Tag

Mental Health

Creativity, Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Science, Self-help, Spirituality

Sep 18: Walk Your Way to More Creativity & Better Health with Michael Gelb

Walking Well: A new approach for comfort, vitality, and inspiration in every step.

Walking Well with coauthor Michael Gelb

Walking is one of the most scientifically researched human activities. We know it’s good for us, providing many benefits from improved physical and mental health, to spiritual and emotional wellbeing, to heightened creativity and increased productivity. We also know those benefits increase exponentially if we are outdoors in nature.

To prove a point, today’s guest, Michael Gelb walked as we talked about his new book coauthored with Bruce Fertman, WALKING WELL: A New Approach for Comfort, Vitality, and Inspiration in Every Step.

An expert in creative thinking, Michael Gelb joined forces with movement expert Bruce Fertman to create their new, whole-being approach to find an “easier, kinder, more natural way to walk.” And if you don’t like walking, their Walking Well practice also includes sitting, standing, and lying down.

Meet Coauthors Michael J. Gelb and Bruce Fertman

Michael J. Gelb is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, executive coaching, and innovative leadership. He’s a fifth-degree black belt in aikido and a gifted teacher of tai chi and the Alexander Technique. He is the author of 17 books — including the international bestseller How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci. Michael Gelb is also a professional juggler who performed with the Rolling Stones.

Bruce Fertman brings 60 years of study as a movement artist and educator to his work. His training includes gymnastics, modern dance, ballet, contact improvisation, the Alexander Technique, tai chi chuan, aikido, chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony), Argentine tango, and kyudo (Zen archery). For the past 30 years Fertman’s taught in Europe, Asia, and the Americas helping people experience the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual life.

Continue reading
Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Science, Self-help

Sep 04: Brain Doctor’s 8-Week Plan to Focus Your Mind, Reduce Stress, Avoid Burnout

Dr Romie Mushtaq shares The Busy Brain Cure

The Busy Brain Cure with author Dr. Romie Mushtaq

At the peak of success as a neurologist, Dr. Romie Mushtaq suffered major burnout. “As a brain doctor,” she says “I should have known better.”

As if burnout wasn’t enough, Dr. Romie also needed life-saving surgery, and that gave her the wake up call she needed. Her quest to make significant and lasting change sent her on a global journey, searching for solutions to heal the many negative impacts of stress on our brains, bodies, spirits, and teams.

As we discuss The Busy Brain Cure: The Eight Week Plan to Find Focus, Tame Anxiety, & Sleep Again, discover why she says you should ditch diets, forget cleanses – and occasionally, why it’s okay to embrace comfort food to calm stress. We share how to reduce dependencies on caffeine by day, and sleep aids at night. Dr. Romie also shares how to remedy the root cause of ADHD, anxiety, and insomnia without addictive medications.

About Dr. Romie Mushtaq, Neurologist & Author

A board-certified physician, award-winning wellness speaker, and the founder of brainSHIFT, Dr. Romie Mushtaq combines more than 20 years of authority in neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness to deliver programs and create cultural change. Dr. Romie currently speaks and consults for Fortune 500 companies, professional athletes, & global associations. She is also the Chief Wellness Officer (CWO) for Great Wolf Lodge. And was formerly the CWO for Evolution Hospitality, where she scaled a mindfulness & wellness program for over 7,000 employees. Her expertise is featured in the national media, such as NPR, NBC, TED talks, and Forbes.

Continue reading
Memoir, Non Fiction, Social Issues

Feb 21: Renegade MD – Dr Susan Partovi with Stories From the Streets

Dr Susan Partovi walks where many fear to tread

Renegade M.D. with author Dr. Susan Partovi

Renegade, pioneer, crusader, inspirational – just a few of the words used to describe our amazing guest today. Dr. Susan Partovi has dedicated her medical career to helping the impoverished, under-served, and homeless – people who, ordinarily, have no access to a caring doctor or medical resources.

We discuss her memoir Renegade M.D.: A Doctor’s Stories From the Streets where Dr. Susan shares stories of her own life, her career, and the people she meets on the streets. We hear why homelessness is not the black and white situation some would like us to believe, and learn why many – because of severe mental illness – aren’t capable of making rational decisions, let alone helping themselves.

