A Quest for Well-Being

— Living from a state of connection to our deepest Self can help us to think, feel, speak and act in more skillful ways. Individually, we can learn to trust our innate wisdom to overcome patterns of behavior that no longer serve us. This can help improve our relationships with family, friends, co-workers and ripple out to our communities and the wider world around us.

Valeria Teles interviews Mike Jenkins — the author of "The Gift of the Present: How to Experience More Peace, Joy and Happiness Through Present Moment Awareness and Practicing Present Moment Awareness Video Series."

Mike began exploring Spiritual Practice with a voracious zeal after a diagnosis of cancer at the age of 29. In 2010, he began to experience more profound changes in his perception of himself, others and of life and began writing about this on a blog. He has given talks in Leicester, Yorkshire, Lancaster, London and Brighton, recorded dozens of videos on YouTube, was interviewed on the popular Spiritual Awakening video series Buddha at the Gas Pump and has written many articles and short eBooks.

Mike currently hosts regular weekly and monthly Present Moment Awareness Group sessions on Zoom, offers private guided sessions for individuals and shares articles, eBooks and MP3 meditations on his website.

To learn more about Mike Jenkins and his work, please visit: heartofpresence.co.uk

Also, practice present moment awareness and re-connect with the freedom to feel in your own time and at your own pace with mike's 4 part video series. for a limited time only, fit for joy is offering a 30% discount code. simple enter fit4joy0522, click validate and your discount will be applied: https://www.heartofpresence.co.uk/video-series

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

— "Don't just learn, experience.Don't just read, absorb.Don't just change, transform.Don't just relate, advocate.Don't just promise, prove.Don't just criticize, encourage.Don't just think, ponder.Don't just take, give.Don't just see, feel.Don't just dream, do.Don't just hear, listen.Don't just talk, act.Don't just tell, show.Don't just exist, live."— By Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the HeartValeria Teles interviews Kate Vredevoogd — the author of "Words of Wellbeing, A to Z." Kate Vredevoogd is also a blogger, artist, spiritual explorer and healer, energy worker, and enthusiastic student of Earth School. She was born in Washington State, where she received degrees in Linguistics and Spanish, and has spent the past nine years in Southern Spain. She's recently moved back to the Pacific Northwest.

Her books are titled From the Same Quiver and Words of Wellbeing, A to Z, which is also available in Spanish with the title Palabras de Bienestar.

Energy work and shamanism are healing modalities that have called to her since childhood. She began her healing journey by receiving the three Reiki attunements. She then went on to study under spiritual guides and masters of different lineages from Mesoamerica and South America.

Kate is a recognized Cacao Medicine Carrier and Sahumadora following the Mayan tradition, and has been ordained as a Shamanic Priestess by Q'uero High Priest Pampamisayoq Nicolás Pauccar. She holds cacao ceremonies, and combines the heart-opening plant medicine with shamanic practices from the Andean Cosmovision, as well as using drums and medicinal songs to further enhance the healing experience.

Her work and her writing focus on building community, respectfully learning about and elevating indigenous teachings, personal empowerment, and connection.

To learn more about Kate Vredevoogd and her work, please visit: wanderlustwords.com

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

— "Women are becoming increasingly health conscious; especially during pregnancy. Pregnant women should question all that they consume (e.g. caffeine, alcohol and even strong cleaning agents) to protect their womb. We should also question traditional glucose beverages that were invented in the 1960s; when the use of BVO, Artificial Dyes, Artificial Flavoring, BHA, Sodium Bonzoates and GMOs were commonplace. The Fresh Test has exactly 50-grams of glucose yet is void of unnecessary additives. It's also delicious! This is a product the whole family would love. When given an option, 9 out of 10 women choose The Fresh Test over pharmaceutical brand glucola." – writes Dr. Ralph Mayer

Valeria Teles interviews Jacqueline Ramsey — she is the founder of The Fresh Test, LLC – a natural FemTech company based in Los Angeles.

She started her career in Fortune 500 medical companies. Although she respects Big-Pharma, she hopes Fresh Test's spike in market share will ignite a shift away from earnings calls. She is backed by a medical board of advisors ranging from OBGYN's, dieticians, midwives, and medical doctors in her pursuit of strengthening the patient voice & bringing mother-nature back into products.

Jacquie was inspired by her first-born son. When she was pregnant with her son, she was at a loss looking for healthy alternatives for the glucose load test. She could not believe there were so many women who were seeking healthier alternatives, yet there were no options for which providers were advocating. When her son was 6 months old, she decided to leave an international job, where she flew to a new country every couple of weeks. It was her dream job but it felt wrong leaving my growing family at home. She decided she could still have a dream job – she knew she needed to create it, though. With her baby by her side, she started creating a product she longed for during her pregnancy, so other mothers would not have to go through the same battles. Now, it is her goal to continue improving her product line, never forgetting the consumer because not long ago, she was in their shoes.

