Podcasts about Tai chi

“Drum circles were created to build inclusivity, equity, and diversity.” In this episode, Nick speaks with Andrew Ecker to explore the cultural significance of drumming, particularly within indigenous communities, and highlights the historical context of drum circles as a means of fostering inclusivity and diversity and healing from trauma and addiction. What to listen for: Drumming and sound healing, overall, can positively impact our mental well-being The historical context of drumming reflects a blend of various cultural influences Drumming fosters community and shared experiences Addiction is based in shame and can often be spurred on by our early experiences Embracing our calling heals ourselves and others “All of us are connected to the earth. All of us are indigenous. All of us have the air, the water, the fire, and the earth flowing through us.” Identity goes deeper than culture or job titles; it's rooted in our relationship to the earth and life itself Separation from nature often fuels disconnection, anxiety, and burnout The elements are a reminder that we're not isolated individuals; we're part of a living system Reclaiming earth-based identity can be deeply grounding and healing “Do something for people — and you'll discover the truest truth of who you are.” Service often reveals purpose more clearly than self-reflection alone Helping others pulls us out of isolation and into meaningful connection You don't need to be “healed” or perfect to make a difference Showing up for others strengthens self-trust and self-worth About Andrew Ecker Andrew is a speaker, author, and creator of the Drumming Sounds Protocol, an evidence-based wellness intervention that blends ancient rhythm traditions with modern neuroscience to improve mental health, recovery, and community connection. With over 25 years of experience facilitating more than 5,000 drumming and sound-based programs, Andrew has worked with hospitals, treatment centers, universities, and tribal nations across the country. His book, The Sacred 7, explores identity, ancestry, and the transformative power of ceremony—a topic that resonates deeply with audiences seeking meaning, resilience, and personal empowerment. As a former youth outreach leader and recovery coach with over two decades in sobriety, Andrew brings a powerful, real-world perspective to conversations about trauma, healing, and spirituality. His ability to blend science, story, and spirit makes him a compelling guest for podcasts focused on wellness, recovery, leadership, and conscious living. https://www.drummingsounds.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-ecker-sacred7/ https://www.facebook.com/andrew.ecker1/ For our audience, please enjoy a free copy of Andrew's book, “The Sacred 7” — it's available for download at http://thesacredseven.com/ Resources: Interested in starting your own podcast or need help with one you already have? https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/podcasting-services/ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe on iTunes and give us a 5-Star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindset-and-self-mastery-show/id1604262089 Listen to other episodes here: https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/ Watch Clips and highlights: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1tCM7KTe3hrq_-UAa6GHA Guest Inquiries right here: podcasts@themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com Your Friends at “The Mindset & Self-Mastery Show” Click Here To View The Episode Transcript Nick McGowan (00:02.959)Hello and welcome to the Mindset Self Mastery Show. I’m your host, Nick McGowan. Today on the show, we have Andrew Ecker. Andrew, what’s going on? Andrew Ecker (00:13.602)How’s it going, Nick? Nick McGowan (00:15.649)It’s good. I’m glad that you’re here. I’m excited for us to talk about music and drum circles and sound healing and all the things that relate to all of that. And we were gonna have a call maybe like a year and a half ago or so. And there’ve been some people that have like backed out of the show and I’ve been like, that’s fine. You can do whatever you want to do. But you were one of the people I was like, I hope he comes back. So I’m glad that you’re here. I’m glad that people are gonna be able to hear this conversation. And why don’t you get us started? Tell us what you do for a living and what’s one thing most people don’t know about you that’s maybe a little odd or bizarre. Andrew Ecker (00:48.769)Awesome. So before we do that, I’d like to just take a moment and honor myself in the space by introducing myself formally in traditional language of my ancestors. This is a language called Nde Baza, which basically means the people’s tongue. So Dago Tse, Tse Nde, Andirector Yenise, Adon Dae Nshinigye, Nde Nshe, Irish Pashachin, Nde Dasha Tshe, German Dasha Nali, Kote Goe Itshliye, Portland, Oregon, Enishe. Shama’e, Kathy Lindsay Woye, Shaza’e Del Eccorale. So my name is Andrew Eccor, my mother Kathy Lindsay, my father Del Eccor, my mother’s mother Elva Gallegos, Apache woman from New Mexico. She grew up in a little town called Capitan right outside the Mescalero reservation. Although my ancestral lines go back to the Madera Valley of Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico. The Apaches from this area are called La Pond Band Apache. My father’s mother Evelyn Beatty, an Irish woman from Pennsylvania. She actually was very proud that our ancestor William Beatty fought in the Revolutionary War to establish this country. So I do consider myself a son of the revolution on that side of my family. My mother’s father Leroy Lindsay, a Korean and Vietnam War veteran, and my father’s father Wayne Ecker, a World War II veteran. I have a daughter Bailey, son Peyton, a beloved fiancee named Monica. I was born in the ancestral land of the Multnomah Clackamas of Malamit in Portland, Oregon. although I currently reside in the ancestral land of the Akmal, Atom, the Peaposh and the Hohokam in Phoenix, Arizona. And very grateful to be here with you. So the thing that I do primarily is I work in healthcare and I’m a drum circle facilitator and sound medicine practitioner and also a peer support specialist, recovery coach. Most of the work that I do is in variety of different healthcare settings. So everything from psychiatric lockdowns to memory care, skilled nursing, prisons, jails, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, I facilitated about 5,000 wellness-based events with a protocol I’ve developed called Drumming Sounds. So Drumming Sounds is a step-by-step process of creating outcomes that are wellness-based. So reducing stress, increasing immunity, lowering blood pressure, Andrew Ecker (03:13.865)helping people connect through music and really creating a safe, sacred space for people to come into group drumming. So group drumming is a really powerful wellness intervention and so it’s a small group of studies done on it and it’s pretty amazing what the science community has found. So yeah, so that’s what I do and also do some coaching stuff, of course, help people out. Something unique about me, that a lot of people don’t know. You know, I grew up in a home where both my parents were addicted to drugs and my mom died of a cocaine overdose and my father died of cirrhosis of liver caused by hepatitis C. So growing up in that environment, I was around a lot of really intense experiences. And I think something that a lot of people don’t know about me is that because of that, My relationship with PTSD as a child was something really intense and my first suicide attempt I was seven years old. I remember attempting to hang myself at seven and thankfully, you know, I didn’t succeed. But from the time of that first attempt till really probably my late 20s, I was dealing with suicidal ideation and a severe relationship to other mental health concerns, including situational schizophrenia, depression, anxiety. These are all things I live in relationship with today. Nick McGowan (05:01.261)So, where do I go from here? know, way to drop everything on us. I first off want to thank you and appreciate how you started this and being able to show back to your ancestors and being able to talk from your original language. I think we can sometimes forget about where we come from. Our genetics do not. our generational trauma does not. There’s so many things that, like you dealt with so much with your parents. I’m sure we could just tackle through all of that, but what your parents dealt with, that then they transferred along to you and what their parents dealt with, et cetera, et cetera, and how all of that was tossed to us. Most people I don’t think really think about that because they just think, well, my parents are assholes, so I’m trying to do better or whatever. It’s like, well, let’s actually take steps back generations before that. and before that, before that. And I think we can sometimes also forget about where you actually came from. Like you rattled off a lot of family members. And as I was thinking about it, I was like, I’m making me, I maybe go like two layers deep. People beyond that, I don’t really know. And I don’t really know if they’re still around or what the hell’s going on or whatever, because of the way that I was raised. And it’s interesting to think about how we should. actually get back to more community-based things, but there’s a lot of unlearning to do with all of that. And I’ve read through the stuff you’ve sent. I’ve seen the different things you’ve done. I’ve known about you for a little bit, but I wouldn’t have even been able to know about the things that you’ve just rattled off. And really, mean, shit, where do you want to start with this? and thinking about from a mental health and a mindset and overall transformation, self mastery. I’m not trying to just throw out buzzwords, but like there are categorical things we can talk about here, you know? Andrew Ecker (06:59.456)Yeah. Andrew Ecker (07:03.264)Yeah, for sure. And that’s really why I’d like to share that traditional introduction because it does give us an opportunity to understand what healthy communities have looked at as self-identity, really the foundation of creating a healthy person. We’re talking about tens of thousands of years of this idea that we are our parents, we are our grandparents, we are from someplace and we live someplace. You know, these principles of self-identity. And just like you were sharing, know, remembering that is very important because we live in a time where our earth-based identity has been systematically erased from our mindset. And this is done through systematic organization of space, you know, ideas like the patriarchy, manoralism and feudalism. You know, these really predominant institutions systematically created a separation from us being our family and being from the earth. Yet all of us are connected to the earth. All of us are indigenous. All of us have the air, the water, the fire, the earth flowing through us. And the more that we can remember that, the more that we can validate that we are valuable just as a person. The contemporary culture has created this idea that we’re a job. And that’s our identity, that’s our value. And that idea was really created around feudalism and manalism historically because these were the only… Well, everyone in those systems was a job-based identity other than the landlords. And the landlords were the ones who were able to have an earth-based identity. If you weren’t have land and land title, You were a smith, a parson, a knight, a sewer, all of these behavioral based ideas of identity. And as we begin to really look at these constructs, you can see that the devaluing of the human condition is a purposeful and an intentional plot to really create what we’re faced with today. And what we’re faced with today is a lot of people Andrew Ecker (09:26.423)wandering around feeling valueless, hopeless, and really in a condition that promotes the use of destructive behaviors such as substances. know, myself, growing up in an environment where I remember the D.A.R.E. program coming into my school, and you know, during D.A.R.E., a lot of people don’t remember, but the D.A.R.E. police were getting children to turn in their parents for using cannabis. and for using substances. And I remember my mom was really scared that this was going to happen. So she kind of cornered me one day and said to me, you know, if they come into your school, you can’t tell them that we use this. And it was really weird to me, because like those were the best times I remember. You know, my job as a little boy was to clean the stems and the seeds out of the cannabis. You know, back when cannabis had stems and seeds. You know, and people rolled a joint. It wasn’t a free roll. You know, but my family used to sit around and smoke and that was when they were social. You know, nobody was drunk fighting. Nobody was in the bathroom or in the bedroom with the door shut. You know, doing intravenous drugs, they were social. And I just couldn’t understand that as a kid. But yet I remember them coming into my school and they had flags and Nick McGowan (10:24.073)You Andrew Ecker (10:51.996)guns and these were great big intimidating police officers. And I remember my heart racing and my palms getting sweaty. And thankfully they didn’t interrogate me. But what they did was they said to this group of children, if you have one drug addict parent, you’re 50 % more likely to become a drug addict. Now I’m not saying that they did this intentionally to give children this idea that they’re genetically flawed. They were trying to impart to these kids. that, you know, don’t use drugs. That’s what, you know, is the big thing. You know, just say no, all this stuff. But what it did for me is it told me, well, 50 and 50, that’s 100. That must be who I am. And this was the first time in my life that anyone told me I was genetically flawed. You know, and the extension of eugenics isn’t something that is merely a part of, you know, the Nazi regime. Nick McGowan (11:35.326)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (11:47.256)You know, eugenics enters into childhood ideas in these sorts of systematic ways. You know, now, you know, fast forward, we’ve come to a place of understanding that it’s not just eugenics, but it’s epigenetics and really looking at how we can create environments that create successful human beings. And that’s what I’m able to do with the drum circle. You know, the drum circle is really an environment that creates a healthy human being. as to where the destructive forces of incarceration, imprisonment and devaluing people because they have a mental health concern created those behaviors that were a part of my parents’ lives and unfortunately a part of my life. know, it wasn’t that moment that I became a drug addict when the Derikoff said that to me. But later on, as I would grow older, that seed started to take root. And when I was a teenager, I ended up in the spoon with my dad, meaning I was using heroin with my father. You know, my mom used to use me to shoplift. I was in and out of drug houses. I mean, it was, I was exposed to things as a little boy that only makes sense today in my path of service. You know, as I’ve learned to manage these things and as I’ve learned to show up and help people reconnect to who they are, it’s all made perfect sense to me. But as a little boy, man, I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know how to deal with it. I just wanted the pain to end. know, and, you know, thankfully I found heroin because heroin helped me through my suicidal ideation. Because I don’t know if I would be alive today if it wasn’t for heroin. You know, things got real bad for me when I was, you know, 17, 18 years old. Nick McGowan (13:41.68)I gotta be honest, I never thought I would hear anybody else say that thankfully I had heroin because that changed things. I overdosed on heroin when I was 19. And the people that were there in the room, I’m thankful that they wanted to save their own lives and one person like beat the shit out of me so I threw everything up. But I remember walking home smoking a cigarette after that being like, what the fuck just happened? All right. And looking up being like, all right, I guess there’s some reason why I’m here. And I think back to that. But that wasn’t like that one moment, just like the moment that you were talking about or any of those other little moments were just a bag of moments in a sense. All these things, like even as a little kid, you don’t really know. Like, and I totally understand where you’re coming from with the parents hanging around, smoking joints, all of that. I was in parts of some of that. My mom and dad were never together and it was like totally separate ways of being and all of that. living in and out of bars, basically, like being the kid eating a maraschino cherries and all that shit, and everyone just smoking cigarettes like a pack at a time and out around your face. There are people that don’t understand those things. Even like the dare stuff. I’ve had conversations with people kind of recently, like within the past handful of months, where some people were like, dare scared the shit out of me. And I didn’t want to touch like caffeine or anything else. Other people were like, I learned there were drugs out there. So was like, great, can I have some? And then other people went through stuff like you where they’re like, well, you’re telling me this is how it is. I think it’s interesting how we can suspect that, let’s just say, dare wasn’t trying to brainwash. know, let’s just say that their thing was like, we want to help and we want to make sure that you have the statistics. But these are also adults that are like, well, 50 % of you become addicts. So why don’t we just tell the kids that you take it as one way. Some other kid takes it a different way. And there’s no repercussion to that at all to then like, that wasn’t a thing that you then brought up the next day in school. It like, know what? Yesterday, I learned this thing and now I feel like the rest of my life is gonna change. That just started to grow bit by bit by bit. And then you already had the genes of being addicted. Nick McGowan (16:02.023)I know I have to come back to some fucking question basically. And my question at all times with that sort of stuff is like, how do we stop that from happening? Because even with the DARE stuff, it’s like, yeah, cool, thanks. Now I know there are other drugs out there and also know what the end is and I’ll fall back to marijuana because like, why the fuck? It’s a fucking plan. But all things in moderation and like all those different aspects to it. But what do we do? You know, like you move to music. And as a musician and creative myself, I moved toward that too, but I often think of the times of smoking a joint and playing music and like those are happy moments. but to some people that might be destructive and all of that, but you moved closer into music. So I think music sometimes can be part of our addiction, you know, like I’m addicted to sound. but being able to turn that into a healing thing. So I don’t want to just jump past everything you went through. Andrew Ecker (16:57.041)Thank Nick McGowan (16:59.844)with your parents because that made you who you are. But being able to look back at some of those moments to go, now with the work that you do, the way that you were raised, what are some of those bridge points that you can look at and go, man, I was really looking for community. I was looking for ways to do this and do that. You know what I mean? Andrew Ecker (17:18.16)Yeah, exactly. I really believe that all addiction for me is based around relationship and filling the void of the absence of relationship with the substance. And I remember the first time that this really happened to me, me and my mom were out shoplifting all day. I was just a little guy. I was, you know, probably eight, nine, I don’t know, somewhere around there. I remember being all bundled up and maybe even younger. I was you know, elementary school age. And she takes me to the park and she left me there at the park with a bucket of chicken. And I remember her saying, I’ll be right back and her driving off and me eating that chicken to fill the void and the fear of my mom not coming back for me. Being left at the park and knowing in my childhood mind that she was going to a dope house and there could have been something that happened. It was just the anxiety of that entire situation I was feeling with the warmth of that chicken. And then later on, you know, as I started to grow in my own personal self mastery, I started to look back at the patterns of loneliness and grief and isolation and how every time that I found myself using, really, it was that idea. It was about creating camaraderie at first, community. finding a judgment free zone. You know, I grew up being bounced around family member to family member. So definitely had home insecurity and really wasn’t, you know, in a place where I felt like I had a home. So I didn’t feel that sense of security that maybe most people grow up with. So when I found the security of friends that would accept me, you know, just if I got high with them, that’s all I needed. It wasn’t like I needed to be smart, it wasn’t like I needed to be funny, it wasn’t like I needed to be athletic, you know, it wasn’t like I needed to be a great musician, any of those things. I just needed to show up and get high and you know and have money to get high or be able to hustle and that was really my first support system was the community of people that I was using with and what happens for most people that are in the struggle of substance use disorder Andrew Ecker (19:43.015)is that they focus on what not to do. And they never really understand what the drugs and alcohol gave to them. You know, asking myself, what was it that heroin gave to me? What was it that alcohol gave to me? And how can I effectively create a way of meeting that need? Because we all have human needs. Every single one of us is going through something. And you know, it’s a lot easier when we go through it together and building that foundation of community. is so important in me being able to have functional behaviors today. So I’m constantly evolving in the way that I’m able to show up in community. I have my drum circle community. I have the people that I serve in the institutions and healthcare and the schools. And then I also have other activities like doing poetry or playing pickleball, going to the gym. You know, these are ways that I definitely look at creating community where I’m at. There was a time when church was a really big part of my life. You know, now I go to sweat lodge and I have a spiritual community there. Uh, you know, I’m not opposed to going to meetings, but I, know, I don’t go to a lot now, but definitely going to 12 step meetings and all of these things are a great way that we can build a supportive community. And when you ask, you know, Like when we think about children that have been affected by the mental health crisis, you know, how do we help them navigate? How do we help the youth navigate? And I think it’s really about creating a fortified sense of community. And, you know, when we think about drumming, oftentimes we go to this idea that drumming is this exclusive experience for indigenous communities, that it’s something that really is ceremonial and ritualistic and yes there is definitely ritual and ceremony but drum circles began as creating a culture of inclusivity, equity and really diversity because the drum circle of North America originated in the 1700s in New Orleans and under French colonial occupation Native Americans, Africans, Europeans, people from all over the world Andrew Ecker (22:09.146)were able to gather with the common language of group drumming. And that group drumming created a foundation for jazz, blues, R &B, gospel, and eventually rock and roll. So when I go in and I facilitate a drum circle, it’s from the American experience of group drumming that has always been about creating a culture of diversity, has always been about creating a space of connection. through diverse groups. And when we have that sacred space, we can know that something good is gonna happen. And we as Americans, we don’t know that the only truly American instrument is the drum kit. The jazz drum kit is really the only truly American instrument. So we have this vast history of drumming together that is hundreds of years old, literally as old as the concept of of America, yet for some reason this sort of stuff isn’t taught in school. And it’s not taught to us about the richness of creating a culture of diversity, of inclusion, of equity, and what the brilliance of that looks like in an artistic sense. And I think today we’re threatened by a voice that is coming from a group of people that says that diversity, inclusion, and equity is something to fear. And I’m like people, that’s the very greatest gifts that we’ve given to the world has come from us coming together as a people. And it feels good. You know, it feels good to give yourself an opportunity to be around people in an activity that you normally wouldn’t be around. And I think that that’s the power of our journey and the wellness and the brilliance of our community. Nick McGowan (23:58.594)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (24:04.405)And when we can get back to teaching each other that, when we can get back to fortifying the space of that concept of what that America looks like, we’ll have the brilliance of being the shining city on the hillside that calls the weary, that calls the hurting, that calls the desperate. And you know, the struggle that my parents went through, the pain that they were going through, and the ostracization of being criminalized for having a mental health issue. You know, that’s what this country has done very effectively. You know, 90 % of people in our prison system have a mental health issue. And that is sad that we have done this to the most vulnerable people in our population. And we have more people in prison than any industrialized nation in the world. But if you counted the people that were in psychiatric lockdowns, memory care, skilled nursing, and other forms of institutionalization, that number would be astronomical. And these are the people that I have spent the past 20 years working with, helping, desperately giving to, because in that space, I feel fulfilled as a human being, but I also get to see some of the most brilliant experiences and miraculous experiences in my life, Nick. I mean, we’ll go into these memory care facilities where we have late stage Alzheimer’s patients that are nonverbal and we’ll set the drum down in front of them. The nurses sometimes will come over and say, they won’t play, don’t even bother. I mean, this is our healthcare workers and we’ll say, no, just keep it there. And next thing you know, you see them tapping their foot. And before you know it, they’re playing and they’re singing and You know, it’s just miraculous to know that the tens of thousands of years of evidence-based practice of utilizing group drumming has not been wasted and that it’s still relevant to the healthcare conversation and it still is meaningful and it still helps people. Nick McGowan (26:15.97)Why don’t see how it can’t not continue that way, you know? Like, I think everybody that will listen to this will have heard at least one time, music is the universal language. And for us to be able to actually feel music, there are people that don’t really understand music. They don’t feel it the same way musicians do, let’s say. Like there are sometimes I’ll share things with people and I’m like, listen to how this happens with this and my God. then it just does things to you. You feel that at different times. Other people don’t know that. That’s just not part of their being. Yet still, they can feel the frequencies. If we really break it down into quantum level, we are all waves and frequencies anyway. And all of this ties into everything. man, I’m sitting here like I got chills even as you’re talking about, because I’m visualizing that older person who the healthcare workers are basically like, we see them every day. They don’t do anything because we also don’t do anything different. Andrew Ecker (26:48.163)yes. Nick McGowan (27:15.083)And we’re kind of jaded and overworked and fuck, I could really use a vacation. Like they have their own problems. And then they’re just like, no, don’t worry about them. They’re not going to do it. But that frequency will still get in there. So I could imagine it’s got to be a, that’s probably one of those things like drum circles per se is one of those things that people probably won’t go to on the top list of 30 things that they’re going to do to work on themselves at first. You know, so even Like if somebody were to say, you’re having these problems, you have some addiction, you have anything and they go, well, go to a drum circle. I would imagine most people would look at somebody like a dog would like, what the fuck does that, what do you mean? so what would you say to those people that haven’t even thought of that? This is one of those things where like, wow, I’ve talked to somebody, I went to a doctor and I’m doing these and we’re doing blah, blah, blah. What advice do you give to those people that this has been one of those things that. was probably not even deep, deep in their mind, even as a musician, to think about how drum circles and drumming could help them. Andrew Ecker (28:19.943)Well, I definitely feel that a lot of that has been because of the cultural stereotypes about drumming and this idea of, you know, the witch doctor or voodoo or, you know, something along these lines. you know, it just is, it’s crazy to really unpack when you have communities that have thrived with a relationship to the earth, lived functionally for tens of thousands of years. And at the heart of those communities, is group drumming, dancing and singing. I mean, this is literally the oldest wellness based event that we have as human beings. And somehow, you know, through the lens of religion and not even really, I would say because I was a pastor for three and half years that I can tell you that there’s a lot of reference in the Bible even of sound medicine. I mean, David, you know, played the leader for Saul who had like mental health concerns. And it’s, mean, there’s references to the women of Israel coming out playing the drum. So it isn’t like an educated Judeo-Christian bias. It’s an uneducated Judeo-Christian bias that creates this narrative that, those brown and black people are the people, those savages, that drum. And it’s really unfortunate because even Nick McGowan (29:21.642)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (29:48.061)in the very progressive world of integrative medicine, there still is a void around drumming. I am a presenter at some of the most prestigious healthcare conferences in the United States. And I remember confronting a doctor that was talking about mindfulness and he had, he was a keynote and he had this tree of mindfulness and all of these branches led to different aspects of mindfulness. One of them, of course, went to yoga, Tai Chi, but there wasn’t a branch that went to drumming and dance. And I confronted him in front of the entire group of doctors, 500 doctors. And I said, why isn’t there a branch to drumming? And he was very apologetic. And he said, there needs to be a branch on that tree to drumming. And I said, yes, we’re working on making that happen. But it is overlooked. Nick McGowan (30:37.513)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (30:46.148)And you know, I can tell you that I am a part of a community of people that have the more that they drum, they may have come to a drum circle and been drinking and smoking. But by the time, you know, a couple of years go by and they get around people like myself that are completely abstinent from substance use and I’m drumming and having a great time and dancing, the more that they start to question, well, do I really need this? And then it’s just Nick McGowan (31:13.566)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (31:13.911)a matter of them just being in that environment. And I have friends come up to me and say, Hey, you know what? I didn’t tell anybody about this, but I haven’t drank in, you know, six months. And I’m like, right on, you know, and friends come up and say, I haven’t smoked in a year and I just kind of went away because drumming as well as you know, Nick, music gives us that feeling of community connection. I mean, there is no deeper connection. that you can experience, then when you hit a note or when you play a rhythm and everybody ends together and nobody said stop, or the thing just fades away into the brilliance of the experience and you’re just like, holy crap. This, mean, as a musician, and if you talk to musicians, they can tell you precisely when that happened in their life, because it’s one of those memories. Nick McGowan (31:51.954)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (32:09.966)that is embedded into you on a cellular level. It is literally like you’re touching God. I mean, it is so powerful. And every person, we have communities where that was literally the entire community experience. I was fortunate enough to go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and meet with the Havasupai. And I did three suicide prevention programs down there. This is the most remote Native American tribe in the continental United States. Nick McGowan (32:13.95)Mm-hmm. Nick McGowan (32:26.279)you Andrew Ecker (32:39.159)There’s no roads to their nation. There’s no airstrips. It’s only horseback helicopter or foot. That’s the only way you can get down there. And I met with an elder named Tiny Haunan. And Tiny was playing the drum and singing. And he said, when I was a little boy, we used to drum, dance and sing for a week straight. He said the people would fall asleep on the ground, wake up, start singing and dancing again. And they would drum literally for an entire week. Now the frequency of that, the cellular alliance, the reconfiguration of the energetic meridians in the body, like there is no place for depression in that environment. There’s no place for anxiety in that environment. I mean, you’re literally rewiring your nervous system and coming into our harmonic connection with the earth. And this is really what it means to be an earthling. You know, the music that we play, Nick McGowan (33:21.758)you Andrew Ecker (33:38.14)is something that we practice to play at the level that we can play at. But everybody knows that there’s a point where the instrument is playing you. And when you’re in that mystery, man, when you are in that mystery, like every single person deserves to experience that in their lives. Every single person deserves to be in the brilliance of that experience because it solves the issues, man. It solves it. Nick McGowan (33:50.055)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (34:06.196)And when you taste that, you’re hungry for it forever. And I’ll go to, you know, like I facilitate drum circles and that really doesn’t happen in a drum circle. But a taste of that does happen. Like a place of connection to the feeling of support and the intricacy of music and even the freedom that you can experience in that space, it will happen. And You know, it does take a level of mastery to experience the depths of that. And hopefully people will be able to go on their journey with music to that place. like that is, dude, I mean, there’s nothing better than that right there. I mean, if you could take and put that into a bottle, people would spend their lives wanting to… And that’s why musicians do what they do, They will… Nick McGowan (35:02.119)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (35:02.624)They will literally sleep on the couch of their best friend to go experience that. They will literally not go to work to go experience that. They will do whatever they possibly can to experience that. you know, unfortunately, in a world that doesn’t value music like our ancestors did, you know, for tens of thousands of years, and even today, you know, you go to India, they have ceremonies that are a month. where it’s just people drumming, dancing and singing for a month straight. You you go to Hopi right here in the United States on the Hopi reservation. They’re doing that same idea because the practice of living in integration with the earth promotes the quality of the earthling condition. So where you’re not worried, you go sleep in a mud house rather than go try to make a billion dollars so that you have a big old fancy house. if you get that experience of community. You know, and that experience of community solves everything, man. And we got to get it in our schools. We got to get it in our our our health care facilities. We’re trying our best. We train 350 people now in the drumming sounds protocol. We’re out there doing it every day, you know, and just trying to live our best lives. So is it the solution? I think that we have, like I said, thousands, literally people, thousands of years. Nick McGowan (36:17.638)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (36:30.459)of evidence-based practice out there. Like, wake up, people, wake up. Like, yeah, we need drumming. You know? Nick McGowan (36:39.836)Yeah, I mean, even just the community level of that, but the music and the frequency level of all of it and everything that ties into it. I love the work that you’re doing. I really do. I think it’s crazy that the arts and music especially is being taken out of different schools and everything’s being really like commodified almost, even when you think of music. For the most part, pop music. It’s an ABA, CAB sort of situation. It’s the same thing. There was even a thing like 10, 15 years ago where somebody played a Nickelback song forward and layered over another Nickelback song backwards and it was the same. And it was like, that is crazy. But that’s what is being pushed to us instead of feeling through all of this and allowing yourself to actually get into it. I’m really glad that you got to the point where you were saying that the music is playing you. Because any musician that’s really been in, I don’t know, in any sort of jam session or in a live band or something, even if you’ve remotely tasted that little bit, you know that that’s a real thing. And that’s a whole different level. And you’re right, that is divine. Like you are literally in it. I’d played guitar in worship bands for the better part of a decade. And if it weren’t for music, I wouldn’t have been there. Andrew Ecker (37:54.712)Dude, it’s fast, yeah. Andrew Ecker (38:03.5)Yeah. Nick McGowan (38:03.961)I wouldn’t have ended up having a relationship with God. And I also now at this point, no, he’s not some bearded dude on a fucking chair somewhere. Like it’s much bigger than that. But being able to feel that, like there are things where you couldn’t manufacture this feeling. So I’m glad he pointed out, like if we could bottle it, that would be great. But at the same time, the rest of the world is trying to bottle fucking everything else. So I’m glad that we can’t because you need to experience that, you know? Andrew Ecker (38:12.974)Yeah Andrew Ecker (38:20.322)Yeah. Andrew Ecker (38:28.202)I know, I know. You do, Nick McGowan (38:33.743)What a cool thing, man. And I really love the work that you’re doing. I appreciate you being on with us today. For the people that are on their path towards self-mastery, what’s your advice to those people that are walking toward that? Andrew Ecker (38:45.772)You know, I think first just be gentle with yourself and just understand that, you know, loving yourself is the simplest thing. I was doing my best and you know, we man, life is rough, man. I mean, we, we lose people. go through all kinds of stuff and people used to tell me all the time, you know, Andrew, you need to love yourself, especially when I was little, you know, they would tell me this and I, I’d be like, you know, I felt like I was doing something wrong, you know, like What does that mean? And you know, it really is as simple as just saying, I was doing my best through everything, you know, through the alcoholism, through the drugs, but look at what’s going on in your life. And if it isn’t working for you, change, you know, like don’t be stuck in a pattern that is something destructive. You know, being in a place where you can manage your thoughts is a very important aspect to living your successful life. allowing for the thoughts that don’t serve you to simply fade away and sometimes to be confrontational with those thoughts. You know, I remember reading God is love and I thought if I just focus on love, maybe all these thoughts of suicide would would leave me. So every time any anxiety came into my life, I would just simply start screaming love in my mind and take control of my mind. You know, sometimes we just have to overpower those thoughts that aren’t serving us. And, you know, I think that for me, the greatest act of my own self mastery is the place of service. Being of service to others has brought me to a place where I feel the best, Andrew. And sometimes, you know, showing up isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s hard, but I think about the people that I drum with in the institutions and You know, just to give everybody a really brief story before we kind of close this up. For 10 years, I went to this skilled nursing hospital. And for 10 years, this man would come out and he was in a bed and his hands were atrophied. And I’d have to pry his fingers open and put a maraca in his hand. And he would shake the maraca and say, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. You know, and he had this great big smile on his face. Andrew Ecker (41:11.164)And this man’s name that I’m mentioning today is Vance Gribbins. And one day I came to the hospital and I said, Where’s my buddy Vance? And they told me he went home to heaven. I was like, good for him. You know, I said, How long did he live in this hospital? I’ve been coming here for 10 years. And they said he lived in that hospital for 28 years. And for 28 years, man, he lived in a body that that he couldn’t feed himself, you know, and 28 years he was in a hospital bed. But every single time he had an opportunity to show up for drum circle or sing along or balloon toss or bingo, he was there. And you know, today we have people that have everything in their lives. They have money, they have beautiful homes, cars, all this stuff. And to get them to go out to, you know, an art display or to go and show up at an open mic or a drum circle. You know, it’s like the end of the world. They would rather sit in front of their TV and watch Judge Judy need potato chips. And I’m just calling people on their bullshit. You know, if we want to have a good world, we got to get out of our house. We got to connect with our neighbors. We got to say hi to people. We can’t just look down at our phone every time we see a homeless person and try to escape eye contact. You know, we need to engage with people and be the brilliance that we are. You know, the medicine that you have inside of you is a medicine that we need as a community. And that’s what this world needs right now. We need love. We need togetherness. You know, I stopped giving money to people when they would ask me for money on the street. But I immediately will say to a person, hey, can I pray for you? You know, and sometimes people will say, you know, hell no, I don’t want that. And sometimes people will say, you know what? I appreciate that. Please pray for me. And I remember one time me and Monica were in my my fiancee. We were in Salt Lake. And this guy had chains, gold chains on and he just put out a joint. I could tell he smelled like cannabis and everything. He’s like, hey, man, you got any money? I was like, no, but I could say a prayer for you. And I’m saying a prayer for this guy. And he’s like, that’s the good shit. That’s what he was saying. And you just never know how you’re going to impact somebody’s life if you make yourself available. So Nick McGowan (43:34.615)Yeah. Andrew Ecker (43:35.493)You know, want to be in the place of self mastery, be available for community. You know, get out there and do something that is just to be available. Volunteer, you know, go show up at the homeless shelter. Develop a podcast that’s giving to the community. Do something for people. You know, do something for people. And you know, you’re to find the truest truth of the truth that you are. And you’re going to make a difference in the lives of people. Nick McGowan (44:02.656)It’s hard to not clap right now and like really fucking root, you know what I mean? So thank you, dude. I appreciate that. I’ve been refraining back from the like, fuck yeah, yeah. You know, so I really appreciate it. And how that was also one of those. and by the way, one more fucking thing. Here it is. Man, that’s awesome. I think there are small things that we can do. Andrew Ecker (44:13.013)Yeah! Andrew Ecker (44:23.581)Yeah. Nick McGowan (44:32.002)to really help us be able to start down that path? Because you’re talking about a lot of things and to some people, and I try to break stuff down to like, what could anybody be thinking about being super analytical or whatever of like, man, that’s a lot of shit. And there’s like a lot of things that are going on. I’m having really hard time with this one little thing in my life right now. So taking those smaller steps, like even saying get out and do community, do community in the way that feels right for you to do. Like there are people that will go to church on Sunday and that’s my community time. And as soon as they walk out, they’re yelling at their kids, they’re hating on everybody. it’s like, you’re not really doing community at that point. And community can look different to everybody. And sometimes it’s just showing up literally in the neighborhood. And like you’re saying, and dude, I think we all do it. There are people around, look down at your phone. I do that at times where I’m lost in my own head and I’m thinking about things. I’m just… going through my phone, because I’m like, don’t want to have an interaction with somebody else. And as soon as I’m aware of that, I’m like, fucking, I gotta put my phone away. Hi, you know, like, just taking that step to get out there a little bit. You obviously love what you’re doing. And this is part of your calling and a deep purpose of yours. And I think the big thing for all of us to be able to take away from that is whatever that looks like for us, just lean into it. Just get into it a little bit more and enjoy that. And I… I love that you were talking about the amount of music and the things that go into that, like the feelings that we can get from all of that and how that opens people that haven’t been open for years and years and sometimes decades. So, Andrew, I appreciate you being on here. It’s been a pleasure having you on, man. I really appreciate it. Before I let you go, where can people find you and where can they connect with you? Andrew Ecker (46:16.065)so yeah, drumming sounds is pretty much the easiest way there. you know, if you Google drumming sounds, it’ll pull me up, but I’d like to give everybody a free copy of my book based on the traditional introduction of my ancestors, but applicable to any sort of person. it’s just a system of self identity and you can get that at the sacred seven.com. It’ll also put you into my email list and you can find out events we’re doing music festivals, trainings, drum circles, all that stuff. Nick McGowan (46:51.511)Again, man, it’s been pleasure having you on. Thank you for your time. Andrew Ecker (46:54.273)Thank you, Nick.

Examining the $107B burden of insomnia and its link to a 45% increase in cardiovascular risk, Matt dissects a landmark study of 1,348 participants proving that movement is a potent clinical tool. He also explains how yoga adds nearly two hours of sleep by boosting GABAergic activity, while Tai Chi provides sustained benefits for up to two years.Our host details how exercise facilitates the core temperature drop necessary for consciousness to power down. Matt discusses how movement increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and turns down the volume on systemic inflammation. In the end, Matt reveals that intentional activity recalibrates the nervous system to help you obtain the best quantity and quality of sleep.Please note that Matt is not a medical doctor, and none of the content in this podcast should be considered medical advice in any way, shape, or form, nor prescriptive in any way.Clean biological living requires precision. Podcast partner Caraway's non-toxic ceramic cookware eliminates deleterious "forever chemicals" for a seamless, slide-off-the-pan cooking experience. Save $190 on sets plus 10% off at Carawayhome.com/mattwalker. Caraway. Non-Toxic kitchenware made modern.Another of today's partners is Pique. Their circadian hydration system features a morning BT Fountain for skin and cellular health, plus an evening RE Fountain with triple magnesium for recovery. No sugar or fillers. Get 20% off + a free gift at piquelife.com/mattwalker to start your daily hydration ritual.As always, if you have thoughts or feedback you'd like to share, please reach out to Matt or Eti:Matt: Instagram @drmattwalker, X @sleepdiplomat, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sleepdiplomat

