Bernard interviews Ted Wolfson of Team Ultimate, a nationally competitive professional paintball team. Ted's paintball team started out as a youth group for local students and has since evolved into one of the top-raked competitive paintball teams in the America. Although the team began as a Christian youth group, it is not exclusive to Christian youth nor is it exclusively male. While wishing to compete at the highest levels, Ted says, "Our goal is to help the kids grow into young adults so that they can become positive examples within society."

Are you still interested in acupuncture? If so, please join me on Tuesday, June 19, to hear my interview with the fascinating practitioner of Eastern medicine, Deborah Waddell. Ms. Waddell is the Director of Skylands Acupuncture & Wellness Center in Long Valley, New Jersey. Her center practices acupuncture, therapeutic massage therapy and holistic food counseling. To learn more about her practice, please visit http://www.skylandsacupuncture.com.

Bernards Guest is Monteen McCord, of Hawk Talk, Inc Monteen's passion is for birds of prey: raptors! She volunteers much of her personal time caring for orphaned and injured migratory birds, and specializes in raptors. Monteen rehabilitates and sends back to the wild those birds that she can and she uses the non-releasable birds for educational programs and lectures. She is passionate about raptors and the important role they have to play in our environment. Monteen is known as the "Hawk Lady" for obvious reasons! Don't miss this entertaining and interesting interview.

 Monteen's passion is for birds of prey: raptors! She volunteers much of her personal time caring for orphaned and injured migratory birds, and specializes in raptors. Monteen rehabilitates and sends back to the wild those birds that she can and she uses the non-releasable birds for educational programs and lectures. She is passionate about raptors and the important role they have to play in our environment. Monteen is known as the "Hawk Lady" for obvious reasons! Don't miss this entertaining and interesting interview.

Our guest is Fred Thompson, food writer, food stylist, culinary developer, and author of Barbeque Nation. Mr. Thompson has taken his passion for grilling on the road, traveling around America with a mission: to compile the very best backyard recipes. His book includes 350 diverse recipes for treats like "Joe's Corn on the Cob", "Mohammed's Flank Steak with North African Marinade", and everything in-between. I hope you will tune in for what promises to be mouth-watering interview.

The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs

 

Diabetes is a life-threatening disease reaching epidemic levels around the world.  Over 20 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and in recent years, because of terrible eating habits, a surprising number of our nationâs young children are being diagnosed with it.  Many people suffering with diabetes develop complications such as heart disease, blindness, amputations, and nerve system damage.  Their risk of premature death is twice that of people without the disease.

Neal Barnard, M.D. is one of Americaâs leading advocates for good nutrition.  With his colleagues at University of Toronto and George Washington University, he recently completed a diabetes study funded by the National Institutes of Health.  The study found his diet plan controlled blood sugar three times more effectively than the standard diabetes diet promoted by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).  The results of the study were published in the August 2006 issue of Diabetes Care, the journal of the ADA. 

Dr. Barnardâs approach is a low-fat, vegan diet that focuses on vegetables, legumes, grains and fruits, and omits animal products and added vegetable oils.  It also favors foods with a low-glycemic index, such as pasta, that have less effect on blood sugar.  It is easier to follow than the standard ADA diet because it does not require counting calories, limiting carbs, or controlling portion size.

Following Dr. Barnardâs diet allows those with diabetes to cut back on their medications, if not eliminate them completely.  It can even reverse diabetes by removing the fats in the body that prevent insulin from doing its job.  Additionally, the diet results in lower cholesterol and blood pressure, faster weight loss, and increased energy. 

Diabetes does not have to be a condition that you live with, destined to worsen over time.  With the right diet, the signs and symptoms of diabetes can actually be reversed.  Dr. Barnardâs book outlines a simple program that can have life changing effects for diabetes sufferers.

Dr. Barnard will be in Atlanta February 20, 2007 and will be available for interviews. 

A press kit and a copy of his book are available upon request. 

