Lost or Found

On today's show, we talk about self empowerment!  Well-being starts with us.  When we practice self empowerment, we make a conscious decision to take charge of our lives.  It involves making positive choices, understanding our strengths and weaknesses, and continuing even when things feel rough. People who consciously decide to take control of their lives are often happier, more fulfilled, and more satisfied in their careers.  Join us as Crystal Robb and I talk about self empowerment! Crystal Robb has been actively working in the wellness community for over 10 years. She is a nutritionist, specializing in plant-based nutrition, culinary arts, and sustainable agriculture. Crystal is also a registered yoga teacher, and professional surf instructor.  Crystal offers wellness consulting and coaching to inspire you to live your best life.  You can find her at crystalrobb.com

We have Dr. Jyothi Rao, MD back on the show - author of Body on Fire! Health and balance in our bodies begins with the immune system. And today, we talk everything about Stress and the Immune System! It's true that stress can come from many places, and the problem is...when stress doesn't go away. It can be from pressure from work or home, the food that goes into our mouths, lack of sleep or overstimulation, the stress of always being connected and notified socially. And this stress has direct impact on our immune system. What happens when our immune system becomes dysregulated? What are signs of an overactive immune system? Join us! Dr. Rao is a badass, seriously one of my doctor girl crushes. A wonderful and true advocate for our health, she is also a fantastic educator. An Internal Medicine doctor by training and experience, she is a strong proponent of holistic medicine, and focuses her medical practice on wellness and prevention. You can find her at raowellness.com.

On today's episode, Daisy Thayer and I discuss Don Miguel Ruiz's amazing book The Mastery of Love.  There's seriously nothing like two intelligent women of different generations, sitting down, getting real, and talking about a really great book! Because let's admit it, sometimes Love is super confusing. We're all trying to make sense of it! In his book, Don Miguel Ruiz brings up the fear-based beliefs and assumptions that undermine love and lead to suffering and drama in our relationships.  Together, Daisy and I talk about "the parasites" - our beliefs that make us suffer and sometimes control our lives, our emotional wounds, and the freedom and joy that love can offer. And oftentimes, it's seriously a work in progress.   But what can't we do, if we start talking about difficult things? Thank you for finding us and listening to us!  If you're loving the podcast and if you haven't already done so, please leave us a great review, and send your friends an episode! Every little bit helps! And remember- there's no one like you!! More reason to invest in yourself!

On today's show, I am so honored to have Tenzin Chogkyi here to talk about Transitions! Transition periods are sometimes chosen and sometimes not. Transitions exist in many forms, we can be in between jobs or careers, grief and mourning, relationships, illness, or retirement. It's a period where we may not be able to necessarily weigh our lives with our productivity, as it's a period of reassessing, turning inwards, to figure out what we really want. What is visible on the outside may not matter, as we transform into something new. I'm so glad to have the chance to converse with Tenzin on today's podcast! Because let's be honest, transitions are a hella slow process, sometimes enigmatic, and also...really frustrating. Tenzin Chogkyi is a teacher who bridges the worlds of Buddhist thought, contemplative practice, mental and emotional cultivation, and the latest research in the field of positive psychology. She took monastic ordination in 2004 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and practiced as a monastic for nearly 20 years. Since 2006, she has been teaching in Buddhist centers around the world. Check out her podcast Unlocking True Happiness! You can find her at unlockingtruehappiness.org I also wanted to thank my listeners for coming back, for joining us, and for finding us.  I think you're the bestest and I'm really honored to be a part of your day today.  If you're enjoying season 3, please don't forget to give us a great rating, however you get your podcasts.  And send your friends your favorite episode!

Guess what! We're Back! And Season 3 starts today!! I am SO excited to have Samantha Fey back on the show!  She's here to talk about her new book, The Awake Dreamer, and it's a super interesting and fascinating read.  I seriously loved this book and could not put it down.   Dreams have played a significant and active role in Samantha's spiritual development and awakening. Her book is full of fascinating stories, exercises, and techniques to not only remember our dreams but to also gain insight from our dreams. It is through her extensive research that she explores famous soul travelers, premonitory dreams, dream visitations, healing dreams, past-life dreams, guides and angels. Seriously, it's a fascinating topic, and her beautiful book is so well written as she uses research and intuition to help us gain insight from our dreams. Because what's better than thinking about our soul's potential and living a fuller life? I'm pretty open about it, but Samantha Fey is one of my heros.  My girl crush.  And she is also the cohost of two popular podcasts, Psychic Teachers and Enlightened Empaths, both of which teach listeners how to embrace and celebrate their innate sensitivity and gifts.

