"Free Frozen Embryos -- and an IVF Baby."

Tracey Mercier and her husband Greg had every challenge imaginable in wanting to have a baby.

For a while they had given up. Then, a series of events presented the possibility that they could have a child.

With pursuits of doctors and treatments from here to California -- and across the border to Mexico, the Merciers found a total of 5 embryos. Two failed. Of the other three, one became their daughter Lily.

You'll hear why the trip to Mexico resulted from restrictions in the United States. From her experience, Tracy Mercier has become politically active. In this conversation, she speaks out about the proposed amendment to Virginia's Constitution on the November ballot in the midterm elections on November 3rd. The change is supposed to protect personal decisions in a wide range of reproductive health care. Virginiaans will choose YES for protection of personal freedom vs. NO, which could result in leaving the decision to state government. She says VOTE YES on Amendment #1 on Nov. 3.

More information from Virginia's Department of Elections

https://www.elections.virginia.gov/election-law/proposed-constitutional-amendment-question-1/

Han Jones is campaign director with Virginians for Reproductive Freedom, an organization that is encouraging Virginians to vote YES on a proposed state constitutional amendment to assure that the government does not have a role in a woman's reproductive health decisions. The decision will be made in the November 3 mid-term elections.

This interview explores the views of the organization.

Links below give more detail about VfRF and about the language of the amendment.

https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_Question_1,_Right_to_Reproductive_Freedom_Amendment_(2026)

https://va4reprofreedom.org/

Dan Gray, Immigration Lawyer with the Garza Law Firm discusses his interactions with immigrants in the area who have been arrested, detained, and are facing deportation issues. Families are affected, but, as Gray explains, the community is affected as well.

Gray's legal action takes place in the larger national context of increased arrests and more aggressive tactics of the Trump Administration.

Contact for Dan Gray via

https://garzalaw.com/

Kindergarten teacher Jessica Watts volunteers her time and resourses on behalf of immigrants whose families are caught up in deportation and detention issues. She describes the effect of enhanced enforcement on families and communities, and talks about why this issue is meaningful to her.

The Democratic Primary election will be held on August 4th.

In this episode of This Conversation, you'll meet the three Democratic Primary candidates: Douglas Crockett, Adam Murphy, and Joy Powers. The winner wll face Incumbent Republican Candidate Morgan Griffith in the mid-term election on November 3.

Congressman Griffith's office received an invitation to record an episode and have equal time. There was no response.

This week we talk to another social media star. It's Josh Mancuso. He's an actor. filmmaker, and comedian -- best known for his social media routines on how college teams name their mascots.

Learn more at

https://www.joshmancuso.com/

This week's conversation focuses on the stunning internet success of Marion, Va native Amy Kiser Schemper with her fitness and lifestyle videos. You find her as Body Fit by Amy. She has 955,000 YouTube subscribers who tune in for her two -thousand- plus videos and is hoping to hit the one million mark soon.

Hear how she and her husband built the social media business that supports their family of four in Los Angeles.

Learn more at ​https://www.youtube.com/user/BodyFitByAmy

The Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center is offering dental care for those who can't afford it in Abingdon, Virginia. The facility is funded, in part, from fundraising work with the associated fundraising organization Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Charities.

Rachel Helton leads the fundraising work and describes the organization in this program and she introduces her summer intern Teddy Pillion.

The Dental Center has 21 treatment facilities and has served thousands of people, but still faces a waiting list of more than three thousand people. Resident dentists can help those who need cleanings, crowns, bridges, dentures, fillings and more.

For those who need dental care and think they can't afford it, call 276-525-4487.

For those who would like to contribute to the work, call Rachel Helton at 276-275-1063.

For more information, https://appalachiandentalcharities.org/