A Quest for Well-Being

— A joyful life is a present, authentic life. It is living at your full potential as a whole human being. When you live from this place of fulfillment and wellbeing you begin to observe yourself from a fresh perspective. You also become more attune to the beautiful nuances of the world around you and the impact you have in it. Like most people, however, you may often find that your reservoir of joy is running low or in extreme cases, it may even seem to run dry. But with a little self-observation, you can begin to discover which mindsets and choices drain your emotional wellness, and which ones replenish you instead. This awareness empowers you to take steps toward living a more fulfilling life. When you live the best version of yourself, you are present and experience authentic wholeness. So, while you may think you can't generate joy on demand, you can choose your thoughts, and in doing so you can reconnect to your best version of yourself in any moment. This is where the beauty of regeneration begins. Like a starfish that replaces a lost or damaged limb with a new one, you too can begin to restore lost parts of your wellbeing by transforming your awareness and thought choices.

Valeria Teles interviews Anne Scottlin — the author of "Live for Joy."

Anne Scottlin, MA, CPC has worked in the industries of motivation and wellbeing for over a decade. Anne is a nature and animal lover, mountain hiker, humanitarian, world traveler, doting dog mama, influencer and award-winning writer and actress. Her friends and clients love her for her warm empathy and joie de vivre. She lives with her husband and two Mini Schnauzers in Santa Monica, CA or at her secret mountain hideaway. Anne is the founder of The Power of Joy Institute, which is dedicated to the study and practice of joy and offers corporate training and retreats supporting emotional wellness and optimal work-life integration.

To learn more about Anne Scottlin and her work, please visit: annescottlin.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 is said that God is love. And in one sense, this may be so. But to say that God is love is to say that love is God. And this is not so. The two are not equal, or the same, or interchangeable. Better to say God is. And also, love is. But what is love? And what does love have to do with God (if God is)? We might begin by saying what love is not. Love is not an activity. Love is not something we do. Love is not an action. In essence, love is not a verb. Nor is it a choice. Love, simply, is the recognition of our shared being. Love is the dissolution of the sense of separation between 'I' and 'other.' The crumbling of the wall that says I am me, you are you, and the world is made of other stuff. Love is the realization of the source of all that is prior to all, gives rise to all, is in harmony with all. Words become inadequate here, unless they are the words of poets. And so what has love to do with God, then?

We might say that if God is, and is the source of all, and all arises from God and is within God, then because of this, love is known. We might also say love is, and therefore God is.

Valeria Teles interviews Michael McVey — a Psychologist, Certified Yoga Teacher, Coach, Counselor, And Speaker

Michael McVey's approach to spirituality, psychotherapy, and the healing relationship was shaped by a variety of professional and personal experiences. As a GM with Fortune 500 big-box retail companies, he coached and counseled individuals and teams for improved performance for over 20 years. As an English teacher living and working overseas, he traveled extensively, broadening his awareness of and appreciation of other cultures and ways of life. His spiritual journey began at young age and led him to study theology at Brite Divinity School, then around the globe to Eastern thought. He underwent intensive training in self-inquiry meditation and Yoga, and took a deep dive into Advaita Vedanta (non-duality). Ultimately, he discovered the profound peace of a still mind. He now works to help others do the same.

Michael holds an M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy and will complete an M.A. in Psychology in the coming year. He has a B.A. in Psychology and is a certified Yoga teacher.

To learn more about Michael McVey and his work, please visit: michaeldmcvey.com and discoveringnonduality.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.

— Lifespan feminism is tied to something else we very much need right now: a bridge feminism among girls and women of different generations that links us together in a common cause to confront the unfinished business of the women's movement.

Valeria Teles interviews Susan J. Douglas — the author of "In Our Prime: How Older Women Are Reinventing the Road Ahead."

