Podcasts about illness

Abnormal condition that negatively affects an organism

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    Discovering The Jewish Jesus Audio Podcast
    My Struggle With Faith and Illness | Does God Still Heal Sickness

    Discovering The Jewish Jesus Audio Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 24:23


    Does God cause illness? Join Rabbi Schneider as he reveals a personal story and unpacks the topic of sickness and why some never see healing on this side of eternity. **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner  **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES -  https://djj.show/d45440 

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
    Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2026 94:08


    What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn; Google's agentic shopping, and powering Apple's Siri; ChatGPT Ads; and Claude CoWork. Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [MoonShots with Tony Robbins]; and three trends for authors with me and Orna Ross [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; plus, Bones of the Deep, Business for Authors, and Indie Author Lab. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. What is the Shadow? The ‘creative wound' and the Shadow in writing The Shadow in traditional publishing The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author The Shadow in work The Shadow in money You can find Writing the Shadow in all formats on all stores, as well as special edition, workbook and bundles at www.TheCreativePenn.com/shadowbook Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words The following chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn. Introduction. What is the Shadow? “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” —C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul We all have a Shadow side and it is the work of a lifetime to recognise what lies within and spin that base material into gold. Think of it as a seedling in a little pot that you're given when you're young. It's a bit misshapen and weird, not something you would display in your living room, so you place it in a dark corner of the basement. You don't look at it for years. You almost forget about it. Then one day you notice tendrils of something wild poking up through the floorboards. They're ugly and don't fit with your Scandi-minimalist interior design. You chop the tendrils away and pour weedkiller on what's left, trying to hide the fact that they were ever there. But the creeping stems keep coming. At some point, you know you have to go down there and face the wild thing your seedling has become. When you eventually pluck up enough courage to go down into the basement, you discover that the plant has wound its roots deep into the foundations of your home. Its vines weave in and out of the cracks in the walls, and it has beautiful flowers and strange fruit. It holds your world together. Perhaps you don't need to destroy the wild tendrils. Perhaps you can let them wind up into the light and allow their rich beauty to weave through your home. It will change the look you have so carefully cultivated, but maybe that's just what the place needs. The Shadow in psychology Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology. He described the Shadow as an unconscious aspect of the human personality, those parts of us that don't match up to what is expected of us by family and society, or to our own ideals. The Shadow is not necessarily evil or illegal or immoral, although of course it can be. It's also not necessarily caused by trauma, abuse, or any other severely damaging event, although again, it can be. It depends on the individual. What is in your Shadow is based on your life and your experiences, as well as your culture and society, so it will be different for everyone. Psychologist Connie Zweig, in The Inner Work of Age, explains, “The Shadow is that part of us that lies beneath or behind the light of awareness. It contains our rejected, unacceptable traits and feelings. It contains our hidden gifts and talents that have remained unexpressed or unlived. As Jung put it, the essence of the Shadow is pure gold.” To further illustrate the concept, Robert Bly, in A Little Book on the Human Shadow,uses the following metaphor: “When we are young, we carry behind us an invisible bag, into which we stuff any feelings, thoughts, or behaviours that bring disapproval or loss of love—anger, tears, neediness, laziness. By the time we go to school, our bags are already a mile long. In high school, our peer groups pressure us to stuff the bags with even more—individuality, sexuality, spontaneity, different opinions. We spend our life until we're twenty deciding which parts of ourselves to put into the bag and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.” As authors, we can use what's in the ‘bag' to enrich our writing — but only if we can access it. My intention with this book is to help you venture into your Shadow and bring some of what's hidden into the light and into your words. I'll reveal aspects of my Shadow in these pages but ultimately, this book is about you. Your Shadow is unique. There may be elements we share, but much will be different. Each chapter has questions for you to consider that may help you explore at least the edges of your Shadow, but it's not easy. As Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” But take heart, Creative. You don't need courage when things are easy. You need it when you know what you face will be difficult, but you do it anyway. We are authors. We know how to do hard things. We turn ideas into books. We manifest thoughts into ink on paper. We change lives with our writing. First, our own, then other people's. It's worth the effort to delve into Shadow, so I hope you will join me on the journey. The creative wound and the Shadow in writing “Whatever pain you can't get rid of, make it your creative offering.” —Susan Cain, Bittersweet  The more we long for something, the more extreme our desire, the more likely it is to have a Shadow side. For those of us who love books, the author life may well be a long-held dream and thus, it is filled with Shadow. Books have long been objects of desire, power, and authority. They hold a mythic status in our lives. We escaped into stories as children; we studied books at school and college; we read them now for escape and entertainment, education and inspiration. We collect beautiful books to put on our shelves. We go to them for solace and answers to the deepest questions of life. Writers are similarly held in high esteem. They shape culture, win literary prizes, give important speeches, and are quoted in the mainstream media. Their books are on the shelves in libraries and bookstores. Writers are revered, held up as rare, talented creatures made separate from us by their brilliance and insight. For bibliophile children, books were everything and to write one was a cherished dream. To become an author? Well, that would mean we might be someone special, someone worthy. Perhaps when you were young, you thought the dream of being a writer was possible — then you told someone about it. That's probably when you heard the first criticism of such a ridiculous idea, the first laughter, the first dismissal. So you abandoned the dream, pushed the idea of being a writer into the Shadow, and got on with your life. Or if it wasn't then, it came later, when you actually put pen to paper and someone — a parent, teacher, partner, or friend, perhaps even a literary agent or publisher, someone whose opinion you valued — told you it was worthless. Here are some things you might have heard: Writing is a hobby. Get a real job. You're not good enough. You don't have any writing talent. You don't have enough education. You don't know what you're doing. Your writing is derivative / unoriginal / boring / useless / doesn't make sense. The genre you write in is dead / worthless / unacceptable / morally wrong / frivolous / useless.  Who do you think you are? No one would want to read what you write. You can't even use proper grammar, so how could you write a whole book? You're wasting your time. You'll never make it as a writer. You shouldn't write those things (or even think about those things). Why don't you write something nice? Insert other derogatory comment here! Mark Pierce describes the effect of this experience in his book The Creative Wound, which “occurs when an event, or someone's actions or words, pierce you, causing a kind of rift in your soul. A comment—even offhand and unintentional—is enough to cause one.” He goes on to say that such words can inflict “damage to the core of who we are as creators. It is an attack on our artistic identity, resulting in us believing that whatever we make is somehow tainted or invalid, because shame has convinced us there is something intrinsically tainted or invalid about ourselves.” As adults, we might brush off such wounds, belittling them as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We might even find ourselves saying the same words to other people. After all, it's easier to criticise than to create. But if you picture your younger self, bright eyed as you lose yourself in your favourite book, perhaps you might catch a glimpse of what you longed for before your dreams were dashed on the rocks of other people's reality. As Mark Pierce goes on to say, “A Creative Wound has the power to delay our pursuits—sometimes for years—and it can even derail our lives completely… Anything that makes us feel ashamed of ourselves or our work can render us incapable of the self-expression we yearn for.” This is certainly what happened to me, and it took decades to unwind. Your creative wounds will differ to mine but perhaps my experience will help you explore your own. To be clear, your Shadow may not reside in elements of horror as mine do, but hopefully you can use my example to consider where your creative wounds might lie. “You shouldn't write things like that.” It happened at secondary school around 1986 or 1987, so I would have been around eleven or twelve years old. English was one of my favourite subjects and the room we had our lessons in looked out onto a vibrant garden. I loved going to that class because it was all about books, and they were always my favourite things. One day, we were asked to write a story. I can't remember the specifics of what the teacher asked us to write, but I fictionalised a recurring nightmare. I stood in a dark room. On one side, my mum and my brother, Rod, were tied up next to a cauldron of boiling oil, ready to be thrown in. On the other side, my dad and my little sister, Lucy, were threatened with decapitation by men with machetes. I had to choose who would die. I always woke up, my heart pounding, before I had to choose. Looking back now, it clearly represented an internal conflict about having to pick sides between the two halves of my family. Not an unexpected issue from a child of divorce. Perhaps these days, I might have been sent to the school counsellor, but it was the eighties and I don't think we even had such a thing. Even so, the meaning of the story isn't the point. It was the reaction to it that left scars. “You shouldn't write things like that,” my teacher said, and I still remember her look of disappointment, even disgust. Certainly judgment. She said my writing was too dark. It wasn't a proper story. It wasn't appropriate for the class. As if horrible things never happened in stories — or in life. As if literature could not include dark tales. As if the only acceptable writing was the kind she approved of. We were taught The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that year, which says a lot about the type of writing considered appropriate. Or perhaps the issue stemmed from the school motto, “So hateth she derknesse,” from Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women: “For fear of night, so she hates the darkness.” I had won a scholarship to a private girls' school, and their mission was to turn us all into proper young ladies. Horror was never on the curriculum. Perhaps if my teacher had encouraged me to write my darkness back then, my nightmares would have dissolved on the page. Perhaps if we had studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or H.P. Lovecraft stories, or Bram Stoker's Dracula, I could have embraced the darker side of literature earlier in my life. My need to push darker thoughts into my Shadow was compounded by my (wonderful) mum's best intentions. We were brought up on the principles of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and she tried to shield me and my brother from anything harmful or horrible. We weren't allowed to watch TV much, and even the British school drama Grange Hill was deemed inappropriate. So much of what I've achieved is because my mum instilled in me a “can do” attitude that anything is possible. I'm so grateful to her for that. (I love you, Mum!) But all that happy positivity, my desire to please her, to be a good girl, to make my teachers proud, and to be acceptable to society, meant that I pushed my darker thoughts into Shadow. They were inappropriate. They were taboo. They must be repressed, kept secret, and I must be outwardly happy and positive at all times. You cannot hold back the darkness “The night is dark and full of terrors.” —George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords It turned out that horror was on the curriculum, much of it in the form of educational films we watched during lessons. In English Literature, we watched Romeo drink poison and Juliet stab herself in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. In Religious Studies, we watched Jesus beaten, tortured, and crucified in The Greatest Story Ever Told, and learned of the variety of gruesome ways that Christian saints were martyred. In Classical Civilisation, we watched gladiators slaughter each other in Spartacus. In Sex Education at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the mid-'80s, we were told of the many ways we could get infected and die. In History, we studied the Holocaust with images of skeletal bodies thrown into mass graves, medical experiments on humans, and grainy videos of marching soldiers giving the Nazi salute. One of my first overseas school field trips was to the World War I battlegrounds of Flanders Fields in Belgium, where we studied the inhuman conditions of the trenches, walked through mass graves, and read war poetry by candlelight. As John McCrae wrote: We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Did the teachers not realise how deeply a sensitive teenager might feel the darkness of that place? Or have I always been unusual in that places of blood echo deep inside me? And the horrors kept coming. We lived in Bristol, England back then and I learned at school how the city had been part of the slave trade, its wealth built on the backs of people stolen from their homes, sold, and worked to death in the colonies. I had been at school for a year in Malawi, Africa and imagined the Black people I knew drowning, being beaten, and dying on those ships. In my teenage years, the news was filled with ethnic cleansing, mass rape, and massacres during the Balkan wars, and images of bodies hacked apart during the Rwandan genocide. Evil committed by humans against other humans was not a historical aberration. I'm lucky and I certainly acknowledge my privilege. Nothing terrible or horrifying has happened to me — but bad things certainly happen to others. I wasn't bullied or abused. I wasn't raped or beaten or tortured. But you don't have to go through things to be afraid of them, and for your imagination to conjure the possibility of them. My mum doesn't read my fiction now as it gives her nightmares (Sorry, Mum!). I know she worries that somehow she's responsible for my darkness, but I've had a safe and (mostly) happy life, for which I'm truly grateful. But the world is not an entirely safe and happy place, and for a sensitive child with a vivid imagination, the world is dark and scary. It can be brutal and violent, and bad things happen, even to good people. No parent can shield their child from the reality of the world. They can only help them do their best to live in it, develop resilience, and find ways to deal with whatever comes. Story has always been a way that humans have used to learn how to live and deal with difficult times. The best authors, the ones that readers adore and can't get enough of, write their darkness into story to channel their experience, and help others who fear the same. In an interview on writing the Shadow on The Creative Penn Podcast, Michaelbrent Collings shared how he incorporated a personally devastating experience into his writing:  “My wife and I lost a child years back, and that became the root of one of my most terrifying books, Apparition. It's not terrifying because it's the greatest book of all time, but just the concept that there's this thing out there… like a demon, and it consumes the blood and fear of the children, and then it withdraws and consumes the madness of the parents… I wrote that in large measure as a way of working through what I was experiencing.” I've learned much from Michaelbrent. I've read many of his (excellent) books and he's been on my podcast multiple times talking about his depression and mental health issues, as well as difficulties in his author career. Writing darkness is not in Michaelbrent's Shadow and only he can say what lies there for him. But from his example, and from that of other authors, I too learned how to write my Shadow into my books. Twenty-three years after that English lesson, in November 2009, I did NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, and wrote five thousand words of what eventually became Stone of Fire, my first novel. In the initial chapter, I burned a nun alive on the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River. I had watched the bodies burn by night on pyres from a boat bobbing in the current a few years before, and the image was still crystal clear in my mind. The only way to deal with how it made me feel about death was to write about it — and since then, I've never stopped writing. Returning to the nightmare from my school days, I've never had to choose between the two halves of my family, but the threat of losing them remains a theme in my fiction. In my ARKANE thriller series, Morgan Sierra will do anything to save her sister and her niece. Their safety drives her to continue to fight against evil. Our deepest fears emerge in our writing, and that's the safest place for them. I wish I'd been taught how to turn my nightmares into words back at school, but at least now I've learned to write my Shadow onto the page. I wish the same for you. The Shadow in traditional publishing If becoming an author is your dream, then publishing a book is deeply entwined with that. But as Mark Pierce says in The Creative Wound, “We feel pain the most where it matters the most… Desire highlights whatever we consider to be truly significant.” There is a lot of desire around publishing for those of us who love books! It can give you: Validation that your writing is good enough Status and credibility Acceptance by an industry held in esteem  The potential of financial reward and critical acclaim Support from a team of professionals who know how to make fantastic books A sense of belonging to an elite community Pride in achieving a long-held goal, resulting in a confidence boost and self-esteem Although not guaranteed, traditional publishing can give you all these things and more, but as with everything, there is a potential Shadow side. Denying it risks the potential of being disillusioned, disappointed, and even damaged. But remember, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Preparation can help you avoid potential issues and help you feel less alone if you encounter them. The myth of success… and the reality of experience There is a pervasive myth of success in the traditional publishing industry, perpetuated by media reporting on brand name and breakout authors, those few outliers whose experience is almost impossible to replicate. Because of such examples, many new traditionally published authors think that their first book will hit the top of the bestseller charts or win an award, as well as make them a million dollars — or at least a big chunk of cash. They will be able to leave their job, write in a beautiful house overlooking the ocean, and swan around the world attending conferences, while writing more bestselling books. It will be a charmed life. But that is not the reality. Perhaps it never was. Even so, the life of a traditionally published author represents a mythic career with the truth hidden behind a veil of obscurity. In April 2023, The Bookseller in the UK reported that “more than half of authors (54%) responding to a survey on their experiences of publishing their debut book have said the process negatively affected their mental health. Though views were mixed, just 22%… described a positive experience overall… Among the majority who said they had a negative experience of debut publication, anxiety, stress, depression and ‘lowered' self-esteem were cited, with lack of support, guidance or clear and professional communication from their publisher among the factors that contributed.” Many authors who have negative experiences around publishing will push them into the Shadow with denial or self-blame, preferring to keep the dream alive. They won't talk about things in public as this may negatively affect their careers, but private discussions are often held in the corners of writing conferences or social media groups online. Some of the issues are as follows: Repeated rejection by agents and publishers may lead to the author thinking they are not good enough as a writer, which can lead to feeling unworthy as a person. If an author gets a deal, the amount of advance and the name and status of the publisher compared to others create a hierarchy that impacts self-esteem. A deal for a book may be much lower than an author might have been expecting, with low or no advance, and the resulting experience with the publisher beneath expectations. The launch process may be disappointing, and the book may appear without fanfare, with few sales and no bestseller chart position. In The Bookseller report, one author described her launch day as “a total wasteland… You have expectations about what publication day will be like, but in reality, nothing really happens.” The book may receive negative reviews by critics or readers or more publicly on social media, which can make an author feel attacked. The book might not sell as well as expected, and the author may feel like it's their fault. Commercial success can sometimes feel tied to self-worth and an author can't help but compare their sales to others, with resulting embarrassment or shame. The communication from the publisher may be less than expected. One author in The Bookseller report said, “I was shocked by the lack of clarity and shared information and the cynicism that underlies the superficial charm of this industry.” There is often more of a focus on debut authors in publishing houses, so those who have been writing and publishing in the midlist for years can feel ignored and undervalued. In The Bookseller report, 48 percent of authors reported “their publisher supported them for less than a year,” with one saying, “I got no support and felt like a commodity, like the team had moved on completely to the next book.” If an author is not successful enough, the next deal may be lower than the last, less effort is made with marketing, and they may be let go. In The Bookseller report, “six authors—debut and otherwise—cited being dropped by their publisher, some with no explanation.” Even if everything goes well and an author is considered successful by others, they may experience imposter syndrome, feeling like a fraud when speaking at conferences or doing book signings. And the list goes on … All these things can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and embarrassment; loss of status in the eyes of peers; and a sense of failure if a publishing career is not successful enough. The author feels like it's their fault, like they weren't good enough — although, of course, the reality is that the conditions