After a lifelong struggle with mental illness, Bill Bernat used his background in stand-up comedy to return to the stage with a new mission: to share his mental health journey and make people laugh at the same time. Now Bill uses storytelling a

A2A: Rex Butler Helps Prevent Prescription Drug Overdoses After His Brother’s Death

Mar 8th, 2020 9m 55s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Rex Butler, whose younger brother Bill died of an accidental overdose of medication prescribed for his chronic back pain. After being trained by the National Safety Council Advoca

A2A: Norma Loeb Provides Resources and Support for People Living with LBD

Mar 1st, 2020 10m 40s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell Spotlights Norma Loeb, whose mother Lillian suffered from Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) for 18 years and was misdiagnosed multiple times. Loeb is the founder of the Lewy Body Dementia Resource Ce

A2A: Sex Trafficking Survivor Helps Other Victims Build New Lives

Feb 23rd, 2020 12m 3s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell Spotlights Susan Munsey, who was trafficked by a much older boyfriend when she was fifteen. Munsey is the founder of the non-profit GenerateHope, which provides housing, medical care, therap

A2A: Harvard Grad Helps First Generation College Students Succeed

Feb 16th, 2020 14m 20s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Due Quach, founder of the non-profit The Collective Success Network. The organization supports first generation college students who experience culture shock. Prior to settling i

A2A: Spoken Word Poet LeDerick Horne Empowers People With Disabilities

Feb 9th, 2020 16m 31s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights LeDerick Horne, who was diagnosed with a learning disability in the third grade. Today Horne is a disability advocate, poet, public speaker and author who challenges people with d

A2A: Adaptive Surfing Champion Helps People With Disabilities Surf And Skateboard

Feb 2nd, 2020 11m 24s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Jesse Billauer, whose spinal cord was severed in a surfing accident when he was only 17-years-old. Jesse is the founder of the Life Rolls On Foundation which provides people with

A2A: Mom Helps Children With Special Needs Shine On Stage

Jan 26th, 2020 11m 37s

After having a daughter with special needs, Julie Lyles Carr realized there were few activities that her whole family could participate in. Today her organization 2dance2dream provides fun, free services to individuals with special needs.

A2A: Double Mastectomy Survivor Supports Breast Cancer Patients' Recovery

Jan 19th, 2020 14m 53s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell Spotlights Angela Grojean who underwent a double mastectomy in 2018. During her recovery Angela received a hoodie with inside pockets that held her post surgery drain tubes securely and comf

A2A: Dr. Haidi Demain Helps Keep Kids With Severe Food Allergies Safe At School

Jan 12th, 2020 14m 46s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Dr. Haidi Demain, the founder of Allergy Safe Kids (ASK): a non-profit that trains school nurses and teachers to recognize and treat severe food allergies. Dr. Demain started ASK

A2A: Mother Whose 3-Year-Old Drowned Becomes Water Safety Advocate

Dec 22nd, 2019 16m 50s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell Spotlights Nicole Hughes, the founder of Water Guardians (Levi’s Legacy), a non-profit dedicated to preventing childhood drowning and teaching water safety. Nicole says she is turning her an

A2A: Melanie Goldring Helps Empower Young Diabetics Across The World

Dec 15th, 2019 9m 56s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell Spotlights Melanie Goldring, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just before her 12th birthday.As a teen she volunteered at AYUDA (American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad) as a ment

A2A: NYU Doctor Raises Awareness Of Autoimmune Encephalitis

Nov 24th, 2019 15m 38s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell Spotlights Dr. Helen Egger, a co-founder of The Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance. Dr. Egger’s son Sasha was first diagnosed with AE when he was 13. The rare and difficult to diagnose illness

A2A: USC Professor Inspires People With Mental Health Challenges

Nov 17th, 2019 15m 13s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell Spotlights Ruth White, who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder when she was 40. In addition to teaching at USC, Ruth is a speaker, blogger and the author of several books including “Bipolar

A2A: Former Georgetown Football Player Helps Washingtonians Transition Out Of Poverty

Nov 10th, 2019 13m 28s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Darius Baxter, co-founder of GOOD Projects, a community based nonprofit whose mission is to help youth and their families live free of poverty and violence. Baxter, whose father w

A2A: Allison Litton Created A Meal Delivery Service To Meet Cancer Patients’ Needs

Oct 13th, 2019 7m 39s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Dr. Allison Litton, the founder of Meals OnCol. After three close friends were diagnosed with late stage cancer Litton developed a line of meals specifically designed to help alle

A2A: Suicide Prevention Outreach Helps Grieving Mom Heal

Oct 6th, 2019 10m 36s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Agnes McKeen, who lost her teenage son Harrison to suicide in 2015. Agnes founded Just Talk Suicide Prevention, a non-profit that promotes healing, hope and suicide prevention awa

A2A: Stanford Grad Student Helps Fight Mental Health Stigma Through “The Manic Monologues”

Sep 29th, 2019 15m 21s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Zack Burton who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017.In an effort to fight the stigma of mental illness, Zack and his girlfriend Elisa Hofmeister created "The Manic Mon

A2A: Paralyzed After Being Shot, Wesley Hamilton Believes Disabled Is A Mindset

Sep 22nd, 2019 14m 40s

Jeff Bell, KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and founder of the Adversity 2 Advocacy Alliance spotlights Wesley Hamilton, founder of the nonprofit Disabled But Not Really (DBNR). Having difficulty adjusting to life in a wheelchair, Wesley was inspire

A2A: Angel Inspired DeAnna Pursai To Start A College For Special Needs Adults

Sep 15th, 2019 15m 2s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights DeAnna Pursai, the co-founder of The College of Adaptive Arts. Her younger sister Angel, who has Down Syndrome, helped DeAnna realize that special needs adults could thrive in a c

A2A: Testicular Cancer Survivor Becomes Men’s Health Activist

Sep 1st, 2019 12m 7s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Justin Birckbichler, who at 26 battled metastasized testicular cancer. Now in remission, Justin helps raise awareness of men's health issues and testicular cancer through his web

A2A: 13-Year-Old Ella Casano Makes IV Infusions A Little Easier For Young Patients

Aug 25th, 2019 7m 19s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Ella Casano who has received regular IV infusions since she was 7, when she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP). The young entrepreneur is the founder of

A2A: Former Child Actress Mara Wilson Talks About Living With OCD

Aug 11th, 2019 16m 55s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Mara Wilson, who was diagnosed with OCD when she was 12 years old.Mara shares her story to help fight the stigma of mental illness and make a difference in the lives of others

A2A: Former Bullying Victim Develops Nonpunitive Approach To End Harrassment

Aug 5th, 2019 14m 42s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Nicholas Carlisle, the founder of the nonprofit No Bully.The No Bully program, which is in over 250 schools, teaches students to be more compassionate and kind.

A2A: Asha Brown Helps Other Diabetics Struggling With An Eating Disorder

Jul 28th, 2019 14m 51s

KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Asha Brown, a type 1 diabetic who at 14 began manipulating her insulin intake as a way to control her weight. After successfully being treated for her diabulimia she founded We Ar