In this episode of Guns Podcast U.S., hosts Brent Wheat and Roy Huntington tackle one of the most common questions in the shooting world: What is the best first .22 rifle for a new shooter?  Whether you are buying for a child, a spouse, or yourself, the impulse is often to grab a popular semi-automatic like a Ruger 10/22. However, Roy and Brant argue why that might be a mistake that hinders long-term skill development.  They discuss the philosophy of "Slow down, Speed Racer," explaining how single-shot and bolt-action rifles force new shooters to focus on the essentials like sight picture and trigger squeeze, rather than just turning money into empty brass.  The duo also dives into the practical benefits of bolt-action rifles, including superior out-of-the-box accuracy and safety. Drawing on personal anecdotes ranging from Tai Chi classes to fishing mishaps, they illustrate the psychology of learning a new skill and why better equipment doesn't always equal better performance for a novice.  Tune in for this insightful conversation on building a solid foundation for a lifetime of shooting fun. --- The Guns Podcast is presented by TangoDown. TangoDown® has been a leader in firearms parts and accessories for over two decades. From upgrades for everyday carry firearms to rifle accessories, TangoDown® has something for each firearm enthusiast.  To learn more and shop the diverse product line, visit https://tangodown.com -- Have a topic idea or a guest you'd like to see in a future episode? Let us know in the comments or email editor@gunspodcast.us Never miss an episode! Subscribe to our YouTube channel or sign up for our newsletter to get the Guns Podcast delivered straight to your inbox each week! Buy our Merch! Visit Gunspodcast.us

Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka welcome back one of the most iconic names in Nebraska football history—Dave Rimington—for his first appearance on the show since 2018. And it doesn't take long to remember why a conversation with Rimington always turns into a mix of laughs, perspective, and some real talk about the state of college athletics. The guys kick things off on a bitter-cold January night—while the national championship game is literally starting in the background—then go straight into the origin story of Husker Doc Talk and Rimington's role in helping get the podcast off the ground in the first place. From there, it's classic Rimington: quick wit, candid honesty, and a few “only Dave” stories (including a deep dive into AI prompts, Facebook ads, and whether that Tai Chi chair guy is even real). But the heart of the episode is a thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion on what college football has become in the NIL + transfer portal era. Rimington and Zatechka unpack what “commitment” even means anymore—for players and coaches—why the portal timing feels broken, and how the sport is drifting toward a professional model without the guardrails the NFL actually has. The conversation also hits on local recruiting, development vs. “buying” older talent, and why the current system feels unsustainable for programs trying to build the old-fashioned way. There's also plenty of Nebraska and Omaha pride: Rimington is back in town for the Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococo Theatre, honoring this year's winner, Logan Jones (Iowa), and the episode highlights how the event has grown into a first-class weekend while raising millions for cystic fibrosis research over the years. Rimington shares what it's like to still have his name attached to a major national award—and why maintaining the quality of the event still matters to him. Add in some NFL war stories, a little Memorial Stadium beer talk, a wrestling sidebar (because of course), and a heartfelt remembrance of Jim Hartung, and you've got an episode that feels like catching up with an old friend—who just happens to be a legend. Watch on YouTube, subscribe, and drop your comments—because this one will definitely get people talking. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that's trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers' compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it's game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it's Husker-related, they've got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.

James is joined by Ruth to look at an early super show from Osaka Pro Wrestling, Osaka Hurricane from Osaka Jo Hall. Featuring the 4th Stage of the illustrious Super J Cup, it was a show that showcased the Junior Hevayweight talent of the new generation with names like Naomichi Marafuji, KENTA, and Taichi making their presence felt on the card.

As the new year gets rolling, I've been trying to make room for what I call “the soul.” To me, this means being more receptive to those mysterious synchronicities, insights, and feelings so easily missed when I keep myself busy and distracted. Sometimes this energy comes from within, and sometimes it's a “postcard from God,” as Walt Whitman would say.Bernie With His Plough & The Great Horned OwlIt could be a lyric that aligns with something on my mind. The other day, I heard Elton John sing the lyric about the howling old owl in the woods (from “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”). Though I've heard the line many times before, this time was different. Recently, each night when I take my dog out, I hear the haunting sound of a great horned owl in the woods behind my house.But what do I do with that synchronicity? Is it the owl itself - a symbol of wisdom, intuition, mystery, and the ability to see beyond illusion- that I should listen to? Maybe it's the lyric Bernie Taupin wrote for Elton about a desire to leave the superficial ego-driven world behind and return to a more grounded life - a more authentic self. Bernie was ready to leave the yellow brick road of striving for success. He wanted to go back to his plough and back to the howling old owl in the woods.Maybe it's both - the haunting sound of the owl and a longing to return “home.” Maybe the owl's saying, “Leave me alone already and just honor the mystery.” Maybe Bernie is telling me he'd love my simple, quiet life in rural Kentucky, a life that at times doesn't feel full enough.Contemplating Solitude With MertonA couple of days ago, while doing Qigong (meditative movements similar to Tai Chi), I wondered if there is a place nearby where people gather and move in these gentle ways. The first place that came to mind was the Abbey of Gethsemani, which is not far from here. Finding a group of monks, at least Trappist monks, doing Qigong, would be quite unlikely. Maybe if Merton were still around.Gethsemani was made famous by Thomas Merton, an influential spiritual writer and Trappist monk who lived at the monastery for 27 years. Four of those years, he spent mainly in his hermitage - a secluded cabin in the woods. “Not all of us are called to be hermits, but all of us need enough silence and solitude in our lives to enable the deeper voice of our own self to be heard at least occasionally.” - Thomas MertonBefore entering the Abbey at 26, Merton was worldly, raucous, and rebellious. Like Bernie and many of us, he struggled with the tension between a simple, humble life and a desire to engage with and influence the outside world.While at Gethsemani, Merton wrote over 70 books about contemplation, prayer, Eastern religions, interfaith dialogue and social justice, including his famous autobiography, “Seven Story Mountain.”What do I do with that? Merton did all of that while living a quiet life right here in my neck of the woods. Hmmmmmm….Reclaiming That Girl That Used to Be MineSometimes the soul provides a shift in how we think about ourselves and our lives. Sometimes, however, a postcard cuts right through all the analysis and goes straight to the heart.Yesterday, I saw a video reel of Sara Bareilles and Rufus Wainwright singing, “She Used to Be Mine.” Though I'd heard parts of this song before, I never stopped long enough to listen. Last night, with my reclaimed intention of receptivity, I did. Instead of landing on some great insight, I found myself in tears. Quickly, I pulled myself out, before sliding right back into those tears, tears that I realized I was grateful could still flow.When was the last time I cried? And why was I crying? And, why were so many of the people in the audience crying? The song is about losing one's self, and losing the connection to the child we once were - a universal loss that can make some of us ache, even at the age of 58, when we think we've done such a brilliant job of putting all of those parts of ourselves back together.Though no longer recognizing herself, she still remembers the girl she used to be. She sings with tenderness about that girl's imperfection, effort, goodness, and self-reliance. She questions what life would have been like if she could rewrite the ending for that girl.Sara Bareilles wrote this song for the 2016 Broadway musical, “Waitress.” The lead character sings it at the end of the second act when she has hit rock bottom. She is lost and struggling to remember who she is. Through the song, she mourns the loss of herself before starting to gain footing and for a moment taps into the strength and grit of that child she starts to reclaim.The story isn't over. We all have an opportunity to write the next act and to extend unconditional affection for the child that she describes as messy, but kind, lonely most of the time, but more, she is all of this “mixed up,” and “baked in a beautiful pie.”Why Here & Now?My long-held hope in sharing information online has been to balance the mind and spirit (the right and left brain). In recent times, I've leaned into the left-brain science. That's what people tend to read or listen to. That's what people need and can't easily find elsewhere. I'd forgotten, however, that expressing myself from my heart is something that I need. It is who I am. My own health and healing required much more than scientific information. It would be dishonest to only share part of that story.Even as a child, writing was my lifeline. It helped me find my place in the world. It gave me peace. That child wouldn't need to make sense of why the owl speaks to me at night. Or, why Bernie showed up with a plough in hand. Or, why Merton put down his pen and stepped out of his cabin to greet me in the woods. Or, even why Sarah, dressed as a waitress, crossed my path while singing a song I'd be sure was written just for me.But, I'm not only that child. I'm all grown up and can't help but wonder why these particular energies showed up now, beyond the fact that I created some space for them to do so? What would they have me know? I think, to embrace paradox and to remember that we are physical beings of this world, and also spiritual beings who transcend it. We need connection, and we need solitude. We are adults shaped by a lifetime of experience, and still vulnerable children filled with wonder and sometimes hurt. We are light, and we are shadow. And as Sara would say, we are all of this “mixed up and baked in a big beautiful pie.”Wishing you wholeness as you make your way through this year,CourtneyTo learn more about my discovery calls, non-patient consultations, or mentoring, please visit my website at:CourtneySnyderMD.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit courtneysnydermd.substack.com/subscribe

This week in Insurance Town I get to catch up with my old friend, and former colleague, Therese Potter of Envela. We have a fun conversation we get to catch up on what she has been up to all the hats she currently wears, from teaching Tai Chi to selling Insurance and everything in between, and she is able to do all that, because of the culture and technology over at Envela. Check it out, and let me know what ya think...Sponsors:Smart Choice-Go to Smartchoiceagents.com Canopy Connect- Usecanopy.com/heathMAV- Hiremav.comThank you for being a wonderful and loyal citizen of Insurance Town! I love you all! from the bottom of my heart I truly do, and I appreciate your support all these years!! 

Chronic insomnia affects millions worldwide and raises risks for cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and cognitive decline. Effective nondrug treatments are essential for restoring sleep and protecting long-term health Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the leading behavioral treatment for chronic insomnia. It uses structured therapy to change sleep-disrupting thoughts and habits A study directly compared tai chi with CBT-I for chronic insomnia, using the same treatment length, standardized instruction, and identical measures to evaluate sleep outcomes CBT-I led to faster improvements early on, while tai chi reached similar results by 12 months and showed higher rates of continued practice after the formal intervention ended Both approaches improved sleep duration, reduced nighttime awakenings, and eased anxiety and depression, offering different but sustainable options for managing chronic insomnia without medication

