Of Consuming Interest

Of Consuming Interest is a weekly show examining the most important consumer issues today.


  • Shirley Rooker speaks with Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, who discusses the signs of hearing loss, the causes and the many ways to find help as well as the…
    March 5, 2022
  • Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Jill Robin Payne, a psychotherapist, who discusses how the use of electronic devices and the isolation from COVID has affected our ability to connect with others and offers techniques to…
    February 26, 2022
  • Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Debra Berlyn of Project GOAL, who describes how technology is designed to help seniors have better and healthier lives. She also talks about the technology introduced at the recent Consumer…
    February 12, 2022
  • Host Shirley Rooker talks with Kevin Brasler of Checkbook Magazine, who discusses the difficulties facing homeowners trying to remodel their homes, including shortages of supplies and workers. He also talks about the importance of finding…
    February 5, 2022
  • Shirley Rooker speaks with Mike McCartin of Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, who provides valuable information on types of insurance needed by a small business, how to cope with an emergency if you are traveling outside…
    January 29, 2022
  • Host Shirley Rooker talks to Kevin Brasler of Checkbook Magazine, who discusses the many ways you can reduce your energy bills without spending a lot of money. Sixty percent of utility bills go to heating…
    January 22, 2022
  • Jill Robin Payne, a psychotherapist, discusses how the use of electronic devices and the isolation from COVID has affected our ability to connect with others and offers techniques to cope with this loss.
    January 22, 2022
  • Host Shirley Rooker talks with Mike McCartin about travel insurance. For example, some travel insurance policies have COVID clauses and won’t pay if the trip is canceled because of the pandemic. He also discusses medical…
    January 9, 2022
  • Host Shirley Rooker talks to Kevin Brasler, editor of Consumer’s Checkbook, who describes a recent study on used cars that have been recalled due to serious defects. Many of them have not been repaired. In…
    January 1, 2022
  • Shirley Rooker talks with John Breyault, National Consumers League, about ways to protect against malware and ransomware as well as how COVID scams are evolving. He also discusses the scams involving gold and silver.
    December 26, 2021
  • Host Shirley Rooker talks to Ben Lieberman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who describes the problems associated with the push for electric cars, which will result in an increased demand for electricity and problems with…
    December 18, 2021
  • Shirley Rooker speaks with Richard W. Rahn of the Institute for Global Economic Growth, who describes the economic impact on Europe of efforts to go green, including blackouts, gas and food shortages and increasing unemployment…
    December 11, 2021
  • Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Bobby Bhatia of Doyle, Schultz and Bhatia, who discusses changes to tax laws including the significant increase in standard deductions and what it means for taxpayers.
    November 27, 2021
  • Host Shirley Rooker talks with Mike McCartin of Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, who discusses the many options for long-term care insurance, the types of policies and when to buy it. Only about 18% of consumers…
    November 24, 2021