A Quest for Well-Being – Details, episodes & analysis

— Ayurveda may be the world's oldest continuously practiced health system, dating up to five thousand years ago Ayurveda can be loosely translated as the “science of life.” The word comes from combining "Ayur," meaning life, and "Veda,” meaning knowledge. So Ayurveda literally means "the knowledge of life" —  how to  live in the best possible way.

Ayurveda is a very basic, simple, natural approach to living. It is a beautiful combination of oral and written instruction, spirituality, philosophy, mythology, AND  SCIENTIFIC knowledge that has been around for over 5000 years.

It is rooted in the oldest spiritual texts of India called the Vedas. These texts (some of which date back to 450-1500 BCE.) are widely considered to be the most ancient  science and address ALL aspects of healing and well-being for both body  and mind.

Ayurveda, even though it originated in India, gained traction  and prestige in Sri Lanka, China, Tibet, and Nepal, influencing these  various philosophies and healing traditions. There was a point when Western medicine denounced Ayurveda as inferior when India was  colonized. However, it continued to be practiced under the radar of  colonists in rural areas and monasteries.

Ayurveda is making a huge  comeback in India, North America, and other Western countries. We are  now looking to combine the science and technology of traditional Western  medicine with Ayurveda's holistic, preventative healing art. With the  emphasis on prevention and empowering people to have more control over  their health via the choices they make in their everyday lives, Ayurveda  has become a holistic wellness system that is infiltrating the  mainstream, unbeknownst to many. For instance, Kaizer Permanente is  displaying billboards around LA referencing circadian rhythms - how  crazy fantastic is that? Costco did a 2-page layout last summer on  Ayurveda and holistic health. And yes.....they called it by its real name!

 Ayurveda and Self-Care go hand and hand!  

Valeria interviews Paula Pister  — She is an Ayurvedic Health and Life Coach, Yoga teacher, and busy mom.

Her journey began as a young model and actress, where she struggled with self-worth and body image issues. In her 20s, becoming a certified yoga teacher helped Paula appreciate and love her body more, leading her to explore Ayurveda, yoga's sister science.

Now, Paula teaches midlife women simple daily and seasonal self-care tools rooted in ancient wisdom and modern habit change science. She is a strong advocate for self-care, aiming to help women overcome the belief that prioritizing themselves is selfish or to feel “guilty about."

In Ayurveda, our energy reserves are called “Ojas." Paula emphasizes that without replenishment, this energy depletes, leaving women vulnerable to mental, emotional, and physical imbalances. Having experienced burnout herself, she understands the challenges faced by busy women juggling multiple responsibilities.

Growing up in a generation where real self-care wasn’t always modeled well, Paula learned its importance later in life. Now in her 50s, she is committed to being an exemplary model for her children and helping other midlife women reshape outdated beliefs about self-care, listening to their intuition, and reclaiming control of habits that are life-depleting not life-enhancing. Because self-care does NOT come in a one-size-fits-all box, a bottle, or from Amazon. It takes committing to yourself and deeper desires, being gentle and kind to yourself, and understanding that this is a journey. Every step along the path is an opportunity for growth, deeper insight, and a chance to connect with your inner wisdom (which is ALWAYS guiding you.)

Paula stresses that self-care starts with self-worth, setting boundaries, and learning to say “No” (nicely and guilt-free). She believes this approach is not selfish but essential, as a healthy, vibrant, and happy individual better equipped to care for others and show up in the world as your best and most vibrant self. 

To learn more about Paula Pister and her work, please visit:

https://www.mindbodybright.com/

To learn about the 21-Day Fall Reset and receive a 20% discount use the code: QUEST20

https://www.mindbodybright.com/fallcleanse

— Susan Keller wrote Mostly Sober: A Love Story and a Road Trip to help readers find peace with reduced alcohol consumption. And, to show them how they can moderate, or even eliminate, cravings for alcohol. Reduced cravings lead to a lot less drinking and improved health for our minds and bodies. “Mostly Sober” takes place in 1983. This was a time when there was little help available to the person who wanted to change their drinking. It was AA or not much else. But not all of us who drink are candidates for AA. We can learn to drink moderately or minimally. Today, there is a lot of help to do that. Susan’s intention is that readers find common ground with her protagonist and her journey to accept herself, resolve her own misplaced guilt, and understand that the trauma she experienced as a child was not her fault.

Valeria interviews Susan Keller — She is the author of  “Mostly Sober: A Love Story and a Road Trip” and “Blood Brother: A Memoir.” 

