A Quest for Well-Being

— "I believe that each human being has a UNIQUE GIFT to offer to the WORLD. I found mine and I made it my mission to support you to discover it, to develop it, to own it and share this gift with the world". ~ Flora

Valeria interviews Flora Bami! She is an award-winning ICF PCC Integral Coach and Holistic Wellbeing expert, trained in happiness, mental health, mindfulness, NLP, mental fitness, yin yoga and yoga Nidra.

She has over 16 years of international corporate experience in Finance, Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing across big multinational organizations. Flora is an optimist, passionate about people's growth and on a mission to have positive impact on our world. She is a motivational speaker, writer and often guest speaker on podcasts. Her mission is to support you in reaching your potential, improving your well-being, and boosting your happiness through my ''from fear to love'' holistic coaching framework.

To learn more about Flora Bami and her work, please visit: https://www.florabami.com/

— Tuned In is an inspiring story of one man's relentless pursuit of a dream, and a revealing testimony to the power of music in all our lives.

The unique confluence of Jim Wilson's two careers - piano technician/confidant to the stars and a globally successful recording artist - has led to extraordinary experiences with some of the world's most exalted music legends: singing Beatle songs with Paul McCartney, limo rides with Elton John, road trips with Carole King, and horseback riding with Dan Fogelberg. But beyond this everyman's unique telling of intimate celebrity tales, Tuned In is an inspiring story of one man's relentless pursuit of a dream, and a revealing testimony to the power of music in all our lives.

Emerging from a troubled childhood in a broken West Texas home, a young man moves to Los Angeles to pursue fame and fortune as a singer-songwriter. He soon strays from his mission when his piano tuning sideline blossoms into a career as piano technician to the entertainment industry's biggest names. His help in the development of the world's first MIDI-adapter for acoustic piano leads to him sharing adventures, sessions, meals, and laughs with dozens of his childhood heroes. His front row seat provides him with a rare and fascinating view into their creative processes. But when his world is shattered by his dearest friend's sudden and untimely death, he is forced to question the true meaning of success. He returns to his heart's purpose, takes a leap into the unknown, and sets out on a solo career, recording and performing his signature style of piano-featured instrumentals.

Valeria interviews Jim Wilson — He is an Acclaimed Composer and Performer — the author of TUNED IN: Memoirs Of A Piano Man: Behind The Scenes With Music Legends And Finding The Artist Within.

Jim Wilson could have simply dismissed himself as a competent piano tuner-technician, even an exceptional one. But he was, and is, so much more. From a broken home in Amarillo, Texas to a multi-award-winning recording artist, Jim Wilson's journey is a captivating tale of showbiz glamour, personal tragedy, self-discovery, and dogged determination. And, as is typical of Jim Wilson, he's turned out to be a pretty good wordsmith.

Tuned-In: Memoirs of a Piano Man is a page-turner and a life-changer. It's a self-help book in the form of an autobiography. It is entertaining, revealing and full of lessons for musicians, fans, and all readers.

Jim Wilson's life direction was set when he was given a guitar at age 7, then began composing songs at age 9. Soon after moving from West Texas to LA in his early 20's, he gained a reputation as a respected piano technician, catering to the highest echelon of the music industry. Jim helped develop the first MIDI-adapter for acoustic piano in the 80's, which became an instant hit with artists and studios around the world.

It was the shocking, untimely death of his closest friend that forced Jim to question the whole purpose

of his life. With the love and support of his musical heroes — most significantly his friend and mentor,

Dan Fogelberg — Jim set out on a solo career, composing, recording and performing his signature

style of piano-featured instrumentals.

Four of Jim's ten recordings have hit the Billboard Top-20, he's had two PBS specials, and his music has been streamed over 75 million times by fans around the globe. He was recently made a "Lifetime Member" of the Recording Academy. He enjoys scuba diving, skiing, pilot lessons, and mountain biking. Tuned In is Jim's first book.

To learn more about Jim Wilson and his work, please visit: https://jimwilsonmusic.com/

— "We are far more compelling and powerful as a species than we realize. Embracing the elements that make us uniquely human gives us awareness, wisdom, and compassion. It teaches us to love, and to lead, which is exactly what is required to live in an AI world.

When AI confronts and conquers us at the singular point of intelligence, it's actually doing us a favor. It's saying to us: You're more than this. Just as we can clearly comprehend that we are not a gorilla, our evolutionary cousin, and appreciate all that differentiates us from the magnificent animal, so too can AI, in all the ways it's seemingly similar to us, help us see all the ways we stand apart, untouchable.

So, let's not idolize AI, because AI is just a mirror. If we place it on a pedestal, we will be following an empty guru.

