Life On Earth

I have to admit I didn't know what to title this episode. While the topic was "rehabilitation from substance abuse", that's such a wild understatement of what happened when we spoke to Stephanie. Stephanie shared her own story of substance abuse, and recovery... but the incredible benevolence in this women's story and life work, go well beyond personal rehabilitation. Stephanie has now devoted her career to helping people break through the stigma's and barriers to better their lives as they emerge from the grips of addiction. No matter where you come out on the issue of substance abuse and WHAT the barriers to rehabilitation are, Stephanie's message and work will move you to believe their is hope for those who struggle to regain their independence as they get clean and re enter the work force. Stephanie's candor and vulnerability are magnetic and before we even finished recording this episode, Adam and I were already texting each other that there need to be a part 2-3-4-etc.... to this episode. I can't thank Stephanie enough for her willingness to speak with us.

Adam and I got to speak to an intuitive counselor named Lissa Rose. We left this episode much more conversational and raw, because honestly, Lissa has too many areas of interest and information for us to really pigeon hole this in to one topic... which made editing different. You can find more information about Lissa and her areas of focus on LissaRoseCounseling.com or her instagram at all_things_woo.

Azaria was kind enough to record with us twice, due to a technical issue with Zoom, and it was ABSOLUTELY a gift to Adam and I that she was so kind with her time. She was a wealth of information on principles that I had very little knowledge of. As I am writing this update, I am tempted to break down what we discussed, but I would be doing a book report of great information that someone else said. It wouldn't do her justice. Listen for yourself, and grab a pen and paper to jot down some notes. There were some technical issues at the 40 minute mark, and editing it to sound seamless wasn't possible.

Ed ended up back in the ER. Not for anything as serious as the A Fib situation, but of course nothing that walking calamity does, ever goes off without a fun hitch. What nightmare can you imagine for an overweight man, than having a medical emergency that puts a focus on his tummy. How about having the nurse and Doctor both be.. well, you'll just have to listen and find out. Spoiler alert: He basically lived out an amalgam of all hi Jr High nightmares rolled into one gut wrenching (no pun intended) experience.

Last week I had a medical scare, and Adam helps shed some light on just what I was going through. I have finally started having prolonged success in losing weight, so why did I just have a heart scare now?!?! WTF!!! Light headed, fluttery feeling heart, and a near faint, sent me to the ER with a pulse of 210. As I was being prepared to have my heart shocked back to normal with electricity, the gravity of the situation started to settle in. I am so thankful I have someone in my life to exploit my health for podcast ratings, all under the guise of "clarifying what happened and what my long term prognosis will be". This is a two birds one stone scenario for us for sure... ratings and peace of mind.

You better bring paper and a pen to this episode. There were times where I forgot I was suppose to interact with the guest, because I was so lost in what Tressa was saying. This is exactly why we do this show. Tressa was able to speak on so many topics from Tantra, to Spiritual Healing, and life purpose, that we often judge with the bias created from our own up bringing, but in honesty many of us are still pretty rudimentary in our understanding of. Tressa has a gift for quantifying pretty complex topics so that they are understandable for those of us without much working knowledge on these topics.

Adam and I are particularly proud of this episode of Life on Earth. We spoke to a woman named Heather who has overcome addiction, and continues to succeed in her recovery from this horrible disease. We have spoken to people who are educated in the field of supporting addiction recovery, but I learned so much from hearing the expertise of someone who survived the battle, and is now thriving in her success. She is a perfect example of how addiction can strike ANYONE from ANY walk of life. Heather is your stereotypical suburban soccer mom. Raising a family, progressing in her career, and building a community of friends wherever she goes. Then all of this was derailed when she was injured in an accident, and she was prescribed opiate based pain medicine to help her in her healing. This could have been the start of a tragic story, as she slipped further and further into the grips of addiction. She tells amazingly vulnerable stories about how addiction morphs who you are, and before you know it you're doing things you never thought you would do, all in service to your disease. Hearing her describe the mind frame of a person struggling with addiction, and all that changed in her world, was humbling. How the feeling of "not deserving help" would juxtapose with feelings of "I can't be an addict, I am not like the stereotypical addict" shows how powerful the mind can be when it comes to protecting itself. Seeing her now, on the other side of addiction, as she works to continue her progress was a much needed story of optimism. She definitely adds a human face to an often dehumanizing and stigmatized disease. It was a good reminder of the role optimism, support, and humanity play in helping people over come the crosses they bear.

