Beyond Well with Sheila Hamilton

A Revisit with Dr. Leslie Dobson.

In 2024 the New York Times investigated the proliferation of pedophiles who stalk minor’s instagram pages, accounts that are managed by the minor child’s parents. Reporters found high numbers of registered pedophiles who were not only liking and commenting on children's photos and videos, but saving them to their own personal profiles. What is a safe approach to social media for kids? In case you missed it, Dr. Leslie Dobson had a lot to say about it.

Maya Schumer  earned her PhD studying the very disorder she carries, using neuroimaging and machine learning to map the neural signatures of mania and emotional impulsivity at the University of Pittsburgh. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School's flagship psychiatric institution. She also lives with Bipolar I.

So when Maya began a modified ketogenic diet and noticed her cognition sharpening, her mood stabilizing, her daily life becoming simply less effortful, she understood the implications in a way few patients could.  Today on Beyond Well, Maya Schumer talks about what twenty-first-century psychiatric treatment gets right, what it still gets wrong, and why the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry may be closing a gap that millions of people have been falling through.

Michael F. Kay is an author, Certified Life Coach, and host of the retirement podcast Chapter X. After more than 25 years as a financial professional, he shifted his focus to the inner side of retirement, particularly the identity, purpose, and emotional challenges people face when they step away from full‑time work. His writing has appeared in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets, and his new book, How to Craft Your Chapter X.

Kara Infante, host of Bookish Flights, discusses the link between reading and mental health. Kara shares her personal journey of being a military wife, a transplant, and a new mom, and how reading helped her build community and shore up her new identity. Kara offers tips for people who have turned away from reading for many years, but are now interested in starting a reading habit. Find Kara’s community at https://bookishflights.com

Dr. Rachel Zoffness, Part two of our two part-series,

"Tell Me Where it Hurts".

Most medical treatments for chronic pain fail. That’s because pain isn't a purely physical issue – it's also emotional. This means that treatment must target the brain in addition to the body.

Dr. Rachel Zoffness is a pain scientist, clinician, international speaker, author, and thought-leader in pain medicine. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSF School of Medicine, lectures at Stanford, and is a Mayday Fellow.

Her new book "Tell Me Where it Hurts" is a must read.

Enjoy.

Dr. Rachel Zoffness, Part One of a two part-series,

"Tell Me Where it Hurts".

Most medical treatments for chronic pain fail. That’s because pain isn't a purely physical issue – it's also emotional. This means that treatment must target the brain in addition to the body.

Dr. Rachel Zoffness is a pain scientist, clinician, international speaker, author, and thought-leader in pain medicine. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSF School of Medicine, lectures at Stanford, and is a Mayday Fellow.

Her new book "Tell Me Where it Hurts" is a must read.

Enjoy.

Part two of our two part interview with Carlos Tanner, founder of the Ayuaska Foundation.

Carlos Tanner shares his personal journey with ayahuasca and explained how the plant medicine helped him overcome addiction and trauma. He described the scientific properties of ayahuasca and how it can expand sensory awareness to facilitate healing. Carlos discussed the growing interest in alternative medicines like ayahuasca and psilocybin, attributing it to the limitations of modern medical treatments and a greater appreciation for indigenous wisdom. He also highlighted the Foundation's research on the effects of ayahuasca on veterans with PTSD, noting significant improvements in their mental health. The conversation covered the practical aspects of participating in an ayahuasca retreat, including preparation, costs, and potential risks. Carlos emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to healing that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Part one of a two part interview with Carlos Tanner, founder of the Ayahuasca Foundation.

Carlos Tanner shares his personal journey with ayahuasca and explained how the plant medicine helped him overcome addiction and trauma. He described the scientific properties of ayahuasca and how it can expand sensory awareness to facilitate healing. Carlos discussed the growing interest in alternative medicines like ayahuasca and psilocybin, attributing it to the limitations of modern medical treatments and a greater appreciation for indigenous wisdom. He also highlighted the Foundation's research on the effects of ayahuasca on veterans with PTSD, noting significant improvements in their mental health. The conversation covered the practical aspects of participating in an ayahuasca retreat, including preparation, costs, and potential risks. Carlos emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to healing that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Jen Fisher is a global authority on workplace wellbeing, bestselling author, and founder & CEO of The Wellbeing Team. She made history as Deloitte’s first Chief Wellbeing Officer, where she helped reshape how organizations think about human sustainability, burnout, and thriving at work. A sought-after keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, and host of The WorkWell Podcast, Jen has contributed to Harvard Business Review, Fortune, CNN, and more — and works with leaders around the world to build healthier, more human-centered workplaces.

This is a revisit of our Valentines Special we did in 2020.

Romance, desire and navigating a made up Holiday where everything is supposed to be champaign and roses is the subject of this blast from the past.

This show originally aired in February of 2020.

Featuring Dr. Brian Goff and Dr. Angela Izmirian.

Enjoy.