Vitamin OC

Your recommended dose of civics and civilization in Orange County, California, brought to you by politically and culturally active locals Joanna Weiss and Whitney Gomez

Vitamin OC is a society podcast hosted by Joanna Weiss and Whitney Gomez, with 44 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Joanna Weiss and Whitney Gomez hosts Vitamin OC, a society show with 44 episodes published.

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  Episode #44

  Ep 44: Recap of Season Two on Vitamin OC

  Sep 10, 202623 minS2

  Joanna Weiss and Whitney Gomez look back on Season 2 of Vitamin OC , revisiting conversations about journalism, political courage, immigration, public health, technology, volunteering, local elections, and the growing threat of political incivility. They reflect on guests including Jeff Perlman, Pastor Paul Capetz, Michael Moodian, and other community leaders who explored how national policies affect everyday life in Orange County. The episode also looks ahead to Season 3, with a focus on voter education, ballot propositions, local candidates, voting rights, and protecting free and fair elections. More than a season retrospective, this conversation is a call to stay informed, get involved, and help strengthen democracy in the months ahead. New York Times Autocracy Index (referenced in episode): https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/08/20/opinion/trump-election-interference-democracy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.AFE.VocJ.Lxt2zVRODBr4&smid=url-share Takeaways: Democracy depends on active participation, not just holding political opinions. Local volunteering and campaigns help build the civic skills needed to protect democracy nationally. Democratic erosion can happen gradually through changes to voting, courts, speech, data, and institutions. Political disagreement should not automatically destroy long-standing relationships or community ties. Public policies often affect vulnerable people most severely, especially in health care, immigration, and voting. Effective civic leaders often begin by noticing a problem and deciding to address it themselves. Independent journalism, reliable information, and digital security are essential parts of civic life. Community engagement can grow from a conversation or meet-and-greet into volunteering, canvassing, or donating. Voters should learn about both the candidates and the propositions on their ballots before November. Season 3 will focus on election education, voting rights, local candidates, and protecting free and fair elections. Follow us on Instagram @VitaminOCPodcast Watch us on YouTube @VitaminOCPodcast

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  Episode #43

  Ep 43 (Season 2): Reiki and Hypnosis Wellness Practitioner Kristen Perlmutter

  Jul 25, 202626 minS2

  Unlock the power of energy healing and subconscious change with Kristen Perlmutter, Reiki and Hypnosis Wellness Practitioner. If you’re curious about how Reiki and hypnotherapy can support anxiety, sleep, or emotional balance, this episode offers a clear and practical introduction to both practices. Kristen shares her journey from art history to energy healing, along with how these modalities show up in real life. You’ll learn what Reiki and hypnotherapy are, how sessions typically work, and why more people are exploring them as part of their wellness routines. Find Kristen on Instagram: @Kristenperlmutter Takeaways: Kristen explains how Reiki and hypnotherapy can create real shifts in emotional and physical well-being. She shares that personal experience with energy work was key to believing in its impact. The podcast emphasizes that hypnotherapy works by reaching the subconscious, where deeper patterns live. Kristen describes Reiki as a practice rooted in energy balance and subtle healing. The conversation highlights how her path from art history to wellness shaped her perspective as a healer. She explains that healing work often becomes more effective when people feel safe, open, and receptive. The episode touches on the chakra system and how it fits into her approach to energy healing. Kristen talks about protecting your own energy as an important part of being a practitioner. The podcast shows how holistic healing can complement everyday wellness routines. Overall, the episode presents Reiki and hypnotherapy as practical tools for support, balance, and personal growth. Keywords: #EnergyHealing #HolisticWellness #MindBodyBalance #ReikiHealing #Hypnotherapy #SubconsciousHealing #WellnessPodcast #SelfHealingJourney #AlternativeHealing #EmotionalBalance Follow us on Instagram @VitaminOCPodcast Watch us on YouTube @VitaminOCPodcast

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  Episode #42

  Ep 42 (Season 2): Newport Mesa Unified School District Elected Board Member Carol Crane (Area 3)

  Jul 18, 202637 minS2

  In this episode of Vitamin OC, Newport Mesa Unified School District Trustee Carol Crane shares how her path from immigrant and educator to community leader shapes her approach to local control, student safety, and public education. In this conversation, she talks about leading through COVID, responding to community concerns, expanding career technical education, and creating policies on issues like cell phones and e-bikes — all while keeping students at the center. Takeaways: Local control lets districts respond to real community needs instead of waiting on top-down mandates. Listening to parents and residents can directly shape school policy and build trust. Carol Crane’s background as a former educator and immigrant deeply informs her leadership style. COVID made school board leadership more visible, more difficult, and more politically charged. Carol sees diversity as a strength that helps schools build better programs for different students. Newport Mesa has expanded career technical education to give students more pathways beyond a four-year college track. The district’s cell phone policy was built from community concern about student focus and social interaction. The e-bike policy came from safety concerns and was designed with different needs in mind for younger and older students. Parents are most effective when they start by engaging directly with teachers, principals, and school sites. Carol’s approach to leadership is grounded in the idea that every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued. Keywords: #CarolCrane #NewportMesa #LocalControl #SchoolBoard #PublicEducation #OrangeCounty #CommunityLeadership #GrassrootsAdvocacy #StudentSafety #CellPhonePolicy #EBikeSafety #CareerTechnicalEducation #EducationPolicy #ParentAdvocacy #DistrictLeadership #StudentWellBeing #COVID19 #SchoolGovernance #Diversity #AchievementGap Follow us on Instagram @VitaminOCPodcast Watch us on YouTube @VitaminOCPodcast

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  Episode #41

  Ep 41 (Season 2): Ironman Triathlete, Board Volunteer, Community Philanthropist, and Former Professor Dr. Ellen Shockro

  Jul 11, 202623 minS2

  In this episode of Vitamin OC, Dr. Ellen Shockro shares her background as a swimmer, triathlete, academic, and community volunteer. The conversation covers her early days in the sport of triathlons, including competing in two Ironman events, participating in open water races over several decades, and helping standardize triathlon distances that later became part of the Olympics. She also discusses her work on boards and committees connected to women and girls, athletics, and education, along with her volunteer efforts in literacy and local service. The episode gives a clear look at Ellen's athletic career, professional background, and the different ways she has stayed involved in helping her local community and beyond. Ellen also offers her perspective on the current state of the world, and talks about staying optimistic about the future. She emphasizes the role of kindness and community in facing current challenges. Takeaways: Standardizing triathlon distances helped the sport gain wider recognition and eventually reach the Olympics. Ellen remains active in open-water swimming and triathlon well into later life. Consistent training and repetition play a major role in Ellen’s open-water swimming success. Board service can be a meaningful way to support education, athletics, and community organizations. The conversation includes examples of persistence, routine, and long-term commitment. Ellen approaches the future with optimism and a focus on practical action. Follow us on Instagram @VitaminOCPodcast Watch us on YouTube @VitaminOCPodcast

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  Episode #40

  Ep 40 (Season 2): Chief Empowerment Officer of "A Long Talk" Kyle Williams

  Jun 25, 202639 minS2

  This episode of Vitamin OC features an in-depth conversation with Kyle Williams, founder of A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth, about how education, empathy, and practical skills can help people interrupt racism and ignorance in everyday life. Kyle explains how his 21-day “activation experience” is designed not just to inform participants, but to move them toward action by giving them tools to challenge harmful comments and behaviors in real time. The discussion traces the origin of A Long Talk back to a difficult family and college athletics incident in 2020, then expands into a broader exploration of white supremacy, accountability, and why ordinary people can make a difference by becoming more curious, more courageous, and more willing to speak up. It’s a direct, thought-provoking episode about turning awareness into meaningful change and building stronger communities through active engagement. Recommended video to learn about racism in the United States: "The History of Race in America" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEtyPIO6P1E A Long Talk's Civil Rights Pilgrimage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPppkiF2w-Q Takeaways A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth is a 21-day "activation experience" built on the formula that information plus empathy equals action. The organization teaches practical skills that empower everyday people to interrupt racist, sexist, and homophobic comments in real time through calm, curious questioning rather than confrontation. Kyle distinguishes between three types of ignorance — innocent, negligent, and willful — and argues that most people fall into the first category, meaning education, not shame, is the right tool for change. The movement began when Kyle made a single phone call to his son's college basketball coach after a racist incident, showing that one uncomfortable conversation can spark large-scale change. Being "non-racist" is not enough; Kyle challenges people to develop "anti-racist muscles" — active skills and habits — rather than simply avoiding harmful behavior. The shift in the political landscape after the 2024 election dried up institutional funding, but Kyle views this as a useful filter that separates genuinely committed partners from fair-weather ones. When college athletics doors narrowed, Kyle pivoted to faith communities, taking a civil rights pilgrimage with 50 Methodist congregants to Atlanta, Selma, and Montgomery. Kyle's core mindset shift for building better relationships across differences is to go from "furious to curious" — becoming an interviewer rather than a debater when confronted with views you oppose. A Long Talk for All sessions are offered free of charge at least twice a month at alongtalk.com, open to anyone in the world regardless of institutional affiliation. Kyle believes the current moment's blatant visibility of white supremacy is, paradoxically, a source of hope — what is unmasked is far easier to fight than what is hidden. Keywords #ALongTalk #UncomfortableThuth #AntiRacismActivation #VitaminOC #CPRProtocol #InterruptIgnorance #FuriousToCurious #EducateToEndHate #AntiRacism #CivicEngagement #RacialJustice #CommunityActivism #KyleWilliams #BeAnUpstander #NotJustNonRacist #ActivationExperience #OrangeCountyPodcast #CivicsAndCivilization #SocialJusticeEducation #BeTheInterrupter #TrumpRacism #WhiteSupremacy #White Nationalism Follow us on Instagram @VitaminOCPodcast Watch us on YouTube @VitaminOCPodcast

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