Explore every episode of the podcast Small Changes Big Shifts
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| Trusting Instincts and Creating Impact with Nick Marino Jr. | 06 Oct 2024 | 00:30:05 | |
Are you ready to step into a legacy of kindness and impact? Nick Marino Jr.’s story is a testament to the power of small acts that ripple into big changes. From his transformative mission trip to the Dominican Republic, where he first witnessed the stark reality of hunger, to launching initiatives like Feed the City, Nick has embraced a life fueled by service and compassion. He reminds us that true kindness isn’t about grand gestures but the little things—listening, holding a door, offering a smile—that uplift others. Let Nick's journey inspire you to trust your instincts and start making your own impact today. About the Guest: Nick Marino Jr. has united thousands of people through Tango Charities, which he founded to produce the event Feed The City—one of the most inclusive and diverse volunteering initiatives. His efforts have led to over 1,600 events in 5 countries, 14 states, and 67 cities, involving more than 100,000 volunteers and providing over 7 million meals to those in need. In August 2024, Nick joined the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) to lead the Center for Business Impact, helping businesses maximize their social impact through grantmaking, volunteer opportunities, and corporate responsibility programs. Previously, Nick co-founded Revolving Mind, a Dallas-based marketing agency, and served as Senior Director of Marketing at Curis Functional Health, recognized on the Inc. 5000 list. Nick’s contributions earned him the 2023 NCAA Legends and Legacy Community Award and the 2024 Marketing Maverick Award. In 2025, he’ll release a children's book series, "Nico Makes A Difference," to empower young kids to make a positive impact. Nick is married to Amber, and they are expecting their first child in October 2024, joining their Goldendoodle, Nala. His purpose is to create pathways for people to live with purpose and kindness, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion.
Connect with Dr. Michelle and Bayleigh at: hello@smallchangesbigshifts.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/smallchangesbigshifts https://www.facebook.com/SmallChangesBigShifts https://www.instagram.com/smallchangesbigshiftsco
Thanks for listening! Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast Leave us an Apple Podcasts review | |||
| How Kindness Creates a Ripple with Paula Felps | 29 Sep 2024 | 00:23:17 | |
Imagine how a simple act of kindness can ripple through time, changing lives in ways you never expected. Every small act of kindness creates a ripple, and Paula reminds us of its immense power to transform lives. She shares a heartfelt story about how her mother's simple gesture of kindness toward a shunned family impacted not just that family, but also an entire community over time. Paula’s work with the Live Happy Now podcast and her commitment to spreading happiness shows that kindness isn’t just a lofty ideal—it's an actionable practice that anyone can incorporate into their lives. By setting simple intentions each day, like kindness, we can lift ourselves and those around us, even in the most unexpected ways. So, what’s stopping you from spreading kindness today? You never know whose life you’ll change, including your own.
About the Guest: Paula Felps is a freelance writer, author, and host of the weekly Live Happy Now podcast, where she interviews psychologists, scientists, authors, and other experts to help listeners better understand the connection between our daily practices and our personal well-being. On her monthly On a Positive Note podcast, Paula explores how music can lift our spirits, heal our hearts, and improve our mental health. She is a big fan of music, nature, and animals, and loves making people laugh. Website: https://livehappy.com/ Socials: https://www.facebook.com/livehappy | https://www.instagram.com/mylivehappy/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/live-happy/
Connect with Dr. Michelle and Bayleigh at: hello@smallchangesbigshifts.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/smallchangesbigshifts https://www.facebook.com/SmallChangesBigShifts https://www.instagram.com/smallchangesbigshiftsco
Thanks for listening! Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast Leave us an Apple Podcasts review | |||
| Self-Care: Brain Health & Sleep with Daneen West | 28 Jul 2024 | 00:24:50 | |
Daneen West is a Cisco Customer Success Executive, mother of three, and Brain Health Coach. For the past 21 years, Daneen has worked for Cisco Systems, designing, and leading industry award-winning talent development programs After years of being on the verge of burnout, she is professionally more resilient, energized, and mentally sharp than decades earlier because of discovering brain health, where all the power is to up-level your life. Certified through the NeuroLeadership Institute and Amen Clinics, Brain Health has transformed every area of Daneen’s life, and she is compelled to provide the opportunity for others to ease anxiety, boost focus and finally work on their sleep struggles. Daneen’s Brain-Boosting checklist is a great resource to discover practical tips to heal, protect and grow the brain (See below). Memorable Quotes:
What You’ll Learn: Why brain health is important and how to pursue a healthy brain through small lifestyle changes. This Episode Includes:
Three Takeaways From Today’s Episode:
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| Kindness Countdown: Changing Your Thought Patterns & Why It’s Possible with Dr. Roger Hall | 09 Oct 2022 | 00:25:53 | |
“Acts of kindness, compassion, humor, contentment – all of these things have a spiraling upward effect that actually creates resilience in people. The more you contribute positively to the world, the more you’re going to be resilient.” - Dr. Roger Hall Your brain is malleable all the way through life, meaning your brain has the ability to grow and change the more you practice and rehearse a pattern of thinking. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Dr. Roger Hall, who just released his newest book called DIY Brain: The Mindset Makeover Manual for Peak Performance. He shares what inspired him to write this book – including some backstory of how many years ago he started writing it – and what called him to finally publish it this year. Dr. Hall also explains how kindness, compassion, humor, and contentment all have powerful effects on our brain health and why these things help us to become more resilient and creative in the world. By the end of the episode, you will learn a simple exercise on how you can begin thought-monitoring your brain and why the book is a companion when it comes to shifting your thought patterns – and ultimately your life. About Today’s Guests: Dr. Roger Hall is a business psychologist, author, consultant, and speaker. He has one trick: he trains leaders to monitor and manage their thinking. His clients are entrepreneurs, professionals, and business owners. He has worked with leaders from little companies with a few people all the way up to behemoths that dominate their industries. He helps leaders become better versions of themselves so they can lead their people better. Mentioned in the Episode:
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| Kindness Countdown: Announcing Our 2022 Presenting Sponsor with Kris Wittenberg | 02 Oct 2022 | 00:27:17 | |
“Everywhere you wear this message or carry it, it creates kinder behavior.” - Kris Wittenberg As we begin our final countdown to launching the 31-Day Kindness Campaign, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes a very dear and longtime friend to the show, Kris Wittenberg. Kris is the founder of Be Good to People (BGTP), a company that came to be after a negative encounter with a stranger one afternoon in 2008. In today’s episode, Dr. Robin reveals why the Be Good to People Foundation has come on board as the Presenting Sponsor this year for the Kindness Campaign. Giving back has always been at the root of Be Good to People. Since day one, 2% of every BGTP merchandise purchase goes to the Be Good to People Foundation to celebrate other GoodDoersTM and their nonprofits, support kind work in communities, and to build kindness education programs in schools. Also in today’s episode, Dr. Robin and Kris share an important story about how they met, the wellness benefits of kindness, their personal mental health journey, and why being kind has been hard for many people during these times. Kris wraps up the conversation with some advice she would give younger generations about kindness. About Today’s Guests: In the spring of 2008, Kris Wittenberg was out at lunch in her small town of Eagle, Colorado, when a woman was rude to her. Looking back, she doesn’t retain the exact details, but she does remember what happened that afternoon after the encounter. She came back to her office and wondered why people can’t just be good to people. After creating a t-shirt with the words, “Be Good to People” - the brand was born and quickly gained attention among humanity, even earning two kiosks at the Denver International Airport to remind travelers about being kind and providing an opportunity to purchase some of the gear. Mentioned in the Episode:
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| How Music Heals Our Soul with Jana Stanfield & Hunger Action Awareness with Andrea Toney | 25 Sep 2022 | 00:37:14 | |