After earning a degree in Public Health and Immunology, Susan enjoyed a 30-year career as an award-winning medical writer. Additionally, her poetry won prizes in regional and national contests. This background in science and poetry gives her writing credibility as well as lyricism.

Susan’s experience overcoming a rare and frequently fatal lymphoma inspired her to write Blood Brother: A Memoir. The subhead: Johnny’s bone marrow could save my life, but he’d vanished 30 years ago.

Her second book Mostly Sober: A Love Story and a Road Trip, is a genre-blend of romance and self-help. It is a deeply human narrative centered around the sober-curious movement and will help and resonate with the millions of Americans determined to moderate or minimize alcohol consumption.

Susan lives in the Bay Area with her husband, Daniel. She and Daniel have both reduced their alcohol consumption from 60 drinks a month to 6 or 8. Her mission is to help all of her readers find peace and improved physical and mental health with reduced alcohol consumption.

To learn more about Susan Keller and her work, please visit: https://susankeller.com/

— Intergenerational family trauma (aka intergenerational trauma) refers to a broad spectrum of symptoms, dynamics, and genetics resulting from the traumatic experiences of an individual or family, which are later passed down to the next generation of the family. The research on intergenerational trauma has predominantly focused on specific ethnic or cultural groups, like Jewish descendants of Holocaust survivors and African-American descendants of American chattel slaves. Researchers found that many descendants show unique characteristics that resembled the PTSD of the trauma survivors (their ancestors) themselves (Van Steenwyk et al. 2018). While this field of study is relatively new and rather sparse, the findings have been consistent and undeniable: intergenerational trauma is a real thing. If you have experienced significant family stress and trauma, if your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents experienced traumas at various points, Dr. Ernest’s work should be helpful for you as valuable guidance toward a thriving life!

Valeria interviews Dr. Ernest Ellender  — He is the author of  “This Is How We Heal from Painful Childhoods: A Practical Guide for Healing Past Intergenerational Stress and Trauma.”

Ernest Ellender worked in the fields of psychology, life coaching, and martial arts for over 25 years, culminating in his book entitled “This Is How We Heal From Painful Childhoods: A Practical Guide for Healing Past Intergenerational Stress and Trauma”. After earning his doctorate in clinical psychology (2007), Ernest focused heavily on application of research and theory to provide therapy and life coaching to community-based clients. He also taught at Nicholls State University before retiring from clinical psychology in 2022. He is a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and runs his martial arts school in his hometown of Houma, Louisiana while additionally offering Life Coaching services to ambitious clients. His advanced martial arts training lent unique insights into the process of developing precise, complex skills. Ernest combined the best of both psychology and martial arts training into an empowering curriculum for healing from childhood and family struggles. The rich Cajun heritage of south Louisiana where Ernest grew up includes amazing, close-knit communities that celebrate family life and a close connection to the land (hunting, fishing, farming, food), as well as a long history of cultural traumas that persist today. This offered fertile grounds for refining his curriculum before offering it to the world in his new book. Known affectionately in his hometown as “Waffle”, Ernest keeps busy spending time with family and friends and significant other, working out at his brother’s CrossFit gym, learning new skills (freediving, dancing), or planning his next vacation to experience new cultures and adventures.

To learn more about Dr. Ernest Ellender and his work, please visit: healfromchildhood.com

— We all desire to be more confident, but self-doubt and fear of failure often hamper our ability to build confidence. It is possible to unlock your true potential and build unwavering confidence by adopting a growth mindset. By embracing a growth mindset, you can develop greater confidence and lead a more fulfilling life. In order to unlock your true potential and overcome self-doubt, you must change your perspective on challenges, failures, and effort. Let a growth mindset propel you to success and personal growth as you watch your confidence soar. Cultivating a growth mindset is a continuous process, that with dedication and self-compassion, you can nurture the seeds of confidence within yourself and prosper in all aspects of your life.

Valeria interviews Heidi Siegal Kogon  — She is a highly experienced leadership and career coach with a passion for guiding emotionally intelligent, highly sensitive, critical thinkers towards confidence and fulfillment in both their professional and personal lives.

With over 25 years of leadership experience in various functions, Heidi combines her extensive background with an MBA from Boston University and certified coach training to provide her clients with a results-oriented approach to achieving their goals. Her clients often come to her feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or struggling with imposter syndrome and overthinking. Heidi works closely with them to break free from these barriers, fostering greater self-belief, recognizing their innate strengths, and discovering their authentic leadership voice. Whether her clients aim to advance within their current roles or seek new opportunities that align with their values and passions, Heidi's guidance and strategies help them find greater satisfaction and success. With a coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), an MBA from Boston University, and a BA in Business from Simmons University, Heidi possesses a diverse and robust skill set. Her dedication to empowering others has earned her certifications as an ACC Certified Coach from the ICF Coaching Federation and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner. Heidi credits her success to her unwavering focus, drive, and perseverance. She eagerly anticipates connecting with likeminded professionals who are seeking to thrive in their careers and personal lives, leveraging her expertise to make a positive impact on their journeys.