were not right at the time. A failure of a book is not a failure of the person, but it can certainly feel like it! When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Despite all the potential negatives of traditional publishing, if you know what could happen, you can mitigate them. You can prepare yourself for various scenarios and protect yourself from potential fall-out. It's clear from The Bookseller report that too many authors have unrealistic expectations of the industry. But publishers are businesses, not charities. It's not their job to make you feel good as an author. It's their job to sell books and pay you. The best thing they can do is to continue to be a viable business so they can keep putting books on the shelves and keep paying authors, staff, and company shareholders. When you license your creative work to a publisher, you're giving up control of your intellectual property in exchange for money and status. Bring your fears and issues out of the Shadow, acknowledge them, and deal with them early, so they do not get pushed down and re-emerge later in blame and bitterness. Educate yourself on the business of publishing. Be clear on what you want to achieve with any deal. Empower yourself as an author, take responsibility for your career, and you will have a much better experience. The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author Self-publishing, or being an independent (indie) author, can be a fantastic, pro-active choice for getting your book into the world. Holding your first book in your hand and saying “I made this” is pretty exciting, and even after more than forty books, I still get excited about seeing ideas in my head turn into a physical product in the world. Self-publishing can give an author: Creative control over what to write, editorial and cover design choices, when and how often to publish, and how to market Empowerment over your author career and the ability to make choices that impact success without asking for permission Ownership and control of intellectual property assets, resulting in increased opportunity around licensing and new markets Independence and the potential for recurring income for the long term Autonomy and flexibility around timelines, publishing options, and the ability to easily pivot into new genres and business models Validation based on positive reader reviews and money earned Personal growth and learning through the acquisition of new skills, resulting in a boost in confidence and self-esteem A sense of belonging to an active and vibrant community of indie authors around the world Being an indie author can give you all this and more, but once again, there is a Shadow side and preparation can help you navigate potential issues. The myth of success… and the reality of experience As with traditional publishing, the indie author world has perpetuated a myth of success in the example of the breakout indie author like E.L. James with Fifty Shades of Grey, Hugh Howey with Wool, or Andy Weir with The Martian. The emphasis on financial success is also fuelled online by authors who share screenshots showing six-figure months or seven-figure years, without sharing marketing costs and other outgoings, or the amount of time spent on the business. Yes, these can inspire some, but it can also make others feel inadequate and potentially lead to bad choices about how to publish and market based on comparison. The indie author world is full of just as much ego and a desire for status and money as traditional publishing. This is not a surprise! Most authors, regardless of publishing choices, are a mix of massive ego and chronic self-doubt. We are human, so the same issues will re-occur. A different publishing method doesn't cure all ills. Some of the issues are as follows: You learn everything you need to know about writing and editing, only to find that you need to learn a whole new set of skills in order to self-publish and market your book. This can take a lot of time and effort you did not expect, and things change all the time so you have to keep learning. Being in control of every aspect of the publishing process, from writing to cover design to marketing, can be overwhelming, leading to indecision, perfectionism, stress, and even burnout as you try to do all the things. You try to find people to help, but building your team is a challenge, and working with others has its own difficulties. People say negative things about self-publishing that may arouse feelings of embarrassment or shame. These might be little niggles, but they needle you, nonetheless. You wonder whether you made the right choice. You struggle with self-doubt and if you go to an event with traditional published authors, you compare yourself to them and feel like an imposter. Are you good enough to be an author if a traditional publisher hasn't chosen you? Is it just vanity to self-publish? Are your books unworthy? Even though you worked with a professional editor, you still get one-star reviews and you hate criticism from readers. You wonder whether you're wasting your time. You might be ripped off by an author services company who promise the world, only to leave you with a pile of printed books in your garage and no way to sell them. When you finally publish your book, it languishes at the bottom of the charts while other authors hit the top of the list over and over, raking in the cash while you are left out of pocket. You don't admit to over-spending on marketing as it makes you ashamed. You resist book marketing and make critical comments about writers who embrace it. You believe that quality rises to the top and if a book is good enough, people will buy it anyway. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when you launch your book and it doesn't sell many copies because nobody knows about it. You try to do what everyone advises, but you still can't make decent money as an author. You're jealous of other authors' success and put it down to them ‘selling out' or writing things you can't or ‘using AI' or ‘using a ghostwriter' or having a specific business model you consider impossible to replicate. And the list goes on… When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Being in control of your books and your author career is a double-edged sword. Traditionally published authors can criticise their publishers or agents or the marketing team or the bookstores or the media, but indie authors have to take responsibility for it all. Sure, we can blame ‘the algorithms' or social media platforms, or criticise other authors for having more experience or more money to invest in marketing, or attribute their success to writing in a more popular genre — but we also know there are always people who do well regardless of the challenges. Once more, we're back to acknowledging and integrating the Shadow side of our choices. We are flawed humans. There will always be good times and bad, and difficulties to offset the high points. This too shall pass, as the old saying goes. I know that being an indie author has plenty of Shadow. I've been doing this since 2008 and despite the hard times, I'm still here. I'm still writing. I'm still publishing. This life is not for everyone, but it's my choice. You must make yours. The Shadow in work You work hard. You make a living. Nothing wrong with that attitude, right? It's what we're taught from an early age and, like so much of life, it's not a problem until it goes to extremes. Not achieving what you want to? Work harder. Can't get ahead? Work harder. Not making a good enough living? Work harder. People who don't work hard are lazy. They don't deserve handouts or benefits. People who don't work hard aren't useful, so they are not valued members of our culture and community. But what about the old or the sick, the mentally ill, or those with disabilities? What about children? What about the unemployed? The under-employed? What about those who are — or will be — displaced by technology, those called “the useless class” by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus? What if we become one of these in the future? Who am I if I cannot work? The Shadow side of my attitude to work became clear when I caught COVID in the summer of 2021. I was the sickest I'd ever been. I spent two weeks in bed unable to even think properly, and six weeks after that, I was barely able to work more than an hour a day before lying in the dark and waiting for my energy to return. I was limited in what I could do for another six months after that. At times, I wondered if I would ever get better. Jonathan kept urging me to be patient and rest. But I don't know how to rest. I know how to work and how to sleep. I can do ‘active rest,' which usually involves walking a long way or traveling somewhere interesting, but those require a stronger mind and body than I had during those months. It struck me that even if I recovered from the virus, I had glimpsed my future self. One day, I will be weak in body and mind. If I'm lucky, that will be many years away and hopefully for a short time before I die — but it will happen. I am an animal. I will die. My body and mind will pass on and I will be no more. Before then I will be weak. Before then, I will be useless. Before then, I will be a burden. I will not be able to work… But who am I if I cannot work? What is the point of me? I can't answer these questions right now, because although I recognise them as part of my Shadow, I've not progressed far enough to have dealt with them entirely. My months of COVID gave me some much-needed empathy for those who cannot work, even if they want to. We need to reframe what work is as a society, and value humans for different things, especially as technology changes what work even means. That starts with each of us. “Illness, affliction of body and soul, can be life-altering. It has the potential to reveal the most fundamental conflict of the human condition: the tension between our infinite, glorious dreams and desires and our limited, vulnerable, decaying physicality.” —Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul The Shadow in money In the Greek myth, King Midas was a wealthy ruler who loved gold above all else. His palace was adorned with golden sculptures and furniture, and he took immense pleasure in his riches. Yet, despite his vast wealth, he yearned for more. After doing a favour for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, Midas was granted a single wish. Intoxicated by greed, he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold — and it was so. At first, it was a lot of fun. Midas turned everything else in his palace to gold, even the trees and stones of his estate. After a morning of turning things to gold, he fancied a spot of lunch. But when he tried to eat, the food and drink turned to gold in his mouth. He became thirsty and hungry — and increasingly desperate. As he sat in despair on his golden throne, his beloved young daughter ran to comfort him. For a moment, he forgot his wish — and as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, she turned into a golden statue, frozen in precious metal. King Midas cried out to the gods to forgive him, to reverse the wish. He renounced his greed and gave away all his wealth, and his daughter was returned to life. The moral of the story: Wealth and greed are bad. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is described as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” He's wealthy but does not share, considering Christmas spending to be frivolous and giving to charity to be worthless. He's saved by a confrontation with his lonely future and becomes a generous man and benefactor of the poor. Wealth is good if you share it with others. The gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: 14-30, tells the parable of the bags of gold, in which a rich man goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold. On his return, the servants who multiplied the gold through their efforts and investments are rewarded, while the one who merely returned the gold with no interest is punished: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Making money is good, making more money is even better. If you can't make any money, you don't deserve to have any. Within the same gospel, in Matthew 19:24, Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, which the man is unable to do. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is bad. Give it all away and you'll go to heaven. With all these contradictory messages, no wonder we're so conflicted about money! How do you think and feel about money? While money is mostly tied to our work, it's far more than just a transactional object for most people. It's loaded with complex symbolism and judgment handed down by family, religion, and culture. You are likely to find elements of Shadow by examining your attitudes around money. Consider which of the following statements resonate with you or write your own. Money stresses me out. I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Some people hoard money, so there is inequality. Rich people are bad and we should take away their wealth and give it to the poor.  I can never make enough money to pay the bills, or to give my family what I want to provide. Money doesn't grow on trees.  It's wasteful to spend money as you might need it later, so I'm frugal and don't spend money unless absolutely necessary. It is better and more ethical to be poor than to be rich. I want more money. I read books and watch TV shows about rich people because I want to live like that. Sometimes I spend too much on things for a glimpse of what that might be like.  I buy lottery tickets and dream of winning all that money.  I'm jealous of people who have money. I want more of it and I resent those who have it. I'm no good with money. I don't like to look at my bank statement or credit card statement. I live off my overdraft and I'm in debt. I will never earn enough to get out of debt and start saving, so I don't think too much about it. I don't know enough about money. Talking about it makes me feel stupid, so I just ignore it. People like me aren't educated about money.  I need to make more money. If I can make lots of money, then people will look up to me. If I make lots of money, I will be secure, nothing can touch me, I will be safe.  I never want to be poor. I would be ashamed to be poor. I will never go on benefits. My net worth is my self worth. Money is good. We have the best standard of living in history because of the increase in wealth over time. Even the richest kings of the past didn't have what many middle-class people have today in terms of access to food, water, technology, healthcare, education, and more. The richest people give the most money to the poor through taxation and charity, as well as through building companies that employ people and invent new things. The very richest give away much of their fortunes. They provide far more benefit to the world than the poor.  I love money. Money loves me. Money comes easily and quickly to me. I attract money in multiple streams of income. It flows to me in so many ways. I spend money. I invest money. I give money. I'm happy and grateful for all that I receive. The Shadow around money for authors in particular Many writers and other creatives have issues around money and wealth. How often have you heard the following, and which do you agree with? You can't make money with your writing. You'll be a poor author in a garret, a starving artist.  You can't write ‘good quality' books and make money. If you make money writing, you're a hack, you're selling out. You are less worthy than someone who writes only for the Muse. Your books are commercial, not artistic. If you spend money on marketing, then your books are clearly not good enough to sell on their own. My agent / publisher / accountant / partner deals with the money side. I like to focus on the creative side of things. My money story Note: This is not financial or investment advice. Please talk to a professional about your situation. I've had money issues over the years — haven't we all! But I have been through a (long) process to bring money out of my Shadow and into the light. There will always be more to discover, but hopefully my money story will help you, or at least give you an opportunity to reflect. Like most people, I didn't grow up with a lot of money. My parents started out as teachers, but later my mum — who I lived with, along with my brother — became a change management consultant, moving to the USA and earning a lot more. I'm grateful that she moved into business because her example changed the way I saw money and provided some valuable lessons. (1) You can change your circumstances by learning more and then applying that to leverage opportunity into a new job or career Mum taught English at a school in Bristol when we moved back from Malawi, Africa, in the mid '80s but I remember how stressful it was for her, and how little money she made. She wanted a better future for us all, so she took a year out to do a master's degree in management. In the same way, when I wanted to change careers and leave consulting to become an author, I spent time and money learning about the writing craft and the business of publishing. I still invest a considerable chunk on continuous learning, as this industry changes all the time. (2) You might have to downsize in order to leap forward The year my mum did her degree, we lived in the attic of another family's house; we ate a lot of one-pot casserole and our treat was having a Yorkie bar on the walk back from the museum. We wore hand-me-down clothes, and I remember one day at school when another girl said I was wearing her dress. I denied it, of course, but there in back of the dress was her name tag. I still remember her name and I can still feel that flush of shame and embarrassment. I was determined to never feel like that again. But what I didn't realize at the time was that I was also learning the power of downsizing. Mum got her degree and then a new job in management in Bristol. She bought a house, and we settled for a few years. I had lots of different jobs as a teenager. My favourite was working in the delicatessen because we got a free lunch made from delicious produce. After I finished A-levels, I went to the University of Oxford, and my mum and brother moved to the USA for further opportunities. I've downsized multiple times over the years, taking a step back in order to take a step forward. The biggest was in 2010 when I decided to leave consulting. Jonathan and I sold our three-bedroom house and investments in Brisbane, Australia, and rented a one-bedroom flat in London, so we could be debt-free and live on less while I built up a new career. It was a decade before we bought another house. (3) Comparison can be deadly: there will always be people with more money than you Oxford was an education in many ways and relevant to this chapter is how much I didn't know about things people with money took for granted. I learned about formal hall and wine pairings, and how to make a perfect gin and tonic. I ate smoked salmon for the first time. I learned how to fit in with people who had a lot more money than I did, and I definitely wanted to have money of my own to play with. (4) Income is not wealth You can earn lots but have nothing to show for it after years of working. I learned this in my first few years of IT consulting after university. I earned a great salary and then went contracting, earning even more money at a daily rate. I had a wonderful time. I traveled, ate and drank and generally made merry, but I always had to go back to the day job when the money ran out. I couldn't work out how I could ever stop this cycle. Then I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, a book I still recommend, especially if you're from a family that values academic over financial education. I learned how to escape the rat race by building and/or accumulating assets that pay even when you're not working. It was a revelation! The ‘poor dad' in the book is a university professor. He knows so much about so many things, but he ends up poor as he did not educate himself about money. The ‘rich dad' has little formal education, but he knows about money and wealth because he learned about it, as we can do at any stage in our lives. (5) Not all investments suit every person, so find the right one for you Once I discovered the world of investing, I read all the books and did courses and in-person events. I joined communities and I up-skilled big time. Of course, I made mistakes and learned lots along the way. I tried property investing and renovated a couple of houses for rental (with more practical partners and skilled contractors). But while I could see that property investing might work for some people, I did not care enough about the details to make it work for me, and it was certainly not passive income. I tried other things. My first husband was a boat skipper and scuba diving instructor, so we started a charter. With the variable costs of fuel, the vagaries of New Zealand weather — and our divorce — it didn't last long! From all these experiments, I learned I wanted to run a business, but it needed to be online and not based on a physical location, physical premises, or other people. That was 2006, around the time that blogging started taking off and it became possible to make a living online. I could see the potential and a year later, the iPhone and the Amazon Kindle launched, which became the basis of my business as an author. (6) Boring, automatic saving and investing works best Between 2007 and 2011, I contracted in Australia, where they have compulsory superannuation contributions, meaning you have to save and invest a percentage of your salary or self-employed income. I'd never done that before, because I didn't understand it. I'd ploughed all my excess income into property or the business instead. But in Australia I didn't notice the money going out because it was automatic. I chose a particular fund and it auto-invested every month. The pot grew pretty fast since I didn't touch it, and years later, it's still growing. I discovered the power of compound interest and time in the market, both of which are super boring. This type of investing is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a slow process of automatically putting money into boring investments and doing that month in, month out, year in, year out, automatically for decades while you get on with your life. I still do this. I earn money as an author entrepreneur and I put a percentage of that into boring investments automatically every month. I also have a small amount which is for fun and higher risk investments, but mostly I'm a conservative, risk-averse investor planning ahead for the future. This is not financial advice, so I'm not giving any specifics. I have a list of recommended money books at www.TheCreativePenn.com/moneybooks if you want to learn more. Learning from the Shadow When I look back, my Shadow side around money eventually drove me to learn more and resulted in a better outcome (so far!). I was ashamed of being poor when I had to wear hand-me-down clothes at school. That drove a fear of not having any money, which partially explains my workaholism. I was embarrassed at Oxford because I didn't know how to behave in certain settings, and I wanted to be like the rich people I saw there. I spent too much money in my early years as a consultant because I wanted to experience a “rich” life and didn't understand saving and investing would lead to better things in the future. I invested too much in the wrong things because I didn't know myself well enough and I was trying to get rich quick so I could leave my job and ‘be happy.' But eventually, I discovered that I could grow my net worth with boring, long-term investments while doing a job I loved as an author entrepreneur. My only regret is that I didn't discover this earlier and put a percentage of my income into investments as soon as I started work. It took several decades to get started, but at least I did (eventually) start. My money story isn't over yet, and I keep learning new things, but hopefully my experience will help you reflect on your own and avoid the issue if it's still in Shadow. These chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn  The post Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

    Daily | Conversations
    Sammy ready to take it outside, Lucas gets another, Kofoid's illness stops Australia tour | Daily 1-15-2026

    Daily | Conversations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 9:49


    Sprint car news to talk about today, including Buddy Kofoid's offseason racing being over, Emerson Axsom's comments, and Trophy Cup changes. Plus we'll talk Sammy Swindell vs. Tanner Thorson at the Chili Bowl, Josh Rice chooses a late model national tour, and more.

    Well, that f*cked me up! Surviving life changing events.
    S5 EP3: Brent & Kyle's Story - Conquering The World With Cerebral Palsy!

    Well, that f*cked me up! Surviving life changing events.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 27:56


    Send us a textBrent and Kyle's story is rooted in life-shaping experiences that led them to become who they are today.Kyle was born with cerebral palsy, leaving him with full cognitive ability but very limited physical mobility. He lives life in a wheelchair and requires assistance with daily tasks like eating. Brent is Kyle's older brother, and they grew up in a household where their family never accepted limitations on what was possible for Kyle.Today, Brent acts as Kyle's legs so Kyle can compete in some of the world's most challenging endurance events — including the IRONMAN World Championship (140.6 miles) and the Boston Marathon among several others. Not only are they completing these races as a push-assist duo, they've also raised millions through The Kyle Pease Foundation to give other individuals with disabilities the chance to experience their own finish-line moments. Their efforts also support inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities who, like Kyle, deserve meaningful roles and visibility.We had a great conversation and you will love this inspiring episode! Thanks guys!Website: https://kylepeasefoundation.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekylepeasefoundation/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyle-pease-foundation/posts/?feedView=all FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKylePeaseFoundationYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfzbm0kpTagaHRwMptuV9QSupport the show

    Daily Power Affirmations for your Creative Maniac Mind (in 60 Seconds)

    Click here to Shop Affirmation Decks, Oracle Decks, and more! Use Promo code: RCPODCAST20 for 20% off your first order!   Today's Power Affirmation: My moments turn out the best because I make the best of the way my moments turn out!   Today's Oracle of Motivation: We all face unexpected adversity in life. Loss of income. Illness in the family. Someone steals your Fruity Pebbles. These moments always sneak up when you least expect them, causing internal mayhem in the form of anxiety, depression, and even anger. Although Fruity Pebbles theft should be punishable by lashings, what's done is done and cannot be changed. Accept your disposition and make the best of what comes next! For the rest of your life, your moments will ALWAYS turn out the best if you make the best of the way your moments turn out!   Designed to Motivate Your Creative Maniac Mind The 60-Second Power Affirmations Podcast is designed to help you focus, affirm your visions, and harness the power within your creative maniac mind! Join us daily for a new 60-second power affirmation followed by a blast of oracle motivation from the Universe (+ a quick breathing meditation). It's time to take off your procrastination diaper and share your musings with the world!   For more musings, visit RageCreate.com     Leave a Review & Share! Apple Podcast reviews are one of THE most important factors for podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a second to leave the show a review on Apple Podcasts! Click this link: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Hit “Listen on Apple Podcasts” on the left-hand side under the picture. Scroll down under “Ratings & Reviews” & click “Write A Review” Leave an honest review. You're awesome!  