“Sometimes it's the things that come most natural to us that we take for granted. We don’t even realize what a superpower that is until we see people who don’t have that ability.” - Jana Stanfield Welcome to our Special Topics episode in September, where we invite our sponsors to present unique topics that help listeners build community, boost wellness prevention, and provide educational opportunities to further their well-being. Today’s Special Topics Episode Music has been a part of Jana Stanfield’s entire life – ever since she was a little girl when she began learning the piano, but eventually chose guitar. In today’s episode, Jana shares part of her life story that includes the moment she had a wake-up call about her career. She began as a hard news television reporter, but quickly realized the words that were getting people to tune in to the network were only inciting fear. Jana realized it was time for a change, and that going forward she wanted to use her words – combined with her musical gift – to inspire and lift people up. This launched her into a profound speaking and performance career all over the world. Listeners will even get a chance to hear her perform some of her music in today’s episode, and again as one of the speakers at the Living in Vitality annual event by AdventHealth this year. Later in the show, Dr. Robin welcomes Andrea Toney, who is the Executive Director at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Because September is Hunger Action Month, Andrea shares how the YMCA of Greater Kansas City is helping people who are hungry find their next meal. Through their mobile food drive and the development of soon-to-be food pantries at some of the Y locations, this organization is all about finding what the gaps are in our community and filling them through these hunger initiatives. Andrea shares that 1 in 8 people in the Kansas City community are hungry, and 1 in 6 kids don’t even know where their next meal will come from. She goes on to explain why the Y is on a mission to strengthen this community so that kids do better in school and help alleviate the stress many families are feeling from the unprecedented times. About Today’s Guests: As a motivational performer, Jana Stanfield combines music with a message that entertains, inspires, and encourages. Her mission is to give organizations a “faith lift” by delivering music, humor, and a message that makes people feel better about who they are, what they do, and why they are doing it. Jana teaches half-day life skills workshops and often delivers the motivational close at conferences and conventions, sending attendees out with a message that is empowering and uplifting. She is a multi-platinum songwriter, and many have heard her songs on the radio, television, and in movies – one even being sung by Reba McEntire. She is the founder of Refugee Film School, and the co-founder of Together We Can Change the World. She now spends her time overseas helping teen refugees. Andrea Toney is the Executive Director at the Cleaver Family YMCA in the Greater Kansas City area. She has a deep passion for serving and leading others and has been lucky enough to get to do this through the YMCA of Greater Kansas City for the last 20 years. She loves coming together with others in the Kansas City community to serve a need and to be a bright light in their lives. Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, cheering for her kids from the sidelines, and gathering with friends and family. Mentioned in the Episode:
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| Why Spinal Surgery May Not Be the Answer with Dr. David Hanscom | 18 Sep 2022 | 00:24:41 | |
“The one thing that pulled me out of my hole was expressive writing. Nothing really happens or changes without expressive writing.” - David Hanscom In 1990, Dr. David Hanscom, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, had his life turned upside down. He began experiencing chronic pain that made him develop 17 symptoms – including OCD, depression, migraine headaches, and many more issues. He shares that his “whole body was lit up” and nobody could help him figure out what was going on. In today's episode, he explains why 90% of symptoms in your body’s physiology (how your body functions and runs), and only 10% of issues are structural. Unfortunately, the medical community tends to treat people backwards by doing structural fixes (i.e. spinal surgery) before treating the physiology, which can end up being more destructive on the body and not what it needs to heal. In 2019, he quit his orthopedic practice to go on a mission full-time to stop the aggressive trend of spinal surgery after years of researching and discovering other profound ways to heal from physical and mental pain. Tune in as he talks about what causes inflammatory markers in our body that lead to many people’s pain problems today. About Today’s Guests: Dr. David Hanscom believes that each human being has a deep drive to thrive and give back. This force is frequently compromised by chronic pain, which has been documented to have a similar impact on your quality of life as terminal cancer. Life becomes one of survival. Through his own personal ordeal, he discovered that chronic pain is curable by systematically using established medical practices in a self-directed manner. The key is connecting to your own healing capacity. He is a renowned spinal surgeon of 30 years. His revolutionary approach to treating chronic pain has helped hundreds of patients live pain-free. His pioneering book, Back in Control: A Surgeon’s Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain, showed chronic pain sufferers how to quiet a turbocharged central nervous system, relieve the anxiety and depression that often accompany chronic pain, and make a full recovery. His much-awaited follow-up book, Do You Really Need Spine Surgery? Was later published in 2019. Dr. Hanscom is a frequent guest on TV and radio programs, a regular contributor to Psychology Today, and a sought-after speaker at medical conferences around the world. Mentioned in the Episode:
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| Why Chronic Pain Increases When Fear is Present with Dr. Jen Esquer & Dr. Dom Fraboni | 11 Sep 2022 | 00:25:18 | |
“It’s the simple things done consistently that promote long-term health.” - Dr. Dom Fraboni How is mindset connected to chronic pain? Most people describe pain as scary, yet Dr. Jen Esquer and Dr. Dom Fraboni say it’s an incredible cue our body is sending to say we need to shift in the way we’re doing something. In today’s episode, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom – both physical therapists – explain why many people aren’t getting down to the root causes of their pain and why many treatments are only passive to the body. They unpack some chronic pain myths and provide tips listeners can start doing that more actively (vs. passively) help the body correct itself and reverse the pain. They also share why learning “what to say to the body” is such an important tool and why encouraging fear around movement isn’t the right path toward healing. About Today’s Guests: Dr. Jen Esquer is a top-40 physical therapy influencer. With a Doctorate in physical therapy, she is ranked as one of the Best Fitness Trainers on Instagram by Shape Magazine and has been featured in Self Magazine, Men’s Fitness, Muscle and Fitness as well as a select interview guest on CBS and on the RISE podcast with Mogul CEO Rachel Hollis. As a self-proclaimed “mover”, Jen has spent more than 2/3 of her life upside down. She graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology and received her DPT degree from Lomo Linda University. Nowadays, she offers private sports therapy, online programs, workshops, and speaks at global engagements, attracting audiences from stay-at-home moms to Hollywood actors and Olympic athletes. Her mission is to help those who are willing to listen to their body, reverse aging, eliminate pain, and establish sustainable health. Dr. Domenic Fraboni is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. He earned this after graduating from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Rochester, Minnesota. He’s an advocate for the advance of the physical therapy profession as well as accessibility to higher quality of care. He loves to focus his efforts on systemic healthcare change. He was an avid coach, unified partner, and volunteer coordinator for the Special Olympics. Today, he coaches clients by working with their mindset, movement, and meals through his company called The Wellness Destination. Mentioned in the Episode:
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| The Mind/Body Connection & Its Power to Heal with Cindy Perlin | 04 Sep 2022 | 00:25:13 | |
“Any time you feel stressed and go into that fight or flight mode – everything about your body changes.” - Cindy Perlin Between the opioid epidemic and her own life story, Cindy Perlin set out on a journey to help people see a different side of the story behind chronic pain. In today’s episode, Cindy shares how she became suicidal after battling severe chronic back pain for three years, beginning at age 25 – without doctors being able to help her. The change happened when a friend recommended a book about the mind/body connection that changed her life forever. She began healing herself using many of these techniques, leading her to write a book called The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatmentsso that others could follow in her footsteps. About Today’s Guests: Cindy Perlin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified biofeedback practitioner. She’s been helping people achieve their health and wellness goals for over 25 years. Her practice is located in Delmar, New York, near Albany. She is passionate about the power of biofeedback to heal because of her own journey and became increasingly passionate about helping people when she noticed a rise in opioid overdoses for those trying to manage their pain. She is the author of The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free and the creator of the Alternative Pain Treatment Directory. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| Supercharging Your Brain Health & Finding More Peace of Mind with Dr. Heidi Hanna and Caleb Brown | 28 Aug 2022 | 00:37:41 | |