Susan J. Douglas is the Catherine Neafie Kellogg Professor and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Communication and Media, and former department chair, at The University of Michigan. She is the author of the acclaimed In Our Prime: How Older Women are Reinventing the Road Ahead (Norton, 2020), an "Editors' Choice/Staff Picks" by the New York Times; Celebrity: A History of Fame (NYU Press, with Andrea McDonnell, 2019); The Rise of Enlightened Sexism: How Pop Culture Took us from Girl Power to Girls Gone Wild (Times Books/Henry Holt, 2010); The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How it Undermines Women (with Meredith Michaels, The Free Press, 2004); Listening In: Radio and the American Imagination (Times Books, 1999), which won the Hacker Prize in 2000 for the best popular book about technology and culture; Where The Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media (Times Books, 1994; Penguin, 1995) and Inventing American Broadcasting, 1899-1922 (Johns Hopkins, 1987). She received her B.A. from Elmira College (Phi Beta Kappa) and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Brown University. She has lectured at colleges and universities around the country, and has written for the New York Times, The Nation, In These Times, The Village Voice, Ms., The Washington Post and TV Guide, and was media critic for The Progressive from 1992-1998. Her column "Back Talk" appeared monthly in In These Times until 2017. She has appeared on The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Working Woman, CNBC's Equal Time, NPR's Fresh Air, Weekend Edition, The Diane Rehm Show, Talk of the Nation, Michael Feldman's Whad'ya Know and various radio talk shows around the country. Where the Girls Are was widely praised, and chosen one of the top ten books of 1994 by National Public Radio, Entertainment Weekly and The McLaughlin Group.

To learn more about Susan J. Douglas and her work, please visit: susanjdouglas.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.

— "Being trauma-informed means every part of me needs to be present for that class, I am mindful of my language, my demeanour even what I am wearing, how I smell, and how my voice sounds, this is all an important part of it." Knowing when someone needs touch, Sophia De Fossard might adjust their shoulders, or place a soft support under their elbows, or whether someone needs to be left alone for now, helps people to learn what they need to feel safe in their bodies again. And parallel to that, is the understanding that she also accepts her own traumas, and that is what is great about acceptance; you don't have to have it all sorted out, you just need to know it is there, and learn to hold space for your own trauma, and from that, Sophia can help her students to accept theirs. It's so very simple, but very powerful for healing. With the Yoga Nidra, particularly when working one on one with clients, Sophia will develop Yoga Nidra scripts that are particular to what they are needing.

Valeria Teles interviews Sophia De Fossard — Yoga Teacher, Social Worker, And Speaker

In teaching restorative yoga, Sophia de Fossard started to notice how exhausted we are becoming in our lives. There are a lot of social pressures to achieve, to be the best parent, to be fit and healthy, successful. Through her own journey of auto-immune disease she found that active rest was an important part of her recovery, and is now a vital part of her life. Our everyday lives do not often allow a space for rest and reflection as an everyday part of our well-being, like sleep and food. Sophia lives in a city, so she sees many people juggling responsibilities with work, parenting, caring for family members, and really just burning out in the process. Her practice aims to allow a safe place to rest and reflect. Being trauma-informed is a crucial part of her teaching, and it aims to make her classes inclusive for all, no matter what you are living with. You can turn up as you are, with all your life's troubles or stresses, and through creating a safe space, you can find some time to learn to first, accept where you are, then rest into it. It can lead us back to feeling safe in our bodies again, safe to let go, and quiet enough to get in touch with our own inner wisdom, which allows the student to learn how to heal and take these tools beyond the class and into their lives. Sophia de Fossard is a yoga teacher and Social Worker. She started practicing yoga as a child, aside from teaching vinyasa flow, her passion lies with teaching trauma-informed restorative yoga, and Yoga Nidra. She also has a master's in social work professionally, and works in early intervention with children, focusing on well-being and healing from trauma.

To learn more about Sophia De Fossard and her work, please visit: yogawest.co.nz

— 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.

— Let this story of Richard Schooping's life alleviate those who suffering with AIDS. Let it reveal all that we are so each person may feel connected to source and not alone. Let it reveal the peace that always is. Let it bring self-understanding, self-knowing, ego un-knowing, and revolution. Let it empower, illumine, heal, and awaken those that are suffering with AIDS, AIDS Consciousness, death, fear, or any limitation.

When we love ourselves fully and harness the wisdom of the heart anything seems possible.

Valeria Teles interviews Richard Schooping — the author of "From Suffering to Soaring: Through God I Transcended AIDS."

Richard Schooping was born in Maitland, Florida – a small suburb north of Orlando. He was born into a family of musicians. His grandfather was a minister and stroke survivor for the Presbyterian Church who wrote hymns for the church. Richard's father was an accomplished jazz musician who played piano, wrote his own scores, and had his own band that played on the Space Coast in the 60's through the 80's. It was only natural to Richard to become musically inclined as well.

Richard's mother introduced him to language and theater, where he was awarded children's singing roles in local musical productions; Oliver, The Music Man, were just some of the few musicals in which he sang.

Richard was diagnosed in 1993 with AIDS after his third partner passed and he took HIV medications on and off for several years. Medications back then were more toxic (AZT) and so powerful they put Richard in dark mental places with severe psychical side effects. AIDS, at that time was defined as having less than less 450 t-cells.