To learn more about Jacqueline Ramsey and her work, please visit: thefreshtest.com

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

— It has practically become trendy for some people, particularly celebrities, to reveal their trials and tribulations of battling depression. It is almost as if you have not lived unless you can express that you "know" depression. People are starting to wear it like a badge of courage. Although this coming out has helped to de- stigmatize the illness, it also has had a spin-off effect of reducing the perceived seriousness of it. To the uninformed, watching Jim Carey reveal his bout with depression on 60 Minutes made it difficult to appreciate how debilitating it is. The seemingly apparent contradiction of a zany comedian who starred in the movie Dumb and Dumber and yet expressed his battles with depression did not add up. To add to the recent celebrity revelations, people often now use the word depression loosely and in a generic context, to denote a temporary lapse of enjoyment, as in, "I know how you feel; I have felt depressed myself." Depression and feeling depressed are not even in the same ballpark. The differentiation is critical; the seriousness and impact of the illness must not be lost in the zest for society to understand and accept the dis- ease. It is a delicate balance, indeed. – writes Bruce

Valeria Teles interviews Bruce R. Ross — the author of "Breaking Free of Depression's Grip: A Powerful Success Story."

Bruce R. Ross has lived with depression and anxiety for his adult life; more than forty-five years. Despite this disease 24/7, Bruce overcame its debilitating effects and has led a successful family life, career, and personal life.

After 34 years working in the credit union sector, Bruce retired as senior vice president, finance, from a $1 billion financial institution. He is a lecturer at fanshawe college, has a bachelor of commerce degree, chartered professional accountant (CPA) certification, is certified financial planner (CFP) designation, and he has a master's of business administration (MBA) degree. Bruce finished five marathons after the age of 35 and completed three triathlons, including a half-ironman after the age of 40.

He travelled to all fifty US states and all ten Canadian provinces. Bruce was born and raised in Nova Scotia and moved to Ontario in 1987. He currently resides in Meaford with his wife, Cheryl, and daughter, Hannah.

To learn more about Bruce R. Ross and his work, please visit: brucerross.ca

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

— I woke up hot and sweaty in the middle of a sweltering August night. I could not get back to sleep, so I decided to go downstairs to get a drink of water. Halfway down, I heard voices and whispers: first, my mother's; then, a strange man's. Startled, I stopped, sat down in the dark on the worn attic steps, and listened. I couldn't make out everything they said because my mother was crying. I had never heard her cry. I leaned forward, hoping to hear more.

"They're coming to take the kids away tomorrow," she said.

I shivered in spite of the heat.

Questions tumbled through my seven-year-old mind. Who was coming? Was I one of the kids? Why were they taking us? Where were they taking us?

The hushed voices continued, but fear forced me back to bed.

All thoughts of my original purpose for getting out of bed had vanished and been replaced with terror. I tossed and turned for hours before I fell asleep again. I woke up early, my room still dark. I wanted to tell my four sisters and five brothers, who shared the attic with me, what I had heard the previous night. But if I repeated it, it would be true, not some awful nightmare. So, I kept silent.

On that fateful day in 1955, my world changed forever…. Writes Donna

Valeria Teles interviews Donna Rhodes — the author of "How the Woman at the Well Became the Well Woman: A Memoir of an Extraordinary Ordinary Life."

Donna Rhodes is a trained speaker, published author, and a certified Life Coach and Personality Trainer. She has also written for newspapers, magazines, websites, and for story compilation books. She is the author of How The Woman At The Well Became The Well Woman. Donna teaches Bible Studies and is on the Women's Leadership team at her church. Donna received her certification in Biblical Counseling from The American Association of Christian Counselors.Donna received her Life Coach Training from the Professional Christian Counseling & Coaching Academy in 2007.

As a Bible Study teacher, she has taught at West Hills Community Church in West Hills California (4 years) and Community Bible Church in Easley SC (4 years). She was also a Retreat Leader at the Billy Graham Training Center.

She has spoken at the Christian Communicators Conference Training, the Hope Floats Women's Conference, MOPS Mom's meetings, The Colors of His Love Conference, and local churches. Donna has been happily married for the past 36 years to Denver. Together they have eight children, 14 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Her passion is sharing hope for the hopeless; even if they have to borrow hope from her story, until they find their own. Her happy places are her family, traveling, gourmet cooking, and playing with her dog, Penny.

To learn more about Donna Rhodes and her work, please visit: onewellwoman.com

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

— What if you could live authentically and live the life that you want? Dare to unlearn and unleash the authentic you!

Our conditioning is not our fault and it is not who we are. Our conditioning is faulty when we deny our own needs and or emotions, are people pleasing, have low self-esteem, fear of abandonment and obsessive thinking to name a few.

As human being we are all codependent at some degree. As long as we will live as our ego self more often then we live as our true self, we will adapt in some ways to fit in rather than expressing our true nature. Codependency mean that we forgot who we really are. We have the false belief that we are not loved, worthy or enough as we are so we often try to control, cling or settle for less than our desires.

Fear is often at the basis of our decisions and we often numb ourselves by overindulging in food, alcohol, netflix, social media, shopping or other substances. We also distract ourselves from feeling our emotions by avoiding them. We need to get out of our story (ego) and see ourselves as the limitless being that we are. Let's do this together!

Valeria Teles interviews Cassie Giguere — She is a Certified Life Coach, Theta Healer, and a student in Psychology at University Laval.

Cassie helps her clients to unlearn and rewire their subconscious mind so they can align their beliefs with their desires. She focuses on healing the inner child. She helps the client through a regression to remember the moment when a faulty belief about the self was created so the client can meet his/her inner child's needs, reassure and nurture that part of themselves and heal. For Cassie, healing our inner child is the way to heal ourselves and align all our energy in one direction that we have consciously chosen. She also helps her clients to reconnect with their spirituality and their own wisdom.

Cassie is also an entrepreneur and has built a multi million dollar business in the fashion industry at the age of 25. She began her journey into spirituality and life coaching after she struggled with her own mental health at the age of 27. Because of that experience, Cassie embarked on this long journey of self-discovery and learning and eventually got her theta healing & life coaching certifications. Her life completely changed from the inside out, (from her beliefs to her reality) Cassie left the fashion industry and launched her coaching practice. Cassie believes that we should see progress today in our doctors office with everything that we know about epigenetic and quantum science. Cassie's long term goal is to help bring science and spirituality together.

To learn more about Cassie Giguere and her work, please visit: cassiegiguere.com

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

— "I had to first agree to become desperate. I had to agree to quit arguing, to end trying, pushing myself to persevere. I had to agree to understand that this is neither the direction nor the way. I had to understand that I can let things just be, only when I love." Until now I saw this as surrender. It is not. It is neither a surrender nor compromise, despite sometimes appearing that way. What will happen if we lower our expectations of a joint journey, a co-creation, of being one with men, without a beginning, middle or end, of being lost and rediscovered together with them? What if we will really see them, as they really are, and for everything that they are not? Perhaps then it seems, that this is the gateway to a new, evolving stage in which we will stop living the separation, the domineering and exploitative illusion which we mistakenly call "our nature", only because at some point in time, women were silenced and men were to a large extent left alone, carrying the responsibility and dominating. It is essential to convey this, so that men will have the opportunity and space to rediscover themselves and it is only then, when women will agree to recognize that it is like this, that they will be able to truly lead. To lead here means – to simply share what they see, to set the rules of the game, to know that they are an authority of wisdom and commitment to do good for all and to actualize all of this in practice. Perhaps in this way, will men also have more freedom to lay their head down and to breath the spaces, the atmosphere that women have created for them and for everyone. – Writes Ruth

Valeria Teles interviews Ruth Bar Shalev — She is the author of "What Really Is: How Would Life Look If We Knew That We Are Not Our Thoughts? And is currently writing the Oh Men."

Ruth Bar Shalev is a student/disciple, coach and coaching teacher, leader of innovative projects whose time has come, writer, creator, mother of four and grandmother of three, almost 60 years old.

Ruth has been coaching for the past 30 years and is one of the pioneers of coaching in Israel. She has led and facilitated breakthrough processes in many different fields, working with the military, women's organizations, the Israeli Ministry of Education, and on inter Arab – Jewish relations, both in Israel and abroad. Ruth has coached thousands of people, hundreds of businesses, startups and state institutions, and trained dozens of coaches. For the past 18 years she has developed a way of coaching and named it: The Art of What Really Is.

For the past three years she has been writing, and has published the book "WHAT REALLY IS" alongside a rich website whose vision and beauty emerged from a life journey, a journey that seeks truth in her personal life, in the life of her loved ones and of the people she had and has the privilege to coach.

The knowledge which is at the core of all of Ruth's work, wishes to enable a person to remember the wisdom with which we are born, the wisdom of the soul, and to live it in each and every moment and situation. The book, the website and especially the coaching of The Art of What Really Is, teaches a person to distinguish between his or her true nature, and his or her thoughts and the reality their thoughts present to them.

True knowledge is motion, a new vision being revealed and not fixed ideas and conclusions. Therefore, it requires a high level of devotion, of giving oneself over, so that the motion, the art of life, can reveal itself.

To learn more about Ruth Bar Shalev and her work, please visit: whatreallyis.com

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

— Self-Love is what Stephani Grace's work is all about—ways to learn to love yourself, and to have more compassion and acceptance for yourself. The reason it feels so hard to love ourselves is because of our ego. We have been conditioned to think and believe in a certain way. A majority of the time this is negative thinking or judgements against ourselves. As we begin to be more loving it can feel inauthentic, and our ego will likely argue with us and ramp up the negativity. We are truly reprogramming our minds to be more loving, and this takes awareness, time, and practice. Please be patient with yourself.

Valeria Teles interviews Stephani Grace — the author of " Creating Real Happiness A to Z: A Mindful Guide to Discovering, Loving, and Accepting Your True Self."

Stephani Grace is also a motivational speaker, therapist and mindfulness expert. She has used self-exploration and mindfulness to overcome many adversities including addiction and remnants of a traumatic upbringing to live a more vital, inspired and fulfilling life. Through her personal inner work and with hundreds of her clients, Stephani knows that everyone can experience the freedom of living life as their true self, free from judgment and past conditioning to feel joy and happiness every day. She has made it her life's mission to create helpful, accessible and easily applied tools to make wholehearted living possible for all people, everywhere.

Stephani Grace is a state-licensed and board-certified professional counselor and mindfulness coach with 21 years of experience counseling and coaching individuals and couples using her unique blend of psychology and spirituality. She received her BA in Psychology and MA in Counseling Psychology from Humboldt State University. She has a successful private practice in Portland, Oregon where she lives with her daughter, Olivia, her dog, Lulu, and her cats, Birdie and Gus.

To learn more about Stephani Grace and her work, please visit: stephanigrace.com

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

— "Change Comes from Within."

Valeria Teles interviews Dr. Alex Dimitriu — He brings a deep respect for science and spirituality into his work. Professionally, Alex is dual board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine.

As a consultation psychiatrist, he specialized in the complex interplay between the mind and body. In his work, Dr. Dimitriu helps his patients optimize peak performance by day and peak restorative sleep by night. He has been nationally recognized by The New York Times, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Psychology Today, NBC News among other media. Alex also serves as a medical reviewer for Business Insider, the Sleep Foundation, and is a contributing author to The Encyclopedia of Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Dimitriu completed his training in the Stanford division of Sleep Medicine. Through the optimization of wake and sleep, he has brought truly amazing outcomes to the most challenging of cases. A thorough understanding of neuroscience and pharmacology are applied to attain the most minimal, efficient and holistic solutions possible. Beyond repair, he strives for enhancement, optimization and longevity. Science and psychology are applied to enhance joy, creativity, cognition, and performance.

Away from work, Alex lives to be in the ocean; sailing, kite-boarding, surfing, and spending time with his family. He is currently writing a book about the interplay of therapy and medication, and is involved in the development of BrainFoodMD - a natural brain-boosting supplement.

To learn more about Alex Dimitriu and his work, please visit: brainfoodmd.com

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

— "Shame is a liar but it's good at its job."

Pam Rader didn't just crave freedom… her survival depended on it. Having escaped at knifepoint from her violent alcoholic husband, she desperately sought a new beginning for her infant son. But after a string of failed relationships and marriages, her worst nightmare unfolded before her eyes as her beloved boy developed an out-of-control heroin addiction.

In her deeply personal and touching story, Pam Rader recounts her struggle for independence and acceptance during the most turbulent time of her life. And through the power of yoga and self-reinvention, this mother's discovery of compassion will comfort anyone all too close to the horror of destructive behavior.

Her book, "Through the Cracks" is an inspirational memoir that will shine light at the end of any dark and treacherous tunnel.

Valeria Teles interviews Pam Rader — the author of "Through The Cracks : A Gripping Tale Of Abuse, Addiction And Rising Above A Legacy Of Shame." Pam Rader is also the owner of Shift Power Yoga, the founder and CEO of Shift Coaching and Leadership (a division of Shift Labs), Speaker, Podcast host, and Life Coach. Pam's primary purpose in each of her endeavors is to help individuals and organizations discover the power they have to totally transform their lives, experiences and businesses at any moment. She continues to expand her work with the vision of positively and powerfully impacting as many lives as possible.To learn more about Pam Rader and her work, please visit: Pamrader.com and Shiftlabs.ca

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