Think about the histories of your family or memories from your past. What if you recounted them with a dash of magic? What happens when we infuse our stories on film with some magical realism? Tonight's edition of APEX Express features three filmmakers who created magical realism short films centering AAPI women. Listen to directors Cami Kwan, Dorothy Xiao, and Rachel Leyco discuss their films and experiences behind the scenes with host Isabel Li. Cami Kwan: Website | Instagram | Seed & Spark Dorothy Xiao: Website | Instagram  Rachel Leyco: Website | Instagram   Transcript 00:01 [INTRO] Isabel: You're tuned into Apex Express on KPFA. Tonight's edition is all about stories. Think about the histories of your family or memories from your past. Now, what if you recounted them with a dash of magic? What happens when we infuse our stories on film with some magical realism? I'm your host, Isabel Li, and today we have three very special guests, Cami Kwan, Dorothy Chow, and Rachel Leyco. All of them are AAPI filmmakers who received the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge grant from the Coalition of Asian Pacifics and Entertainment and have created short films featuring AAPI stories with magical realism. My first guest of the night is Cami Kwan, a Chinese-American director specializing in stop-motion animation who directed the short film Paper Daughter.  Hi Cami, welcome to APEX Express!  Cami: Hello, thank you so much for having me. Isabel: How do you identify and what communities do you consider yourself a part of?  Cami: So I identify as a queer Asian American woman um and I am a descendant of immigrants, of Chinese immigrants. um Then the communities that I am part of, part of the queer community, part of the Los Angeles community, part of the Chinese American and Asian American community, part of the mixed race community and part of the stop-motion animation and independent artist community.  Isabel: I'm so excited to talk to you about your upcoming short film, Paper Daughter, a gothic stop-motion animated Chinese-American fairy tale about a young woman grappling with the guilt of using the identity of a deceased girl to immigrate to the US via Angel Island in 1926, which is such a fascinating concept. Can you tell our listeners a little bit about how you came up with this story and the historical specificity behind it?  Cami: Absolutely, yeah. So like I mentioned, I'm the child of immigrants, descendants of immigrants rather. So my great grandparents immigrated to the US from China. My great grandfather came over in 1916 and my great grandma came over in 1926. And so I've always grown up knowing the story of Angel Island and knowing the story about the paper sons and paper daughters who had to find any way into the United States that they could. And so they were forced to, you know, take on the identities of other people. And those stories have always stuck with me, you know, like it's very personal. Angel Island means a lot to me and my family. And just the extreme measures that people have always had to take just for the chance at a better life have always been really meaningful to learn about. just the like, I'll use romances in like the art movement, like romantic. It's very romantic and kind of fairy tale-ish, the idea of having to take on a new identity and pretend to be somebody that you're not. And often those identities would be people who had passed away, and then those families had then sold those identities or given those identities to new people. And so it's so interesting the idea of being like the last person to know somebody so deeply, but you'll never get to meet them and you'll never be able to thank them or repay what they sacrificed for your future. And that's kind of how I feel as a descendant of immigrants. The sacrifice that my family made for me was made so long ago that there's no way for me to ever pay it back. And I didn't really get a say in whether I received that sacrifice or not. And I think a lot of descendants of immigrants kind of have to struggle with this. What does it mean for us to be given this new chance at the cost of somebody who came before us? And so that's all of that kind of rolled up into this 14-minute film. Isabel: You describe your film as being in a gothic style? Can you describe what this looks like and why gothic?  Cami: The subject matter is just so naturally gothic. It's dealing a lot with death and a lot with guilt and those big capital R romantic subjects and stuff. My day job, my day-to-day job is working in stop-motion animation directing mostly like children's series and mostly toy related stuff. And so I spent so much of my time in the happy brighter like birthday party storyline kind of like space. But what really made me want to be a filmmaker in the first place were all these like heavier themes, these bigger themes, films by Guillermo del Toro and like Tim Burton and Henry Selig and Hayao Miyazaki and all of those kind of have this like gothic edge to them. And so that's like a story that I've been a type of story I've been wanting to tell for about a decade now.  Isabel: Stylistically, how does this show up in your film? So I imagine darker colors or do you have a visual like preview for us?  Cami: it is a little bit in the darker color space, but it's still very colorful despite all that. It's moody more so than dark, I would say. um We have a lot of like light and dark themes, a lot of like shadow. stuff and um a lot of magical realism, which is where that fairy tale aspect kind of comes in, because you're dealing with things that are so abstract, like guilt and sacrifice and wearing the identity of somebody else, that there's no literal way to convey that. Well, there are literal ways to convey that, but none of those literal ways I feel fully convey the emotional weight of everything. And so we've gone in this very magical realism space where people are tearing information out of these booklets that contain information about the person they're supposed to be and creating these paper masks out of them. And so yeah, there's this whole like magical aspect that tends to be kind of darker. There's imagery of just like being consumed by the identity that you're just supposed to temporarily wear. And there's a lot of like, yeah, there's a lot of darkness in those themes, I think.  Isabel: Wow, that's so interesting. I'd love to learn more about stop motion. What does stop motion make possible that isn't as easily accomplished through other forms of filmmaking? Cami: Yeah, I think the reason why I'm drawn to stop motion, what I stop motion makes possible is like a universality of just like a human experience because with other kinds of animation and other kinds of filmmaking, like there is kind of like an opacity to like how it's made. There's this this veneer, this magic to it, and there's that magic to stop motion too. But the difference between all of those and stop motion is made out of like everyday materials. It's made out of fabric. using paper. We're using clay. We're using materials that people have encountered in their day-to-day lives. And like, that's the one thing that we are all guaranteed to have in common is that we live in a material world and we encounter these textures and materials around us. so by like taking such a specific story and trying to convey such universal themes, it really like behooves us to be using like um a medium that is as universal as stop motion is. So I think that's like the big thing that stop motion unlocks for us. Plus also story-wise, like it's very paper centered, paper daughter, they're tearing paper strips, they're making paper masks. So like physically using these paper textures adds a lot to our world. um And I think working in stop motion gives you a degree of control that live action doesn't give you because we're creating. all of our characters, all of our sets by hand, which gives us so much of a say over what they look like and what they convey based on how they're constructed and stuff. And that's just a degree of communication that nothing else brings.  Isabel: I love that this is a magical realism film and you mentioned Guillermo del Toro. I know that in your campaign trailer, you featured Pan's Labyrinth, which is my all-time favorite movie.  Cami: Me too! Isabel: Yeah! How exactly did you come up with this specific blend of history and fantasy for your film?  Cami: I think that it's almost a natural human instinct to kind of have history and fantasy. Like, that's all that histories are, just stories told to us. And it's just being less literal about it and really leaning into the metaphors that we might use to convey the emotional realities of those histories, right? And so I feel like Del Toro does that a lot with his work. And Miyazaki as well does a lot of that with his work. So much of it deals with unpacking like World War II and things like that. And that's something that I've always just personally been drawn to. Even as a kid, my dream jobs were archaeologist or animator. And so here I kind of get to like do a little bit of both of those, know, like using the magic of animation to make history feel a lot more present and tangible and like emotionally relevant, which is It's really quite poetic to be able to be telling this story right now because it's going to mark the 100 year anniversary of my great grandmother's immigration to the US. I think we are due for an examination of immigration in our country. And I'm very interested to see how people respond to the questions that this raises of how different is the immigrant experience 100 years later. Have we gotten better? Have we gotten worse? Like I would posit it's perhaps worse now than it was then, but I'm really hoping to like, yeah, bring that reality into a more approachable space. And I feel like having that blend of magic and history just makes it a little bit more approachable than telling it in a literal way, you know? Isabel: Those are some great questions to ask. And on that same note, I'm interested in the specificity of Angel Island as well. What types of research did you do to produce your film?  Cami: Oh, gosh, I read every book I could find about it. have… How many books were those? Oh, my gosh, I want to say, like, not as many as I want there to be, you know? Like, Angel Island is not as well covered in history as places like Ellis Island, and there's a lot. to unpack as to why that may be, especially like the racial aspect of it. But I probably read about a dozen different books to prepare for this film. One of the most concrete and useful books that I read is a book called Island, and it's a collection of the poems that are carved into the walls of the men's barracks that remain on Angel Island. And those poems are a huge part, perhaps, the reason why Angel Island has even been preserved as a historical landmark. And so um the three authors went to great pains to replicate these poems, translate them into English, and provide a lot of historical context for the different topics of the poems. And there's a lot of like first-hand testimony from people who immigrated through Angel Island that they interviewed and included in this book. And so I do think that that book, Island, is like the primary source of most of my research for it. Everything else is more like quantitative history and quantitative data. Oh, also The Chinese in America by, I believe it's Iris Chang, that it's not just about Angel Island, but I read that and that gave me a much better understanding about like the place that Chinese immigrants have in American history. Because when I was a kid, like I really only ever learned about great grandma came over through Angel Island and now we're American and we live in America. But our history, as far as I was ever taught, begins and ends with us entering the United States. And so reading um the Chinese in America gave me a much broader understanding about, like, why did we leave China in the first place? And like, what has it meant for us to be in America as Chinese people since then? Yeah, all that came out of like in 2020 and 2021 when the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes were kind of coming about. I personally had to have a huge reckoning with like my racial identity and like how that has impacted like my experience growing up as a mixed-race person who's pretty perceivably Asian and all that stuff. So it was a really whole circle broad situation. Oh, I want to do a quick shout out to the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. They were very generous with their time and they answered a lot of my questions and sent me a lot of archival images from Angel Island. So I want to thank them so much for their help in the research process of this.  Isabel: Oh, wow. How fascinating. Did you have any expectations on how the production process was going to go? And now that you're on the other side of it, what are your reflections?  Cami: I had no expectations as to whether we were going to get outside funding or not. Like I, I'm not an experienced or adept grant applicant. Like, it was really just because this was the right kind of project to fit with those kinds of grants. So I had no expectations there. So I am beyond thrilled to have received the support from Cape and Janet Yang and Julia S. Gouw and Shorescripts that we've received, like beyond thrilled for that. So that exceeded all of my expectations. um But as far as how the actual production has gone, the fabrication and the animation and the post-production, that's all stuff that I'm extremely familiar with. Again, that is my day-to-day life, that is my job, that is like what I have done for the last eight years at my studio, Apartment D.  So that all went pretty much as I hoped and expected that it would, but here on the other side, the one thing that has surprised me about it was how much love all of the artists put in this project because like we've said so much in this conversation, there's so much specificity to this. This is about my great grandma. This is about my family and my feelings about being a descendant of immigrants. It's so specific that I wasn't sure how emotionally it would resonate with anybody else that wasn't me or wasn't part of the AAPI community, you know?  But every single person — doesn't really even matter if they were Asian, doesn't really even matter if they have a specific connection to immigration — every artist that I asked to join me on this project, I immediately understood what it meant and understood what we were trying to say. And they put so much love into it. And like, we all put a lot of love into everything we do. It's stop motion. It's like, you don't do this unless you love it, you know, because you certainly are not doing it for the money or anything. um everyone was just so…I'm gonna say careful, but I don't mean careful like cautious. I mean careful like full of care. And I did not expect that and I am so grateful for it. Yeah, looking back, it's just so precious and so tender and like I'm so fortunate to have had the crew with me that I had to make this film.  Isabel: That's so lovely. What are you most excited about upon completing your film?  Cami: I'm just excited to share it with the world. I'm so proud of it. It is truly, and I'm not just saying this because it's my baby, but it is very beautiful and it is very special. For a lot of us, one of the first times that we've been able to be in charge of our own departments or to make the decisions that we wanna make and tell things, do things, show things the way that we think they should be done. And so it's kind of significant for many of us to have this film come out and to be received. What I want people to take away from it is an appreciation and a gratitude for everything that has had to happen for us to be where we are now. And I also really want people to take away the unconditional love that has occurred for us to be in the country that we have and to be the people that we are. Every single person is where they are. doesn't matter if you're in America or anywhere else, like we are all here because of the sacrifices that were made by the people who came before us. And those were all made out of unconditional love. And that's like, I want people to come away from this film remembering that our country is built on the unconditional love and sacrifice from people who came before us. And then wanting to give that unconditional love and sacrifice to everybody who's gonna come after us. Isabel: Such an amazing message. And I know that there's still lots to do and you still have a lot to celebrate with your upcoming film and with the festival circuit with Paper Daughter. But looking ahead, do you have any plans of what you want to do after the short film?  Cami: Yeah, I would love to bring it into a feature. There was so much that we had to cut out to make this film. On one hand, I'm glad that we cut out what we did because I think the film as it is, is like so tight and so like airtight and good and perfect and sparse in a really nice way, but we don't even get to delve into life before Angel Island. It begins and ends on the island, and I would love to explore the stories that brought this all about and the stories that come after. So bringing this up into a feature version and getting that in front of people would be amazing. And I have a couple other short film and feature film and script ideas that I would like to start working on as well. I've kind of really, I'm really grooving on the like Asian early Chinese American history. um So most of them are going to be set in California and focus on like Chinese immigrants and their role in the founding of America. um I'm really excited for the like, after all the film festivals, I really want this film to end up in classrooms. And I even just the other day like I have a friend who's a third and fourth grade teacher and she showed it to her class and then the students asked me questions about Angel Island and about animation. if this can play any part in helping to spread the story of Angel Island and the people that immigrated through there, like that's all that I could ever want from this. So I'm really excited for that.  Isabel: That's wonderful. I'll put your website, social media and seed and spark page for Paper Daughter up on kpfa.org so our listeners can learn more about this stop motion film and get updates for how they can watch it. I can't wait to see it when it comes out. And Cami, thank you so much for joining me on Apex Express today.  Cami: Of course, thank you so much for having me. It was a great, great time talking with you.  Isabel: You just heard Cami Kwan talk about her film Paper Daughter. On Apex Express tonight, we have two more special guests who made magical realism short films. Next up is Dorothy Xiao, who made the film Only in This World. She's a Los Angeles-based award-winning filmmaker who likes to create grounded family dramas with a hint of fantasy.  Hi, Dorothy. Welcome to APEX Express.  Dorothy: Hi. Thanks for having me!  Isabel: Of course! Thank you for coming here. My first question for you is actually quite broad. How do you identify and what communities are you a part of?  Dorothy: Oh, that is a good question. I think in a broader sense. I would say, obviously, I identify as an Asian American. um But I think, like, for me, because I grew up in the 626 or the San Gabriel Valley, I grew up with a lot of people who looked like me. So I think I didn't truly identify as being Asian or had awareness of my identity until later on when I went to college. And then I took Asian American Studies classes and I was like, oh, wow, I'm Asian. Or like, what does it mean to be Asian? You know, like, I think I, at that time, prior to recognizing and understanding what it meant, and also even to be a minority, because at that, like I said, growing up in 626, even going to UCLA, where I'm surrounded by a lot of Asians, I never really felt like a minority. But I think it was really after graduating where I, depending on the spaces that I would enter into, especially in the film industry, I was learning like, oh, yeah, I am a minority and this is what it feels like. And prior to that, I think I just identified as being a daughter of immigrants. And that still is very strongly the case just because I grew up listening to so many stories that my parents would tell me, like coming from China, growing up like they grew up in China during a completely different time. I can't even imagine what it would be like living in the way that they did, you know, during the Cultural Revolution, under communism, in an intense way where they were starving, all this political stuff. But yeah, a second gen or for a lot of people, first generation, daughter of immigrants, of parents who decided that they wanted to make a better life for their kids out here in the States. I think that I want to stand by me saying that I don't feel like I am, I don't really want to identify as only just single categories all the time, just because within each community, could be, you could have nuances, right? Because I am a woman, but I'm also like a woman who doesn't want children, you know, and there was just so many different things of how I identify. So hard for me to categorize myself like that. But they are, there are tidbits of different communities. Like I still identify, identify as Asian American. I identify as a daughter of immigrants. I identify as a female filmmaker and yeah. And a business owner, I guess. Yeah.  Isabel: Right. Yes. Thank you for that nuanced answer. You know, it's so fascinating because I was reading about your work and you have worked in animal research administration and an afterschool program and even web development for nonprofits. How did you get into writing and directing?  Dorothy: Yeah. So after graduating college, I was definitely in a place where many, I'm sure, fresh grads understand what we call the quarter life crisis, where we don't know what we wanna do with our lives. And I was working at UCLA because that was the only job that I could get out of college for an animal research administration office. And really, I worked for them as a student. So I was like, well, it makes sense to have that be my full-time job, because you're in a place where you don't have skills. So how do you get a job if you don't have skills? That weird silly catch-22 situation. So I studied psychology in undergrad because my goal was to become a therapist. I wanted to work with Asian and Asian immigrant communities to help them with mental health because there's such a stigma attached to it. And being somebody who found mental health really important and also found that it was a really great way to understand myself. I wanted to work with, I guess, the people of my community. But at that time, I realized that there's still a stigma attached to mental health and it's really hard to get people to even go to therapy. Like living with my parents, it's really difficult. I cannot ever convince them to go. um And so I had pivoted into, or at least I discovered this filmmaking competition and ended up just like making a film for fun with a couple of friends, random people that um were not in film at all. And I had a lot of fun and I realized that we could actually create stories talking about things that are very similar to mental health or could provide that catharsis and validation that you could probably get in a session, in a therapy session. And it's not clinical at all. It's not as clinical. So, you know, on all those different jobs that you mentioned, they're all day jobs, know, animal research administration and then working for an after school program. That was me still trying to figure out how to be a filmmaker on my weekends. I still needed a day job. I didn't have the luxury of going to film school. So I would work at different places that gave me the flexibility of having a day job. But then also I had free time during the weekend to just make films with my friends, make friends films with people like my mom, who was one of my first actors earlier on. Love my mom. She did not do the greatest in my film, but I love her for being there for me. But yeah, like the different organizations or just jobs that I worked for were all really good in terms of providing me management skills and also communication skills because I worked in different industries, you know, and so at the end of the day, it all culminated in me at my current place. Like I am a freelance filmmaker and I also run my own video production company. So um becoming a writer, I mean, being a writer director is my main identity as a filmmaker. However, I don't think you could be a good writer-director if you don't have life experience. And having all those different jobs that I've had provided me with a lot of varied life experience and I interacted with a lot of different people, many different personalities.  Isabel: Yeah, no, I love that. So you grew up in Alhambra, which I'm familiar with because I too grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. How would you say that growing up in Alhambra has shaped you as an artist?  Dorothy: Alhambra is really special, I feel like, because in the San Gabriel Valley, there are many cities like this. You have Chinese people who can actually get by without ever having to learn English. And the same goes for Latin communities as well. And, you know, I have aunts and uncles who lived in Alhambra for years and never learned how to speak English. So I think it's like, what's so special about it, it feels like a safe space for a lot of immigrant communities. And then my parents being immigrants from China. living in Alhambra was a place where they could feel safe and feel connected to the people that they left behind in another country. And so being a child of immigrants, a daughter of like an Asian American, like a Chinese American growing up in Alhambra, I definitely felt like I grew up with a lot of people who were similar to me. know, we were like a lot of times the first American born children of our families even, and it was, we had to essentially understand what it meant to be Asian versus American and all of that.  But I think like being in Alhambra, I never felt like I wasn't seen, or at least I never felt like I was a minority. I think I mentioned this earlier, in that growing up in Alhambra, you do see a lot of people who look like you. And I have a lot of friends in the film industry who have moved out to California because they grew up in towns where they were like one, the only person, the only Asian person in their school or whatever. And I didn't have that experience. So for me, it was really special just being able to have a whole group of friends where there's a bunch of Asians. And we all spoke different languages. Like I had a lot of friends who were Cantonese speakers, but I'm a Mandarin speaker, but it was just really cool. It was like going to your friends' places and then you have aunties. So it's almost like having more family. You could feel like you have more aunts and uncles that will feed you all the time because that is the way they show love, right?  Isabel: Oh, certainly. I think there's so many stories in multicultural places like Alhambra. And speaking of which, you did in your film Only in This World. It's about an empty nester who has to face her ex-husband's mistress in order to summon her daughter back from the afterlife, which is featured in the 2025 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival in Sunnyvale. Congratulations on such a beautiful film. I will say that I am a huge fan of magical realism, and Only in This World has some magical elements to it. So I'd love to get to know, how did you come up with this specific plot and characters that make up this film? Dorothy: Yeah, and thank you for wanting to talk about this one. It's a special story to me just because it is, I think it's the first film that I've made where I just decided to incorporate elements of where I grew up. And so Only in This World is inspired by my mom and her Tai Chi group at our local park, so Alhambra Park. My mom would go to do Tai Chi every morning for years. And in Alhambra, actually, as I mentioned, because there are so many immigrant communities, many of the immigrant communities tend to stay together with the people who speak their language. So Chinese people usually stick together with the Chinese speakers, Spanish speakers stick together with the Spanish speakers. You don't see a lot of mingling or intersectionality. But one of the special things that I saw with my mom's Tai Chi group was that they were not just Chinese people or Asian people, but there were Latino people in their group as well. And so even though they couldn't speak the same language, they would show up and still do Tai Chi every morning because it was a matter of doing something together. And so I love that a lot. And I wanted to tell a story about just older women who are finding friendship because I think that's really important in older age and in these groups because you see that a lot of the people in these Tai Chi groups are even the ones, not just Tai Chi groups, but there are dancers in the park, you know, like you'll see them in the mornings, not just in Alhambra, but in Monterey Park, all the different parks, open spaces, they'll have little dance groups.  A lot of the people who are part of those groups happen to be seniors, and I think it's just because they don't have work, they don't have children, they're lonely. And so…I think it's really important to be aware that where friendship or loneliness is actually an epidemic in the senior community. And it's really important to providing good quality of life is to just have them have that connection with other people. And seeing that in my mom, because my mom is getting older, having her be part of that community was what kept her happier. And so, yeah, and also my mother-in-law is Colombian. And she's done Tai Chi before as well with her group in Rosemead. And so I just was like, well, I'm part of a multicultural family. I want to tell a multicultural family story. Yeah, in terms of the magical realism element, I thought a lot about just how my family, if our house has ever burned down, the things that they would take out are our photos, the print four by six, like, you know, just the print photos because they're just so precious to them. There's something about hard copy pictures that is so special that digital photos just can't take over. Like there is an actual energy to how a photo is made or even like back then when we used to use film, there's energy that's required to actually create photos. And so, you know, I wanted that to be the power that powers this magical scanner where energy is taken from the picture and then you have the ability to bring someone you love back from the afterlife. And I really love grounded magical realism because I think it just makes difficult things a lot easier to understand when you add a little bit of magic to it, a little bit of fantasy.  Isabel: Yeah, magical realism is such a special genre. What part of the production process that you find the most profound?  Dorothy: I think it was just really my gratitude in how much my family came together for me and also just like the people of this team, know, like there were, I think one major situation that I can think of that I always think is really funny was, um so we filmed at my mother-in-law's house and my husband, Diego, was also working on set with me. He is not in the film industry. He's a software engineer manager. He's like in tech, but he is one of my biggest supporters. And so…when we were like, yeah, can we film at your mom's house? He was like, okay. But he had to end up being the, quote unquote, location manager, right? Because the house was his responsibility. And then, and he was also my PA and he was also DIT. Like he would be the one dumping footage. He did everything. He was amazing. And then ah one day we found out that his neighbor was actually doing construction and they were hammering. It was like drilling stuff and making new windows. They were doing new windows. And we were just like, oh, like, how do we get them to, like, not make noise? And so, and they don't speak English. And so we were like, oh crap, you know. So like, unfortunately, my producers and I don't speak Spanish, like we're all just English speaking. And then I did have Latinos working on my set, but they, you know, they had other jobs. I wasn't going to make them translate and do all that other stuff. So then Diego so kindly went over and talked to them and was like, essentially we set up. They were totally cool about it. They were like, yeah, okay, you're making a film. then whenever you're rolling sound, we'll just like prevent, like not hammer. And then so Diego is sitting outside with a walkie and talking to the first AD and other people inside the house, because we're all filming inside. don't know what's going outside. And then so like, we would be rolling, rolling. And then um the workers, I think his name was Armando, are like…whenever we cut, Diego would hear it through the walkie and he'd be like, Armando, okay, you're good to go. You can drill. Armando would drill. And then when we're going, and we'd be like, I'm going for another take. And then Diego would be like, Armando, please stop. So it was so nice of them to be willing to accommodate to us. Because you hear a lot of horror stories of LA productions where neighbors see you're filming something and they'll purposely turn on the radio to make it really loud and you have to pay them off and whatever. And in this case, it wasn't it was more like, hey, like, you know, we're making a movie and they were so supportive and they're like, yeah, totally. This is so cool. We will definitely pause our work, our actual work and let you roll down during the brief period. So we're really grateful. We definitely brought them donuts the next day to thank them. But that was just something that I was like, oh yeah, like I don't think I could have pulled that off if I didn't have Diego or if the fact, if it wasn't for the fact that these were the neighbors, know, that we were filming at someone's house and the neighbors already had a relationship with the people who lived here.  Isabel: Wow, that's really adaptable. And I'm so glad that went well for you. Dorothy, you've directed 13 films by now. Have you ever seen one of your films resonate with an audience member that you've interacted with in the past?  Dorothy: So there was this one short I had done a couple years ago called Tarot and it came at a time when I was struggling with the idea of whether or not I wanted to have kids and many of my friends are off having their first or second kids, you know, and so I never really wanted to be a mom, but then I have a partner who I can see being a great father, so I'm more open to the idea of being a mother, but it was still something I was conflicted about. And so I put this all into a short film, just my feelings of how my identity would change if I were to become a mom, because I've read so much about that. I found a Reddit thread one day where people were just talking about how being a mother is hard. And they openly stated how much they hated it. And it's okay to feel that way. And I wanted to put those feelings into this film to just put it out there like, hey, like if you don't like being a mom, even though you love your kid, you could still hate having that identity and be lost about, and it's okay to be lost or not sure about who you are. And so it was a really short film and it ended kind of open ended. It was like five minute film, so it didn't have like a full ending, but it was an open ended ending. And then afterwards I had a bunch of people come up. I had people who were parents, not just mothers, like even, or like fathers who had just had their first kid who were coming up and telling me like, oh, I totally identify. I understand that struggle of learning about who your new identity is after you've had a kid. And then I had people who were child free who were coming to me and saying like, yeah, this is a similar feeling that I've had about whether or not I should have any kids. Because, you know, as women, we have a biological clock that ticks. And that's something I feel frustrated about sometimes where it's really because of my body that I feel pressured to have a kid versus wanting to have one because I want one. And so that was a story I wanted to, or just something I wanted to put into a film. Yeah, and I also had another person come up and tell me that they were like, this was something I felt, but I never really openly talked about. And so I resonated a lot with this and it just helped basically articulate or helped me identify like, oh, I totally feel this way. And so that was really validating to me as a filmmaker because my goal is to reach others who don't feel comfortable talking about certain things that they tend to hide because I have a lot of those types of thoughts that I might feel ashamed or embarrassed to share. But then I put it into a story and then it makes it more digestible and it's like, or it's more, it's entertaining. But then like the core message is still there. And so people watch it and if they feel that they can connect to it, then I've done my job because I have resonated with somebody and I've made them feel seen. And that's ultimately what I wanted to do when I wanted to be a therapist was I just wanted to make people feel seen. I wanted to make them feel connected to other people and less lonely because that's something that I also have struggled with. Yeah, so filmmaking is my way of putting something small out there that I feel and then finding other people who feel the same way as me. And then we can feel validated together. Isabel: Ah yes, that is the power of film, and Dorothy's work can be viewed on her website, which I'll be linking on kpfa.org, as well as her social media, so you can get new updates on what she is working on. Dorothy, thank you so much for joining me on APEX Express today!  Dorothy: Thank you! Thank you for having me, it was so great to meet you!  Isabel: That was Dorothy Xiao, our second guest for tonight's edition of Apex Express, featuring magical realism AAPI filmmakers. Now time for our final guest of the night, Rachel Leyco, who is a queer, award-winning Filipina-American filmmaker, writer, actress, and activist. We'll be talking about her upcoming short film, Milk & Honey.  Hi Rachel, it's such an honor to have you here on APEX Express. Rachel: Hi, thank you so much for having me.  Isabel: How do you identify and what communities do you consider yourself a part of?  Rachel: Yeah, I identify as a queer Filipina-American. Isabel: So we're here to talk about your short film, Milk & Honey, which is about an ambitious Filipina nurse who leaves her family behind in the Philippines to chase the American dream in the 1990s and facing conflicts and hardships along the way. How did you come up with this specific 90s immigration story?  Rachel: Yeah. So Milk and Honey is inspired by my mom's immigrant story. you know, that's really her true story of coming to America in the early 1990s as a very young Filipina nurse while, and also a young mother and leaving behind her daughter, which was me at the time. um you know, following her journey in the film though fictionalized, a lot of the moments are true and there's a lot of exploration of assimilation, cultural barriers, loneliness and the emotional cost of pursuing the American dream.  Isabel: Yeah, when I read that synopsis, I immediately thought of this short film could totally be something that's feature length. How did you sort of this story to something that is like under 15 minutes long?  Rachel: Yeah, so I wrote the short film script first. And actually, you know, this is a proof of concept short film for the feature film. I actually wrote the feature film script after I wrote the short because there was just so much more I wanted to explore with the characters and the story. It definitely couldn't fit into a short film, though I have that short film version. But there was just so much richness to my mom's story that I wanted to explore, so I expanded into a feature. So I do have that feature film version, which I hope to make one day. Isabel: And you mentioned that this film is inspired by your mom's story. Is there any other sort of research that you did into this story that really helped you write? Rachel: Yeah, one of the main reasons I wanted to write the story, I mean, there's many reasons, but one is because there, if you ask the average American or the general public, they won't really know why there are so many Filipino nurses in the healthcare system. Because if you walk into any hospital, you'll see a Filipino nurse, more than one for sure. ah so I was really curious about the history. ah Having my mom as a nurse, my sister's also a nurse, I have a lot of healthcare workers around me. I grew up with that. I, you know, growing up, I also didn't really know or learn Filipino American history because it's not taught in schools. And I, you know, I took AP US history and didn't learn anything about, you know, my culture and our history. It's, not in the books at all. And it wasn't until like my early twenties that I was really curious about my roots and my upbringing and what it means to be Filipino-American specifically. And so um I really went into like a deep dive of just researching Filipino-American history. And specifically last year, I had been wanting to tell a story about a Filipino nurse because of my proximity to it with my mother. And you know, myself being an artist, being a filmmaker in the industry, there's so many medical shows out there, like, know, Grey's Anatomy, that's been long running, but very, very few, and rarely do we see Filipino nurses at the forefront and at the center of those stories. um You know, rarely are they series regulars. You know, sometimes they'll feature a Filipino nurse for like one episode or two and, you know, a recurring or a side character, but Filipino nurses are never the main character, never the series regular. And so that was another big driving force for why I wanted to make this story. And, you know, really making my mom's character the center of it. And so as far as like research, too, I definitely interviewed my mom and I asked her to just tell me her her entire story and specifically why she even wanted to move to the United States because she could have stayed in the Philippines or she could have moved somewhere else. um she saw a newspaper or her friend actually at the time when she was in a nursing school, a friend of hers saw an ad in the newspaper that America was sponsoring nurses. And so she had it in her mind already like, oh, yeah, I've heard of America. I've heard of the United States that it's, you know, there's better opportunities for me there. And at the time she had just had me. And so she had, you she's a young mother. She's trying to take care of her baby, her newborn. And so, you know, she had her eyes set on moving to the United States and that's kind of how her journey happened. And on top of that, I also did my own research on you know, our history, I watched this really amazing documentary um by Vox. It's on YouTube. It's all about why there are so many Filipino nurses in America. And it really just ties back to U.S. colonization. And after World War II, was so many, there was big nursing shortage in the United States. you know, white Americans did not want to, you know, fill that role. So they turn to Filipino women to fill the gap.  Isabel: Yeah, was there something special about the production process that looking back, you would want to replicate in the future or that really speaks to you?  Rachel: Absolutely. um Yeah, mean, definitely this experience and a lot of the people that I brought on to this project, I want to continue to make films with them and continue to make art with them because um I'm just so proud of the team that we put together. Everyone was so passionate and they knew how important the story was. They also had their own special connection to the material that they brought so much heart and passion into the film. that really comes through in the project. so like a lot of the people I brought onto this film, I want to continue to make art with them forever. That's one thing that I'm really, really grateful for, because I got to work with some really awesome people that I had never worked before or I had been wanting to work with. And so it was such a great opportunity that was given to me to be able to connect with such amazing and talented AAPI creatives in my circle.  Isabel: Yeah, I saw on your Instagram page for the film that you shot this film in both Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. Have you ever done a production where you had to sort juggle two different sets in two very different locations? And how was that entire process?  Rachel: Yeah, that was really, it was really fun. It was my first time being able to film in two different cities, let alone like two different states, really. A lot of my past projects have just been, you know, shooting it with the resources that I had that were available to me. You know, usually like my past short film, Thank You for Breaking My Heart, that I did last year, we shot all of it in one location, which was of course like, know, that is something that's really impressive in and of itself, of course. But, you know, because of the bigger budget that we had for Milk and Honey, I really wanted to challenge myself with this. And I really advocated for filming a part of the film in Texas because it is set in Texas. I was raised there. That's where my mom was placed when she, because how the process goes is, you know, she applied for the nursing sponsorship and then they placed them in certain areas. And so she was placed in El Paso, Texas at the time. And so that's where I also grew up. So I set the film there and I really advocated for filming in Texas because I wanted the film to have that feeling of the environment and atmosphere of Texas. um And so we shot some exteriors there for like this really fun Texas montage where you can really like feel that the character is there in, you know, in that heat, the Texas heat. So that was really, that was really fun. And I, you know, we shot, we shot two days in LA and we shot half a day in Austin, Texas. And we hired a second unit in Texas, because, you know, again, like, even though we had a really good budget, was still, you know, it was still pretty small. So I wasn't able to, you know, fly my LA crew over there. um So what we did was we just hired a second unit crew in Austin, Texas, and they were amazing. And most of them were queer, non-binary filmmakers. And it was just such a fun, intimate crew that you know, we just breezed by and had such a great time shooting that.  Isabel: That's wonderful. As a director, what inspires you and what are some of your filmmaking influences?  Rachel: Yeah, I mean, I'm constantly inspired by, you know, new films, filmmakers that I've seen, em particularly for Milk and Honey. I um so the film is, you know, this grounded drama, but there are a lot of moments of magical realism that I mix into it. love magical realism. love one of my favorite movies is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's such a beautiful film, also very grounded, but it's filled with all of this, you know, magical realism, surrealism. And so I infused that into, you know, Milk and Honey, which was really fun and a challenge to execute. But yeah, and some other filmmakers and creatives that I'm inspired by are Ava Duvernay. think her work is just incredible and also just an incredible artist overall. I love the kind of work that she does because it comes from such a deep place. And I love that she can combine art with politics and social justice as well. Isabel: I also love that you said in your one of your project funding descriptions that you use your art as your act of revolution, which is so relevant given that, you know, in our current state of, you know, our administration is silencing and suppressing voices of our immigrant communities. And how do we as filmmakers, as artists, what does that revolution and representation mean to you as a filmmaker and artist?  Rachel: I truly believe that that art is our act of revolution and just merely creating the art is that act in and of itself. We don't have to do more than that as from, in my opinion, as an artist, because the mere fact of us existing as artists, existing, myself existing and creating the work and having the work exists out there and putting it out. The most powerful thing that an artist can do is to make their art and share it with the world. And after that, just let it go, you know, forget about how it's going to be received. Forget about like, you know, the critics and, and, and the, you know, self doubt you may have and all of those things, because yeah, it's going to come. I think especially in the landscape of, like you said, of where we're at right now with our current administration and you know, just who knows what's going to happen in the next few years, but also in the face of like AI and technology and all of that, I think all we can really do as artists is to, in order for us to change the system is we have to be the change, right? And in order for us to be that change is just to continue to tell our stories and stay authentic to ourselves. Because I think that's also what a lot of people out there are really craving right now. People are craving authentic, real stories by people that we really don't get to see or hear their stories very often. And so um that for me is something that fuels me and my artistry every day.  Isabel: Very well said and a great reminder to all of us artists out there to keep making our art. What do you hope for audiences to take away when they watch your film?  Rachel: What I hope for audiences to get out of watching the film, well, one, at the core of it is a mother-daughter story. And I also did it to honor my mother and her sacrifices and her story. So I hope that, one, audiences will, you know, maybe reflect on their relationship with their mother and… um think of ways to honor their mother and their family and their ancestry as well. And another thing is to really think about what the American dream means to you, because that was another driving force for me with the film is it's called Milk & Honey because a lot of immigrants coined Milk & Honey as America's milk and honey as this like land of abundance, land of opportunity and you know, this is a, this is a place for creating a better life for ourselves. But I, for me, as I've grown up and as an adult now, really looking at like, well, what does the American dream mean to me? Is that still true to me? Do I still think the U S is a place where I can, where I can build a better life? Is it a place of abundance and something in the film, a big theme in the film is where Cherry's character scrutinizes that dream and thinks for herself, like, is the American dream worth it? And what does the American dream actually mean to me? What is the definition of that? So I think that's a big thing I would love audiences to also take away from it, you know, asking themselves that question. Isabel: That's a great thought to end on. I'll be including Rachel's social media and website on kpfa.org as usual so you can see if Milk and Honey will be screening in a film festival near your city during its festival run. Well, Rachel, thank you so much for joining me on APEX Express today. Thanks so much for having me. I really enjoyed it. Please check our website kpfa.org to find out more about magical realism in AAPI stories and the guests we spoke to. We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting. Keep organizing. Keep creating and sharing your visions with the world. Your voices are important. APEX Express is produced by Miko Lee, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar, Anuj Vaidya, Swati Rayasam, Cheryl Truong, and Isabel Li. Tonight's show was produced by me, Isabel Li. Thanks to the team at KPFA for their support. Have a great night. The post APEX Express – 1.08.26 – Magical Realism and AAPI Short Films appeared first on KPFA.