To learn more about Heidi Siegal Kogon and her work, please visit: https://www.kogoncoaching.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well. 

Valeria interviews Austin Bollinger.

He is the founder of Daily New Year’s, a blog and podcast dedicated to helping people ditch their old, tired resolutions, and instead, achieve massive success in their lives through the power of daily goal setting. Austin blog led him to write his first book, Crush Your Goals!, in 2019. After a year of hard work, it was released in February of 2020 and hit Amazon’s Best Sellers list in just 10 days.

Austin is on a mission to build a community of Goal Getters—a group of people who are focused on becoming Better Every day and living life to the fullest. His aim is to help inspire people around the world to take massive action towards their dreams every day, not just for a few weeks at the beginning of each year.

Austin lives in Missouri with his best friend and high school sweetheart, Callie, and their two dogs, Rosie and Lily. He is an aspiring entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and is looking forward to authoring several more books in the future.

To learn more about Austin Bollinger and his work please visit: https://www.dailynewyears.com/ and https://crushyourgoalsbook.com/

For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast

Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life to the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

Those who have had near-death experiences open a window to what exists after death for those of us who have not yet had a glimpse of it. The sill widens to allow us new insight and an infusion of light.

One of the remarkable things Tricia Barker has learned through her research of near-death experiences and those in coma is that often the most compromised of physical bodies have the most transcendental experiences.

Imagine your back completely crushed in a car crash, so forcefully that you are constrained by a body cast for months. Tricia Barker shares with us how, in moments after an accident, she was touched by a profound radiance. Its presence imbues her storytelling and her life.

“The two angels sent waves of intense light, which transferred many messages to me all at once. The light emitted from the eyes of the angels flowed directly into my spirit body, allowing me to access information faster than the fastest possible broadband speed. Messages were given in the form of completed thoughts and feelings, not individual words. The knowledge they sent into my spirit form not only felt comforting, but it also altered the way I viewed everything about my life.”

Light is central to the accounts of people who have had near-death experiences, so much so that books about the topic often include the word in the title: Transformed by the Light, Lessons from the Light, Divine Light, and The Light Beyond. Tricia describes her experience of the light:

“Light seemed to contain both healing power and knowledge... A large part of me never wanted to leave the safety of that place. I felt no stress and more love than I ever imagined possible. I felt more joy and contentment than even the brightest moments this life ever provided, and I did not want to return to my body. No person had ever shown me a love like this love. I had no idea it was possible to feel this good. If a soul could smile, then my soul smiled, and I drowsed comfortably without worry.”

— Valeria interviews Tricia Barker.

She experienced a profound near-death experience during her senior year of college, and this experience guided her to teach overseas, in public schools, and at the college level.  Her near-death experience story has been featured on I Survived:  Beyond and Back, National Geographic Magazine, Simple Grace Magazine, an article in Women’s World Magazine, and featured on The Doctor Oz Show .

Tricia’s memoir, Angels in the OR: What Dying Taught Me About Healing, Survival, and Transformation  tells a story of her near-death experience, teaching mission, and eventual triumph over trauma in her past. The book also focuses on the importance being of service to the world and the healing power of giving unconditional love to others. She believes that joy, humor, and healing is available to everyone through a deeper connection to divinity. 

Tricia Barker and a long-time writer for Hallmark have recently completed a screenplay based on her book.

Tricia is a graduate of The University of Texas. She also received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Currently, she teaches English and Creative Writing at a beautiful community college in Fort Worth, Texas. She interviews other near-death experiencers, researchers, healers, spiritual teachers, and mediums on her YouTube Channel. Her poetry and essays have been published in several publications.

To learn more about Tricia Barker please visit his website: https://triciabarkernde.com/

For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast

Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

Valeria interviews Tina Zion.

Tina is a fourth generation psychic medium and specializes in teaching medical intuition and mediumship. She has taught her medical intuition workshop in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, Canada, Mexico and throughout the USA. Both of her medical intuitive books have won first place awards. Become a Medical Intuitive won 1st Place Gold from the Body Mind Spirit Book Awards in 2019 and Advanced Medical Intuition won the 2020 COVR Visionary Award. Tina is a faculty member at the Omega Institute of Holistic Studies in New York, 1440 Multiversity in California and Fellowships of the Spirit in New York. 