Super excited about today's show! Michael Fish is here today and he's a Camaldolese monk and a member of the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California. I bet you may never have thought monks could be cool. But in all seriousness, they can be hella cool. I've heard him speak a couple times, and I continue to be floored by his insights into life. I usually end up thinking about his teachings for days, as they are so close to my heart. And he is finally here! While a Catholic monk, he refers to God as a she. Since I've known him, he's always referred to God as a woman. I've never heard anyone call God a she. He describes her as the gentlest of all voices, inside of all of us. And what if hearing this quiet and gentle voice in all of us, is crucial for really getting to know ourselves? Our true selves? Today Michael Fish talks with us about the Journey through life, based on the 4 stages of life in the Hindu tradition. Believe me, he is an amazing speaker, who speaks from the heart. You can find him at hermitfish.com.

I agree with Dr. Rakesh Jotwani: Food is medicine.  Movement is medicine.  Breath is medicine.  Sleep is medicine.  Love is medicine. Today Dr. Jotwani (aka Dr. Rak) talks with us about the powerful changes that we all can make to our own bodies, which has the potential to be curative, as it can prevent and reverse the overwhelming chronic disease that exists in the world.  We live in a world where hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes are not shocking news, and in fact they are only the beginning.  In my opinion, preventable disease should always be shocking, because ultimately, we don't have to go there.  There is SO much that we can do about it, I really mean it.  It's hard, but we can all take control of our lives, with persistence and the right guidance. I realize this may be a tough topic right before the holidays, but before we ever commit to doing something, it's good to plant that seed in our head, ponder the thought, and see if takes root when we are actually ready to commit.  This is called Fighting For Our Lives, and not just seeking medication when we suddenly find ourselves host to a chronic disease. This is not a diet -- it's a Lifestyle. Healthy living.  It's each of us choosing to live and choosing what we bring into our lives. Dr. Rak sees patients remotely, and you can check out his website at rakyourlife.org. If you're loving the podcast, don't forget to give us a great rating, send your friends an episode, and subscribe!

On today's show, I talk with Jeanne Feeney about movement, especially during the postpartum period, when the primary objective seems to be survival itself. Body-Mind Centering is a comprehensive educational and therapeutic approach to health and healing, with a wide range of benefits.  Using a dynamic blend of movement, touch, sound, and guided imagery, one can learn to release the stress, fear, aches and pains, limiting habits and perceptions that prevent us from being our "best selves." Jeanne Feeney is a dancer, choreographer and movement therapist, and has been a certified practitioner of Body-Mind Centering™ since 1989. She runs the Studio at Squid Row in Santa Cruz, CA, where she shares her passion for movement, working with adults and children as they navigate the changes of life, in their bodies. You can find her at movementlaboratory.org.

A true love story is not a fairy tale. For Realz. It takes vulnerability and effort to be in a relationship. And what if the goal of conflict is not to win, but it is a way in which to get to know your partner better and develop deeper intimacy? I am super excited because Dr. Dave Clarke is back on the show again. This time, we are talking about about relationships.   Together we read the book, 8 Dates by John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman. Let's be real, long term commitment is hard and it takes effort. And in this book, Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, draw upon forty years of research from their famous Love Lab, inviting couples on fun and rewarding dates, exploring eight topics that matter the most in relationships- including trust, conflict, sex, money, family, adventure, spirituality, and dreams. And Dr. Clarke and I discuss these essential conversations! Join us as we get real, and still have a good laugh!

On today's show, we are talking about yoga with Daisy Thayer!  According to the National Institutes of Health, there is scientific evidence that shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality of sleep. Yoga provides a retreat from our busy and chaotic lives, while providing many mental and physical benefits. Yoga develops inner awareness. It helps us to focus our attention on our body's abilities at the present moment, while also helping us to develop our breath and strength of mind and body. Surveys have shown that people who practice yoga are more aware of their bodies than those who don't practice yoga. People also tend to be more satisfied with and less critical of their bodies, promoting more positive body image and self esteem. Join us as we talk about the power of yoga with Daisy!

While many of us would like to imagine the holidays to be idyllic, the reality is that sometimes it's not. The holidays can be emotionally, physically, and psychologically taxing, and every family, no matter how loving, has its fair share of challenges. Do we break the people-pleasing pattern which is typically at our own expense, or do we set boundaries and prioritize some of our needs and give at a sustainable rate? My friends- you, your sanity, and your well-being matters! For sure. Join us today, as Denise Correll from the Enlightened Empaths podcast and I discuss boundaries before the holidays. We laugh, we almost cry, and we laugh again, as we have a heart to heart on breaking the people-pleasing habit, and practice the art of self-care and self defense. Why? Because it totally matters. Your well-being depends upon it. You can find the amazing and talented Denise at thegratefulmessenger.com.

