The Lisa Wexler Show

Lisa Wexler covers top daily news and interviews Dominic Phua Founder & CEO Gangnam Medical Concierge , Matt Mandell on the Cribari Bridge controversy, and Mark Shelhamer, ScD about his new book: Are We Ready For Mars? Plus Lisa's monologue on antisemitism in the wake of what happened in Philiadelphia over the weekend.

Mark Shelhamer, principal investigator of the Johns Hopkins Human Spaceflight Lab and former chief scientist of NASA’s Human Research Program, joins Lisa Wexler to discuss his book, Are We Ready for Mars? He explores what it would take to send astronauts to the Red Planet and bring them home safely—from radiation and prolonged isolation to medical emergencies far beyond the reach of rescue, and how preparing for Mars could improve healthcare on Earth.

WWCC President and Westport RTM member Matt Mandell joins Lisa Wexler to discuss the latest in the Cribari Bridge controversy. He explains Westport’s push to rehabilitate the bridge while retaining height restrictions that allow existing traffic but keep large trucks out. With the town’s new Cribari Bridge Committee in place, he discusses the need for a meeting with the Connecticut DOT and the next steps toward a resolution.

Lisa Wexler answers listener questions about updating a will after a life-changing event and potential pitfalls of online wills, particularly self-proving affidavits. She also discusses a listener email a out navigating Connecticut’s network of agencies for someone with mental illness, why medical evidence matters in conservatorship proceedings and whether that requirement can be waived.

Lisa Wexler covers top daily news on WICC's 100th anniversary and interviews Kathleen Holt, and Rob Blanchard. Plus LISA ON THE LAW.

State Senator-elect Rob Blanchard joins Lisa Wexler to discuss his victory in Connecticut’s 28th District—representing Fairfield, Easton, Bethel and Newtown—as part of a historic Democratic sweep. He addresses what legislative supermajorities mean for checks and balances, including overriding the governor’s vetoes, and whether he would help form a moderate Senate caucus. He also discusses expanding healthcare options through association health plans and exploring collective purchasing to lower electricity costs.

Connecticut Healthcare Advocate Kathy Holt joins Lisa Wexler to discuss how her office helps residents navigate insurance challenges, including the prior authorization denials consuming much of its time. She examines how insurers gained so much control over care requested by medical providers, why Medicare changes affect patients beyond Medicare, and the GLP-1 bridge program offering medication for $50 a month while its results help inform whether it continues.

Alex Ressi, a member of Fairfield’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, joins Lisa Wexler to discuss the Harbor to Hills Greenway Project, a proposal for a continuous 13.8-mile walking trail running north to south from the Easton border to Fairfield’s beaches on Long Island Sound.