“We don’t want stress to go away – we want some stress, we want some challenge, we have a need to grow, but the key is joy. I find it’s less about getting rid of stress, but seeking joy.” - Dr. Heidi Hanna Studies show that nearly half of adults in the United States (46.4%) will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. * Other research has also shown that when stress becomes chronic, the risks for mental health problems and other medical problems increase. * Stress levels are beginning to return to pre-pandemic days. However, there is a rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which happens when someone has an impact and they aren’t able to get back to where they were before the event. PTSD can contribute to sleep problems, weight problems, brain fog, dementia, and/or anger. In today’s episode, Dr. Heidi Hanna shares what led her down the path to studying brain health and why stress is something we can actually control in our brain. Dr. Hanna reveals her own struggle with anxiety and panic over the years, and what she learned are the five key factors for improving brain health. Later in the show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Caleb Brown from CommunityAmerica Credit Union to share why our financial health is just as important as our physical and mental well-being. Because many people experience stress due to debt, Caleb shares options available that can help someone get in control their debt, which can lead to long-lasting happiness, joy, freedom, peace of mind, and many other facets of life. He provides helpful tips to dive into your debt and why that experience will be different for each person. *Sources: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/02/5-surprising-mental-health-statistics/; https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/stress About Today’s Guests: Dr. Heidi Hanna is the Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, a company providing brain-based health and performance programs to individuals and organizations. She is a New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic, and Recharge. As an experienced speaker, Dr. Heidi Hanna has been featured at many national and global conferences, including the Fortune Magazine Most Powerful Women in Business Summit, ESPN Women’s Leadership Summit, and Million Dollar Round Table. Caleb Brown is a Financial Relationship Consultant at CommunityAmerica Credit Union. In 2020, Caleb made a big career change, switching his focus from helping people with their physical health to assisting with their financial well-being. He specializes in helping members achieve financial peace of mind by listening, educating, and consulting, to determine the right options to fit their financial needs. He has also led multiple finance-themed seminars, sharing tips on budgeting and credit consultation. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| What to Know About Low Back Pain & How One Group is Helping Cancer Fighters & Survivors with Dr. Sean Cailteux and Starla Bargmann | 21 Aug 2022 | 00:38:09 | |
“Lower back pain is not bad genetics or bad luck. A majority of the time it’s just a mechanical issue.” Between medications, surgeries, treatments, and missed work, lower back pain is costing people in the United States over 200 billion dollars per year. Even more, research shows that 4 out of 5 people will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, and most of them either feel hopeless about it or unsure how to treat it. In today’s episode, Dr. Sean Cailteux shares his story about how he found his calling in chiropractic medicine and how God played an integral role in getting him to this point in his life. Dr. Cailteux specializes in lower back pain, so he provides several methods that chiropractors can do to help people who experience it. He recommends what every good chiropractor should do when someone comes in with pain in the body as well as a few prevention tips. He also describes why decompression treatments and the Kinesio Taping Method are growing holistic treatments. Later in the show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Starla Bargmann from the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Starla explains how their LIVESTRONG program is impacting our community who are currently fighting cancer or cancer survivors. The LIVESTRONG program helps them work on their physical and mental health by providing fitness activities and a community of others who are along a similar journey. About Today’s Guests: Dr. Sean Cailteux specializes in lower back pain conditions and the care of extremities using Cox Flexion Distraction, Diversified, Activator, Spinal Decompression, Kinesio Taping Method, and Cold Laser therapy. He received his undergraduate from Washburn University in Exercise Physiology and Pre-Med. Graduating with Honors, Dr. Cailteux continued on to Parker University for a Doctorate in Chiropractic, Bachelor of Science in Human Anatomy, and a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. Dr. Cailteux finished his time at Parker University Cum Laude and was awarded The Robert J. Czopoth Service and Leadership Award as well as Best Technique Award, awarded to one member of every graduating class. He grew up in St. Mary’s, Kansas, and now calls Kansas City home, where he has been chiropractor at Your Wellness Connection for 12 years. Starla Bargmann is the Healthy Living Director at the YMCA in the Greater Kansas City area. She joined the YMCA team in 2012 when she became a group exercise instructor, healthy living coach, personal trainer, and LIVESTRONG certified instructor. She is also a NETA certified personal trainer and a YUSA certified group exercise instructor. Starla has a Master’s degree in teaching. Before the YMCA, Starla taught high school history for six years and preschool for two years. When she isn’t working, she’s gardening. She and her family have a mini farm where they raise chickens, sell eggs, and raise turkeys for Thanksgiving. Mentioned in the Episode:
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| Why Feet Affect Your Whole Body with Karen Kipp & Khalil Elgharsi | 14 Aug 2022 | 00:25:37 | |
“The health of your feet is critical to your overall well-being.” - Karen Kipp Many people are often afraid to seek help for pain due to fear of requiring surgery or medication. However, most don’t realize that small changes to your foot health can make a big difference, if not eliminate it completely. In today’s episode, Karen Kipp and Khalil Elgharsi join Dr. Michelle Robin as they embark on a conversation about why our feet are responsible for so much in our bodies. They both discuss their line of work – reflexology and pedorthy – and explain some common problems they are seeing in people’s feet today. This includes why people are wearing the wrong-sized shoes, why tennis shoes are sized differently than other shoes, why hip pain is higher in the summertime, and how to know if you are wearing the right shoes. Khalil also explains the importance of making sure all 26 bones in your feet and the 18 muscles attached to them are being used and supported at all times. About Today’s Guests: Karen Kipp has been a reflexologist for over 25 years and loves helping people feel empowered by providing the tools they need to manifest their wellness vision. In addition to reflexology, her services include wellness coaching, juice fasts, and cleanses for groups and individuals, facilitating a variety of retreats and wellness presentations. Khalil Elgharsi is a pedorthist who has been in the foot industry for over two decades, beginning in New York City and later relocating to Kansas City. He is the owner of Wealcan Medical Equipment, Supplies & Orthotics. He is also a board-certified compression fitter for the treatment of lymphedema and venous disease. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| How Technology is Changing Our Bodies with Dr. Erik Peper | 07 Aug 2022 | 00:28:44 | |
“We need to be breathing slower and lower.” - Erik Peper Dr. Erik Peper has become a recognized expert on stress management and workplace health all over the world, in addition to being the author of numerous books and articles. In today’s episode, he shares what got him into holistic health back in the 1970s, plus why his passion and lifework became all about helping his students and other people optimize and mobilize their health. As a culture, it’s time we start looking at health as much bigger than just one window. He also shares more about his newest book called Tech Stress, which helps people re-imagine what it means to move during the day. Dr. Peper shares some easy exercises to help you become more aware of what the body experiences when your muscles get tense for long periods of time. Listeners will especially enjoy his tip about what you can do when you begin to feel stressed – and how one simple posture change can reverse the path of our thoughts and emotions. About Today’s Guest: Dr. Erik Peper is an internationally known expert on biofeedback (applied psychophysiology), holistic health, and stress management. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and his PhD in psychology from Union Graduate Institute. Since then, he’s taught at San Francisco State University, where he has been instrumental in establishing the Institute for Holistic Health Studies, the first holistic health program at a public university in the United States. Dr. Peper lectures and teaches frequently all over the world and runs a biofeedback practice at BiofeedbackHealth in Berkeley, California. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| A functional medicine approach to mental health with Dr. Ellen Vora | 21 Jul 2024 | 00:32:20 | |
"Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated." - Confucius In this episode of the Small Changes Big Shifts podcast, we are joined by board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist and yoga teacher, Dr. Ellen Vora who has also authored the chapter on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Psychiatry in the textbook Mount Sinai Expert Guides: Psychiatry. Dr. Vora takes a functional medicine approach to mental health, considering the whole person and addressing the problem at the root, rather than reflexively prescribing medication to suppress symptoms. She also takes the whole person into consideration, focusing on everything from physical health, sleep, nutrition, digestion, thought patterns, relationships and community to our connection with nature and creativity, and the ways we find meaning in life. Ash she sits down with Dr. Michelle, we learn what drew Dr. Vora to learn more about holistic approach and other trainings to heal the human body such as Chinese medicine, movement, nutrition, and acupuncture. Listen and discover:
Specifically for expecting and young mothers, Dr. Vora explains:
"In fact, it's not an exaggeration to say that the history of science has been the history of most people being wrong about most things most of the time. The willingness to challenge even our most deeply-held assumptions and the humility to admit when we've been wrong are essential to good science." - Chris Kresser Tune in and find out what small changes you can make today for big shifts tomorrow with your wellbeing, community, and family. | |||
| Why Stretching Does More for You Than You Were Ever Taught with Kelly Harrick | 31 Jul 2022 | 00:24:49 | |