It's that kind of episode today! Just talking about the things that we do understand and the things that we don't, the love and the frustration, the funny and sometimes not so funny. Being real with my own issues, my increased frustration with my little girl than boy sometimes, as I continue to see how I act and react, and check myself. It's a fun episode as we sometimes agree and disagree, but all of it is A-OK. Get your coffee and tea, chill-ax, and laugh with us, as we get real with some of the goings on in our own lives. Who else to bounce it off than other moms you trust? And don't forget!  If you're loving the podcast, rate us!  Subscribe!  Send your friends your Fave episodes!  Go back and listen to the ones that you haven't.  It helps a lot.  This is totally a project of love which began with my breakdown, as I continue to work towards my breakthrough.  And thank you for inviting us into your lives!

We've got a great show today, as Jonathan Miller is back, to talk about how humans have changed our food. Processed food isn't a modern invention, it's as old as humanity itself and may have helped create our species, although today, there is a far more negative connotation with the polystyrene-like snacks. Processed food has, for better or worse (and likely both), changed our relationship with food. Join us in this super informative and interesting show as we not only rethink our food, but where it comes from, and how it's made. Jonathan is a personal chef cooking for clients in the central coast area. He has been cooking healthful, vegetable-forward, and seasonal food for over 15 years, and less healthful but still tasty food even longer than that!

I am super excited about this interview because I've become a huge fan of the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach and of Dr. Larry Arias. They're both THAT special. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a bird that tries to perfect the art of flying. He may be a bird, but he's a badass, who's gonna-become-a-renegade bird. He has an unbounded passion for flight despite the rebuke of his clan or flock. He's bored with his life, disheartened by the passionless lives of those around him, and he's made an outcast because he can't conform. This book shares a profound truth about our existence. And I get to discuss this special book with Dr. Larry Arias. Larry is a pharmacist and would-be creative person who lives with his husband, dog, and two cats in magical Santa Cruz.  His interests include discovering beauty and humor in unusual places, finding the perfect balance in things that are “weird” and “cool,” and rooting for the underdogs of society. He hopes to one day move from his professional career and pursue a path that allows him to amalgamate his interests into artwork that can be shared with the world. 

Welcome to today's show!  I'm excited to have Dinasha Cellura on the podcast as she talks about her organization, the Live Like Leo Foundation.  She started this organization with her husband to serve and guide our youth, after experiencing the tragic loss of her son, Leo, in 2020.  Their foundation, through grants, finances expenses related to learning abroad programs for underprivileged young adults - giving young minds the opportunity to become global citizens, empowering them to lead their own communities with compassion and inclusion in order to create a kinder, more connected world.  It's incredible how much they have already given back to children in the community, despite having lost their young son recently. As Dinasha describes her organization, she describes what she and her family created in Leo's spirit, which is thoroughly profound and inspirational. Dinasha speaks beautifully from the heart, as she shares her life with us and her foundation that came from it.    Please join us as Dinasha Cellura talks to us about how she continues to carry the pain and honors her son in what she does in her time left here, as she gives herself permission to continue living.  Please also consider donating to their wonderful foundation- Live Like Leo, and you can find their website at livelikeleo.org.

When Janae Thomas was a little girl, she loved walking in cemeteries for fun, and she still loves walking in cemeteries for fun! Janae literally loves everything old.  I chose to interview Janae today because I've never met someone who quite sees the beauty of the past like her. She appreciates history and legends, without judgement.  As we live our lives, perhaps we are sometimes too busy to think about what had been. Join us as I talk with Janae about newel posts, old houses, hair in stained glass, and old Indian burial grounds in Santa Cruz, CA.  Who knows, maybe next time, you'll notice the faces in the window of an old house, captured on camera.  Janae did.

Children today are faced with an increasingly complex world. What does a child need to thrive? Most people know that children need shelter, food, and love to be happy and healthy, but there's more to consider. Overall child well-being can be affected by the child's own personality and those around them like their family and community. While providing a uniform definition of child well-being is difficult, it's generally understood that a child's well-being is a measure of the quality of their life, including how well they are and how well their life is going. This broad definition can easily encompass the different ways of assessing child well-being, such as health, education, family or social life, or safety and security concerns. A child's well-being is important, as it allows us to understand how children are coping in their world.  It is with their well-being that we begin to learn about resilience. Join us in today's conversation as we talk about our children!  Their well-being matters, because it's the building of a better foundation for the stronger sense of self.  And what can't you do, if you have all of you?  Dr. Garry Crummer, MD, is a board certified doctor in Pediatrics and Integrative and Holistic Medicine, in Santa Cruz, CA.  