Adam and I were lucky enough to be able to speak with CR Braniff. CR is the husband to author Angela Braniff who authored the book "Love without borders" which describes how a deep sense of "purpose" and faith has lead this couple to adopt 6 kids (5 at the time the book was released) to join their already growing family of 4. It was inspiring to hear how CR described daily life with 8 kids. His views on faith, and joy through living life with a deeper purpose, was refreshing and felt very contradictory to what seems to be a society currently obsessed with instant gratification and dopamine rushes. CR's love for his kids, and wife really shine through in this discussion. It is quickly evident how what others may view as a "Herculean" task of trying to raise a large family from diverse backgrounds, with diverse needs, all while sustaining and expanding a farm and nurturing a marriage, is the only way this man can picture living a life of fulfillment. His joy and enthusiasm in his chosen path, is endearing. By the end of the conversation it becomes clear that CR's "chosen" path, doesn't feel to CR as though it was chosen BY him, so much as it was chosen FOR him in the form of a spiritual calling. During the entire conversation I couldn't help but notice how this man described how keeping his focus on his faith, family, and especially his wife, made what seems like a heavy workload feel routine to him. Every comment he makes, and every story he tells, reflects the incredible perspective that CR has gained through living his life for a bigger purpose than himself.

Anya Hill, a licensed PA who has made a career in medical addiction treatment, joined us to continue the discussion we started in episode 4. Today Anya dove deeper into tools to help handle urges that play in to addiction. From breathing techniques, to differences in how you react to information you learn about yourself, to self care. This is a discussion with someone who has significant medical knowledge of addiction, but in no way meant as a medical diagnosis or treatment plan. When speaking about addiction, it is wildly helpful to listen to someone with Anya's level of experience, and learn how she personally addresses the feelings and triggers that accompany addiction. As Adam and I preach, do not use any podcast or youtube video or TV show as a replacement for seeking care directed specifically for you, by a trained provider. However, this discussion is filled with great information, and is a great starting point for anyone who is suffering from any type of addiction to begin their journey to wellness.

Adam and I welcomed Shane, a firefighter and fire department union rep. Shane discussed the increased efforts to highlight mental health awareness for first responders (primarily fire fighters due to this being his direct area of experience). Shane was incredibly open about the struggles he has seen, as well as efforts being made by fire departments to increase awareness. It was incredible to hear how progressive and PROACTIVE fire fighters are being about suicide prevention and mental health awareness. It was great to hear how the people who protect our lives on a daily basis, are finally getting the help and care they deserve. I also couldn't help but feel even more indebted to these brave people, for helping to break down the stigmas surrounding mental health, and leading the way in making mental health awareness easier.

Like many people growing up, I viewed my health care needs in a very "reactive" manner, and mostly in terms of acute need. However, Adam and I welcomed a massage therapist named Jasmine to Life on Earth, and she discussed the importance of being proactive with health. She also broke down the importance of viewing wellness as less of a singular, event driven process, and more of an overall part of your life maintenance. This discussion went way beyond skeletal and muscular health, and dove in to the role massage therapy can play in mental health, spiritual health, as well as immune support. This is one of the conversations that changed how I look at the topic being discussed, in a deep and fundamental way. A complete re-understanding of total body wellness.

After 8 episodes of great info, Adam and I touch base on what we have learned so far. We also discover a hidden reward, that the podcast has started to take on a life of its own. The whole point of starting this podcast was to speak to actual experts about hard to understand topics. It stands to reason that as this happens, the show is starting to create its own direction and path. Adam and I are limited to our own prior information and knowledge base when planning and forecasting, however as we speak to actual experts, they have really dictated where the information will take us.

