A Quest for Well-Being

— Mindful eating is more than just chewing your food slowly; it's about cultivating a deep awareness of the entire eating experience. Mindful eating is paying attention to your food, on purpose, moment by moment, without judgment. It is an approach to food that focuses on your individual awareness of the food and the experience of the food. It has little to do with calories, fat, protein or number of carbohydrates. Always come back to the basics: Breathe and check for hunger. Assess your food with all of your senses. Slow down, place your spoon or fork down between each bite. Investigate your hunger; make a point of checking in with your body part way through the meal. Chew your food thoroughly, 35 to 50 times per bite. Savor your food, this includes mindfully choosing what you are eating.

Valeria interviews Jennifer Heard — She is an Integrative Wellness Specialist dedicated to transforming lives.

Her journey is deeply rooted in personal experience, having overcome the challenges of Celiac disease. This struggle ignited her passion for natural medicine, mindfulness-based nutrition, and the pursuit of optimal well-being.

Armed with a Ph.D. in Natural Medicine and an array of certifications, including Mindful Nutritionist, Health & Nutrition Life Coach, MBSR, and yoga therapist, Jennifer is committed to guiding individuals on their paths to vibrant health. Her unique blend of academic knowledge and personal resilience allows Jennifer to connect with clients on a profound level.

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

— "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a woman, I put away childish things. We need to all start speaking as an adult, thinking as an adult and reasoning as adults."

Valeria interviews Tamiko Powell — She is the author of "The Word: There Is No Other Way."

Tamiko, a native Californian, author, and advocate for morality and ethics, presents herself as an Independent Candidate for the presidency of the United States. Her journey from childhood to adulthood has shaped her belief in the importance of speaking, thinking, and reasoning as adults. Tamiko envisions a united America that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens and strengthens the nation's moral fabric. She calls for open-mindedness and change, emphasizing that her candidacy offers a path to a better future. Tamiko stands ready to lead the nation toward a brighter tomorrow, urging voters to embrace her vision for a more cohesive and ethical America.

To learn more about Tamiko Powell and her work, please visit: https://tamikoforpresident.com/

— When we go through trials, we end up dying to some part of ourselves, and that not only carves us into a new person with greater resilience and capacity for change but also one who understands that death on all levels is simply another rite of passage. As we walk through the dark places in our life and accept our losses, we die to what the ego and mind mistakenly think is the best life path for us. The darkness helps us touch into our vulnerabilities, and each loss allows us to die just a little more, so that when life takes from us, creation brings something new into our lives. Any life form that stops growing dies.

In nature, death is not an end. Death only leads to new creation, opening doors to new dimensions of reality. This is true whether we physically leave our bodies to engage in a new adventure of life or if we stay here as a polished stone ready to be kind to ourselves and be in service to all of life.

Valeria interviews Sandra Ingerman — She is the author of "Walking through Darkness: A Nature-Based Path to Navigating Suffering and Loss and many other titles."

Sandra Ingerman, MA, a world-renowned teacher of shamanism, is recognized for bridging ancient cross-cultural healing methods with modern culture. She's taught for 40 years, including workshops worldwide on shamanic journeying, healing, and reversing environmental pollution using spiritual methods.

Sandra is a licensed marriage and family therapist, professional mental health counselor, and a board-certified expert on traumatic stress. Watkins Body Mind Spirit magazine honored her by including her in their 100 Most Spiritually Influential People of 2020. She was also chosen as one of the Top 10 Spiritual Leaders of 2013 by Spirituality and Health magazine and was awarded the 2007 Peace Award from the Global Foundation for Integrative Medicine.

She's authored 13 books, including Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self... Medicine for the Earth... Walking in Light... and The Book of Ceremony: Shamanic Wisdom for Invoking the Sacred in Everyday Life. Sandra and Hank Wesselman's book, Awakening to the Spirit World: The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation, won both the 2011 COVR (Coalition of Visionary Resources) Visionary Award and the 2011 IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Award).

Since the 1980s, thousands of people have healed from past and present traumas through Soul Retrieval, the classic cross-cultural shamanic healing method Sandra teaches.

Sandra is recognized for bridging ancient cross-cultural healing methods into our modern culture addressing the needs of our times.

Sandra is known for gathering the global spiritual community together to perform powerful transformative ceremonies as well as inspiring us to stand strong in unity, so we do our own spiritual and social activism work while keeping a vision of hope and being a light in the world.

She is passionate about helping people to reconnect with nature.

Sandra joined in partnership with Renee Baribeau to create a weekly, 30-minute podcast called The Shamans Cave.

Coming out soon is Sandra's new book she co-wrote with Llyn Roberts on Walking Through Darkness: A Nature Based Path to Navigating Suffering and Loss.

To learn more about Sandra Ingerman and her work, please visit: https://www.sandraingerman.com/

— You should feel like yourself at all times because life's too short. How many times have you felt as though you couldn't see through the clouds and didn't have the energy to part them? What have you tried to change your feelings, including therapy, medication, yoga, and gratitude practices that haven't worked? The feeling of being energized, alert, and upbeat, relaxed & carefree, and comfortable with yourself awaits you with The power of functional nutritional therapist!

Valeria interviews Laurie Hammer — She is a functional nutritional therapist helping moms overcome anxiety through practical & nutritional methods.

She specializes in balancing the brain through targeted amino acid therapy and brain detox from life stressors whether they be physical, chemical or emotionally driven. Laurie is also a homeschool mom who loves to share on the love for learning and how to provide the best environment and family culture for our kids to thrive in.

To learn more about Laurie Hammer and her work, please visit: https://www.lauriehammer.com/,

https://www.facebook.com/takebackmybrain and

https://www.instagram.com/thecalmmomcommunity/

— "Humans do not enter a world which is inherently structured. We must give the world a structure which we ourselves create." ~ Dr. James T. Webb

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released startling new statistics on the rise of deaths by suicide in the United States, which are up 25 percent since 1999 across most ethnic and age groups. These numbers clearly point to a crisis — but of what kind? Many argue that this is a crisis of mental health care, that people are not getting the services they need. The proposed solution is better therapies, more effective antidepressants and greater access to treatment. This assessment may be correct. However, the suicide rate has increased even as more people are seeking treatment for depression and anxiety, and even as treatment for those conditions has become more widely available. An additional explanation seems to be needed. As a behavioral scientist who studies basic psychological needs, including the need for meaning, I am convinced that our nation's suicide crisis is in part a crisis of meaninglessness." ~ Clay Routledge

Valeria interviews Dr. Sheena Sachdev — She is a licensed psychologist who specializes in Existential Psychology.

She treats individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, relational issues, and trauma. Her phenomenological approach ensures that each individual has a spotlight on their subjective human experience and perspective. Dr. Sachdev is an advocate of group therapy and has initiated several groups at each site she has worked with including: a yoga/meditation group, a mindfulness group, creativity groups, and existential depression and anxiety groups.

To learn more about Dr. Sheena Sachdev and her work, please visit: https://www.drsheena.com/

— Thinking about Universal Consciousness as God or All That Is may seem totally abstract and difficult to comprehend. But once you begin to understand how one universal consciousness is primary, and that our "personal" consciousness is a part of that infinite ocean of consciousness, and that consciousness is creative and creates the physical as well as the non-physical, and that the universe, therefore, is one wholeness AND is alive because consciousness is the same as life, and that the One Consciousness is good and desires the experience of life to be good because that is the true expression of wholeness, then you begin to see how the universe and the workings of the universe make complete sense. The universe and God can be understood and related to. Well-being is holistic and includes all aspects of you – body, mind, and spirit – awakening is and should be all about achieving greater well-being. That's a very good thing, and the goal of awakening should always be a happier, healthier, more abundant you!

Valeria interviews Raymond Posch — He is the author of "Awakening to Wholeness: How to Live Consciously, Creatively, and Abundantly."

Raymond Posch is a podcaster, spiritual explorer and wayshower, folk singer, writer, and speaker. His podcasts are Our Spiritual Life (running 4 years as of December 2023) and New Ways of Being (launched in November 2023). He loves exploring spiritual awakening and the evolution of human consciousness. He is the author of the book Awakening to Wholeness. His earlier career was in information technology and project management.

To learn more about Raymond Posch and his work, please visit: https://raymondposch.com/

— Carl Rogers, psychologist wrote in 1959 his view on human nature, that when people are placed in meaningful therapeutic conditions, they will naturally change in a positive direction. Carl Rogers and William Miller (psychologist) have separately shared that this tendency toward reaching your true inner self "it is as natural as a plant's growth upward toward the light when given adequate soil, water, and sunshine. It is as if each person has a natural mature end-state or purpose (Telos, in Greek) toward which he or she will grow given optimal conditions." They say that the Telos of an acorn is to become an oak tree; to reach its true purpose. Each action we take as humans is directed towards some Telos (i.e. purpose) and real change involves identifying concrete steps needed to attain Telos. Telos has many terms that describes it in philosophy; goal, completion, or fulfillment; this translates into all walks of life.

Valeria interviews Marissa Harris — She is a compassionate therapist dedicated to guiding individuals on a transformative journey toward holistic well-being through sensorimotor psychotherapy.

She is a licensed independent clinical social worker, national board certified clinical social work diplomate, certified substance abuse provider, and certified in mindfulness-based relapse prevention, and a mindfulness-based relapse prevention group facilitator. She has specialized training in trauma informed approaches in Level 2 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and Internal Family Systems approaches. She is also trained in the Institute of Functional Medicine where she explores ways to highlight the intricate link between our emotional experiences and bodily responses.

She is currently the owner of Telos Health and Wellness Services, a private practice where she offers individual therapy as well as consultation. Throughout her 25 years in the field, she has served as a steadfast advocate and mentor, guiding and empowering a team of dedicated trauma, medical, and forensic professionals.

She shares the honor and privilege of supporting individuals navigating life circumstances that have led to symptoms consistent with PTSD or dissociative disorders. Her focus remains centered on the person and understanding the unique challenges someone could face as a result of their experiences or environment.

Exploring a holistic approach, she believes in the power of the body to hold and release emotional pain, trauma, and stress. Through gentle exploration and mindfulness, she helps people reconnect with the innate wisdom of their body at a pace that works for the person she is supporting. She feels the body tells a story and she utilizes a way of listening, honoring, and understanding its language.

To learn more about Marissa Harris and her work, please visit: https://www.teloshealthandwellnessservices.com

— The mission of Czar Clothing is to lead and revolutionize the athleisurewear fashion industry by setting a new standard for eco-friendly, responsible, and sustainable practices. We believe in a future where fashion and the planet coexist harmoniously, and we are committed to making that vision a reality. Our commitment to sustainability begins with our innovative 'On-Demand' model. We produce clothing only when you, our valued customers, place orders. We eliminate the detrimental effects of overproduction that plague the fashion industry, reducing waste and minimizing our carbon footprint.

Valeria interviews Nick Zellem — He is the founder of Czar Clothing, a trademarked brand that specializes in high-quality sustainable athleisurewear for men and women.

Nick was heavily influenced by his family's eastern European and Russian heritage. He moved to Texas and acquired a business degree in Entrepreneurship from Baylor University before embarking on a successful career in technology sales. Nick conceptualized Czar Clothing over 10 years ago and formally started the company in 2016. In his off time, Nick enjoys yoga, working out, kickboxing, DJing & Video DJing, and has been learning the Russian Language the past few years.

To learn more about Nick Zellem and his work, please visit: https://czarclothing.com/

— When it feels like something's missing

If it hurts but you can't find healing

Just look up, know you are loved

Just look up; know you are loved

You, don't have to prove yourself

Don't try to be someone else

You don't have to prove yourself

Don't try to be someone else

You are loved!

~ partial lyrics to the song by Stars Go Dim

Valeria interviews Linda Bjork — She is the author of "Crushed: A Journey Through Depression, You Got This!: An Action Plan To Calm Worry, Fear, Anxiety, And Stress and many other titles."

Linda Bjork is the founder and executive director of Hope for Healing non-profit charity and owner of Innovative Joy LLC. She has degrees from Brigham Young University and The University of the State of New York. She has written several non-fiction books. Her podcast, "Linda's Corner," and blog, "Two Good Things," were created to inspire hope, increase joy, and motivate positive change. Linda's personal mission is to empower people to become their best selves.

Linda defines herself as an overcomer. She has overcome depression, social anxiety, and trauma. She has overcome self-limiting beliefs, self-sabotage, low self-confidence, low self-esteem and more. For decades, Linda felt like an imposter, masquerading as someone worth loving and accepting when she "knew" that she wasn't really good enough. She now lives a joyful, authentic, fulfilling life.

Linda is passionate about hope, healing, and personal transformation because she has lived it. She created Hope for Healing non-profit to help empower others to overcome as well. She has interviewed hundreds of experts and overcomers on Linda's Corner Podcast so we can help even more people overcome every kind of adversity and life challenge.

To learn more about Linda Bjork and her work, please visit: https://hopeforhealingfoundation.org/

— Effective Listening is an online healing community dedicated to everyone getting to thrive in this life as themselves. A truly supportive environment is essential for humans to thrive. In order to co-create a better world, we need to learn and practice the art of "Effective Listening." By learning and practicing Effective Listening, we create a supportive environment and empower each other toward self-actualization.

Valeria interviews Ilya Parizhsky — He is the founder of Effective Listening, a group process that creates one on one listening partnerships for mutual healing and transformation.

He holds a Masters in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington, DC, where he practices online couples and individual therapy.

Ilya is an expert leader of personal growth workshops and group processes, and has helped thousands of people heal and overcome restrictions to their authenticity. He devotes himself to staying at the cutting edge of the healing arts. He has trained in countless therapeutic modalities, and has taken part in tens of thousands of hours of experiential workshops, and thousands of hours of individual counseling, meditation, yoga, dance and movement, theater, and other self-actualization processes. He continues to vigorously pursue both personal and professional development, and can't overstate the importance for therapists and healing professionals to do extensive amounts of both professional training and personal healing work in order to be authentically and skillfully available for others.

Ilya is also adept at simplifying and boiling down the essence of complex processes. Effective Listening is the culmination of Ilya's wide-ranging experience and training, and offers an accessible synthesis of powerful personal growth techniques, borrowing from many different disciplines and modalities, but creating something truly unique.

In addition to his passion for therapy and healing, Ilya is also a performance artist and stand-up comedian, where he uses his life story and experiences to bring levity, light, and laughter to subjects as deep as the nature of consciousness and the meaning of life, and as silly as multi-lingual animal sounds. Ilya is also a proud father of two young daughters. He is a devoted husband married to his best friend and favorite person on the planet. And he lives in an Ecovillage, which he finds to be an ideal environment for his children to grow up, freely roaming and playing with friends.

Ilya has a deep longing and commitment to be of service, and to make the world a better place. He has developed Effective Listening as a means to that end. In his work as a psychotherapist, he is often confronted with the fact that humans need more than a therapy session once a week to thrive. We need a network of supportive skillful humans we can count on. The Effective Listening method is not therapy and is not meant to replace therapy. Effective Listening unleashes the awesome power and natural healing capacity that each of us has inside of us. It gives us a living network of people and a community of practice with whom to share and develop our dormant ability to give and receive love and build the collective resources to create a world that truly meets the needs we have.

To learn more about Ilya Parizhsky and his work, please visit: https://effectivelistening.org/ and https://www.ilyaparizhsky.com/