On today's episode, we have my favorite psychologist back on the show, Dr. Chris Fahrenbach!  We talk about Loss and Change in our lives, both the collective loss and our personal loss.  Sometimes, with loss and change, we grieve what has happened, and our grieving is a form of learning - one that teaches us how to be in the world.  Whether you're facing the end of a job or relationship, the death of a loved one, or organizational change, or the loss of something very important to you, the way you say goodbye can mean the difference between stagnating in grief and thriving in the future.  Learn about how we can transform our struggles into inspiring new beginnings.  Go You! And if you're LOVING the show, don't forget to support us by subscribing, telling your friends, and leaving us a great review!  All of it seriously helps!!

In this life's journey, you are your own driver! Get in the driver's seat! Is there an aspect of your life where you feel like it's time to take charge?  If we don't advocate for ourselves, who honestly will?  On this week's episode, my friends Carla Roa and Kim Rodriguez join me to discuss what it means to "be the boss of you."  It begins with understanding the priorities that define you. Deep commitment to your personal goals can drive you to break through limited beliefs, to act on your own behalf.  When you take charge of your life, you can make the positive life changes you have been dreaming about.  Being you is super important.

Today we are talking Siblings!  I hope that you do have a fantastic relationship with your siblings, but sometimes that's not the case.  It's an important relationship, but sometimes as we get older, the relationship can become more complicated.  It's one of the longest relationships in a person's life, as you grow up in the same environment, share the same parents, and look back on common memories and similar experiences.  And even though we share our history, while the relationship is unique, sometimes it's just hard.  Cierra Ryzcek is on the show today as we get real and converse about siblings. She has been an independent jewelry artist for over 12 years and for the past 10 years has owned her edgy, modern, surf & beach styled boutique called Lumen Gallery, located in the Heart of Capitola Village. You can check out her amazing store at lumengal.com. If you're loving the podcast, please don't forget to subscribe and leave us a great review however you get your podcasts! This is a project of love, as we talk about real things that actually matter - because it's empowering and it contributes to your health and well-being. Live Your Life! We will be taking a short summer break, and will be returning on 9/8/2022.  Stay tuned for more exciting and thoughtful shows!!  Take time to check out the older shows that you missed! 

"A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails," - Donna Roberts. Strong friendships are a critical aspect of most people's emotional well-being. Research shows that close friendships are associated with greater happiness, self esteem, and sense of purpose such that people with close connections are healthier, recover from certain illnesses more quickly, and live longer. It's Legit! On today's episode, I sit down with my friend Oriana Gliessman as we get real and discuss friendship. Oriana has always had friends, while I recently have more friends. Join us in this fun conversation as we talk about what is a good friend, how we can be a better friend, and, well, are friendships just confusing sometimes?

Karen Snedeker is on the show today to talk about her near death experience. At the end of a mission trip to Brazil, a truck going at full speed struck their car while they were stopped alongside the freeway. The majority of the impact was on the side in which she was sitting. A horrific accident, where the car had been crushed, Karen came out of that accident without any external bleeding, although she sustained 7 fractures in her pelvis, and 30% of her femur was displaced. Her injuries healed without surgery. While an incredible story of survival, her journey also brings up the power of faith, prayer, community, and the ineffable. Karen is a Santa Cruz STEAM and Math educator and she has participated, lead, and hosted numerous mission trips in response to her passions of connecting with diverse cultures and deepening her faith.

Everybody poops and most of us don’t talk about it. And while it may not be pleasing to talk about our bowel movements, our poop offers us valuable clues to our health. On today’s episode, Jonathan Miller returns to the show to talk about his love of ferments and beans, one of the ways in which we can improve our BM’s. If you’re producing soft, well formed logs that aren’t hard to push out and are very regular, then your bowels are probably in good shape. If not, consider listening to this episode to learn about how ferments and beans can add to your health. It’s a beyond the poop kind of moment. Jonathan Miller is a personal chef cooking for clients in the central coast area. He has been cooking healthful, vegetable-forward, seasonal food for over 15 years, and less healthful but still tasty food even longer than that!

How can we live our lives when everything seems to fall apart—when we are continually overcome by fear, anxiety, and pain? The answer, Pema Chödrön suggests, might be just the opposite of what you expect. Pema shows that moving toward painful situations and becoming intimate with them can open up our hearts in ways we never before imagined. She draws upon traditional Buddhist wisdom and offers life-changing tools for transforming suffering into perhaps joy. On today’s episode, Dr. David Clarke, MD and I discuss Pema Chodron’s best-selling classic, When Things Fall Apart. Because sometimes, chaos is our teacher. If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, tell your friends, and leave us a 5-star review! Save your life, by having these conversations!

