What happens to your faith when life gives you something you never expected?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, we sit down with Dr. Gerald “Dr. G” Robison, pastor, teacher, author, and speaker, for an honest conversation about faith, adversity, purpose, and finding joy even when life is difficult.

Dr. G has pastored churches across three continents, trained Bible teachers in more than 25 countries, and authored numerous books. But one of the most defining experiences of his life was facing tongue cancer—not once, but twice.

Through surgeries, uncertainty, and confronting his own mortality, Dr. G discovered perspectives on faith and life that went far beyond simply asking, “Why is this happening to me?”

In this conversation, we explore:

• How cancer changed Dr. G’s perspective on faith and life

• Why humor can be powerful during difficult seasons

• The difference between happiness and genuine joy

• What it means to be “more than saved for more than heaven”

• Why we sometimes struggle to do what we know we “ought” to do

• How to navigate seasons when faith feels difficult

• Why asking “Why?” can sometimes reveal more about us than we realize

• The importance of thinking deeply about faith rather than relying only on feelings

• How adversity can shape our understanding of purpose

This is a conversation about what happens beneath the surface of faith when life gets hard—and how difficult experiences can sometimes lead us toward deeper understanding, greater purpose, and genuine joy.

Because sometimes, we don’t get the answers to every “why.” But we can still discover meaning in the middle of the questions.

https://geraldrobison.com/

What if the life you’ve worked so hard to create isn’t actually the life that’s true to you?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, we sit down with Lynda Leonce, an authenticity and parenting coach, energy healing facilitator, mentor, and workshop host, to explore what happens when we stop living from fear, obligation, expectations, and people-pleasing—and begin listening to our own inner truth.

Lynda shares her deeply personal journey from building the life she believed she was supposed to want to recognizing that something was missing. That realization led her into a process of self-discovery, inner work, and ultimately a more authentic way of living.

We explore:

• What authenticity really means beyond simply “being yourself”

• How fear and people-pleasing can influence our biggest life decisions

• Why we often follow society’s definition of success without questioning it

• How to recognize the quiet signals that something in your life needs to change

• When it’s time to let go of something you once believed was meant for you

• Why parenting can reveal our own unresolved expectations and emotions

• How parents can learn to understand the child in front of them rather than the child they imagined

• The importance of learning to trust yourself

• Why starting over doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve failed

• How to create a life from the inside out rather than from external expectations

This is a conversation about authenticity, self-discovery, parenting, courage, and the freedom that comes from finally allowing yourself to live from your own truth.

Because sometimes, the question isn’t “How do I fix my life?”

It’s simply:

“Is this life actually mine?”

🎙️ This is Beyond the Mind.

What happens when the person who looks like they have it all together is quietly struggling beneath the surface?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, we sit down with Dr. Nneka Oluoha, a Nigerian American physician, novelist, and speaker, to explore the complex relationship between mental health, culture, family, identity, immigration, and resilience.

As an internal medicine physician and the author of Live for Me, Nkem, Dr. Oluoha brings together the worlds of medicine and storytelling to shed light on emotional struggles that often remain hidden.

Together, we explore:

• Why successful people can still struggle silently with depression and emotional pain
• How culture and family expectations influence the way we understand mental health
• The challenges of navigating identity between two cultures
• The connection between mental and physical health
• Why depression doesn’t always look the way we expect
• How family members can better support someone who is struggling
• Why storytelling can create empathy and challenge mental health stigma
• How immigration and belonging can shape our emotional lives
• What Live for Me, Nkem teaches us about depression, relationships, motherhood, and resilience
• The importance of looking beyond what someone presents to the world

This is a deeply human conversation about the things we carry quietly, the expectations that shape us, and the power of being truly seen and understood.

Because sometimes, the person you think is doing perfectly fine may be the person who most needs someone to ask, “How are you really doing?”

🎙️ This is Beyond the Mind.

What happens when your lab results say “normal,” but you know you don’t feel normal?

You’re exhausted. You’re dealing with brain fog, bloating, stubborn weight gain, poor sleep, or low energy—and yet, you’re told everything looks fine.

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, we sit down with Estela Rojas, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Navy Nurse Corps Officer, and health coach with more than two decades of clinical and military experience.

After years of working with women in traditional healthcare, Estela noticed a recurring pattern: many women were struggling with symptoms that affected their daily lives even when their standard lab results didn’t reveal an obvious problem. This led her toward functional medicine and root-cause health coaching.

Together, we explore what it means to look at the bigger picture of health rather than focusing only on individual symptoms.