With the number of Americans experiencing homelessness soaring above 680,000, Dr. Susan Partovi highlights real problems, shares real stories, and recommends real solutions to the growing problem across the country.

Meet Dr Susan Partovi

Dr. Susan Partovi is an internationally recognized expert in the field of street medicine, and a cofounder of HEAL –  a nonprofit that brings medical students and services to Haiti. Dr. Partovi is the medical director of Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles and her just released debut memoir is Renegade M.D.: A Doctor’s Stories from the Streets.

Continue reading
Health & Wellness, Nature, Non Fiction, Spirituality, Yoga

Mar 08: Heal Your Heart & Soul with Rebecca Wildbear

Wild Yoga: A Practice of Initiation, Veneration & Advocacy for the Earth

Wild Yoga with author Rebecca Wildbear

Rebecca Wildbear describers herself as an earth-centred writer and soul guide. She writes, “When we are in our bodies, at one with nature, we are in touch with intelligence more significant than our minds. Nature can inspire our movements, align us with our instincts, initiate us into living our soul’s purpose, and guide us in tending the well-being of all life.”

Rebecca shares what she believes differentiates the soul from the spirit. We talk about the importance of stillness, of listening to trees, of sitting with the earth, of allowing. And how to flow in the river of your heart waters.

About Rebecca Wildbear

Rebecca Wildbear is the author of Wild Yoga: A Practice of Initiation, Veneration & Advocacy for the Earth and has guided Wild Yoga programs since 2007. She worked as a yoga teacher trainer at Nosara Yoga Institute for many years and now guides nature and soul programs through Animas Valley Institute.

Continue reading
Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Science

Feb 02: Use the New Science of Body Movement to Set Your Mind Free with Caroline Williams

Move! by the author of My Plastic Brain

Studies say sitting is the new smoking — and the average American adult spends 70% of their time sitting or lying down. Imagine what that does to your body over time. And now, we know, it also affects your mind and mental health.

In Move! journalist Caroline Williams explores the emerging science of how movement opens up a hotline to our minds. Interviewing Nobel prize winning scientists, yoga gurus, and practitioners of all kinds of movement, she reveals that while going to the gym is great, it’s not necessarily the best or only solution.

Today we discuss how core strength is linked to stress and anxiety control. Why stretching can override the mood-sapping effects of an overactive immune system. What dance can do for our emotional literacy. Why physical strength translates into emotional resilience … and more.

About Caroline Williams

Science journalist Caroline Williams says “I like talking almost as much as I like writing”, and over the years she has produced and presented radio programs and reports for the BBC, across Science, Natural History, and Children’s Radio. She has more than 20 years of experience in science journalism and writes regularly for New Scientist magazine, Her work’s been featured in the Boston Globe, BBC Earth, the Guardian, and more. She was  also co-presenter of the New Scientist podcast. Move! How the Science of Body Movement Can Set Your Mind Free is Caroline’s second book.

Continue reading
Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Self-help

SEP 29: You Are Not Alone with The Anxiety Sisters’ Survival Guide

How You Can Become More Hopeful, Connected, and Happy

More than one in three of us suffer from anxiety, and despite anxiety being highly treatable, only 36% of suffers seek help says the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Today’s guests have lived with anxiety their entire adult lives, so much so that it shaped the work they were driven to do.  Abbe Greenberg and Maggie Sarachek, aka The Anxiety Sisters, say you are NOT alone–even though it may feel that way.

We discuss what living with anxiety is like, what we can do about it, and how feelings of isolation are often accompanied by shame, which stops people from seeking help.

About The Anxiety Sisters

Co-founders of The Anxiety Sisters online community, and co-authors of The Anxiety Sisters’ Survival Guide.

Maggie Sarachek’s expertise is counseling, and teaching people to find strength through community. As a social worker in a New York City high school, she specialized in the development of youth leadership, as well as counseling individuals and families.

Abbe Greenberg has two degrees in the communication field, a certificate in Adult Education, and a Masters in Creative Writing. In addition to a 25-year career as a professor, Abbe has been a divorce mediator, a Myers-Briggs trainer, and communication consultant.