    Mold Talks with Michael Rubino
    NBS #107: A Realtor for Mold Illness: How to Find a Home You Can Heal In

    Mold Talks with Michael Rubino

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 54:57


    Send us a textIn this episode of Never Been Sicker, Michael Rubino sits down with Christy Hutchison, a realtor who specializes in helping people impacted by mold illness and CIRS find homes they can actually heal in.Christy shares her personal journey of years of unexplained symptoms, how she realized the environment was a major factor, and why she now approaches real estate completely differently. Together, they break down what most inspections miss, why “new” homes are not automatically safer, and the exact strategies Christy uses to protect her clients during the buying process.You will learn:1. Why standard home inspections often miss hidden water damage2. How to build an inspection “super team” (roof, HVAC, mold, and more)3. Common red flags in homes, even in newer builds4. How PTSD and nervous system stress show up after mold exposure5. Practical prevention tools like leak sensors, trays, and humidity monitoring6. How The Guardian works as an indoor air quality monitoring and alert system7. Christy's goal is simple: help people avoid the path she went through and give them real hope that safe homes exist.Find Christy:Website: https://healthyhomechristy.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyhomechristy/%20YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@christyhutchison6415 Subscribe for more episodes on mold, indoor air quality, and building healthier spaces.

    RudeBoyz PowerHour+
    Episode 198 - Always Good To Stretch It Out

    RudeBoyz PowerHour+

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 118:04


    The Boyz starting off the new year with celebrating the last one with THE RUDIES! THE BESTS OF 2025! Come listen to the one and only award ceremony put together by two idiots and The Rude Academy Of Arts and Sciences. Plus! Temu Morbius! Predator! Illness!   Question for the RudeNation! - What's your favorite anything coming out of 2025?   For all things RudeBoyz, head to: linktr.ee/rudeboyz   Find us on Podbean, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn!   Thanks for listening, leave a comment & join the RudeNation! Review us on your podcast platform of choice, screenshot it, DM us, and get a shout-out!

    Engines of Our Ingenuity
    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1856: Form and Feeling

    Engines of Our Ingenuity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 3:48


    Episode: 1856 Form and feeling, a necessary partnership.  Today, our guest. Seattle actor Megan Cole, considers a necessary partnership.

    The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny
    Episode 459 - How to Safely Get Your Voice Back After Illness

    The Intelligent Vocalist with John Henny

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 19:14


    In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John walks singers through what is really happening in the voice during and after illness, and why testing high notes too soon can set recovery back. Drawing from sports medicine, he shares a clear, graded approach to rebuilding coordination, strength, and confidence safely. Take it slow, respect the process, and trust that your voice will return when you give it the right conditions.   Episode highlights: Forcing the voice too soon can prolong recovery. A gradual return helps restore coordination safely. Patience and care protect your long-term vocal health.   To learn more about John Henny, his best-selling books, on-line courses, Voiceschool.com featuring his Teaching Team of Experts, Speaker Training and the Contemporary Voice Teacher Academy, visit: JohnHenny.com

    Podcast – Narcissist Abuse Support
    From Divorce Hell to Healing: Spiritual Growth After Narcissistic Abuse | Karen McMahon

    Podcast – Narcissist Abuse Support

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026


    Subscribe in a reader   Check out my product recommendations for Narcissist Abuse Survivors! – https://www.amazon.com/shop/tracymalone *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Listen to my podcasts anytime by subscribing with your favorite provider! The post From Divorce Hell to Healing: Spiritual Growth After Narcissistic Abuse | Karen McMahon appeared first on Narcissist Abuse Support.

    David Weeter Ministries
    Love Affects Every Aspect of Life

    David Weeter Ministries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 28:32


    Love is so powerful and far reaching that it literally influences every, single aspect of life. This week, David and Lynn look into this impact.To watch the video of this message, you can watch us on Victory Channel (Dish 265 or DirecTV 366), on Faith Broadcasting Network (DirecTV channel 379) and you can always watch our broadcasts on demand on our website or our  YouTube Channel!For more information regarding Weeter Ministries, to send prayer requests, praise reports or to become a Covenant Partner with us to get this uncompromised Word of the Living God out to the world, please visit our website: WeeterMinistries.orgSupport the show

    Cancer Stories: The Art of Oncology
    The Quiet Work of Clarity: Seeing Into the Future at the End of Life

    Cancer Stories: The Art of Oncology

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 29:46


    Listen to JCO's Art of Oncology article, "The Quiet Work of Clarity" by Dr. Henry Bair, who is an ophthalmology resident physician at Wills Eye Hospital. The article is followed by an interview with Bair and host Dr. Mikkael Sekeres. Dr. Bair explores how vision care can honor end-of-life goals and helps a patient with failing sight write to his children. TRANSCRIPT Narrator: The Quiet Work of Clarity, Henry, Bair, MD  Mikkael Sekeres: Welcome back to JCO's Cancer Stories: The Art of Oncology. This ASCO podcast features intimate narratives and perspectives from authors exploring their experiences in oncology. I'm your host, Mikkael Sekeres. I'm professor of medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami. What a pleasure it is to have joining us today Dr. Henry Bair, an ophthalmology resident physician at Wills Eye Hospital, to discuss his Journal of Clinical Oncology Art of Oncology article, "Quiet Work of Clarity". At the time of this recording, our guest has no disclosures. Dr. Bair and I have agreed to call each other by first names. Henry, thank you for contributing to the Journal of Clinical Oncology and for joining us to discuss your article. Henry Bair: Thank you very much for having me. Mikkael Sekeres: I love starting off by getting a little bit of background about our guests. I know a little bit about you, but I'm not sure all of our listeners do. Can you tell us about yourself and how you reached this stage of your training? Henry Bair: Sure thing. Happy to start there. I was born and raised in Taiwan. I came to the United States when I was 18 for college. I was at Rice University. I was drawn to it because the Texas Medical Center was right over there, but the university had a small liberal arts feel and the university did not box me into any specific discipline. I went there and we didn't have to declare anything and we could take any class from any school over there. And I actually fell in love with medieval studies of all things. I just came upon it in one of the survey courses and I went deeper and deeper and deeper and eventually wrote my thesis on medieval Irish manuscripts. That was really interesting. At the same time I was doing some clinical work and I realized that medicine might be a way to combine my interest in storytelling and the humanities with making a tangible difference in people's lives. Then I was in medical school at Stanford University, which was, in a similar way, I found a place that really let me explore what it meant to be a physician because the medical school let me take classes from all across the university: so the law school, the school of humanities, school of engineering, the business school. I got a chance to do a little bit of a lot of different things to try to figure out what I actually wanted to do with life. And I spent a lot of time actually doing a little bit of palliative care, a little bit of oncology, some medical education, some medical humanities. I had a lot of time thinking about, "Okay, what kind of specialty do I want to do?" I found myself really enjoying procedural specialties, but also really liking the kinds of patient interactions and conversations I had in palliative care and oncology, and eventually found ophthalmology, interestingly. I often have to remind myself or explain myself how those two connect. And to me, the way they connect is that ophthalmology lets me do very fascinating, intellectually challenging things in terms of working with my hands, very rewarding surgical procedural work. But at the same time, the conversations that I get to have with patients about seeing well, I saw so many parallels between that and living well. To me it was so much about quality of life. And that's how I knew that ophthalmology was the right move for me. And so now I'm an ophthalmology resident. Mikkael Sekeres: Fascinating. When I was an undergrad, the person who had the most influence on me was an English professor who was also a medievalist. There must be something about the personality and pouring over these old texts and trying to read things in Middle English that appeals to some character trait in those of us who eventually become physicians. I also remember when I was in medical school, we could also take classes throughout the university. So I wound up taking some writing classes with undergrads and with graduate students. It adds to this holistic education that we bring to medicine because it's not all about the science, is it? Henry Bair: Yeah, it's also different ways of thinking and seeing the world and just hearing people's different stories. It's the people I've met in a lot of those different settings outside of medical school that I think really enhanced my formative years in medical education. Mikkael Sekeres: You certainly bring it all together in this essay, which was just lovely. And I wonder if we could dive into some of the aspects of this essay. I'm dying to know, when you went to see this man, the main character of your essay, did you have any idea what the consult would be about? Henry Bair: No. So when we're in the hospital and as the ophthalmology resident on consult, we get notifications. These pop up whenever a primary team puts in a consult and it's usually fairly vague. It's usually no more than "blurry vision, please evaluate," "eye pain, please evaluate." As an ophthalmologist, getting a consult for blurry vision is kind of like a cardiologist getting consulted for chest pain. You're like, "Okay, but it could be something, it could be nothing, it could be something terrifying, it could be dry eyes, or it could be end-stage glaucoma, or it could be, who knows?" You really genuinely never know what you're getting yourself into until you actually go in there and talk to the patient, which can be frustrating, but also kind of an interesting experience. Mikkael Sekeres: I worry I'm guilty of submitting some of those consults to ophthalmology. Henry Bair: I didn't realize this fully until I started working on the ophthalmology side. I think non-ophthalmologists get so little exposure and training in ophthalmology. Of course, when I think about it, I didn't get any ophthalmology in medical school. So it's understandable. Mikkael Sekeres: In your essay, you write, and I'm going to quote you to you, "I am still learning what we can treat and what we can only tend. My training has taught me well how to assess visual acuity, intraocular pressures, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, but standing at his bedside, the index that mattered was none of these, but whether we could help him read for one more day." "What we can treat and what we can only tend." That's such a beautiful line. Is that something that only comes with years of experience, determining what we can treat and what we can only tend, or is it a dawning sense as we get to know our patients when we are trying to stop the inevitable from happening? Henry Bair: That is an interesting question because I think of it more almost as a fundamental shift in mindset. And I'm coming from someone who I think had the benefit of having had mentors, having had clinical experiences in palliative care in medical school. As I mentioned earlier, I was drawn to a lot of those patient conversations. So I think in some ways, starting in residency, I had long been primed to think about tending to a patient's concerns. And yet, even having been primed, even having the benefit of all those experiences and those conversations with amazing clinicians and with patients, maybe it's subject matter specific. I mean, ophthalmology tends to be a specialty, in my experience, my limited experience, ophthalmology tends to be one of those specialties that focuses so much on fixing things and treating things and reversing things. And in fact, that's one of the beautiful things of ophthalmology: how often you can reverse things or completely stop the progression of disease. And so I think in some ways, I am having to relearn what it means to see something not always as, "Okay, what's a problem here? What is the fix? How do I reverse this?" and go back and reach back to those experiences, those conversations I had with patients about trying to figure out, "Okay, the things that we can't fix, what can we still do?" To most people who have come across palliative care, this sentiment is by no means novel, the sentiment that there is always something we can do. You often hear about people talking about, "Oh, there's nothing more we can do." And I sort of try to bring that approach into the clinical encounters that I have. It's very reflexive to think that, "Okay, a person has lost vision from end-stage glaucoma or they have a blind painful eye. Well, there's nothing more we can do. You know, we've done all the conventional surgeries, we've done all the therapies, the medications," but I always have to pull myself back and say, "But there's always something we can do here." Mikkael Sekeres: It's so interesting how you frame that. We're problem solvers. We're trained to solve problems. A patient presents with X, a problem, we have to be clever enough to figure out how to solve it. I wonder if what you're saying indirectly is sometimes we're identifying the wrong problem. Henry Bair: I think so, yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: There may be a problem that we can't solve. Someone is actively dying from cancer. We can't solve the problem of curing them of their cancer. But there are other problems that we can potentially solve, and maybe that's where we have to be clever in identifying the problem. Henry Bair: I think so. And it's also what's in our textbooks and what's not. So we spend hundreds of hours in lecture and we pour over so many textbooks, and I do question banks now for board exams preparation. It's all on the textbook presentations, the textbook solutions. The problems are, you know, the retinal artery occlusions, it's about the really bad diabetic retinopathy. And then the answers to those things would be a stroke workup, would be some kind of injection into the eye. But like the problem that I encountered in this story that I talked about was this patient trying to write letters to his kids. That's not going to show up on any exam. We don't have lectures about talking about those things. Mikkael Sekeres: So, as I think you know, I wrote an essay in 2010 for Art of Oncology and for a book that I wrote about a woman who inspired me to go into oncology. She was a woman in her 40s who was a pediatric attending who had advanced ovarian cancer. The story I wrote about her was how she spent her final night on this earth in the intensive care unit writing cards for her children, too. It's fascinating how history repeats itself in how we care for people who have cancer. You have a really a beautiful way of saying this. You talk about, "an ordinary father sharing ordinary advice for an ordinary day. Illness had made that ordinariness remarkable. Our work that day was to protect the ordinary." Can you talk a little bit, I mean given the woman I wrote about and the man you wrote about, about this need to communicate with your family after you're gone? Henry Bair: To me, one of the biggest lessons I've learned working in healthcare is that what defines most of our lives, what defines the most meaningful, the most purposeful, the most rewarding aspects of our lives is our relationships. You can explore this from myriad perspectives. You can explore this from like a psychosocial perspective and look at all those studies showing that people who have better social connections and better ties with their families live longer lives and actually healthier lives, have decreased rates of mental health problems. Or we can just approach this from like a more humanistic perspective and explore it and think and listen in on the conversations people have with people around them, that patients have, the conversations patients have during the most difficult times of their lives. They don't talk about their work, they don't talk about their accomplishments, they talk about their relationships with their kids, with their spouses, with their parents. In my experience when people are at critical junctures of big life changes, whether it's people about to go into major surgery, people grappling with the idea of losing their vision or losing their lives, any sort of big pivotal change, they want to talk to their families and explore gratitude and regret and all these things. These are the themes that come up over and over and over again. In some ways it does not surprise me at all, this need to communicate with the family at the end of life. In some ways that's how you live on, that's how we feel, that's how patients feel their lives are defined by is that lasting relationship, that lasting impact at the end, or even transcending the end. Mikkael Sekeres: This is going beyond the end, isn't it? Henry Bair: Yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: These are letters and notes being written to children to be handed to them after death. And I think one of the reasons, in my case, the woman I encountered when I was in training who inspired me to go into oncology, I've been thinking about her for 25 years off and on. Both the incredible spirit to be able to do that on your last night on this earth, but also the flip side to it: there are potential downsides to doing this, aren't there? That, you know, I think about it from the perspective of her kids who at the time were 8 and 10 years old in my case. And I wonder what it was like for them to open up that birthday card when they were 17 or 18. And I wonder if you've kind of wondered the same about your patient and his children. Henry Bair: Yeah, I think when we think about these letter-writing projects, legacy-type projects, I hear about in hospitals around the country, there are teams that try to implement legacy-type things: whether it's doing video messages, whether it's stitching together short documentary film for patients who are in hospice. I feel like I see these things popping up a lot. You raise a very important point, and I actually didn't think about this until I was writing the essay. It's not an unambiguous good because it's the impact is variable, and it's really hard to predict that. How did you grapple with that in your essay? How did you make sense of it all at the end? Mikkael Sekeres: I don't think I did. I don't think I still have, which is why I think I still reflect back 25 years later on this episode and thinking about her children and how they're now, maybe they're still continuing to receive these cards from her and whether that's something they really appreciate and are like, "Boy, this is great, I get a little piece of mom still even now," or do they look at her unsteady hand as she's writing these cards and say, "That's not the mom I want to remember." Henry Bair: Yeah, that's a really good point. In the essay, I talk about that moment when the patient recognizes these are very imperfect letters, imperfectly written. We talked a little bit about that. And the patient makes a point, very wisely. I had suggested, "Oh, what if you want me to correct things?" And he's like, "No, no, no, the mistakes are part of it. It's part of the message. The message is that this was me at a difficult time in my life. I cannot control my hands the way that I used to, but that's still part of me. That makes it more genuine and authentic, mistakes and all built in." He wanted his children to see him for who he fully was in that moment. Mikkael Sekeres: And that was such a poignant part of your essay and probably the one that jumped out at me the most. Like as a dad, you want your kids to see you for who you are, right? You're not a superhero. In this case, this is somebody who was going to succumb to his illness, who did, but he was their dad and wanted them to remember him for all of who he was at that moment. Before I let you go, Henry, because I feel like we could probably talk for hours about this, before we started this podcast, I noticed you had better podcast equipment than I do, and sure enough, you copped to the fact that you do host your own podcast. You want to tell us a little bit about that? Because it touches on so many themes we touched on here in Cancer Stories. Henry Bair: Yeah, well thanks for asking me about that. Yeah, don't mind if I plug a little bit. Yes, so in medical school, this was 2021, around 2022, we were emerging from the COVID pandemic, and one of the things I was seeing around me as a medical student were physicians and nurses leaving the profession in droves. Like, there were so many reports and surveys coming out of the AMA discussing how more than half of all physicians are burned out, a third of physicians can't find meaning in their work anymore. And that was really scary. As a clinical trainee, what was I getting myself into? These weren't just some clinicians somewhere. These were often times- I was hearing these kinds of conversations about losing sight of why they even come in in the first place to work. I was hearing these conversations from professors that I thought were well-accomplished. These were people who had gone to the right residencies, the right fellowships. They had the right publications. These are people who I aspired to be, I suppose, and they were talking about leaving clinical practice. A wonderful mentor of mine who is an oncologist, still an oncologist at Stanford, we started talking about these things. And I asked him, "You seem to love your job." He was a GI oncologist dealing with very, very sick patients day in and day out. I've seen him in clinic. And I asked him, "What's your secret? What keeps you coming back over and over and over again?" And so that led to a conversation. And then we realized, "Wait a second, there are people, a third of physicians losing meaning in their work meant that two thirds of physicians have meaning in their work. Okay, let's talk about that." So we started exploring, we started just asking clinicians who have found true purpose in their work. And then we asked them to share their stories. And that's how the podcast was born. It's called The Doctor's Art, and at this point, we've expanded and we interview nurses and patients and caregivers. We interview philosophers and filmmakers, journalists. We interview ethicists and religious leaders, really anyone who might have some insight about what living well means either from the clinician perspective or from the patient perspective. And guess what? Everyone is going to be either a caregiver or a care recipient at some point in their lives. It's still ongoing and it's ended up being something where we explore very universal themes. Mikkael Sekeres: Well, it sounds great, Henry, and it sounds like a perfect complement to what we're doing here in Cancer Stories. It has been such a pleasure to have Dr. Henry Bair, who is an ophthalmology resident at Wills Eye Hospital, to discuss his essay, "The Quiet Work of Clarity". Henry, thank you so much for submitting your article to the Journal of Clinical Oncology and for joining us today. Henry Bair: Thank you very much, Mikail, for letting me share my insights and my story. It was a wonderful opportunity. Mikkael Sekeres: If you've enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague, or leave us a review. Your feedback and support helps us continue to have these important conversations. If you're looking for more episodes and content, follow our show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and explore more from ASCO at asco.org/podcasts. Until next time, this has been Mikkael Sekeres for Cancer Stories. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions.   Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Show notes:Like, share and subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave a rating or review. Guest Bio: Dr Henry Bair is a ophthalmology resident physician at Wills Eye Hospital and podcast host of The Doctor's Art.

    The Crazy Town Podcast
    Alien Illness | Ep 1108 | Crazy Town Podcast

    The Crazy Town Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2026 11:22


    Alien Illness | Ep 1108 | Crazy Town Podcast

    alien illness crazy town podcast
    ESGfitness
    Ep 811 - Pull-Ups vs. Marathons: Which is More Impressive? plus building a f*k average mentality

    ESGfitness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2026 34:25


    The commit to 6 waiting listWhatsapp Emma here00:00 Pull-Ups vs. Marathons: A Strength Perspective05:14 Vibration Plates: Science vs. Marketing08:51 Normalizing Unhealthy Eating Habits13:31 Self-Regulation and Neurodiversity21:00 Immunity Boosting Supplements: What Works?22:57 The Impact of Illness on Fitness24:24 Supplements for Energy and Perimenopause25:52 Finding Motivation When You're Not in the Mood27:10 Fat Loss While Marathon Training29:54 Regaining Muscle After Weight Loss

    The Daily Zeitgeist
    Disneyland Fight Club, CNN = Casino News Network 01.08.26

    The Daily Zeitgeist

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 62:57 Transcription Available


    In episode 1986, Jack and Miles are joined by filmmaker, tv writer. host of Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast and author of I Shouldn't Be Telling You This: (But I'm Going To Anyway), Chelsea Devantez, to discuss… RFK Jr. Latest Vaccine F**kery “Blindsided” The CDC, Who’s Taking The Over On NUCLEAR APOCALYPSE? Peace to Duffman, Disneyland Line-Cutting Leads To Brutal Fight and more! ‘Astounding’ vaccine change puts US behind peer countries, experts warn US to slash routine vaccine recommendations for children in major change experts say creates doubt HHS announces unprecedented overhaul of US childhood vaccine schedule The Obvious Reason the U.S. Should Not Vaccinate Like Denmark How the Danish Vaccination Registry became a cornerstone of Denmark’s immunisation service Assessment of the U.S. Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule Compared to Other Countries Why RFK Jr.’s plan to follow Europe on vaccines is getting panned CDC staff ‘blindsided’ as child vaccine schedule unilaterally overhauled The perils of RFK Junior's anti-vaccine leadership for public health The casino-fication of news ‘Goodness Gracious!’: CNN Data Guru Reveals Trump Takeover Odds Father brutally beaten in fight over line-cutting at Disneyland Disneyland addresses increasing hostility, fighting at theme parks LISTEN: ROCKMAN (THREESIXTY Edit) by Mk.geeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    MIRROR TALK
    Healing the Body by Awakening the Kingdom Within with Dr Moshe Daniel Block

    MIRROR TALK

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 44:33


    Mind-Body Healing begins within.In this episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations, host Tobi sits down with naturopathic doctor and mind-body medicine pioneer Dr. Moshe Daniel Block to explore how emotional awareness, faith, and subconscious beliefs shape physical health.After healing himself from a rare autoimmune condition, Dr. Moshe developed the Vis Dialogue, a transformative healing process that bridges science, spirituality, and self-discovery. In this conversation, he shares how chronic illness often reflects unresolved emotional trauma, why stillness and meditation are essential for healing, and how we can reconnect with the Kingdom of Heaven within.This episode offers deep insight for anyone experiencing chronic illness, emotional pain, burnout, or spiritual exhaustion and seeking a path toward clarity, peace, and holistic healing.If this conversation resonated with you, follow Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations, leave a review on your favourite podcast platform, and share this episode with someone who may need it.In This Episode, You Will Learn• How mind-body healing supports physical and emotional wellness• The role of emotional trauma and limiting beliefs in chronic illness• What the Vis Dialogue is and how it works• Why meditation and stillness unlock inner healing• How to access the Kingdom within during times of fear or illnessChapters00:00 Introduction to Mind-Body Healing01:57 Dr Moshe's Personal Healing Journey07:25 Pain, Illness, and Awakening13:06 Understanding the Vis Dialogue18:38 Emotional Trauma and the Subconscious24:03 Releasing Limiting Beliefs27:15 The Kingdom of Heaven Within34:37 The End of Days and Collective Healing38:23 Stillness, Meditation, and Divine Connection43:11 Finding Meaning Through SufferingAbout Dr Moshe Daniel BlockDr Moshe Daniel Block, ND, VDP, HMC, VNMI, is a naturopathic doctor, author, and innovator in mind-body medicine. After overcoming myasthenia gravis using the principles he now teaches, he created the Vis Dialogue and founded a Holistic Counselling Certification Program. His work has helped thousands heal chronic illness and emotional suffering through subconscious awareness and spiritual alignment.Learn more:dr-moshe.com holistic-counseling.ca Your transformation begins the moment you decide to look within.Let this book walk with you.

    The CIRS Group Podcast
    Is it mold illness or CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome)? And does it matter?

    The CIRS Group Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 24:53


    For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com In this episode of The CIRS Group podcast, Barbara and Jacie delve into the distinctions between mold illness and CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome). They clarify the confusion surrounding these terms, which are often used interchangeably online, and emphasize the importance of understanding the Shoemaker Protocol for those genetically predisposed to CIRS. They'll cover how to find out if you have the genetic markers associated with CIRS, how to get properly diagnosed so you don't waste time and money on the wrong treatment, and why generic mold detox methods may not be sufficient for CIRS patients. They'll also discuss the hidden dangers of antifungal agents and the importance of targeting specific biotoxins in treatment. This episode is a valuable resource for those seeking clarity and effective treatment options to heal from chronic illness. For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro and disclaimer 01:44 Understanding mold illness vs CIRS 03:12 Why your genetics matter, and how to diagnose CIRS 04:58 Why some people get sick and others don't 06:25 Shoemaker Protocol vs. Mold Detox Protocols 07:00 Pros and Cons with Dr. Neil Nathan or Dr. Jill Cresta protocols 11:09 Importance of accurate testing for diagnosis 13:58 Taking the right binders and treating MARCoNs 16:43 Tracking symptoms, hormones, and bloodwork during treatment 19:28 Azole (antifungal) treatment 22:48 Why we warn people against mainstream mold doctors 23:52 Final Thoughts and Resources For more information and support, join us at https://thecirsgroup.com Genetic test for CIRS: https://www.lifeextension.com/lab-testing/itemlc100087/hla-dr-mold-genetic-test Our episode on urinary mycotoxin tests: https://youtu.be/qWIIBaMybFA?si=gY6w_JmuuPn1pdOk MARCoNs test: https://www.microbiologydx.com/order-collection-kits Study showing antifungals or -azoles causing brain atrophy (search the text using control + F for 'antifungal' or 'atrophy'): https://www.oatext.com/metabolism-molecular-hypometabolism-and-inflammation-complications-of-proliferative-physiology-include-metabolic-acidosis-pulmonary-hypertension.php Order Jacie's book! The 30 Day Carnivore Bootcamp: https://a.co/d/7MgHrRs The CIRS Group: Support Community: https://thecirsgroup.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecirsgroup/ Find Jacie for carnivore, lifestyle and limbic resources: Jacie's book on the Carnivore diet!  https://a.co/d/8ZKCqz0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladycarnivory YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LadyCarnivory Blog: https://www.ladycarnivory.com/ Find Barbara for business/finance tips and coaching: Website: https://www.actlikebarbara.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actlikebarbara/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@actlikebarbara Jacie is a Shoemaker certified Proficiency Partner, NASM certified nutrition coach, author, and carnivore recipe developer determined to share the life changing information of carnivore and CIRS to anyone who will listen. Barbara is a business and fitness coach, CIRS and ADHD advocate, writer, speaker, and a big fan of health and freedom. Together, they co-founded The CIRS Group, an online support community to help people that are struggling with their CIRS diagnosis and treatment.

    Nach Yomi
    CCJL 13 Illness

    Nach Yomi

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 58:21


    CCJL 13 Illness by Timeless Torah in the 21st Century

    Happy Whole You
    239. Taking control of your health & mindset (Part 3)

    Happy Whole You

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 11:56


    In this episode, we explore how our thoughts directly influence our biology through stress chemistry, epigenetics, and neuroplasticity. Drawing on the work of Dr. Bruce Lipton, the conversation reframes illness as something we can influence through our mindset. You'll hear practical tools—like better questions, emotional anchor words, and healing visualizations—to shift from chronic stress into a state of safety, gratitude, and calm, so your thoughts send healing signals instead of stress signals to your body.   Key Points: Thoughts act as biochemical instructions to the body Illness is not only aging or genetics; mindset matters Negative thoughts trigger stress chemicals like real danger Neuroplasticity: repeated thoughts strengthen brain pathways Chronic worry and self-criticism lock in stress patterns Choosing optimism trains the brain to see what's good Replace "Why me?" with "What does my body need now?" Problem-solving questions calm the nervous system Pick a daily emotional anchor word (e.g., calm, safe) Anchor words help lower stress hormones Use vivid visualization of your body healing and flowing The brain responds to imagined events like real ones You always have a choice: stress signals or healing signals Connect with Anna: Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com Website: www.happywholeyou.com / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com Instagram: @happywholeyou Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie Facebook: Happy Whole You LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank Venmo: @happywholeyou

    The Adam and Dr. Drew Show
    Classic #1214: Extinction Illness

    The Adam and Dr. Drew Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 34:58


    January 12, 2020 - Adam and Dr. Drew open the show discussing things that have gone out of style and how those are juxtaposed against things that have left our society as a result of technological advances. They also discuss the addiction that our children have to screens and the negative impact that is having on our youth before transitioning into a conversation about climate change and the reluctance that some have to learning from their experiences. They then turn to the phones and speak to a caller who is looking for advice on his mother and the agitation she is experiencing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    David Weeter Ministries
    Love's Got Your Back

    David Weeter Ministries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 28:32


    The King James Bible says that love covers the multitude of sin but what does that really mean? In this broadcast, David and Lynn show you!To watch the video of this message, you can watch us on Victory Channel (Dish 265 or DirecTV 366), on Faith Broadcasting Network (DirecTV channel 379) and you can always watch our broadcasts on demand on our website or our  YouTube Channel!For more information regarding Weeter Ministries, to send prayer requests, praise reports or to become a Covenant Partner with us to get this uncompromised Word of the Living God out to the world, please visit our website: WeeterMinistries.orgSupport the show

    This Whole Life
    Ep90 Loving Persons With Mental Illness

    This Whole Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 69:24 Transcription Available


    "But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight."~ Luke 10:33How can I better support my loved one who suffers with mental illness?What is the Church's place in caring for those with mental illnesses?Is it possible to choose my responses instead of just reacting?In episode 90, Kenna & Pat welcome Beth Hlabse, program director of the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at the University of Notre Dame, for an honest conversation about loving and supporting people with mental illness. Drawing on personal stories, professional expertise, and Catholic teaching, the episode explores the complexities of mental health through the lens of accompaniment, compassion, and community. Beth shares practical wisdom for churches and families, highlighting the importance of seeing the gifts and goodness of every person beyond their diagnosis, setting healthy boundaries, and moving from reactive to responsive support. Listeners are invited to reflect on their own biases and discomfort, discovering pathways to deeper empathy, hope, and belonging—especially in faith communities. Whether you're walking this journey yourself or supporting someone you love, this episode offers encouragement and tangible steps toward stronger, more healing connections.Beth Hlabse is the program director for the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. As a mental health counselor, Beth has provided therapeutic care for adolescents and adults with histories of trauma and adverse child experiences. Beth graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2011 and she obtained her masters in clinical mental health counseling from Divine Mercy University. Beth and her husband Pete live in South Bend, Indiana.Episode 90 Show NotesReflection QuestionsChapters:0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards18:40: Acknowledging my past to inform my future29:00: Loving others in the midst of mental illness42:07: Isolation: a cause and effect of mental illness54:03: Healthy boundaries in relationship with others with mental illness59:01: Challenge By ChoiceSend us a text. We can't respond directly, but we're excited to hear what's on your mind!Click here to register for the DBT group from Jan. 20 - March 24, 2026 (MN & WI residents only)Support the showThank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters! Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.Follow us on Instagram & FacebookInterested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for IntegrationMusic: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

    Future Generations Podcast with Dr. Stanton Hom
    280: Unbroken: Reclaiming Wholeness in a Traumatized World with Dr. Karyn Shanks

    Future Generations Podcast with Dr. Stanton Hom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 61:45


    It's time to build your family's future on a foundation of true health and freedom. Join us at Future Foundations—because your future generations deserve the best start to the mission that will outlive us… Check it out here. Use code FREEDOM25 for 25% off!    Whether you're looking for tinctures, topicals or teas or a deeper connection to your INNATE healing capacity, Noble Task Homestead is here to serve you. Join the movement. Visit NobleTaskHomestead.com/noblestan today and enjoy a 10% discount on your order.   San Diego area residents, take advantage of our special New Patient offer exclusively for podcast listeners here. We can't wait to experience miracles with you!   Welcome to a new episode of the Future Generations Podcast! In this conversation, Dr. Stanton Hom sits down with Dr. Karyn Shanks! After decades in conventional practice, Dr. Shanks reinvented how she practices to serve people with chronic, complex illness who were failed by the standard medical system. In this episode, they explore why so many are "walking wounded", how trauma (including trauma from the medical system itself) underlies much chronic illness, and why illness is often the body's intelligent healing response rather than a "broken" malfunction. They dive into COVID as a pandemic of human vulnerability, systemic gaslighting, polarization, and how cultural narratives and dogmatic biomedicine disconnect us from our bodies' wisdom. Highlights: "Illness is beautiful… it's a healing cycle." –   "The only sustainable model of healthcare is one that works itself out of a job."    "The bedrock of human illness and chronic disease is that we live according to these narratives where we don't even trust our bodies anymore."    "Simple, small, and slow, that's my mantra."   Timestamps: 00:02 – Introducing Dr. Karyn Shanks and her 35-year journey 01:37 – From internist to holistic, integrative, and functional medicine 03:40 – "Unbroken" and why your body isn't wrong when it's sick 05:23 – The only sustainable healthcare model: working yourself out of a job 08:22 – COVID as a pandemic of vulnerability, not just a virus 15:41 – The biggest problem today: dogma, righteousness, and reductionism 20:46 – Dr. Shanks' core mission: returning patients to safety and self-trust 30:55 – How she practically creates safety for chronically ill patients 42:32 – Case study: healing begins in a sewing room, not a prescription pad 54:59 – One daily practice: a few moments to listen to what you need   Resources:   Remember to Rate, Review, and Subscribe on iTunes and Follow us on Spotify!   Learn more about Dr. Stanton Hom on:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstantonhom  Website: https://futuregenerationssd.com/    Podcast Website: https://thefuturegen.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/drstantonhom  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanhomdc  Stay Connected with the Future Generations Podcast:   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futuregenpodcast  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futuregenpodcast/    Links:    https://www.thehivemethod.co/ https://www.instagram.com/thehivemethod.co   About Dr. Karyn Shanks KARYN SHANKS MD is a physician, author, and teacher who helps clients recover their lives from chronic complex Illness—a journey she's walked herself. Her work integrates the sciences of directable human potential—epigenetics, neuroplasticity, systems-based functional medicine, and transformational psychology—with the lived wisdom that safety, compassion, and story are the true foundations of healing. Over four decades, she's learned one enduring truth: everyone can heal, and the best medicine comes from within.   She is the author of Heal—A Nine-Stage Roadmap to Recover Energy and The Wisdom of COVID-19—How to Rejuvenate, Reclaim Hope, and Heal in the New Post-Pandemic World.  The desire to go off grid and have the ability to grow your own food has never been stronger than before. No matter the size of your property, Food Forest Abundance can help you design a regenerative layout that utilizes your resources in the most synergistic and sustainable manner. If you are interested in breaking free from the system, please visit www.foodforestabundance.com and use code "thefuturegen" to receive a discount on their incredible services.   Show your eyes some love with a pair of daylight or sunset (or both!) blue-light blocking glasses from Ra Optics. They have graciously offered Future Generations podcast listeners 10% off any purchase. Use code FGPOD or click here to access this discount, and let us know how your glasses are treating you!   One of the single best companies whose clean products have supported the optimal wellness of our family is Earthley Wellness. Long before there was a 2020, Kate Tetje and her team have stood for TRUTH, HEALTH and FREEDOM in ways that paved the way for so many of us. In collaboration with this incredible team, we are proud to offer you 10% off of your first purchase by shopping here.   Are you concerned about food supply insecurity? Our family has rigorously sourced our foods for over a decade and one of our favorite sources is Farm Match and specifically for San Diego locals, "Real Food Club PMA". My kids are literally made from their maple breakfast sausage and the amazing carnitas we make from their pasture raised pork. We are thrilled to share 10% off your first order when you shop at this link.   Another important way to bolster food security is by supporting local ranchers. Our favorite local regenerative ranch is Perennial Pastures. They have the best nutrient-dense meats that are 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised. You can get $10 off of your first purchase when you use the code: "FUTUREGENERATIONS" at checkout. Start shopping here.  

    The Hartmann Report
    Is the Day of Reckoning Coming?

    The Hartmann Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 57:38


    Social Security and Medicare aren't abstract programs — they keep millions of Americans alive. Critics warn Trump-backed policies could force seniors and disabled Americans to delay or skip lifesaving care. We break down what's changing, who's at risk, and why this could become a public health emergency. Executive Director of Social Security Works, Alex Lawson joins Thom to break it down. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Good Call with Andrew Farley
    Sin Versus Temptation

    Good Call with Andrew Farley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026 6:49


    Jack from Arkansas called in to our radio program to ask about temptation:Is temptation a mental sin?Was Jesus really tempted like we are?What do we really learn from Jesus' life if He was God and we aren't?In this short clip, I address all of these questions. If you often find yourself bombarded with temptations, I hope this is especially encouraging to you!

    The MeidasTouch Podcast
    Peru Shamans Predict Devastating Illness for Trump in 2026

    The MeidasTouch Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 18:50


    MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on a prediction by Peru Shamans that Donald Trump will face a horrible illness in 2026. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Pediatric Nursing Podcast Series
    Pediatric Nursing November/December 2025 Issue Preview

    Pediatric Nursing Podcast Series

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 2:39


    Listen here for your audio sneak peek of the November/December 2025 issue of Pediatric Nursing! For over 50 years, Pediatric Nursing has been the trusted resource for advancing evidence-based practice, clinical research, and professional development in pediatric nursing.With 2.4 NCPD contact hours available, this issue is packed with opportunities to advance your practice and deliver exceptional care to pediatric patients.Visit www.pediatricnursing.net to subscribe or access individual articles. Don't forget to follow us on social media!© Jannetti Publications, Inc.All rights reserved. No portion of this podcast may be used without written permission.Music by Scott Holmes.http://www.scottholmesmusic.com

    Crude Conversations
    EP 171 Art and illness with Peter Dunlap‑Shohl

    Crude Conversations

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 70:47


    In this one, Cody talks to cartoonist Peter Dunlap‑Shohl. His career traces a remarkable arc, from daily newsroom deadlines to personal, long-form storytelling. For 27 years, he worked for the Anchorage Daily News, drawing editorial and political cartoons. He produced thousands of comics focused on, more often than not, the worst things he could find in Alaska politics and in the pages of the newspaper — the biggest screwup, the clearest malfeasance, the loudest troublemaker — and then he'd satirize it by cartooning it. This is how a newspaper cartoonist does their job. But he also worked on the comic strip Muskeg Heights. The strip was about a fictional Anchorage neighborhood, and it allowed him to step out of the editorial page — away from politics — to explore the emotional aspects of living in Alaska. He worked on that for about a decade, until Parkinson's made it too difficult to keep up with the weekly pace of the work.  In more recent years, he's authored two graphic memoirs: My Degeneration, about his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2002, and Nuking Alaska, about the nuclear dangers Alaska faced during the Cold War. Both books were something Peter never thought he'd be capable of creating after being diagnosed. But he says that with the help of medication and brain surgery, he's been able to curb the effects of the disease and accomplish some of the most rewarding and successful work of his life. But he's careful not to frame the disease as a gift because it's not. In My Degeneration, he writes that "it'll take everything from you, everything it has taken you a lifetime to acquire and learn." What is a gift, though, is his reaction to it — the power of medicine, human ingenuity, and perseverance are incredible things. Overall, it's taught him that he's not in control, and that on his best days he's sharing the wheel with Parkinson's.