We talk about:

• Why you can feel unwell even when your labs are considered “normal”
• The connection between chronic stress, sleep, energy, and overall well-being
• Why sustainable weight management is more complicated than simply eating less and exercising more
• The problems with restrictive diets and quick-fix approaches
• How nutrition, movement, sleep, and daily habits influence how we feel
• The relationship between physical health, confidence, and self-image
• Why knowing what to do isn’t always enough to create lasting change
• How women can become better advocates for their own health
• The importance of listening to your body and looking at the whole picture
  

Most importantly, this conversation is about moving away from the idea that women simply need to try harder and toward a more thoughtful understanding of what their bodies may be communicating.

Because sometimes the question isn’t just, “Are my labs normal?”

It’s also:

“What is my body trying to tell me?”

Beyond the Mind—where we go deeper into the mind, body, and experiences that shape our lives.

Estella https://www.estelarojas.com/apply

What if the challenges you face aren’t the end of your story—but the beginning of a new purpose?

In this powerful episode of Beyond the Mind, we sit down with Maxwell Ivey, internationally known as The Blind Blogger, to explore resilience, self-determination, overcoming fear, and finding purpose through adversity.

Maxwell shares his extraordinary journey from carnival owner and amusement ride broker to life goals coach, entrepreneur, accessibility advocate, author, speaker, and podcaster. He opens up about navigating vision loss, choosing to share his story publicly, traveling solo, overcoming his fear of singing in public, and learning to keep moving forward even when life doesn’t go according to plan.

We also explore Maxwell’s five principles for navigating adversity: inter-dependence, self-determination, determined positivity, honest storytelling, and continuing to move forward.

And we take a deeper look at accessibility—not simply as a matter of compliance, but as an opportunity for businesses to improve their reputation, innovation, customer experience, and growth.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

• Why asking for help can be a form of strength
• How to remain positive without ignoring life’s difficult moments
• Why our challenges don’t have to define our identity
• How Maxwell overcame his fear of singing in public
• Why honest storytelling can help others feel less alone
• How inclusive design can benefit everyone
• Simple ways businesses and creators can become more accessible
• How to keep moving forward when you don’t know what comes next

Because sometimes resilience isn’t about knowing exactly where you’re going. It’s simply about having the courage to take the next step.

Learn more about Maxwell and his work through The Accessibility Advantage.

What if better wellness isn’t about finding one perfect solution—but about understanding how different pieces of the body and recovery process work together?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Andrew Scheim, an advanced bodywork practitioner, holistic health consultant, integrative wellness educator, trauma resolution practitioner, and developer of integrative wellness protocols.

Andrew shares insights from decades of hands-on experience with the human body and explains why his approach to emerging wellness technologies begins with understanding the person—not simply the technology.

We explore high-gauss PEMF, molecular hydrogen, Brown’s Gas, nervous system regulation, bodywork, fascia, movement, nutrition, and recovery, while discussing why Andrew believes these approaches should be considered as part of a broader integrative strategy rather than as isolated “magic bullets.”

We also discuss his journey from professional blues musician to bodywork practitioner, his unique perspective on rhythm and resonance within the body, and his philosophy that “microbes work 24/7, so chronic illness requires a 24/7 strategy.”

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

• What high-gauss PEMF is and why field strength, penetration, and placement matter
• How molecular hydrogen and Brown’s Gas fit into Andrew’s integrative approach
• Why dose, duration, and delivery are important considerations
• The connection between bodywork and emerging wellness technologies
• The role of the nervous system in recovery
• Why searching for a single “magic bullet” may limit how we think about wellness
• How decades of hands-on practice changed Andrew’s understanding of the body
• Why an integrated approach may require looking at multiple factors simultaneously

Important: This conversation is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.

Learn more about Andrew and his work: AndrewScheim.com

🎧 Welcome to Beyond the Mind—where we go deeper than the surface to explore the stories, ideas, and experiences that shape how we understand ourselves and the world around us.

What happens when the ceremony ends?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, host Tia Monday sits down with Oliver Glozik, founder of Harmonica Retreat in Colombia, for an honest conversation about ayahuasca, healing, transformation, consciousness, and the reality of integrating profound experiences into everyday life.

Oliver shares his personal journey into ayahuasca and how that path eventually led him to build a retreat center working alongside facilitators from the Kamsá Biyá Indigenous tradition.

But this isn’t a conversation about selling a perfect spiritual experience.

Oliver opens up about what people don’t always hear about—the difficult integration process, identity shifts, the possibility that ayahuasca isn’t right for everyone, what can go wrong at retreats, and why genuine transformation requires much more than one powerful ceremony.

