5 Things / Ageist
Listen to the full episode here:
This year I learned that I’m ageist. I learned this by showing up at “drop-in pickleball" at the rec center around the corner, having never played. The other players were patient with me, lent me a paddle, and taught me to play. I felt cautiously confident that I could pick this up easily, especially since many players were older than me. And then I had my a$$ kicked by folks 15-20 years my senior.
I kept showing up, took some lessons, and attended other open-play sessions elsewhere. Where I live there’s a ton of diversity among the players, age and otherwise. We’re all just there to play. I don’t know their politics, their religion, or sexual orientation – and none of that matters. We’re just there to play.
Even as I’ve improved, and gotten a bit more swagger, I routinely get beat. But I absolutely love it, especially since it’s a multi-generational sport. This has been one of my gifts this year. The power of play – not just sport, but play – to create the space that bridges divides. In a world that’s distressingly polarized, I’m inspired by this possibility – and it’s one of many reasons I’m going to keep showing up.
This Week's Good Vibes:
‘Sesame Street’ Introduces TJ, the Show’s First Filipino American Muppet
Sesame Street's first Filipino muppet, TJ, has been introduced to the show, joining the first Asian American character, Ji-Young, who was introduced earlier this year. In a recent segment of the show, TJ appears with Ji-Young and actor Kal Penn, discussing the word of the day: confidence. The muppet was created by Filipino American animator Bobby Pontillas and is played by voice actor and puppeteer Yinan Shentu. Sesame Street is a 5 Things regular, as it continues to be a model for diverse representation. This matters especially for Filipino children and their families who can now see themselves on the show.
FDA Paves Way for More Gay and Bisexual Men to Donate Blood With New Risk-Based Assessment
In a “better late than never” story (which, let’s face it, most of them are!), gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can donate blood without abstaining from sex under a new policy by the US Food and Drug Administration. The guidelines, which ease decades-old homophobic bans on blood donations from gay men, allow for individual risks for HIV to be evaluated based on sexual behavior, recent partners and other factors. The change is in line with rules in the UK and Canada and should significantly boost donations.
Dartmouth Health on How to Reduce Hiring Bias, the Power of DEIB Statements
Dartmouth Health has implemented measures to mitigate bias during the executive search process as an upstream approach to ultimately provide equitable healthcare for all patients. Candidates are required to submit a DEI statement alongside their CV, which carries equal weight during the evaluation process. The selection process is also blind, with identifying information removed from applications. There are more, too, with some great best practices in the article, but what I love most is that the ultimate goal here is to eliminate healthcare disparities and improve patient outcomes. In a 2016 survey of white medical students, nearly half believed falsely that Black patients have thicker skin and less sensitive nerve endings. Another study found that Black babies are more likely to live if they are cared for by a Black physician.
Airbnb Let Its Workers Live and Work Anywhere. Spoiler: They’re Loving It
Airbnb's Live and Work Anywhere policy, which allows staff to work from any location worldwide for up to 90 days per country, has proved a huge success. Teams fly in for regular, in-person gatherings. "The business has actually never performed better since we moved to this program," says Airbnb Chief Financial Officer Dave Stephenson. "It's working really well for us." Around 20% of employees have relocated domestically or worked abroad, leading to the company hiring more women and under-represented folks, and an attrition rate that’s close to an all-time low and falling. This matters because women and underrepresented folks are more likely to experience micro-aggressions in the office and they also have lower incomes. This flexibility creates more opportunities for them to succeed.
For Kids, Going Under Anesthesia Can Be Scary. This Nurse Made a Video Game to Ease Fears
An Ohio nurse practitioner has developed a breath-controlled video game, EZ Induction, which helps children relax when going under anesthesia for surgery. The video game involves children putting the anesthesia mask on and start breathing into it which then “blows up a little balloon that wakes up all the animals in the game." The mask becomes the game controller and has been tested on hundreds of patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and has now been licensed for other hospitals. This matters because the game eases preoperative nerves, which are then linked to poor postoperative outcomes.
Call to Action:
Watch this PBS Special “Rising Against Asian Hate” narrated by the fabulous Sandra Oh. The special “sheds light on the struggles, triumphs, and achievements of AAPI communities.”