“People don’t realize that stress causes muscle tension, yet stretching can release that tension. That’s why they feel better when they get off our tables.” - Kelly Harrick Kelly Harrick grew up in a small town in western Kansas – so small the town only had one stoplight. However, that close-knit community was a gift to her as it allowed her to get to know everybody in town, including the one and only physical therapist whose family she began babysitting when she was a young girl. In today’s episode, Kelly shares the impact those early connections had on her life, as well as her inspiring story of how she fell in love with helping people feel better. After a successful and fulfilling career as a physical therapist for many years, Kelly decided to take a break and went out searching for how she could take her passion of helping people to a new level. This episode includes the inspirational journey of how Stretch Zone was founded and how changed our community’s perspective about the ever-growing benefits of stretching. She also provides some bonus tips on how often you should be stretching throughout the day at home, how stretching impacts your stress levels, and why people say they feel younger and lighter after their time at Stretch Zone. About Today’s Guest: Kelly Harrick took her passion for stretching and built a business around it. Today, she is the owner-operator of Stretch Zone in Kansas City, where they help people increase their range of motion gradually by utilizing their patented equipment alongside their practitioners. Kelly has been a physical therapist for over 25 years, specifically working with orthopedic patients. Opening Stretch Zone became a passion for her because she wanted to use her wellness background to help people experience less pain, improve their flexibility, and even increase their circulation. She believes that if we all start with the base of stretching, other things in the body get better. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| An Upcoming Life-Changing Event for Women and Taking Age Out of the Box | 24 Jul 2022 | 00:31:18 | |
Welcome to our Special Topics episode in July, where we bring in two of our sponsors to help bring our listeners community-building engagement, prevention and education opportunities available. Today’s Special Topics Episode Diane O’Byrne presents an amazing opportunity for women in the Kansas City area on September 3, 2022 – the Living in Vitality conference at AdventHealth (formally known as Shawnee Mission). This year marks its 25th anniversary, where they have spent all prior years bringing women together to learn and receive lifelong self-care takeaways that will finally get them closer to stepping into their best lives. She highlights what the day encompasses and what the admission includes for each woman. She even shares a heartwarming story about a friend’s sister who experienced a life-changing moment for herself while at this event, which is often why so many women choose to return again and again for this event every year. In the last segment of the show, Kathy Armitage from the YMCA in Greater Kansas City joins us to break the barriers that we often put around ourselves as we age. After her father experienced a tragic fall, which led to complications and his passing, Kathy has spent the last 22 years of her career at the YMCA creating programs for people aging and looking for a way to stay active, improve their flexibility and strength, all while removing limitations we often put on ourselves as we age. She shares a handful of opportunities and programs available at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City that have helped thousands of people see that society has put folks who age in a box – but each person has an opportunity to go outside that box and start gaining strength and confidence at any age. She even shares some tips you can do at home to improve balance and fall prevention, since most falls happen at home. About Today’s Guests: Diane O’Byrne is the Co-Chair of Living in Vitality annual event at AdventHealth. She has four generations of women in her family who are living in vitality, and has a passion to see more women in our community discover the power in self-care and resources available for them to live a life better than they could have ever imagined. Kathy Armitage is the Active Lifestyles Program Director at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. She specializes in working with people who are 50 and older through healthy living programs that support body, mind, and spirit. She has spent the last 22 years at the YMCA developing programs for these ages, and pioneered the programs that help people see that aging doesn’t mean they will lose their flexibility, strength, or mobility. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| A Terminal Diagnosis Reversed: How Chiropractic Medicine Saved My Life with Dr. Gilles LaMarche | 17 Jul 2022 | 00:45:16 | |
“When your body is free of interference, your body will heal.” - Dr. Gilles LaMarche Dr. Gilles LaMarche was living his best life – a successful chiropractic practice, healthy, fit, active, and raising his children who became incredible human beings themselves. But in 2003 at age 48, his world was turned inside out when he suddenly began having difficulty breathing while doing simple activities like walking from one side of the room to the other. Doctors soon discovered he had cardiomegaly – an enlarged heart that was continuing to enlarge due to breathing difficulties. He was given 24 months left to live, with the only option being a heart and lung transplant that may give him another five years. Because his lifestyle would be extremely limited after the double transplant, he decided to come to terms with the terminal diagnosis and opt out of the procedure. On May 15, 2004, Dr. Gilles woke up with a revelation. He realized he had been preaching the chiropractic paradigm and its healing power for 25 years to his patients, and began wondering about his own spine and nervous system. This episode will have you leaning in to hear every word of his powerful story about how he discovered what was really going on inside of him – and how his body could heal from chiropractic medicine. As he approaches his 25th year since his diagnosis, he is preparing to run the 2023 Masters World Championship – the toughest race in all of track and field. About Today’s Guest: Dr. Gilles LaMarche is a natural-born leader and one of the greats within the chiropractic world. He is the Vice President of University Advancement and Enrollment, but has also dedicated his life to helping over 750,000 people as a chiropractor over 25 years in Northern Ontario, Canada. He has spoken to audiences throughout Canada, United States, Mexico, Japa, Scandinavia, Australia, Europe, and the Caribbean. He is the co-author of more than nine books including Say Yes to Chiropractic Success and the Parker System for Professional Success. He was named Canadian Chiropractor of the Year in 2006 by readers of Canadian Chiropractic Magazine, and has been sharing his story around the world about the healing power of the nervous system in our body. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| Back, Neck, and Hip Pain Happening Today with Brian Stewart | 10 Jul 2022 | 00:24:56 | |
“The mechanics in the body are essentially about function.” - Brian Stewart Brian Stewart wasn’t expecting to find his life passion through some injuries he endured during high school, but that’s exactly how he discovered that he wanted to help people by becoming a physical therapist. His physical therapists (PTs) during his high school years made a significant impact on his life by not only helping him heal, but also teaching him the mechanics of the body by breaking it down into simple concepts so that he could step into his best life. That influence shaped his life, and today he’s on a mission to improve people’s lives by helping them understand simple things like how a joint moves and how the body works as a whole together so each person who walks through Kansas City Ortho Alliance can be given the opportunity to step into their best life like he was given. In this episode, Brian shares three pain problems he frequently sees people struggling with today – back pain, neck pain, and hip pain. He also provides helpful tips in each of these areas that can guide people either in prevention or pain management – in addition to some bonus tips that all matter to the body. About Today’s Guests: Brian Stewart is the Chief Development Officer at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, which is the largest, independently owned orthopedic specialty practice in the Kansas City metro area. With over 50 medical providers in four locations, they have the ability to treat people where they live, work, and play. Their board-certified providers are equipped to handle almost any musculoskeletal injury – from shoulders to knees, ankles, hands, and neck to back. Brian was born and raised in Kansas City (Harrisonville, MO), and attended his undergrad years at the University of Kansas. He went on to study Physical Therapy at the University of Kansas, and later earned his doctorate in the same field. During his professional career, he’s been part of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way, United We, Cornerstones of Care, and KC Care Clinic. The Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance is proud to support its local organizations such KCUR, Te Deum, Harvesters, Children’s Mercy, Phoenix Family, and several others. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| The Go-Giver Marriage with John David Mann & Ana Gabriel Mann | 03 Jul 2022 | 00:31:58 | |
“Being a go-giver, whether it’s in business or in a personal relationship, is never about a scorecard. It’s about adding value to the other person’s life. It’s about acts of generosity that don’t have an expectation of return.” - Ana Gabriel Mann When John David Mann and friend Bob Burg finished their manuscript for The Go-Giver, John asked his wife Ana to be the first to read it. One of the first things she said was, “Wow, this would make a great book about marriage.” For years, people asked John and Ana what the secret sauce was for their marriage. How did they keep the “newlywed” fire alive after all these years? What helped them adopt a spirit of generosity with each other? In this episode, John and Ana share that life is really about relationships, and that relationships demand a spirit of generosity. Being a go-giver in a relationship means dropping the scorecard and “transactional” expectations (e.g. Do this for me, and I’ll do that for you). They both explain the importance of asking, “Are we feeding the us?” This means letting go of thoughts around winning, looking for fairness, and keeping track of scorecards in the relationship. Tune in to hear more of their wisdom and how they uncovered what ultimately went into this book. About Today’s Guests: John David Mann is the author and co-author of more than 30 books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers. His classic 2008 parable called The Go-Giver (co-authored with his friend, Bob Burg) earn the 2017 Living Now Book Award’s “Evergreen Medal” for its contribution to positive global change. Ana Gabriel Mann earned her M.A. in clinical psychology before going on to serve as an educator, therapist, corporate trainer, speaker, and coach. She currently coaches Go-Giver Marriage clients and leads the Go-Giver Marriage Coaches Training Program, where she trains coaches around the world. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| The Power of Helping Our Communities Feel Well with Jeanette Metzler & Lisa Cummings | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:28:21 | |