On his healing journey, Richard was called within to an Eastern perspective – meditations, yoga, and peacefulness. And for several years he did quite well. But a series of accidents and illnesses slowly chipped away at his health (broken collar bone, fistula, pneumonias, basal cell cancers, depression, weakness, and waning concentration) which left him unable to work. He went on disability.

He wrote music throughout his journey, and also his first book "From Suffering to Soaring": a book pointing towards his awakening epiphany.

His compassion has only deepened throughout his journey which has birthed We Are Overlap with his soul brother Robert Sidebottom.

To learn more about Richard Schooping and his work, please visit: weareoverlap.com and compassioncurrency.org

— 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.

— Money, health, failure, personality, feelings…. Random, random, random.

What if there are no connecting dots from experience A to result B? What if experience is new every second and has no prior cause or reason? Of course no one has to believe any of this. It's just a point of view and a "what if." No harm in trying it on. And it just may be worth playing with. Because believing we're in charge of what happens feels awful. And random, though granted, might be almost completely incomprehensible to humans, feels way better. Much lighter. Much more spacious. We might discover a whole different sense of self, if we play with peeling off faux responsibility and cause-effect from that self's aching back. We might discover that, just like there is no self, there are also no gods watching, judging, and meting out punishment. Perhaps nothing is out there lining up our failures, just waiting to give us the smackdown when we misbehave. It could even be that we've been free of the ties of good-girl and boy all along, and we just haven't noticed, so bent over have we been, carrying responsibility. "Random" just may be the key to the unanchored, free-floating self.

Valeria Teles interviews Judy Cohen — she is a coach, writer and speaker.

Judy Cohen has a background full of used-to-be's. She used to be a clinical psychologist, entrepreneur, certified facilitator and trainer of The Work of Byron Katie, and of Scott Kiloby's Living Inquiries, as well as various other ways of bettering herself via nonduality.

She also used to be a depressed, anxious, therapy-chasing, anti-depressant-taking, guilty, ashamed, suicidal despaired.

Naturally she yearned to feel better. So naturally she did a lot of seeking, trying to make that happen.

Along the way, several awakening experiences happened, though they were never Judy's goal. Contrary to popular myth, these awakenings didn't put an end to unwanted feelings or personality traits.

They did help Judy come to see though, that every experience- good, bad, happy or sad- is an awakening. She finally knew to give up seeking because there was nothing more to get. She'd had it all along.

Today Judy lives a much lighter life, working with worldwide clients via Zoom to find practical, doable ways to live and integrate nonduality through everyday struggles and situations, and to see that that wispy illusion of self which causes so much dissatisfaction is a whole bunch of nothing.

To learn more about Judy Cohen and her work, please visit: irreverentmind.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.

— Our treatment of infection with modern medicine has improved immensely and with that countless lives are saved. But still, the treatment against infections generally does not include strengthening your immune system and boosting your resistance to disease. The treatments, although necessary and life saving, often damage the immune system, such as what happens with antibiotic treatment or corticosteroids. It is therefore important to work on a recovery plan for your immune system if you ever need such treatment. We live in an era where we have an opportunity to do what is in our power to strengthen our immune systems and boost our defense against infections, while knowing that medicine has advanced to a point where we are well protected should things get out of hand. This chance to be proactive and to still have our backs covered is a double bonus that comes with boosting your immune system.

Valeria Teles interviews Hester Ladewig — the author of "Strengthen Your Immune System And Boost Your Resistance To Disease."

Hester Ladewig is a Heilpraktikerin/Naturopathic doctor (CH & DE) and Ethnomedicine Practitioner (SA) based in Cape Town, South Africa. She has studied and practiced in South Africa, Germany, and Switzerland, where she practiced with a team of physicians at the Paracelsus Klinik Lustmühle. Hester has presented on a variety of health topics internationally via live talks and webinars. Her work with patients struggling with chronic health disorders and their immune systems has helped hundreds restore their health and lead happier, healthier and more energized lives.

To learn more about Hester Ladewig and her work, please visit: embracelifewithhester.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.

— Since 1993, Desert Harvest has helped to meet the overall health needs of the Interstitial Cystitis - Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) community with their nutritional supplements and all-natural skincare. All products are paraben-free, non-GMO, Kosher certified, have no fillers, artificial ingredients, or artificial preservatives. Today they continue to persevere with their goals in meeting the health needs of the under-served and under-recognized through product innovation, research, and education.

