VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 100
AIR DATE 12 13 2019
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Pushing Boundaries
((SOT))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
It just gets your brain thinking about what you are doing
instead of where you are.
((SOT))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
Weightlifting has a lot of benefits to me. Seeing the
improvement in body composition and strength has been
tremendous.
((SOT))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
Cannabis in its different forms is the most versatile healing
plant that is known to man. I see cannabis primarily as a
source of nutrition.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) VIETNAMESE PILOT
((Banner: Flying Solo))
((Reporter/Camera: Vu Nguyen))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((VOA Vietnamese))
((Map: Atlanta, Georgia))
((NATS, MUSIC under throughout….))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
I plan to travel to 25 countries in 45 days, flying a single-
engine airplane.
Hi, my name is Anh-Thu. I am a flight instructor for
Aeroventures Flying Club.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu is the founder of Women in
Aerospace and Aviation in Atlanta, Georgia. She is planning
to become the first ethnic Vietnamese woman to fly solo
around the world))
((Banner:
4 continents
26 airports
26,883 Nautical Miles
49,787 Kilometers
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
Only 5% of all pilots in the world are female. So, I want to
increase this number and inspire women and girls who want
to pursue an aviation career.
I was born in a poor village named Hoa Xuan, Phu Yen
province, Vietnam. There was no running water or electricity
in my place. As a little girl, my friend and I sometimes
gathered outside to watch airplanes flying by. I was
fascinated by them and wondered why there were so many
airplanes.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu immigrated to the United States
with her family when she was 12 years old.))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
When I was 16, I told my father about my desire of becoming
a pilot. He was not supportive at all and thought that I would
soon get over it. In fact, my dream was still there.
((Popup Banner: Her father thought going to medical
school was a more realistic choice than attending the Air
Force Academy))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
In the U.S, when you become 18, you can do whatever you
want. So, I went to flight school without asking for my dad’s
permission.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu sneaked out of her house in the
morning to attend flight lessons. She paid $150 an hour for
tuition. It was a huge challenge for Anh-Thu, who, at the
time, was a freshman in college))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
One hour of flying cost me a week working as a math
tutor. My family was poor. My parents could not help.
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
The first solo flight was very emotional. Just like I had
already conquered the sky! Now I have 10 flight certificates
under my belt.
((NATS))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
It took me 12, 13 years to become who I am today, a flight
instructor. Pilots in the United States are typically white
men. Sometimes I feel like an outcast.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu believes she can be an
inspiration with solo flight. She believes her experience can
help shed stereotypes that women in aviation experience.
She wants to inspire women and girls around the world to
pursue their passion for the sky))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
This trip around the world is expected to cost about one
million dollars.
((Popup Banner: Solo-flying through 4 continents, 26
airports. Many challenges await Anh-Thu ahead but at least
she is not alone))
((George B. Harrison, Retired Airforce General))
And yeah, I thought it was a very ambitious project and I was
skeptical that she could put it together.
((NATS))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
General Harrison helps me a lot in planning for this project.
((Popup Banner: General Harrison is her advisor and is
helping with the around-the-world flight plans.))
((George B. Harrison, Retired Airforce General))
I am very impressed with how far she has gone, and I think
any native-born American of any background would be hard-
pressed to match what she’s done.
Her background as a Vietnamese-American definitely made
me feel obligated or honored more than obligated to support
her.
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
One of 25 countries that I’ll visit is Vietnam. I’ll go back to
my village where I was born and raised. I was just a little girl
then, living in poverty. Now, I’m a pilot and I’m back.
((PKG)) TRAPEZE ARTIST
((Banner: Flying High))
((Reporter/Camera: Genia Dulot))
((Map: Escondido, California))
((NATS))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
When I was a little girl, my dad and mom took me to a circus
and there was a girl, the girls were flying and I just thought,
“Oh, that must be so wonderful! Some day I want to do that!”