Adam and I welcomed the Rev Paul Trudeau to our show. Paul is a Co-Director of City Hope, a homeless mission in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. He previously served as chaplain at the San Francisco County Jail. We had an amazing conversation about the role servitude plays in spirituality. Paul's responses to "service" and the role of "giving" was completely unexpected. His beliefs on "taking", in terms of growth and healing, was enlightening. It was refreshing to have such an open, and inclusive message in a period of time that feels so divisive. This interview had many great points that I know will stay with me. It is good to hear from someone dedicated to restoring humanity to segments of society that seem to have humanity robbed from them.

Adam and I welcomed Dr. Milligan, a licensed Naturopathic Dr. Dr. Milligan discussed his own health journey and how that lead him to seek "alternative" wellness options outside of traditional western medicine. He was extremely candid about what he personally went through. He also dove deep into what differentiates Naturopathic medicine from traditional western medicine. We covered total wellness, the patients role in their own healing, and misconceptions about healthcare that impede patient progress. Dr Milligan also spoke to the need for proactive care, as well as system changes he beliefs would aid people in their journeys. Of course, being the only non medical provider in a conversation with a Dr and PA, the conversation included me playing the role of guinea pig and being diagnosed on the air.

Vona joined us to discuss the benefits of mental health maintenance. She had amazing insights on the barriers people face in seeking mental health, and the way public opinion is changing in regards to the importance of being proactive with your mental health. I dont want to spoil any of the information she shares with a lengthy description, because she quantifies things better than I can with any description I provide.

Dr. Spencer Chun is an Urgent Care Doctor working on the island of Oahu. Dr. Chun's Urgent Care is seeing a high volume of Covid patients and was kind enough to join Adam and I in a discussion of exactly what his experience has been. We not only discussed the impact Covid is having on overcrowding ICU's, but also some of the mental impacts on healthcare workers. Dr. Chun was also helpful in letting us know what to look for in regards to symptoms.

Today we spoke to a PA named Anya who is a Addiction Medicine Provider and Clinical Director. We had a great conversation about so many aspects addiction. Everything from some of the origins of addiction to the stigmas that inhibit people from seeking help. This was one of what we hope are many conversations to come with Anya. This is not intended to be a diagnostic process or used as medical advice, but a candid discussion about the effects of addiction and fuel for thought.

Today we interviewed Joey Dussel. Joey has a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Exercise Science with an additional focus on Nutrition, and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association. He works as a trainer at the Nike World Campus, and has wonderful insights on both the physical and mental hurdles people face in obtaining their fitness goals. We discussed the role of ego as a hurdle for fitness goals, as well as both the physical and mental aspects of achieving your goals. Everything from the need for stretching, to overcoming self defeating language and behaviors to attain a functional body that will allow you to thrive as you age. Functionality over vanity. This was a fun interview with plenty of great information. You can read more about Joey, or obtain his services at.... http://www.joeydussel.com and http://www.transformation-possible.com

We had a great discussion with a pediatric ICU doctor, named Rich, who came in to share his personal recovery story. He was able to convey his addiction and subsequent recovery in a way where Adam and I could relate his words and feelings to areas of our lives that we are struggling with. Rich was extremely well versed in the process of recovery and his own journey gives extra power to his words. His vulnerability was inspiring.

Life on Earth is a podcast based on finding the best "you". No one podcast can solve your problems. There isn't one TV show or internet video that is the answer to all that ails you. Your life is probably a mess of hot nonsense. Well, take comfort, so are everyone else's lives. Welcome to Life On Earth. A podcast brought to you with the idea of beginning conversations with physical/spiritual/mental health professionals and allowing them the forum to deliver their message. Along the way, hosts Ed Kiester, and Adam Bailey, will address topics of concern in their growth progression, with the hope that you find some clarity in your journey as well.