Their staff includes individuals committed to providing the highest quality products with outstanding customer support and education at the core of our mission.

Valeria Teles interviews Heather Florio — the Owner Of Desert Harvest.

Heather Florio is the second-generation owner of Desert Harvest, which manufactures organic nutritional supplements and skincare products harnessing the power of the aloe vera plant. Heather works closely with medical professionals around the world, conducting research and developing products for urology, pelvic health, dermatology, radiation oncology, etc. In 2012, with the retirement of her parents, Heather took over as CEO, bringing not only her management and operations skills, but also her passion for helping, advocating, and educating. Heather was also named one of the top 50 Women in Wellness by Authority Magazine in 2020, serves on the Northern Light Health Center for Healthy Brain Aging, and spoke at the White House in 2016 on international trade.

Experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the health and wellness industry. Skilled in Management, Customer Service, Strategic Planning, Team Building, Public Speaking, and Business Development.

To learn more about Heather Florio and her work, please visit: desertharvest.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.

— The practice of present moment awareness take us directly INTO the raw experience of life in this moment now, exactly as it is. In that sense, our way out is through. Through the tough terrain we had hoped to avoid but with a totally different mindset and perspective than we have had before. We have practiced the perspective of egocentricity from a very young age, so have mostly come to experience ourselves as totally alone in the world, trapped within ourselves, our thoughts, feelings, our past and so on. In present moment awareness, we can quite rapidly

become aware of a silent, still and spacious presence deep within us that is in fact not shaken by the storm of discomfort or pain we may feel is raging all around us. By stopping our efforts to escape, becoming still, silent and aware of the empty space around us and within us, we can make a connection with our own innate state of pure, divine presence. That is to say, we can make a direct connection to the dimension of Spirit.

Practicing present moment awareness takes you directly into the reality of this present moment. So, if there is unresolved pain or trauma still within you in this moment, it stands to reason that you will face it when you become more present. But do not fear, whatever trauma that might be revealed is no match for the disarming love and compassion and healing kindness of the gaze of presence. This is the heart of compassion that resides in the very fabric of our awareness and which can untangle the most twisted of knots.

If you can sit and notice silence and space and stillness at the very moment you are experiencing the arising of fear, pain, suffering, anxiety, panic, sadness, depression, grief, craving, despair or any other form of troublesome human experience then you will be presenting that human suffering directly to the heart of presence and therefore to unconditional love. Remaining present as you move through any kind of pain will bring the light of pure love to that pain and aid your recovery from it and your passage through to a renewal and regeneration of that part of yourself.

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."

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

— 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.

— Are you afraid of loneliness or failure, confrontation or facing the unknown? Psychologist Dr. Nancy Stella draws on decades of experience in clinical practice in her new book, "Fear Traps: Escape the Triggers that Keep You Stuck" — which presents her concept of the Courageous Brain Process, a six-step, science-based treatment plan to help people overcome fear.

"Fear Traps" equips readers to heal trauma and take on new challenges with confidence and resilience. Dr. Stella shows us that fear is normal, but fear does not need to control you. If you're feeling trapped in a cycle of coping mechanisms that just keep making things worse, there is a way out. With over 30 years of experience as a clinical psychologist, Nancy Stella, PsyD, PhD, helps us get unstuck by teaching us how our brain processes fear. Using current neuroscience research, her Courageous Brain Process (CBP) provides transformative, science-based practices to regain control over the emotions that once controlled us.

Valeria Teles interviews Dr. Nancy Stella — the author of "Fear Traps: Escape the Triggers That Keep You Stuck."

Dr. Nancy Stella has been a leading clinical psychologist in the Cincinnati area for over 20 years. As former president and owner, Dr. Stella expanded BridgePointe Psychological and Counseling Center into one of Ohio's largest private, multi-specialty mental health practices with over 75 providers.

After a shattering divorce, Dr. Stella found traditional therapeutic approaches wanting, so she developed the Courageous Brain Process (CBP) — an innovative, science-based method of therapy. Rooted in the most up-to-date neuroscience, it bypassed the shortcomings of traditional talk therapy to repattern the way our brains process fear.

When the results proved to be undeniably effective, Dr. Stella left BridgePointe in 2014 to open a counseling practice focused on the CBP. As a result, countless clients have been able to break free of self-destructive patterns triggered by unresolved fear. In addition, Dr. Stella provides training and consultation to other clinicians who want to include this method in their practices.

To learn more about Dr. Nancy Stella and her work, please visit: nancystella.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.