Today, we are welcoming Jeanette Metzler and Lisa Cummings to the show, where they open their hearts about what made them decide that their life mission was to help our communities feel well. Jeanette is the Community Benefit Manager at AdventHealth in Kansas City, and Lisa is the Wellness Manager at AdventHealth in Kansas City – both roles that immerse themselves in community outreach programs all over the metro. We invite you to listen in as they reveal what inspired them to start helping people find that higher quality of life, which goes beyond just regular doctor’s visits and instead propels each person forward into their best lives. They share heartwarming stories of moments they’ve encountered within the Kansas City communities that have impacted their own roles and purpose on earth – everything from the simple act of listening to the community to watching kids bloom when the resources and support are provided for them. Three Takeaways:
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| Digital Wellness with Tommy Sobel & Living to Listen with Debra O’Bryan | 26 Jun 2022 | 00:46:13 | |
Tommy Sobel is the world’s premier digital habits coach, having helped thousands of busy business leaders and top-performers reclaim tens of thousands of hours of productive time. Using his background in neuroscience and behavior reconditioning, Tommy trains business leaders to improve their relationship with screens through coaching, proven systems and community, so they can reclaim 20-40 productive hours each week, live life in flow state and have more time off. Later in the show, Dr. Robin welcomes Debra O’Bryan who is the Dream Manager and Well-Being Manager at CommunityAmerica Credit Union. She shares the moment when “active listening” was introduced in her life, and why the book by Michael Sorenson called I Hear You changed her relationships – both in the workplace and in her personal life. Debra also explains why listening can be difficult for us, and why it’s important not to fall into the “giving advice” or “fix it” trap when someone else is speaking. Instead, she encourages us to pause and validate what they must be feeling in this moment. Debra also sprinkles in some great active listening tips that can shift a company culture and build even better connections between its team members. Memorable Quotes:
What You’ll Learn: How to create better habits around screen time and phone usage to live more fully, plus how active listening can help you develop stronger relationships both at work and at home. This Episode Includes:
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| A Different Perspective on Father’s Day with Brandon McAnderson and Drowning Prevention with Sabrah Parsons | 19 Jun 2022 | 00:39:48 | |
“I want my kids to grow up knowing who I am in real life, not just in their head. I cry in front of them, I'm peculiar, I’m a little weird. I want to show them all facets of myself so they can embrace it for themselves.” Brandon McAnderson is a former All-Big 12 Running Back at the University of Kansas, and today is a sideline reporter and pre-game host for KU football games. He is also an active member in the Kansas City community who brings men together to grow spiritually and address commonly held (and harmful) male stigmas present in today’s world. In today’s show, Brandon shares why Father’s Day is a good time for men to check in on their mental health. That means pausing and reflecting on all you have done as a father this year, and more importantly celebrating the big and small moments that you bring to your kids’ lives – spiritually, mentally, and even a vulnerable side to let them see the real you, and not an idea of who you are. Brandon shares stories about his father, and the gratitude that has grown in his heart over the years for his dad, so much that his fatherhood has impacted the way he sees and loves his own two boys today. Brandon also opens up about his own bout of depression, and his inspirational journey toward healing and how it led to helping more men in our community. Later, Dr. Robin chats with Sabrah Parsons, who is an Aquatics Director at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. When she finished swimming lessons at age 15, little did she know that when her mother signed her up to be a lifeguard, that would be where she found her passion for swim safety. Sabrah shares that drowning is the number two leading accidental death for ages 0-8 – and it’s completely preventable with drowning prevention classes. Sabrah describes what parents can look for in flotation devices for kids, and how to know if a swim class will teach their kids the proper techniques to self-rescue if there comes a time. Three Takeaways:
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| Free Your Space: Understanding Trust and Purpose with Deb Richard | 12 Jun 2022 | 00:26:56 | |
Deb Richard is a professional golfer, executive coach, and author of “Trust: Understanding My Why.” She is the CEO of Burlap Leaders where she specializes in helping others manifest quality relationships and live with purpose. Deb’s North Star, Trust, is central to her coaching of athletes, executives, and students. She expands on the many lessons learned through golf and applies them to inspire successful living. Memorable Quotes:
Trust is important in learning the why behind your actions and living with purpose. This Episode Includes:
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| Free Your Space: Enneagram and Compassion with Chelsea Laub | 05 Jun 2022 | 00:21:33 | |
Chelsea Laub is an Enneagram Coach with a passion for empowering people to see the possibility in their lives. Using the Enneagram, she works with individuals, couples, and teams to discover what's working and what's not by bringing awareness of self and others. An expert in self-awareness, leadership, education, marketing, and connection, Chelsea will keep you engaged and excited about what is possible, while giving you practical and useful tips that you can start using today. Chelsea serves as the Treasurer for the Big Shifts Foundation, where she is dedicated to making generational lifestyle changes by providing young people with safe places and resources to enable their whole health. Chelsea is a community contributor, a mom, a wife, a friend, and she believes wholeheartedly in whole-person health Memorable Quotes:
The Enneagram can help you cultivate compassion by helping you understand the behavioral motivations of yourself and those around you. This Episode Includes:
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| Pause, refresh, and also remember that change is constant with Edith Varley | 14 Jul 2024 | 00:52:38 | |
A real giver is a generous receiver, those are two sides of the same coin. - Edith Varley Join us as we gather to reset our new daily rhythm and build resilience during this time of change. Today, I’m excited to have Edith Varley. Edith is a speaker, advisor, educator and the founder of The Varley Group where she drives an outcome-based mission to transform human potential into constructive contribution. In her practice, she uses systems thinking initiatives to identify needs and establish outcome-based objectives. Prior to founding The Varley Group in 2000, she served for 25 years in the business of chemical manufacturing where she started in sales and ultimately led the company as CEO and owner. During her tenure, Edie helped people find the meaning in their work and the value in their contribution and as CEO led the company to double-digit net operating profit. I’m happy to have Edith share how they’re finding Rhythm and Resilience right now, and how we can do the same. I invite you to tune in using the login information below, as we unite as a community. Looking forward to spending time together for some R & R. I believe the most valuable, renewable resource in the world is the Human Spirit. - Edith Varley Join Dr. Michelle and Edith as they talk about:
Learn how you can continue growing during this time as Edith shares:
Mentioned In This Episode
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| Free Your Space: Reduce Mental Clutter for Parents with Denaye Barahona, Regulating Big Emotions in Kids with Caitlin White | 29 May 2022 | 00:34:52 | |
Dr. Barahona is a family coach, author, and the host of the Simple Families Podcast. Her work has been featured on Netflix, Real Simple Magazine, The Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many more. For the past 15 years, she’s had the experience of partnering with parents in search of a more harmonious life with kids. Her doctorate is in Child Development with a research focus on family wellness. She also holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Clinical Social Work with a focus on child and family practice. Dr. Barahona is also a parent in the trenches with two young children herself. During the second part of the show, Dr. Robin talks to Caitlin White, who is the Behavioral Specialists for Youth at the YMCA in Kansas City. She shares why they are helping kids regulate their bigger emotions in groups with peers. She also shares the ways kids are struggling to readapt being in big groups again, and some tips that can help kids feel more grounded in their daily routine. Memorable Quotes:
Tips and tricks for parents to find mental clarity. Why the YMCA is the biggest childcare centers in Kansas City What S.M.A.R.T. Connections is at the YMCA and how it helps parents and kids together This Episode Includes:
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| Free Your Space: Overcoming Adversity with Stephen Mackey and Jackie Reed on the Homebuying Process | 22 May 2022 | 00:36:19 | |
Stephen is a first-generation college graduate with a B.S. from Texas A&M University and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently working on a Doctorate of Ministry, also at Fuller. Stephen helps coaches and athletes connect the dots between sports and life through the 2Words Character Development program. Mackey’s first book, co-authored with best-selling author Damon West, is called The Locker Room: How Great Teams Heal Hurts, Overcome Adversity, and Build Unity. It’s coming out this month, May 2022. Among his many accomplishments, Mackey is most proud of his role as a devoted husband to his wife, Teressa, and father to their four kids. During the last part of the show, Dr. Robin chats with Jackie Reed about the homebuying process in these times. Jackie is a manager at CommunityAmerica Credit Union in their Branch and Outbound Mortgage Sales department. She provides helpful tips about how to find the right lendor and loan officer for your family, as well as how to find a real estate agent that will be dependable with your needs. She also speaks to how the home loan process works at CommunityAmerica Credit Union, and why they take a personal approach with their customers to make sure you are comfortable during the entire journey toward buying your next home. Memorable Quotes:
How to encourage our kids to overcome adversity through staying true to their core beliefs. Also, the steps that are involved in the homebuying process, and how you can make the process easier on yourself by being prepared with some helpful tips. This Episode Includes:
*** This recording is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be viewed as personalized financial advice and is not a substitute for consultation with your financial representative. Any reference to third-party websites are provided for information purposes only and are not endorsed by CommunityAmerica. Please visit CommunityAmerica.com to learn more about how we can assist you in achieving your Financial Peace of Mind.*** | |||
| Free Your Space: May Mental Health Month with Jessica Vadovicky, Amy Milroy, and Paloma Juarez | 15 May 2022 | 00:43:28 | |
Jessica graduated from California State University Long Beach. She has worked as a neuroscience bedside nurse with children and young adults in a psychiatric residential treatment center. She is a clinical instructor to nursing students during their psychiatric rotations. Jessica is also the director of clinical services with foresight mental health clinic. She believes in finding a balance between lifestyle interventions and medication. Foresight Mental Health Clinic just opened offices in Kansas City, MO. The goal of Foresight is to leverage technology with mental health services to help make people healthier and happier. During the second part of the show, Dr. Robin chats with Amy Milroy, Director of the B.E. Smith Family Center at AdventHealth in Shawee, Kansas, as well as Paloma Juarez, who has two children that attend the Britain Development Program at B.E. Smith Family Center. As they continue the conversation on mental health and kids, Amy shines a light on why their programs are praised by the Kansas City community. The B.E. Family Center encompasses two unique programs – the first being the Early Learning Program which benefits AdventHealth employees’ children. The second is the Britain Development Learning Program, which benefits children all over the Kansas City area with special needs such as autism and other developmental delays. Both programs help children ages 0-5 prepare for kindgarten and that next stage along their journey with successful learning opportunities that incorporate occupational therapy, speech therapists, music therapy, feeding therapty, aquatic therapy, and so on. Paloma Juarez also shares why this center has become part of their family, and why this has been the best place for even her own well-being as she navigates parenthood. Memorable Quotes:
Difficulties in access to mental health care and innovative ways that Foresight Mental Health Clinic is changing those difficulties. This Episode Includes:
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| Mother’s Day: Family as Your Rock with Grace Gerber | 08 May 2022 | 00:22:23 | |
Grace Gerber is a bright soul who cares deeply about her family, especially her two moms, Terry and Shelly. She was adopted from Vietnam, along with her brother, Matthew, and was brought over to the states when she was a little over a year old. She grew up knowing Terry and Shelly as her true parents, who raised her to be the caring and capable individual she is today. Grace has roots in Kansas City but is currently a fourth-year student at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. She is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in a unique field called Medical Illustration. First and foremost, she is an artist who thrives on creative challenges. She hopes to one day illustrate human anatomy and biological processes for medical companies, or biomedical research facilities. It was her equal love of art and science that led her to pursue this line of work. However, she insists she couldn’t have done it without the ongoing recognition, encouragement, and support from her family. Their love for her stokes her love and passion for what she does. They inspire her every single day. Memorable Quotes:
Moms of all types are important and should be celebrated for the tremendous work they do. This Episode Includes:
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| Free Your Space: Parade of Hearts with Jennifer Nussbeck | 01 May 2022 | 00:18:15 | |
Jenn Nussbeck is the President of LeisLux, a philanthropy and event management agency. She served on numerous public charity boards as well as dedicated the last fifteen years to supporting organizations throughout the Kansas City communities, Assisting those navigating the philanthropy and civic channels is not only her work, but her passion. Currently, Jenn serves as Parade of Hearts Co-Chair as well as serving on the Lee’s Summit Public Safety Board. Memorable Quotes:
The inspiration behind the Kansas City Parada of Hearts and how to get involved. This Episode Includes:
A huge thank you to all our sponsors! | |||
| Free Your Space: Intermittent Fasting Transformation and Fitness Organization with Cynthia Thurlow and Maggie Little | 24 Apr 2022 | 00:41:43 | |
Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, CEO and founder of the Everyday Wellness Project. She’s an international speaker with over 10 million views for her second TEDx talk (Intermittent Fasting: Transformational Technique). With over 20 years of experience in health and wellness, Cynthia is a globally recognized expert in intermittent fasting and nutritional health. Cynthia developed this intermittent fasting plan after entering her forties and experiencing a health breakdown. Intermittent fasting didn’t just help her lose weight; she had more energy, fewer cravings, and lower blood glucose levels. Cynthia has now worked with thousands of women in her private practice to make her unique program of intermittent fasting work for them, too. As Senior Healthy Living Director, Maggie enjoys connecting with people from all walks of life and helping them meet their goals. Maggie began her career at the Y in 2012, working as a youth exercise instructor, personal trainer and group exercise instructor. In May 2015, she became the Healthy Living Director at the Paul Henson Family YMCA. In November 2016, she moved into her current role, providing association-wide resources for healthy living. She also leads the Health Living team at the Kirk Family YMCA. Maggie grew up in Kansas and Alabama and graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration. She is an ACE certified personal trainer and YMCA certified group exercise instructor. Outside of work, Maggie enjoys camping, kayaking and cheering for the Kansas City Royals and Kansas Jayhawks. Memorable Quotes:
The benefits of intermittent fasting and tips to start intermittent fasting for beginners. Plus, learn how to get organized for fitness. This Episode Includes:
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| Energetic: Inspiring Leaders and Budgeting with Zik Nwanganga & Liz Armstead | 17 Apr 2022 | 00:29:03 | |
*** This recording is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be viewed as personalized financial advice and is not a substitute for consultation with your financial representative. Any reference to third-party websites are provided for information purposes only and are not endorsed by CommunityAmerica. Please visit CommunityAmerica.com to learn more about how we can assist you in achieving your Financial Peace of Mind.*** *** Securities and advisory services offered through Copper Financial Network, LLC (“CuFi“), Member FINRA/SIPC. CuFi is a SEC registered investment adviser. Products offered through CuFi: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. CuFi is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For important disclosures from CuFi, including our Form CRS, please visit here. *** Zik Nwanganga is passionate about helping people discover their purpose and maximize their true potential. Zik founded a leadership/entrepreneurial organization called FiredUp'. The goal of FiredUp' is to motivate young people to pursue their purpose by hearing about other leaders' failures and successes. Liz Armstead is a branch manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. She has been with them for five and a half years. Liz has three kids and two dogs. She loves to travel and go on adventures with her family. Memorable Quotes:
Inspirational words for aspiring young leaders and how to manage your money well through a budget. This Episode Includes:
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| Energetic: The Science of Stuck and Handling Mental Wellness with Britt Frank & Dr. Jennifer Bulcock | 10 Apr 2022 | 00:31:20 | |
Britt Frank is a clinician, educator, and trauma specialist. She does aerial hoop for fun and her name is not short for Brittany. One of her favorite books of all time is The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Her shih tzu Oscar is the cutest dog on the planet (She says she may be a bit biased) Britt was an award-winning adjunct professor at KU. She is an alumnus of both Duke University and KU. Britt wrote The Science of Stuck because it was the book that didn’t exist when she started her healing journey Jennifer Bulcock, MD, is a Board-certified family physician with AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at Spring Hill. Dr. Bulcock provides care for patients of all ages with a wide range of health needs. After earning a bachelor of science in biology and health service administration from Washburn University, she earned her medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, She worked as a family physician in Garnett, Kansas, and then Dr. Bulcock joined AdventHealth Medical Group in 2022. When she’s not at the office, she enjoys quality time with her husband and two young daughters and spending time outdoors, especially when she is on the golf course or in her garden. Memorable Quotes:
The simplest of steps can help you feel unstuck and take back control of the feeling of overwhelm in your life. This Episode Includes:
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| Energetic: Feng Shui and Children with Robyn Stevens | 03 Apr 2022 | 00:25:08 | |
Robyn Stevens is a master at finding balance and creating a harmonious living environment through Feng Shui She believes that what we surround ourselves with has a direct effect on all aspects of our lives Robyn visits people from all walks of life, including Fortune 500 execs, business owners, students, and stay-at-home moms, and transforms their spaces—and their lives. She finds out about their relationships with themselves, others, and their things in order to help them create a space that welcomes new opportunities and good energy. A genius at breaking down the fascinating complexities of Feng Shui in an entertaining and simple way, Robyn is a frequent TV guest and a highly sought-after speaker. Certified in 2012, Robyn launched her business Robyn Stevens Feng Shui in 2013. She is also a member of the International Feng Shui Guild. Memorable Quotes:
What You’ll Learn: Feng Shui helps you free your space and allows you to flourish as the person you are meant to be. This Episode Includes:
Three Takeaways From Today’s Episode:
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| Celebrate: How to Be Authentic with Hosea Hayword | 27 Mar 2022 | 00:37:08 | |
Hosea Hayword started going to Your Wellness Connection in 2020 when his health took a turn for the worse. Over the last two years, he has achieved a level of well-being he didn’t think possible. When you listen to Hosea’s story, you’ll understand that he is an expert at being authentic. From holding his mom as she died in his arms to convincing the Lincoln University President to help him stay in college, Hosea is always true to himself. Hosea’s been married 33 years and has two daughters and two grandchildren. He loves hanging out with all his family, especially his grandson. He's had his own business for 34 years in computerized auto search. Memorable Quotes:
Being authentic will help you heal your heart and in turn, heal your whole body. This Episode Includes:
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| Celebrating Wellness Wins & Shifting Our Podcast Focus with Dr. Michelle Robin | 07 Jul 2024 | 00:33:13 | |
After 10 successful seasons on air, Dr. Michelle Robin is ready to share how the Small Changes Big Shifts podcast will be shifting gears this coming September. Before she dives into the full announcement, she pauses to reflect on her wellness wins over the years, which includes a shoutout to her community for helping her reach those wins. She believes that every small step matters, and hopes that after 10 seasons of powerful conversations, listeners have gained more light and can see their wellness path more clearly. By the end of the episode, she will also explain why brain health is gaining her attention lately, and why some upcoming episodes will help illuminate its significance to our overall well-being. Mentioned in this episode:
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| Celebrate: Financial Wellness with Alex Borgardts and How to Teach Kids to Give Back with Amber Ogle | 20 Mar 2022 | 00:35:49 | |
*** This recording is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be viewed as personalized financial advice and is not a substitute for consultation with your financial representative. Any reference to third-party websites are provided for information purposes only and are not endorsed by CommunityAmerica. Please visit CommunityAmerica.com to learn more about how we can assist you in achieving your Financial Peace of Mind.*** *** Securities and advisory services offered through Copper Financial Network, LLC (“CuFi“), Member FINRA/SIPC. CuFi is a SEC registered investment adviser. Products offered through CuFi: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. CuFi is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For important disclosures from CuFi, including our Form CRS, please visit here. *** About Alex Borgardts Alex is a Wealth Advisor with Wealth Management by Community America. He helps his clients understand the 'WHY' behind their goals and aspirations. His goal is to make the financial planning process seamless so that the path to a meaningful life full of freedom, comfort, and peace is clearer and more attainable. Alex is also an Officer in the Army Reserve and is proud to serve our country. In his spare time, Alex enjoys going to the lake and barbecuing with his spouse. About Amber Ogle Amber Ogle lives in Olympia, Washington, and is a wife and mom to seven kids. She is the founder of the ELGO – Everyday Love Giving with the Ogle’s Facebook page. Amber is passionate about teaching her seven children how to give back to the community. She believes in creating a ripple effect by being a go-giver and hopes to impart that quality to her children and others in the community. Memorable Quotes:
What to do with a large sum of money and how to integrate your long and short-term financial goals. And learn how to teach your children to give back to their community with a heart full of compassion. This Episode Includes:
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| Celebrate: How to Celebrate Yourself & Others with Tess Masters | 13 Mar 2022 | 00:40:17 | |
Tess Masters is an actor, cook, lifestyle personality, and author of The Blender Girl, The Perfect Blend, The Detox Dynamo Cleanse, and The Blender Girl Smoothies app and book. In high demand as a spokesperson, presenter, and recipe developer, Tess collaborates with leading food and lifestyle brands. Tess is the global spokesperson for KitchenAid blenders, ambassador for Massel broths, and has presented videos for Sprouts Market, Silk, So Delicious, Earthbound Farm, Vega, Driscoll's, KitchenIQ, and others. Not to mention, Tess is a dear friend of Dr. Robin’s and an expert at celebrating everyone she meets. Memorable Quotes:
The various ways to celebrate big wins and everyday small wins in your life and the lives of those around you. This Episode Includes:
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| Celebrate: Why Words Matter with Sheryl Hammontree | 06 Mar 2022 | 00:21:15 | |
Sheryl Hammontree founded Thoughtful Threads apparel as a way to build connection by spreading messages of empowerment, equality, love, and kindness. With every item she designs, she’s intentional about choosing words and sayings that radiate positive vibes inside and out. Creating and making stuff brings Sheryl joy, she loves to paint and decorate children’s furniture and birdhouses. She has a flower garden in the middle of her yard made up entirely from perennials given to her by important women in her life. She loves to garden and makes awesome pickles. She owned a gym for 15 years and can do 100 pull-ups faster than she can run a mile. She met, dated, fell in love, and married her husband, Joel—before social media. They go mountain biking and ride bikes together on the trail, road, and gravel. Memorable Quotes:
How words can draw us together to create connection and compassion with others. This Episode Includes:
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| Self-Care: Financial Well-Being & Heart Health with Essence Yancey & Dr. Heath Wilt | 27 Feb 2022 | 00:24:17 | |
This recording is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be viewed as personalized financial advice and is not a substitute for consultation with your financial representative. Any reference to third-party websites are provided for information purposes only and are not endorsed by CommunityAmerica. Please visit CommunityAmerica.com to learn more about how we can assist you in achieving your Financial Peace of Mind. Essence was born and raised in Kansas City. She obtained a Bachelor's degree from Avila University in Sociology and her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. Her grandparents are professors so her family always held education to a high standard. Essence has been with Community America Credit Union for six years and is a Financial Well Being Coach and Branch Manager. She and her husband have two boys aged 13 and 6 – which means there is never a dull moment in their household. Her favorite food is tacos and she could eat them every day of the week. Essence’s goal is to advocate for all things that strengthen her community and she believes teaching financial literacy is her way of giving back. Dr. Heath Wilt is an invasive cardiologist with AdventHealth Medical Group. He also serves as medical director for AdventHealth Shawnee Mission's cardiovascular service line. He is Board-certified in cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and cardiac CT. He earned his medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. In 2019, Dr. Wilt was named a Kansas City Top Doctor by Ingram's magazine. Dr. Wilt has always had a fondness for cardiology. To him, there’s something inherently intimate about the heart—both from a physical, but also emotional aspect. Memorable Quotes:
Advice on how to prioritize your financial well-being and how to take care of your heart health. This Episode Includes:
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| Self Care: How to Be a Lifeonaire with Jason Wojo | 20 Feb 2022 | 00:29:49 | |
Jason started his journey as a student at Lifeonaire in 2009. He was able to turn everything around, reinvent himself, and design a life of true joy, passion, fulfillment and freedom with the help of Lifeonaire. His gratitude for the Lifeonaire message and philosophy, along with his desire to empower and encourage others led to him first becoming a Titanium coach, then lead event instructor, and now CEO of Lifeonaire. He has been blessed with a beautiful wife, three daughters, a dog named Rusty, and lives in North Carolina. For fun, he “lifts things up and puts them down”, plays electric guitar in the worship band at his church, and spends time with his family. Memorable Quotes:
Why it is so important to envision and create the life you want apart from material possessions or business success. This Episode Includes:
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| Self-Care: Brain Health & Sleep with Daneen West | 13 Feb 2022 | 00:25:48 | |