The next step is to re-recognize ourselves by getting in touch with our interior worlds. There, we can clearly see that our inherent value and worth does not come from our intellect, something our Information Age has convinced us of. Then, we can easily remember the radiant human staring back at us, already equipped with a heart, body, spirit, and soul capable of changing the world."

Valeria interviews Lela Tuhtan — She is a CTI-trained coach, writer, and facilitator who helps individuals and teams unlock purpose, creativity, and self-mastery.

With a background in psychology, education, and the arts, she integrates diverse disciplines into transformative coaching programs that empower clients to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Based in San Francisco, Lela is the creator of Shift the Way You Lead™ and serves as a key leader at Noria, an executive coaching collective focused on leadership development.

To learn more about Lela Tuhtan and her work, please visit: https://lelagrace.co/

— A big part of why we haven't designed a better world yet is that we haven't designed a better inner world.

The truth is, all of us carry pain we haven't fully processed. Some of us have been deeply mistreated by the system. Others have more privilege, more resources—access to therapy, meditation retreats, time for self-reflection. But regardless of where we fall on the spectrum, every single one of us carries unresolved wounds. Your thoughts are shaped by the pain you haven't yet faced. If you've tried everything to change your circumstances and still feel stuck, here's why: Your nervous system is wired to protect you from pain. It's not going to let you just "think a different thought" if that thought contradicts the survival strategies you developed to avoid overwhelming pain in childhood.

And those strategies? They live deep in the body. We have to face the pain — we need to actually discharge it from the body. Pain doesn't just sit in our minds. It's stored in our nervous systems, locked away in patterns of tension, contraction, and avoidance. And to unlock the full power of our minds—to become the creative, limitless beings we truly are—we have to physically release that stored pain.

Transformative Listening is the way we're designed to heal. It's through connection. All of our wounding happened in the absence of loving connection. As infants, we were completely vulnerable. We needed caregivers who could attune to us, hold us, soothe us. And where that didn't happen? We developed compensatory strategies—numbing, shutting down, staying small. But the good news?

We can heal. We just need someone to be present with us while we do it.

Valeria interviews Ilya Parizhsky — He is a licensed psychotherapist and the creator of Transformative Listening.

Ilya helps leaders, innovators, and change-makers form structured partnerships that transform setbacks and pain into fuel for growth, resilience, and transformation - enabling them to face challenges head-on and emerge stronger.

He emphasizes the importance of connection and closeness in this process, creating a space where individuals develop advanced emotional engagement skills - both for themselves and in their interactions with others. These skills facilitate deep healing and transformative breakthroughs.

Through this immersive, experiential approach, Ilya guides individuals in harnessing the energy of pain and turning it into vitality, resilience, and well-being. His work empowers people to break free from emotional stagnation, cultivate powerful relationships, and expand beyond their perceived limits.

To learn more about Ilya Parizhsky and his work, please visit: https://transformativelistening.love/

— "Healing begins with connection... connection to ourselves and connection to others. The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important relationship we will ever have. When we are more connected to ourselves and our emotions, we are able to cultivate more confidence, a healthier inner dialogue, and a better relationship with our bodies and food. Being in community and connecting with others is powerful medicine. There is something deeply healing about sitting in circle with others, witnessing each other in our own individual processes and allowing ourselves to be seen and take up space. You will have the opportunity to connect and share, however, it is never required."

Valeria interviews Miriam Jacobson — She is a triple board-certified Functional Medicine Dietitian and Breathwork Facilitator.

With 15+ years of experience helping people improve their physical and mental well-being through food, mindset, lifestyle, breathwork, and somatic treatment, so they can feel more alive in their bodies.

The founder of Every Body Bliss, Miriam's holistic healing approach challenges current medical narratives by examining physiological, biochemical, social, and emotional factors to resolve underlying 'mystery symptoms' of poor digestion, fatigue, and mood imbalances.

To learn more about Miriam Jacobson and her work, please visit: https://www.everybodybliss.com/

— Yoga nidra, which is derived from the tantras, is a powerful technique in which you learn to relax consciously. In yoga nidra, sleep is not regarded as relaxation. People feel that they are relaxing when they collapse in an easy chair with a cup of coffee, a drink or a cigarette, and read a newspaper or switch on the television. But this will never suffice as a scientific definition of relaxation. These are only sensory diversions. T rue relaxation is actually an experience far beyond all this. For absolute relaxation you must remain aware. This is yoga nidra, the state of dynamic sleep.

Yoga nidra is a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. The term yoga nidra is derived from two Sanskrit words, yoga meaning union or one-pointed awareness, and nidra which means sleep. During the practice of yoga nidra, one appears to be asleep, but the consciousness is functioning at a deeper level of awareness. For this reason, yoga nidra is often referred to as psychic sleep or deep relaxation with inner awareness. In this threshold state between sleep and wake­ fulness, contact with the subconscious and unconscious dimensions occurs spontaneously.

In yoga nidra, the state of relaxation is reached by turning inwards, away from outer experiences. If the consciousness can be separated from external awareness and from sleep, it becomes very powerful and can be applied in many ways, for example, to develop the memory, increase knowledge and creativity, or transform one's nature.

Valeria interviews Ruthie Ayzenberg — LMFT, LPCC, PMH-C, RYT-500, she is a compassionate psychotherapist with over a decade of experience, specializing in anxiety, depression and maternal mental health.

Additionally, Ruthie is a dedicated yoga student and teacher with comprehensive training in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, and Yoga Nidra. She is the creator and host of the Na'aleh Yoga Nidra Journeys for Deep Rest+ podcast, where she shares the transformative power of Yoga Nidra, a practice that has deeply impacted her own life.

When Ruthie was introduced to Yoga Nidra during her very first yoga teacher training, her life changed beyond what she could have imagined. What began as a personal journey soon evolved into a passion for sharing this gently transformative practice with others by crafting culturally-sensitive journeys steeped in reverence for both the Yogic lineage and Jewish tradition, while remaining inclusive to people of all cultures. Every episode is created from the heart with mindfulness and love. In her private practice, Mental Fitness Therapy, Ruthie offers personalized holistic healing using a handful of modalities, Yoga Nidra guidance, and group sessions, helping clients manage stress, reconnect with their inner selves, and heal from within. Ruthie has 100% trust in her clients' abilities to heal themselves when given the right conditions.

Ruthie enjoys blending yoga, psychology, and spirituality throughout daily life and practices what she preaches. To experience the benefits of Yoga Nidra, tune into Na'aleh Yoga Nidra Journeys for Deep Rest+ or connect with Ruthie through her practice.

To learn more about Ruthie Ayzenberg and her work, please visit: https://www.mentalfitnesstherapy.org/ https://naalehyoga.podbean.com

— "No matter how confused, self- doubting or ambivalent we are about what's happening in our interactions with other people, we can never entirely silence the inner voice that always tells us the truth. We may not like the sound of the truth, and we often let it murmur just outside our consciousness, not stopping long enough to listen. But when we pay attention to it, it leads us towards wisdom, health and clarity. That voice is the guardian of our integrity." ~Susan Forward, Ph.D.

Valeria interviews Rhonda Van De Geest — She is a Certified & Accredited Narcissistic Abuse Specialist , Somatic Trauma Informed Coach, PreKure Mental Health Coach and trained practitioner of Living Wisdom Pastoral Therapy and Brainspotting. Rhonda is the founder of Victory Overwhelming, a Mental Wellness Coaching Service which takes a holistic approach to helping people free themselves from the effects of Narcissistic Abuse and Intergenerational Trauma.

Rhonda's passion is to help people gain Victory over their Overwhelming emotions, caused by narcissism, trauma and spiritual abuse. Rhonda coaches clients to help them regain the four fundamental emotional needs which trauma destroys – their sense of Safety, Significance, Purpose and Innocence (freedom from guilt and shame).

She combines the latest Brain/Body neuroscience, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, ACT and Pastoral Therapy for Somatic Belief Reprogramming to help clients gain awareness of and learn to overcome the barriers preventing them from living a more fulfilling life. Her unique combination of skills fills a gap in the existing mental health system, helping clients for whom traditional 'talk-therapies' have not provided the desired outcomes.

Healing occurs in the body, mind and soul. Whether you need a one-off consultation or ongoing support, it's important to get support from someone who not only has personal understanding of severe trauma, but has overcome it to experience post traumatic growth. Rhonda helps people all over the world via online and in person coaching. Contact Rhonda to explore how you can best work together to meet your needs.

To learn more about Rhonda Van De Geest and her work, please visit: https://www.victoryoverwhelming.com/

— Break-up or divorce is one of the most emotionally challenging experiences we can go through. But you don't have to walk this path alone. Walking alongside someone can fast track your healing and recovery. Someone who can gently navigate with you through the pitfalls and tricks our mind plays with us to protect us. Someone who can hold you accountable to make steps towards your dreams while understanding the depth of your pain and the individual healing journey. Someone can help you to heal your past wounds and help you to reconnect with the powerful wisdom inside of you!

Valeria interviews Ivana Care — She is a Life and Transformation Coach. Her journey into coaching began with my own personal transformation.

Like many of the women she found herself facing an impossible choice in a relationship that no longer served her. Leaving meant stepping into the unknown and facing adversity, but it also meant opening doors to new possibilities. Today, Ivana is helping other women find themselves after separation. She combines her personal experience with powerful tools like guided meditations, energy work, and trauma healing techniques.

To learn more about Ivana Care and her work, please visit: mailchi.mp/6e195aa39ca6/ivanacare#header

— Honoring Ancestral Grief work is very subtle and profound, that takes place on a molecular level. It takes patience, devotion, compassion and an open heart to generate and embody these changes, until one day the process unfolds organically and naturally without utilizing immense reservoirs of effort. Some of the positive changes occur on the neuroplasticity level, which is the brain's ability to change through growth and reorganization. Some manifest as a deeper attuned nervous system and wider access to the information and sacred wisdom our bodies carries, a whole inner architecture that we get to know, our ancestry library.

A big part of the work of processing the un-metabolized grief of our ancestors, is to grief for them, and by doing so, for us as well. Grief call us to life. There's an importance in embracing grief to help us find deeper meaning in the joy and vitality of life.

Healing this grief may come through reconnecting with our forgotten lineage, allowing us to restore a foundation that may be missing, from which we can move more deeply into relationship with the wider world.

The prayer is for the individual sovereign work we do, to ripple into our families, communities, eco-systems, lineages and the earth. What we liberate in ourselves, echos back infinitely and eternally, as a different quality of energy gets passed on to the next generations. A holistic, ancient, awaked, wise energy. One that witnesses the stories from a birds eye perspective, one that is generating the oceans of compassion and light hearted freedom.

One that is expanding our map of consciousness, that is stretching the elasticity of our collective memory and presence. It is essential we support the accessing of our own inner wisdom, so that we may connect with the ancestor that we wish to become.

Valeria interviews MayRav Nissim — She is an open hearted, warm and experienced therapist and space holder.

Her work is informed by a wide range of healing modalities to help you restore, balance, and bloom. The northern star of her work is the important role the mind-body connection plays in healing and growth. Her practice is the interweaving of Psychotherapy, BioIntelligence, Neurobiology and Indigenous wisdom. Her certifications and continued areas of study include Internal Family Systems Level 3, Somatic Attachment Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, Sound Healing and an ever-present apprenticeship in Shamanic practices.

MayRav views her work with clients as a shared, supportive and compassionate reminder of ways to reconnect with their most authentic self, while they integrate deep sustainable change. It is her intention to guide them to create a more rooted foundation in their body, mind, heart and soul, from which they may step into greater vitality, presence and wholeness.

MayRav honors the knowing that our individual healing work eternally ripples within our homes, families, lineages and systems. She is passionate about breaking the cycles of historical and intergenerational trauma at the individual and community levels, and deeply believes in the healing power of coming together in community to witness and be witnessed, express, grief, renegotiate and reorganize.

To learn more about MayRav Nissim and her work, please visit: mayravnissim.com

— Coaching can change your life! People who hire a coach are more satisfied with their lives. They have lower stress, better coping mechanisms, and improved work-life balance. Who doesn't want that? Employers benefit too, because 70% of employees who receive professional coaching improve work performance.

Employees are more engaged, retention is higher, and job satisfaction increases. Leaders who hire a coach are significantly more likely to meet goals. Their teams are stronger performing, and they are assessed higher in critical leadership skills. And 72% of coaching clients report better communication skills after being coached.

These results are possible because coaching is a guided process that helps you not just survive, but thrive. Jennifer with Prism Coaching, provide you the tools and resources to examine your thinking and enact positive change in your home, school, or work. She uses evidence-based coaching techniques to build upon your strengths and improve confidence and self-efficacy. All personal coaching is individualized to reflect your unique challenges and maximize your strengths.

If you have a big change coming up, long-term stress, or maybe you'd like to achieve an elusive milestone, you'll benefit from coaching. ​ Even if you don't think you need coaching now, you'll still gain valuable insights into yourself to be better prepared for the future.

Valeria interviews Jennifer Rickmers — She holds a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership and is a former educator and military veteran of 12 years.

Her favorite part of these experiences has been how she has been able to use her influence to promote positive change, so Jennifer opened a private practice in coaching in 2022. Although she started in executive coaching, Jennifer has expanded to offer a range of services. She has four children, two with autism and ADHD, and she is a late-in-life diagnosed autistic adult. Jennifer is optimistic that with increased awareness and training, we can create a more responsive and inclusive world for neurodiverse individuals. Becoming a Board-Certified Coach is a calling that provides her purpose and clarity. Although by nature Jennifer is results driven, she always encourage her clients to examine why they make certain decisions. You find a lot of values-driven work in her coaching. Jennifer's goal is to make sure that we are working toward your brightest future. She is thankful every day for the opportunity to be a steward of your trust.

To learn more about Jennifer Rickmers and her work, please visit: https://www.prismlifecoaching.com/