PATH Positive Approaches To Health

Join Toni T as she takes us on a morning walk through Campbell with her trusty pup, Otis, spinning like the town's unofficial mayor. In this special solo dispatch, she reflects on life's transitions, recent travels, and how our 2025 words—Create & Community—are showing up in powerful ways.We have been super busy over the last few weeks - Toni has been on the road delivering keynotes on leadership and authenticity while Jenny has been busy with teaching kitchens and culinary medicine. And guess what???? The next PATH Retreat is happening in Boise this September! Our retreat will focus on finding joy in work, self-care, and authenticity—all set against a backdrop of hiking, yoga, and nourishing meals. Be on the lookout for more info in the coming weeks.Tune in, reflect, and enjoy the special curated playlist accompanying this episode. As always, if there's something you want to hear more about, ping us! 

Take a stroll with Toni and Otis on a sunny Monday morning in Campbell! This bite-sized episode gives listeners a heartfelt behind-the-scenes glimpse into the pulse of PATH Positive Approaches to Health. Toni reflects on the joys and challenges of building this podcast and pulls from our vast archive of episodes—150+ treasures filled with community wisdom, expert insights, and practical tips for tackling your PATH!Whether it's unlocking the power of community with Steve Smith, exploring authentic living with Gustavo Padron, or completing the stress cycle with Elizabeth Aong, this episode highlights Toni's curated playlist of PATH classics to help guide and inspire you. Plus, get insider details on how to tap into the catalog and connect for your personalized recommendations!It's a public service announcement meets love letter to listeners—a celebration of what makes this podcast "the little pod that could" and how it continues to inspire and surprise us.

Join us for a special milestone episode of Path Pod as we celebrate six incredible years of Positive Approaches to Health!

In this short and sweet pocket episode, Toni and Jenny discuss their intentions for 2025. They share their chosen words for the year and delve into the significance these words hold for them and their lives. Through their candid conversation, they explore how these words— Community and Create—are already shaping their daily routines, interactions, and outlooks. They explore the multifaceted nature of creativity, from creating space and boundaries to fostering new connections and projects. Listen to this tiny little episode on your next walk or run for a little does of inspiration and connection!

In this special pocket promo episode of the PATH Pod, Toni sits down with her "collaboration conspirator," the amazing Celestina Brunetti, for an impromptu conversation about an exciting upcoming event. Broadcasting from Newcastle, Australia, Celestina shares her journey of collaboration and how it has shaped her career and life. Together, Toni and Celestina dive into the heart of what makes collaboration so impactful, providing insights and inspiration for dietitians and beyond.Here's what we cover in this fun and lively chat: Collaboration as a Superpower: Celestina and Toni reflect on their year-and-a-half journey of co-creating a growth seminar for dietitians. They emphasize how passion and alignment are at the core of any successful partnership. The Power of Shared Inspiration: From professional brainstorming to bonding over Rick Rubin's The Creative Act, the duo discusses how mutual inspiration sparks creativity and innovation. Dietitian Hub Growth Seminar: Learn more about the incredible 2025 Dietitian Growth Summit happening January 16-17, featuring Celestina, Toni, and a lineup of high-caliber presenters curated by the amazing Sandy Jablonka of Dietitian Hub. It's a can't-miss event for dietitians looking to level up their skills, network, and embrace collaboration. https://dietitianhub.com/?wpam_id=6 How to Get Involved Visit The Dietitian Hub for details and registration. Follow Celestina Brunetti on Instagram: @thedietitiancollaborative. Stay connected with the PATH Pod on Instagram for updates and more great content: @thepathpod  This conversation is a testament to the beauty of connection and the transformative power of working together. Whether you're a dietitian or just someone who values meaningful collaboration, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to make a difference.Thanks for listening, PATH Pod community—stay collaborative and curious!

In this episode of PATH Positive Approaches to Health, Toni & Jenny offer up this BCB as they dive into the challenges of maintaining health behaviors during the busy and stressful holiday season. Both share their personal health struggles—Jenny's diagnosis of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Toni's knee injury and upcoming surgery—and discuss the toll these challenges can take on health habits.Key Topics in This Episode:1. Health Challenges & Personal Experiences:o Jenny opens up about her recent diagnosis of SIBO and the adjustments she's had to make to her diet, including adopting a low FODMAP plan.o Toni shares the emotional and physical impact of her knee injury, and how it's influenced her physical activity routine leading up to surgery.o Both hosts reflect on how these health challenges have deepened their empathy for clients and patients who face similar obstacles.2. The Holiday Season: Stress, Boundaries & Self-Care:o The holidays can be a time of added stress, but it's also a crucial opportunity to prioritize self-care. Jenny and Tony discuss strategies for setting boundaries, managing stress, and carving out space for personal well-being during the season.3. Mindset & Coping Strategies:o A focus on the power of mindset when dealing with health challenges and behavior change. The hosts talk about the importance of courage, problem-solving, and exploring new ways to navigate health obstacles during a time of year when temptations and disruptions are high.4. Grief, Acceptance, and Adaptation:o Jenny and Toni touch on the emotional side of dealing with health changes, including the grief of lost abilities and favorite foods. They share their experiences with accepting these changes and learning to adapt, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion.5. Tools & Resources:o Jenny and Toni recommend tools that have supported them in their behavior change journeys, such as the Fig app and the Monash Diet app. These resources help manage dietary restrictions and promote healthier habits despite challenges.6. Practical Tips for Managing Holiday Stress & Behavior Change:o The hosts share practical tips for listeners to manage stress and maintain healthy behaviors during the holiday season. From trying new recipes and adjusting routines to incorporating gratitude practices, they provide actionable advice to help listeners stay on track.Resources Mentioned:• Fig app for dietary tracking and meal planning. Listen to the founder of FIG, Andrew Hollar in PATH episode 124, February 23, 2023• Monash Diet app for managing the low FODMAP diet and dietary restrictions.Whether you're navigating your own health challenges or trying to stay on track during the holidays, this episode is packed with empathy, practical advice, and mindset strategies to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage behavior change, even during the busiest time of year.Listen Now: Tune in to hear Toni & Jenny's candid reflections, practical tips, and empowering advice for making behavior change a priority—no matter what life throws your way.

