Podcasts about calmer

Send a textWhat if your work could feel lighter without losing impact? We take a hard look at hustle culture, anxiety, and the myth that success must hurt, then contrast it with Jesus' promise of an easy yoke and a light burden. We unpack how living from the parasympathetic nervous system aligns with God's design for steady, sustainable growth.Stephanie and I share stories that challenge logic and strengthen trust, from the fishermen who found abundance after a fruitless night to real-world moments when providential timing solved impossible scheduling problems. You'll hear how flexible planning - holding a clear vision while writing plans in erasable ink - invites God to order our steps. Along the way, we explore the sphere of control to quiet spiraling thoughts, showing why directing energy toward thoughts, choices, and attitude restores agency while easing physiological stress.When crises hit, we do what we can, then hand over the rest, trusting that God works all things toward good; even when we can't see the full picture. The result? Calmer minds, wiser decisions, and work that moves forward without grinding our souls.If you're craving peace without losing progress, this conversation offers a grounded, faith-first framework for your calendar, your body, and your calling. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a lighter load, and leave a review.Support the showConnect with Melissa: Lemon Balm Coaching or Women Connected FB Community Connect with Stephanie: SJP Health and Wellness or Be the BOSS, Be Well FB Community Music by Adipsia

Tracking your kids can feel like “good parenting”… until it turns your home into a control room. In this Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline talk about why location-sharing and constant check-ins often backfire—especially as kids become teens and young adults.They unpack the real driver underneath most tracking habits: adult discomfort with uncertainty. You'll hear how “just nice to know” can quietly turn into stress, distrust, and sneaky workarounds (hello, leaving the phone somewhere “safe”). Along the way, they share what actually keeps teens talking: conversations that aren't about school, letting kids teach you their world (yes, even Formula 1), remembering the “small” details that matter to them, and owning it when you mess up.If you want more openness, less policing, and a relationship your teen actually uses (calls in the car, debriefs after school, mall trips by choice), this one's for you.“Homework” activities for adults (to support kids + teens) 1) The “Not School” Daily Check-In (7 minutes)Once a day, ask one question that has nothing to do with grades, homework, or performance. Keep it light. Prompt ideas: “What was the funniest thing today?” “Who made your day better?” “What's your current obsession?”Resource: print/write a small stack of dinner questions (they mention using a question box). Use index cards or a notes app.2) Let Them Teach You Something (15 minutes, once a week)Pick one of their interests and let them lead. Your job is to be curious, not clever. Easy starters: music playlist tour, game/YouTube trend explainer, sport update, hobby demo.Resource: a shared note called “Things I'm learning from you” where you jot down names, teams, inside jokes, friends, upcoming events.3) The “Remember One Detail” PracticeWhen they mention something that matters to them (a friend issue, a teacher they can't stand, a social moment), write one line somewhere. Bring it up later. Goal: they feel noticed without being managed.Resource: phone note with headings: Friends / School People / Interests / Upcoming.4) Replace Tracking With a Simple Family PlanInstead of location monitoring, agree on a basic rhythm:where you plan to bewhat time you expect to be backwhat to do if plans changeone check-in rule for late nights (short text is enough)Resource: a shared family note or whiteboard titled “Today's Plan.”5) The Clean Apology (30 seconds)When you misread them, embarrass them, overreact, or “torpedo” your partner in front of the kids—own it fast. Script: “I got that wrong. I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that.” No sermon. No courtroom defence.Resource: keep a reminder on your phone lock screen for a week: “Repair beats being right.”Send a textEnjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

In Episode 186 of the Fit Mother Project Podcast, Dr. Anthony Balduzzi shares why a supportive evening routine can change everything: sleep quality, cravings, mood, and the energy you bring to your family the next day. If you are doing a lot “right” but still feel wired at night or tired in the morning, this episode gives you a simple way to reset. Dr. A teaches a clear framework where your night routine has three jobs: set the clock, lower arousal, and protect your sleep cave. You will learn how light, screens, late meals, and nervous system activation can disrupt deeper sleep. You will also get practical tools that fit real life, including a wind-down rule, a quick brain dump to quiet mental loops, and bedroom upgrades that make sleep more restorative.In this episode, you'll learn the 3 jobs of an evening routine:The 3 Jobs of an Evening RoutineSet the Clock (light + meal timing + consistent cues)Lower Arousal (mind and nervous system downshift)Protect Your Sleep Cave (cool, dark, quiet, positioning)Coming up: How to stay consistent with nutrition, workouts, hydration, and sleep while traveling.Missed Morning Routines? Last week Dr. Anthony's podcast was on setting good morning routines. Head here to listen and get your mornings started with a positive bang!Rate & Review: If this episode helped you, leave a 5-star rating and a quick review. It helps more moms find the show.Join the Fit Mother Community: Want accountability and support? Join us inside the Fit Mother community and share your “7-night upgrade” results.If you're ready to stop doing this alone, we'd love to have you with us. www.fitmotherproject.comKey TakeawaysSleep quality over sleep quantityThe 3 jobs: set the clock, lower arousal, protect the sleep caveMorning light exposure supports stronger melatonin at nightDim lights and shift screens warmer 60–90 minutes before bedDinner timing as a major lever, ideally finishing 3 hours before sleep“3-2-1 wind-down rule”Brain dump and tomorrow list to close open loopsNasal breathing and slow exhales to downshift the nervous systemHot shower 60–90 minutes before bed to help cooling and sleep onsetBed association: sleep and sex, not scrolling and workNSDR or yoga nidra for racing-mind nights“After the basics” supplements: magnesium glycinate, glycine, low-dose melatonin

Ludovic Leroux, coach et expert en régulation du système nerveux.Dans cet épisode, nous parlons de la différence cruciale entre savoir et intégrer. J'ai questionné Ludovic sur les chemins concrets d'incarnation du développement personnel, en partant de sa vision de sportif : pourquoi est-ce que tant de gens connaissent les outils… sans jamais les utiliser ?Il explique avec clarté et bienveillance les 4 voies d'accès au système nerveux, en montrant que le retour au calme et à la présence n'est pas un luxe spirituel, mais une hygiène quotidienne, aussi concrète que de se brosser les dents.Un moment fort, dense et utile — à écouter, et surtout à pratiquer.Citations marquantes« La vraie question, ce n'est pas “est-ce que tu sais ?”, mais “est-ce que tu le fais ?” »« Utiliser la respiration seulement quand ça ne va pas, c'est comme s'entraîner la veille d'une compétition. »« Notre système nerveux ne fait pas la différence entre le réel et l'imaginaire. »« Trois soupirs intentionnels suffisent parfois à retrouver un état de calme. »« La douche froide, c'est une agression choisie pour reprendre le contrôle. »Idées centrales discutées (Big Ideas)

Feel like you're shouting into the void with your marketing? You're not alone—and it's not your fault.Social media wants you reactive, emotional, and constantly second-guessing yourself. Meanwhile, big retailers operate from detailed seasonal plans made months in advance.I'm Catherine Erdly, and this is Resilient Retail Game Plan — practical product business advice with a healthy dose of reality.In this episode, I'm revealing:✓ Why sporadic marketing makes sales feel random✓ How algorithms keep you stuck in chaos✓ What big retailers do differently (without massive teams)✓ The marketing structure that actually works for small businessesStop waking up wondering "what should I post today?" and start building a plan you can trust.LinksGet your free Calmer and Consistent Sales Planner: resilientretailclub.com/salesJoin the Retail Sales Game Plan waitlist (reopening Feb): resilientretailclub.com/retailsalesResilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.comListen on your favourite podcast app: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcastEnjoying the show?DM your takeaways or questions to @resilientretailclub on Instagram.And if the podcast's useful, please follow, rate, and review — it helps more product businesses find us.Mentioned in this episode:Sign up to the waitlisthttps://www.resilientretailclub.com/retailsales/

Today, we discuss another session marked by notable divergences within the US stock universe, oil markets heading into territory that is starting to look expensive unless geopolitical tensions spill over into actual confrontation, the idea that the best things for gold and silver bulls might be for the price action to just calm down for a while, and the macro backdrop heating up with key US data ahead - especially today's US payrolls revisions, which are far more important than the latest data print. Meanwhile, the JPY is rumbling - can it roar? Today's pod features Saxo Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen and is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy. Links discussed on the podcast and our Chart of the Day can be found on the John J. Hardy substack (within one to four hours from the time of the podcast release). Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here. Please reach out to us at marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions. Click here to open an account with Saxo. Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

This week, we share the Life Organization Systems that quietly hold our life together, reduce mental clutter, and create calm without relying on motivation or constant effort.

durée : 00:11:08 - L'Avant-scène - par : Aurélie Charon - La comédienne Constance Dollé adapte "Croire aux fauves" de l'anthropologue Nastassja Martin. Elle y raconte sa confrontation avec un ours en 2015 dans les montagnes du Kamtchatka. La comédienne tisse un dialogue entre elle et le texte. - réalisation : Alexandre Fougeron - invités : Constance Dollé comédienne

durée : 00:11:08 - L'Avant-scène - par : Aurélie Charon - La comédienne Constance Dollé adapte "Croire aux fauves" de l'anthropologue Nastassja Martin. Elle y raconte sa confrontation avec un ours en 2015 dans les montagnes du Kamtchatka. La comédienne tisse un dialogue entre elle et le texte. - réalisation : Alexandre Fougeron - invités : Constance Dollé comédienne

Craniotomy Stroke Recovery: How a Massive Medical Event Reshaped One Man's Identity and Way of Living When Brandon Barre woke up after his stroke, half of his skull was missing. Doctors had performed an emergency craniotomy to save his life after a severe brain bleed. His left side barely worked. His memory felt fragmented. Time itself seemed unreliable; days, weeks, even months blurred together into what he later described as a kind of perpetual Groundhog Day. And yet, amid one of the most extreme medical experiences a person can survive, Brandon remained unexpectedly calm. This is a story about craniotomy stroke recovery, but it's not just about surgery, rehab, or timelines. It's about identity, mindset, and what happens when your old life disappears overnight, and you're forced to rebuild from the inside out. Life Before the Stroke: Movement, Freedom, and Identity Before his stroke, Brandon lived a life defined by movement and autonomy. He worked in the oil fields as an MWD specialist, spending weeks at a time on drilling rigs. Later, he left what he called “traditional life” behind and spent years traveling the United States in an RV. He found work wherever he went, producing music festivals, building large-scale art installations, and immersing himself in creative communities. Stability, for Brandon, never meant stillness. It meant freedom. Stroke wasn't on his radar. At 46, he was active, independent, and deeply connected to his sense of self. The Stroke and Emergency Craniotomy The stroke happened in Northern California after a long day of rock climbing with friends. Brandon didn't notice the warning signs himself; it was others who saw that his arm wasn't working properly. Later that night, he became profoundly disoriented. He was found the next morning, still sitting upright in his truck, barely conscious. Within hours, Brandon was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center, where doctors removed a blood clot and performed a large craniotomy due to dangerous swelling. Part of his skull was removed and stored while his brain recovered. He spent 10 days in intensive care, followed by weeks in inpatient rehabilitation. Remarkably, he reports no physical pain throughout the entire process, a detail that underscores how differently each brain injury unfolds. Early Craniotomy Stroke Recovery: Regaining Movement, Losing Certainty Physically, Brandon's recovery followed a familiar but still daunting path. Initially, he couldn't walk. His left arm hung uselessly by his side. Foot drop made even short distances difficult. But what challenged him most wasn't just movement; it was orientation. He struggled to track days, months, and time itself. Short-term memory lapses made planning almost impossible. Writing, once a core part of his identity, became inaccessible. He could form letters, but not their meaning. This is a common but under-discussed aspect of craniotomy stroke recovery: the loss isn't only physical. It's cognitive, emotional, and deeply personal. “It's kind of like I'm in this perpetual day ever since the stroke… like Groundhog Day.” Technology as Independence, Not Convenience One of the quiet heroes of Brandon's recovery has been voice-to-text technology. Because writing and spelling no longer function reliably, Brandon relies on dictation to communicate. Tools like Whisper Flow and built-in phone dictation restored his ability to express ideas, stay connected, and remain independent. This matters. For stroke survivors, technology isn't about productivity. It's about dignity. Identity Reset: Slower, Calmer, More Intentional Perhaps the most striking part of Brandon's story is how little resentment he carries. He doesn't deny frustration. He doesn't pretend recovery is easy. But he refuses to live in constant rumination. Instead, he adopted a simple principle: one problem at a time. That mindset reshaped his lifestyle. He stopped drinking, smoking, and using marijuana. He slowed his pace. He became more deliberate with relationships, finances, and health decisions. He grew closer to his adult daughter than ever before. The stroke didn't erase his identity, it refined it. Taking Ownership of Craniotomy Stroke Recovery A turning point came when Brandon realized he couldn't rely solely on the medical system. Insurance changes, rotating doctors, and long waits forced him to educate himself. He turned to what he jokingly calls “YouTube University,” learning from other survivors and clinicians online. That self-directed approach extended to major medical decisions, including choosing monitoring over immediate invasive heart procedures and calmly approaching a newly discovered brain aneurysm with information rather than fear. His conclusion is clear: Recovery belongs to the survivor. Doctors guide. Therapists assist. But ownership sits with the person doing the living. A Message for Others on the Journey Toward the end of the conversation, Brandon offered advice that cuts through fear-based recovery narratives: Don't let timelines define you. Don't rush because someone says you should. Don't stop because someone says you're “done.” Every stroke is different. Every brain heals differently. And recovery, especially after a craniotomy, continues far longer than most people are told. Moving Forward, One Intentional Step at a Time Craniotomy stroke recovery isn't just about regaining movement. It's about rebuilding trust with your body, reshaping identity, and learning how to live with uncertainty without letting it dominate your life. Brandon's story reminds us that even after the most extreme medical events, calm is possible. Growth is possible. And a meaningful life, though different, can still unfold. Continue Your Recovery Journey Learn more: https://recoveryafterstroke.com/book Support the podcast: https://patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. Brandon's Story: Surviving a Craniotomy, Redefining Identity, and Recovering on His Own Terms He survived a stroke and craniotomy, then calmly rebuilt his identity, habits, and life one deliberate step at a time. Research shortcut I use (Turnto.ai) I used Turnto.ai to find relevant papers and sources in minutes instead of hours. If you want to try it, here’s my affiliate LINK You'll get 10% off, it's about $2/week, and it supports the podcast. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Background01:52 Life Before the Stroke03:32 The Stroke Experience11:03 Craniotomy Stroke Recovery Journey17:09 Adjusting to Life Post-Stroke28:46 Living Independently After Stroke35:09 Facing New Challenges: Aneurysms and Uncertainty42:13 Support Systems: Finding Community After Stroke47:06 Identity Shift: Life Changes Post-Stroke58:39 Lessons Learned: Insights from the Journey Transcript: Introduction and Background Brandon (00:00)next morning was still in the driver’s seat with my head on the steering wheel. and I couldn’t make either of my arms work I had been bleeding into my brain for 12 hours overnight they had to go ahead and do a, craniotomy. And so they took this whole side. It was a big craniotomy. They took that whole section of my skull out, put it in the freezer Bill Gasiamis (00:27)Before we begin today’s episode, want to take a moment to speak to you directly. If you’ve had a stroke, you already know this part. The hospital phase ends, but the questions don’t. You’re sent home expecting to get on with it. And suddenly you’re left trying to work out recovery, mindset, fatigue, emotions, sleep and motivation all on your own. You shouldn’t have to. That’s why I wrote my book, The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became the Best Thing That Happened. Not to tell you what to do, but to walk beside you and show you the tools real stroke survivors use to rebuild their lives when the system stopped helping. and now with this book, you won’t have to figure it out alone. You can find that at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. All right, let’s get into today’s episode. Today, you’re going to hear from Brandon Barre. Brandon was 46 years old, active, independent and living an unconventional life when he had a stroke that led to a craniotomy. where part of his skull was removed to save his life. What stood out to me immediately about Brandon wasn’t just the severity of what he went through. It was the calm grounded way he approached recovery, identity and rebuilding his life. This is a conversation about stroke recovery. Yes, but it is also about mindset, ownership and what happens when you decide to take recovery into your own hands. Life Before the Stroke (01:52)Brendan Barre, welcome to the podcast. Brandon (01:54)Thank you, man. (01:56)You struggled a little bit getting here. There’s a couple of little things that caused a bit of a challenge for you. What are those things? Brandon (02:05)Well, I mean, first of all, I’m, I’m, I’m, even before my stroke, I was never very computer-y. Um, so using my phone for more than just making phone calls is kind of new to me. Um, so yeah, a new microphone, that was fun. And then I had made a bunch of notes, not realizing that I probably wasn’t gonna be able to see those notes. Um, you know, so that was also a little bit of a issue, but uh, but yeah, other than that, man. Not much, you know, I mean I’m here. (02:37)Yeah. I remember receiving your emails about, I’m not sure what day we’re on. I need to reschedule all that kind of stuff. Stuff that I used to do heaps. I remember in the early days of my kind of stroke recovery, I used to make appointments, put them in my calendar, get reminders about my appointments and still be confused about the day, the time and the location of the appointment. Brandon (03:04)Yes, absolutely. That’s a big thing for me too. know, and I mean even just, you know, remembering from minute to minute where of what day, what month and everything I’m in right now is a little bit tricky still. It’s getting better, but ⁓ but yeah, I still have a lot of trouble. I can always think of every month except for the month that we’re currently in. (03:24)Okay, so you have like a short term memory thing, is it? Or… The Stroke Experience Brandon (03:28)Yes, yes, have short-term memory issues. ⁓ A lot of times ⁓ I struggle to find, like I said, the date and everything else. ⁓ But I don’t know, man. It’s kind of like I’m in this perpetual day ever since the stroke, and I have trouble keeping track of exactly what that is on everybody else’s time frame. (03:53)Like a, like a groundhog day. Brandon (03:55)Yes. Yeah. You know, I mean, if I really work hard and think about it, I can figure out what day it is, but it takes a while generally to get the month. The day of the month isn’t quite as difficult anymore, but at the beginning I had trouble with the whole thing. (04:11)I hear you man, I totally hear you. I reckon there’s been a ton of people that relate to what you’re saying. ⁓ Tell me, day like before stroke? What’d you get up to? What type of things did you involve yourself with? Brandon (04:23)Well, ⁓ you know, I was, I was really involved in, ⁓ production of music festivals and, ⁓ doing that kind of work. ⁓ I’ve always kind of freelanced. Well, you know, I actually, ⁓ left traditional life in 2000 and ⁓ January 1st of 2012 and started traveling and, you know, living out of an RV and whatnot. Before that, I was in the oil field. I’ve worked as an MWD specialist on a drilling rig, which means that I used to ⁓ take down all the information about where the actual drill bit was underground and send that off to all the geologists and everybody else so they can make sure that the well was going in the right direction. And, ⁓ you know, I just really didn’t feel happy in life, man. So I decided to take off and see the states out of my RV. And that started about 10 years of travel. And then In 2019 I bought some property and started to kind of slowly come off the road and started to be on my property more often but you know it just yeah I don’t know man my life has been a lot of different transitions one thing to another I move around a lot in life. (05:25)you Yeah, so the RV was kind of just exploring seeing the country Doing that type of thing or was it going somewhere with a purpose say to get work or to? Hang out there for a little while. What was that all about? Brandon (05:57)A little bit of all of it. A little bit of all of it. I’ve always been able to find work where I go, you know, doing different things. But I kind of fell into music festival work, like setting up and tearing down for music festivals and building art installations, doing like mandalas out of trash and stuff like that. And just kind of always did kind of the artist thing, I guess you could say. Even before, while I was still in the oil field doing the traditional life thing, I was always very art motivated. (06:30)Yeah, when you talk about traditional life, you’re talking about nine to five kind of routine and working for the man type of thing. Is that what you mean by traditional life? Brandon (06:43)Yes, except mine was a little bit different. My work in the oil field involved me being on site on the drilling rig for up to six weeks sometimes. So it wasn’t really nine to five. I would stay gone for a lot more than that. But then when I would go home, I’d be off for three weeks, a month. So yeah, just ⁓ doing that. (07:07)Where were these oil rigs? Were they in the middle of a desert? Were they in the ocean? Brandon (07:13)No, they were all onshore and I worked a lot in like Pennsylvania, but also a lot in Texas ⁓ Just you know anywhere where they were doing natural gas drilling (07:27)And is that a remote kind of existence in that if you’re on the rig for six weeks, are you getting off it? Are you going into town? Are you doing any of that stuff? Brandon (07:38)Usually the rigs are within an hour of some type of small town usually a Walmart that type of thing So I would go and get groceries a couple of times a week You know me and the other guys would go out and get you know dinner times and whatnot but ⁓ but yeah, basically just sitting in a little trailer a directional trailer is what they called it because it was me and ⁓ Two two other three other guys two more ⁓ directional drillers and then one other MWD hand which is what I was and so there was a night shift and a day shift of two guys each. (08:16)12 hour shifts. Brandon (08:17)Yes. (08:18)Dude, hard work. Brandon (08:21)Yeah, I mean on paper it was hard work. In real life, I mean there were those really problematic jobs where you know everything went wrong but in most cases it was just you know taking a bunch of measurements on the computer whenever they would add another link of pipe to the drilling string and drill down further so every time they would add another length of pipe I would have to take more measurements. (08:47)I hear you. So not physical, but still mental. And you’ve to be on the go for a long amount of time. Brandon (08:56)Right, but yeah, I mean it did when I would have to go up on the rig floor to like change the tool out or to put something You know together or what not so there was a little bit of that but still not as physical as like a traditional drilling rig roughneck (09:04)Uh-huh. I hear you. Yeah. Everyone’s seen those videos on YouTube with those guys getting covered in that sludge and working at breakneck speeds so that they can make sure that they put the next piece on. Brandon (09:24)Yeah, yeah, no, I, you know, and I mean, I wore my share of that mud, but not near as much as a floor hand would. (09:34)I hear, I feel like you’re, ⁓ you’re toning it down and you’re making it sound a lot more ⁓ pleasant than what it might be. But I appreciate that, man. like the way you talk about things. I couldn’t imagine myself doing that, that level of physical labor. Maybe I’m just a bit too soft myself. Brandon (09:54)Yeah, no, I don’t know, man. I consider myself soft in a lot of ways, too, man. You know, it’s just, we’re all different in our softness. (10:02)yeah. ⁓ tell me a little bit about, ⁓ your stroke, man. Like what was that particular week? Like the day? Like how did the lead up happen? Bill Gasiamis (10:12)Let’s pause for a moment. If you’re listening to this and thinking, I wish someone had explained this part to me earlier. You’re not alone. One of the hardest parts of stroke recovery isn’t the hospital. It’s what comes after when the appointments slow down, the support fades and you’re left trying to make sense of what your life looks like now. That’s exactly why I wrote the unexpected way that a stroke became the best thing that happened. It’s not a medical book. It’s a recovery companion built from real experiences. real mistakes and real breakthroughs that stroke survivors discovered along the way. If you want something that helps you think differently about recovery and reminds you that you’re not broken, you can find the book at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. Let’s get back to the conversation with Brandon. Craniotomy Stroke Recovery Journey Brandon (10:59)Okay, so I was helping a friend in Northern California to clean a property that was owned by an artist who had died and we went on to his 10 acre property and we’re just cleaning up for his family. But he had like all kinds of art stuff everywhere and so it was kind of right up my alley and ⁓ We were just trying to get the property clean for these people and we decided to take off and go and do a little bit of rock climbing. so we took off early one morning and drove to a town called Willets, California where there’s good rock climbing and we spent the day doing rock climbing which was a fairly new thing to me but the guys that I was with were very experienced lifelong climbers. And so I was kind of the new guy and they were showing me the ropes and we climbed all day. I did really well, I thought, and didn’t really notice anything. No problems. ⁓ Got back in the car. We’re headed back to the house about an hour away, a friend’s house where we were all going to stay the night. And on the way there, I noticed that I was really thirsty and I stopped and I got two 40 ounce bottles of Gatorade and I drank them both immediately and like just downed them and still didn’t notice anything was a problem was in the truck by myself with my two dogs and eventually I guess about an hour later we got to the house And I went inside to hang out with everybody. And one of my friends said that my arm wasn’t working well. I didn’t notice it at all, but he said that my arm wasn’t working very well. ⁓ so ⁓ I just kind of went on with my life. a couple of, I guess about an hour later, I decided that I was really tired. and I could not quench my thirst so I just grabbed a whole bunch of water and went out to my truck and I was gonna go and lay down and sleep in the back of my truck for the night and ⁓ when I got out to my truck ⁓ by this time my friend had said that my arm was working fine again and he noticed that I he felt like I had gotten over whatever it was and so I went out to my truck got into the driver’s seat of the truck And that’s about the last of my recollection that night. next morning when I wasn’t up making breakfast before everyone else, they realized there was a problem because I was usually the first one up making breakfast and doing all that stuff and I wasn’t there. So my friend came out to my truck to check on me and I was still in the driver’s seat with my head on the steering wheel. I never even fell over. (14:05)Hmm. Brandon (14:17)And so this is 12 hours later. And so ⁓ he tried to wake me up and I was only halfway coherent and I couldn’t make either of my arms work and only one of my legs could I get any response from. So he realized there was a problem immediately, pushed me over into the passenger side of the truck got in and drove me an hour to the closest hospital, just a small little regional hospital. And they were pretty quick about realizing that I was having a stroke. And they didn’t even, I don’t even remember them putting me in a room. They brought me straight up to the roof and put me in a helicopter and helicopter and helicoptered me to UC Davis hospital in Sacramento. (14:59)Wow Wow Brandon (15:15)And I got into the hospital and within, I think about an hour and a half, they had called my mom and my brothers who were all in Louisiana at the time. And they had gotten permission to start treatment and they brought me into the surgery. at first they just (15:25)The The following is a video of the first year of Brandon (15:45)removed a three millimeter blood clot from my main artery on the right side. But then the swelling was so bad because I had been bleeding into my brain for 12 hours overnight that they had to go ahead and do ⁓ a, what do you call it? The craniotomy. Yeah, craniotomy. And so they took this whole side. It was a big craniotomy. (16:05)Craniotomy Brandon (16:12)They took this whole side, everything to the center of my forehead, above my eye, down to just above my ear, front to back. ⁓ They took that whole section of my skull out, put it in the freezer so that my brain had room. then I spent 10 days in intensive care recovering from that. And then they moved me to a rehab hospital where I spent four weeks. And yeah, so in that rehab hospital, yeah, immediately after the surgery, I couldn’t walk and I had pretty much no function on my left side, know, arm or leg. But by the time I got to the rehab hospital, I had gotten some control back, but I still couldn’t walk. ⁓ (16:44)Wow, man. Adjusting to Life Post-Stroke Brandon (17:10)And that about a week after I was in the rehab hospital is when I started to walk again without assistance. So that came back fairly quickly, but I still had really bad foot drop and my left arm wasn’t working. It was hanging, you know? And then, so they kept me in there, ⁓ you know, going through, I guess, regular rehab. (17:24)Thank Yep. Brandon (17:36)They the series of lights on the ground in front of me and I’d have to like run around and touch the different lights as they would activate and you know, I don’t know I mean, I guess it’s the same type of rehab stuff that most people go through and ⁓ (17:51)Yeah, it’s probably similar. Mate, ⁓ this is what I really want to know is what’s it like to experience having half of your skull removed? Can you somehow paint a picture of what it’s like to go through that process and how aware were you of it? Because you just had a stroke, right? So you’re in a bit of a challenged sort of healthy health state. Brandon (18:14)Right. No. Yes. ⁓ well, I think that that deliriousness was actually kind of helpful. First of all, I have not experienced any pain through the entire process. From the stroke, no pain from the craniotomy, no pain through rehab. I have not experienced any pain through this entire experience. None whatsoever. Now the doctors say that I might have lost some of that ability to sense it But you know, I mean whatever it took I Really, you know, I didn’t you know, whatever the reason was The effect of it was that I had a pretty fame pain free experience, you know (19:07)and you’re like looking in the mirror and seeing yourself and you know, like experiencing your head and how do you kind of deal with all of that? Brandon (19:21)Well, ⁓ I couldn’t feel a whole lot. I still have a lot of, or not so very much sensation on my scalp on that side. So, you know, but as far as looking in the mirror, that was kind of interesting. You know, it took a little while to get used to it, you know, and, it, ⁓ was definitely not something that I would recommend. Anybody else going through if they don’t have to you know, but ⁓ But I don’t know man. I mean, I’ve always tried to stay pretty positive about things and so, you know, I just Kept going, you know, I mean they shaved my head. I had dreadlocks for a very long time I had dreadlocks and And so this is all the hair that I’ve gotten since they put my skull back together, which was January or it’s actually It’ll be one year tomorrow since they put my skull back together. So, ⁓ my hair is coming back, which I’m really grateful for. About this time next year, I’m gonna start trying to put my dreadlocks back in. you know, but yeah, it’s, I don’t know, man. It’s really been an interesting ride. ⁓ You know, ⁓ learned a lot more about stroke than I ever thought I would need to. You know, I mean, I’m 48 right now. I was 46 when the stroke happened. So it wasn’t even on my radar, man. I wasn’t paying any attention at all. I didn’t know the anagrams or whatever. I didn’t know the symptoms of stroke. So I just kind of rolled with the punches as they came. I took it one step at a time. And that’s kind of the way it’s been with my recovery too. is I try to address one problem at a time so I don’t overwhelm myself. So after I started to get my leg back, I started to shift my influence to my shoulder and my arm. And at this point, I’ve got almost full range of motion back to the left side. I still can’t write. ⁓ Well, actually, technically, I can make my whole alphabet and all of my numbers with (21:16)Yep. Brandon (21:37)both hands at this point. trained myself to use the other hand and then about the time I was able to get that back the other hand started to come back online. So now I can do all that with both hands but words I’m word blind and numbers and letters don’t make a lot of sense to me. So even though I can make the shapes I have a lot of trouble associating the sounds of certain letters and the functions. of different numbers and letters, you know? That’s where a lot of my trouble is now, and that’s where most of my work is at the moment. (22:14)I hear you. So you sound like you’re very cool, and collected. How do you remain positive when you wake up from a stroke? You’re missing half of your skull. Your body doesn’t work on half the side. Is it your default? Do you have to work on that? Have you been working on being positive over? the decades that you’ve been on the planet, give us a bit of an insight into that part of you. Brandon (22:47)Okay, so yeah, I think I’ve always maintained a pretty positive demeanor, you know, I mean I’ve gone through some rough stuff in life, but I’ve just kind of kept going, you know, rolling with the punches. So I really don’t think that I have had much difficulty remaining positive through it. You know, there’s ⁓ definitely, you know, ⁓ days that I don’t feel as good as other days, you know, and you know, I definitely have… ⁓ things that I have to work through. have to, you know, I have to make an effort to remain positive, you know, at times. But my default has always been to be a pretty positive and happy person. So I think that that was really the majority of it is that I’ve always even in the light of extreme adversity, I’ve always been able to remain positive. You know, ⁓ so that that’s always been, you know, key even before the stroke. But (23:39)Yeah. Brandon (23:46)Yeah, I mean definitely waking up and realizing that half of my body didn’t work anymore was not fun, but it’s what I was given. I couldn’t change it, you know, only time and work was gonna change it. So I just kinda accepted it, you know, I mean, ⁓ one of the biggest things that helped me out was by the time I got out of surgery and started to get coherent, My mom and my brother had already flown from Louisiana to be with me in California at the hospital. And that was huge just to know that my family was there. And they stayed with me for the whole time that I was ⁓ in the hospital for the 10 days. And then when I went to the rehab hospital, they went home. ⁓ But yeah, so that was ⁓ just really, that was a big part of it too, you know, I mean. My mom and my brothers are pretty much the most important people in my life. Of course, my daughter as well. yeah, so, you know, to have them all there and just to have that support and have them there to help me because when I first came out, from the time I came out of surgery, I could still speak very clearly. So I did not know what I was saying. (24:56)Mm-hmm. Brandon (25:15)Nobody could tell like I wasn’t making a lot of sense, but I never lost my voice They think that that’s because of my left-handedness Because I’m left-handed I store things like that differently in my brain So because of that I was able to keep my speech even though I cannot write I can’t do you know I mean I can write my letters, but if I try to (25:32)Okay. Brandon (25:44)make a word this was yesterday (25:48)Aha! Lux- Brandon (25:50)But I can, yeah, it’s just scribble. It’s just scribble. Yeah, but, you know, if I try to like draw a letter or a number, I can do it, but I have trouble assigning it to its value. (25:53)Yeah. Understood. So before that, were quite capable of stringing sentences together, writing things down, doing all that kind of stuff. So that’s a very big contrast. Brandon (26:14)I have always been known. Huge contrast. (26:22)Is it frustrating that you can’t write in the way that you did before? it matter? Brandon (26:27)Yes, yes, I used to write all the time, know, poetry, things like that. I’ve always been considered, you know, a good writer, a good orator, public speaker, you know, that kind of thing was a big part of my life, for my whole life. And so to go from that to not being able to write a sentence on a piece of paper or even a word is really a big change for me. You know, and I mean I do use my phone for voice to text. If I wouldn’t have had voice to text, I really don’t know where I would be right now. (27:06)Is that how you communicate most things? Brandon (27:09)Yes, absolutely. it’s- if I can’t say it, like speak it, I have to use voice to text. I can’t spell- I can’t- I can’t spell my own name half the time. (27:17)Dude, I love that. Yeah, I hear you. I love voice to text. So I was told by a friend of mine about a product called Whisper Flow. I’m gonna have links in the show notes and in the description on the YouTube video, right? And it’s spelled W-I-S-P-R-F-L-O-W, Whisper Flow. And what you do is you program one key on your keyboard. And then what you do is you press that key and it activates Brandon (27:36)Yes. (27:52)the app and then you speak and it types beautifully. It types at all. And I’m a terrible like typist. I could never be one of those really quick secretary kind of people and take notes because I’m not fast enough, but it can type for me by speaking like beyond 99 words per minute, which I think is crazy fast. Living Independently After Stroke And I do it because it just saves a heck of a lot of time, me looking down at the keyboard and all that kind of stuff. My left hand does work, but I can type with it, but often my left hand, you know, we’ll miss the key and I’ve got to go back and do corrections and all that kind of stuff. So voice to text, this comes such a long way and everyone needs to know, especially if they’ve had a stroke and one of their limbs is affected, especially if it’s their… they’re riding limb or if they have a challenge like you, everyone needs to know about the fact that technology can really solve that problem. I’m pretty sure, I know this sounds like an ad for Whisper Flow, it probably is, but I’m not getting paid for it. I think they cost, it costs about hundred bucks a year to have this ⁓ service. So it’s so affordable and it does everything for you just at the touch of one button on your computer. And for some people you can also use it on your phone. But I think phones are pretty awesome at doing voice to text already. So you don’t really need ⁓ it for the phone, but you definitely need to check it out for the computer. Brandon (29:27)Okay, yeah, well, you know, I pretty much have my phone. I don’t have a computer, so… But, ⁓ it does sound like an amazing product, and I am looking to get myself a computer because I really, ⁓ like, I haven’t touched a keyboard since my stroke. So, it would be nice to get myself a laptop with a keyboard so that I could start working on trying to see how that interface works for me. (29:33)Yeah. Yeah. How was the transition out of hospital and rehab back to your place? and how long after the initial strike did you end up back at home? Brandon (30:04)Okay, so, when I, I left the hospital after, or I’m sorry, after 10 days in intensive care, they put me in the rehab hospital and I was there for four weeks. After that, they still didn’t think that I was ready to live by myself yet. So I had to, ⁓ rent a house in Joshua tree from a friend of mine who lived on the property in another house. And so I had a whole house to myself still which allowed me to keep my independence. But I still had somebody close enough to holler if I needed anything. And so I kind of, you know, baby stepped by renting a house, you know, for a while. And, And I have property in Northern Arizona where I normally would take my off time when I wasn’t traveling. But, ⁓ But, ⁓ because of the stroke, I wasn’t able to go back to that property for quite a while. And only about Christmas of last year did I start to be able to spend some more time on my property, you know. But at this point, I’m still renting the house in Joshua Tree and starting ⁓ to branch out a little bit more, do a little bit more traveling, things like that. Now with that said… I have been ever since the stroke happened about two months after the stroke I went back to my first music festival. So I didn’t have half of my skull. I had to wear a helmet for six months. And so here I am at a music festival with all of my friends and I’m in a helmet with half of my skull missing. But I still was able to be there and then ⁓ you know, be a part of the festival. So I got back to the activity that I enjoyed pretty fast. (32:07)What genre of music? Brandon (32:09)Well, it’s actually the Joshua Tree Music Festival in particular, which is the only music festival that I’m really involved with anymore. ⁓ They do world music. We get artists from all over the world in. And that’s kind of one of the reasons I’ve continued to be a part of this music festival and really haven’t been that big of a part of the other ones is because I’m always learning about new music when I go there. And that’s a big important part of it to me. (32:40)Understood. So your transition back to living alone took a little bit of time. You’re renting a place. Are you alone there? Are you living with anyone else? How is the home set up? Brandon (32:55)I have a home all to myself but there is a shared home on the other or on the property that a friend of mine lives in and he’s actually the one that I’m renting from so yeah (33:09)So you have access to support to help to people around you if necessary. Brandon (33:15)if I need it. also another big part of one of the symptoms of my stroke is that I don’t recognize my own disabilities. I have a lot of trouble with that. So I generally do not ask for help with things, which in a lot of cases has made me a lot stronger and I think been a big part of a speedy recovery. But at the same time, I can put myself in some kind of sketchy situations at times. (33:43)It’s not, are you sure it’s not just your male ego going, I can do this, I don’t need help. Brandon (33:49)I mean, I’m sure that that does tie into it, I’m certain. But yeah, that’s one of the things that I’ve struggled with from the beginning. And I didn’t recognize the left side of my body as my own. I thought it was somebody else’s. That wasn’t very long, just for maybe the first couple of weeks. But that was a very interesting sensation, that I felt like there was somebody else there. (34:06)Wow. Yeah, it just feels like it’s my, I kind of describe my left side as if it’s because my star sign is Gemini, right? So now I describe it as being the other twin, like the other part of me, which is me, but not me. And it’s so strange to experience 50 % of my body feeling one way and then 50 % of my body feeling a completely different way, which is Brandon (34:25)Yeah. Facing New Challenges: Aneurysms and Uncertainty (34:44)the only way I remember and then tying them together, like bringing them together has been a bit of a wild ride, like just getting them to operate together. When they have different needs, my left side has different needs than my right side. And sometimes one side is getting all the love and the other side is missing out. And I’m always conflicted between where do I allocate resources? Who gets… how much of my time and effort and who I listen to when one of them’s going, my left side’s going, I’m tired, I’m tired. My right side’s going, the party’s just started. Let’s keep going. Don’t worry about it. Brandon (35:25)I have to deal with that. Of course, my left gets a lot tighter than my right side, but I don’t know. think I’ve done a pretty good job of giving it that care. And a big part of where I measured my success was getting my shoulder back online and being able to pronate and go above my head. It took months to get my hand over my head. But But at this point, you know, I’m pretty much back to physically normal except for the fine motor skills on my right, on my left side. You know. (35:59)Sounds like things are going really well in really small increments. And if you’re only, what, two years post stroke, sounds like recovery is gonna continue. You’re gonna get smaller, more and more small wins and they’re gonna kinda accumulate and make it pretty significant in some time ahead. Brandon (36:17)Right. It’s a year and a half. So my stroke was on the 4th of November of 2024. (36:32)Yeah. Do you know in this whole time, did you ever have the… like, this is too hard, I don’t want to do this. Why is this happening to me kind of moment? Did you ever have any of that type of negative self talk or thoughts? Brandon (36:50)no, I mean, I suppose there probably were moments, but I don’t pay a lot of attention to those kinds of moments. You know what I mean? I do kind of even without the stroke, maintain a pretty positive mental attitude, you know, and I think that that’s been one of my biggest blessings through this. ⁓ yeah. So yeah, that’s never really been a good emotion. (37:12)I get a sense that you have those moments, but you don’t spend a lot of time there. Is that right? Is that what you just sort of alluded to that you have those moments, you just don’t give them a lot of time. Therefore they don’t really have the opportunity ⁓ to sort of take up residence. And then you just move on to whatever it is that you’re getting results with or makes you feel better or… ⁓ supports your project which is ⁓ recovery or overcoming or… Brandon (37:48)Yes. No, I completely agree. ⁓ You know, I mean, speaking of which, four days ago, I got ⁓ a phone call from the doctors. ⁓ They found an aneurysm in my brain. So I have to go and meet with a neurosurgeon on Tuesday to discuss what we’re going to do about a brain aneurysm. So I thought, you know, I was just about back to normal. And here I go into another situation. But again, until I know what’s going on, there’s no point in worrying about it, you know? So I’ll know more about it on Tuesday, but until then, I’m not spending a whole lot of time wondering, you know, am I just going to have an aneurysm and collapse tonight? You know? (38:36)that tends to be my default as well. I was really good as a kid. ⁓ When I was being cheeky and not doing my homework for school, I would go to bed and I would remember, I haven’t done my homework. And then I’d be like, yeah, but you can’t solve that problem now. Now you got to sleep, right? So you got to worry about that in the morning after you’ve had a good night’s sleep and you wake up and then deal with it. And that was a strategy to help me forget about that. minor problem, which back then, if you haven’t done your homework as a teenager, that was a big problem. If your teachers found out, if your parents found out, but the idea was that, don’t I just pause all of the overthinking? Why don’t I just pause all of the rumination and all the problems and all that stuff that it could cause for now. And I’ll worry about it when there’s a opportunity to have the resources to do something about it. And the classic example was in the morning, I would have an hour before school where I could reach out to one of my friends, take their homework, copy their homework, and then hand in my homework. Brandon (39:46)Absolutely. Yep, that was very much like me in school. (39:51)Yeah, not much point worrying about things you can’t change or control in the moment. Just pause it, deal with it later. I had a similar situation with my bleed in my brain, because I had a number of different bleeds and it was kind of in the back of my mind a little bit. What if it happens again? But it actually never stopped me from going about life from bleed one through to bleed two. was only six weeks, but like through blade two to blade three, it was about a year and a half. But I got so much done. I was, we were just going about life. was struggling with memory and all different types of deficits because of the blood clot that was in my head. But I never once kind of thought about what if something goes wrong, unless I was traveling. to another country, because we did go to the United States when I was about almost a year after the first and second bleed, we went to the United States. And then I did worry about it from a practical sense. It’s like, if I have a bleed in Australia, I’m near my hospital and then they can take over from where they left off previously and healthcare is paid for here. So there was no issue. But if I’m overseas and something goes wrong, I’m far away from home, we got to have the expensive insurance policy. Cause if something goes, I want to be totally covered when I’m in the United States, we don’t know the system. don’t know all these things. So that was a practical worry that I had, but I didn’t worry about my health and wellbeing. Do you know? I worried about the practicality of having another blade in the airplane because then I’m in the middle of the ocean. over halfway between Australia and the United States. And that’s eight hours one way or another or something. And I thought about that, but I didn’t think about how I would be personally ⁓ negatively impacted by the medical issue. I just thought about the, do we get help as quickly as possible if something were to happen? So I know a lot of people have a stroke and they, Brandon (41:55)Right. Support Systems: Finding Community After Stroke (42:18)⁓ They overthink about what if it happens again and they’re constantly kind of got that on their mind, but I was dealing with just the moments that made me feel like perhaps I should do something about this headache that I’m getting. I dealt with things as they appeared, as they turned up, I didn’t try to plan ahead and solve every problem before it happened. Brandon (42:24)Yeah. Yes, I agree. I’m very much the same way. You see, before my stroke, I didn’t have medical insurance. I hadn’t seen a doctor since my early 20s. just, I was, I was, I had always been extremely healthy. You know, I’ve always been very physically active, you know, and, so it just, I never really, I never really ⁓ went out and looked for medical. I just didn’t need it, you know? And so, When the stroke happened, I was very lucky to get put on California’s healthcare plan. And they’ve taken care of all of my medical bills. ⁓ You know, I’ve never pulled a single dollar out of my pocket for all the rehab, all the doctors since. And I mean, I have doctors still once every week, two weeks at the most, doctor visits, you know? And so I’m extremely fortunate. that it happened to me where I was, you know, because not all states here are like that, but California is extremely good. So, you know, I’m really grateful that it worked out the way it has because it could have been a whole different situation, man. (44:00)I have heard some horror stories about medical insurance for people who are not covered, have a stroke and then they leave hospital with like a $150,000 bill or something. Is that a thing? Brandon (44:13)Yes, it really is. I mean, I was extremely fortunate. By the time I got out of that first 10 days with the helicopter ride and everything else, I was close to $2 million in bills. (44:25)Dude, that’s mental. Brandon (44:26)Yeah. And, ⁓ yeah, I mean, it just doesn’t really, I mean, you know, I mean, I’m not a big fan of, the way that the medical system works money wise. think it’s all just paper or fake money, just fake numbers, you know, but yeah, I don’t know. I just, ⁓ I was extremely fortunate that it all happened the way that it did and that California is so good and they really do take care of their citizens, you know, so. (44:54)Yeah, I love that. Brandon (44:55)Yeah, very fortunate. (44:57)You know, in your recovery, did you have somebody that you kind of leaned on for support that was a confident, ⁓ that was like a mentor or did you have somebody like that in your life that was really helpful in your recovery? Brandon (45:15)Actually in about the year before my stroke I lost the three gentlemen that I had always considered my mentors, older guys that I’ve known for years. They all three passed away the year before my stroke. So I really kind of felt on my own. You know, I have a lot of friends, you know, but ⁓ but after my stroke I really don’t have the brain space for like Facebook or anything like that. So I really, closed down my very active Facebook account and when I did that, I lost so many people that would have been my support because I just, they weren’t there, you know, in real life. They’re only there on the computer, you know? And so, but luckily, you know, I’m a part of the community in Joshua Tree. So I had a lot of support from people there and… ⁓ Then I have probably four or five other friends that are scattered around the United States that I keep in touch with pretty closely. But I went down from talking to hundreds of people a month and all of that on the internet to really a very small closed social circle, you know? And then in addition to that, surprisingly, people that I’ve known for years just are not very good at accepting the differences in who I am as a person since the stroke, you know? And so, you know, I hate to say it, but a lot of friendships have kind of gotten a lot more distant since the stroke. you know, it’s just, I mean, it is what it is. You know, people have to do what they feel is right for themselves, you know? But yeah, I really… ⁓ Identity Shift: Life Changes Post-Stroke (47:06)Yeah. Brandon (47:07)I don’t have a very large support network. You know, I just basically kind of take care of a lot of it myself. You know, I mean, I did two and a half months of outpatient rehab with a occupational therapist. And what’s the other one? Occupational and physical therapy. (47:33)Mm-hmm. Brandon (47:33)So I did occupational and physical therapy for about two and a half months after I got out of the hospital. And that was all really good and helpful. And ⁓ I’m really grateful for those therapists that worked with me. And they helped me get ⁓ basically back to a normal cadence because I was having trouble putting one foot in front of the other. And they really helped me work on my cadence and getting my walk back to fairly normal. ⁓ My arm. has been mostly me. It has never been able to be rushed. It takes its own time. So even with the physical therapy, my hand coming back, it works at its own pace. That was never really influenced that much by physical therapy. And then my actual use of my hand, I was balled up. I was curled up and balled up to the wrist. after the stroke and eventually I got to where I could hold it out flat and I still tremor a lot there but it’s a lot better than it was and but yeah all of that had to come back at its own pace the physical therapy and stuff was helpful for a lot of other aspects of my recovery but that was all just taking its own time and coming back as I guess as it did my brain learn to re-communicate (48:58)Yeah, it sounds, it sounds like you’re kind of really well made up somehow, like you picked up the skills early on in your life to be able to deal with this situation. The way that you do is just amazing. Like it’s seems like it’s second nature, the way that you go about approaching the problems, the challenges, the difficulties, know, the missing half your skull, all that thing. It just seems really innate that you have that within you. you, people are listening and going, you know, that’s not me or I didn’t experience that or I’m overthinking things. Do you think that’s the way that you’re approaching things is teachable, learnable? Can people change the way that they’re going about ⁓ relating to their stroke or dealing with their stroke or managing it. Brandon (49:53)⁓ you know, I think that that you’re going to find that a lot of people, can be taught and a lot of people, can’t be taught. You know, some people’s nature just is not going to be able to handle that. But other people, you know, I think that you can go through very real processes to gain, ⁓ knowledge base, you know, to be able to start working with it. You see another big aspect of my recovery. is that I immediately after my stroke and getting out of the hospital moved eight hours away from UC Davis Hospital where my original care providers were. So I had to go through a whole new medical plan, a whole new set of doctors and everything else. And that changed on me like three times over the first six months. So I really couldn’t rely on the doctors for support either. because they were changing so often I would just meet one and the next thing I would know I would have a new doctor coming in or a new healthcare plan and so it took about six months for me to start seeing the same healthcare providers routinely so I went to YouTube University man I found you I found several other people that had these just these huge amounts of information you know, on how to handle my own recovery. So I took a lot of my own recovery into my own hands. And actually, ⁓ a week ago, I was talking to my neurologist, who is a really amazing lady, and, you know, and had to tell her pretty much that same story that, you know, I couldn’t leave it up to the doctors to fix me. I had to take care of myself. because of my situation and switching insurance and everything else that I went through, there was just not that much option. ⁓ so, you know, and she was like, I wish that all of my patients had that kind of an outlook. You cannot rely on the medical system to fix you. You know, we were talking about what can help people. I think that’s a really big thing that could help a lot of people is to realize that you have to take care of your health care decisions. You know, they found a PFO in my heart, a ⁓ Framon Parabot. (52:24)A patent for Ramen Ovali. Hole in your heart. Brandon (52:28)Yes, yeah, they found that and they wanted to fix it and I was like, you know, I’m 47 years old. This is a one-time thing. So I opted to have a loop recorder installed, a loop recorder to measure my heart rhythm and everything and send messages to the doctors at nights about my heart. So that because I thought that was a little bit less invasive. For my age, the last thing I want is for later in life, my body to start having problems with an implant that’s in my heart. So I decided not to go with that and to go with the less invasive loop recorder, which is still implanted under the skin in my chest, but it doesn’t affect my heart. (53:08)Thank you. Brandon (53:21)It just sends the information about my heart rhythm to the doctors so that they can keep track. (53:26)and it can be easily accessed and removed. Brandon (53:30)Exactly, exactly. So, you know, I mean, if I have another stroke or if I find through the little device that I’m having trouble with that PFO, you know, then I’ll get the PFO closure done. But until then, I didn’t want to just jump straight to that, you know, three months out of my out of my stroke. You know, I want to make sure that that’s the problem. because they did pull a 3mm blood clot out of my brain. So there’s a good chance that that went through the PFO and into my brain. But I was also way outside of my normal activity range trying to rock climb the day before. So there’s just, there are too many variables about the experience for me to just want to go and have something installed in my heart permanently, you know? (54:28)I hear you. What about the aneurysm? Where is that? What’s the long-term kind of approach to that? Brandon (54:35)Don’t know yet. I do not know anything about it. I’ll find out more information on Tuesday They said it’s not it’s not in the same part of my brain that my stroke was So that’s a good thing and there’s a good chance that it may have been there for a long time before the stroke So we just don’t know I don’t know anything about it So that I’m gonna go and meet with this neurosurgeon and decide what we’re gonna do about it (54:42)that’s right. Brandon (55:03)I think the most likely option, as long as it’s not big, is that they just wait and they monitor it. But there’s also a process where they coil it. They put a coil of platinum into it and pack it off so that it can’t become a problem later. And then the third scenario is that they take another piece of my skull off and go in and actually put a clip on it. to stop the blood from going into it. So I may actually have to have my skull open back up again. But, again, there’s no point in thinking about it now. I’ll think about it after Tuesday when I figure out where this thing is, what size it is, and all the details of it, you know? (55:46)Yeah. I love it. I love it. I love that man. That’s a great way to approach it. Also, ⁓ I love your comment about YouTube University. I love the fact that people find my podcast sometimes when they’re in hospital because clearly they realize I need to ⁓ learn more about this, understand it and ⁓ straight away they’ve got answers because of YouTube. it’s such a great service. It’s free. If you don’t want to pay for a paid service and all you got to do is put up with ads that you can skip through most of the time. So I think that’s brilliant. ⁓ What about your identity, man? People have a lot of kind of ⁓ examples of how they have a shift in their identity, how they perceive themselves, how they fit into the world. Did you feel like you have a shift in your identity or the way that you fit into the world? What’s that like for you? Brandon (56:46)Well, I mean, I definitely do feel like there was a big shift. Now at the core, I feel like the same person. know, mentally, I still feel like I know who I am, but it definitely has shifted my priorities in life a lot. ⁓ I did not raise my daughter and I developed a much closer relationship to her since the stroke. and we’ve been spending more time together and just really working on our relationship together. She’s 28 years old. So, you know, that has really been an amazing aspect of my stroke recovery is that I’m closer with my daughter than I ever was. But yeah, I mean, you know, I do things a lot differently. I was a heavy smoker, a heavy drinker, and a heavy marijuana user. I don’t smoke marijuana, don’t smoke cigarettes, and I don’t drink alcohol anymore. So huge change in my lifestyle as well. ⁓ But you know, I just I’m not as much of a hurry as I used to. I was always accused of my mind working on too many levels at one time, you know, and had too much on my plate, too much going on in my brain all the time. Now. My brain doesn’t keep up as well. So I struggle to stay on one subject, much less juggle multiple things in my brain. So it’s really kind of slowed down my whole mental process. But I think that again, that’s in a good way. I think that ⁓ I needed to slow down a little bit in a lot of ways. Lessons Learned: Insights from the Journey (58:31)I hear you. With the alcohol, marijuana and the smoking. So you might’ve been doing that for decades, I imagine, smoking, drinking. Brandon (58:43)Yes. (58:44)how do you experience your body differently now that it doesn’t have those substances in it anymore? Like, cause that’s a mass, that’s probably one of the biggest shifts your consumption of, we’ll call them, I don’t know, like harmful ⁓ things, you know, like how, so how do you relate to yourself differently now that those things are not necessary? Brandon (59:12)You know, I never really had like an addictive aspect. So I really don’t, I don’t feel like, ⁓ I mean, I don’t feel like it’s changed me a whole lot. I just had to take the daily habits out. But after spending a month in the hospital, all of the physical wants, all of the physical aspects of it were already taken care of, you know? So I just had to kind of maintain and not go back to old habits. So really, I mean, I don’t feel like it was that big of a difference. But now physically, I’ve always been an extremely skinny person. You know, I’m six foot one and I’ve always weighed 135 to 145. Now I weigh 165. So I did put on some weight after stopping all that. But other than that, really don’t notice a lot of ⁓ physical differences. Now, I have not coughed since my stroke. I used to wake myself up at night coughing, but for some reason, like literally when I had the stroke, I have not coughed since. Now I clear my throat a lot more and I have a lot of, we’re trying to figure out why, but I have a lot of problems with my sinuses. and stuff like that all on the side that I my injury was on this side but on the side the mental side like where it’s all mental stuff that changed the you know all of that I have problems with my sinuses and drainage and things like that so right now I’m seeing an ear nose and throat specialist and we just did a cat scan of my sinuses so I’ll see on the 13th of this next month I’ll get more information on about what’s going on there. ⁓ really, if that’s all I have to deal with is a one-sided sinus infection, I’m okay with that, you know? (1:01:23)Brandon, you’re all over it, man. I love your approach. It’s ⁓ refreshing to hear somebody who’s just so all over getting to the bottom of things rather than kind of just letting them kind of fester, which kind of leads me to my next question is you seem to have gained a lot of learning and growth from all of this. So what… ⁓ What are some of the insights that you gained from this experience that you didn’t expect? Brandon (1:01:54)⁓ No, I’m really not sure, man. I’m really not sure. I mean, again, I feel like pretty much going back to the same person. I mean, I have, I think, a little bit more respect for the human lifespan. You know, I was one of those people that always felt like, since I’ve never died, I can’t tell you that I’m going to die. Even though everybody else on the planet has to die, I never necessarily felt like that. I definitely feel mortal now, you know? I used to tell everybody that I still felt 25, but as soon as I had my stroke, felt 48. I felt every bit of my age. So it kind of cured me of that. You know, I pay a lot more attention to like, you know, things like, setting up my daughter for the future, you know, and like, Purchasing property for her and things like that to make sure that she’s gonna be taken care of when I’m not here anymore Things that I never paid attention to beforehand, you know, I always just lived in the moment Really didn’t care about the rest But now I’m more prone to put the work into my vehicle before it breaks down Instead of just waiting for it to be on the side of the road to fix it You know, I just I I think that I handle my life responsibilities more like a grown up than I used to, you know, but ⁓ but really, I don’t know, I’d say overall though, it’s still really difficult question to answer, man. I don’t I don’t feel like I live a lot differently. I feel like I’m still the same person, you know. (1:03:35)You nailed it, man. You answered it beautifully, especially the part about mortality. That’s a hap that happened to me. I realized at 37 that, ⁓ I actually might not be around in 12 months, six months, three months. So who knows like tomorrow. And that made me pay attention to my relationships and make sure that they were mostly mended healed. Reach. I reached out to people who I needed to reach out to. cut off people who I didn’t need to continue connecting with. Brandon (1:03:51)Right? (1:04:05)You know, like I realized that this, I’ve got to attend, attend to certain things that I hadn’t been attending to because if, ⁓ if the shit hit the fan, if things go really ugly, then I wouldn’t be able to attend to those things. And I, now that I had the ability to do it, was my responsibility to do that. Brandon (1:04:28)Absolutely, absolutely. I completely agree. I did the same thing. I cleared out a lot of the people that really weren’t being, you know, or that weren’t adding benefit to my life and causing problems in my life. I cleared all of that out. I started to focus more on the core group of people that were a big part of my life and, you know, my recovery and just, you know, who I am as a person. And just, you know, it really made me take a better look at the life that I had created for myself and and ⁓ and Just take care of the things that I should be taking care of and don’t pay as much attention to the things that weren’t serving me (1:05:12)Yeah, it’s a great way to continue moving forward. Your daughter, does she live nearby or does she live in another state? Brandon (1:05:21)She lives in another state. She lives in Alabama right now, but we’re starting to consider her coming out here to Arizona. Her and her boyfriend have lived there for several years, but the only reason she was living there is because her grandparents lived there on her maternal side, and she was very close to them for her whole life. But they passed, both of them, over the last several years. And, you know, she enjoys her work. She enjoys her friend group. But she also feels like she might need to go and explore a little bit more and move out of her comfort zone. So she might be a little bit closer sooner. Her and her boyfriend might actually move out here. we’ll just, know, only time will tell, but it’s just, it’s a fun thought, you know? (1:06:08)Yeah, I hear you. So we’ve shared a whole bunch of amazing things on this episode right now. The last question I want to ask you is there are people watching and listening that had either been listening for a little bit of time. They’ve just started their stroke recovery or they’r

Singapore shares rose today as Asian markets rebounded from the previous day’s losses. The Straits Times Index was up 1.04% at 4,943.04 points at 2.30pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.06B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have the Singapore Exchange given how the bourse operator and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) are working on paving the way for forward-looking disclosures by listed companies. Elsewhere, from how Australia’s central bank raised its benchmark policy rate for the first time in two years today, to how US President Donald Trump said tariffs on Indian goods would be cut from 50% to 18% in return for New Delhi halting Russian oil purchases and lowering trade barriers, more international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Kelvin Wong, Senior Analyst, OANDA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clearer laws. Calmer leadership. Fewer second-guesses.Many business owners genuinely want to do right by their people.And yet, when it comes to psychosocial hazard laws, there's a quiet tension sitting underneath everyday leadership decisions.Conversations get delayed. Performance issues get softened. Boundaries blur.Not because business owners don't care — but because they're unsure where the legal line actually sits.This episode speaks to that uncertainty directly, without fear, jargon, or overcorrection.In this conversation, Paula is joined by business lawyer Tracey Mylecharane, founder of TM Legal Atelier, to unpack what psychosocial hazard laws are really about — and what they are not.Rather than framing these laws as restrictive or risky, the discussion centres on clarity.What good leadership already looks like in many growing businesses. Where structure and documentation matter. And why psychological safety does not mean low standards, silence, or avoiding hard conversations.This is a grounded conversation for business owners carrying people responsibility and wanting to lead with both care and confidence — without tying themselves in knots.In this episode, we explore:What psychosocial hazard laws are actually designed to addressThe difference between psychological safety and lowered expectationsWhy avoiding performance conversations can create more risk, not lessThe false sense of security created by “wellness” initiatives aloneHow clarity, structure, and documentation protect everyone involvedWhy many business owners are already doing more than they realiseA note from PaulaThis conversation matters because I see how often capable business owners hold back — not from lack of care, but from uncertainty.If this episode helps you breathe out and re-anchor around what good leadership actually requires, that's the point. Clarity creates steadiness. And steadiness changes how you lead.If you're wanting space to think more clearly about people decisions, leadership boundaries, or the weight you're carrying, that's the kind of work I support through private strategic sessions and in-person leadership days.Connect with TraceyTM Legal AtelierWebsite: https://tmlegalatelier.com.auInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmlegalatelier/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-mylecharane/Connect with PaulaPaula Maidens is a Hiring & Team Strategist who helps service-based businesses solve people chaos by connecting people decisions to profit outcomes.Website: https://paulamaidens.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulamaidensconsulting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulamaidens/

Debt interest eats tax gains. Our annual readers’ poll is back. EG30 shake up. Morning Drive is your daily download of the essential headlines shaping Egypt. From business policy and finance to the latest in tech, all in under 10 minutes. Hosted by ‘Synthetic Salma’ — an AI-powered version of our own Executive Editor Salma El-Saeed. You can read the full newsletter on the website. Morning Drive is brought to you by: Madinet Masr GRANITE Financial Holding Bonyan for Real Estate Investments Learn more about how you can advertise with EnterpriseAM by emailing Moustafa Taalab mtaalab@enterprisemea.com And check out our other show Making It, where we speak to CEOs and entrepreneurs about building a great business in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's Calmer in 5, we explore a simple but powerful shift in perspective: life doesn't happen to you—you happen to life. When we see ourselves as passive recipients of events, life can feel overwhelming and out of control. But when we remember that our presence, awareness, and response shape how each moment unfolds, something loosens. This episode invites you to step out of reaction and into participation—meeting life as it is, with intention and calm. Nothing needs to change for this shift to begin—only how you meet the moment. Thanks for Listening! If this episode helped you see your day in a different light, consider sharing it with someone who might be needing a dose of calm. Let's Connect: Instagram: @thom_walters Email: thom@zencommuter.com Support the show: patreon.com/zencommuter  

« Il s'est réveillé, lance Libération à Paris. Donald Trump a de nouveau mis la pression sur le régime iranien, hier, afin que ce dernier signe un accord l'engageant à ne pas se doter d'un arsenal nucléaire. Mais sans mentionner, comme il le faisait ces derniers jours, la violente répression contre les manifestants anti-régime, qui a fait au moins 6 000 morts. (…) "Le temps est compté" avant une possible attaque, a encore déclaré Trump. Téhéran a répliqué en disant avoir "le doigt sur la gâchette" ». Alors, « tirera ? Tirera pas ? », s'interroge L'Orient-Le Jour à Beyrouth. « À en croire Trump, les dirigeants de Téhéran ne demandent qu'à négocier et l'assaillent même de leurs pressantes invites. Cela voudrait dire que l'armada américaine (présente dans le golfe persique) se veut d'abord un formidable outil d'intimidation et de pression. Dès lors, le principal objet en serait d'inciter les mollahs à accepter d'avance les draconiennes conditions préalables qu'a posées Washington à tout dialogue, et qui ont trait surtout au nucléaire et au programme balistique de la République islamique. Mais un accident est vite arrivé, pointe encore le quotidien libanais, surtout avec un homme aussi imprévisible que Trump au timon de la colossale base aéronavale flottante. Bombarder les infrastructures militaires et civiles iraniennes ne serait certes qu'une promenade militaire pour les Américains. Il en faudrait bien davantage toutefois, estime encore L'Orient-Le Jour, pour provoquer le renversement d'un régime ne reculant devant aucune extrémité pour conserver le pouvoir. L'envoi de troupes au sol s'avérerait nécessaire, ce qui impliquerait d'énormes pertes humaines pour les deux camps ». Calmer le jeu ? De son côté, « l'Iran meurtri est encore capable de riposter violemment aux frappes américaines », pointe le Wall Street Journal. « Téhéran dispose d'un arsenal de milliers de missiles et a perfectionné ses tactiques de frappe lors de la guerre de juin dernier contre Israël. (…) Un arsenal qui lui donne la capacité de frapper des cibles au Moyen-Orient, ce qui signifie, relève encore le quotidien américain, que toute attaque des États-Unis pourrait rapidement dégénérer ». C'est pourquoi, croit savoir Le Figaro à Paris, « les alliés du Golfe, notamment l'Arabie saoudite et les Émirats arabes unis, auraient demandé à Trump de renoncer à recourir à la force. Les monarchies arabes craignent autant les représailles de Téhéran que le chaos que risquerait de susciter une chute du régime, ainsi que la possible contagion régionale d'une révolution populaire. Ils ont cette fois annoncé publiquement qu'ils n'ouvriraient pas leur territoire et leur espace aérien pour des actions militaires contre l'Iran. Mais, relève encore Le Figaro, les États-Unis disposent des moyens navals nécessaires pour lancer des frappes, aériennes ou par missiles de croisière, ainsi que de la possibilité de faire décoller des bombardiers depuis leur base de Diego Garcia, dans l'océan Indien, ou depuis les États-Unis, comme en juin dernier ». Toutefois, pointe le journal, « des négociations seraient en cours entre Téhéran et Washington. Soit par l'intermédiaire de la Turquie, du Qatar ou de l'Arabie saoudite. Soit directement entre le représentant personnel de Trump, Steve Witkoff, qui échange parfois des messages via Signal avec le chef de la diplomatie iranienne, Abbas Araghchi ». Vers un glissement du régime iranien ? En tout cas, « l'Iran apparaît plus vulnérable que jamais » : c'est du moins le point de vue de la Repubblica à Rome. « Trois semaines après le bain de sang par lequel Téhéran a répondu aux manifestations, les protestations semblent avoir cessé, mais les causes qui les ont déclenchées se sont en réalité renforcées. (…) Khamenei semble être parvenu à vider les rues, mais au prix d'un isolement international croissant et face au risque d'une intervention américaine, voire de sanctions européennes contre les Gardiens de la révolution, pilier de l'appareil militaro-économique ». De plus, poursuit la Repubblica, le Guide suprême doit faire face à « une perte de crédibilité perçue, même au sein des secteurs les plus conservateurs du pays. D'où l'hypothèse d'une une possible "solution par le dialogue", c'est-à-dire la recherche de compromis avec les ministres, les généraux et les responsables qui partagent la nécessité de destituer Khamenei afin de sauver ce qui reste du régime. Tous les regards sont donc tournés vers les dirigeants Pasdaran, car ils ont le pouvoir de changer de dirigeant ».

Without some practice to help us understand what is right for us, we are at the whim of the world, society and all others we don a mask for. Today I explain how knowing yourself can put your mind at ease. I'll give a very topical example as it relates to my life and ZC and CI5. Come listen Thanks for Listening! If this episode helped you see your day in a different light, consider sharing it with someone who might be needing a dose of calm. Let's Connect: Instagram: @thom_walters Email: thom@zencommuter.com Support the show: patreon.com/zencommuter  

Have you ever found yourself counting down the minutes until your kids' bedtime, afraid that you are going to lose it, and ashamed of being an overreactive mom? In this episode, I'm sharing one of my favorite conversations because you'll hear real-life wins from Nicole, a mom of seven, inside my Calm Christian Mom Coaching Program. These are raw clips from our weekly group coaching calls that show what real transformation actually looks like.In this episode, you'll hear:How one mom went from daily rage and chaotic bedtimes to calm, playful eveningsWhat shifted when she stopped trying harder and started using simple, intentional tools with supportHow her anger didn't just decrease—it was replaced with joy, connection, and more fun in motherhoodIf you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid that this is “just how you are,” this episode is here to give you hope. Change is possible—with the right support and God's help.If you'd like more support in becoming the mom you have always dreamed of being, I have two coaching programs designed to fit your needs. Calm Christian Mom Intensive Coaching program with one-on-one and group support. Self-Paced Renewed Mindset Course to overcome negative thinking patterns and feel more empowered as a mom. Check out these testimonials from moms who joined my programs and transformed their anger and negativity into joy and peace.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Next Steps: 1. Watch FREE TRAINING: 5 Steps to Break free from Mom Rage Shame ⬇️2. Learn about Calm Christian Mom Coaching Program ⬇️3. BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION CALL if you are ready for support and accountability in overcoming damaging anger patterns. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How to Be More Patient with Your Kids (So You're Not Screaming Over Spilled Milk)Leave a 5 star rating and review on the Podcast and email me (hello@emotionallyhealthylegacy.com) a screenshot of the REVIEW for free access the training or buy it HERE for $27. Website: emotionallyhealthylegacy.comContact: hello@emotionallyhealthylegacy.comQuestions? Form / Voice memo

His links:https://www.youtube.com/@1EggWhitehttps://www.instagram.com/officialeggwhite/IG: https://www.instagram.com/itsmlh__/ X: https://x.com/thecreator_mlhRumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/c/c-2941880⁠ Website: https://polluteyoursoul.wixsite.com⁠Merch: ⁠http://mlh.bigcartel.com⁠ CD's: https://polluteyourears.bandcamp.com/Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/polluteyoursoul⁠ Buy Me a Coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/mikehassiepen⁠ Exclusive Episodes on Gumroad: https://tpysp.gumroad.com/l/tpyspexclusiveOUTLINE00:00 - Boston Hangout and Superiority over the //Movies Podcast04:29 - Growing up in Minnesota/Midwest06:08 - Is he Somalian?08:55 - Quick Economy/Housing talk11:07 - We in the future now (AI Discussion)14:53 - How has the internet changed since Eggy has been on it?19:04 - The Audience of ONE and reduction in Hobbyist communities22:24 - New vs. Old Trolling27:06 - Rap Beefs are modern dueling 32:30 - How did Egg White get into music?42:40 - The Creation of the Alek Minassion Song48:05 - FBI Pounding his door open and online stalkers51:06 - Calmer lifestyle compared to old online presence55:11 - Wrap up and potential film reviews togetherDonate: Paypal - ⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/michaelhassiepen⁠ Cashapp - $wiggasyndromeMonero: 47K9YNucSau4QEioqSbmWVWYbG7gmFPjVTiax2Hcfo38C7uzCn8YxYZgUQvQuC3t1gfaNiATSZiAq4ojp49Px8xFMVJfj9E Use my cashapp sign up link and we'll each get $5. Create your account with my code: GL3NPMR.https://cash.app/app/GL3NPMRShare, Comment, Like, and Subscribe, or live execution! "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." 

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Welcome back to Louisa's January Series. After the success of the 2024 series, she wanted to return with something deeper, more practical and more psychology-led for 2026.Sobriety begins to feel a bit more normal by this point, it's the point that you realise everything feels uneventful in a good way. The tug of war is quieter in your head. This is also where you begin functioning effectively rather than managing yourself.Louisa Evans is a psychology-based practitioner, clinical hypnotherapist and the host of the Sober Rebel podcast. She specialises in helping people change their relationship with alcohol in a grounded and realistic way, using a blend of cognitive behavioural approaches, emotional regulation, habit science and nervous system understanding. Her work focuses on grey area drinking, midlife identity shifts, and supporting people who want sobriety to feel steadier, clearer and more sustainable.For listeners who want extra support during this month, Louisa's course Sober Resilience is available with a thirty percent discount throughout the series using the code DRYJAN26. The course includes practical tools for cravings, emotional steadiness, behavioural patterns, routines and the predictable identity wobble that often appears in early sobriety. All of Louisa's work, including her therapy practice and additional resources, can be found at www.louisaevans.com.Louisa is known for her direct, psychology-led approach and her ability to make sobriety feel accessible rather than overwhelming. Her work is centred on clarity, honesty and understanding the patterns underneath drinking, rather than relying on force or perfectionism.

Jamie Dickerman of Red River Farm Network and Randy Martinson of Martinson Ag Risk Management discuss a quieter week in the markets and what's to come next week on the Agweek Market Wrap. 

Global risk sentiment improved as geopolitical tensions eased, diplomatic efforts advanced, and resilient US data lifted equities while pushing volatility and high-yield credit spreads to their lowest since 2007. European stocks played catch‑up, supported by their cyclical exposure and positive company‑specific news. The US dollar has weakened sharply this week, boosting risk‑sensitive currencies. Commodities are surging, with gold and silver extending their historic rallies on strong momentum and a weaker dollar. The Bank of Japan kept rates unchanged but struck a hawkish tone. Tim Gagie, Head of FX Advisory Geneva, discusses the historic rally in precious metals and investor positioning given the weak USD.(00:00) - Introduction: Helen Freer, Product & Investment Content (00:24) - Markets wrap-up: Mike Rauber, Product & Investment Content (06:08) - FX & metals update: Tim Gagie, Head of FX/PM PB Geneva (10:33) - Closing remarks: Helen Freer, Product & Investment Content Would you like to support this show? Please leave us a review and star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you're skipping or rushing your pre-shot routine, you're leaving shots (and sanity) on the table. In this episode, I'm breaking down how your pre-shot routine does way more than get you set up—it builds your swing's foundation and gives your brain something steady to lean on when pressure hits. You'll learn how to use it to create consistency, calm your nerves, and play with more trust over every shot. Whether you're on the tee box or the putting green, this one habit can change everything. Let's get it dialed.Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Join the NEXT Workshop Here Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here: Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

As I think about 2026, I've realized that for the first time ever, I'm not craving more ambition, more structure, or more systems. I'm craving less, and I want to create more peace and calm in my daily life. In this episode, I'm sharing why regulating my nervous system has become one of my biggest personal goals this year, and how I'm intentionally becoming more analog to support that. We talk about overstimulation, doom scrolling, decision fatigue, and how constant input has quietly become normalized in our lives. I walk through the practical shifts I'm making - from using paper instead of apps, reading physical books, sitting in silence, reducing phone time, and creating calmer mornings and evenings - along with the mental patterns I'm unlearning around productivity, stimulation, and burnout. This is a grounded, honest conversation about slowing down, reducing noise, and creating space to actually feel calm again.Subscribe to Beyond Your Budget:https://breakyourbudget.substack.com/BREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:

La règle du 3-3-3 est une technique de recentrage mental utilisée en cas d'anxiété aiguë, de stress intense ou de début de crise d'angoisse. Elle est très populaire en psychologie cognitive, car elle est simple, rapide et utilisable partout, sans matériel ni préparation.Son principe repose sur trois étapes successives, qui mobilisent volontairement l'attention.Première étape : regarder autour de soi et nommer trois choses que l'on voit. Il peut s'agir d'objets anodins : une fenêtre, une chaise, une couleur sur un mur. L'objectif n'est pas de juger ou d'interpréter, mais simplement d'observer. Cette étape force le cerveau à quitter le flot des pensées anxieuses, souvent tournées vers l'avenir ou vers des scénarios catastrophes, pour revenir à l'environnement immédiat.Deuxième étape : écouter et identifier trois sons. Là encore, peu importe leur importance : un bruit de ventilation, une voix lointaine, le son de sa respiration. Cette focalisation auditive mobilise une autre zone du cerveau et renforce l'ancrage dans le moment présent.Troisième étape : bouger trois parties du corps. Par exemple, remuer les doigts, rouler les épaules, fléchir les chevilles. Ce mouvement conscient réintroduit le corps dans l'expérience, ce qui est fondamental, car l'anxiété est souvent une réaction corporelle amplifiée par le mental.Pourquoi cette méthode est-elle efficace ? Parce que l'anxiété active le système nerveux sympathique, celui de l'alerte et du danger. Le cerveau se comporte alors comme si une menace imminente existait. La règle du 3-3-3 agit comme un signal de sécurité. En sollicitant les sens et le mouvement volontaire, elle stimule le cortex préfrontal, la zone du cerveau impliquée dans le raisonnement et la régulation émotionnelle. Cela aide à calmer l'amygdale, structure centrale dans les réactions de peur.Il est important de comprendre que la règle du 3-3-3 ne supprime pas l'anxiété de manière magique. Elle ne traite pas la cause profonde. En revanche, elle permet de faire redescendre l'intensité, de reprendre le contrôle et d'éviter l'escalade vers une crise plus sévère.En résumé, la règle du 3-3-3 est un outil de premiers secours psychologiques. Facile à mémoriser, discrète et efficace, elle rappelle une chose essentielle : pour apaiser l'anxiété, revenir au présent est souvent la première étape vers le calme. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

You know that feeling when you wake up already behind, your to-do list is endless, and no matter how productive you are, it never feels like enough?Today we're talking about the quiet burnout that comes from living in constant urgency — and why time itself isn't the problem.I'm joined by Andrew Hartman, founder of Time Boss and former startup COO, who built his entire framework after burning out repeatedly in high-pressure environments… including a season where chronic stress literally cost him his sense of smell.Andrew helps high-achieving leaders stop running their lives on hustle, adrenaline, and fear — and start operating at their highest sustainable pace, with more clarity, presence, and peace.In this episode, we're diving into:Why productivity culture is keeping you dysregulatedThe hidden reason time always feels scarceA nervous-system-friendly way to plan your weekHow to lead your life instead of reacting to itThis conversation is for you if you're highly capable, deeply responsible, and exhausted by the pressure to always do more — even when things look “successful” on paper.You'll walk away with a calmer lens on time, permission to slow the pace without losing momentum, and a practical framework for creating days that feel spacious, grounded, and aligned with the life you actually want.Connect with Andrew:Free Time Boss MasterclassFind him on LinkedIn

Today we’re continuing our One Word 2026 series, and I’m offering you two more invitations to consider for the year ahead: grateful and peaceful. My heart for this series is simple—I want you to listen for what God might be forming in you as you look back on 2025 and step into 2026 with intention. Gratitude can feel “easy” in theory, but it actually takes attention and practice, because it’s so easy to drift into discontent without realizing it. And peace isn’t about having a quiet, trouble-free life—it’s the kind of inner calm Jesus gives that can hold steady even when your soul feels disturbed. We’ll look at Luke 17 (the one healed leper who comes back to give thanks) and Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel (how she leaves God’s presence with peace before her circumstances change), and I’ll invite you to imagine what might happen if you learned to give thanks in every circumstance—and to bring your turbulence to God so He can exchange it for His peace. What I'll Share: A clear picture of gratitude as a posture and discipline—not just a personality trait or a fleeting feeling. A challenge to notice the “opposite spirit” of gratitude (discontent, dissatisfaction, thanklessness) and how easily we slip into it without attention. A practical invitation to give thanks in every circumstance, including the hard or unwanted parts of life, by asking God how He might be shaping you through them. A fresh understanding of gratitude as a catalyst for love, creating space in your heart for compassion and care for others. A biblical framework for peace as “freedom from disturbance”—not merely the absence of fear or trouble. A way to recognize agitation in your body and soul (tight jaw, tense shoulders, restless energy) and treat it as an invitation to bring your heart to God. Encouragement from Hannah’s story that peace can be real before answers arrive—because peace comes from God’s presence, not perfect outcomes. Two simple affirmations you can practice all year if either word becomes your focus for 2026. Bible Verses Mentioned: Philippians 1 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Luke 17 John 14:27 1 Samuel 1–2 Resources Mentioned Free One Word 2026 reflection guide: Nicoleunice.com/newyear/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Humans have been chewing gum for thousands of years - from ancient tree resins to modern spearmint sticks, the habit has endured across cultures and centuries. Now, research in the journal in the journal Brain Science finds what gum-chewers have long suspected - chewing gum can really affect how our brains work. The story of gum goes back at least 8,000 years. Archaeological evidence shows that early humans chewed birchbark pitch to soften it into glue for making tools. Ancient Greeks chewed mastic resin, Native Americans used spruce sap, and the Maya enjoyed chicle, a natural latex from sapodilla trees. While these substances had practical uses, people also seemed to enjoy their soothing, calming effects. Chewing gum as we know it took off in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thanks largely to William Wrigley Jr. who transformed gum from a novelty into an everyday habit. His brands, including Juicy Fruit and Spearmint, promised more than just flavour they sold gum as a solution for nervousness, hunger and lack of focus. Even back then, some researchers were intrigued. A study in the 1940s found that people who chewed gum appeared less tense, though scientists couldn't explain why. A 2025 scientific review examined more than 30 years of brain-imaging studies on gum chewing. Using technologies such as MRI scans, EEG recordings and near-infrared spectroscopy, the researchers looked at what happens inside the brain when people chew. They found that chewing gum doesn't just activate the muscles and sensory areas needed to move the jaw. It also affects brain regions involved in attention, alertness and emotional regulation. In EEG studies, chewing was linked to short-term changes in brain-wave patterns associated with heightened alertness and what researchers describe as 'relaxed concentration.' That may explain why gum seems to help during dull or repetitive tasks. 'If you're doing a fairly boring task for a long time, chewing seems to be able to help with concentration'. The review also found that chewing gum can reduce stress, but only under certain conditions. In lab experiments, people who chewed gum during mildly stressful situations, such as public speaking or mental math exercises, often reported feeling less anxious. However, gum didn't consistently help in high-stress medical situations, like right before surgery, or when participants faced impossible tasks designed to provoke frustration. Some experts think the effect may be related to fidgeting. Chewing gives the brain a simple, repetitive action to latch onto, which may help regulate attention and stress. As the researchers noted, chewing gum appears capable of influencing brain activity 'beyond simple oral motor control,' even if the effects are often short-lived. For now, chewing gum isn't a miracle cure for stress or focus, but it may offer a small, temporary boost during boring or mildly stressful moments. After thousands of years, science is finally beginning to explain why such a simple habit has stuck around. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parenting is loud. Your fitness and nutrition don't have to be. In this episode, we get real about family fitness, working out with kids, stress-proof meal prep, and keeping your cool when life is overstimulating. We also dive into communication in relationships, taming toy clutter with minimalism, and why consistency beats perfection every time. This is your playbook for building a healthier home—without adding more chaos. What you'll learn: Workouts with kids: how to engage them (and why boredom can boost creativity) Meal prep for busy parents: convenience-first, nutrient-dense, zero drama Overstimulation fixes: self-awareness cues and calm-down strategies that work Relationship communication: staying a team when parenting gets messy Minimalism at home: practical toy/clutter systems for a more peaceful space Consistency > perfection: small actions, big momentum, real growth APPLY FOR COACHING: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/1-1-coaching The Fitness League app https://www.fitnessleagueapp.com/ Macros Guide https://www.lvltncoaching.com/free-resources/calculate-your-macros Join the Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lvltncoaching FREE TOOLS to start your health and fitness journey: https://www.lvltncoaching.com/resources/freebies Alessandra's Instagram: http://instagram.com/alessandrascutnik Joelle's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joellesamantha?igsh=ZnVhZjFjczN0OTdn Josh's Instagram: http://instagram.com/joshscutnik Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back and Personal Updates 01:43 Engaging Kids During Workouts 12:35 Nutrition and Meal Prep Strategies 19:15 Understanding Processed Foods 20:24 Managing Overstimulation and Emotional Responses 23:16 Core Values of the Fitness League 24:18 Community and Personal Growth 26:02 Decluttering and Toy Management 29:40 Navigating Relationships and Parenting Challenges

This episode is a fast-paced This or That style Q&A where I break down my real food and lifestyle choices.From nutrition to sleep, sunlight, movement, organic food, and daily habits — I explain why simple decisions matter more than perfection.This is health stripped back to basics.If you're tired of overcomplicated advice and just want to feel better day to day, this one's for you.The Organic Fitness Retreat is a chance to step out of the noise, slow the body down, and reconnect with what real health actually feels like.This isn't about extremes, detox fads, or pushing yourself to the brink.It's about simple, grounding habits that support your body, your head, and your energy — the stuff we were always meant to do.Across the retreat, we focus on:Real, nourishing food made with careMovement that supports the body, not breaks itBreathwork and nervous system resetEducation around lifestyle, stress, and inflammationTime outdoors, fresh air, and proper restSpace to think, reflect, and reset your directionIt's suitable for all fitness levels and for anyone who feels:Run down or burned outStuck in survival modeDisconnected from their bodyOverwhelmed by health adviceReady to take responsibility for their health — simply and sustainablyYou'll leave feeling:Calmer and clearerMore connected to your bodyEquipped with practical tools you can actually use at homeGrounded, energised, and refreshed — without the overwhelmThis retreat is about learning how to look after yourself for life, not just for a weekend.If you're ready to slow down, tune in, and give your body what it's been asking for — you're in the right place.

Today our guest is Kait Ahlbrandt, school psychologist and Director of Customer Success at EmpowerU. We talk about why educator wellbeing is essential to student success and how adult regulation shapes classroom climate. Kate shares why intentional listening and making space for connection matter, especially when educators feel overwhelmed. She highlights the need for practical, realistic supports that help educators show up present, regulated, and ready to teach. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

Let's help create a simpler system for living this year to your fullest potential and cut back the things that don't serve you anymore.My definition of a fulfilling life is quite simply putting your energies into the things that give you the greatest reward.You just have to decide on what that reward is to you…more time to relax, have a body your proud of, more timer with family, more money?Lets make it Cleaner. Calmer. More intentional....Join me here!

Today I discuss all the ways I've reduced my stress to help you navigate your life in a calmer way!

What happens when you stop negotiating with the universe and start engaging with it?Start 2026 with a calm, practical reset as Philippa and Penelope explore a 4D take on Stoicism you can use without reading a single philosophy book. You will hear how to meet delays, detours and difficult people with intention so you suffer less and choose more.You will learn:Self-reflection that turns rumination into learningPremeditatio malorum planning for what could go wrong so your nerves are ready and your plans can breatheThe view from above to widen perspective and cool hot emotionsNegative visualisation to grow gratitude for what you already haveMicro moments that compound into real change by next JanuaryPicture the airport queue, the family hiccup, the tricky email. One steady breath. One kinder interpretation. One choice that the future you will be proud of. Notice how your physical, emotional and intellectual presence shifts when you stop negotiating with the universe and start engaging with it.Try it this week. Name one likely snag using premeditatio malorum, prepare a simple response, and practise it once. Then spot the gift inside the next setback and take one step your future self will thank you for.

In this episode of Your Anxiety Toolkit, Kimberley Quinlan shares five science-backed mental health priorities to help you build a calmer, stronger, and more compassionate relationship with anxiety in 2026.

This is the one conversation you need to hear before the year ends, because the way you think about money right now will shape how 2026 feels far more than any goal you set in January. So instead of rules or end-of-year pressure, Victoria and Bec share the five things they genuinely wish every person in this community would focus on before heading into 2026. These are the five big things that actually shape how money feels day to day, how confident you are making decisions, and how much energy you waste worrying about things that don’t even matter.In this ep:

In this special replay episode, Alisha joins forces with the wonderful Giselle from Kids Yoga Stories to unpack one of the most common challenges teachers face - overwhelm during the back-to-school season.Originally presented earlier in the year, this session is packed with practical strategies designed to help you walk into Term 1 (or any fresh start) feeling clear, confident, and calm. What You'll Learn:Why feeling overwhelmed doesn't mean you're failingHow to identify what really matters on your to-do listThe power of building consistent routines early onWhy setting boundaries is essential for sustainabilityHow collaboration and community make teaching lighterThe importance of connection in the first weeks of schoolWhether you're tuning in during your holiday recharge or saving this episode for your new-year prep, you'll find simple, actionable tips to support your wellbeing and help you focus on what matters most - your students. Let's work smarter, not harder… together.Rainbows ahead,Alisha and AshleighResources mentioned in this episode:Weekly Checklist TemplateClassroom Detectives ActivityGiselle from Kids Yoga StoriesLet's hear from you! Text us!

Sleep Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Waking up to -3 this morning, but things warm up later today. Details from WCCO TV Chief Meteorologist Chris Shaffer on The WCCO Morning news

Another Thursday, so that means another wonderful episode being dropped. In Ep.263  we talk all things Emotions Stored in the Body~ Stomach~ Emotional Healing using these two oils, Calmer & Immortelle. So grab a comfy seat, tune in and enjoy learning a bit more about the emotional connection associated with our stomachs and the oils we can lean on in times of need.  Love you all.  Also...... Get this Book! Link for Essential Emotions book. You need it.  https://aromatools.com/collections/frontpage/products/essential-emotions-14th-edition Pre Order The Essential Life book here https://essentiallife.com/product/essential-life-10th-edition/ Are you ready to release emotions that have been weighing you down? Book a session today! Book with Vicki: https://vickilebrilla.com/coaching Book with Sarah: https://sarahsepos.com/coaching   Vicki's Link- http://referral.doterra.me/1214454 Sarah's Link- https://referral.doterra.me/107766   Scoop of the Day Look Deeper Questions: What are my underlying fears and concerns? Am I catastrophizing or focusing on the worst-case scenario? What will it take to interrupt this pattern of worry and shift my focus to problem-solving and self-regulation?   Welcome into our little essential oil world where we talk about the physical and emotional support of our essential oils.   Hi friends, don't forget to leave us a review, your feedback is always welcome, and helps this podcast reach more ears. Join us in our New Facebook Community! Connect on Instagram  We upload a brand new episode every Tuesday and Thursday!   Want to learn more about us? theessentialoilscoop.com   Remember to like, share, and subscribe to our podcast so you will be notified every time we upload a brand new episode.  Leave us a review as well, your feedback is always welcome. Also opt-in to our newsletter at https://theessentialoilscoop.com/newsletter   If you have any questions or have subject ideas you would like us to cover please email us at theessentialoilscoop@gmail.com   Tag us on socials using #theessentialoilscoop #essentialoilpodcast #oilpodcast   Disclaimer:  Welcome to The Essential Oil Scoop Podcast. We want to remind our listeners that the information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The use of essential oils is a personal choice and should be done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals and cannot diagnose, treat, or prescribe any medical condition. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any essential oils or making changes to your healthcare routine. Any information or opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any particular organization. Thank you for listening.    

Invités :Eric Naulleau, écrivainAlain Bauer, écrivainEric Revel, journalisteGauthier Le Bret, Journaliste politiqueLaetitia Guinand, journaliste politiqueDavid Lisnard, maire LR de Cannes, président de nouvelle énergieHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Invités :Eric Naulleau, écrivainAlain Bauer, écrivainEric Revel, journalisteGauthier Le Bret, Journaliste politiqueLaetitia Guinand, journaliste politiqueDavid Lisnard, maire LR de Cannes, président de nouvelle énergieHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

In this solo episode of Waking Up With Melissa, we explore what it really takes to close the year with clarity, emotional regulation, and alignment so you can walk into 2026 with power instead of urgency. This is not about waiting for January or relying on the calendar to shift you. This is about choosing clarity now and preparing yourself for a year that rewards the intentional, and the deeply aligned beingTogether, we revisit your inner capacity, the way your business actually runs and the identity you are actively stepping into. This is the year-end reset every spiritual CEO needs and exactly what I do behind the scenes before stepping into a new yearA BREAKDOWN OF THIS EPISODE:00:00 — The Reset That Changes Everything Why ending the year differently matters more than starting a new one.04:48 — Why Strategy Fails Without Heart The unseen reason clarity, creativity, and momentum disappear.06:29 — The One Thing to Double Down On What's already working (and why ignoring it is costing you more than you think).10:38 — The Creative Decision That Creates Space What I'm intentionally releasing to expand into 2026.15:42 — Meeting The Quantum You The identity shift most people skip and why they stay stuck.17:19 — Who You Must Become to Hold More The question that determines whether growth actually sticks.PS: Unleash & Unveil Your Soul Business is officially starting in 2026! If you're ready to build, launch, or scale your soul-led business in 2026 with identity, clarity, and devotion, DM me UNLEASH at @iammelissaruiz to apply.P.P.S. Want to learn how to sell like that girl in the next 14 days? Join my free Telegram sales sprint DM me RICH GIRL on @iammelissaruiz and I'll send you the link.

Send us a textA calmer patient isn't just a kinder visit—it's a safer workplace. We sit down with researchers Drs. Gene Pavlovsky and Ellen Everett to unpack new data showing that veterinary teams see decreases in bites and scratches when every staff member completes low-stress handling certification. Partial participation helped culture in pockets, but it didn't move the needle on injuries. The lesson is clear: safety is a system, not a solo skill.We trace where stress truly starts, from the parking lot to the waiting room, and why early moments—carrier handling, first touch, body language checks—set the tone for the entire appointment. Gene and Ellen explain how teams identified high-risk scenarios and compare practices that rely on pre-visit medications or sedation to those built on consistent, low-stress workflows. The surprise? More drugs alone did not equal fewer injuries. Instead, shared training and peer accountability turned the tide: a receptionist who redirects a nervous dog to a quiet space, a certified veterinary technician who swaps scruffing for treats and positioning, and a veterinarian who uses “drive-by” sedation for severely fearful patients.Along the way, we challenge a stubborn myth that heavier restraint makes staff safer. Data and lived experience point the other way—restraint escalates fear, and fear drives defensive aggression. We talk practical tools like Churu for cats, environmental tweaks, and stepwise protocols that protect staff while preserving patient welfare. We also cover the business case: fewer missed days, lower workers' comp exposure, smoother procedures, and clients who notice the difference and come back.If you lead a small animal practice, teach vet students, or simply want better outcomes without bruises or burned-out teams, this conversation maps a path from intention to implementation. Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a rating and review—then tell us what's helped your hospital make low-stress care the norm.JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.05.0325INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals

#surrogacy #ivf #surrogate Brie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannatowne?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==What if the calm, practical path to a healthy surrogate pregnancy is simpler than you've been told? We sit down with maternal health nutritionist and current surrogate Brie Towne, who pairs evidence with empathy to demystify prenatal nutrition, implantation support, and postpartum recovery. No scare tactics, no perfectionism—just strategies that actually fit a full life.Brie explains why early nutrient stores matter for implantation and first-trimester development, then walks through realistic weight gain targets, how to handle nausea with balanced meals, and a hydration approach that uses thirst and urine color instead of arbitrary quotas. We dig into the most overlooked prenatal nutrient—choline—and how to get it from eggs, fish, and thoughtful supplementation. We also talk through folate, iron, omega-3s, vitamin D, iodine, and antioxidants, clarifying when supplements help and when they're unnecessary or even counterproductive.One of the biggest surprises: organic isn't automatically better. Brie unpacks the small nutritional differences, cost trade-offs, and what pesticide regulation really looks like, freeing you to buy what you'll actually eat and afford. You'll leave with simple routines—default breakfasts, snack prep, frozen and canned standbys, and a “40 plants a week” diversity goal—that make eating well easier than chasing trends. For postpartum and pumping, we cover calorie needs, gentle foods for early digestion, and how to protect milk supply without turning meals into math.Whether you're an intended parent seeking peace of mind, a first-time surrogate navigating expectations, or a returning carrier looking to fine-tune what works, this conversation equips you with grounded, judgment-free tools. If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more families find us.https://verdurehouse.com/Send us a texthttps://stopsitsurrogate.com

Aujourd'hui, Abel Boyi, éducateur, Bruno Poncet, cheminot, et Sandrine Pégand, avocate, débattent de l'actualité autour d'Alain Marschall et Olivier Truchot.

As the second week of Advent approaches, it's time to reclaim the peace that can feel out of reach in a busy, overstimulating season. In this episode, we explore five common habits that quietly drain your Advent peace and offer simple, biblical replacements that fit naturally into your multifaceted, real-life routine. No lengthy rituals, no pressure, no guilt, just practical biblical self-care you can actually use on your busiest days.These small, grounding shifts help you reduce stress, calm your mind, and reconnect with Father God when you're feeling overwhelmed. If you've been searching for how to find peace, how to feel less anxious, or how to stay grounded during Advent, this episode will meet you right where you are.Listen in and discover how these gentle, actionable changes can help you respond from God's truth rather than anxiety, allowing you to cultivate a steady sense of mental/emotional self-care and experience the peace of God.Recipes Mentioned in the EpisodeSweet Heat Maple Glazed ChickenScriptures ReferencedPsalm 46:10Want to savor more goodness in your busy life? You're in the right place!Connect with like-minded women: If you're ready to find balance and peace, come together with women who understand the beauty of living a multifaceted life. ⁠⁠Join the community!⁠⁠Step into a calmer holiday rhythm: The Calm Christmas Workshop gives you space to pause, reflect, and shape the kind of Christmas you actually want to experience; Christ-centered, joy-filled, and free of overwhelm. ⁠⁠Enter the workshop today!Deepen your relationship with Christ before Christmas day: Get The Gift of Christ Advent Calendar Devotional and study the Gospel of Luke.Walk through the holiday season getting to know Christ the Man and wake up Christmas morning feeling peaceful and prepared. Get the devotional here!Let's Connect:Email: ⁠hello@p31virtues.com⁠Note: The show notes may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

You might have heard of the term "digital wellness", and for those of us with ADHD it's way more than just a buzzword - it's a necessity! That's why this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, we're unpacking how we can support our neurodivergent brains that are wired for stimulation! In this episode, we're joined by Laura Willis, a digital wellness coach, speaker, and advocate! Her work focuses on helping individuals and families take back control of their screen time through mindfulness, boundaries, and education to step away from social media and reclaim mental clarityWe explore the addictive nature of phones and why constant digital use can impact our focus. Laura offers practical, actionable tools to manage screen time, reduce stress, and foster healthier digital habits, for both adults and kids.My new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, is now available, grab your copy here!Key Takeaways:What is digital wellness, and why it matters, especially for ADHD brains Laura's journey away from social media and how it impacted her mental healthThe role of schools and parents in guiding healthy screen use.The HARMONY acronym for building better digital habitsHow to foster a family culture of open conversations around tech.Recognising our own phone use behaviour to model to kids Setting boundaries like screen-free times to support attention and reduce stressUsing tools like pen and paper to boost memory and avoid digital distractions.Exploring digital presentism and taking personal responsibility for tech use The impact of digital culture on high-stress professions like law and finance.From parenting tips to workplace boundaries, this conversation is packed with insight, warmth, and encouragement for anyone seeking more presence and peace in a tech-saturated world.Timestamps:02:29: The Journey to Digital Wellness07:18: Navigating Technology and Mental Health15:29: Starting the Conversation with Children about Technology19:10: Navigating Technology and Relationships24:56: Finding Digital Harmony and Balance in Parenting and Technology33:38: The Importance of Screen-Free Breaks36:28: Reclaiming Our Digital Independence41:47: The Impact of Digital Wellbeing on Professional LifeJoin the More Yourself Community - the doors are now open!More Yourself is a compassionate space for late-diagnosed ADHD women to connect, reflect, and come home to who they really are. Sign up here!Inside the More Yourself Membership, you'll be able to:Connect with like-minded women who understand you Learn from guest experts and practical toolsReceive compassionate prompts & gentle remindersEnjoy voice-note encouragement from KateJoin flexible meet-ups and mentoring sessionsAccess on-demand workshops and quarterly guest expert sessionsTo join for £26 a month,

Holiday meltdowns, money stress, family drama, and kids who suddenly “need” everything they see?

Gratitude Feeling Forced? Try This Instead.   This Thanksgiving, I'm trying a little experiment. Instead of forcing gratitude, I'm approaching the holiday like a game—using appreciation to see people as they really are, not as I wish they'd be. In this episode, I share the simple appreciation practices I'm playing with, why I think they'll make the day feel lighter, and how you can try them too. I also invite you to check out last week's episode about the difference between gratitude and appreciation, and to join the PLAYshop waitlist if you want more curiosity, creativity, and ease in your everyday life. Sign up at https://www.latebloomerliving.com/play