She is a registered nurse, graduating from Purdue University and holds a national board specialty certification in mental health nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Association. Tina is a Gestalt trained mental health counselor, graduating from the Indianapolis Gestalt Institute in 1997. She received her certification in clinical hypnotherapy from the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners in 1985, specializing in past life regressions and certified through the Michael Newton Institute in Life Between Lives regression. She studied Reiki since 1991 and has taught hundreds of students over the years. Tina is a worldwide best-selling author of four books:  Become a Medical Intuitive: The Complete Developmental Course, Advanced Medical Intuition-6 Underlying Causes of Illness and Unique Healing Methods, The Reiki Teacher’s Manual and Reiki and Your Intuition: A Union of Healing and Wisdom.

She is also a contributing author in Michael Newton’s book, Memories of the Afterlife.  Tina’s current private practice now focuses completely on teaching intuition and specializing in medical intuitive instruction. She now teaches all over the world as well as offering individual mentoring sessions. 

To learn more about Tina Zion and her work please visit: https://tinazion.com/

For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast

Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life to the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

Valeria interviews Leslie Herhold, the author of Self-Confidence Strategies for Women: Essential Tools to Increase Self-Esteem and Achieve Your True Potential

With so much uncertainty in the world, learning to love yourself and march out of your comfort zone can feel daunting. Leslie’s work on self-confidence strategies for women, offers simple tools based on proven therapy principles to help you achieve greater confidence, stronger relationships, increased motivation, and a more positive outlook on life.

Learn how your thoughts and behavior influence your self-esteem, and find expert advice for changing negative patterns. You’ll practice identifying your strengths and values, quieting doubt, and approaching intimidating situations with conviction. Increase your confidence in yourself and your abilities with easy and effective exercises that you can apply to everything you do.

Leslie T. Herhold, MSW, LCSW, PMH-C is an author and therapist specializing in women’s mental health. Originally from south Louisiana, she now resides in south Alabama and has a clinical practice in Fairhope. Her first book, Self Confidence Strategies for Women, is now available for purchase at various online retailers.

To learn more about Leslie Herhold and her work please visit: https://leslietherholdlcsw.com/

For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast

Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life to the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

Valeria interviews Andy Marmion the author of Your Angels Healing Words To Guide: A Spiritual Life Book of Meditation and Awakening

This spiritual angel work is comprised of some of the verses from Andy’s own card deck. These angel prayers will act as an angel detox for our soul and work angel miracles in our lives so that we experience heaven on earth. The power of angels is amazing and they can help us raise our spiritual vibration or frequency through the use of their words.

Andy Marmion is a psychiatric nurse of 30 years of experience. He’s also an angel coach and content marketer.

As an angel coach, he helps people connect with their guardian angels so as they find self-empowerment and healing. One of the ways the angels help is by addressing negative thought patterns and substituting them for a healthy way of thinking.

Andy has also written another book: Angelic Thinking: Your Angels’ Help With Positive Thinking

To learn more about Andy Marmion and his work please visit: https://wisewriting.org/

For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast

Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life to the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

Valeria interviews Sandy Peckinpah.

For over two decades Sandy worked behind the scenes developing stories with her husband, a successful television writer, and producer.

Her secret dream was to create her own body of work, but she doubted her abilities. One day, her calling became greater than her fear when her daughter was born with a facial defect. Sandy wrote a fairy tale to raise awareness about birth defects and the book was well-received by hospitals, clinics, libraries, and schools. It was recorded by Little House on the Prairie actress, Melissa Gilbert, music by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, and was nominated for a Grammy in 2009. Sandy's most recent book, How to Survive the Worst that Can Happen, has won 8 awards, including the Readers' Favorite Book Award. Her articles are featured in Thrive Global, Medium.com, and Huffington Post.

Sandy is a former radio show host on AM talk radio in Northern California, and a frequent broadcaster, sharing her passion for helping women rise up through life’s difficult times.  Today, Sandy loves helping women bridge the gap between a desire to write and actually doing it. She teaches a 5-step creative process that has helped numerous women finally achieve the dream of writing and publishing their own stories of resilience.

One of her clients wrote, “I didn’t know how important my life events were until Sandy gave me a new perspective. Through writing my book, I realized I have a legacy that needs to be shared.”

To learn more about Sandy Peckinpah and her work please visit: https://www.sandypeckinpah.com/

For Intro-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/aquestforwellbeingpodcast

Podcast Page: https://fitforjoy.org/podcast

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life to the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.