Continue reading
Health & Wellness, Nature, Non Fiction, Psychology

DEC 02: Sue Stuart-Smith on The Restorative Power of Nature

The Well-Gardened Mind

Connecting with nature is vital to long-term physical and mental health, and in her new book, Sue Stuart-Smith delves into why and how. She combines insights from the latest neuroscience, with personal stories, and her own experiences as a mental health professional.

We discuss what Sue means by a well-gardened mind, and how to cultivate one. We explore why nature inspires many successful artists, and helps unleash creative inspiration. How our brains change when exposed to beauty. And how we can use our natural green surroundings to allow nature to nurture and heal mind, body, spirit.

The book was published just months before COVID hit our shores and — with mental health issues at an all time high in the US — today is a perfect time to revisit our  conversation.

About Sue Stuart-Smith

She’s a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author of THE WELL-GARDENED MIND: The Restorative Power of Nature — a Sunday Times Bestseller. Dr. Sue Stuart-Smith teaches at Tavistock Clinic in London, and is a consultant to the UK DocHealth Service.

Continue reading
Conservation, Environment, Health & Wellness, Humor, Social Issues

DEC 18: Richard Louv’s Our Wild Calling

What would your life be like if you were as immersed in nature as you are in your electronic devices?  Today you will find out how connecting with animals can improve our spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.  You’ll learn why a coyote riding on public transportation could become the new norm, and how our children can learn ethical behavior from our dogs.  And find out how our guest compares raccoons to Silicone Valley and Seattle technophiles!

Richard Louv is a journalist and author of ten books, and co-founder and chair emeritus of the nonprofit Children & Nature Network.  In 2008, he was awarded the Audubon Medal, presented by the National Audubon Society. Prior recipients have included Rachel Carson, E. O. Wilson, Sir David Attenborough and President Jimmy Carter.  His new book is Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform our Lives — and Save Theirs.

 

Continue reading
Fiction, Writers on Writing

OCT 21: A.F. Brady’s Once A Liar & Robyn Carr’s The View From Alameda Island

Eleven times #1 New York Times bestselling author, Robyn Carr, joins us with The View from Alameda Island.  You’ll hear why, despite Robyn’s success as a writer, her daughter most admires Robyn’s humility. And from Robyn’s perspective, we’ll hear what it’s like writing sex scenes, knowing your daughter’s going to read them.  How she sets those scenes up, why they’re important to romance and women’s fiction. And what Robyn says to readers who wish she’d skip the sex scenes.

Dozens of millions of Robyn’s books have been sold around the world, and translated into more than 19 languages.  

Also joining us, A.F. Brady, New York State licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist turned novelist.

Brady’s long career in mental healthcare provides her with an abundance of material for creating the perfect sociopathic character, in her second novel, Once A Liar.  When a character is so cold, distant, and dastardly, what makes the reader stick with him?  We’ll find out today!

Tune in at noon PT / 3 pm ET on Seattle’s KKNW am1150 and FM 98.9HD3. Or online, from anywhere in the world, at https://1150kknw.com/ … hope you’ll join us!

Continue reading
Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Self-help, Social Issues, Women's Issues

FEB 11: Linda Graham’s Resilience & Alexia Vernon’s Step Into Your Moxie

Do you stoically remain calm and together during a traumatic event?  Or are you more likely to fall apart?  Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and even Disaster by Linda Graham, MFT, examines our brain’s built-in negativity bias, offering ways to improve your ability to withstand hardships and create positive change.

Linda is an experienced psychotherapist who integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness practices, and relational psychology in her international trainings on resilience and well-being.  She is a past winner of the Books for a Better Life Award.

Recent headlines have proven that women still have a long way to go to overcome patriarchal prejudices. Forget payscale for a moment, and other more obvious gender inequalities. We’re talking about being taken seriously as a valued human being. We’re talking about being heard when we say NO. When we file complaints about abuse or harassment. When we claim the right to express our feelings.

If you have trouble speaking up for yourself, join us and Step Into Your Moxie.

Alexia Vernonbranded “Moxie Maven” by President Obama’s White House Office of Public Engagement, is a leadership coach for Fortune 500 companies and the United Nations. With a  graduate degree in women’s studies, she’s been featured on major networks and in publications such as Forbes Woman and Women’s Health.

Continue reading