You can also visit Dr. Barnardâs website at www.nealbarnard.org. 

To schedule and interview or for more information, please call 404-252-4587.

James Kautz will be my guest on Following Your Passions this Tuesday, March 20th at 8 p.m. He is a 2006 Book of the Year finalist for the book Footprints Across the South: Bartram's Trail Revisited. This book guides you from the heart of Charleston, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. James Kautz travels five years along the path of William Bartram, a botanist from Philadelphia who explored the American Southeast in the 1770's. He compares the conditions at the time of the nation's founding with the current social and natural environment of today. If you wish to find more information about James Kautz's new book, please visit: http://www.kennesaw.edu/ksupress/bartramstrail.shtml

Ever wanted to cuddle a baby panda? My next guest does all the time!

Join me on Tuesday, February 27th at 8 p.m. as I interview Dr. Rebecca Snyder, curator of Giant Panda Research Management at the Atlanta Zoo. Dr. Snyder is passionate about giant panda bears! As a Georgia Tech doctoral student, Snyder spent two years studying giant pandas in China. In 1997, she was introduced to Lun Lun and Yang Yang, two giant panda infants, with whom, over the next ten years, she would develop a close relationship. Brought to the Atlanta Zoo on loan, these young cubs grew up together to become mature adults. Snyder and other researchers at the zoo had hoped that the two bears would eventually mate, but after two unsuccessful breeding seasons, the scientists took matters into their own hands. In April of 2006, Lun Lun was successfully artificially inseminated, and Atlanta waited with anticipation through Lun Lun's exciting pregnancy. This past September, Atlanta proudly became the birthplace of Mei Lan, one of the very few giant pandas born into captivity on American soil. Dr. Snyder now researches the close relationship between giant panda mothers and their cubs.

Join us for what should be a "warm and cuddly" conversation. If you would like to learn more about the pandas or Zoo Atlanta, please visit:

www.zooatlanta.org <http://www.zooatlanta.org> Those in the Sandy Springs area can listen to the radio station at 1620 AM; otherwise, the best way to listen to the program is to go online to www.radiosandysprings.com <http://www.radiosandysprings.com/>. Each week I look forward to sharing with you individuals who have found a passion in their lives. If you know of someone who has a passion in life and would make an interesting guest on the show, I welcome your suggestions.Incidentally, I have just returned from a most enjoyable weekend at the South Carolina Book Festival. If you would like to learn more about my passion, please visit my website at www.bethanyadventures.com <http://www.bethanyadventures.com>. Thank you for your continued support of Following Your Passions.

Join me for a strumming good time on Tuesday, March 6th at 8 p.m. as I

interview Ralph Luttrell, founder of Luttrell Guitars. Mr. Luttrell, a

founding member of the 1970's Atlanta-based bluegrass band, Possum Trot, now follows his passion not by playing resonator guitars, but by handcrafting and restoring them in his Sandy Springs shop. Luttrell has also passed his passion for music down to his daughter, Heather Luttrell, also an Atlanta-based musician.

Then on Tuesday, March 13th, listen in as I interview Ms. Jacqueline Woodson, an accomplished author of picture, children's and young adult books, as well being involved in the creation of Miracle's Boys, the T.V. miniseries. Ms. Woodson's passion for writing is limitless. After being published, awarded many times over, and printed in languages like Tagalog, Turkish, and Mandarin Chinese, Woodson answers the question "Do you think you'll ever stop writing?" with "When

I stop breathing."

Those in the Sandy Springs area can listen to the radio station at 1620 AM; otherwise, the best way to listen to the program is to go online to www.radiosandysprings.com <http://www.radiosandysprings.com/>. Each week I look forward to sharing with you individuals who have found a passion in their lives. If you know of someone who has a passion in life and would make an interesting guest on the show, I welcome your suggestions.If you would like to learn more about my passion, please visit my website at www.bethanyadventures.com <http://www.bethanyadventures.com>.

http://www.5seasonsbrewing.com/index.html

12/26/06 - Bernard Kearse with guests on about passions of scouting

1/9/07 - Bernard Kearse with guest Keith Phillips

1/16/07 - Bernard Kearse with Mandy Branton, director of therapeutic riding at Chastain Horse park, "Hippotherapy"

The 17th annual Lights of Life opened Monday, Nov. 20 and continues through Dec. 31. In the past, the Lights of Life has attracted up to one million people. This year, the Lights of Life will be similar to previous shows with hundreds of displays and animations.

