The Paid Leave Podcast

Latest Episodes:

A Mother Raises Awareness and Advocates for Her Son and Others with Down Syndrome Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we speak with Kandi Pickard, the CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). Down Syndrome Awareness Week is celebrated across the world from March 15 to March 21 every year. The purpose of the week is to create awareness about individuals with Down syndrome and the difficulties they might face in their lives. About 5,000 babies are born every year in the USA with Down syndrome. Due to advances in medical technology, individuals with Down syndrome are living longer than ever before. With 80 percent living past 60 years old. In March it is also National Developmental Disabilities Awareness month.

Kandi Pickard provides vision and leadership, working collaboratively with individuals and organizations like CT Laid Leave, to support the entire Down syndrome community. Kandi’s involvement in the Down syndrome community first started as a local volunteer and advocate after her youngest son, Mason was born with Down syndrome. Ten years later, she leads NDSS with a focus on building community and keeping people with Down syndrome at the center of everything the organization does. Kandi says that CT Paid Leave is a great resource for caregivers, and for those with chronic health conditions. She says the flexibility to take time and be allowed varying lengths of leave aligns with the mission of the NDSS.

To get in Touch with NDSS please go to their website: National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)

For questions or to apply for benefits please go to our website: CT Paid Leave

https://ctpaidleave.org/s/?language=en_US
https://www.facebook.com/CTPaidLeave

https://www.instagram.com/ctpaidleave/
https://twitter.com/CTPaidLeave
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct+paid+leave

How Paid Time Off Helps Protect Maternal Mental Health and Well-Being Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we are focusing on women's mental health and well-being, and the challenges pregnancy can have before and after the baby is born. March 8th is International Women’s Day. This Day gives focus to issues like gender equality, reproductive rights and violence and abuse against women. International Women’s Day serves as a platform to address the mental health issues that disproportionately affect women. While mental health conditions can affect anyone, women face unique challenges due to societal pressures, biological factors, and caregiving responsibilities.
The guest on this episode is the Founder & Executive Director of the Alliance Center in Stamford, Carolyn Kagan. Carolyn is a licensed clinical social worker and perinatal psychotherapist who designed a holistic maternal mental health practice that provides individual therapy, group support, yoga, and wellness programming for expecting new and experienced mothers and their families. Carolyn talked to host Nancy Barrow about the benefits of CT Paid Leave with moms and caregivers. She also sees the benefits as an employer who has had a worker take CT Paid Leave when their baby was premature. She sees how paid leave benefits the retention of good workers because they come back to work as a more whole version of themselves.
To get in touch with Carolyn at The Alliance Center go to their website at The Alliance Center | Rooted in Motherhood | Stamford, CT (thealliancecenterct.com).
For more information or to apply for benefits please go to CT Paid Leave

(ctpaidleave.org).

A Paid Leave Expert Changes the Script in Hollywood With More Family Friendly Policies in TV and Movies Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we talk to a paid leave expert. It was back in 2022 that we were able to give employees in Connecticut benefits for CT Paid Leave. It’s been 4 years and we have given benefits totaling more than 1.4 billion dollars to about 170 thousand workers in Connecticut. An expert in all thing’s paid Leave is Vicki Shabo, Senior Fellow for Gender Equity. Paid leave & Care Policy and Strategy at New America. Vicki is a gender equity expert, policy strategist, and coalition builder, who has helped to win paid family and medical leave, paid sick time, equal pay, and pregnancy fairness policies affecting tens of millions of people in the United States.

Vicki highlights the disparities in paid leave policies, noting that while 13 states and D.C. have comprehensive policies, the U.S. lacks federal legislation. Schabo emphasizes the importance of paid leave for economic stability and family well-being, citing research showing strong public support. She also discusses the role of Hollywood in influencing cultural perceptions and policies through storytelling.

To Find information about Vicki Shabo and her work go to newamerica.org/betterlifelab or newamerica.org/entertainment or click here Vicki Shabo

For more information or to apply for benefits please go to ctpaidleave.org

Social Media Influencer Ellie Doyle Moved from Florida to Connecticut and Found More Than She Expected Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

February 14th is National Donor Day, February 10th is Safer Internet Day, and in March it is National Kidney Awareness Month.

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, Host Nancy Barrow speaks with Ellie Doyle who is a storyteller, content creator, social media influencer, and founder of Reheated Coffee Club, a Connecticut lifestyle brand rooted in motherhood, community, and small-business love. After moving her family from Florida to Connecticut, she began sharing her real-life journey of raising three kids, building community, and finding joy in everyday moments across the state. In Florida, Ellie was a kidney donor to her sister who suffers from kidney disease. She talks about the difficult recovery and how things would have been different if she had lived in Connecticut. She is a big fan of CT Paid Leave and believes this will help her if they decide to grow their family. She also has ties to Connecticut as a child, so the move wasn’t out of the blue! Reheated Coffee Club is her name on Tick Tok where she has almost 35,000 followers and 1.9 million likes. On Instagram, she has over 51,500 followers and 1 million likes. Because of her big influence on social media, her move to Connecticut was widely publicized and she has been featured in newspaper articles and TV news about her move to CT.

You can find Ellie Doyle and her travels throughout Connecticut on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook @reheatedcoffeeclub. Her website is reheatedcoffeeclub.com.

For more information or to apply for benefits please go to ctpaidleave.org.

An Author Discusses Paid Leave State Programs and the Hope for a National Program Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, we talk about the fact that It was 4 years ago, in January of 2022, when CT Paid Leave started giving benefits to eligible CT workers. Since then, we have given over 1.4 billion dollars in benefits to over 182 thousand workers in Connecticut!

Senior Lecturer in the Honors Program at Loyola University Chicago, Megan Sholar joins Host Nancy Barrow to discuss state programs and the hope for a national paid leave policy. Megan teaches courses on women and politics, Latin American politics, and European politics. Her first book, Getting Paid While Taking Time: The Women’s Movement and the Development of Paid Family Leave Policies in the United States (2016), explores the reasons that the United States remains the only industrialized country in the world without paid family leave at the national level. She has also written about paid leave in The Hill and The Washington Post. Her most recent book is Chasing Equality: Women’s Rights & US Public Policy (2023).

Scholar, an expert on paid leave, emphasizes its importance for women, noting the U.S. is the only industrialized nation without a national paid leave program. She cites pivotal moments like the 2016 presidential candidates' support and the 2019 federal parental leave policy. Megan also discusses the economic benefits and the need for state-level initiatives, using Connecticut as a model for efficient and successful implementation.

To get in touch with Megan Sholar, Megan Sholar: Loyola University Chicago.

For more information on her books, Getting Paid While Taking Time: The Women's Movement and the Development of Paid Family Leave Policies in the United States: Sholar, Megan: 9781439912959: Amazon.com: Books.

Lynne Rienner Publishers | Chasing Equality Women s Rights and US Public Policy.

for more information or to get apply for benefits go to ctpaidleave.org.

What Inspired a Surgeon to Become a Storyteller and Powerful Medical Social Media Influencer Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Paid Leave Podcast, Host Nancy Barrow speaks with a doctor with a huge social media following. Her inspirational storytelling has created her as a viral medical social media influencer, with over 150 million views and close to 900 thousand followers just on TikTok. Dr. Erin Nance is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and viral TikTok creator known as @littlemissdiagnosed, where she uses humor and storytelling to make medicine feel human again. She’s the bestselling author of Little Miss Diagnosed, co-host of The Medical Detectives Podcast, and the founder and CEO of FeelBetr, a new platform bringing doctors and patients together to share real, credible health stories in the social media age.

Dr. Nance shares her journey to becoming a surgeon, influenced by a childhood experience with an orthopedic surgeon after she was injured. She discusses the importance of social media in raising disease awareness, citing her "31 for 31" campaign that reached over 100 million views. Dr. Nance highlights the significance of paid leave programs, sharing personal stories and the impact on her brother's life. On her first day of residency, her brother had an accident in a swimming pool and became a paraplegic. He lives in Connecticut and has utilized bonding leave with Connecticut Paid Leave, when they welcomed their new child.

To follow Dr. Erin Nance on social media go to @littlemissdiagnosed on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Dr. Erin Nance 🇺🇸 (@littlemissdiagnosed) | TikTok

To get to the FeelBetr platform go to FeelBetr | The FeelBetr Founder Story: Meet Erin Nance

For more information on Dr. Erin Nance go toErin Nance, MD | Orthopedic Hand Surgeon | Midtown East, NY

For more information or apply for benefits go to ctpaidleave.org

Alzheimer's is a Robber in Progress Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

The United States is an aging nation, and Connecticut is an aging state. Living with a disease that usually affects the older population like Alzheimer's, is tough for the whole family. Caregivers of those with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia are usually family members who have to learn to navigate from diagnosis through the progression of the disease. CT Paid Leave can help by providing up to 12 weeks of income replacement when a caregiver is away from work to care for their loved one.
Joining in the discussion are two CT Paid Leave advocates from the CT Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, Carolyn DeRocco, Vice President of Programs and Education, and Christy Kovel, Director of Public Policy. Carolyn and Christy realize how important the CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Act is for caregivers as well as for individuals who are newly diagnosed with this disease. In this episode, we delve into what Alzheimer's is, how to diagnose it, preventative measures, treatments, and the new advocacy work they are doing.
For information on Alzheimer's Disease, visit www.alz.org/ct
or call toll free hotline 800-272-3900
For more information about CT Paid Leave or to apply for benefits, visit ctpaidleave.org.

The Holidays and Your Mental Health Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Paid leave Podcast, we discuss the holidays and the challenges that it can bring. The holidays are usually a joyful time of year, time spent with family and loved ones and time to reflect before the New Year. But for some people the holidays can bring on intense sadness if you have had a loss, or maybe you find yourself alone during the holidays. Perhaps you lost a loved one or went through a divorce or you are estranged from your family. It can be a tough time for your mental health. The holiday season can be a challenging time for individuals struggling with addiction, as it often brings heightened stress, triggers, and the pressure to celebrate. However, with the right strategies and support, it is possible to navigate these challenges. Domestic violence is high around the holidays for many reasons like stress, financial burdens, more family time, isolation, and alcohol and drugs can play a role too. Holiday Season Anxiety and Seasonal Affective Disorder can both effect your mental health around the holidays, and healthcare professionals say they can be debilitating and impact your daily life and your job. CT Paid Leave can help with up to 12 weeks of income replacement if you are suffering from a serious mental health condition. The guest is Mental Health Connecticut Clinical Care Coordinator and Licensed Master of Social Work, Patricia Seaver. Patricia explains how the holidays can exacerbate mental health issues, and she emphasizes the importance of self-care, planning, and seeking support during this holiday period. She highlights the role of caregivers and the benefits of Connecticut's paid leave program in providing time for mental health recovery. Patricia also discusses the increased risk of domestic violence, and addiction relapse during the holidays.

For information or to get in touch with Mental Health Connecticut, please go to Homepage - Mental Health Services Education & Advocacy. (mhconn.org)

For more information or to apply for benefits please go to CT Paid Leave. (ctpaidleave.org)

Solo Agers Are Changing the Conversation About Aging Independently After 50 Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

There are over 17 million people over the age of 50 who are aging alone in our country, without a partner, children, or family involvement in their daily lives. There are at least 250 thousand solo agers in Connecticut. Connecticut Entrepreneur Jill Kovalich, is a solo ager herself, and she founded SoloAgersConnect.com to provide resources and a community for this demographic. Jill highlights the challenges solo agers face, such as financial planning, home safety, and mental health, emphasizing the importance of Connecticut's paid leave program, which allows caregivers to take time away from their jobs to help with serious health conditions of a loved one. For solo agers who are still working and will be possibly into their 70's, paid leave allows them to take time away from their job to take care of their own serious health conditions. Jill also notes the stigma around being a solo ager and the need for more support and resources to help them navigate aging independently.

To get in touch with Jill visit solo@soloagersconnect.com.

The Facebook page about solo ager coffee hours and information visit solo agers connect.

For information or to apply for benefits please go to www.ctpaidleave.org.

An Entrepreneur Says Paid Leave Supports Growing Families and Compassionate Businesses Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Paid leave Podcast, Host Nancy Barrow connects a business and paid family leave. November is National Family Caregivers Month and National Family Health History Day is November 28. Here to talk about the importance of CT Paid Leave for bonding leave, mental health, caregiver leave and how it helps small businesses is Samatha Alzate, a licensed clinical social worker and the Founder of Mindful Transformations LLC, a holistic group therapy practice based in Farmington and West Hartford, Connecticut. Her practice focuses on supporting individuals through life transitions, trauma recovery, and personal growth by blending traditional psychotherapy with mindfulness and integrative healing approaches.

As a small business owner and mother, Samantha understands firsthand the importance of programs like CT Paid Leave. She brings both a clinical and personal perspective to conversations about balance, mental health, caregiving and the realities of running a practice while raising a family. Samantha is a big fan of CT Paid Leave, because she and her husband both used bonding leave when they added to their family with their third child. She said they both feel that it was the best time of their parenting experience. She also knows how important it is to her small business. She believes it helps her employees and creates a happy and healthy environment by offering them the paid leave benefits, which some have already taken. She says it helps her to retain quality employees. Samantha wrote and Op-ed piece about CT Paid Leave and said it was a lifeline for her and she is also in a CT Paid Leave commercial about the benefits to small business owners.

To get in touch with Samantha Alzate and Mindful Transformations LLC visit Mindful Transformations LLC | Holistic Therapy in CT.

To read the Op-ed piece Samantha Alzate wrote A Lifeline for New Parents and Small Businesses - CT Examiner

For more information or to apply for benefits please go to CT Paid Leave.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected