Close Up Radio
Close Up Radio with veteran award-winning broadcast TV and radio hosts/media personalities Jim Masters and Doug Llewelyn is an exciting, informative, entertaini
Listen to latest episode
Follow Our Podcast
Recent Episodes
Close Up Radio Spotlights Talent Management Consultant Angela O’Dorisio of O’Dorisio Consulting
Arvada, CO - Angela O’Dorisio is setting a new standard in people development and leadership for organizations navigating the complex landscape of technology, human capital, and AI integration. With over 12 years of experience in the software and high-tech sectors, as well as a robust background in HR across diverse company sizes, O’Dorisio is leveraging her expertise to help organizations and individuals adapt, thrive, and retain their uniquely human skills in an era of rapid change.O’Dorisio’s professional journey is rooted in a passion for working with people. Originally on a pre-med track in college, she shifted her focus after realizing her strengths and interests lay in human connection and development rather than medicine. Her early career in higher education afforded her valuable experience in student affairs, but as the sector became increasingly commercialized, she transitioned into the business world. O’Dorisio’s initial roles in training and sales management at a travel company laid the groundwork for her business acumen, particularly in understanding organizational revenue generation and customer relationships.Her career advanced at major consumer companies such as Staples and Bose, where she continued to bridge leadership and people development with her hands-on sales expertise. A move to PTC, a manufacturing software company, introduced her to the high-tech industry, where she found an unrivaled environment of innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking talent.“The pace and intelligence in the tech sector is astonishing. It’s the intersection where technology meets humanity—and it’s more critical than ever that we preserve and grow what makes us uniquely human,” explains O’Dorisio. “Especially now, as AI becomes an integral part of the workplace, the need for skills like emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and collaboration has never been clearer.”In her current endeavor, O’Dorisio is leading AI initiatives for a European-based tech organization on a three-year journey. Her focus extends beyond technical training to include strategic up skilling across all levels of the business. This means helping teams understand the limitations and capabilities of AI, encouraging cross-functional collaboration, and supporting employees through the evolving landscape of change management.“We’re working hard to equip people with the literacy and confidence to use AI as a partner in the workplace—not just as another tool,” says O’Dorisio. “There are legitimate concerns about job displacement and the ethical use of AI, but with thoughtful planning and investment in our talent, we are helping team members build new skills and carve out what is distinctly human in their roles.”O’Dorisio’s commitment to holistic development is evident in O’Dorisio Consulting, which she has nurtured through referrals for the past seven years. Her ideal clients range from small and medium-sized businesses seeking strategic HR guidance to individuals at career crossroads in need of clarity and direction. Her approach is grounded in possibility and outcomes, inviting clients to envision positive futures and navigate challenges with resilience, rather than focusing solely on problems.“I always start by asking clients what is possible,” she shares. “When people can imagine a positive outcome, they’re naturally more creative and solution-oriented. It’s about providing clarity in uncertain times—helping people retain autonomy and purpose, even amidst volatility.”A notable project in her consulting portfolio involved working with a 120-person consultancy looking to align its leadership and retain top talent. O’Dorisio facilitated foundational changes in competency modeling and career paths, ensuring that all team members could envision a future with the organization—regardless of its growth trajectory.Angela O’Dorisio is a strong advocate for the resurgence of liberal arts and critical thinking in technical fields, inspired by recent transformations in leading computer science programs. She believes that as AI evolves, the demand for human-centric skills will only increase, and she encourages organizations to invest in up skilling that goes beyond technical abilities.Looking ahead, O’Dorisio plans to expand O’Dorisio Consulting full-time, with aspirations of international living and reconnecting with her Italian heritage. Learning and studying multiple languages and deeply committed to cross-cultural understanding, she brings a global perspective to her work with organizations and individuals.“Technology will keep advancing, but it won’t replace our capacity for empathy, judgment, and innovation,” she explains. “My goal is to help organizations and people build those strengths for the future—whatever it brings.”About O’Dorisio Consulting:O’Dorisio Consulting provides tailored leadership development, strategic HR solutions, and coaching services for organizations and individuals preparing for the future of work. With a people-first philosophy and expertise in technology integration, O’Dorisio Consulting supports clients in building skills, clarity, and confidence in a rapidly evolving business landscape.For more information about Angela O’Dorisio and O’Dorisio Consulting, please visit https://www.aodoconsulting.com/
Close Up Radio Spotlights Noted Author, Investigative Reporter, and Lawyer Charlotte Dennett
Burlington, VT -- Charlotte Dennett is a woman who has led more than one career, but there is an underlaying thread to all of them: justice for the victimized. She has been both celebrated and censored as an investigative journalist and author and has seen medical malpractice cases through to handsome compensation as an attorney. Her passion for justice was recognized in her early 20s when she began to question what happened to her father back in Beirut, where she was born, when he was stationed there as an intelligence officer and died in a mysterious plane crash following a top secret mission to Saudi Arabia. She was just 6 weeks old when he died.When the civil war broke out in Lebanon in 1975, it brought things to light that made young Charlotte, then a journalist, to return to safety to the United States. It also triggered her inquisitive mind to learn more about the CIA, unjust actions by moneyed public figures, and what she calls genocide over oil. These topics have stayed with her lifelong, and also engendered many of her published works, as well as the desire to become an attorney and help even the score.“I chose law because of experiences in my work as a journalist that made me conscious of inequalities in the world and how law can address them. My accomplishments are all overlapping concerns related to injustice.”Charlotte has focused more than 50 years on her diverse career paths as an attorney, author and investigative journalist. Her discoveries have been published in books, e-books, online magazines and other writing forums. You can find links to many of them on her two websites: https://charlottedennett.com/ and https://followthepipelines.com/. One that she will talk about in her Close Up Radio interview is the book she wrote about The Crash of Flight 3804, which dealt with her inquiry into her father’s death when he was just 37.Charlotte has led a circuitous life both professionally and personally. She was born in Beirut Lebanon, returned to an ancestral home in the US in Massachusetts after her father’s death, then returned to Lebanon again in 1972 following her mothers’ death It was there she began her journalism career and a chain of events led to a return to America, where she lived in several East Coast states.Shortly after Charlotte came back to the States she met (in 1976) and married (in 1979) another investigative journalist, Gerard Colby. He had written a book about the DuPont Company and family. In 1976 they teamed up to investigate the genocide of Amazonia Indians. On the surface it was about bible toting evangelical missionaries trying to get to the Indigenous people in Spanish-speaking countries to embrace Christianity. But probing deeper revealed actions by magnates like the Rockefellers to conquer their lands. The couple’s progressive theories met with a lot of adversity. Their Harper Collins book, Thy Will be Done. The Conquest of the Amazon was “privished” or suppressed, and this taught her another lesson about contract law and justice.“I have learned that when you write truth to power, you risk being suppressed. And may suffer financially as well.”Lack of money is another reason she turned to a law clerkship, as a means to support her and her husband, and a path to becoming eligible to sit for the Bar (although she already had a master’s degree in art history.) Spending so much of her life investigating, researching and examining records made this a natural segway from her roving correspondent positions. She pursued cases at other law firms and then as a solo practitioner in matters of consumer fraud, family law, and medical malpractice, going, as they say, to the ends of the earth for her clients. She also ran for Vermont Attorney General while living there and networked with then-Mayor of Burlington, now Senator Bernie Sanders, who was not so well known back then.In her podcast she will tell Jim Masters some highlights of her long and distinguished life, her personal views on what she calls the great game for oil, and all about her articles and books, including the most recent Follow the Pipelines: Uncovering the Mystery of a Lost Spy and the Deadly Politics of the Great Game for Oil, which is the updated paperback edition of the Crash of Flight 3804. She may also cite her article Trump’s Tulsa Travesty: The Missing Connection.Charlotte says she will never stop investigating injustice when she finds it, and she is driven to learn and advocate for truth and accountability. She recently was honored by Who’s Who in America for her many noteworthy efforts and renaissance woman mindset. Time Magazine refers to her as an expert in resource-based politics.Learn more about this passionate woman and gifted reporter, as well as her life quest for justice, in the November podcast.For more information about Charlotte Dennett, please visit https://charlottedennett.com/ and https://followthepipelines.com/
Close Up Radio Spotlights Cancer Treatment Pioneer Anita Davidson of Creative BioTherapeutics
Chicago, IL -- Anita Davison is a health professional who admits to earning her MBA from the school of hard knocks and being a workaholic. These traits are not adversarial; in fact, they helped her make a difference for both patients and the hospital systems she worked with throughout her early career as a physical therapist. She was always getting involved in service expansions, presentations, and corporate initiatives. When she launched her own private practice in 1998 it was to provide personal and creative patient care, later earning her doctorate, creating additional companies for pain management and therapist education, each bringing her expertise where it was most useful. Anita followed that up with the establishment of a biotechnology company in collaboration with her husband-- a lifelong biochemist and cancer researcher. Their emerging biotech firm is involved in the development of life -saving breakthrough biologics such as CBT 300 that attack some of the most treatment resistant, deadly and costly cancers (in America, the average annual cost for giving people conventional cancer treatment is about $150,000.)Having been named among the Top 10 Innovative and disruptor founders by Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank, Anita is coming to the radio show to talk about their company, and its innovations, and to build awareness of their lead therapy in development. “My husband, Dr. Don Davidson, has more than 35 years of experience in drug development as a biochemist and has pursued a deep understanding of why and how cancer cells become resistant to treatment. Since our transition to biotech, we have developed several patented and potentially groundbreaking therapies that we expect to change so many people’s lives. Our passion and determination to bring our lead therapy to market is unwavering.”Anita was named among the Most Empowering Women in America for her many clinical inspirations and for spearheading business developments and pursuing fund raising in a man’s game. Over her decades in healthcare as a clinician, she was able to make a significant impact on an individual basis helping patients learn to heal themselves and incorporating cutting edge treatments. Nowadays, she is thoroughly consumed with developing a lead biologic therapy that kills cancer cells without toxic side effects such as hair loss, neuropathy, and organ damage. Anita is expecting to change the paradigm of cancer treatment with a safe, effective, and targeted therapy.“I go to medical conferences and hear about clinical trials with new drugs that claim tolerable side effects of a new immunotherapy or a targeted drug where the side effects are so harsh 50% of the patients drop out of the trial or even worse, die prematurely. Knowing that our therapy will work for these patients including my 16 year old patient who passed last year from brain cancer, It breaks my heart because we are limited only by the slowness in funding to complete final steps to begin clinical trials,”Anita and Don’s company, Creative Biotherapeutics LLC or CBT for short, is a game changer. Their biotech firm designs life-saving breakthrough biologics for late stage diseases. Through a 3-prong disease attack, the lead therapy CBT300 increases overall survival without typical toxicity or off target effects on solid, drug resistant tumors.CBT focuses on the root cause of drug resistance and immune evasion for cancer. The Davidson’s biotech targets the tough stuff, the types of cancers that make people lose hope, the kind that comes back. It is a promising treatment for recurrent, drug-resistant adult and childhood cancers showing tumor regression and potential cures, and there is potential to resolve other cellular level diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.The Davidson’s first met in high school while competing on swim teams. Even back then Don he knew what he wanted from life, to become a doctor and find solutions to life threatening diseases like cancer.As stated in a USA Today article, Don pursued his career in drug development and cancer research, specializing in protein structures called kringles. These structures appear in several biologically significant proteins, including those involved in blood clotting and tumor growth. Working at a renowned medical device and drug company, along with two other scientists, Don was instrumental developing the oncology division blending his expertise in blood biochemistry, angiogenesis and immunology.The Davidson’s have carried their dreams and novel research forward, side by his side, celebrating every eureka moment. Hear more about their life together and life’s work in the November interview. Anita’s information is sure to raise some eyebrows.For more information about Anita’s biotech business, visit her websitewww.creativebio.tech
Close Up Radio Spotlights Children’s Book Author Linda Stone
New Buffalo, MI - Linda Stone is making waves in the world of children’s literature by sharing heartfelt stories celebrating the joy and responsibility of pet adoption. Drawing on her own experiences with rescued dogs, Stone’s growing series of rhyming picture books gently teaches young readers about compassion, kindness, and the commitment that comes with welcoming a four-legged friend into the family.Linda Stone’s career has been anything but ordinary. She began as a bakery owner just days before her 21st birthday, running Ramberg’s Bakery in Union Pier, Michigan, for over 20 years alongside her brother. After attending floral school in Chicago, Stone opened her own flower shop, where she continues to design by appointment, relishing the quiet creativity her work allows.Stone’s entry into children’s literature was unexpected and deeply personal. “The book project came as a total surprise,” she recalls. “It was never something I’d planned.” The inspiration for her debut book, “Bubbles’ Troubles,” came to her through a vivid dream about her own dog, Bubbles, a lovable street dog turned shelter resident and, eventually, a cherished family member. Stone captured Bubbles’ journey from street life to adoption in the pages of her first book, donating proceeds to the shelter where Bubbles found her second chance.Stone’s stories are more than just entertaining rhymes—they are purposeful tales that shine a light on real issues faced by shelter animals. “I want to help children understand what happens to homeless pets and share the lifelong bonds that form through adoption,” explains Stone. Her books spark conversations around responsibility, ensuring young readers realize the importance of caring for animals, not just when they are puppies but throughout their lives.Following “Bubbles’ Troubles,” Stone’s great niece inspired the next book in the series: “Teddy Spaghetti,” which features another of her beloved rescue dogs. The series also includes “Home is the Very Best Place to Be,” a book especially suitable for preschoolers, which gently introduces the idea of choosing and caring for a pet.“Bubble’s Troubles” and “Home is the Very Best Place to be” are brought to life with colorful illustrations by Matthew Smith, a New York-based artist whose collaboration with Stone began through a serendipitous connection. Both author and illustrator embarked on their first book together, and their partnership continues to charm families and animal lovers alike.Stone’s dedication to animal welfare extends far beyond her books’ pages. A portion of proceeds from every sale supports the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana, the very shelter that rescued Bubbles. Stone donates signed copies directly to the shelter, allowing them to keep 100% of the profits from on site sales. She is also seeking to expand partnerships with other shelters, offering books free of charge for fundraising and education.“I believe in giving back,” says Stone. “These shelters are doing vital work, and if my books can help even a little, that’s a win for everyone—especially the animals.”Encouraging Compassion and ResponsibilityLinda Stone’s books don’t shy away from real-life challenges faced by rescue animals, including abandonment and adjustment to new homes. Through honest storytelling, she encourages empathy and thoughtful decision-making for families considering adoption. “I want to raise awareness and help kids understand both the joys and the responsibilities of owning a pet,” she explains. Her stories also touch on the importance of spaying and neutering, supporting the goal of more shelters being able to operate as no-kill facilities.Looking Ahead: More Adventures for Bubbles and TeddyThe adventures of Bubbles and Teddy are far from over. Stone is currently developing two new titles: “Bubbles and Teddy: Fun on the Run,” which explores the importance of doing the right thing, and “Bubbles and Teddy Rule the School,” promising more rhyming adventures and life lessons for elementary-aged readers. Both books will continue to blend humor, heart, and gentle guidance, extending the series’ mission of nurturing empathy and responsibility.Faith and PerseveranceStone credits her creative journey to a sense of divine guidance and perseverance. “I believe that if you ask to be led in this life, you will be,” she reflects. Her approach to writing is rooted in commitment—showing up each day, trusting inspiration, and putting in the work, even when the path isn’t clear.About Linda StoneLinda Stone is a children’s book author, floral designer, and lifelong animal lover based in New Buffalo, Michigan. She writes rhyming picture books inspired by her rescue dogs, Bubbles and Teddy, with the mission of teaching young readers about compassion, kindness, and pet responsibility, and donates a portion of proceeds to animal shelters.For more information about Linda Stone and her children’s books, please visit https://bubblesandteddy.com/
Close Up Radio Spotlights Multilingual Teacher Rachel Sharma
Battle Creek, MI – Multilingual teacher, Rachel Sharma, says her greatest joy is teaching her students English language skills while helping them feel included, accepted, and motivated to learn. Rachel voices teaching is her calling. She recognizes one of the most important things one can do as a teacher is to create spaces of joy and transformation along with a culture that continually supports multilingual learners and wholeheartedly celebrates diversity. She is on a clear mission to ensure that all teachers do the same. The educational setting needs to be for all of our young bright-minded students for long-term success, one that extends far beyond the classroom. Unfortunately, education is not without its challenges and setbacks and many teachers report being unprepared to support multilingual learners. From grappling with limited funding, lack of specialized curriculum, and lack of quality education, we must explore innovative solutions and respond promptly to pedagogical challenges of our interconnected world. If we fail our children, we fail our entire world.As a dedicated teacher, Rachel is also a visionary leader with an empathetic mindset who passionately stands for a more equitable, peaceful, and just classroom culture. We live in a globalized world where today's classrooms are more diverse than ever before. Yet, inequity and injustice still persist. We need to make certain the schools create a classroom environment that ensures all multilingual students have a voice, benefit from equal opportunities of interacting with their teachers, peers, and have access to adequate learning resources.Rachel teaches multilingual students with her main focus on students achieving a 4.8 composite score on the WIDA English language proficiency test before leaving her school. In 2024, seven of her students successfully tested out of the multilingual program, and while she is proud of her achievements this number must be higher and without accessibility to proper resources that her and other teachers are offered, it's very challenging to achieve that.Before beginning teaching in the U.S. school system, she spent over a decade teaching abroad, spanning continents and loving every second of her thought provoking self-affirming journey. Not only did it enhance her cultural awareness, but helped her acquire a deeper understanding of other cultures, changed her life's path, and was one of the most profound experiences of her life.Her journey began in Japan and then took her to Turkey where she taught in an elementary immersion classroom. Then, she headed back to Japan working with students of all ages to improve their English language skills. She also taught in India at Cactus Communications, creating curriculum, promoting the company on social media, and teaching writing and language skills. During the 3 years she spent in India, she was offered a position in Saudi Arabia to be part of the opening staff to Asia’s largest women’s university, Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University. She was one of the first English teachers that established the English program at the university. After conceiving, she moved to India and taught English to students in the far east virtually, while being on bed rest. She also continued her role at Cactus Communications during this time. After the arrival of her son, Noah, she moved to the United States when he was one month old. She mentioned that her son is her driving force of motivation in her career.When moving back to the states in 2010, Rachel worked as a second language English teacher and curriculum designer for a virtual company in France and continued her working for the company in India teaching resume writing, business skills, and grammar skills as a Senior English instructor. Rachel then decided she needed more American education to support her experiences abroad. At that point she held a Bachelor’s in Health Care Administration and had only a certificate in TESOL (Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages).After getting into a competitive program at the University of South Florida for her Masters, she was a full-time mom and student. She earned a Masters of Education in TESOL and in secondary education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction design. In 2014, she graduated while already starting a position with the government working at DLIELC (Defense Language Institute English Language Center).From 2014 to 2020, Rachel was an English language instructor at the DLIELC in Texas under the United States Department of Defense. For six years she taught English to soldiers, officers and government officials from around the world, and went on MTTs (Mobile Training Teams). She mentioned that she taught the first female Major in Nigeria, who had previously won an International Women of Courage award presented by Melania Trump. Rachel helped this Major prepare to go to War College in the United States. She then went on her first Mobile Training Team (MTT) and helped launch the first-ever military English school in Qatar, where she became one of the first female instructors to teach Qatari military in the first school in Qatar connected to DLIELC. On her second MTT, she was invited to a military graduation ceremony in Saudi Arabia, at the newest educational endeavor in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This event became one of the most memorable moments of her life. After this trip, Rachel continued to work on a special team writing Standard Operating Procedures to apply to attend or present at conferences for DLIELC.During her time at DLIELC, she received numerous honors and accolades including plaques for her service from Echo Company - a unit of soldiers from Puerto Rico. She was named Instructor of the Month on more than one occasion and also was chosen as Instructor of the Quartet. During her MTTs she received awards from working in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, all of which speaks volumes of her unwavering dedication as a teacher and humanitarian.In August of 2020, Rachel moved to Michigan with her son, where she currently resides. She has worked in private, public, and virtual schools in Michigan. She started her journey up north as an International Program Director and became an immigration officer while creating curriculum for international students in High School, being their liaison between host family and the school. She also worked with the students’ families out of the country. She worked closely with the guidance counselors to ensure paths to graduation, making sure they were on target to graduate before aging out. In this position she also taught two sections of Senior English, which was a new journey for her, as well. During this time she also needed to get a teaching certificate to move her career in a different direction. She used an Alternative Pathway to obtain an interim certificate and worked in schools for three years as an elementary teacher. After three years, her certificate became standard and available to add her ESL endorsement, which she added immediately.“Every day my teaching experience has been a learning experience,”says Rachel. She stated that the more she taught in the United States, the more she learned about ELs in regular classrooms and in EL programs, all of which have empowered her to live a purpose driven life.From her own experience abroad where she too encountered language barriers, Rachel relates so well to her multilingual students’ struggles here in the U.S. education system. She recognizes that multilingualism is a superpower, that all students deserve high quality and equitable access to a full education where they are offered the most appropriate and effective tools, strategies, and skills that will truly drive long lasting impact. Differentiation in lessons,and having skills to allow the students to be successful in their mainstream classes needs to be more prevalent.Rachel explains that she believes that all teachers should be required to go through more extensive training for ESL students, as the number of those needing specialized services continues to rise. She believes that as a whole, if we do not take the time to learn more about how to help these students reach grade level educational goals, we are failing our children. Current curricula used and movement from grade to grade with lack of understanding, is prohibiting this category of students into becoming productive, successful members of our communities and our country.Unfortunately, we don't have a quality system in place for these students. As an example, in Michigan, newcomers received one hour of daily instruction, and others received only 30 minutes. While some teachers are on board to co-teach which is currently best practices, most are not ready for that change and what it takes to differentiate lessons and co-plan with an EL teacher. Furthermore, these very students then go on to spend the next 6 hours in other classrooms of math, history, science, and social studies. She wonders what they are learning if they don't understand the lesson. What do they understand out of an undifferentiated lesson? Rachel points out, students are often put on computers or and are completely lost during mainstream content classes.Moreover, Rachel explains, “It's imperative we provide a structure for students to develop their language skills that include their unique language backgrounds. Knowledge of more than one language is a superpower.”From utilizing hands-on activities, student centered strategies, visuals aids, incorporating high levels of training, language scaffolding, and making lessons that are comprehensible for the ELs is key. By weaving these strategies into teaching, we can literally unlock the potential of each and every student and inspire lifelong learning.All teachers must keep in mind that multilingual individuals are in high demand in many fields after high school and college such as healthcare, education, international business, and technology.Rachel continues to advocate on behalf of students and to make a real difference. Her ambition and motivation continues to grow as she seeks out professional learning to acquire as many skills as she can, and she attributes it all to her son, Noah.On upcoming podcast Rachel shares her remarkable teaching journey, wonderful insights on fostering multilingualism that ensures equitable learning experiences, and share her insights on genuinely helping our multilingual students grow both personally and academically while empowering the next generation and leaders of tomorrow.
POWERED BY BLUBRRY