Exercise isn't just “nice to have” during cancer, it can function like treatment for the side effects: fatigue, muscle loss (sarcopenia), joint pain, neuropathy, weakness, and even lymphedema risk reduction.In this episode of Patient from Hell, host + cancer survivor Samira Daswani sits down with Sami (exercise + cancer specialist focused on implementation) to break down what the research is finally confirming and what patients can do today, even with low energy, limited time, or zero equipment.We also unpack the headline-grabbing findings from the CHALLENGE Trial in colorectal cancer: a structured, coached exercise program was associated with a 28% lower risk of recurrence or new primary cancer and raises the bigger question: why isn't exercise prescribed like medicine?Key takeaways you'll learn:- Why strength training is the #1 lever for cancer-related fatigue + muscle loss- How to reduce joint pain (including hormone-therapy related joint pain)Simple “wake the nerves up” tactics for neuropathy- Lymphedema: prevention vs management + why early assessment matters- Chemo brain: why “automation” (classes + follow-alongs) can be the hack- The starter protocol: 10–15 minutes, every other dayChapter Codes 00:00 Exercise as “treatment” for cancer side effects (fatigue, sarcopenia, function)00:30 Meet Sami: implementation theory (how she got into exercise + cancer)02:37 “How I f***ed up into this” — origin story + early patient experiences05:20 The headline research: what the CHALLENGE Trial showed07:19 The big number: 28% lower recurrence/new primary (structured group)08:40 Trial design: education vs coached/supervised exercise11:03 Symptom playbook begins: what exercise helps most11:35 Fatigue: why strength training rebuilds your “engine”14:09 What counts as strength training (real-world examples)15:46 Joint pain: lubrication, range of motion, yoga/Tai Chi basics17:22 Hormone therapy joint pain: why feet + shoulders show up big20:06 Plantar fasciitis: barefoot time + ball rolling + lifestyle traps21:47 Neuropathy: “wake the nerves up” + balance + sensation tools24:29 Lymphedema: prevention vs management + catch it early28:04 Weakness: mitochondria, estradiol, and fast-twitch strength loss30:34 Chemo brain: automate workouts so you don't have to think33:59 Safety fear: “If chemo didn't kill you, a squat won't” (starting smart)38:33 Where to start: 10–15 minutes every other day40:17 Two starter moves: sit-to-stands + countertop pushups41:14 Just diagnosed? Keep routine—lower intensity + prioritize strength42:25 Wrap + the bigger message: independence, quality of life, green lightAbout Patient From HellPatient From Hell is hosted by cancer survivor and founder Samira Daswani, who asks the questions most patients are too overwhelmed—or too afraid—to ask. The show brings together doctors, researchers, advocates, and survivors to reveal evidence-based answers for patients navigating the chaos of cancer. Subscribe for episodes that blend science, compassion, and clarity—without the medical jargon. Connect & Follow Samira Daswani LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiradaswani/Manta Cares: https://www.mantacares.comDisclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Has the shaking of the world left you feeling paralyzed or unsure of how to step forward? Are you looking for a safe harbor in the midst of the "Venezuela events" and global instability? What if the chaos around you is actually an invitation to create an unshakeable sanctuary within you? In this urgent and deeply healing transmission, Michael Sandler shares a powerful nervous system reset designed for right now. Following the recent events that have shaken many to the core, Michael channels Archangel Michael to deliver a message of safety, grounding, and empowerment. This isn't just about surviving the news cycle; it is about finding your footing when the ground feels like it is moving. Michael explains why 2026 is the "Sanctuary Year", how to move from a "lizard brain" reaction to a heart-centered power, and provides specific, real-time energetic clearings to remove the ancestral fears of war and chaos from your field. Key Topics: The "Sanctuary Year": Why Archangel Michael is relabeling 2026 as a year of safety and haven, despite the external "quickening." Turtle Breathing: A specific breathing technique ("Tai Chi" style) to immediately slow down a racing mind and find peace. A powerful grounding method to root yourself into the earth when you feel "spun" by world events. Why asking "How's the weather?" no longer serves us, and the brave question you must ask instead: "How is your soul doing?" The science behind why chanting "OM" can double your cell membrane's water-holding capacity and instantly switch off the fight-or-flight response. The "Bunny" Strategy: Why looking at "cute and fuzzy" things (like Rabbit Island in Japan!) is legitimate medicine for a fried nervous system. This episode is a balm for your spirit. If you have been holding your breath waiting for the next shoe to drop, this message will help you exhale, remember your power, and realize that your calm is not passive; it is powerful. Join the Inspire Nation Soul Family!

Jayne Storey is the founder and head coach at Chi Performance. Her unique approach employs ancient Eastern disciplines which help develop the mind-body connection and improve performance. For over two decades she has taught these Martial Arts principles and practices to golfers and other sportspeople to help them quiet their minds and perform at their effortless best.  Jayne is also an author and she has written several books, including "Breathe Golf" and "Connected Golf" and she joins OntheMark to highlight insights to help you bridge the gap between practice and performance.  She discusses: Meditation and Tai Chi The approach of abandoning certain detrimental things long believed Stillness and the mastery of motion Complete self-awareness The tenacity to train and stick to the task, The Performance Pyramid, and Creating the correct conditions within to be ready for performance - Mastering Anxiety, Reducing Mental Interference, Uniting the Mental Game and Technique, and Strengthening the Mind-body Connection. Jayne uses examples such as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as she elaborates on this interesting topic.  She also shares a drill for "Team Mind-Body" to set you on the path to a better mind-body connection. This podcast is also available as a vodcast on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.  

Miss France 2026 invitée exceptionnelle, Valérie Mairesse trop maquillée, Laurent Ruquier se met au Tai Chi... Retrouvez dans ce podcast le meilleur de l'émission du mardi 6 janvier 2026. Retrouvez tous les jours le meilleur des Grosses Têtes en podcast sur RTL.fr et l'application RTL.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

SUMMARY In this conversation, Dan Bernardo shares his experiences as a martial arts instructor, discussing the challenges and rewards of teaching Tai Chi to elderly students, the balance of multiple teaching roles, and the evolution of virtual training in martial arts. He reflects on the integration of diverse practices, such as calligraphy and archery, into his martial arts philosophy, emphasizing the importance of depth over breadth in training and the personal growth that comes from teaching. He also discusses the personal journey of becoming a martial artist, the significance of personal expression in training, and the balance between chaos and structure in the learning environment. TAKEAWAYS Backup plans are important in teaching. Teaching the elderly can enhance instructor confidence. Virtual classes can reach students globally. Cross-training enriches martial arts practice. Calligraphy connects to martial arts philosophy. Learning new skills can provide balance and joy. Teaching is a unique connection between instructor and student. Forms are essential for understanding martial arts techniques. Personal growth is intertwined with teaching others. Writing a book solidifies knowledge and shares insights.   Join our EXCLUSIVE newsletter to get notified of each episode as it comes out! Subscribe — whistlekick Martial Arts Radio

Happy Mindful Monday Everyone!In this week's epsiode, our host Allie Brooke sits down with C. Vicki Gold, PT, MA. Vicki Gold is a retired physical therapist who is proud to say she turned 80 in September of '24. Her background was rich in both clinical and academic experiences, including serving as Director of a Physical Therapist Assistant Program in NYC. She also has had extensive experience in a large variety of mind-body approaches to physical and mental well-being, including yoga, tai chi, Pilates, Alexander, and Feldenkrais Techniques. Vicki is a perpetual student of personal growth and transformation, and is a graduate of many trainings through Landmark Worldwide. Vicki and her husband, Tom, relocated from Long Island, NY, to the Foothills of NC, where Vicki completed a book meant to educate, empower, and inspire people to “Age Safely, Wisely, and Well,” which just happens to be the book's title! The title goes on to say that it is “A Movement and Mindset Guide for Older Adults,” however is relevant to adults of all ages. The book comprises many of the tips, tricks, strategies, and skills Vicki gathered over her many years as a therapist and as a woman. It also has several collaborators from specialties like fall-prevention, aging in place, nutrition, etc. Vicki's mission now is to encourage listeners to learn their ABCs to look, feel, and function optimally – at every age!In this epsiode we talk about:The "ABCs" of Optimal Function: Vicki breaks down her signature framework for looking, feeling, and functioning at your best,proving that vitality isn't a matter of age, but a matter of alignment.The Evolution of a Healer: From clinical Physical Therapy in NYC to mind-body mastery (Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates); a look at how integrating various modalities creates a holistic path to wellness.Movement + Mindset: The Duo for Longevity: Why a book about aging well required more than just physical exercises, and how our internal dialogue dictates our external physical capabilities.Reimagining 80: Breaking the "Fade Out" Mold: Vicki shares the reality of entering her ninth decade with more purpose and energy than ever, challenging the societal expectations of what "getting older" looks like.The Power of One Word: A deep dive into the specific vocabulary that can instantly shift an adult's motivation, helping them move from a "default" life to one of intentional design.Becoming a Perpetual Student: How Vicki's journey through personal transformation trainings (like Landmark) allowed her to pivot in her 70s and write her book in the foothills of North Carolina.Building Your Aging Village: The importance of collaboration—from nutrition to fall prevention—in creating a sustainable, safe, and joyful legacy. How To Connect w| VickiLINK TO BOOK: https://thera-fitness.com/the-book/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheraFitnessLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvickigoldptma/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/c.vicki.gold/ABC FREEBIE PDF The Growth METHOD. FREE Membership◦ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 1:1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GROWTH MINDSET COACHING PROGRAMS!◦ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Application Form ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What are the coaching sessions like?⁠⁠• Tailored weekly discussion questions and activities to spark introspection and self-discovery.• Guided reflections to help you delve deeper into your thoughts and feelings.• Thoughtfully facilitated sessions to provide maximum support, accountability, and growth.• Please apply for a FREE discovery call with me!• Allie's Socials• Instagram:@thegrowthmindsetgal• TikTok: @growthmindsetgal• Email: thegrowthmindsetgal@gmail.comLinks from the episode• Growth Mindset Gang ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Broadcast Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Growth Mindset Gang ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Growth Mindset Gal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Better Help Link: Save 10%SubstackDonate to GLOWIGloci 10% off Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce Lord and Karen Peterson review NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom 20 in Tokyo Dome, featuring Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada and the retirement of Tanahashi after a twenty-six-year career.The semi-main event of Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yota Tsuji in a double championship match for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.Highlighted topics including the impact of live domestic broadcasting on the company's biggest show on their annual calendar, utilizing various fandom paths to draw in new viewers, the imbalance of ring-time versus length of entrances, inclusion of STARDOM and DDT talents, the EVIL/Wolf group project debrief, the emotional closure of Tanahashi's career with the parade of old rivals in Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata, and a returning Tetsuya Naito and cherished mentors in  Keiji Muto and Tatsumi Fujinami.  Access all of our NJPW reviews by becoming a member at http://postwrestlingcafe.com------NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20January 4, 2026Tokyo DomeTokyoHiroshi Tanahashi's Retirement Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada - RecommendedIWGP World & IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) World vs. Yota Tsuji (c) Global - RecommendedAaron Wolf Debut/NEVER Openweight Championship: EVIL (c) vs. Aaron Wolf (Debut) - RecommendedIWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender 4-Way: El Desperado, Kosei Fujita, Taiji Ishimori & SHOShingo Takagi, David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Great O'Khan, Callum Newman, HENARE, Andrare El Idolo & Jake LeeIWGP & NJPW STRONG Women's Championship: Syuri (c) IWGP vs. Saya Kamitani (c) STRONG - RecommendedNEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships Tornado Rambo: TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.) vs. Master Wato, Toru Yano & YOH (c)  vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) & Oleg Boltin  vs. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice)  vs. House Of Torture (Ren Narita, SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)  vs. Kaisei Takechi, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura  vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe  vs. Team 150 (Satoshi Kojima, Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii) NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo (c) vs. Chris BrookesYoung Lions Kick-Off: Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Katsuya Murashima & Masatora Yasuda Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/postwrestling.comX: http://www.twitter.com/POSTwrestlingInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/POSTwrestlingFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/POSTwrestlingYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/POSTwrestlingSubscribe: https://postwrestling.com/subscribePatreon: http://postwrestlingcafe.comForum: https://forum.postwrestling.comDiscord: https://postwrestling.com/discordAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

SP3 (@TruHeelSP3) & Lyric (@LyricWrestling) review Wrestle Kingdom 20, January 4, 2026, including:-Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada in Tanahashi's retirement match-IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita vs. IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji in a double championship match-Evil vs. Aaron Wolf for the Never Openweight Championship-El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. Sho to become the No.1 contender to the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship-Andrade El Ídolo, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Henare, and TBA vs. David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney, Shingo Takagi, and Hiromu Takahashi in a ten-man tag-IWGP Women's Champion Syuri vs. New Japan Strong Women's Champion Saya Kamitani in a double championship match-Toru Yano, Master Wato, and Yoh vs. Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Boltin Oleg, Hirooki Goto, and Yoshi-Hashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Taichi, and Satoshi Kojima vs. Ren Narita, Sanada, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, and Hartley Jackson vs. Kaisei Takechi, Shota Umino, and Yuya Uemura vs. Clark Connors, Oskar, and Yuto-Ice in a Ranbo for the Never Openweight Six-Man Tag Titles-(Pre-Show) El Phantasmo vs. Chris Brookes for the NJPW TV Title Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Without inserted ads go to: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-show-at-a-time-a-yellow-balloon-experience/id1690094890This week on Dopey! Dave rings in New Year's Eve with a raw, reflective Wednesday dose amid a “rough fucking week” on the home front, admitting family struggles (including Linda's dad's health) have him questioning whether to keep the grueling Five Days of Dopey schedule into 2026 while teasing resolutions like restarting the infamous Dopey Fitness Challenge, daily writing, and maybe even Tai Chi to save his creaky joints. He reads a heartfelt email from old-timer Craig begging him to go full-throttle for the community's sake, then drops the full replay of his recent guest spot on the hippie Yellow Balloon podcast One Show at a Time—a rapid-fire qualification packed with childhood staph infections, codependency as his first “drug,” heroin-fueled career crashes, supervised visitation shame, and the desperate AA surrender that finally stuck at 41. The share ends with an avalanche of love from the Zoom crowd (random cameos from Ivan Neville and Anders Osborne included), leaving Dave both embarrassed and deeply grateful as he closes out 2025 counting blessings, overeating brookies with Susan at Patchogue's early ball drop, and reminding the Nation: if you're struggling tonight, reach out—tomorrow's a new day. All that and more on this weeks collab show with the one show at a time podcast! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you longing to feel physically lighter while staying true to a wellness journey that's about more than just weight loss? In this episode, functional nutritionist and chronic illness coach Danielle Pashko reveals the impact of stress on women's health and weight gain.   During the conversation, Danielle explores how intense workouts and elevated stress levels can negatively affect hormonal balance and women's ability to release weight. She emphasizes the importance of nourishing habits like a proper diet, sleep, hydration and stress management.   Danielle shares how embracing softer, ancient practices like Tai Chi and Qigong can better your overall emotional, mental and physical wellness.   Here's what you can look forward to in today's episode: The risk of following every wellness trend The importance of self-love and self-respect How stress can impact weight loss Lessons about true health and happiness Embracing softer wellness practices The power of Tai Chi and Kung Fu Reflection question to ponder: Who do you want to be in 2025?    Join Back to Bright, a 1:1 personalized, four-week coaching experience where I'll guide you in creating sustainable rhythms of rest, joy, and self-connection.   Learn more about 1:1 coaching with Whitney - book a 15-minute Spark Session   Connect with Whitney: Instagram l Website l 5 Days to Less Stress, More Satisfaction l Tend to Your Soul Toolkit l 10 Soulful Journaling Prompts | Electric Ideas Podcast   Connect with Danielle: Instagram | Website

Randel and Owen talk with BB on training with Chen Taiji with Feng Zhi Quan, Zhang Xue Xin and Bai Ping Liang. From his Facebook page:"Tai Chi journey since 1979. In 93, I honed my practice with Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang in China. Deeply honored to be a disciple of Master Zhang Xue Xin. His profound knowledge and guidance have significantly shaped my Tai Chi path."FacebookInstagramYouTube#kungfu #teaching #podcast #gongfu #taiji #taichi #martialarts #wushu #kungfuconversations #china #chentaiji #baguazhang #yangtaiji #qigong

In this Habits Series episode, Lesley Logan breaks down how identity and belief play a foundational role in creating habits that last. She explains why habits fall apart when they conflict with self-talk and how shifting who you believe you are makes behavior change easier and more sustainable. Rather than forcing consistency, Lesley invites listeners to explore becoming the person who naturally lives the habits they want. This episode offers a mindset reset that helps habits stick without shame or perfection.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:Recognizing habits as reflections of current identity and self-belief.Understanding why belief must precede consistency for habits to stick.Using identity statements to guide habit choices and experimentation.Filtering daily routines through the person you want to become.Allowing habits to evolve as identity and life seasons change.Episode References/Links:Submit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questionsEpisode 589: Brad Bizjack - https://beitpod.com/ep589Episode 613: The Truth About Why Habits Matter - https://beitpod.com/ep613 If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00  Our whole entire day is just a series of different habits that we have, even ones we don't like. They serve a purpose. They serve a purpose for our brain. And that is how a habit is really created. But you have to be someone who actually believes you can be it like someone who has habits. Lesley Logan 0:15  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:53  Hi, Be It babe. Welcome back to our Habits Series. I'm super excited about this series. I hope you've been enjoying it. If you haven't listened to the first part of the habit series, you can listen to this one, but I highly recommend you start at the beginning of the series, because it gives you the tools that you can rinse and repeat for every habit you want to have. And so today's topic is like, how being it till you see it helps with habits. There's a few different ways it helps with habits. So if you are someone who believes that you can't start a new habit, you won't. I know that sounds like duh, but also and also like, how many times have you been like, I'm a procrastinator, or I just can't be consistent with anything, or I'm just, I'm not a morning person. When we have those statements, those I am statements that are in conflict of the things we want to do, for sure, you're not going to make the habit happen that you want. It just isn't going to work like that. So I definitely want you, if there's a habit that you're wanting to create, I want you to listen to the start of the series, because we go through like the different tools that you need to do, to take a habit of feeling and then bring it into fruition. I shared in one of the episodes what habit I have been working on, and since I recorded those, I'm really proud to say, like, it's become a habit that I do. It's something that I actually think about doing. So I still have to celebrate. It's my habit that, like, I can step out of the celebration part. And I'm also, if you go to the episode where, like, the part of the day that your habit goes in, I am because my schedule has been really crazy, still figuring out when the best time of day, what is the best thing that the habit comes after, and that's just because I'm experimenting. But I do believe that I am someone who can create habits that stick. It is a habit that I want, and so it's still happening daily. It's just taking a little longer to stick in a place where I don't need to remind myself to do it with the testing of the prompts and with the celebration. And so I share that with you because it these things just take time, not because it takes 60 days and then voila, you have it. That's not how it works, and not because it only takes a day, but because we have to get our brain wrapped around it, and then our whole entire day is just a series of different habits that we have, even ones we don't like. They serve a purpose. They serve a purpose for our brain. And that is how a habit is really created. But you have to be someone who actually believes you can be like someone who has habits. I've had Brad Bisjack on as a guest before, and he's someone that I coached with a couple years ago, and he has this like, be do have situation, I promise this has to do with be it till you see it. And a lot of people go with, once I have blank, then I will do blank, and I will become blank, right? So once I have money, then I will be able to start that business, and then I'll be successful, right? Other people are like, well, they do it in the a different order. So they have, I don't know, actually, I'm not really good with the anagram, but there's a different order you can do it in. It still doesn't get you what you want. So there's only one way to do it. You have to go with the B, then the do, then the have. So be it till you see it, right? So if you want to be someone who works out and does move it every day, you have to act as if you're someone who works out every day. You also have to believe I am someone who moves every day. I am someone who values movement. So the thoughts you put in helps you filter. It also will help you as you as you start to create habits that stick in that you're going to get something wrong. You're going to get something wrong, you're gonna get something, you're gonna say I'm who wants to go to the gym every day, and then you might, I hate this gym. Actually, I prefer Jiu Jitsu. Actually, I'm someone who moves every day. I'm gonna go to a dance class. Actually, I hate dance instead, I'm gonna go and do some Tai Chi. Like, in the process of becoming having the habits you want, you have to start with the person you want to be, and then ask yourself, what would that person do if I'm if someone, if I'm already someone who values movement, what would I do in the morning or in the afternoon or at night? And then break it down to something smaller, and then be curious about it and celebrate what you did do. So the be it till you see it mindset doesn't just apply to a business goal, or a money goal, or relationship goal or health goal. It actually applies to the life, the entire compass of the capacity of the life that you want to have. And so it's super important how you talk to yourself. Because if you are saying, I suck at this, I'm terrible at this, I'm someone who can't get up in the morning. You're not going to just you're not going to start getting up in the morning and having a habit that sticks. We have to start that mindset. Lesley Logan 5:25  So what I would suggest that you do, I think it's super important, is just kind of reflect about, like, who you want to be, right? Who is the be? What are we being it until we see? So take some time and just reflect on like, okay, it's the future. We snapped our fingers. Everything worked out. Who are you? You know, what time do you get up in the morning? How do you spend your time? What does it smell like where you are? What does it feel like? What clothes do you wear? You know, do you cook for yourself? Do the meals get delivered? Keep going, right? So like you're, you're the person you want to be, is how we filter, what are the actual habits that you are going to have? So this episode could have come honestly as number one before you filled out the bubble of like, okay, I want to have this. And here's all the different ideas. But this is a really good mindset talk to like, think about. When I was in Cambodia a couple weeks ago, leading people through the workshop, the first thing we have to do is like, figure out, like, okay, so before I teach you habits that stick, and before I teach you how to delegate things off your plate, and before I teach you how to do a dream schedule, we have to understand, like, who it is that we want to be. Because if we know who that person is, you know, then we can actually create the schedule that involves that person. But if we don't go through that process, then we actually create a dream schedule and habits based on the person we are right now. And there's probably there's nothing wrong with who you are right now. You're an amazing person. You're worthy already. But if you are listening to this, it's because you want a little bit more. You want something more in an area of your life, there's something that you're wanting to be till you see. And so I would, I really encourage you to take out a piece of paper, journal, notebook, you know, transcript tool, and to start to go through a dream day of the like you were already it. Everything has happened. You've had the training or the certificate, or the education or the windfall that you need. And so, who are you? What do you value? Who do believe about yourself? What are the I am statements that you say? Okay, when you have that, then it's like, okay, so, what does it what habits does this person have? So if you want to have a like a beautiful Pilates studio, right? And your dream schedule at that studio is that you will actually come in, read everyone who works with you, say hi to the clients that first class. You know, there's a scent that you make sure is on in the studio. And then you go to your office and you do what? And then you maybe you take class then, and then it's lunchtime, and then you have meetings, who you're meeting with, all these different things. What are the habits that that person has before they get to the studio, or the habits that person has when they're at work? What are the what are the habits that person has when they get home? So see yourself in the future already having all the things. So who is that person? And then what we can do is rewind it or unravel it to go we get to where we are today, and then go back to episode one, and then two and three and four, and actually start to process one thing at a time, one habit at a time. Lesley Logan 8:39  And the other way that the be it till you see it mindset works is that you actually get to just try one at a time. Because if we try to be it till we see it as an all or nothing. We talked about this in last episode, we try to do seven habits at the same time. It becomes really difficult to understand what's working and really see how we like it. And so when you have the be it till you see it mindset, as you try out these different habits, it makes it so much easier to make sure that the habits are ones that are going to give you the life that you want to live. And then you get to act as if you already have that habit, allowing to be easier for you to celebrate, easy to be curious, easier for the habit to actually stick, because your belief is you already are this person with these habits and not the the other opposite, which is like I am someone who procrastinates. Does that make sense? So keeping this episode short, because what I would prefer you do is take some time to think about the person that you want to be on the other side of all of this, and then really think about all the habits that that person has, the you that at that time that has and not shaming or blaming yourself. I should be further by now. I should be further ahead. I should already have these done. I've tried this habit before, starting all over again. No, that, that shit talk doesn't even work. That doesn't it's not going to help anybody. In fact, what it does it just, it actually just keeps you safe. I know. Do you believe that, like, say, there's safety in living the life that you're trying to get out of? Yeah? Because your brain is like, well, this is safe. This is the devil that I know, right? So I would love for you to take some time today just to really think about who you're trying to become. Who is the be it till we see it? What are those habits that you want to have in place? And then go back to the beginning of this process, write down one of the habits in the center, all the ideas that go around it. Then do the grid of want to do, don't want to do, easy to do, hard to do. Then take the couple that are in that one quadrant, because it's only goimng to be a couple, and then see where you can plug it into your day, and then have it as a prompt. And then use the be it till you see it mindset, until the habit sticks. I am someone who can do this thing. I am someone who have this thing comes easy for and then I am going to I'm someone who wants to make coffee for myself and my partner in the morning. So what would that person do to make coffee in the morning? Who do you have to be? And it really does make it so much easier to make any habit, because there's a belief in yourself that it's possible. I tell the people that I coach all the time like I cannot believe in your dreams more than you do all the time. I can I can be that person who like helps you realize that there's like you should be believing yourself. And I can do that. I can absolutely, in the beginning, when we meet, absolutely I can see the potential and the amazingness. But if you don't believe in you, you don't get very far, right? We don't get very far. I will also just add to this episode how I use habit that stick to make sure that I run this business well. And it's not perfect. I learn every single day, I'm constantly like, going, okay, who do I want to be it until I see you in this business, right? Like, okay, you get you evolve, and you get better. And in fact, you actually become the person you're trying to see. And then it's like, okay, now the business has risen to this level. We have this many people on the team, so the habits that are in my life that allow me to show up every single day at work exist in the morning. My morning routine is humongous for me. The morning walk that I have to do make sure my dog feels super, super loved, but also that I get the blood flowing. My morning plunge happens before that. My cold plunge happens before that. I read these amazing daily books while I'm in the cold plunge so that I can start the day with these words of wisdom and things to think about and remind myself of how truly loving and wonderful I can be in this world. Right? I'll need those pep talks. Those are habits. What I read, the cold plunge, the medicine that I take in the morning, the walk, the shake plate, the Pilates, the red light, when I have breakfast, fueling myself. All those habits are habits that are helping me be it till I see it, and as I continue to give more clarity around who I'm trying to become. As I grow older, as my business grows, those habits get reviewed and reflected. Some of them will evolve out or evolve to a different time. So especially for the women listening to this podcast, like some of the habits that you have may have worked for you a while ago, but they don't work anymore. They're not part of who you're becoming, and so you'll have to listen to listen the episode on how to unravel those habits, right? How do we get rid of that prompt? What are we replacing it with? And reminding ourselves that, like you didn't get anything wrong with that habit, it just no longer serves you. It's no longer part of who you're becoming, and the more we can become the person that doesn't shame and blame, but instead celebrates and inquires and gets curious, easier it is for us to add new habits that help us be it till we see it. I have habits at night that help me sleep well so I can go up in the morning to start those habits. My habits at night have also evolved. How soon, how early I have to go to bed has changed. What I can listen to before bed has changed. Right? What? What? What is my skincare routine has changed. Because as I be it till I see it, the person I'm becoming, she gets she has changed. She's gotten older. She's got different goals. She's got different dreams. And so I'm giving that to you because I think it's really important that you don't put so much pressure on yourself that what you write down is written in stone, and then you have to do it. And then once you do it, you've done it. Check. No, this whole program is created so you can re listen to it and reuse it as you evolve, as the clarity around who you're becoming, who you're being, till you see becomes clearer. So thank you so much. I'd love to hear what you're trying to how you're using habits to be, till you see it. What habits came up for you? What habits Did you realize? Like, oh, when I was listening the first couple episodes, I thought I wanted to work on this habit of drinking more water. But now that I'm thinking about how the person I want to be, what are the habits that I want to have so I can become her, because all the things we do are the ones that help us become the person we want to be, or they hold us down where we are. It's the truth. We have two more episodes in this series. They are really there for you as part of like how to change and update your habits for when you're traveling, or for specifically movement and health. So you have all the tools you need to create any habit that you want. If you are worried about habits while you're traveling or want to focus more on healthy I hate the word, like healthy habits, but habits that help with the health that you're trying to live for. Those will be the next two bonus episodes in this series. But for now, I think you've got what you need to be till you see it and create habits that stick. And I would love to hear how this series works for you. So make sure you send it in if you have any questions about it you want to dive in deeper. Send it in to the beitpod.com/questions. You can also send the wins of you celebrating the habits that you're creating to that same place, beitpod.com/questions and I will shout you out on our FYF episodes. Thank you so much, and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 16:08  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 16:51  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 16:56  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 17:00  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 17:07  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 17:11  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Transcribed by https://otter.aiSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For more than three decades, Jonathan has dedicated his life to helping people of all ages cultivate calm, confidence, and connection — not only through martial arts training, but through a deeply integrated approach to personal development. His acclaimed Life Ki-do system blends the principles and movement of Systema, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tai Chi, Tang Soo Do, and practical self-defense, creating a holistic method that develops physical skill, emotional resilience, and inner balance. Jonathan is a certified Systema instructor under Vladimir Vasiliev and began his martial arts journey as a child, training in wrestling, Tang Soo Do, and Tae Kwon Do. He continued into adulthood with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Systema, Tai Chi, and Boxing, shaping a lifelong path rooted in adaptability, flow, and purpose. Beyond the mats, Jonathan is the author of several Amazon best-selling books, including River Flow: A Simple Path to Live Your Best Life, The Circle of Confidence: Six Steps to a Strong Calm You, and Meditation Flow: Melt Your Stress – Quiet Your Mind – Elevate Your Spirit, as well as the award-winning Life Ki-do Parenting: Tools to Raise Happy, Confident Kids from the Inside Out. Through his teaching, writing, and martial arts practice, Jonathan's mission remains simple yet profound — to help others find their flow, live with intention, and embody true strength through inner calm. Please welcome my guest today — Jonathan Hewitt. Martial Arts School Near Me in Westlake | Life Ki-do Martial Arts Amazon.com: Jonathan Hewitt: books, biography, latest update