Daneen West is a Cisco Customer Success Executive, mother of three, and Brain Health Coach. For the past 21 years, Daneen has worked for Cisco Systems, designing, and leading industry award-winning talent development programs After years of being on the verge of burnout, she is professionally more resilient, energized, and mentally sharp than decades earlier because of discovering brain health, where all the power is to up-level your life. Certified through the NeuroLeadership Institute and Amen Clinics, Brain Health has transformed every area of Daneen’s life, and she is compelled to provide the opportunity for others to ease anxiety, boost focus and finally work on their sleep struggles. Daneen’s Brain-Boosting checklist is a great resource to discover practical tips to heal, protect and grow the brain (See below). Memorable Quotes:
Why brain health is important and how to pursue a healthy brain through small lifestyle changes. This Episode Includes:
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| Community: Kansas City Corporate Challenge with Lacey Fisher | 06 Feb 2022 | 00:10:32 | |
As the Executive Director of Kansas City Corporate Challenge, Lacey Fisher is headed into her seventh season with the organization while the Games themselves are entering their 43rd year. Although originally from western Kansas, Lacey has taken to becoming a KCMO transplant and enjoys all things Kansas City including BBQ, the Royals, and of course the Chiefs. Lacey earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk!) and her Master’s Degree of Leisure, Youth, & Human Services from the University of Northern Iowa. At any given time, Lacey can be found involved in some type of competition or sporting endeavor whether it be pursuing her interest as an unlikely runner, organizing events, or watching her favorite sports teams. Memorable Quotes:
The heart of the Kansas City Corporate Challenge and how to participate in the challenge. This Episode Includes:
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| Self Care: Holistic Methods for Staying Healthy in the Winter with Dr. Tereza Hubkova | 30 Jan 2022 | 00:16:02 | |
Dr. Tereza Hubkova is board-certified in internal medicine, integrative and holistic medicine. Her breadth of experience allows her to see your health from many angles. With additional training in functional medicine, lifestyle medicine and herbalism, she has many tools in her toolbox that equip her to look for the underlying root cause of disease. She finds a natural approach to health and healing often more rewarding and safer than pharmaceuticals, but prescribes medications when necessary. Dr. Hubkova takes time to listen to your story and works like a detective looking for clues and solutions where others have not. Before relocating to Overland Park in 2019 to lead the AdventHealth Whole Health Institute, Dr. Hubkova served high-profile clients at the internationally known Canyon Ranch Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts, for ten years. Memorable Quotes:
Encouragement to get back on track with your health resolutions and tips on how to stay healthy in the winter. This Episode Includes:
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| Self Care: Super Gut with Dr. William Davis | 23 Jan 2022 | 00:34:19 | |
Dr. William Davis is a cardiologist and New York Times #1 bestselling author of the Wheat Belly book series, Undoctored, and of the new book Super Gut. Dr. Davis believes that given the right information and tools, magnificent health is achievable without prescription drugs and without medical procedures. Instead, what you need are the basic principles of nutrition. With those, you can address common nutrient deficiencies and a disrupted gut microbiome. Dr. Davis is the Medical Director and founder of the Undoctored program including the Undoctored Inner Circle. He is also a podcast host of the Defiant Health Radio podcast where he talks about the gut microbiome and other health topics. Memorable Quotes:
The gut microbiome is critical to reversing chronic health problems and optimizing your overall health. This Episode Includes:
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| Self Care: Why We Need to Choose to Ignite Our Life with John O’Leary | 16 Jan 2022 | 00:32:04 | |
At nine-years old John O’Leary was burned on 100% of his body from an accident he caused while playing in the garage with matches and gasoline. He was given a 1% chance to live. After dozens of surgeries and years of physical therapy, he survived. For 20 years, the family didn’t talk about what happened. John simply wanted his life to go on as normal. That is until John’s parents wrote a book titled “Overwhelming Odds” that told the story of the family’s experience. That book, combined with a short presentation for a three-member girl scout group, ignited the rest of John’s life work and calling. John is now the president of Live Inspired, a keynote speaker, author, and podcast host. He shares his story with others and inspires them to live meaningful lives in spite of hardship and tragedy. John’s is an agent of inspirational living and master at overcoming adversity. Memorable Quotes:
How to overcome the challenges life throws at you and how to be there for someone else who is going through a hardship. This Episode Includes:
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| From Comfort to Chaos – and the Journey Home to Peace with Tareq Hadhad | 30 Jun 2024 | 00:28:29 | |
“While I was packing, the only thing I was thinking about was how grateful I felt and how I could thank that cab driver who changed my life forever with a small act of kindness.” - Tareq Hadhad Tareq Hadhad’s life was changed forever during a cab ride home one day. His driver, who was singing and smiling as he drove, noticed that Tareq looked heavy-hearted. After explaining what was on his mind, the driver shared an idea with him that would positively impact Tareq’s entire future – and his family’s safety. It was the answer he had been searching for. In today’s episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Tareq to share his awe-inspiring story about his family’s refugee journey from Syria to their new home in Canada. He provides a glimpse into what was going through in his mind during this incredibly challenging time of war in their country, but also what he noticed about his father who was losing everything he had built for his family – including his chocolate factory. Enjoy this special holiday episode, which reminds us that there will be moments in life that are truly hard, sometimes devastating – and it may even feel like we are losing everything in the blink of an eye – but what matters is how true we stay to our values and how we can learn some of life’s greatest lessons through crisis. About Today’s Guests: Tareq Hadhad was a Syrian refugee and is now living his new life with his entrepreneurial family in Canada’s east coast. He is the founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, the recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 for Atlantic, named one of the Top 25 Immigrants in the Maritimes, selected by Google as the National Hero Case, was awarded RBC’s top Immigrant Award and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020 – in addition to Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. All of this happened since Tareq’s arrival on Canada’s East Coast in December 2015 as a Syrian-Canadian newcomer. In 2012, the Hadhad’s home and factory that housed the family chocolate-making business were destroyed, which forced them to seek safety in other countries. Passionate about peace and entrepreneurship, his family relaunched the family business to recreate the chocolates they once exported across the Middle East and their story has turned into an international inspiring phenomenon. Mentioned in the Episode: | |||
| Self Care: Your One Word This Year with Jimmy Page and Dan Britton | 09 Jan 2022 | 00:28:28 | |
Jimmy Page and Dan Britton are both leaders of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jimmy is a speaker, author, triathlete, fitness leader, and co-author of three books: Wisdom Walks, Wisdom Walks Sports, and Pray Fit. He also hosts a weekly radio show called Fit Fridays. Jimmy is an adventure seeker, he went skydiving with each of his kids for their 18th birthday, and he loves Country Music! Dan is a speaker, author, and marathon runner. He is a former professional lacrosse player who has coauthored two books, Wisdom Walks and Wisdom Walks SPORTS. Dan is also the author and editor of eleven FCA books. Memorable Quotes:
How to implement the concept of choosing one word to permeate your year and give you purpose and direction. This Episode Includes:
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| Self Care: Small Changes Big Shifts Vision & Mission with Jamie Durner | 02 Jan 2022 | 00:34:44 | |
In this episode of Small Changes Big Shifts our very own Chief Operations Officer, Jamie Durner, comes on the show to interview Dr. Michelle Robin about the mission and vision of the podcast. Jamie is a whole person practitioner, wellbeing program developer and facilitator, and a health, life, and business mentor and coach. She started working with Small Changes Big Shifts in 2021. Memorable Quotes:
The mission of the Small Changes Big Shifts podcast, how to take advantage of what you learn by tunning in, and a little bit of Dr. Robin's heart and vision for 2022. This Episode Includes:
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| What is the Number One Thing Kids Need Today from Parents? | 29 Nov 2021 | 00:20:34 | |
Join us as we welcome Barbara Unell and Tricia Rausch on this week’s episode, where they share the story how ParentCare was founded in Kansas City. ParentCare was developed with guidance from Barbara Unell, a parent educator, author of Discipline with Love and Limits, and founder of the Raised with Love and Limits Foundation. Tricia is a Registered Nurse and Coordinator of Perinatal Bereavement at AdventHealth and has teamed up with Barbara to ensure this program gives parents everything they need to raise their little ones. ParentCare is the first free program of its kind in the United States, where parents and caregivers have a place to go with questions or concerns about yourself or your children and get free, trusted, personal answers from experts who will listen at AdventHealth. Memorable Quotes:
What You’ll Learn: Why ParentCare’s mission is about transferring the science into people’s hands, how relational health can change an entire family’s health, and why parents and caregivers have a difficult time accepting the word “support”. This Episode Includes:
Three Takeaways from Today’s Episode:
Mentioned In This Episode:
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