So, I mentioned it at this dinner party. So, when my 78th
birthday came, this friend of mine brought me a ticket to go
to Dave’s “Trapeze High school”.
((NATS))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
I loved it. I loved it. I was scared. Everybody is scared. I
mean it’s normal to be scared because it’s out of your
comfort zone. But oh, that’s kind of a wonderful feeling! So, I
just started coming lots and Dave was very kind to me.
((NATS))
((Dave Ayers, Trapeze Instructor))
You know, she’s strong and she listens and all of that, but
she is still older than dirt. So, I was really cautious letting
her do something new, not let her just go off and get excited
and do her thing because she comes and she is excited and
she wants to do it some more, you know. We have to
ameliorate her excitement so she doesn’t hurt herself.
((NATS))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
Okay, honey. I started skating when I was eight years old. I
was with an ice show, “Holiday on Ice” for 50-some years.
When I was living in England, I was riding a horse and my
life became involved with polo. I was on a man’s team and
there were no other, at my time, there were not a lot of
women. So, I had to prove myself as a woman that I worked
hard and that they wanted me. I moved here. My husband
died. I went through a very depressed couple of years. And
then I met this great, young guy and then he was a rock
climber. So, he said, “Have you ever done that?” And I, no, I
hadn’t. So, we became partners in rock climbing and we did
big stuff. And it’s really true that it does help. It just gets
your brain thinking of about what you’re doing instead of
where you are. I just was sad. I was just sad that I no
longer had what I had. But I am doing something that is kind
of fun, kind of impossible, kind of out of my comfort zone.
But at the end of the day, I could sleep. And I am doing the
impossible. I am flying on that trapeze and I never, in a
million years, did I think that I would be able to do what I am
doing there. I am flying. I am no different than anybody
else. I’ve been blessed with good health, but I am hoping
though that people see me and say, “Well, why can’t I do
that if she did it?”
((Popup Banner: Goedhart holds the Guinness World
Record for oldest performing flying trapeze artist.))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Lifting Spirits
((SOT))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
I got into ballooning by accident.
Slowing down a little bit.
This is my 32nd year and this is my 20th year here at
Albuquerque.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
((Banner: Lifting Spirits))
((Reporter/Camera: Julie Taboh))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Albuquerque, New Mexico))
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
Morning. How you’re doing?
I got into ballooning by accident.
Slowing down a little bit.
((NATS & MUSIC))
This is my 32nd year and this is my 20th year here at
Albuquerque.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
We're just flying above the surface of the earth like, you
know, really, you know, close to the ground or high up. I
mean, it's unique. You have few types of aviation where you
could just float above the ground. So, yeah, after that first
flight, it’s like, you're hooked.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
This is the biggest ballooning event in the world by far. So,
every year they kind of pared it down. Now they settled
between 550 and 600 balloons.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Jill Levin, Festival Attendee))
I've been coming out for 40 years, since I came out here for
college, and it's, it's fabulous every single time. Can't beat it.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Reyna Naranjo, Festival Attendee))
It screams New Mexico. I don't know another place that has
something remotely close to this.
((Omar, Festival Attendee))
It's almost like a tradition to come every year. So, every
New Mexican knows that it’s balloon time.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
There are balloons here from, I think, this year 17 countries
in the world.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Sam Parks, Director of Operations))
Well, the festival started 48 years ago with only 12 balloons
to start with. And it happened basically in celebration of the
founder's mother's birthday. And so, here we are 48 years
later but I would imagine that we're going to be somewhere
between 800,000 and a million over the nine-day period of
the festival.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Sam Parks, Director of Operations))
The balloons themselves are located in a large launch field
but the crowd can go right up to them and touch them.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Sam Parks, Director of Operations))
I am inspired by it. One of the things that I heard yesterday,
which really touched my heart, was a young boy telling his
mother, ‘this is the best day ever.’ And so, when you hear
things like that, it just kind of puts it all in perspective and it
makes you feel like you're doing a good thing.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
See you next year!
((NATS & MUSIC))
((PKG)) WOMEN WEIGHTLIFTERS
((Banner: Lifting Weights))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Rosedale, Maryland))
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
My name is Mariel Gaviola. I work as a proofreader for a
financial investment company in Baltimore.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I have a competition next week and it's probably my sixth
competition or so. I started competing in 2018 or 2017 and
since then, I've had about six gold medals in my weight
classes.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I think in the US, weightlifting has actually really hit the
ground running. I think social media has a great kind of view
on weightlifting and women nowadays. It's a very good
message to see that women can be strong instead of just
slender, something, we’re beautiful outside of just, you know,
our physical appearances. A lot of the times I'll hear,
“women aren’t supposed to be lifting heavy weight. You're
going to get injured. Your anatomy is not built for this. You
can't compete with men. You're too small.” Personally, I'm
tiny, and a lot of people, when I tell them I compete, they,
you know, don't understand. They're like, “How? You're so
small.” And it’s a different kind of strength that women have
to understand the sport gives you.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
In my experience, women and men can handle pretty much
the same workload. There's about 52 to 55 percent men at
this gym and, you know, about 45 percent women here. You
know, sometimes a male with an ego will come in here and
very quickly have to check his ego because he sees that
there are women in here lifting more weight than he is.
((NATS: Jason and Mariel))
You’ve made all the jerks (lifts). You’re not going on 64 front
squats.
Yeah.
Start, good.
Oh, for my jerks, it was 58.
58, no problem.
Yes, I…..
Felt like you were jumping back? I didn’t see you on the
ones I watched.
((NATS))
((Kelly McDonald, Weightlifter, Federal Employee))
I started lifting here about a year-and-a-half ago, and before
that I did CrossFit for a year. Weight lifting has a lot of
benefits to me. The biggest one obviously is the physical
side of things. Seeing the improvement in body composition
and strength has been tremendous. The other side of things
is obviously the mental. So, this is my stress relief and it
helps me deal with the stresses of everyday life. So, it's kind
of my outlet. It's also my social life, since I spend so many
hours here.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
It's okay for women to be strong and powerful. I think there
was a stigma for a long time that women weren't allowed to
have muscles. But we have shown, as a society, that we are
okay with that now. And it's a great thing because women
are taking this sport very seriously and noticing that they're
not getting big and bulky like they were worried about, but
they're getting toned and fit and coordinated and strong and
more confident. And, you know, that's just a great thing for
anybody. But it definitely seems to be more accepted in our
society than, I think, it was before.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
You can’t let, like, the stereotypes around you affect how you
feel and what you want to pursue.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Real-Leaf
((SOT))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
The conditions in this area simulate summer time so the
lights are on 16 plus hours a day to simulate long summer
days.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) PIA -- MEDICAL MARIJUANA
((Banner: For a Little Relief))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Tucson, Arizona))
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
Cannabis in its different forms is the most versatile healing
plant that is known to man. I see cannabis primarily as a
source of nutrition. It's not a stimulant or depressant. It is
known as an adjustant. And so, it can up regulate or down
regulate the same body system in the same individual at a
different given time.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
My name is Aari Ruben. I am the Director of Real-Leaf
Brands and Real-Leaf brand of products.
Prior to opening the dispensary, my job as an administrator
for a pain management and mental health clinic that treated
chronic pain patients with opioids, my experience was that
those medicines create dependence and addictive behaviors
in a large number of people. The medications themselves
are extremely effective. We absolutely need them for
surgery and for immediate emergency situations. However,
they don't seem to be a good alternative for most individuals
for long term use.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
These are some of our production batches that are in their
vegetative state. These plants are looking really good. They
look healthy. They're ready to go into flower in the next
week or so.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Edsel, Co-worker))
Aari: Are these the new mother plants that we're going to
be cloning off of for next batches?
Co-worker Edsel: That's correct. These are new moms
that have been re-mommed recently. And these will be our
future donors.
Aari: Is this trying to flower a little bit? Might need a little
more light?
Co-worker Edsel: Yeah.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
When I was first exposed to cannabis, it was a social or
recreational activity. As time went on and I became more
familiar with cannabis and different strains and different
effects, I became aware that there were medical uses.
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
I have an uncle who's one of my mentors and he is a Ph.D
Organic Chemist with a focus on nutraceutical
medicine. And in the mid-90s, I had the good fortune to
work with one of his organizations known as Shaman
Pharmaceuticals. They had 80 ethnobotanists travelling
South American and African rainforests and bringing back
plant species that were suggested by indigenous medicine
people to have efficacy in treating human illness. And that
started me off with a basis in understanding plant medicine
and a passion for its uses.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
The conditions in this area simulate summer time so the
lights are on 16 plus hours a day to simulate long summer
days.
Edsel is cutting clones and he'll trim the bottom down just a
little bit in order to create a fresh cut sterile environment. We
dip it into a little rooting hormone and then straight into a
organic soil plug that has a small amount of nutrient and so
over a period of about 10 days, these plants will develop a
root system of their own and be able to uptake more nutrient
and be either a mother plant or one of our production
plants.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
This is one of our flower rooms where the magic happens.
In this room, we have forty-thousand watt high pressure
sodium lights. It stays cool by about 25 tons of air
conditioning when the lights are on. We fill it with an
average of one-hundred-and-sixty plants per cycle. And
they are in these seven gallon [26 liter] grow bags in organic
soil. And we trellis them up. These plants are one of our
favorite medicinal strains. It's sharp shock, is a heavy
yielder that doesn't have a lot of leaf growth coming out of it
and so it's very easy to trim.
We call this room flower room two. These plants have been
in here for about two months. They're finishing in their late
flower cycle and ready for harvest and we're happy to be
here doing what we do.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
Presently in the United States, there's more support for the
legalization of marijuana than there has ever been. The
support for medical uses is at an all-time high and I believe
to be in the 80 or 90 percent range in terms of adults that
support people having safe legal access to medical
marijuana for reasonable medical use.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Customer))
Aari: How are you today?
Customer: Oh, fine. How are you?
Aari: Good. Good.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
This is where our bud-tenders help patients. We have a
large variety of product, most of which we've made in-
house. On the top shelf, we have our indica-dominant flower
selection. We also are making a number of novel products
that you can see. Down on the center, we have a sublingual
strip. On the bottom shelf, we have our line of tinctures and
topicals. We're big on information. We maintain a lending
library where people can borrow our cannabis information
and learn more about the industry products, different
treatment methods. We also have a few books for sale.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Bud-tender))
Aari: What are we inventorying today?
Bud-tender: Concentrates.
Aari: OK. How's it looking so far?
Bud-tender: Really Good.
Aari: Yeah.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
In this cabinet, we have a large variety of extracts that are
waiting to be turned into products or sold to other vendors
and turned into labeled e-cigarettes, vape cartridges or the
like, edibles. This is what raw cannabis distillate it looks like
and it can be put into a large number of different items.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
I personally like all of our strains. They all have character
and their own nuances. The great thing about it is that
cannabis has an incredibly high safety profile. It's very safe
and so, we experiment and do our trial and error process
with individuals. We can find what works for them and use
that information then to help others with similar
circumstances. And so that to me is fascinating and one of
the most interesting parts of my job is matching up the right
plants with the right people.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Customer))
Aari: Cookies and cream, oh, it's good. I like that. Well,
have a nice day. Thanks for coming.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
BREAK
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE 100
AIR DATE 12 13 2019
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Pushing Boundaries
((SOT))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
It just gets your brain thinking about what you are doing
instead of where you are.
((SOT))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
Weightlifting has a lot of benefits to me. Seeing the
improvement in body composition and strength has been
tremendous.
((SOT))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
Cannabis in its different forms is the most versatile healing
plant that is known to man. I see cannabis primarily as a
source of nutrition.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) VIETNAMESE PILOT
((Banner: Flying Solo))
((Reporter/Camera: Vu Nguyen))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((VOA Vietnamese))
((Map: Atlanta, Georgia))
((NATS, MUSIC under throughout….))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
I plan to travel to 25 countries in 45 days, flying a single-
engine airplane.
Hi, my name is Anh-Thu. I am a flight instructor for
Aeroventures Flying Club.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu is the founder of Women in
Aerospace and Aviation in Atlanta, Georgia. She is planning
to become the first ethnic Vietnamese woman to fly solo
around the world))
((Banner:
4 continents
26 airports
26,883 Nautical Miles
49,787 Kilometers
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
Only 5% of all pilots in the world are female. So, I want to
increase this number and inspire women and girls who want
to pursue an aviation career.
I was born in a poor village named Hoa Xuan, Phu Yen
province, Vietnam. There was no running water or electricity
in my place. As a little girl, my friend and I sometimes
gathered outside to watch airplanes flying by. I was
fascinated by them and wondered why there were so many
airplanes.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu immigrated to the United States
with her family when she was 12 years old.))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
When I was 16, I told my father about my desire of becoming
a pilot. He was not supportive at all and thought that I would
soon get over it. In fact, my dream was still there.
((Popup Banner: Her father thought going to medical
school was a more realistic choice than attending the Air
Force Academy))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
In the U.S, when you become 18, you can do whatever you
want. So, I went to flight school without asking for my dad’s
permission.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu sneaked out of her house in the
morning to attend flight lessons. She paid $150 an hour for
tuition. It was a huge challenge for Anh-Thu, who, at the
time, was a freshman in college))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
One hour of flying cost me a week working as a math
tutor. My family was poor. My parents could not help.
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
The first solo flight was very emotional. Just like I had
already conquered the sky! Now I have 10 flight certificates
under my belt.
((NATS))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
It took me 12, 13 years to become who I am today, a flight
instructor. Pilots in the United States are typically white
men. Sometimes I feel like an outcast.
((Popup Banner: Anh-Thu believes she can be an
inspiration with solo flight. She believes her experience can
help shed stereotypes that women in aviation experience.
She wants to inspire women and girls around the world to
pursue their passion for the sky))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
This trip around the world is expected to cost about one
million dollars.
((Popup Banner: Solo-flying through 4 continents, 26
airports. Many challenges await Anh-Thu ahead but at least
she is not alone))
((George B. Harrison, Retired Airforce General))
And yeah, I thought it was a very ambitious project and I was
skeptical that she could put it together.
((NATS))
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
General Harrison helps me a lot in planning for this project.
((Popup Banner: General Harrison is her advisor and is
helping with the around-the-world flight plans.))
((George B. Harrison, Retired Airforce General))
I am very impressed with how far she has gone, and I think
any native-born American of any background would be hard-
pressed to match what she’s done.
Her background as a Vietnamese-American definitely made
me feel obligated or honored more than obligated to support
her.
((Anh-Thu Nguyen, Founder - Women in Aerospace and
Aviation))
One of 25 countries that I’ll visit is Vietnam. I’ll go back to
my village where I was born and raised. I was just a little girl
then, living in poverty. Now, I’m a pilot and I’m back.
((PKG)) TRAPEZE ARTIST
((Banner: Flying High))
((Reporter/Camera: Genia Dulot))
((Map: Escondido, California))
((NATS))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
When I was a little girl, my dad and mom took me to a circus
and there was a girl, the girls were flying and I just thought,
“Oh, that must be so wonderful! Some day I want to do that!”
So, I mentioned it at this dinner party. So, when my 78th
birthday came, this friend of mine brought me a ticket to go
to Dave’s “Trapeze High school”.
((NATS))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
I loved it. I loved it. I was scared. Everybody is scared. I
mean it’s normal to be scared because it’s out of your
comfort zone. But oh, that’s kind of a wonderful feeling! So, I
just started coming lots and Dave was very kind to me.
((NATS))
((Dave Ayers, Trapeze Instructor))
You know, she’s strong and she listens and all of that, but
she is still older than dirt. So, I was really cautious letting
her do something new, not let her just go off and get excited
and do her thing because she comes and she is excited and
she wants to do it some more, you know. We have to
ameliorate her excitement so she doesn’t hurt herself.
((NATS))
((Betty Goedhart, 86-year-old Trapeze Artist))
Okay, honey. I started skating when I was eight years old. I
was with an ice show, “Holiday on Ice” for 50-some years.
When I was living in England, I was riding a horse and my
life became involved with polo. I was on a man’s team and
there were no other, at my time, there were not a lot of
women. So, I had to prove myself as a woman that I worked
hard and that they wanted me. I moved here. My husband
died. I went through a very depressed couple of years. And
then I met this great, young guy and then he was a rock
climber. So, he said, “Have you ever done that?” And I, no, I
hadn’t. So, we became partners in rock climbing and we did
big stuff. And it’s really true that it does help. It just gets
your brain thinking of about what you’re doing instead of
where you are. I just was sad. I was just sad that I no
longer had what I had. But I am doing something that is kind
of fun, kind of impossible, kind of out of my comfort zone.
But at the end of the day, I could sleep. And I am doing the
impossible. I am flying on that trapeze and I never, in a
million years, did I think that I would be able to do what I am
doing there. I am flying. I am no different than anybody
else. I’ve been blessed with good health, but I am hoping
though that people see me and say, “Well, why can’t I do
that if she did it?”
((Popup Banner: Goedhart holds the Guinness World
Record for oldest performing flying trapeze artist.))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Lifting Spirits
((SOT))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
I got into ballooning by accident.
Slowing down a little bit.
This is my 32nd year and this is my 20th year here at
Albuquerque.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
((Banner: Lifting Spirits))
((Reporter/Camera: Julie Taboh))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Albuquerque, New Mexico))
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
Morning. How you’re doing?
I got into ballooning by accident.
Slowing down a little bit.
((NATS & MUSIC))
This is my 32nd year and this is my 20th year here at
Albuquerque.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
We're just flying above the surface of the earth like, you
know, really, you know, close to the ground or high up. I
mean, it's unique. You have few types of aviation where you
could just float above the ground. So, yeah, after that first
flight, it’s like, you're hooked.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
This is the biggest ballooning event in the world by far. So,
every year they kind of pared it down. Now they settled
between 550 and 600 balloons.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Jill Levin, Festival Attendee))
I've been coming out for 40 years, since I came out here for
college, and it's, it's fabulous every single time. Can't beat it.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Reyna Naranjo, Festival Attendee))
It screams New Mexico. I don't know another place that has
something remotely close to this.
((Omar, Festival Attendee))
It's almost like a tradition to come every year. So, every
New Mexican knows that it’s balloon time.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
There are balloons here from, I think, this year 17 countries
in the world.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Sam Parks, Director of Operations))
Well, the festival started 48 years ago with only 12 balloons
to start with. And it happened basically in celebration of the
founder's mother's birthday. And so, here we are 48 years
later but I would imagine that we're going to be somewhere
between 800,000 and a million over the nine-day period of
the festival.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Sam Parks, Director of Operations))
The balloons themselves are located in a large launch field
but the crowd can go right up to them and touch them.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Sam Parks, Director of Operations))
I am inspired by it. One of the things that I heard yesterday,
which really touched my heart, was a young boy telling his
mother, ‘this is the best day ever.’ And so, when you hear
things like that, it just kind of puts it all in perspective and it
makes you feel like you're doing a good thing.
((NATS & MUSIC))
((Gary Michalek, Balloon Pilot))
See you next year!
((NATS & MUSIC))
((PKG)) WOMEN WEIGHTLIFTERS
((Banner: Lifting Weights))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Rosedale, Maryland))
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
My name is Mariel Gaviola. I work as a proofreader for a
financial investment company in Baltimore.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I have a competition next week and it's probably my sixth
competition or so. I started competing in 2018 or 2017 and
since then, I've had about six gold medals in my weight
classes.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
I think in the US, weightlifting has actually really hit the
ground running. I think social media has a great kind of view
on weightlifting and women nowadays. It's a very good
message to see that women can be strong instead of just
slender, something, we’re beautiful outside of just, you know,
our physical appearances. A lot of the times I'll hear,
“women aren’t supposed to be lifting heavy weight. You're
going to get injured. Your anatomy is not built for this. You
can't compete with men. You're too small.” Personally, I'm
tiny, and a lot of people, when I tell them I compete, they,
you know, don't understand. They're like, “How? You're so
small.” And it’s a different kind of strength that women have
to understand the sport gives you.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
In my experience, women and men can handle pretty much
the same workload. There's about 52 to 55 percent men at
this gym and, you know, about 45 percent women here. You
know, sometimes a male with an ego will come in here and
very quickly have to check his ego because he sees that
there are women in here lifting more weight than he is.
((NATS: Jason and Mariel))
You’ve made all the jerks (lifts). You’re not going on 64 front
squats.
Yeah.
Start, good.
Oh, for my jerks, it was 58.
58, no problem.
Yes, I…..
Felt like you were jumping back? I didn’t see you on the
ones I watched.
((NATS))
((Kelly McDonald, Weightlifter, Federal Employee))
I started lifting here about a year-and-a-half ago, and before
that I did CrossFit for a year. Weight lifting has a lot of
benefits to me. The biggest one obviously is the physical
side of things. Seeing the improvement in body composition
and strength has been tremendous. The other side of things
is obviously the mental. So, this is my stress relief and it
helps me deal with the stresses of everyday life. So, it's kind
of my outlet. It's also my social life, since I spend so many
hours here.
((NATS))
((Jason Morstein, Owner, BASA Gym))
It's okay for women to be strong and powerful. I think there
was a stigma for a long time that women weren't allowed to
have muscles. But we have shown, as a society, that we are
okay with that now. And it's a great thing because women
are taking this sport very seriously and noticing that they're
not getting big and bulky like they were worried about, but
they're getting toned and fit and coordinated and strong and
more confident. And, you know, that's just a great thing for
anybody. But it definitely seems to be more accepted in our
society than, I think, it was before.
((NATS))
((Mariel Gaviola, Weightlifter, Proofreader))
You can’t let, like, the stereotypes around you affect how you
feel and what you want to pursue.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Real-Leaf
((SOT))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
The conditions in this area simulate summer time so the
lights are on 16 plus hours a day to simulate long summer
days.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) PIA -- MEDICAL MARIJUANA
((Banner: For a Little Relief))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Tucson, Arizona))
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
Cannabis in its different forms is the most versatile healing
plant that is known to man. I see cannabis primarily as a
source of nutrition. It's not a stimulant or depressant. It is
known as an adjustant. And so, it can up regulate or down
regulate the same body system in the same individual at a
different given time.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
My name is Aari Ruben. I am the Director of Real-Leaf
Brands and Real-Leaf brand of products.
Prior to opening the dispensary, my job as an administrator
for a pain management and mental health clinic that treated
chronic pain patients with opioids, my experience was that
those medicines create dependence and addictive behaviors
in a large number of people. The medications themselves
are extremely effective. We absolutely need them for
surgery and for immediate emergency situations. However,
they don't seem to be a good alternative for most individuals
for long term use.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
These are some of our production batches that are in their
vegetative state. These plants are looking really good. They
look healthy. They're ready to go into flower in the next
week or so.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Edsel, Co-worker))
Aari: Are these the new mother plants that we're going to
be cloning off of for next batches?
Co-worker Edsel: That's correct. These are new moms
that have been re-mommed recently. And these will be our
future donors.
Aari: Is this trying to flower a little bit? Might need a little
more light?
Co-worker Edsel: Yeah.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
When I was first exposed to cannabis, it was a social or
recreational activity. As time went on and I became more
familiar with cannabis and different strains and different
effects, I became aware that there were medical uses.
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
I have an uncle who's one of my mentors and he is a Ph.D
Organic Chemist with a focus on nutraceutical
medicine. And in the mid-90s, I had the good fortune to
work with one of his organizations known as Shaman
Pharmaceuticals. They had 80 ethnobotanists travelling
South American and African rainforests and bringing back
plant species that were suggested by indigenous medicine
people to have efficacy in treating human illness. And that
started me off with a basis in understanding plant medicine
and a passion for its uses.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
The conditions in this area simulate summer time so the
lights are on 16 plus hours a day to simulate long summer
days.
Edsel is cutting clones and he'll trim the bottom down just a
little bit in order to create a fresh cut sterile environment. We
dip it into a little rooting hormone and then straight into a
organic soil plug that has a small amount of nutrient and so
over a period of about 10 days, these plants will develop a
root system of their own and be able to uptake more nutrient
and be either a mother plant or one of our production
plants.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
This is one of our flower rooms where the magic happens.
In this room, we have forty-thousand watt high pressure
sodium lights. It stays cool by about 25 tons of air
conditioning when the lights are on. We fill it with an
average of one-hundred-and-sixty plants per cycle. And
they are in these seven gallon [26 liter] grow bags in organic
soil. And we trellis them up. These plants are one of our
favorite medicinal strains. It's sharp shock, is a heavy
yielder that doesn't have a lot of leaf growth coming out of it
and so it's very easy to trim.
We call this room flower room two. These plants have been
in here for about two months. They're finishing in their late
flower cycle and ready for harvest and we're happy to be
here doing what we do.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
Presently in the United States, there's more support for the
legalization of marijuana than there has ever been. The
support for medical uses is at an all-time high and I believe
to be in the 80 or 90 percent range in terms of adults that
support people having safe legal access to medical
marijuana for reasonable medical use.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Customer))
Aari: How are you today?
Customer: Oh, fine. How are you?
Aari: Good. Good.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
This is where our bud-tenders help patients. We have a
large variety of product, most of which we've made in-
house. On the top shelf, we have our indica-dominant flower
selection. We also are making a number of novel products
that you can see. Down on the center, we have a sublingual
strip. On the bottom shelf, we have our line of tinctures and
topicals. We're big on information. We maintain a lending
library where people can borrow our cannabis information
and learn more about the industry products, different
treatment methods. We also have a few books for sale.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Bud-tender))
Aari: What are we inventorying today?
Bud-tender: Concentrates.
Aari: OK. How's it looking so far?
Bud-tender: Really Good.
Aari: Yeah.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
In this cabinet, we have a large variety of extracts that are
waiting to be turned into products or sold to other vendors
and turned into labeled e-cigarettes, vape cartridges or the
like, edibles. This is what raw cannabis distillate it looks like
and it can be put into a large number of different items.
((NATS))
((Aari Ruben, Director, Real-Leaf Brands, Inc.))
I personally like all of our strains. They all have character
and their own nuances. The great thing about it is that
cannabis has an incredibly high safety profile. It's very safe
and so, we experiment and do our trial and error process
with individuals. We can find what works for them and use
that information then to help others with similar
circumstances. And so that to me is fascinating and one of
the most interesting parts of my job is matching up the right
plants with the right people.
((NATS: Aari Ruben and Customer))
Aari: Cookies and cream, oh, it's good. I like that. Well,
have a nice day. Thanks for coming.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
BREAK
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