In this episode, we explore:

🌿 Why Oliver was drawn to ayahuasca in the first place

🧠 What ayahuasca may reveal about the mind and human experience

💭 What happens when life becomes difficult after a profound ceremony

🔄 Why transformation doesn’t end when the ceremony ends

⚠️ Why ayahuasca isn’t for everyone and what potential risks people should consider

🏔️ What makes a responsible and safe retreat

🔬 The relationship between Indigenous traditions and modern scientific research

💛 The connection between trauma, loneliness, healing, and the search for meaning

🌱 Whether plant medicine can genuinely create lasting change

✨ What real transformation actually requires

Oliver brings a grounded perspective to a subject often surrounded by hype, helping us look beyond the extraordinary experience and toward the slow, sometimes uncomfortable work of creating lasting change.

Learn more about Oliver and Harmonica Retreat:

Harmonica Retreat

🎧 Beyond the Mind with Tia Monday — honest conversations about mental health, healing, personal growth, and the experiences that shape who we are.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow, share, and leave a review to help us bring more meaningful conversations to our audience.

#BeyondTheMind #OliverGlozik #Ayahuasca #PlantMedicine #Healing #Transformation #MentalHealth #Consciousness #TraumaHealing #PersonalGrowth

What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan?

Sometimes we experience grief, burnout, disappointment, or seasons of uncertainty that leave us wondering where God is—and how we’re supposed to keep going.

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Laura Sharp-Waites, author, licensed minister, pastoral counselor, and host of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor.

Laura brings a gentle perspective to grief, spiritual exhaustion, rest, and healing. We talk about why healing isn’t always linear, why rest can feel so difficult, and how God’s presence can often be found in the ordinary moments we overlook.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What a kitchen counter can teach us about faith, hope, and grace

• The hidden forms of grief we may carry without recognizing them

• Why healing doesn’t always look like progress

• How to trust God when life doesn’t turn out as expected

• Why we feel guilty for resting

• What genuine soul care can look like

• How to stop measuring our worth by productivity

• Finding God’s presence in everyday moments

• What to do when you feel spiritually tired or alone

If you’re navigating grief, burnout, an unexpected season, or simply feeling weary, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to carry life’s burdens alone—and healing doesn’t have to happen all at once.

Connect with Laura and explore her resources:

https://bakingpastor.com/

You can also find her podcast, books, soul care resources, and her free Special Edition Soul Pause Journal on her website.

What happens when the struggles that once made you feel like an outsider become the very experiences that give you a voice?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Noah May, a podcast host, writer, and Auburn University journalism graduate who has openly shared his journey with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-doubt.

Noah began experiencing depression and anxiety at just 13 years old. Through difficult seasons, including moments when he questioned his own worth and struggled with suicidal thoughts, he learned to keep moving forward—and eventually began using his voice to create honest conversations that remind others they are not alone.

We talk about growing up with mental health challenges, overcoming feelings of not being good enough, the impact of COVID-19, finding your voice through journalism and podcasting, and how personal struggles can become a source of purpose.

Noah also shares what inspired him to create Lethal Venom, Southern Reads, and Music Talks, and what he hopes listeners take away from each platform.

Most importantly, this conversation is about perseverance, finding your voice, and refusing to let your mental health struggles define your entire story.

🎧 Tune in to Beyond the Mind for an honest and deeply personal conversation with Noah May.

What happens when you stop trying to make yourself smaller and start embracing the brilliance that has been within you all along?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Jane Cooke, the Chief Confidence Catalyst, bestselling author, energy guide, and creator of Empowered Brilliance.

Jane shares her personal journey of spending years feeling like she had to shrink herself to fit into corporate environments—and how embracing her own brilliance ultimately helped her earn two promotions within two years.

We explore the pressures women, particularly plus-size women, can face around visibility, confidence, body image, and leadership. Jane also explains what it truly means to “remember your brilliance,” why confidence isn’t about becoming someone else, and how women can stop apologizing for taking up space.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why women often make themselves smaller without realizing it

• The connection between confidence, visibility, and leadership

• How societal expectations can shape the way we see ourselves

• Why your body size doesn’t determine your leadership potential

• What it means to remember rather than “build” your brilliance

• How to move beyond shame and self-doubt

• Practical ways to show up more authentically and confidently

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re enough, whether you belong, or whether you’re ready to be seen, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Jane:

https://link.actionera.marketing/widget/bookings/jane-cooke-calendar

Listen, share, and remember: You don’t have to become smaller to belong. Your brilliance is already yours.