In this episode, Jenny and Tony take you behind the scenes of the first-ever Path Pod Restore Before Retreat. Over four months of meticulous planning culminated in an unforgettable weekend of rejuvenation and community. They share their thoughts and personal highlights of the experience. The Retreat Included:• Yoga: Guided practices which enabled guests to integrate the welcoming theme into their bodies, hearts and minds.• Forest Bathing: Deep, meditative experiences & connection in nature.• Zen Tangle: Former guest of the Pod Alexis takes the group through a meditative art immersion. • Teaching Kitchen: Hands-on culinary lessons using recipes from some of our former PATH Pod guests.• Beach Walks: Refreshing strolls along the scenic coast, perfect for reflection and connection.Key Themes:• Community and Support: The retreat was a haven of encouragement and shared growth.• Personal Transformation: Attendees experienced profound moments of self-discovery and renewal.• Gratitude: Jenny and Tony express heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to bring people together and are eager to plan future retreats.Special Mentions:• A 5 hour (!) Retreat Playlist: Specially curated by Toni, capturing the retreat's essence.Jenny and Tony conclude with warm appreciation for each other and their listeners.Tune in to hear all about the memorable moments, challenges overcome, and the joy of building lasting connections. Don't miss this inspiring episode of Positive Approaches to Health!

Welcome, PathPod listeners!We're thrilled to mark a special milestone on our journey—this is our 150th episode!

Join Toni and Jenny as they delve into the heart and soul of the African diaspora and the wonderful cuisine produced by the renowned chefs Todd Richards and Stephan Duran. In this captivating conversation, we explore the rich history, cultural significance, and inspiring stories behind the cookbooks, "Soul" and "Roots, Heart & Soul." Discover the connections between food, family, and community and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you hungry for more.Key Takeaways: The power of food to connect people and cultures The importance of preserving culinary traditions The role of storytelling in the culinary experience Tips for incorporating new flavors and ingredients into your cooking Purchase cookbooks here Follow Todd on Instagram @cheftoddrichards Find Stephan on LinkedIn @Stephan Durand

No road trip in this episode – just a conversation between the PATH Pod ladies, Toni and Jenny. They decided to take a minute to consider how their theme of Shift was landing now that the year is half over. The discussion begins with the SHIFT acronym and winds its way to a review of the 2024 episodes so far. Next, they dip into the archives as they highlight some of the episodes that encapsulate the Shift theme. If listening to older episodes sounds enticing but feels overwhelming, Toni and Jenny offer a nice handful to get started. Of course, there is talk of music at the end because it's still The PATH Pod! Enjoy & Thanks for traveling on the journey with the ladies of Positive Approaches To Health!

On this leg of the PATHPod journey Toni and Jenny head to Austin, Tx where they find Gustavo Padron! Gustavo is an amazing yoga and meditation teacher, a personal trainer and an author of the Grounded Practice journal. He is a healer in every sense of the word and uses breath, posture and the power of words to help his clients manifest their ideal self. He understands the power of going within and harnessing one's inner guidance system, knowing that getting in the body is key to real and lasting change. There are so many tools to plop into the behavior change toolbox during this conversation along with nuggets of wisdom Gustavo drops on Toni and Jenny during their time together. Listen and fall in love with Gustavo just like Toni and Jenny did when they met him! Learn more about Gustavo and his work here. Purchase his journal, Grounded Practice. Follow him on Instagram @gustavoapadron.

 Toni and Jenny are on the road again in the San Francisco Bay Area. This time they meet up with another old pal from Toni's high school days – Alicia Guckenheimer. Alicia is an artist and childrens book author, a creative soul who has been creating art as early as she can remember with her father. Eight years ago she traded in her shoe career for the colorful chaos of the classroom where she teaches art t to k-8th graders. She teaches through the beautiful lens of painting a world where everyone shines and weaves compassion and helping others into her art lessons. In her childrens book, Dream Big, Start Small she writes a tale of imagination and compassion and the possibility “if you can dream it you can make it and you can change the world.” The three of them discuss how the messages within the book have a very far reach and speak to the importance of joy, having a starting place, self-empowerment and learning inner strengths in the process of behavior change. You can find Alicia, her book and her art classes on Instagram @dream_big_start_small_13 or on her website.

Toni and Jenny head to Marin on this leg of the PATHPod road trip. They are over the moon about their conversation with Bonnie Wan, author of The Life Brief A Playbook For No-Regrets Living. It is no mistake that this episode is dropping the same day as the total solar eclipse. The event of the eclipse is such a beautiful metaphor for Bonnie's book – The Life Brief is a practice of going within to distill down what is going on inside of us, getting to the very essence of what we need and want for our lives. So many cultures believe the eclipse is a time of renewal, being in the darkness to truly feel and understand the next path we need to follow. This is the journey Bonnie takes her reader on, helping to discover meaning and purpose in their lives. The practice of creating a life brief can sound daunting but Bonnie creates a structure that allows for making meaning out of life, one beautiful baby step at a time. Learn more about Bonnie, The Life Brief and the community she has created around it here. Follow her on Instagram @bonniewanofficial or LinkedIn @bonniewan.

The ladies of the PATHPod head to a new state for their second National Nutrition Month episode! They traveled all the way up to Boothbay, Maine to visit fellow dietitian Jenny Shea Rawn. Jenny recently finished her first cookbook, Costal Kitchen Nourishing Seafood Recipes for Everyday Cooking. The three of them had so much fun romping through the book and talking about their favorite recipes. As the episode will explain, this is not only a cookbook but a great resource about seafood, which can sometimes feel elusive to people who don't live on a coast. The cookbook is sectioned off by different kinds of seafood and includes side dishes and desserts - some with local ingredients native to Maine like blueberries and cranberries. The recipes are lovely and not overly complicated, which is a great reason to purchase the book! But on top of it, Jenny includes useful information like how to choose sustainable seafood, choosing between wild and farmed seafood and what fish is richest in omega 3's. Lucky for the PATHPod community, Jenny and her publishers are offering 30% off of her cookbook using the promo code COAST30 through rowman.com. Follow Jenny on social @Jennyshearawn or visit her website to learn more about her work.

The PATHPod gals head down to Durham, North Carolina on this leg of the journey where they meet up with Judith Scharman Draughon, AKA, Judes or “The 12 Fix Dietitian”. Judes is a registered dietitian who works in the corporate wellness space inspiring businesses, organizations and groups to adopt a healthier lifestyle with group challenge programs. Her 12 Fixes program includes a book and workbook breaking down 12 evidence-based, non-diet strategies for getting and staying healthier. This is a program that anyone can use to help them on their journey to well-being and can be done individually or with a group. The book is designed for readers to create their own meal plans and actions plans right inside! A big part of Judes 12 Fixes is her 12 Fix Affiliate Program. This allows RDN's to become affiliates and use the 12-Fix Wellness Plan, presentations, and dietitian-designed app to land more group wellness opportunities, allowing for an increase in revenue with less work and greater job satisfaction! The materials are super-customizable – making it easy to fit into a nutrition practice. This episode is for everyone – dietitians who are looking for a game-changing program for their practice or someone wanting to make incremental, healthy changes in 2024 - give it a listen! To find out more about the RDN Affiliate program, contact Judes at judes@12fixes.com. The Living 12 Fixes to Healthy guidebook can be purchased for $10 off on her website 12Fixes.com with promotional code 10OFFGUIDEBOOK. Judes can be found on Instagram @foodswithjudes and can also be found on LinkedIn. 

Toni and Jenny continue their 5 year anniversary celebration as they dig into their intention to Shift in 2024. The two of them have a conversation about what is behind the choice of Shift and what it means to each of them. They also take some time to unpack the last 5 years and the impact this podcast adventure has made on their lives. Of course, there is a lot of talk about connection and community but there are certainly some other gems they uncover. Help the PATHPod gals extend their celebration through the end of the month by giving this episode a listen and sharing your thoughts with them on Insta @thpathpod!

Toni and Jenny celebrate their 5th year of The PATH Pod during this 141st episode that is the first in a two-part celebration of this amazing milestone they certainly did not see coming! They felt like the best way to mark this date of February 12, the day their trailer first dropped in 2019 would be to deconstruct courage – the superpower they both had to call up when they decided to start a podcast. Together they break down courage using a framework created by their former guest, Candace Doby who was on the pod July 25 of 2023. They talk about what courage means to each of them and how this podcast and the amazing people they have met on their journey have sparked even more courage within them. Listen and celebrate with Toni and Jenny as they share their stories and insights. They are so excited to be celebrating this milestone with each other and with their larger PATH Pod community! Thanks for being on the road with PATH, Positive Approaches To Health!

The ladies of the PATH Pod close out the first month of 2024 with a trip to Denver, Colorado and another conversation around “enoughness”. Toni and Jenny gab it up with Ally Rae Pesta. Ally is a 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher, Certified Run Coach, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, Published Author, Speaker and Advocate. Their conversation started with Ally's Path to writing her book, Beyond My Body as she explained the etiology of her complex eating disorder and the beautiful story of her journey to recovery. Ally explains that her path required stillness -  so she could dig deep and truly understand who she really is, which created a much-needed sense of self-empowerment. The three of them discussed the feeling of doubt and doing the thing that scares you regardless of the outcome and how THIS is at the heart of living fearlessly. They also discussed a fear list for 2024! There is so much more to their conversation – yoga, tuning in, loving kindness, fun, growth – the list goes on and on! This episode is for anyone who is trying to find their way to peace and self-acceptance. An earlier PATH Pod episode from March of 2020 on Challenging Assumptions would be a great “sister” episode to this one. Give them both a listen! To learn more about Ally, her work and advocacy, retreats and of course, her book follow her on Instagram @allyraepesta or visit her website.

Toni and Jenny enter 2024 with a huge SHIFT which includes a conversation about being ENOUGH. The PATHPod heads back to a familiar place – St. Louis Park, Minnesota for this powerful discussion with JC Lippold. JC is a professional homemaker – holding space for others as a nationally renowned teacher of movement and mindset, community engager, social movement trailblazer and theater director. These three embark on an enriching exchange around the concept of “enoughness” and knowing our worth in the present moment. JC involves plenty of storytelling and drops more tools in our collective toolbox for shifting towards a place where we value ourselves to say we are enough! He also shifts the conversation about how we could all care for one another which shatters our current state, no doubt! There is plenty of talk about theater and musicals along with song and laughter. This is an invaluable way to start off 2024 and an episode to share far and wide - Happy New Year PATHPod community!!! To learn more about JC or to reach out and start a conversation with him, follow JC on Instagram @jclippold.

Toni and Jenny meet up with this dynamic duo for a second time on their PATHPod journey. They last spoke with Deb Huber and Willow Older of Today I Noticed in February of 2021. The ladies of TIN have been up to quite a bit since then! They have continued their creative mindfulness practice and have turned their TIN's into a beautiful book – Today I Noticed, A Little Book Of Mindfulness That Will Change The Way You See The World! The four of them had a wonderful discussion about what Deb and Willow have continued to receive from their practice and how it has deepened for both of them. They chatted about the creative process and how everyone is an artist. Some light was shed on the process of writing a book and how daunting it can feel but ultimately, doing it as a team was worth it. The conversation left Toni and Jenny with the overwhelming understanding that nothing is too small to notice. Visit their website to learn more about Deb and Willow along with their amazing TIN workshops and how to purchase their book just in time for the holidays! Make sure to follow them on Instagram too @today.i.noticed.

Toni and Jenny are on the road again! During this leg of the journey they head back to NYC for their second conversation with Natalie “Nat” Rizzo, the dynamic sports nutritionist who published her first cookbook earlier this year. In her book, Planted Performance, Easy Planted-Based Recipes, Meal Plans and Nutrition For All Athletes she dives into all things sports nutrition looking through a plant-based lens. This is a great resource for vegetarians and vegans as well as omnivores of all types who are hungry for more information on how to eat to support their active endeavors. The three of them talked through the amazing recipes Toni and Jenny were able to make as well as Nat's take-aways that all athletes need to keep in mind. It was a joy to have Nat come back on the PATHPod and if you did not listen to her first interview, take a minute out to listen to their first conversation in June of 2021, episode 79! Learn more about Nat Rizzos work and her cookbook here or follow her on social media @greenletes.

Toni is traveling solo once again but luckily, she does not have to travel far! She takes a little jaunt to San Jose and meets up with Wendy Neff, one half of the amazing duo who founded Fox Tale fermentation Project. Fox Tale is a passion project turned entrepreneurial dream of Wendy and her husband Felipe Bravo. Established in 2022, Fox Tale is a community-based café-brewery serving up unique & specialty beers and fermented foods. It is a gathering space and as Wendy explains, they have created an environment where cultures can grow – fermented cultures and the people who come to enjoy them! During the conversation between Toni and Wendy they touch on many common PATHPod themes including connection and collaboration. Wendy shares the story of how Fox Tale came to be and how many lovely partnerships have blossomed as a result of their work. If you are in the San Jose area, Fox Tale absolutely needs to go on your to-do list! They offer up a unique array of fermented menu items from Red House Kimchi and Smokey Asparagus Chopenade to Thai Chili Lemongrass Kumquats along with an inspiring list of beers and some amazing mock-tales. They were also just awarded “Best New Brewery in the Country”! If you don't reside in the Bay area you can dream about visiting them one day by following them on Instagram @foxtalefermentationproject or by perusing their website. Want to learn more about fermentation?? - take a look at Kirsten Shockey's fermentation school Wendy mentioned during the show!

The ladies of the PATHPod stay right at home on this episode of PATH Positive Approaches To Health. Toni and Jenny do a little unpacking of Food Is Medicine concepts as a follow up to their incredible Culinary Medicine episode with Dr. Sabrina Falquier. They share their paths to using the Food Is Medicine approach during their careers and how it has shaped and molded the way they practice nutrition. Then the two of them offer up a little Kitchen Surprise, sharing their own tricks and hacks for getting more veg & flavor into their meals. The episode ends, as always, with some musical reflections. Enjoy, PATHPod Friends!

 Toni travelled solo during this leg of the PATH Pod journey, taking a short jaunt down the west coast to SanDiego, CA. She had a lovely conversation with Dr. Sabrina Falquier, a board certified internal medicine, culinary medicine and lifestyle medicine physician who was a previous guest on the show in October of 2022. The two of them discussed Doctors+ Premium, a podcast Sabrina hosts on Apple Podcasts. They also take a dive into culinary medicine, one of Dr. Falquier's great passions where she spends a lot of time bridging the silos that exist between allopathic and alternative medicine. She peels back some of the culinary medicine layers, touching on the training that enables her to suggest food and spice substitutions to help meet patients where they are and to bring a sensitivity to their cultural roots. She shares how to participate in a culinary medicine appointment and how it fits into the Lifestyle Medicine paradigm. She also looks forward by sharing where she thinks this area of medicine is going in the future – becoming more mainstream with medicine shifting to a prevention model where food is front and center, and most importantly, paid for! You can see her work firsthand through the powerful documentary The Kitchenistas, visit her website, or follow along @SensationsSalud on social media.

Toni heads to Columbus, Ohio where she meets up with Jenny and their guest, Jenn Gebhart for part two of this August series on nervous system regulation. Jenn is a master facilitator for Everyday Mindfulness and Movements in the Columbus City Schools, offering well-being and self-care in education for staff and administrators. Jenn has also shared Urban Zen at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital working with patients, staff and caregivers and Ohio Health Corporate Wellness programs. The three of them take a deep dive into the concept of regulating the nervous system and the role of the vagus nerve in the healing process. Jenn shares her very simple yet incredibly effective tools for toning the vagus nerve and self-healing using somatic practices. They discuss the idea of befriending your body and the self-awareness it takes to do this work. This episode is so incredibly empowering and offers an armful of tools to dump into your self-care toolbox that you will find yourself pulling out again and again as your travel your path. Follow Jenn and the inspiring healing work she engages in on Instagram @yogaandinspiration. Disclaimer: We had some issues with our music and Toni offers up an on-the-fly solution!

The ladies of the PATH Pod are on the road again this month for the first in a two-part series on nervous system regulation. On this leg of their journey, they head east to New Jersey and a conversation about pain, perfection and problem solving. They sit down with Dr. Kelly Kessler, Physical Therapist and Host of the Rewiring Health Podcast. Kelly tells the story of her Path, recovering from an eating disorder and years of physical pain to becoming a physical therapist who helps others deal with their pain and trauma through nervous system regulation. She explains how she turned her life around by focusing and harnessing the energy she put into her eating disorder and put it into getting better. She explains that her work in nervous system regulation is broken into four different areas – breath work, vagus nerve techniques, gentle movement and visual techniques. Kelly believes that no problem can be solved with the same level of consciousness that created it and it starts with gratitude. Kelly is an inspiration and her work is absolutely transformative! You can learn more about Dr. Kelly Kessler and her work here, follow her on Instagram @drkellykessler or check out her Podcast, Rewiring Health on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The ladies of the PATHPod stay south, heading from Greenville, SC to Atlanta, GA. In this latest episode they meet up with Candace Doby. Candace is an amazing author, podcast host, speaker and coach who works with organizations to create a culture of courage where employees perform at their highest potential. The three of them talk about the risk of taking action and the very real risk of NOT taking action, which is the place of ultimate possibility. They also talk about the “rules” we tell ourselves and how we fall into the trap of following rules that don't even exist. Most importantly, Candace speaks to the importance of understanding your motivation and your why. And, that it CANNOT be external – she explains that courage absolutely requires us to be internally motivated and align with our values. This conversation sparked Toni and Jenny to stop and think clearly about their own values and they share those with each other. This is a fun conversation full of positivity and hope that you will want to share far and wide! It will also inspire you to learn more about Candace and follow her on Instagram @candacedoby.

The ladies of the PATH Pod head down to Greenville, South Carolina and have a conversation with ADHD coach and owner of Current ADHD Coaching, Bri Plyler. These three ladies dig into ADHD – they talked through what ADHD is and is not, clearing up some misconceptions around the disorder. Bri shared the story of her Path - why she became an ADHD Coach and how her Instagram presence has become an inclusive community of support and compassion for those who are affected by ADHD.  Bri's content and connection with her audience is infectious and serves to fill the void for children, teens and adults who struggle to find help and understanding when dealing with the incredible challenges that go along with ADHD. She also shares some important strategies everyone can use to create acceptance & awareness of our fellow humans who may be struggling with ADHD at school, in the workplace and in our communities. You can follow Bri on Instagram @currentadhdcoaching or connect with her through her website. 

The ladies of the PATH Pod stay put for this episode on mental health in honor of mental health awareness month. Toni and Jenny talk about mental health and share some statistics on the state of things in the US. Although this is not an official road trip, they do wind through the many journeys they have taken, focusing on the multiple conversations they have had which are steeped in mental health and self-care. They mix things up by sharing some music before they get into the heart of the episode and of course have some more musical reflections on the back end. Get something out to take notes on – there are a ton of episodes to go back and take an extra listen to!

The ladies of the PATH Pod stay put for this episode on mental health in honor of mental health awareness month. Toni and Jenny talk about mental health and share some statistics on the state of things in the US. Although this is not an official road trip, they do wind through the many journeys they have taken, focusing on the multiple conversations they have had which are steeped in mental health and self-care. They mix things up by sharing some music before they get into the heart of the episode and of course have some more musical reflections on the back end. Get something out to take notes on – there are a ton of episodes to go back and take an extra listen to!

The PATHPod ladies head to CHICAGO during this long (Buckle Up!) but incredible episode with the co-hosts of another amazing podcast, Popcorn Psychology. Toni and Jenny sit down with the ladies of Popcorn Psych – Hannah Espinoza and Brittney Brownfield. Hannah and Brittney, along with their third co-host, Ben Stover are the mental health therapists who host this insightful and helpful podcast. Popcorn psychology was born out of a discussion in their office in 2017 about the psychological presentation of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi. They examine the psychological themes presented in popular media and evaluate what is presented from the perspective of a trauma therapist, a child therapist and a marriage and family therapist. They cover a broad spectrum of films and psychological issues in order to provide fact, fiction and fun all while working to make mental health issues more accessible to all through the universal medium of film. Their conversations with guests and each other are educational, hilarious and super-insightful. Listen to Popcorn Psychology anywhere you listen to podcasts and follow them on Instagram @popcornpsychology.

Toni and Jenny are on the road again for their second road trip during National Nutrition Month! This time they find themselves in Cincinnati, OH with Lisa Cicciarello Andrews, AKA Nutrigirl. Lisa is a registered dietitian who enjoys eating and believes in balance, not restriction and she works hard to sing that song to the masses. The three of them have a conversation around impactful strategies for communicating nutrition information. Lisa's business, Sound Bites Nutrition does just that! She works with brands to elevate key product messages, she presents on a variety of nutrition topics to local and national companies and she engages in freelance nutrition & health writing. The most impactful and FUN part of her business is what they spent the majority of their time talking about – Lisa's lettuce beet hunger food pun merch! The best part about it? A portion of each food pun purchase supports programs that provide food and/or nutrition education in the Cincinnati area. While Lisa is spreading the word about nutrition through food pun humor, she is also fighting food insecurity. The PATH Pod is super-down with that! Learn more about Lisa, her work and Lettuce Beet Hunger or check out LaSoupe and learn about the work they are engaging in around food insecurity. 

Toni and Jenny pack their bags and head out on the road once again! This time they find themselves in Maryland with Registered Dietitian, Theresa Yosuico Stahl. Theresa is the author of I'm Full, Remindful Eating – Tips To Feel Great and Make Peace With Your Plate. Her wonderful book is packed with tools and strategies for eating well, changing lifestyle behavior and generally improving health & wellbeing. Theresa explains how she has taken her many years of practicing nutrition and mind-body medicine and distilled it down to 52 practical sections in her book. There are so many ways to tackle the information she has laid out and the three of them talk through some of her favorite approaches. Theresa's book, as the title suggests, is a helpful companion for anyone trying to create a better relationship with body, mind and spirit around food and eating. Visit her website to learn more about Theresa and the work she engages in, sign up for her monthly newsletter or purchase her book. Check out the Center for Mind-Body Medicine to learn more about this resilience-building modality. Please be patient with the PATH Pod as the audio quality towards the end of the episode is a little less than perfect!

The PATH Pod heads to Houston, TX for this super-informative episode where they meet up with Andrew Hollar who is Co-Founder of FIG, Food Is Good. FIG is an app that allows people with ingredient-based diets to easily seek out foods that safely fit into their lifestyle. Andrew and their team at FIG work to improve the quality of life for anyone who has a dietary restriction by unlocking the confusion around food product ingredients, allowing their users to safely and easily understand what foods they CAN have. With their App, they have opened possibility for hundreds of thousands of users who suffer from an allergy, intolerance or need to limit an ingredient(s). Andrew's mission for starting FIG and their passion for this work, along with their big heart and brain shines through during their conversation. The community they have created within FIG is a lifeline for so many who suffer in silence and feel so alone. This episode is for everyone – whether you have an issue with food or know someone who does, it affects so many. Take a listen, learn something new and share with your people! Download the app Fig, Food is Good and see what it is all about!

 The ladies of the PATHPod head south for another trip to New Orleans! They once again had the absolute pleasure of talking with Molly Kimball, nutrition journalist & registered dietitian. This time, the conversation was all about zero-proof cocktails and Molly's new book Craft, The Eat Fit Guide To Zero-Proof Cocktails. Toni and Jenny gleaned so much from Molly and her work in this space. Molly discusses metabolic & physical changes that occur after going alcohol free for 40 days during their yearly abstinence program alcohlfreefor40. Molly shares her favorite cocktails from the book and the three of them take a spin through the amazing resources in the book – plant-based sugar substitutes, using herbs, zero-proof spirit brands they love and more. This episode is for anyone who is thinking about cutting down on alcohol, sober-curious or even working the program and living alcohol-free. There is something to gain from the conversation – they even dive into what can be gained from travel and dealing with fear! Molly and her colleagues are offering a discount code to receive 20% off the book through the end of April - enter pathpod at check out. Take a deeper dive into Molly and her amazing work here and one of her many book collaborators, Jeffrey Clark here.

To continue their celebration of the New Year, Toni and Jenny take a trip up to Cleveland, Ohio to visit their new friend and colleague Anthony Beard. Anthony is a Registered Dietitian with a vast array of personal and professional experiences, including clinical, food service and community nutrition. His private practice focuses on but is not limited to, African American families. By targeting this population he is helping those who may be in need of being freed from the confusion over what to eat and may suffer from an array of adaptive behaviors associated with lifelong, absorbed trauma. The three of them have a very eye-opening conversation about social determinants of health and the intersectionality with racialized, generational trauma and the perfect storm brewing at that very intersection. They discuss heritage diets, what they are and how Anthony is using the African heritage diet experientially in his practice, Heritage and Health Foundation. This is the place where he works his magic incorporating culture into the recipe of nutrition, active living and overall wellness. There are a few resources talked about in this episode. Those can be found here:Heritage Diets/OldwaysMy Grandmothers HandsAnd, to learn more about racism in healthcare – a book by Linda Villarosa, Under The Skin

The ladies of the PATH Pod kick off 2023 by having a conversation around POSITIVE, can-do behaviors to engage in as we start the new year. Instead of the focus being on goal setting and outcomes, the two of them talk about strategies that are focused on behaviors we can control and how to weave these into our current lifestyle. They provide many resources if something piques interest for further exploration and thought. They share their own ideas about what works for them, their struggles and their hopes for 2023. The conversation includes approaches for making small changes in the areas of nutrition, movement, sleep, connection and more! The PATH Pod gals would love to hear from you – what are you working on, thinking about or showing up differently around for 2023? DM thepathpod on Insta!!!

No road trip for the last episode of the year – just a conversation between The PATH Podcast co-hosts, Toni Toledo and Jenny Pitcher. They reflect on the year and the episodes that stood out to them for various reasons. The two of them share what they have learned from and about their guests and each other during this extended road trip that is now going on 6 years. Lastly, they talk about their hopes for 2023 and give a little bit of a peek into what listeners can expect from the PATH Pod in the upcoming year. As always, there is music, laughter and an invitation to connect. Join the PATH Pod on this 2022 recap and maybe glean a strategy to drop in your Positive Approaches To Health toolbox to experiment with in the year ahead. 

Toni and Jenny head up to Canada to talk with another duo who live in the nutrition & psychology space.  Dr. Colleen Cannon and Wendy Shah, RD founded Craving Change, Inc in 2008. Craving Change is a licensed cognitive-behavioral program for emotional eating. This transformative program digs in to the why, what and how along with what it takes to maintain the practice. The four of them have a great conversation about the tangible tools the Craving Change program provides to both clinicians and patients. The themes of normalizing, validating and self-efficacy come up again and again within the larger discussion of cognitive behavioral therapy and disordered eating. Heads Up – this is a long listen with a few audio glitches due to bandwidth issues during the recording. If you have dealt with emotional eating or know anyone in your life who has been impacted by it, this is a cannot-skip episode. Please share with loved ones! Collen and Wendy have graciously offered a discount - To receive 25% off the Craving Change Complete Facilitator's Kit, send an email to orders@cravingchange.ca with PATH25 in the Subject line. This offer expires on April 30, 2023. To learn more about craving change click here. To learn more about eating disorders, access the National Eating Disorders Information Centre or NEDIC. 

Toni and Jenny head to Phoenix on this leg of the PATH Pod road trip. They meet up with Joshua Becker, author of Things That Matter: Overcoming Distractions to Pursue a More Meaningful Life. Joshua shares his incredible story of happiness and purpose that lead him to engage in this life-changing work. In his latest book, he shares the eight common distractions to a meaningful and no-regrets life. During their conversation he breaks down very practical steps we can all begin to experiment with as we move towards living a more intentional and worthwhile life with less distractions. This is yet another can't-miss episode to share with friends and family during this holiday of giving thanks. The PATH Pod cannot thank Joshua enough for taking the time to engage in such a rich & significant conversation. Toni & Jenny believe this conversation is an incredible gift and they are grateful to share it with their PATH Pod family this Thanksgiving holiday. Find out more about Joshua's work, where you can order his books and read his blog here.

During this episode, the ladies of the PATHPod head to Reno, NV where they connected with Bridget Wood, a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, recipe developer, and media dietitian living with type one diabetes. The three of them talked a lot about inclusivity and belonging, focusing on person-first language and why it is so important for healthcare practitioners to adopt. Bridget talked about the significance of connection and the tribe she is creating through her social media presence along with her role as an advocate and positive role model. One of the biggest myths she busted was people living with diabetes cannot eat certain foods – she spoke a lot about normalizing the notion all foods fit and the value of having a good relationship with food and flavor. And of course, living in the grey came up quite a bit, as it does during many of these road trips. If you are living with diabetes or know someone who is, this episode is sure to hit many notes! You can follow her on YouTube or Instagram @balancedwithbridgetwood.

The PATHPod has been on the road trip of a lifetime during this episode. They are in National City, CA near the southern border between California and Mexico. National City is home to Olivewood Gardens, an interactive, indoor-outdoor classroom for children and adults from around San Diego County. Olivewood Gardens is the birthplace of the Cooking For Salud program and the graduates of that program, The Kitchenistas. This program has been so successful and impactful it has been made into a documentary film short streaming now on Apple TV and other home streaming devices. It has been accepted by ten film festivals including Global Health Film Festival (London). The film illustrates the struggles and triumphs of families in National City living with Diabetes, Obesity, and other health conditions related to food. Toni and Jenny had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with 3 women who have been instrumental in making these programs come to life – Dr. Sabrina Falquier Montgrain, Patty Corona and Mary Ann Beyster. Below are their abbreviated bios and social media information.Bios: 1. Sabrina A. Falquier Montgrain, MD, CCMS Internal Medicine, Culinary MedicineFounder and CEO, Sensations Salud, LLC - Culinary Medicine. Education.  ConsultingFaculty, Culinary Medicine Specialist BoardClinical Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, UC San Diego Health SciencesChair, Advisory Board, Culinary Medicine Specialist BoardVice-Chair, Board of Directors, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center email: sfm@sensationssalud.com website: SensationsSalud.com LinkedinLinkedin (Business) Instagram Facebook YouTube TwitterTikTok 2. Patty Corona1st generation Kitchenista and Cooking for Salud® Coordinator at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center®. She has her B.A. in Foreign Trade and Customs at Universidad Iberoamericana del Noroeste. Patty works to deliver behavior and lifestyle change programs including Cooking for Salud® Patty grew up between Tijuana, Santa Veronica Ranch in Tecate and summers at her grandmother's ranch in San Pedro, Jalisco. After a year as a volunteer at Olivewood, Patty became highly motivated to serve her community of National City through learning and inspiring others to learn. 3. Mary Ann BeysterFounder of Yellow Warbler Media, works on multi-media educational projects and documentaries to explore entrepreneurial stories of conservation, community wellbeing, and equity through ownership. Mary Ann is a native San Diegan, and community leader with a diverse 30-year career as an engineer, a business and non-profit technology executive, board member, and documentary producer. Her works have been broadcasted and/or distributed by PBS, Films Media Group, Cinema Guild, The Aspen Institute, The Democracy Collaborative, Department of Defense, Apple TV, and seen by tens of thousands of students annually via academic institutions. Social Media - FilmFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekitchenistasmovie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekitchenistasmovie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekitchmovieSocial Media –KitchenistasFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivewood.kitchenistas/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivewoodkitchenistas/Social Media –SensationsSaludFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sensationssaludInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensationssalud/Twitter: https://twitter.com/sensationssaludSocial Media – Olivewood Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivewoodgardensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivewoodgardens/Twitter:  https://twitter.com/OlivewoodGarden

The ladies of The PATH Pod are on the road again! This week they head back up to the pacific northwest to spend time with their friend Ginger Hultin. They first met Ginger on episode 70 during one of their road trips to Seattle. That conversation focused on meal planning and her book, The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep Cookbook. This conversation revolved around her new e-book, Meal Prep For Weight Loss 101. The three of them dove into the world of managing weight and discussed the contentious nature of that space right now. Ginger explained how at the heart of her integrative nutrition practice is the importance of meeting people where they are which sums up her gentle approach and philosophy. Just like their first conversation, everything comes down to planning ahead and using the templates and tools in her e-book make it super-easy and helpful to get started! Learn more about Ginger, Ginger Hultin Nutrition and how to get her new e-book here. And, follow her on Instagram @gingerhultinnutrition.

The PATHPod Gals head to Pittsburgh, PA on their latest journey to meet up with Laura Ali, Registered Dietitian and author of the Mind Diet For Two. They jump right into the MIND diet, or the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet. Although it is a mouthful, Laura was able to break it down very easily and concisely, explaining how following this type of eating plan even just moderately can result in a 35% reduction in Alzheimers disease risk. They swooned over the recipes, honing in on the Grilled Pork Chops with Blueberry Barbeque Sauce, Shakshuka and Poached Cod with Tomatoes and Beans over Polenta. Laura shared her greatest wishes for the consumers she works with when it comes to cooking – to make it low stakes and to decrease fear. Her perspective is driven home after hearing her personal Positive Approach To Health! Give this a listen and share far and wide because this way of eating can impact EVERYONE – whether you are 25 or 65! Check out Laura's website for her blog and recipes. Follow her on Instagram @lauraali_rd for kitchen tip and inspo!

Toni and Jenny make a road trip once again visiting our neighbor to the north – Toronto, Canada. They were able to spend some time with pal of the PATHPod, Andy De Santis. Andy was on the Pod back in December of 2020 to talk about using humor as a means of communicating nutrition information. He is back at it again – with more humor and another cookbook! This time it is all about Fatty Liver, an interesting topic considering its novelty and the lifestyle implications. Andy does a beautiful job unpacking this disease introducing topics such as fat transport to the mitochondria, the gut-liver axis and symbiotic supplements. He lays out some easy strategies for how to fit more of the foods we need to fight this disease into our diet without feeling like it's a huge and overbearing stretch. He calls out what he terms the path of least resistance – the afternoon snack and how it can be used to our advantage. Since 1 in 4 people have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and a large majority of people don't even know it, this is an episode everyone needs to hear! Andy can be found giving out hilarious, evidence-based nutrition advice & resources on Instagram @AndytheRD or his website. 

The Ladies of the PATHPod are on the road again headed south to Atlanta, GA. During this road trip they take a deep dive into the world of Food Is Medicine with Registered Dietitian Kristen Avera. Kristen works for Open Hand Atlanta as the Nutrition Services Coordinator, providing group nutrition education as well as medical nutrition therapy to a variety of populations throughout the metro Atlanta area. Open Hand's prepared meal programs serve vulnerable low-income clients in a variety of settings, providing freshly cooked, home-delivered meals, combined with snacks or supplements, to meet their daily nutrition needs. Meals are designed by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to meet individual clients' dietary requirements and tailored to their specific health conditions. This is an important part of the treatment portion of the Food Is Medicine initiative which includes a variety of services and interventions that realize and respond to the critical connection between nutrition and the illnesses that so many Americans are dealing with. These three ladies get into the specifics of the work that Kristen is part of along with who pays for these services and what she predicts for the future. They even talk about a collaboration that involves honey bees! If you ever wondered what the future of nutrition might look like – Food Is Medicine is it! Learn about Open Hand & their work or donate to help. 

The ladies of the PATHPod head west once again, finding themselves in LA talking with an amazing researcher and clinician. Dr. David Wiss is a Registered Dietitian who founded Nutrition In Recovery, a group practice of RDNs specializing in the treatment of eating and substance use disorders in 2013. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in 2022 by investigating the links between adverse childhood experiences and various mental health outcomes among socially disadvantaged men. The three of them talked about nutrition and its role in substance use disorder and the recovery process. That lead them to dig into the role of nutrition in mental health, food addiction and the relationship between eating disorders and substance use disorder, adverse childhood experiences and the role social determinants of health play in all of it. Dr. Wiss tackles challenging information and his brilliance is in synthesizing it, communicating in a way that can be easily understood and impactful. This is an episode to share far and wide as these issues effect far too many and solutions are less than ideal. Dr. Wiss is truly a pioneer and what he offers here is profound and healing. You can find Dr. Wiss at his clinical practice, Nutrition In Recovery or at Wise Mind Nutrition. Also check him out on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @drdavidwiss or on YouTube at Wise Mind Nutrition.

Toni and Jenny of The PATHPod head out on the road again, this time making a beauTEAful stop in Arlington, VA to talk to the Minister of Commerce and Enlightenment at Republic of Tea, Kristina Richens Tucker. Kristina shares her vast knowledge about Republic of Tea, the mythical place she has been a citizen of since the 1990's and defected to in 2003. Since that time, she has been steeped in Camelia Sinensis and the incredible properties this plant has to offer, both physically and spiritually. The three of them talk about the art and science of drinking tea, the incredible health benefits of flavonoids and the calm yet alert state one can reach with the caffeine and L-Theanine inherent in tea. Kristina shares what is trending in the world of tea and how Republic of Tea keeps evolving with over 350 varieties of tea to their name. Kristina teaches Toni and Jenny about Ta Shun – the great harmony and well-being of the collective whole and how the ritual of having tea together creates a sense of presence allowing for incredible connection. Learn more about Republic Of Tea and where to purchase here. 

The PATHPod gals are traveling across the globe to talk with cook, writer and vegelante, Alice Zaslavsky. Alice has been shaking things up down under in her hometown of Melbourne for the last decade plus. The outcome of all that moving and shaking has been the incredible debut of her cookbook, In Praise of Veg. The PATHPod feels like they struck gold connecting with Alice and promoting her beautiful book. Their conversation took place about a year and a half ago and has been sitting on ice, waiting for In Praise of Veg to hit bookshelves in the US. They talk about all things veg and the incredible work Alice has been focused on including children's food literacy and her time on Master Chef Australia which catapulted her into the broadcasting world. She uses her influence to promote healthy eating with vegetables at the center of the plate and harnesses her karma of connection, allowing that message to stick. Listen to this episode on a walk or while cooking up some veg and find that you will be inspired by this warm and spunky young lady who is taking the world by storm - a veggie storm! Learn more about Alice, her cookbook and her story or follow her across social media @aliceinframes.

Toni and Jenny continue their road trip, this time landing in Mt. Vernon, Ohio a little town northeast of Columbus. They find themselves with Benji Ballmer, the Dave Matthew's-loving Dad & owner of YellowBird Foodshed. Yellowbird is an innovative food company that works with over 100 food growers and producers from Ohio to bring the food they grow and harvest to the surrounding community. Some people would call them a CSA (community supported agriculture) but Benji prefers to call his business a foodshed, which is a term used to describe a region of food flows, from the area where it is produced, to the place where it is consumed, including: the land it grows on, the route it travels, the markets it passes through, and the tables it ends up on. He has hit the mark with Yellowbird and has a WHOLE LOT to say about local food and decentralizing our current food system. He gives the PATHPod ladies much to consider and will have anyone who gives this a listen wondering about the origins of the food they eat. Check out Yellowbird or follow them on Instagram at yellowbirdfoodshed and then consider checking into a similar organization in the community where you reside. 

Toni & Jenny take a quick road trip to the city of San Francisco to meet up with Linda Shiue - physician, chef & culinary medicine powerhouse! The three of them have a conversation about Linda's Path and how she came to write an incredible cookbook and culinary resource - Spicebox Kitchen. Not only is Linda an amazing creative, she's a scientist and has melded those two worlds together in this stunning book. It has a beautifully unique aesthetic and is full of stories that give the book incredible dimension. She takes her readers on a cooking journey, visiting all kinds of different flavors using spices, herbs and vegetables from around the globe. Not only is the book an incredible tool to add to your healthy lifestyle toolkit but the culinary thoughts and ideas she offers up during this conversation will inspire and nudge you right into the kitchen. She will have you pulling out a pan and firing up your stove in no time!! Learn more about Dr. Shiue and Spicebox Kitchen. Follow her on Twitter and IG @spiceboxtravels or on FB and YouTube @TheDoctorsSpicebox or check out her blog.