In this episode, Talaya Dendy, a cancer doula and survivor, shares her journey and insights into the world of cancer support. She discusses the importance of self-advocacy, emotional support, and holistic healing modalities like mindfulness, yoga, and Tai Chi. Talaya also highlights the challenges of cancer survivorship and the need for personalized care and community support.Connect with Talaya DendyShow Page:  https://www.drippinginblack.com/talayadendyMr. Al Pete:  https://www.mralpete.com/All things Dripping in Black: https://www.drippinginblack.com/DiBk Drip Shop:  https://www.dibkdripshop.com/Dripping in Black Productions:  ⁠https://www.dibkproductions.com/⁠

He Watched the Woman He Loved Die—And Learned How to Live AgainThe courageous journey of navigating grief becomes a path to renewed life and love in this heartfelt conversation with author and Certified Grief Educator Tony Stewart. An accomplished filmmaker, visionary software designer, and global leader in advertising technology, Tony shares the intimate story behind his acclaimed memoir, Carrying the Tiger: Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace, Finding Joy While Grieving.With unflinching honesty and tender grace, Tony recounts his profound 35-year marriage to his late wife, painter Lynn Kotula, their experience facing her terminal illness, and the pivotal conversations that helped him move forward. His memoir offers a deeply intimate exploration of love, loss, and the quiet strength required to face life's most harrowing moments. Tony brings a unique blend of insight, compassion, and hard-earned wisdom to this powerful interview as he reflects on the shift in perspective that allowed him to reframe his grief, how sorrow can be woven into our lives without overwhelming us, and what joy might look like even during mourning. This conversation is an invitation to witness resilience, honor love, and discover how grief can open unexpected pathways to healing and renewal.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE:How to approach a terminal illness diagnosis as a unified challenge to maximize “good time” rather than collapsing in pity or pursuing a “false trap” of a cure.The concept of grief as a form of “alchemy,” in which, over time, we can transmute our grief into something stronger and more valued, a kind of gold.The healing modalities that helped Tony cope with his wife's terminal illness, his grief, and his transition to a new life. The meaning behind the Tai Chi metaphor “Carrying the Tiger”: if you carry a tiger for someone, you are lifting their load.Why grief is something to honor rather than something to fix, and the truth that “you can't heal what you don't feel.”The reality that you never stop grieving, but the gradual building of positive new experiences allows joy to coexist with enduring love and sadness.The complex journey of finding new love while still deeply grieving for a previous partner, and how a new partner's openness can aid in the healing process.WATCH ON YOUTUBE: He Watched the Woman He Loved Die—And Learned How to Live Again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKWDBSKHps4&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh

It's Die Hard 2 Review time, and because it's Christmas Eve, lightning has apparently decided to strike twice. After saving Nakatomi Plaza barefoot and bleeding in 1988, John McClane is back in 1990, this time trading skyscrapers for snowstorms, terrorists, and one very inconvenient airport. Die Hard 2: Die Harder had massive shoes to fill, and the big question is simple: Did it deliver, or did it just repeat the formula louder?In this episode of Born to Watch, Whitey, Damo, and Dan reunite for a festive breakdown of one of the most debated action sequels of all time. Expectations were sky-high after the original Die Hard rewrote the action rulebook, and Die Hard 2 wastes no time reminding us of that pressure. Bigger explosions, more moving parts, and a whole airport at stake instead of one building. On paper, it should work perfectly.What follows is a classic Born to Watch deep dive. From nude Tai Chi villains with suspiciously zero side-dick continuity to John McClane apparently teleporting between airport locations, nothing escapes scrutiny. The boys unpack the strange creative choices, including the baffling need for a full SWAT team that exists solely to be wiped out, the world's loudest baggage-area shootout that nobody hears, and the endless Basil Exposition dialogue that explains things we can already see happening on screen.William Sadler's villain, Stuart, comes under the microscope, a tough gig when you're following one of cinema's all-time great bad guys. Is he intimidating, forgettable, or just unfairly compared to Hans Gruber? Meanwhile, William Atherton's return as Dick Thornburg raises serious questions about whether this character needed to exist at all, beyond being professionally annoying.The conversation drifts exactly where you'd expect, into airport etiquette, old-school plane phones that cost more than the flight itself, snowmobiles that definitely don't work on water, and the absolute insanity of an airport runway having a convenient metal grate in the middle of it. There's also love for Renny Harlin's maximalist direction, acknowledging that while Die Hard 2 may not be subtle, it is relentlessly committed to spectacle.As always, the episode isn't just about what doesn't work. The lads give Die Hard 2 its flowers where deserved, recognising the impossible task of following a cultural phenomenon and the genuine effort to recreate the tone, humour, and pacing of the original. There are discussions around box office success, audience expectations, and why some sequels are remembered more harshly than they deserve.The episode rounds out with the full Born to Watch experience, sleepers, duds, snorbs reports, random 1990 nostalgia, and side tangents that spiral into Ford Fairlane, Chuck Norris, and the best movie years of all time. It's chaotic, opinionated, and exactly how Die Hard 2 should be discussed, loudly, critically, and with mates.If Die Hard is a perfect Christmas miracle, Die Hard 2 is the messy, over-decorated sequel that still shows up to the party. Strap in, because this one absolutely earns the Die Harder title.JOIN THE CONVERSATION Is Die Hard 2 unfairly judged because of the original? Is this still a Christmas movie, or just airport chaos? What's the most ridiculous moment you'll always defend?Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at BornToWatch.com.au#DieHard2Review #BornToWatch #DieHarder #BruceWillis #ActionMovies #90sAction #MoviePodcast #ChristmasMovies #ActionSequels #FilmReview

The guys are back this week to talk College Football Playoffs & Week 16 in the NFL! They run through their college football playoff picks & talk the WILD Sherrone Moore situation before diving into their NFL thoughts. Is Josh Allen the MVP? Why this is the year for the Bills to win a Super BowlHow can the Chiefs & Packers bounce back from Patrick Mahomes & Micah Parsons' injuries? NFL Week 16 Picks Follow Najee on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Najeeadams_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Jalaal on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JSandy45_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Run It Up Podcast on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@RunItUpPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Run It Up Podcast on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@RunItUpPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Run It Up Podcast on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@RunItUpPod⁠⁠⁠⁠Songs of The Week:Najee | Wale - "Conundrum"Jalaal | Sasha Keable - "Tai Chi"

Discover groundbreaking insights at the intersection of Western and Eastern medicine in this episode of TBCY, featuring world-renowned cardiologist, researcher, and author Dr Hosen Kiat from Sydney, Australia. Hosted by Ashutosh Garg, this episode dives deep into Dr. Kiat's journey—from his formative years, the influence of cultural expectations, and his rise to the top 1% of clinical medicine researchers, to his pioneering work integrating Eastern healing traditions like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tai Chi, and Ganoderma lucidum into modern cardiology.Learn how curiosity drives excellence, the importance of preventive care, the role of emotional and spiritual well-being in heart health, and the future of personalized, integrative medicine. Dr Hosen Kiat also shares moving stories from his upcoming book, "Wisdom from Two Worlds," and practical wisdom encapsulated in his RICE acronym for living a meaningful life.Don't miss this inspiring conversation blending evidence-based science, wisdom across cultures, and actionable advice for living healthier, longer, and more purposefully!

What if the pain, injury or illness you've been carrying isn't just physical… but emotional, energetic, and deeply connected to unprocessed experiences your body is trying to help you move through? Today I'm sitting down with Taylor Cecil, a highly acclaimed holistic movement and peak performance coach. He is a former professional triathlete who has trained extensively at the CHEK Academy and Prague Rehabilitation School, and worked with world champions like Mick Fanning alongside everyday people who just want to feel at home in their bodies again. After personally experiencing chronic back pain for 18 months that sat at an 8 out of 10 daily, I tried everything: physio, chiro, every stretch and strengthening exercise you can imagine. Nothing stuck. Then I met Taylor. In one session, he connected what was happening in my back and pelvis to deeper emotional and energetic imprints … within two weeks of working together, my back pain was completely gone. This conversation isn't your typical wellness episode. This is about understanding that your body is speaking a language, and it's time we learned how to listen. In this episode, we dive into: → The real connection between emotional wounds and physical pain → Why your pain, inflammation, or disease might be your nervous system holding on to unprocessed emotions → How stress, beliefs, and trauma show up as physical symptoms in the body → The patterns that world champion athletes and everyday people share when it comes to healing → How to map your nervous system and understand what state you're in at different times → The three branches of your nervous system: sympathetic, ventral vagus, and dorsal vagus… and what each one means → Why breath is the key carrier of information in the body → Practical daily habits that create true mind-body harmony → How childhood conditioning impacts our ability to feel safe, express needs, and develop self-esteem → Taylor's personal rituals, including his 100-day Tai Chi practice and the "Four Doctors" philosophy About Taylor Cecil: Taylor Cecil is a holistic movement and peak performance coach, former professional triathlete, and founder of Native State on the Gold Coast. With over 14 years of experience, Taylor has worked with professional athletes and individuals seeking to strengthen, heal and reconnect with their bodies. His unique approach blends movement, breathwork, nervous system mapping, and energetic healing to support true transformation from the inside out. Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @taylorcecil Instagram: @yournativestate Website: www.nativestate.com.au Resources Mentioned: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra —— PS - I'm obsessed with Creation Cacao! It's my daily go-to for energy, grounding & ritual. It tastes amazing & supports your hormones, heart & mood. Certified organic, sustainably sourced & 10% of profits go to NFP, Fresh Start Initiative. Use code CHANI for a discount! CLICK HERE TO GRAB YOURS. Connect with me: Lets connect on IG here My website, blog & freebies can be found here Subscribe to my YouTube channel here Join my free VIP email list here Subscribe & Review in iTunes If you're feeling extra inspired & loving, I would be so grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes or Spotify. Reviews are like little unexpected tips that help other people find my podcast and they're also really fun for me to read (and light me up so much!). Enter The Worthy Podcast giveaway & be in the running to win a pair of KIM X BEATS limited edition earbuds. All you need to do is leave a review and when we reach 100 reviews, I'll announce the winner! I'd love for you to subscribe, I don't want you to miss an episode on your quest to creating the life of your dreams ✨ Love you lots, Chani xo

Banafsheh Sayyad is a master sacred dancer and visionary spiritual embodiment teacher whose  forthcoming book, Dance of Oneness (Sounds True, March 2026), offers a revolutionary invitation to embody love through conscious movement. Drawing from her signature Dance of Oneness modality, a Divine Feminine lineage that fuses Taoist wisdom and the mystical traditions with flamenco, Tai Chi, Persian dance, and Sufi whirling, Banafsheh guides readers to awaken their light body, dissolve constriction, and rediscovery vitality and purpose.  Dance of Oneness traces Banafsheh's own awakening, from her exile in Iran to her emergence as a world-renown artist and teacher and invites readers to live as channels of love and light, healing both self and planet.  Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a "mesmerizing foray into the body as a trance mechanism," her work has inspired thousands worldwide at centers such as Esalen, Kripalu, Omega, and Hollyhock, and through her acclaimed non-profit company, NAMAH, and her film "In the Fire of Grace", co-created with Andrew Harvey.   For more information and to connect with Banafsheh, please see:  https://danceofoneness.org/ This podcast is availabe on your favorite podcast platform, or here:   https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-329-banafsheh-sayyad-sufismmysticismdivine-feminine-embodimentdance-of-oneness Have a blessed weekend:-)

Mind–body training is widely recognized as a pillar of healthy aging. Research suggests that how we move — and how we think while we move — are deeply connected. When breath, focus and technique align, we sharpen cognition, reduce stress and build the kind of resilience that keeps us active for life.In this episode of Move for Life, fitness coaches Nate Wilkins and Shebah Carfagna explore why the mind–body connection is more than a trend — it's a practical framework for living longer and living well. From tai chi and yoga to strength training or a simple daily walk, they highlight the unifying theme of intentionality: paying attention to what the body is doing and why.Even small rituals — stepping outside for a dose of “ecotherapy,” or taking a mindful decision-making walk — can transform everyday movement into powerful brain-training moments. Studies now show that moderate physical activity can ease anxiety and depression as effectively as some medications.It's a compelling reminder that exercise isn't just for the body — it's one of the most potent tools we have for lifelong mental well-being.This is the latest in our 20-part series, Move for Life. You should consult a doctor or qualified fitness professional before beginning a new exercise program, especially if you have an existing health concerns or limited mobility.-----This podcast is supported by affiliate arrangements with a select number of companies. We have arranged discounts on certain products and receive a small commission on sales. The income helps to cover production costs and ensures that our interviews remain free for all to listen. Visit our SHOP for more details: https://healthspan-media.com/live-long-podcast/shop/Time-line Mitopure (a highly pure form of Urolithin A) boosts the health of our mitochondria – the battery packs of our cells – and improves muscle strength. Time-line is offering LLAMA listeners a 10% discount on its range of products – Mitopure powders, softgels & skin creams.  Use the code LLAMA at checkout-EnergyBits algae snacksA microscopic form of life that could help us age better. Use code LLAMA for a 20 percent discountSiPhox Health home blood testingMeasure 17 critical blood biomarkers from home. Get a 20% discount with code LLAMA PartiQlar supplementsEnhance your wellness journey with pure single ingredients. 15% DISCOUNT - use code: MASTERAGING15Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showThe Live Long and Master Aging (LLAMA) podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

Are you feeling like the world is spinning out of control? Does the fear, worry, and anxiety feel like it's reaching a breaking point? Are you exhausted from trying to hold it all together while everything seems to be going "cattywampus"? You are not alone, and this intensity is not an accident. Michael shares a personal update from his concussion recovery journey and the surprising revelation he had while literally spinning at Disney World. Discover why the overwhelm you're feeling isn't a breakdown, but a necessary "circuit breaker" moment designed to stop you from doing things the old way ever again. Key Topics: The "Circuit Breaker" Pop: Why your internal fuse is blowing right now to force you into a higher alignment (and why "no mas" is a positive spiritual statement). The "Spinning" Attunement: How Michael's concussion recovery revealed that leaning into the dizziness is actually the cure. The 3-Breath Reset: A simple, physiological trick to trip-wire your vagal nerve and instantly calm the nervous system. The "Hovering Awareness" Technique: How to float above your timeline to comfort your lower self and gain instant perspective. The 4 Questions of Alchemy: The exact questions to ask your fear to transform it into power: How am I feeling? Where did this come from? How do I let it go? How can I use this for good?. All Hail "King Mo": Why momentum is the only antidote to fear, and why there is no such thing as a wrong first step. The 2026 Energy Forecast: Why we are heading into the "year of big, fat, hairy change" and how to prepare now. This isn't about retreating to a cave to wait out the storm. This is about learning to "Tai Chi" the chaos, alchemizing the fear into fuel, and surfing the massive energy waves of late 2025 to launch your greatest self. Join the Inspire Nation Soul Family!

TUESDAY HR 5 The K.O.D. - His Highness Ryan Holmes fights the urge to be The K.O.D. Justice Warrior on the roads of Central Florida. Russ two days in on his new TAI-Chi workout. He wants Asain friends. Monster Messages & Hot Takes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TUESDAY HR 5 The K.O.D. - His Highness Ryan Holmes fights the urge to be The K.O.D. Justice Warrior on the roads of Central Florida. Russ two days in on his new TAI-Chi workout. He wants Asain friends. Monster Messages & Hot Takes

Big feelings don't always need more rules and structure. Sometimes they need play, movement, and a bit of silliness.In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline is joined by Sifu Boggy (Paul Brighton), a Taoist teacher who blends Qigong, Tai Chi, humour, and “sacred child” energy to support healing.They talk about why kids are the real teachers, how fidgeting and wild play help release stress from the body, and why shutting down movement can actually lock in tension, anxiety, and trauma. You'll hear how Qigong supported Sifu through bullying, depression, and suicidality as a teen, and how simple standing exercises can help kids and adults regulate today.This conversation is especially helpful for:Educators trying to make room for movement, play, and regulation in classroomsParents & caregivers of anxious, “fidgety,” intense, or neurodivergent kidsMental health professionals looking for body-based and playful tools that fit well with emotion regulation workThey get into:The “sacred child” and why we're not meant to grow out of playHow fidgeting, noise, and big movement can be healthy discharge, not misbehaviourQigong as “moving self-massage” that helps clear stored emotional tensionHow adults' stress responses teach kids how to handle their ownSimple, practical ways to bring more play and movement into homes, sessions, and schoolsIf you work with kids who are anxious, shut down, “too much,” or always on the move, this episode will give you a warm, playful way to see them—and yourself—differently.Homework Ideas

Have a burning question? Come one the show for Insight Seat: Dharma Dialogues. Where you can get free coaching on your question and help others by sharing your story. In this deeply insightful episode, Katie and Britt dive into the transformative world of energy hygiene, Reiki healing, and intuitive wellness practices. Britt—a Reiki Master, artist, and therapist—shares her journey into energy work, highlighting how intuition, grounding, and self-awareness can support healing and personal growth.Together, Katie and Britt explore how energy practices like yoga, Reiki, Saima Diksha, Tai Chi, and Qigong help release blocked energy, balance emotions, and elevate consciousness. They discuss the growing scientific understanding of the human energy field and how maintaining energetic alignment can positively impact both physical and emotional well-being.Katie opens up about her own energy rituals, including a morning visualization practice for clearing unwanted energy and inviting divine light. Britt offers practical tips for daily energy hygiene, emphasizing grounding, nourishment, gratitude, and forgiveness as essential components of a healthy energy system.Listeners will also learn about:The difference between Reiki Level 1 and 2 and how each deepens energetic awarenessHow forgiveness and compassion play key roles in healingThe importance of combining therapy with energy work to address trauma holisticallyBritt's concept of “attenergy” and how to maintain a high vibrational frequencyThe impact of media and daily choices on your personal energy fieldSimple grounding techniques like hand-rubbing, shaking, and breathwork to release stagnant energyTo learn more about Britt's work head over to her website at: brittmichaelian.art. Take a listen to her podcast Daily Healing Podcast, and check out her Healing House event, an annual art and wellness fundraiser for City of Hope Cancer Treatment Centers.If you're seeking tools for energetic balance, spiritual growth, and self-healing, this episode will inspire you to reconnect with your intuition, raise your vibration, and practice energy hygiene as a way of life.

Welcome to the Strength Connection!Today I am joined by Zar Horton, Master SFG within the community of Strongfirst. Zar has been teaching workshops in hardstyle strength nationally and internationally for over 12 years, and…was a battalion chief and firefighter in Albuquerque fire and rescue for 32 years. In this conversation, Zar shares his journey from a firefighter to a master instructor in strength training, emphasizing the importance of functional fitness for first responders. He discusses the challenges of introducing kettlebell training to traditional firefighting methods, the significance of mobility and breathwork, and the lessons learned in leadership throughout his career. Zar reflects on his transition into retirement and the changes in his lifestyle, while also outlining his future plans for workshops and certifications.Check out more from Zar at:https://linktr.ee/zarhortonChapters00:00 Introduction and Background06:21 The Shift to Hardstyle Strength Training12:49 Implementing Change in Firefighting Training18:19 Transitioning from Firefighting to Retirement27:45 The Importance of Sleep and Breathwork29:54 Teaching Movement: Lessons Learned Over Time32:37 Mastering Movement: The Kettlebell Experience35:34 Mobility and Aging: A Shift in Focus38:20 The Value of Tai Chi and Breathwork42:38 Leadership Lessons from the Fire Service47:29 Upcoming Workshops and Future Plans

Program notes:0:35 Update on RSV, flu and COVID-19 vaccines1:35 500 studies included2:35 Rare myocarditis3:35 Flu vaccine in older adults4:30 Tai chi or CBT-I for chronic insomnia5:30 Trained in one or the other6:30 Inexpensive and accessible7:30 $150 billion cost of chronic insomnia7:45 GLP-1s and WHO guidance8:50 Multimodal approach required9:45 Prevention is important9:55 Corticosteroids in pregnancy10:50 1.3 million pregnancies11:50 Used for multiple indications12:46 End

Aubrey Masango joined by Carlo Gomes, Founder of Duality- Fitness and Fit Cafe, discuss the transformative power of Tai Chi and mindful movement. Carlo shares how his dedication to mindfulness has helped people reclaim their bodies and lives, highlighting the importance of consistency and small acts of service in creating profound change. The Aubrey Masango Show is presented by late night radio broadcaster Aubrey Masango. Aubrey hosts in-depth interviews on controversial political issues and chats to experts offering life advice and guidance in areas of psychology, personal finance and more. All Aubrey’s interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen. Thank you for listening to this podcast from The Aubrey Masango Show. Listen live on weekdays between 20:00 and 24:00 (SA Time) to The Aubrey Masango Show broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and on CapeTalk between 20:00 and 21:00 (SA Time) https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk Find out more about the show here https://buff.ly/lzyKCv0 and get all the catch-up podcasts https://buff.ly/rT6znsn Subscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfet Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/   What does it really mean to live in balance — not by escaping pain, but by transforming how we meet it? In this episode of Being Human, filmmaker and Tai Chi teacher George Thompson shares his journey from anxiety, self-doubt, and overthinking to presence, spaciousness, and embodied awareness. After travelling to the Wudang Mountains in China to study Tai Chi and Daoist philosophy, George discovered a radical shift: “To hurt is to be human. Balance is possible. Practice is the path.”   We explore how ancient wisdom meets modern life, and how spirituality becomes actionable, grounded, and deeply human.   We cover: - Turning up at the wrong temple - Scrolling Reddit on the Sacred Mountain - Materialism vs dualism vs panpsychism - The role of compassion and connection in leadership Oh, to have so much wisdom so early in life! George is a treat. Links: George's Website Taoist Wellness Online

Discover the extraordinary journey of Doug Noll — award-winning lawyer, mediator, author, martial artist, neuroscience researcher, and co-founder of the groundbreaking Prison of Peace project. In this powerful episode of The Mike Litton Experience, Doug reveals how childhood disabilities, elite education, a 22-year legal career, martial arts training, and neuroscience transformed him into one of the world's leading experts in de-escalation, empathy, and conflict resolution. From helping settle impossible disputes to training thousands of incarcerated men and women with a zero recidivism rate, Doug shares insights that will completely reshape how you think, lead, and communicate—especially in an age dominated by AI. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How Dartmouth's early computer science program shaped Doug's analytical mind The case that used linguistics and AI-style analysis decades before AI existed Why a law degree builds unmatched critical-thinking skills How martial arts and Tai Chi broke his arrogance and reshaped his worldview The emotional-listening breakthrough that changed his life in 2005 The neuroscience behind conflict, emotions, and why rationality is a myth The origin and global expansion of Prison of Peace Why empathy is the most powerful leadership skill of the 21st century Whether you’re a leader, a parent, a communicator, or simply someone who wants deeper human connection, this episode delivers practical wisdom you can apply immediately. If you enjoy this episode, don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to The Mike Litton Experience so you never miss inspiring conversations that push your life and career forward. Connect with Doug Noll: Doug@DougNoll.com Learn more: DougNoll.com

Shawn & Janet Needham R.Ph. host Stefan Hartmann who a German-American raised in a holistic household steeped in Chinese Medicine, Tai Chi, and natural approaches to wellness. He studied at the University of Central Florida, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Sports & Exercise Science while working in the Emergency Department with the long-term goal of practicing medicine. After completing his Physician Assistant degree at Bay Path University, he gained broad clinical experience in urgent care, internal medicine, spine surgery, interventional pain management, family medicine, and psychiatry. His background in sports science, nutrition, anti-aging, and longevity-focused health shapes his root-cause, whole-person approach to care. He is known for emphasizing patient autonomy, personalized treatment, and a commitment to understanding each individual's unique health challenges rather than relying on symptom-based care. Stefan has been active in medical-freedom advocacy throughout the pandemic and continues to lead Iron DPC through rigorous research review, routine CME lectures, and evidence-based protocol development. He has treated patients of all ages and remains dedicated to helping individuals reverse chronic disease and optimize long-term vitality. Stefan Hartmann, MPAS, PA-C Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/IronDPC Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/irondirectprimarycare/ X | https://x.com/ironDPC YouTube | @irondirectprimarycare9440 Health Solutions Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/health_solutions_shawn_needham/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@healthsolutionspodcast Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/HealthSolutionsPodcast Moses Lake Professional Pharmacy Website | http://mlrx.com.com/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MosesLakeProfessionalPharmacy/ Shawn Needham X | https://x.com/ShawnNeedham2 Shawn's Book | http://mybook.to/Sickened_The_Book Additional Links https://linktr.ee/mlrx

If you've ever wondered why you can accomplish so much yet still feel tense, stuck, or disconnected from yourself, this conversation will shift the way you think about growth, healing, and leadership. We talk about the moments when the body speaks louder than the mind, and what happens when you stop performing strength and start embodying it. So many high-achieving women try to think their way to the next level. More strategy, more mindset, more discipline. But what if your next breakthrough isn't in your mind at all?What if your body has been holding the answers the entire time? In this episode, I sit down with somatic leadership coach Lily Shepard to explore how movement, nervous system awareness, and embodied expression can unlock the parts of you that mindset work alone can't touch. Lily shares her story of navigating divorce, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and identity loss, and the moment Spirit whispered one word that changed everything: move. Her healing didn't start with a plan. It started with a primal, messy, intuitive movement practice that helped her rebuild from the inside out.

Have you been telling yourself that you'll focus on your health once you make it? In this episode, Cory sits down with Las Vegas broker, investor, and host of The Mindful Agent, Michael Coxen, to unpack the dangerous lie high performers tell themselves: “I'll focus on my health once I'm successful.” Michael shares how grinding through long hours, stress, and “I'll do everything myself” thinking led to a life-threatening battle with ulcerative colitis that left him at 115 pounds and forced him to rethink everything he believed about work, wealth, and winning.Michael walks through how he rebuilt his life and business from that rock-bottom moment, shifting from work–life “balance” to true work–life harmony. He breaks down the simple mindfulness habits he uses daily including conscious breathing, journaling, Tai Chi, that allow him to run a real estate brokerage, build a portfolio, and stay healthy at the same time. He also opens up about how he and his wife quietly built over $1.5M in equity by living in, improving, and renting out three homes over 15 years, why he still loves Las Vegas real estate, and how he thinks about seasons of hustle versus seasons of rest. If you've ever thought, “Once I hit X income, then I'll take care of myself,” this conversation is your wake-up call. Health is wealth and if you don't protect it on the way up, you may never get to enjoy what you've built. Book your mentorship discovery call with Cory RESOURCES

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Join The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: ⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠In this in-depth segment, Analytic Dreamz delivers the ultimate breakdown of NetEase's Where Winds Meet, the free-to-play Wuxia open-world RPG that exploded onto the global stage November 14, 2025. From its Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms setting to the revolutionary Messiah Engine, Analytic Dreamz covers the soulslike combat with 12+ weapon types, 40+ Martial Mystic Arts, Qinggong movement, and non-combat lifestyles (Doctor, Merchant, Assassin, Architect). Dive into the seamless 4-player co-op, massive MMO endgame (30v30 PvP, raids, guilds), controversial AI NPC “Jianghu Friends” with LLM-driven dialogue, and the deepest character creator in 2025 F2P titles.Analytic Dreamz analyzes the historic launch stats: 2 million players in 24 hours, 193K Steam peak concurrent, 83% Very Positive reviews, topping PS5 charts in 7 regions, and China's earlier 15M+ player dominance. Get the truth on monetization (cosmetics + gacha, no P2W), Metacritic scores (72–75), major outlet takes from IGN and GamesRadar+, launch bugs, viral horse-stealing glitches, and Everstone Studio's post-launch roadmap including future Xbox support.Whether you're grinding sects, mastering Tai Chi, or debating the creepy-yet-genius AI companions, Analytic Dreamz breaks down why Where Winds Meet is the most ambitious Wuxia action-adventure of the year. Notorious Mass Effect – real talk, zero hype, all facts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

THURSDAY HR 1 Thanksgiving at work. Deviled Eggs are amazing!! Russ hanging out with his mom on her birthday. Burt and Sally. Russ tries to get Ryan to do Tai Chi.

THURSDAY HR 1 Thanksgiving at work. Deviled Eggs are amazing!! Russ hanging out with his mom on her birthday. Burt and Sally. Russ tries to get Ryan to do Tai Chi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SUMMARY In this conversation, Rich Marantz shares his extensive journey through Tai Chi and martial arts, detailing his experiences with various teachers and the profound impact they had on his life. He discusses the philosophy behind Tai Chi, emphasizing its dual role as a martial art and a healing practice. Rich elaborates on the three pillars of Tai Chi: its martial aspect, its health benefits, and its application in daily life. He also reflects on the importance of finding peace and personal growth through practice, ultimately conveying a message of peace and connection with others.   TAKEAWAYS Rich's journey into Tai Chi began with a search for healing. He has studied under multiple teachers, each contributing to his growth. Tai Chi is not just a martial art; it's a way of life. The practice of Tai Chi can lead to significant health benefits. Rich emphasizes the importance of being a seeker and a finder in life. He believes in the duality of Tai Chi as both a martial art and a healing practice. The principles of Tai Chi can be applied to everyday life situations. Rich's philosophy includes being unhurried, intentional, and steady. He encourages others to find their passion and connect with like-minded individuals. The message of peace is central to Rich's teachings and personal journey.

Dr. Jannine Krause, a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist, discusses alternative solutions for women who have difficulties with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Dedicated to transforming women's healthcare in their 40s and beyond, Dr. Krause provides valuable insights to navigate midlife challenges.   Key Takeaways:  - What to do when HRT isn't working for you - How acupuncture eases hormone imbalance side effects - The overlooked benefits of Tai Chi & Qi Gong for surviving midlife woes - Why Regulating the nervous system prior to starting any hormone replacement is crucial for optimal results       Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Click here. Subscribe if you'd like to catch all new episodes live and participate with our guests directly.   Want to learn more about becoming an FDN? Go to fdntraining.com/resources to get our best free workshops and mini-courses! Where to find Dr. Jannine Krause: Website: doctorjkrausend.com Instagram: @drjanninekrause  

Here I explain the lymphatic system, a crucial bodily network for overall health and appearance. I explain how the lymphatic system works to remove cellular waste and fluid from your organs and combat infections. I provide science-based tools that support your lymphatic system for the sake of health and appearance, including: how to reduce fluid retention in your limbs, trunk or face, how to eliminate 'bags' under your eyes and brain fog, and how to improve cardiac health and longevity. Because your lymphatic system lacks a central pump, it needs the mechanical forces generated by specific types of bodily movement, breathing and pressure to circulate your lymph properly, and I explain how you can activate these. I also explain how to support optimal functioning of your glymphatic system, a brain- and spinal cord waste-clearing system active during sleep that is crucial for brain functioning and longevity, including to prevent dementia. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AGZ by AG1: https://drinkagz.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Lymphatic System (00:04:11) Circulatory System, Heart; Oxygen, Nutrient & Waste Transfer (00:11:03) Lymphatic System, Fluid, Lymphedema, Chronic Inflammation; Brain Fog (00:14:52) Sponsor: LMNT & David Protein (00:17:28) Lymphatic Vessels, Tool: Enhance Lymphatic Drainage with Movement (00:26:24) Tools: Jumping (Rebounding), Treading Water, Swimming (00:27:41) Tool: Swelling, Lymphatic Drainage & Diaphragmatic Breathing (00:32:05) Swimming & Lymphatic Flow; Tai Chi (00:34:00) Lymphatic Massage, Cancer & Lymphedema; Jade Roller & Gua Sha (00:37:28) Sponsor: AGZ by AG1 (00:38:56) Lymph Flow, Tool: Lymphatic Massage & Manual Lymphatic Drainage (00:45:02) Immune Function of Lymphatic System, Sore Lymph Nodes (00:54:24) Cancer Treatment, Lymph Nodes & Lymphedema (00:57:02) Limb Swelling, Minor Lymphedema & Inflammation, Lymphatic Boots (01:00:09) Sponsors: Eight Sleep (01:01:43) Glymphatic System, Brain & Sleep (01:05:56) Sleep & Brain Waste Recycling; Discovery of the Glymphatic System (01:12:24) Enhance Glymphatic Clearance, Brain Fog, Age, Tool: Side Sleeping Position (01:15:54) Tools: Optimize Sleep, Cardiovascular Exercise, Elevate Feet, Pillow (01:17:29) Puffy Face, Tool: Lymphatic & Facial Massage (01:21:23) Sponsor: Function (01:23:11) Tool: Hydration & Lymphatic Support (01:24:48) Tool: Cardiovascular Exercise & Lymphatic Vessels, Heart, Aging (01:31:06) Tool: Infrared & Red Light, Mitochondria, Lymphedema, Skin Appearance (01:36:08) Key Takeaways (01:37:21) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices