culture in the comedy world. They cover the growing pains of learning to be an ally, past mistakes, the best of what comedy offers people and why Amy is not afraid of being canceled when she gets on that stage.

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) //

Links of Interest:

Cancel culture, explained: https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/30/20879720/what-is-cancel-culture-explained-history-debate

What is cancel culture? How the concept has evolved: https://www.vox.com/22384308/cancel-culture-free-speech-accountability-debate 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“These are unprecedented times.” We’ve heard this repeatedly over the last 20 months. This is also, perhaps, the single thing we can agree on these days. BUT, what also seems to be in agreement by most experts and scientists is that while we are not necessarily “done” with the virus, we do seem to be emerging from our caves and finding a sense of new normalcy. (That said, at the time of this writing Covid cases are surging in several parts of Europe again and a new variant, Omicron, has emerged. Ta-da!) So now what? Ali talks with experts about the macro social factors (CNN’s Fareed Zakaria) and micro personal factors (psychologist Donna Fish) at play. Fareed shares what he thinks the next five years could look like in the US and what our top takeaway from the pandemic is as a country. Donna joins Ali to take a deeper look at the emotional and psychological challenges as we begin to socialize and function in public again. She gives helpful advice on how to handle “worry thoughts” and what she knows as a clinician to be true among all parents, no matter what side of the mask war they’re on.

**UPDATE: President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Act bill in to law on 11/15/21. A second bill is still in process.

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes)

Links of Interest:

Fareed Zakaria, Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World: https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Post-Pandemic-World-Fareed-Zakaria/dp/0393542130

Donna Fish: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/donna-fish-lcsw-r

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Franceso Clark was on top of the world the day he mistakenly dove into the shallow end of a pool. He was 24 and had just gotten a promotion at Harper’s Bazaar. In an instant he was paralyzed from the neck down and very close to death. Francesco shares his incredible story of what happened next, how the inspiring support of his family and friends kept him going, why the day Christopher Reeve died was a turning point, and the purpose he first found in developing skincare products for people with medical challenges. Clark’s Botanicals is now a multi-million dollar company and Francesco continues to defy the odds set that day in the pool. //

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email a voice memo right from your phone to [email protected]. (No dashes)

Links of Interest:

https://clarksbotanicals.com/

**SPECIAL OFFER from Clark's Botanicals! The first 100 listeners will receive the 3-step complexion pampering ‘healing gift set,’ ($62 value) and free shipping with any purchase from clarksbotanicals.com. Place the healing gift set in the cart and apply "AliRocks" to get it for free.

Francesco’s Memoir, Walking Papers: The Accident that Changed My Life, and the Business that Got Me Back on My Feet - https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Papers-Accident-Changed-Business/dp/1400167272

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.