The Mindful and Positive Podcast

Runner extraordinaire Hope Stark joins us this week. The cross country star tells us about the new things she tried to keep life fresh during the pandemic, how she adapts to learning with dyslexia, and how she's learning to prioritize holistic wellbeing over academic perfection. Also, Jeff tells us how Hope inspired him during his early pandemic malaise.How are you stronger now? Send us an e-mail or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.com. Learn more about our work at www.mindfulandpositive.org And thank you to our sponsors, the Anschutz Foundation and Gazette Charities.Hope's Intro Music: “Find a Place to Feel Good” by Harry Styles

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains vivid descriptions of suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt. Are you or someone you know considering suicide? Please call 1-800-273-8255Today, we bring you the conclusion of our interview with Kat Papa. If you haven't listened to Part 1, go listen to that first.After trying to take her own life, Kat had to learn to be in the world again. She talks about how she dropped the shame and stigma associated with mental health struggles and how her challenges continue to motivate her as she studies and plans her for her professional life. And she shares a message for anyone struggling with their mental health today: “When you keep going and you get to the light at the end of the tunnel, your future self is going to thank you.”How are you stronger now? Send us an e-mail or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.com. Learn more about our work at www.mindfulandpositive.org And thank you to our sponsors, the Anschutz Foundation and Gazette Charities.Music: “Keeping Your Head Up” by Birdy

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains vivid descriptions of suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt.Are you or someone you know considering suicide? Please call 1-800-273-8255We're joined by Kat Papa for this two-part special. In Part One, Kat describes how she lost hope in life, how she saw no way to relieve her anguish, and how she decided to end her own life. She then tells us how she emerged from that dark period and how her family helped her get through it.Come back next time for Part Two. Kat didn't just survive her suicide attempt. Hear how she came out the other end a stronger, more confident young woman ready to help others with their mental health challenges.How are you stronger now? Send us an e-mail or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.com. Learn more about our work at www.mindfulandpositive.org And thank you to our sponsors, the Anschutz Foundation and Gazette Charities.

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Edgar Flores Rivera and Mr. Bridger Stapleton. If you haven't listened to Part 1, go back and listen to that one first.In this episode, Edgar explains the challenges of remote learning and tells us what he is doing to help make other students excited to be back in school. Mr. Stapleton explains why the pandemic became a great opportunity to empathize and connect with his students and how it forced him to change his teaching style. How are you stronger now? Send us an e-mail or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.com. Learn more about our work at www.mindfulandpositive.org And thank you to our sponsors, the Anschutz Foundation and Gazette Charities.

This time we have two guests and they're so great that it also means two episodes. In part 1, you'll meet Edgar Flores Rivera and Mr. Bridger Stapleton, a student and a teacher at Harrison High School. Edgar and Mr. Stapleton have been working together in the classroom and on the soccer field for years. They tell us how they came to have such a special bond and how teachers and students form symbiotic relationships.Tune in next time to hear Edgar and Mr. Stapleton explain how their routines changed during the pandemic and how they grew through it.How are you stronger now? Send us an e-mail or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.com. Learn more about our work at www.mindfulandpositive.org And thank you to our sponsors, the Anschutz Foundation and Gazette Charities.

Welcome to Season 2, Stronger Now! We're thrilled to be joined high school senior Emma Delich. The end of her high school career has been turned on its head by the pandemic, but she has made sure to keep herself centered through difficult times. Emma tells us how she has learned to relinquish control, help others struggling through isolation, and shares some priceless tips for not being consumed by your social media.How are you stronger now? Send us an e-mail or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.com. Learn more about our work at www.mindfulandpositive.org And thank you to our sponsors, the Anschutz Foundation and Gazette Charities.

We know, it's been a while. But the Mindful and Positive Podcast is back for Season 2. A year after all of our lives changed in the blink of an eye, we set out on Season 2 to hear how young people and educators have adapted and learned how to thrive during the pandemic. Tune in for inspiring interviews, useful insights, and more great practices to make your day a bit happier and healthier.The Mindful and Positive Podcast is supported by the Anschutz Foundation, Gazette Charities, and the Colorado Springs Health Foundation. Learn more about our work at mindfulandpositive.org or email us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.com

This Thanksgiving week, we invite you to join us in a very fitting practice: gratitude. We know this Thanksgiving will be a different and challenging holiday for so many. But the spirit of the holiday – giving thanks – provides a wonderful opportunity in these trying times. And speaking of thankful, we are so thankful to have Dori Peloso from the Cheyenne Mountain High School Mindfulness Club lead us through a breathing practice for gratitude in this episode. So get comfortable and join Dori. We would love to hear what you a grateful for and how you express that gratitude. Shoot us an email or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.comYou can learn more about our work at www.mindfulandpositive.com

We're all struggling right now. Days are up and down. Routines are all over place. Things that used to feel easy are hard. Our guest today, Cheyenne Mountain High School senior Rachel Moody, has been struggling with this too but she's done a tremendous job of maintaining healthy routines during the ups and downs of her final year of high school. Rachel walks us through her strict daily routine, her sleep schedule, and how she deals with those tough days. She has tons of practical tips for feeling healthy during uncertain times.What are you doing to keep a routine and feel mentally and physically healthy during the pandemic? We'd love to your your tips, advice, or struggles. Send us an e-mail or a voice note to mindfulandpositive@gmail.com.Learn more about us at www.mindfulandpositive.com

You may have heard Elana Rosenbaum, a pioneer of mindfulness based stress reduction, guiding us through her awareness of breathing practice in our last episode. We want you to be able to come back and do this practice again. So here is a standalone of Elana's practice. Find a quiet, comfortable space and follow along.You can learn more about Elana's free, online guided mindfulness practices at her website: www.elanarosenbaum.comLearn more about us at www.mindfulandpositive.comE-mail us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.com

This is Part 2 of our interview with Elana Rosenbaum, a pioneer of mindfulness based stress reduction. Elana tells us how teachers can use simple mindfulness practices in the classroom, explains how mindfulness can be used with any type of religious or spiritual practice, and tells us about using mindfulness while battling cancer. Finally, find a quiet comfortable space for Elana's guided mindfulness on the awareness of breathing.You can learn more about Elana's free, online guided mindfulness practices at her website: www.elanarosenbaum.comLearn more about us at www.mindfulandpositive.comE-mail us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.com

What an episode we have for you today. It's so good that this is Part 1 of 2. We have the great privilege of being joined by Elana Rosenbaum, one of the pioneers of mindfulness based stress reduction. That's not an exaggeration. Elana has been practicing, studying, and teaching mindfulness since the 1980s and her teaching has been fundamental in the creation of the Mindfulness and Positivity Project. Elana talks to us about the basics of mindfulness and why it reduces stress. She explains the distinction between the words mindfulness and meditation and tells us why the coronavirus pandemic presents an opportunity for practicing mindfulness.You can learn more about Elana's free, online guided mindfulness practices at her website: www.elanarosenbaum.comLearn more about us at www.mindfulandpositive.comE-mail us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.com

September is suicide prevention month, an important time to acknowledge a tremendous mental health crisis in our country. Suicide rates have been rising for years are there are now nearly 50,000 deaths by suicide every year in the U.S.That's why we're joined by CMHS graduate Ike Eastburn. Ike may be best known at CMHS as a leader on the 2018 state champion lacrosse team. But Ike tells us how getting to his peak athletic and academic performance didn't come easily. As a boy, he suffered two suicides in his family and spent years learning how to process and, later, speak openly about that experience. He has since inspired many younger students with his dedication, kindness, and thoughtfulness.Since it's suicide prevention month, we want to make sure everyone takes suicide seriously, in their family and their wider community. If you or someone you know is considering self-harm or suicide, talk to a family member, a friend, and seek help from a mental health professional. Don't hesitate to contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255;

It's back to school time for most, even if the details feel as strange as ever. But being in a new school, in new circumstances is nothing for Alexa Myers. She's moved around a lot as part of a military family and embracing new, unknown experiences has become commonplace for her. We talk to Alexa about struggling with uncertainty, how she approaches new schools and situations, and what she thinks everyone should know about military families.Write us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.comVisit us at mindfulandpositive.org

Today's episode is a bit different: no guest, just Meg and Jeff talking about the uncertainty we're all living through nowadays. Even more than usual, we are living in such uncertain times, struggling to understand what a “new normal” means for our daily lives. But mindfulness can be a helpful tool: it won't solve the big problems we're dealing with but it can help us manage the emotions, stress, and anxiety we're feeling.Meg and Jeff talk about the practice of grounding and how savoring the present moment can help us combat uncertainty anxiety. They also give tips on journaling and how that can also be a helpful tool nowadays.We'd love to hear from you: mindfulandpositive@gmail.comwww.mindfulandpositive.com

This week we're joined by Vivienne White, a powerful advocate for students with disabilities. Vivienne is part of the LEAD (Learning and Educating About Disabilities) Program at Cheyenne Mountain High School and tells us about how she learned to speak up for herself as a student with disabilities, especially since her having diabetes is not commonly understood as a learning disability. Vivienne also tells us about her strategies for managing mental health struggles and how she uses her hairstyling skills to cope.Find out more about us at www.mindfulandpositive.comEmail us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.com

If you know Cheyenne Mountain High School, then you definitely know Parker Craddock and Jackson Bailey. These two have been the face of the school's morning news show, providing a funny, light-hearted break to each day. But Parker and Jackson also became active members of the school's mindfulness club and talk about how they have dealt with the stress and disappointment of a senior year cut short.Jackson also guides us through his own unique mindfulness technique which combines and an acting exercise and a visualization to help center and calm him before a performance.

Mary Roalstad and Grace Babcock are two of the kindest people you'll ever meet. And that's not some simple compliment. These two go out of their way every day to make acts of kindness a part of their lives and mental health routines. Meg and Jeff explain how kindness actually is contagious in your brain.Mary and Grace also talk about dealing with stress, the pressure to be perfect and how coronavirus quarantine pushed them to adjust their lives.Write us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.comFind us at www.mindfulandpositive.com

It's our first national champion on the podcast: swimmer at University of California Berkeley, Daniel Carr.Daniel helped his team to an NCAA championship in 2019 but his college career hasn't been all smooth sailing. Daniel suffered two devastating losses in quick succession and tells us about his process of learning to grieve in the midst of academic and athletic demands.Write us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.comFind us at www.mindfulandpositive.com

In our last episode, Ally Hall talked about using visualization as part of maintaining her mental health on a daily basis. In this mini, we guide you through visualization so you can do it to. Try it out!Let us know how it went for you: mindfulandpositive@gmail.comwww.mindfulandpositive.com

Ally Hall was hit with a shock when she began high school: she was diagnosed with a chronic pain illness. Over the years she has developed many techniques that have allowed her to being "growing with" the chronic illness, not trying to grow out of it. Ally, now an award winning writer, talks about using her creative outlets for mental health struggles. She also shares her thoughts on how schools can do a better job of addressing student's mental health.You'll hear Ally mention "visualization" as one of the mental health techniques she uses. Check our podcast feed for a mini episode guiding you through doing visualization.Learn more about us at www.mindfulandpositive.comGet in touch at mindfulandpositive@gmail.com

Welcome to the Mindful and Positive Podcast!We are thrilled to kick off the show with an interview with Cheyenne Mountain High School Graduate, Maddie Zakrajsek. We have witnessed Maddie's tremendous growth in improving her mental health. We talk to her about the importance of relationships, how to be open about mental health, and techniques for handling difficult emotions.We also discuss the "Three Blessings" journaling practice and how you can start doing it today.Write us at mindfulandpositive@gmail.comFind us at www.mindfulandpositive.com