Today on the podcast, we discuss Ascended Female Masters!  Ascended Masters are enlightened beings whom many believe have evolved beyond the need to reincarnate on earth and now act from a higher plane of existence to assist humans in their movement toward enlightenment, guiding the human race in its evolution.  Think Mary, the Beloved Mother; Isis the Egyptian goddess of Nature; and Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, compassion, and protection.  We hear about these ascended masters in our society, we see images of them, but have we ever really ever thought about them, considering that their imagery is still ever present?  Join us in this fascinating conversation as Josie Teresi and I discuss these ascended female masters, who are ever-present to guide us to a higher path.  Maybe it’s silly, maybe it can make you feel better, or maybe focusing on the world’s female masters may further enlighten you.  You decide.   Josie Teresi is an intuitive energy healer, reiki healer, counselor, and YouTuber.  She has published several books, including You Were Born a Star, Now What? based on the teachings of  “A Course In Miracles” and the Unity Philosophy.  Visit her webstie, josieteresi.com, and her YouTube channel, Into Light.

On today's show, we have psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke, the author of Dopamine Nation, here to talk about dopamine, which rules the pain and pleasure centers of the mind.  She describes that we live in a time of indulgence with unparalleled access to high-reward and high-dopamine stimuli. In an era of overconsumption and instant gratification, Dopamine Nation explains the personal and societal price of being ruled by the next fix- and how to manage it. Her amazing book helps guide people to find a healthy balance between pleasure and pain. It can not only transform your thinking, but your life. Join us in this fascinating conversation! Dr. Lembke is the Medical Director of Stanford Addiction Medicine. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries in prestigious medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA. She is also the author of Drug Dealer, MD, and Dopamine Nation, a book that shows that the secret to finding balance is combining the science of desire with the wisdom of recovery. You can find Dr. Lembke at annalembke.com.

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, milestones for a child reverse themselves.  Kids eventually regress, moving backwards in their development. On today’s episode, Sara Aluffi is on the show to talk about her younger son, Joaquin, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  Duchenne is a rare genetic disorder, primarily affecting males, causing the muscles in the body to become weak and damaged over time. Duchenne is eventually fatal.  Join us, as Sara Aluffi gives us a candid look into their lives, this heartbreaking disease, and the love that binds them, despite the pain. Sara is the founder of a nonprofit organization called Joaquins Warriors DMD. You can find her nonprofit at joaquinswarriors.com.

Dyslexia is so common, affecting 20% of the population and represents 80-90% of all those with learning disabilities. It can include slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, or mixing up similar words. It can occur in anyone, and the level of severity may be different. People who are very bright can be dyslexic. It’s important to think about and to address appropriately- as dyslexia can affect a person’s self image. Students with dyslexia often end up feeling “dumb” and less capable than they actually are. They can encounter a lot of stress due to academic problems, and may become less resilient. While it is a lifelong condition, with the proper help and early identification, people can learn to read and write well, so that they can live their fullest life. Join us, as Judy Robinson is on the show to talk about this really common condition. She is a retired educator who specializes in reading and autism spectrum disorders. Judy lives in Carlisle, MA.

Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in the world. And it's generally known that the power of medicine to relieve pain remains sadly inadequate. Dealing with chronic pain can wear a person down. Oftentimes, people also experience frustration and mental health issues because of the pain. People who suffer from chronic pain are three times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, and are twice as likely to be at risk for suicide. Pain can affect all aspects of someone's life. Daniel Clauw has said in a 2019 lecture, there isn't “any drug in any chronic-pain state that works in better than one out of three people.” He went on to say that nonpharmacological therapy should instead be “front and center in managing chronic pain — rather than opioids, or for that matter, any of our drugs.” Our approach with chronic pain is mostly medications, specifically opioids. However, chronic pain patients require a multifactorial approach, but unfortunately, our approach is not necessarily multifactorial. Join us, as we talk with Dr. Lishanna Emmert about acupuncture as a treatment modality to help with chronic pain. You can find Dr. Emmert at Solis.care.

Christopher Greer joins the show today to continue our discussion on addiction.  Having worked in primary care, and as I continue to work in the hospital, I have witnessed so many people dealing with addiction. Those who struggle with addiction often hide it until it can't be hidden anymore.  I’ve seen people in their worst state, and I would wonder if they had reached their rock bottom.  The truth is, no matter how bad the state – could be coma in a young person – you don't know if they've reached that place where they finally choose their life.  Only they know.  And it's really hard to see, witnessing someone's demise because of addiction.  There is so much harm that's done, not only to them, but also to the people who love them.  That's why we continue to talk about hard topics on the show – because with learning and understanding, there can be a possibility for heathier choices and courage for something better. Christopher Greer is a therapist in Santa Cruz, and he earned his Masters in Social Work.  He spent the last few years working at a local non-profit providing varying levels of support for people struggling with Substance Use Disorder, individuals with varying mental health disorders, and those who have been involved in the criminal justice system.  And he helps his clients with their mental health and well being, to consider the whole person.  You can find him at chrisgreertherapy.com.

On today’s show, Cierra Ryczek and I discuss The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  It was a New York Times Bestseller for almost a decade, and it is a timeless and inspiring book with many great lessons.  Everything we do is based on agreements we have made: agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life.  But the most important agreements are the ones that we make with ourselves.  Don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering.  Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, this amazing book offers a powerful way of thinking that can transform our lives. Join us for a fun and upbeat conversation on this timeless classic!  Plus, Cierra is back on the show!  Love, Love, Love our discussions, as well as the unpredictability of our conversations!?!  You can also find Cierra’s lovely shop at  lumengal.com.

The psychologist Douglas LaBier believes all life forms have purpose, and we as humans feel a drive to define a purpose for our lives. Maybe it’s okay to be comfortable just existing, not being aware of why we do things or behave as we do, but the drive to find meaning may also be essential to our human experience. Your purpose is unique to you. Your purpose helps to create meaning in your life, and it offers a sense of direction guiding your path. If you’ve ever wondered about purpose, join us in this interesting conversation with Chiara Woods! She is a Mindset and Career Transition Coach, and host of The Soulicitor Podcast. In her prior career, Chiara worked as a corporate lawyer, when her life changed in 2009. Today, Chiara helps women who feel stuck in an unfulfilling career by helping them to overcome their fears, figure out what they want, and plan a life that they love. You can find her at chiarawoods.com.

Meet Dr. Manas Kshirsagar: a board certified Ayurvedic doctor. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems: where the goal is to cleanse the body and to restore the balance to the body, mind, and spirit. He provides Ayurvedic consultations at his clinic in Santa Cruz, CA, and teaches both health professionals as well as the community how to care for one’s health and well-being.  Providing a holistic approach to medicine, his philosophy of healing revolves around diet, yoga, meditation, detoxification, nutrition, and effective stress management. Join us in this fascinating conversation. You can find Dr. Kshirsagar at ayurvedichealing.net.

Family Secrets. We all have them. And while family secrets can seem terrifying or traumatic, these discoveries also have the power to liberate, heal, and transform us.  On today's show, we have Yvonne Liu to talk about her life as an adoptee and childhood trauma survivor.  She is a freelance writer, who lives in Los Angeles, whose her Huffpost adoption essay was viewed over 1.5 million times in one week.  She has written multiple articles and essays, and is currently working on her memoir.  Her work has appeared in the NY Times, Newsweek, salon, and NBC News.  She had kept her family's secret for over 60 years, and is now writing about it, telling her truth and her story. You can find her at yvonneliuwriter.com. Join us!

On today's episode, we have Rabbi Eli Cohen on the show again to talk with us about Passover, as it brings up the powerful theme of redemption. The holiday commemorates freedom and justice for all. Passover is centered around the retelling of the biblical story of the Jewish people being freed from slavery in Egypt. The holiday is so rich in symbolism and meaning, as it incorporates themes of springtime, homeland, family, Jewish history, social justice, and freedom. The central ritual of Passover is the Seder, which is a ritual packed feast with symbolic foods, intended to help the Jewish people relive God's great redemptive act. The overarching theme of Passover is redemption – the divine redemption of the Israelites for the understanding of God, divine morality, and ethics. I'm really honored to have Rabbi Eli back on the show, to talk with us about redemption and renewal, as we can all think about how we can celebrate our freedom and the profound meaning it has on all of our lives. You can find Rabbi Eli Cohen at cysantacruz.com.

We have a super fun conversation today, as Jonathan Miller is on the show to talk about healthful food.  He brings up the impact of globalization on food and how it's changed how we eat.  It's certainly a reminder how the convenience and availability of food doesn't necessarily mean it's good for us.  And he describes to us what real eating is! I promise you, he's going to inspire you such that you're going to want to make more one pot wonders, for your health! Jonathan Miller is a personal chef cooking for clients in the central coast area. He has been cooking healthful, vegetable-forward, seasonal food for over 15 years, and less healthful but still tasty food even longer than that! Though he claims his favorite bean is the Good Mother Stallard bean, it's actually impossible to have a favorite since almost all beans are delicious!    

We live in a youth-obsessed society, that tells us our value declines as we get older.  Simply being alive implies growing older, but after a certain point, what may lie ahead becomes more real.  We may desire something that we can’t humanly have, as we are made to believe that our youthfulness is our ticket to remain relevant. Then, we might feel shamed for not better preserving that youth.  It’s exhausting.  And it’s merciless.  Instead of seeing aging as something to fight, what joys can we amplify to mitigate the losses of youth, so that we continue to embrace who we are?   Join us for today’s conversation!  Connie Sobczak is here to share her thoughts on aging.  She is the founder of The Body Positive https://thebodypositive.org/.  Plus, Connie has authored two outstanding books – Embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and quiet that critical voice!) and The Wise Woman Guidebook.  You can also find her at conniesobczak.com. And check out her AMAZING TedX talkhttps://www.ted.com/talks/connie_sobczak_embracing_your_critical_voice_the_gateway_to_self_love

The death of someone we love, changes our lives forever. And after someone dies, it's almost always a long and painful journey. According to Dr. Alan Wolfelt, after working with thousands of grieving people over the years, he writes that he has “learned that if we are to heal we cannot skirt the outside edges of our grief. Instead, we must journey all through it.” Grief is what we think and feel on the inside when someone we love dies. It's the internal meaning given to the experience of loss. Mourning is the outward expression of our grief, the difficult journey that we define. On today’s show, we have my friend Kim Rodriguez to talk about her husband’s death and she speaks about rediscovering what it means to live a full life.

“Everyone’s body has some story to tell.”  Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT) is a unique set of techniques, approaches, and methodologies that address pain, dysfunction, disease, and disability.  IMT achieves health and healing by taking into account the whole body, identifying the primary source of dysfunction or the underlying cause of a problem, rather than just treating symptoms.  Practitioners use their hands to diagnose and treat clients, for the opportunity of healing and rehabilitation, as an alternative to or complement of more traditional treatments.  Kathy Nuss is an occupational therapist who focuses on self-empowerment, by helping her patients find their path to wellness and identifying underlying causes and needs.  You can find her wellnessfromwithinpg.com.

I guess we're going there today. And it's a hella interesting conversation! And as Dr. Chris Fahrenbach says in the interview, “If you can't talk about something…Why is that?” I am a Catholic. And I don’t understand why Womenpriests are not formally accepted. As a Catholic, I often find myself at a crossroads.  When I feel lost, confused, or really sad, going into a church makes me feel safe and heard.  As a child, we started to attend church as our family started to fall apart. Although I believe God exists everywhere, and it doesn't necessarily have to be in a place of worship, sometimes that faith is more obvious to me in a church or in the woods.  Although I feel called to the Catholic faith, I am tolerant of all religions, as I believe, to each his or her own. As much as the church comforts me, I don’t agree with everything the it teaches. For example, why can’t women be priests? Why can’t priests marry?On today’s episode, Dr. Chris Fahrenbach, a psychologist here in Santa Cruz, CA, talks with us about Roman Catholic Womenpriests, as she, herself, is one. And, well, I can’t hide my adoration for Dr. Fahrenbach. She is so thoughtful and introspective as she guides us into this discussion. Join us! To learn more, goto romancatholicwomenpriests.org

We’re baaaaaaack!!  Season 2 begins today!  Hello!  Welcome!  We’ve missed you!! On today’s episode, my friend Cierra Ryczek and I discuss Lindsay Gibson’s book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents.  Even the title made me pause, because, well, it feels like a gigantic dose of reality.  Like a bit of vomit plus a good cry.  It’s definitely an Ouch (plus probably a couple of expletives).  The book teaches us that emotionally immature parents cause emotional neglect and rejection, which have long term effects, with the reality that our parents could have been toxic.  But she says that this neglect wasn’t about us, it was about them.  If you’ve felt lonely as a child, join us in this interesting and super fun conversation as we try to begin to understand.  Two women together in a room, who have experienced emotional loneliness as children – who are not going to continue to live that way as adults.  Spiritual Gangsters, we are! You can find Cierra and her beautiful store at lumengal.com. And thank you for giving us a listen!  We are a relatively new podcast, and if you are loving the show, please don’t forget to give us a great rating, and tell all your friends.  I am rooting for the badass that is you because the truth is, if you put your mind and soul into it, there is nothing that you can’t do.  For Sure.

On today’s episode, Oriana Gliessman asks ME questions!  It definitely feels different not being the one to ask the questions, but the one answering them.  Awkward, informative, fun, or funny?!?  Always, all of the above!  We talk about the path, the process, what led to it, and well, what now?  Why didn’t I just buy the fancy red sports car during my midlife crisis??  This will be the last show as we close out the first season – 52 episodes!  I will be taking a 2 month break before we return on 2/24/22.  If you’re loving the podcast, don’t forget to rate it, write a great review, or follow me on instagram or facebook!   Thank you to all my listeners!  I am so grateful to all of you who are listening.  Thank you for letting me into your lives, and, hopefully, together we feel more courage than fear, we laugh more than we cry, we feel more faith than doubt, more hope than despair, and more light than darkness. Thank you to my amazing website designer, wonderful and very competent friend, Katherine Hallissy Ayala at CodeByKatherine.  I am so grateful you chose to take a chance with me! And thank you to my fantastic and utterly professional Sound Producer, Will Mitchell at Hands on Sound.  You make sound hella amazing, and thank you for aiding me on my journey as a podcaster.

Lorna Bryne, an international bestselling author, is here to talk about Angels!  It’s amazing to think how the imagery of angels is recognized by virtually everyone, yet in our society, many of us do not believe that they actually exist. Born in Ireland, Lorna is the author of seven best-selling books, including Angels in My Hair, A Message of Hope From the Angels, and Angels at my Fingertips.  Lorna has become a spiritual teacher as a result of her remarkable gift, as she has been seeing and talking with angels her whole life, as she sees them as a natural part of her waking life.  Join us in this fascinating conversation, as we talk about messages from the Angels!

“It’s a wise person who rules the stars, a fool who is ruled by them”, -Martinie. Today we’re talking about Astrology with Jenifer Edwards!  She is a gifted Maine-based Intuitive Astrologer who believes that her divine mission is to assist others in discovering their Soul's Purpose through their unique astrological fingerprint, their birth chart.  The birth chart is a soul map of our journey in this lifetime, filled with the challenges we choose to master as well as the blessings which guide and enhance our human experience.  I am so excited to discuss Astrology with Jenifer! If you love reading your horoscope, you’ll find this conversation fascinating! You can find Jenifer at thankgoddess.org.

On today’s episode, we have Dr. Jyothi Rao, MD on the show to speak about Gut Health! Learning about the gut is extremely important. Our gut has tons of bacteria in it, and these gut bugs are responsible for much of our immune system defense as well as hormone and mood regulation. Our gut bacteria can even decrease inflammation, and they likely play a role in how we get sick. Although we may not be able to control our genetic predispositions, we can control our environmental triggers. Join us in this fascinating topic, as Dr. Rao talks about how we can heal our gut. She is the author of Body on Fire: How Inflammation Triggers Chronic Illness and the Tools We Have to Fight It. Dr. Rao is an Internal Medicine doctor and practices Integrative Medicine. You can find her at raowellness.com

On today’s episode- we talk about Gratitude!  There are scientifically validated benefits of gratitude, and it’s so much more than saying “thank you”.  Gratitude affects us mentally and physically.  There are numerous studies that suggest that showing gratitude can increase one’s happiness, decrease inflammation in one’s body, reduce stress, increase optimism and change our brain, increase satisfaction in life, and build greater resilience.  Join us in this compelling conversation with Nisha Sidhu, who is a Mindful Life Coach, as we talk about celebrating the present!  You can find Nisha at myndtreat.com.

On today’s episode, we have Rebecca Hurdis on the show to talk about her life as an adoptee. Born in Seoul, Korea, Rebecca Hurdis is a transracial transnational adoptee. She spent her childhood on the east coast, before moving to California when she was 20 years old. Growing up in the 1980's and 90's when most of America believed in the model minority myth and assimilation for Asian Americans, Rebecca argues that such beliefs are false and dangerous. She brings up the idea that adoption is associated with trauma: it has been suggested that trauma is at the ‘Center of all Adoption' as adoption cannot occur without trauma. And she brings up the theory of the Primal Wound, how abandonment and loss can be imprinted on the unconscious minds of those who have been separated from their biological mothers at birth. Join us for this fascinating and thoughtful conversation!

On today’s episode, my friend, Dr. Heidi Olander, MD, shares her recent neurosurgical health crisis.  In spring 2020, she was noted to have a lesion in her brain, with the potential to be something malignant or benign- and she was recommended for neurosurgery for a medical diagnosis.  She walks us through her medical journey.  One of the commonalities in life is that we will all inevitably face one or more crises or have to deal with adversity.  But perhaps an important key in learning from our adversity, and becoming resilient, is to emerge from the other side of a difficult experience, as intact as possible.  As scary as these experiences can seem, they can also add to our lives and ultimately help to heal us.  Dr. Olander is an Ob-Gyn doctor with Kaiser Permanente San Jose and Santa Cruz.

What’s clear is that even though we think we may know, most women do not have a good understanding of menopause.  We have an idea of what occurs, but do we truly know what is to be expected?  Menopause is diagnosed after you’ve gone without a period for one year, but, well, it doesn’t just last one year.  There’s been a longstanding viewpoint, which is oftentimes misogynistic, that menopause is viewed as a pre-death, decreases a woman’s worth, or affects one’s femininity.  But with the appropriate knowledge on this very important women’s health issue, and by being in the know, you can help yourself through the process, and have a better menopause to live your fullest life.  Join us in this fascinating conversation with Dana Ramsey, CNM, MSN.  She is the founder of Nurture Women’s Health & Fertility.  Be empowered!  You can find Dana at nurturesantacruz.com.

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