Choose Well: Helpful Conversations About Well-Being

Gerald Delk, CPG Vice President of Education, and Janet Todd, CPG Assistant Vice President of Educational Programs, share ideas for getting your financial house in order: where to start, what's involved, and good rules of thumb for spending and saving.

Do we eat to nourish ourselves, as a response to stress, or for some other reason? Church Publishing author Martha Tatarnic discusses her book Living Diet: A Christian Journey to Joyful Eating, which explores our psychosocial response to food and what it really means to be healthy and fit.

How are we influenced by diet culture? In this psychosocial conversation around food, nutritionist Stacy Leung shares tips on eating and health for people of every size.

A feeling of abundance begins by offering thanks for what we already have. Church Publishing authors Forrest S. Cuch and Michael Carney discuss their new book A Native Way of Giving, Native American philosophies and practices of gratitude, and our individual responsibility for the world we all share.

This conversation from our “Insights and Ideas” series brings together thought leaders from the Church, the private sector, and the Church Pension Group on the topic of socially responsible investing (with a specific emphasis on shareholder engagement). Discover investment strategies that advance socioeconomic equity, and find out what institutions are doing to enhance diversity in the investment industry.

Does meeting someone else's needs have you neglecting your own? Church Publishing author the Rev. Jean Denton delves into her new book Walking Each Other Home: Spiritual Companionship for Dementia Caregivers, exploring the unique challenges caregivers face—and the hope and meaning that can be found even in suffering.

Financial scams are widespread and costly. Deborah Royster, Assistant Director at the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Office for Older Americans, offers advice for seniors—and everyone else—on staying alert to financial fraud.

The state of the world may have you feeling exhausted. The Rev. Mario Conliffe, PhD, offers suggestions for restoring balance and improving your health and relationships.

Krishna Dholakia, the podcast's host, highlights what to expect from the new season of the Choose Well podcast.

Dr. Jeffrey Zahn leads a short exercise anyone can use at any time for practicing mindfulness. Disclaimer

Krishna and her guests talk about incorporating mindfulness into programs aimed at reducing burnout. Did you know that mindfulness training is now incorporated in physician training and used across healthcare to alleviate stress in patients and practitioners? Burnout is a growing concern in church ministry, too. Krishna continues to explore the topic of mindfulness with Dr. Jeffrey Zahn and Mickie Brown. Zahn and Brown offer tips for practicing mindfulness throughout the day. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: Learn how visioning can help you create a healthier tomorrow through our e-learning course.   Disclaimer

We hear a lot about mindfulness, but what exactly is it—and why is it a cornerstone of wellness? The experts weigh in. Being present in the moment can increase our resilience, compassion, and ability to focus, but it means learning new techniques. Listen as Krishna explores mindfulness with Jeffrey Zahn, MD, Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Mickie Brown, registered nurse and clinical manager for education and mindfulness at the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health. They share mindfulness techniques and explain how intention, choice, and living in the moment can be game changers. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: Learn how visioning can help you create a healthier tomorrow through our e-learning course.   Disclaimer

Knowledge can lead to better choices—and lower our anxiety about money matters. An expert connects the dots. Annamaria Lusardi, Professor of Economics and Accountancy at the George Washington University School of Business, calls personal finance a “happiness project.” Being financially secure takes a big worry off the table and puts us in a better position to achieve our dreams. Krishna, Pattie Christensen, and Annamaria talk about the benefits of increasing our understanding of saving, investing, and savvy debt management. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: Plan your future by scheduling a financial discussion with a CPG Financial Education Specialist. Want to know how much income you will need in retirement, and how to plan and save for it? Take a few minutes with our Plan Ahead and Retirement Savings Spending calculators. Additional resources: Learn about the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at the George Washington University School of Business.   Disclaimer

How to spot and protect yourself from fraudsters Krishna and Janet continue their conversation with FINRA's Gerri Walsh. They talk about the tactics fraudsters use to target their victims, and Gerri explains why we're susceptible to con games. She also reminds us that staying alert and informed is our best defense. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: Learn how to protect yourself from financial fraud through our e-learning course. Additional Resources: View FINRA's website to learn how they are working to protect investors and ensure the integrity of our country's financial markets. Research the background and experience of financial brokers, advisers, and firms with FINRA's free online tool, BrokerCheck.   Disclaimer

Who says you have to give up those expensive lattes to save for the future? Join Krishna and CPG colleague Janet Todd, director of curriculum development for CPG's education and wellness team, as they welcome Gerri Walsh, head of investor education at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Speaking from years of experience, Gerri offers an interesting perspective on why increasing our understanding of money matters contributes to overall well-being. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: Plan your future by scheduling a financial discussion with a CPG Financial Education Specialist. Want to know how much income you will need in retirement and how to plan and save for it? Take a few minutes with our Plan Ahead and Retirement Savings Spending calculators. Additional Resources: View FINRA's website to learn how they are working to protect investors and ensure the integrity of our country's financial markets   Disclaimer

With concerns about public health front and center, you may be having trouble focusing or getting a good night's sleep. What IS that? It may be caution fatigue—and you may be able to do something about it. The Rev. Barbara “Barb” Kempf, Associate for Intergenerational Ministry at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, leads Krishna on a journey through the toll that public health crises take on our lives. Speaking with both knowledge and compassion, Barb explores the potential impacts of social distancing and constant vigilance on us and offers advice on how to cope. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: View our e-learning courses on: Resilience: Stacking the Odds for Wellness How to use visioning to create a healthier tomorrow   Disclaimer

How are you feeling about your finances? Krishna is joined by her colleague Pattie Christensen, Vice President in Education & Wellness, and Janneke Ratcliffe, former assistant director in the Office of Financial Education at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to talk about building financial skills. Among other things, they discuss the need for “rainy-day funds” and invite us to think about “savings” as something you do, not something you have. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: Plan your future by scheduling a financial discussion with a CPG Financial Education Learn five key ways to make your goals more effective through our e-learning course. Additional Resources: View resources from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on how to protect your finances during the coronavirus pandemic.   Disclaimer

Change is possible, but why is it so hard? In this episode, Krishna talks to licensed clinical psychologist Jody Horstman, PhD, about neuroplasticity and what it takes to retrain our brains. The formation of neural “superhighways” in our brains allows us to change habits and adopt new behaviors. Repetition, small steps, and even failure can help us take advantage of our brain's neuroplasticity and adopt healthy habits in all areas of our lives. Resources for CPG Plan Participants: View our e-learning courses on: Resilience: Stacking the Odds for Wellness How to use visioning to create a healthier tomorrow Five key ways to make your goals more effective   Disclaimer

What is well-being and why do we need to talk about it? Krishna Dholakia, the podcast's host, and Munirah Jones, its producer, have a frank conversation about what well-being means to them. Listen as they explore different definitions of well-being and explain why CPG created this podcast.   Disclaimer