The Lights of Life will be on display daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Santa will be available for photos each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, however donations of $5 per car and $10 per bus, are strongly encouraged. A CD will also be distributed free of charge to visitors, featuring musical selections from area high schools choral and instrumental groups, as well as local professional groups.

On Nov. 20 which was the Opening Night of the 2006 Lights of Life, Andy Freeman of Smyrna, Ga., was the lucky contestant from the Atlanta Journal Constitutionâs online contest which ran from Nov. 1-8 who won the opportunity to âflip the switchâ that lit up Barclay Circle for the 2006 season. The lighting festivities began at 6 p.m. at the Tree House on campus. Life University students sold hot dogs, chips, coffee, hot chocolate and hot cider; and afforded children a variety of activities to participate in. Santa made a special appearance during the event, allowing children the opportunity to submit their wish lists early and have pictures taken with him.

The Lights of Life is made possible by Win Williams, owner of Holiday Lights in Atlanta, and is sponsored by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Directions to the campus can be found at www.life.edu.

10/17/06 - Bernard Kearse W/ Dr. Ann Kulze, nationally recognized expert and motivational speaker in the areas of nutrition, healthy lifestyles and disease prevention

This week I will have as my guest Boake Moore of Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee (www.missiongrounds.com). Boake is one of the founders of mission grounds, a coffee company which sells Fair Trade Coffee from impoverished regions in order to benefit the most innocent victims of poverty-children. Since the organization is a non-profit corporation, all profits fo directly to help childrenâs missions in countries such as Costa Rica, Venesuela, and Africa. Mission Grounds Coffee-called the âCoffee with a Divine Purposeâ because of the missionary work funded by the product-can be bought through their website, at one of many churches in a nationwide network, and at nine Kroger grocery stores in the metro Atlanta area.

On Tuesday, August 29 I am pleased to have Marcia Bansley be my guest on the show. Marcia is the Executive Director of Trees Atlanta (www.treesatlanta.org).  Trees Atlanta, founded over 19 years ago, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the urban forests of the metro Atlanta area. Though metro Atlanta has been recognized by the Forest Service as âThe most heavily forested area in the countryâ, the cityâs astounding growth has been pushing out many of the trees for which the âGreen Cityâ is known. Trees Atlanta has been at the forefront of preserving and expanding the number and vitality of trees in the city for many years with Marcia at the helm since 1985. Before becoming the Executive Director for Trees Atlanta, Marcia had worked for SunTrust Bank and had been a law clerk for the Enviornmental Protection Agency. She has also served as an advisor on urban forests to the U.S secretary of Agriculture, been a co-founder of the Alliance for Community Trees, and won numerous prestigious awards for her untiring work. Her passion for the value of urban forests has had a visible impact on the green city she loves.

This week's guest is  Jennifer Arnold the Founder and Executive Director of Canine Assistants (www.canineassistants.org <http://www.canineassistants.org>), a non-profit organization based in Alpharetta that trains and provides service dogs to children and adults with physical disabilities or special needs. Jennifer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while in high school and was in a wheelchair for over two years. Jennifer's father knew of an organization in California that provided service dogs to disabled individuals and decided to found a similar group in Georgia to help his daughter and others like her. Tragically, he was killed by a drunk driver in 1980. Jennifer and her mother struggled ten years until they finally realized their dream of training and providing service dogs to others. Listen as she shares her passion for bringing hope to others through the work of Canine Assistants.

Marshall Goldman is Jon's business partner and has served as Consultant of Product Innovation and Marketing for Wineminer, LLC since January, 2004. Goldman has been a serious wine consumer for over 20 years and is an amateur chef at home. It is this love of wine and food that led Goldman and Holland to discover their mutual passion and desire to share wine with others. In early 2004, Goldman joined Wineminer, LLC and is responsible for the content development of WinesandRecipes.com internet and kiosk applications. Prior to the position with Wineminer, LLC, Goldman worked for a communications company for 21 years.

Bruce Roth is a graduate of Georgia Tech, holds a Master of Science in Financial Services, and is a member of Mensa. Bruce is passionate about international relations, and particularly the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.  He has written a book on the subject entitled No Time to Kill. The book has been recognized by organizations, religious leaders and scholars around the world, including the Nuclear Policy Research Institute, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Pope John Paul II, and Robert O'Neill, Professor of the History of War, All Souls College, University of Oxford , and former Chairman of the Council, International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Bruce will be joined by Michael Echemendia, who also has a passion for international relations. Michael graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wofford College and has a Master's degree in International Security Studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is also a recent graduate of the Master of Theological Studies program at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, where he focused his study on the use of martyrdom by religious and secular terrorist groups. His passion is to facilitate discussions of international relations by including religious considerations. Michael will pursue his passion further as a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh.

John Schroeder lives in Atlanta and received his MBA from Georgia Tech.  In addition to his interest in business, he has a passion for the game of poker.  In his recently published book, Beating the Odds: Poker Strategies for Leading Projects and Winning at Work, John explores business leadership techniques through the use of poker strategies.  He outlines seven strategies that are critical to success in business and poker.  He also reminds his readers that business, like poker, is a game of people.  View Johnâs book at

http://www.beating-the-odds.com.

Atlanta Koi Club (www.atlantakoiclub.com) members, David Boyd (president) and David Pugh will join us to speak about their passion for Koi.  The nonprofit organization began as a group of 20 individuals in 1998 and has grown to over 190 members today.  Mr. Pugh and Mr. Boyd will share with us how their own passion for this beautiful fish began and how they share it with others through the work of the Atlanta Koi Club.  They will also provide interesting facts about the origin of Koi breeding in Japan and the factors that have led to its increase in popularity around the world.  

Jason Freeman (www.jasonfreeman.net) is an assistant professor of music at Georgia Tech.  A composer and media artist, Jason incorporates music and technology to enable people, even those without musical training, to have a creative music experience of their own.  One of his most recent creations is the iTunes Signature Maker, a free software program that creates a musical collage of the favorite songs in an individualâs iTunes player.  Jasonâs media works have been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, National Public Radioâs All Things Considered and Billboard.  His composition, Glimmer, commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra in 2004, was recently performed at the Hamabada Art Center in Jerusalem. 

the revolutionary effects of paper on the world?  Cindy Bowden has.  She is

the director of the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum at Georgia Tech

(www.ipst.gatech.edu/amp/index.html).  The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum is an

internationally renowned resource on the history of paper and paper technology.  Listen

as she shares her passion for paper, including some of the highlights in paper history and

how the art of papermaking continues today.  Ms. Bowden will also provide a sneak

peek of the museumâs upcoming exhibit by nationally recognized paper artist, Beck

Whitehead, which opens on March 23, 2006.

Sara Robinson is a Sandy Springs resident with a variety of passions.  She has over two decades of experience in theater productions, film, radio and television and teaching.  A native of Chattanooga, Sara earned her BA in philosophy at Agnes Scott.  She then moved to Texas, where she completed her MED at the University of Houston.  Sara returned to the Atlanta area in 2000 and since that time has intensively pursued her passion for playwriting.  She has completed four plays in the past five years.  She will share with us her passion for playwriting and the important themes she presents in her works.  She will also discuss her most recent production, Refuge, which debuted on March 2, 2006 at the Actors Express Theatre in the King Plough Arts Center.