    Outloud Bible Project Podcast
    2 Chronicles 13-16: Faith and Failure

    Outloud Bible Project Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 16:03 Transcription Available


    We trace Abijah's bold reliance against a larger army and Asa's early reforms, then confront the slow slide from dependence to self-reliance that reshaped a kingdom. The story lands as a mirror: peace is a gift, but it can dull trust if we let comfort lead.• Abijah's confrontation with Jeroboam and Judah's reliance on God• The ambush foiled and the victory credited to trust, not numbers• Asa's reforms, peace, and fortified cities grounded in worship• Prayer before battle against the Cushites and a sweeping deliverance• Azariah's call to seek God and the covenant renewal• The treaty with Aram, prophetic rebuke, and onset of wars• Asa's anger at correction, oppression, and closing his ears• Illness without prayer and the warning embedded in comfort• Practicing reliance in peace so instinct guides us in crisisSend Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

    Chatter Marks
    EP 125 Art and illness with Peter Dunlap‑Shohl

    Chatter Marks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 72:54


    Peter Dunlap‑Shohl's career traces a remarkable arc, from daily newsroom deadlines to personal, long-form storytelling. For 27 years, he worked for the Anchorage Daily News, drawing editorial and political cartoons. He produced thousands of comics focused on, more often than not, the worst things he could find in Alaska politics and in the pages of the newspaper — the biggest screwup, the clearest malfeasance, the loudest troublemaker — and then he'd satirize it by cartooning it. This is how a newspaper cartoonist does their job. But he also worked on the comic strip Muskeg Heights. The strip was about a fictional Anchorage neighborhood, and it allowed him to step out of the editorial page — away from politics — to explore the emotional aspects of living in Alaska. He worked on that for about a decade, until Parkinson's made it too difficult to keep up with the weekly pace of the work.  In more recent years, he's authored two graphic memoirs: My Degeneration, about his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2002, and Nuking Alaska, about the nuclear dangers Alaska faced during the Cold War. Both books were something Peter never thought he'd be capable of creating after being diagnosed. But he says that with the help of medication and brain surgery, he's been able to curb the effects of the disease and accomplish some of the most rewarding and successful work of his life. But he's careful not to frame the disease as a gift because it's not. In My Degeneration, he writes that "it'll take everything from you, everything it has taken you a lifetime to acquire and learn." What is a gift, though, is his reaction to it — the power of medicine, human ingenuity, and perseverance are incredible things. Overall, it's taught him that he's not in control, and that on his best days he's sharing the wheel with Parkinson's.

    David Weeter Ministries
    What's Love Got To Do With It?

    David Weeter Ministries

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 28:32


    In a believer's life of faith, why should we study love, what it really is and how it works? The simple answer is because it affects everything!To watch the video of this message, you can watch us on Victory Channel (Dish 265 or DirecTV 366), on Faith Broadcasting Network (DirecTV channel 379) and you can always watch our broadcasts on demand on our website or our  YouTube Channel!For more information regarding Weeter Ministries, to send prayer requests, praise reports or to become a Covenant Partner with us to get this uncompromised Word of the Living God out to the world, please visit our website: WeeterMinistries.orgSupport the show

    Caring Greatly
    Illness does not equal impairment: Why care team members deserve a supportive path back to practice – Chris Bundy, MD, MPH

    Caring Greatly

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 30:33


    Having a mental health condition, including depression or substance use disorder, does not automatically mean that a physician, nurse or other healthcare professional is unable to provide patient care in a competent, ethical and professional manner. Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, FAPA, FASAM, and other leaders of state-based professional health programs (PHPs) support physicians and other healthcare professionals as they navigate mental health conditions and help find supportive paths back to practice once their illness is managed. In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Bundy talks about how PHPs work, his involvement with the Washington PHP and the Federation of State PHP. He shares some common misperceptions about mental health and substance use, and why the stress and trauma-exposure inherent with working in healthcare environments may create unique vulnerabilities for care team members. Dr. Bundy explains some of the challenges and limitations of PHPs, and discusses how many programs have expanded their purview to support a broader group of healthcare professionals beyond physicians. Today, many PHPs offer support to pharmacists, dentists, physicians' assistants and nurses. Dr. Bundy is Executive Medical Director of the Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP) and Chief Medical Officer of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP). Board-certified in adult and geriatric psychiatry as well as addiction medicine, he holds faculty appointments as a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.  Drawing on his extensive experience as a healthcare leader, medical educator and physician in recovery, Dr. Bundy is dedicated to advancing education, advocacy and support for physician health and care team wellbeing. His contributions have been recognized with the President's Unsung Hero Award from the Washington State Medical Association and the Presidential Recognition Award from FSPHP. Dr. Chris Bundy is a leader who cares greatly. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.  

    Karsch and Anderson
    Was your Christmas affected by "illness" this year?

    Karsch and Anderson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 9:46


    Illinois News Now
    Wake Up Tri-Counties RaeAnn Talks Facility Holiday Closures, Flu and Covid Vaccines, DOT Physicals, Tips to Avoid Illness, and New Year's Designated Driver

    Illinois News Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 18:23


    RaeAnn Tuck joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about facility holiday closures, flu and Covid vaccines, DOT physicals, tips to avoid illness, and New Year's designated drivers. Offices and clinics operated by the Henry and Stark County Health Departments will be closed Thursday, January 1st, and Friday, January 2nd, for the New Year's holiday. Essential in-home care services will remain available, and help can be reached through each location's direct phone numbers or by visiting the health department's website and social media. Meanwhile, officials remind everyone to celebrate responsibly by arranging sober drivers, offering non-alcoholic beverages, and monitoring travel during peak late-night hours. For support with health insurance enrollment, residents are invited to Midwest Massage Therapy & Wellness Center on December 30th for personalized assistance from Get Covered Illinois Navigators.

    The A to Z of Sex
    Encore: I is for Injury and Illness

    The A to Z of Sex

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 54:30


    Encore: I is for Injury and Illness with Dr Lori Beth Bisbey

    The Other Human in the Room
    FROM THE VAULT: 39. Illness Anxiety

    The Other Human in the Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2025 46:18


    The Other Human in the Room is on hiatus! For the next 3 months, you'll still be getting weekly episodes on your podcast feeds - but they'll all be re-releases of past favourites. I'm using this time to dream and explore new ideas and directions for the podcast. See you in March!Anyone who works in healthcare encounters illness anxiety on a daily (if not hourly) basis. Anxiety about getting sick is a driving factor behind so much healthcare utilization, and can be draining for healthcare clinicians as well. Joan explores the most important thing to do when encountering illness anxiety in your patients: addressing the illness anxiety that exists in YOUR brain.Learn more about Hippocratic Collective: https://hippocraticcollective.org/Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

    Steve Rosenbloom on 670 The Score
    Darnell Wright (illness) doesn't travel with Bears to San Francisco (Hour 2)

    Steve Rosenbloom on 670 The Score

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2025 43:09


    Darnell Wright (illness) doesn't travel with Bears to San Francisco (Hour 2) full 2589 Sat, 27 Dec 2025 20:50:00 +0000 KvNOM2HosCfYEDyPIDNbKYuqqTPW1k1r sports Steve Rosenbloom Show sports Darnell Wright (illness) doesn't travel with Bears to San Francisco (Hour 2) Former Chicago Tribune writer and columnist Steve Rosenbloom brings his witty, at-times snarky sports commentary to the airwaves on Saturdays at 11 a.m. to lead a show that he and listeners affectionately call Saturday Suckage. Follow him on Twitter @SteveRosenbloom.  2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False https://player.a

    Functionally Enlightened - Better ways to heal from chronic pain and illness
    Eps 69. Healing Through Food: Diabetes-Free Eating, Gut Health & Implant Illness Insights

    Functionally Enlightened - Better ways to heal from chronic pain and illness

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2025 48:03


    If you've ever wondered why your cravings feel uncontrollable, why blood sugar spikes happen even on “healthy” foods, or how diet impacts chronic illness—including implant and vaccine injuries—this episode is for you.Today, Sharon sits down with two powerhouse guests: • Dr. John Poothullil (“Dr. John”) – Type 2 diabetes and obesity researcher, author, and expert in mindful eating • Chef Colleen Cackowski – Award-winning healthy chef, culinary educator, and co-author of The Diabetes-Free Cookbook and Exercise GuideTogether, they explore the intersection of: • Blood sugar regulation • Mindful eating • Gut–brain connection • Food energetics and cravings • Chronic illness + implant illness nutrition needs • Sustainable, enjoyable eating patterns that support metabolic healingThis episode delivers practical tools for individuals navigating chronic inflammation, fatigue, immune dysregulation, post-infection syndromes, and implant-related illness.What You'll Learn in This Episode• Why food sensitivities and blood sugar swings are so common in chronic illness • How gut bacteria drive cravings—and how to retrain them • The REAL difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (beyond what most doctors discuss) • How to enjoy food while still balancing blood sugar • Which flavors support different organ systems (Chinese Medicine perspective) • The role of fiber, healthy fats, and bitter foods in metabolic repair • Why mindful eating (as toddlers naturally do) can reverse metabolic dysfunction • How to start healing without feeling overwhelmed by diet rulesEpisode HighlightsChronic Illness Diet StrategiesSharon, Dr. John, and Chef Colleen discuss nutritional needs for individuals with chronic illness—including implant-related illness and vaccine injury—where inflammation, dysregulation, and fatigue are common.Understanding Insulin ResistanceDr. John explains why Type 2 diabetes is not a disease of “not enough insulin,” and why eating for enjoyment (not fullness) is essential for restoring metabolic balance.Healing Through Food Chef Colleen breaks down how to create delicious, metabolic-friendly meals without grains, processed sugar, or simple carbs—while still experiencing joy around food.Gut Health & Cravings Why cravings aren't about willpower—and how bacteria, stress, and nutrient deficits drive the cycle.Balanced Eating for Chronic Illness A deep dive into flavor energetics, hydration quality, and small foundational changes that can dramatically improve symptoms.

    The Healer Revolution
    77. Hyper-mobility Spectrum's role in complex illness with Alexandra Bucko

    The Healer Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 71:59


    Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Alexandra Bucko, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Mineral Nutritional Balancing Practitioner who works primarily with complex and chronic illness cases.Alex specializes in hypermobility and hypermobility-related connective tissue disorders, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, POTS, autonomic dysfunction, and extreme hypersensitivities—and she brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to this work, having navigated many of these conditions herself.In this conversation, I had so many questions around the differences between connective tissue disorders, how to know if you might have one, what symptoms to look for, and how diagnosis actually works. We also talk about whether some of these patterns can improve or even reverse with the right support, and why so many people experience overlap between genetic factors, autonomic dysfunction, and sensitivity-driven symptoms.We go beyond labels and dive into practical, grounded strategies to support the body physically, structurally, and emotionally, especially for those who feel like their system is fragile, reactive, or hard to stabilize.Alex is also pursuing her medical doctorate and a Master's of Science in Human Nutrition, with completion expected in 2028 and 2027. She currently lives in Split, Croatia, and when she's not working with clients or studying, you'll find her at the beach, traveling, or enjoying good food.This episode is especially valuable if you've been trying to make sense of complex symptoms, overlapping diagnoses, or feel like your body doesn't respond to conventional approaches.Throughhealthandback.com

    David Weeter Ministries

    In the heart and mind of God, you are already healed but satan will try to convince you otherwise. Sometimes you must stand fast in your exemption!To watch the video of this message, you can watch us on Victory Channel (Dish 265 or DirecTV 366), on Faith Broadcasting Network (DirecTV channel 379) and you can always watch our broadcasts on demand on our website or our  YouTube Channel!For more information regarding Weeter Ministries, to send prayer requests, praise reports or to become a Covenant Partner with us to get this uncompromised Word of the Living God out to the world, please visit our website: WeeterMinistries.orgSupport the show

    The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell
    Pro Gambler Exposes World Of High-Stakes Betting, Laundering Drug Money, Working As FBI Informant

    The Connect- with Johnny Mitchell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2025 160:53


    What does it really look like to live as a professional high-stakes gambler at the very top of the casino food chain? In this episode, Johnny sits down with RJ “Chip” Ryan — a legendary blackjack whale who spent decades betting millions per hand in casinos from Atlantic City to Las Vegas to Macau. RJ tells the raw, unfiltered story of how he went from a broke gambler driving to Atlantic City with his last $5,000, to carrying $10 million in checks, flying private jets, rubbing shoulders with billionaires and celebrities, and taking casinos for millions of dollars at a time. RJ is also known to many as “Robin Hood of Las Vegas” from the Cocaine Cowboys universe — the man who helped launder cartel money through casinos, later cooperating with the feds and offering a very different version of events than what's been told on screen. This episode dives deep into: -The real math and psychology behind winning at high-stakes blackjack -How casinos court, reward, and ultimately try to break whales -Blowing millions in a single night — and coming back the next day to win it all back -Private jets, penthouse suites, celebrity parties, and casino politics The emotional toll of gambling, addiction, loyalty, karma, and survival -RJ's personal reckoning after caring for his mother, losing everything, and betting his life on one final run This is not a glamorized gambling story — it's a brutally honest look at the highs, lows, wins, losses, and moral gray zones of a life lived on the edge. Stick around until the end and decide for yourself: Was RJ a genius, a degenerate, a hustler — or all three? This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Ridge! Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/CONNECT #Ridgepod CashApp! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/1ekoiacn #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Cash App Green, overdraft coverage, borrow, cash back offers and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Betterhelp! This December, start a new tradition, by taking care of you. Our listeners get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/connect Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Intro: High Stakes Gambling Stories 01:19 Growing Up in Philly & The Family Hustle 04:44 Early Gambling Influences & Lessons 08:09 Professional Gambling: Setting Goals 13:19 The Turning Point: Mother's Illness and Debt 16:35 This Episode Is Sponsored By RIDGE 18:25 Building a High Roller Reputation 29:01 Life as a Whale: Jets, Parties & Big Wins 36:46 Vegas High Roller Lifestyle & Big Losses 43:34 A Word From Today's Sponsors 46:15 International Gambling & Casino Barred Stories 01:00:53 Advanced Blackjack Strategy & Discipline 01:12:12 Vigilante Gambler: Involvement With Law Enforcement 01:28:01 The Robin Hood 702 Charity Era 01:37:08 Australia, Owen Hanson & The Money Laundering Allegation 01:58:46 Confrontations, Lawsuits & Truth vs. Documentary 02:12:08 Working with the Feds: Taking Down Criminals 02:31:02 Cartel Connections & Final Reflections 02:38:44 Outro: The High Roller's Ongoing Journey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Falun Dafa News and Cultivation
    1939: Cultivation Story: [Fahui] My Realizations While Overcoming Illness Karma

    Falun Dafa News and Cultivation

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 35:55


    In November of 2024 a practitioner living in Switzerland began experiencing pain and stiffness in her joints. Initially she viewed it as a disease to be treated, but with help from other practitioners she began to look for shortcomings in her cultivation and found deep seated resentments towards her husband, as well as an attachment to erotic desire she had not yet given up. Through focused Fa study and persistent self reflection her symptoms improved and she came to see the tribulation as a gift in helping her improve. This and other experience-sharing on the Minghui website. Original Articles:1. [Fahui] My Realizations While Overcoming Illness Karma2. [Fahui] Growing Through Cultivation and Clarifying the Truth as a Young Practitioner3. [Fahui] Eliminating Human Notions to Save More People To provide feedback on this podcast, please email us at feedback@minghuiradio.org

    The Poison Lab
    Sick at Work? A Poisonous Cause of Coworker Illness?

    The Poison Lab

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 1:55


    Do you think you know the cause of these symptoms? Send your guesses to toxtalk1@gmail.com to take part in the next episodeSupport the showReview the show where ever your listeningGet Messages from Toxo (Join the Newsletter!)Join as a supporting memberAd free episodesBonus content and early accessDiscounts and give aways on GOTA PICCEM Mushroom card gameThe GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!Full book reading (6 minutes!)Tox trinkets (Rep the show at home!)Reach the showEmail: Toxtalk1@gmail.comMore Show ResourcesRyan's Medical Games and ResourcesShow Website

    Well, that f*cked me up! Surviving life changing events.
    S5 EP49: Tom's Story - Business Suits, Hospital Gowns and High Heels!

    Well, that f*cked me up! Surviving life changing events.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 36:21


    Send us a textAfter surviving two life-threatening illnesses, one he was told was terminal, Tom LeNoble was given six months to live on three separate occasions. Tom lives by the phrase: “I'm Still Here.” Whether on his podcast, or in his bestselling book, he shares his potent message with the world. The book is wonderfully titled: My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns and High Heels.Book: https://a.co/d/2vC4ug8This is such an amazing, engaging, compelling episode full of highs and lows and Tom is such an brilliant guest as we are sure you will agree! Some of the stories are wild!Site: https://www.tomlenoble.com/Support the show

    Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors
    Episode 321: The Tudor Body: Health, Illness, and Balance in Tudor England

    Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 26:27


    The Christmas Character quiz is here: https://www.englandcast.com/christmas-character-quiz/ - I'd love to see what you got!And the ecard site is here: https://www.englandcast.com/tudor-tidings/How did the Tudors understand the human body, and why does their approach feel so strange to us today? In this episode, I explore how people in Tudor England thought about health, illness, emotion, and balance, and how the body was believed to be shaped by air, weather, and even feelings themselves. We'll also look at where Tudor medicine overlaps with our own, and why their way of living in the body wasn't as unscientific as it's often assumed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    American Ambulance EMS Podcast
    133. Viral Respiratory Illness

    American Ambulance EMS Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 44:35


    Join us for a breakdown of all the various viral illnesses circulating this time of year. All of these should be taken seriously. 

    Engines of Our Ingenuity
    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2674: The Royal Navy Surgeon

    Engines of Our Ingenuity

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 2674 The Royal Navy Surgeon; Taking Medicine to Sea in the Age of Sail.  Today, the Royal Navy Surgeon.

    Born to Heal Podcast with Dr. Katie Deming
    My Second Year in Practice: 5 Learnings on Healing Cancer, Fasting & Your Mitochondria | EP 121

    Born to Heal Podcast with Dr. Katie Deming

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 43:42


    What if you're looking for healing in all the wrong places?After two years of guiding clients through integrative cancer care, Dr. Katie reflects on the most important lessons that completely transformed her practice. She shares why the natural healing space feels so overwhelming and confusing, even for someone with decades of medical training. If you've ever felt paralyzed by conflicting advice or stuck choosing between conventional and natural approaches, you'll understand why this clarity matters.Dr. Katie opens up about a major pivot in her work and reveals how mitophagy and mitochondrial repair may help explain why people emerge from extended fasting as completely different versions of themselvesAccess the FREE Water Fasting Masterclass Now: https://www.katiedeming.com/the-healing-power-of-fasting/Chapters:06:30 - Give Yourself Permission to Pivot07:31 - Fear Is the Real Fog09:30 - Illness as a Wake Up Signal13:30 - Stop Consuming Content Like Medicine17:20 - Natural vs Conventional Is a False War20:00 - The Emotional Patterns That Keep People Sick25:30 - Mitochondria: The Missing Link in Chronic Illness32:00 - Water Fasting as a System Reboot37:53 - The Five Lessons That Changed Her PracticeShe explains why she increasingly believes most illness might actually be rooted in something many practitioners miss, and shares the one practice that addresses physical healing, emotional release, and spiritual alignment all at once. You'll discover why healthy mitochondria may be a missing piece in many healing journeys.She challenges common assumptions about what creates lasting health changes. Whether you're managing a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking optimal wellness, Dr. Katie's insights about emotional patterns, cellular health, and the courage to pivot when something isn't working will shift how you approach your own path forward.LisAccess the FREE Water Fasting Masterclass Now: https://www.katiedeming.com/the-healing-power-of-fasting/ Transform your hydration with the system that delivers filtered, mineralized, and structured water all in one. Spring Aqua System: https://springaqua.info/drkatieMORE FROM KATIE DEMING M.D. Work with Dr. Katie: www.katiedeming.com 6 Pillars of Healing Cancer Workshop Series - Click Here to Enroll Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiedemingmd/ Email: INFO@KATIEDEMING.COM Please Support the Show Share this episode with a friend or family member Give a Review on Spotify Give a Review on Apple Podcast Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5LplU70TE9i01tW_7Tozi8b6X6rGBKA2&si=ZXLy5PjM7daD6AV5 DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider.

    Say Grace with Perfect Fit Nutrition
    Illness, pregnancy, trust- How my life has changed in a year, with guest: my husband, Jess

    Say Grace with Perfect Fit Nutrition

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 85:47 Transcription Available


    If you have listened this year, then you know that I went through some health changes as well as some major life changes in 2024 and 2025. I have given you bits and pieces, but today Jess and I are sharing the entire story. The way I had been living and managing stress my entire life began to affect my health. And my health pushed me to a limit that I could no longer ignore at the end of 2024. I have spent the majority of the past year working on myself and relearning how to face everything differently, and we give you a peek in on that journey.  This one is a little different from my norm, as we just unloaded the real and raw truths of what has happened over the past year.   If you need encouragement and relatability in the midst of a life that feels so overwhelming, this is the episode for you. Join me as I talk through my journey to total surrender and obedience and how it has changed the way I view and do everything.

    Huberman Lab
    Improve Energy & Longevity by Optimizing Mitochondria | Dr. Martin Picard

    Huberman Lab

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 196:45


    Dr. Martin Picard, PhD, is a professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University and an expert on how our behaviors and psychology shape cellular energy production and rates of aging. He explains that your mitochondria don't just “make energy”; they translate what you do—your mindset and your relationships—into the energy you experience as vitality or lack thereof. He explains how exercise, nutrition, sleep, meditation, and even certain thought patterns and our sense of purpose can charge our cells like batteries. He also shares findings that hair greying is the result of cellular stress and is reversible. This episode links physical and mental ‘energy' with cellular energy and provides science-supported tools to improve your physical and mental health. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Helix: https://helixsleep.com/huberman Lingo: https://hellolingo.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Martin Picard (00:03:50) What is Energy?, Energy Flow & Transformation (00:07:53) Energy, Vitality, Emotions, Sensory Perception (00:14:18) Sponsors: Helix Sleep & Lingo (00:17:19) “Mito-Centric” View of World, Mitochondrial Energy & Information Patterns (00:25:26) Organelles, Mitochondria & Energy Transformation; Maternal Genes (00:31:12) Mitotypes & Differentiation, Mitochondria as “Social Organisms” (00:36:52) Food & Dysfunctional Energy Transformation (00:40:02) Lifestyle Choices & Interests, Physiological Growth (00:46:39) Pregnancy, Amenorrhea; Illness & Tiredness (00:51:07) Sponsor: AG1 (00:52:29) Energy Transformation & Distribution; Body's Wisdom, Feeling Sick (00:56:27) Tool: Feel Your Energy; Breath & Energy (01:02:31) Flow of Energy; Trade-Offs, Life Purpose & Enjoyment (01:10:15) Biology, Meaningful Experiences & Energy Flow (01:16:27) Sponsor: Function (00:18:15) Inflammation, Energetic Flow (01:20:43) Child Prodigies, Species Lifespan & Mitochondrial Metabolism; Aging (01:28:56) Lifestyle & Aging: Exercise, Fasting; Inflammation, Sleep, Stimulants (01:37:06) Energetic Stress Signals, GDF-15, Cancer, Heart Failure (01:42:18) Genes, Lifestyle & Aging (01:47:54) Gray Hair Reversal, Stress; Inflammation & Aging (01:57:37) Energy Recovery, Sleep & Mitochondrial Function, Stress, Meditation (02:05:16) Tools: Yoga Nidra, NSDR; Pre-Sleep Relaxation, Energy & Restorative Sleep (02:10:58) Diet & Individualization, Clinical Trials; Mitochondria & Nutrition, Keto (02:20:14) Alcohol & Energy Budget; Stress (02:25:02) Exercise, Increase Mitochondria, Overtraining; Resistance & Growth (02:33:06) Sponsor: Waking Up (02:34:41) Supplements & Mitochondria Health, Deficiencies, SS31, Methylene Blue (02:41:31) Energy Flow & Experiences, Balance (02:49:13) Transform Through Resistance, Energetic Awareness, Connection (02:56:05) Food Overconsumption & Mitochondria Disruption; Tissues & Mitochondria (03:01:02) Mitochondrial Health Test; Tool: Ways to Increase Energy; Meditation (03:06:10) Peptides; Fertility Supplements, Urolithin A; Electromagnetic Fields (03:12:16) Acknowledgements (03:14:15) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices