Conversations with Joan

Finding peace in a world filled with conflict, division, and constant noise can seem almost impossible. But what if peace isn’t about changing what’s happening around us, but changing the way we relate to ourselves, our experiences, and the people around us? Michael Schauch talks about finding greater peace and connection by letting go of our attachment to the stories and identities we hold on to. Michael is a mountaineer, storyteller, and author of the upcoming book Anattā: Heart of Wisdom.

Personal growth isn’t about becoming someone else — it’s about becoming more aware of who we are, learning from our experiences, and making choices that help us become the person we want to be. Change doesn’t happen all at once; it happens through small, intentional decisions that shape our lives over time. Norm Rieger isn’t someone who spent his life chasing perfection or searching for a magic formula for success. He lived a normal life - building businesses, managing responsibilities, enjoying the good times, and navigating the challenges we all face - but along the way, he learned that real change doesn’t come from becoming someone else; it comes from becoming more honest about who you are and who you want to become. He talks about why it’s never too late to grow, evolve, and transform your life. Norm is the author of The New Norm: Train Your Mind. Build Your Body. Transform Your Life.

Holistic psychiatry is an emerging approach to mental healthcare that focuses on the biological, psychological, spiritual, and social factors that contribute to mental health issues. Dr. Judy Tsafrir shifted from a conventional practice of psychiatry to one that treats the whole person.  She discusses the limitations of conventional psychiatry and why it’s important to integrate the spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions of health. Dr. Tsafrir is a holistic healer with a private psychiatry and psychoanalysis practice. She is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and is the author of the book, Sacred Psychiatry — Bridging the Personal and Transpersonal to Transform Health and Consciousness.

Our lives are often shaped by forces we can’t always see—intuition, synchronicities, and the subtle guidance that can lead us toward healing, clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose. Exploring our spiritual heritage can offer powerful insight into who we are and why we’re here. Alisha Das talks about angels, divine guidance, spiritual ancestry, and how reconnecting with our higher selves can help us better understand our life’s purpose and path. Alisha is a spiritual teacher, angel expert, and intuitive communicator who helps people reconnect with their divine lineage. She is the author of Your Angelic Ancestry, A Guide to Discovering Your Archangelic Name, Heritage, and Higher Purpose.

Dr. Laura Copley believes that at the core of most toxic relationships is a painful trauma wound desperate to be healed. She contends that trauma survivors try to navigate romantic relationships in the only way they know how – fearfully and painfully. She discusses how to untangle trauma bonds and transmute toxic patterns into healing opportunities for intimacy and connection. Dr. Copley is a licensed professional counselor and trauma researcher. She is the author of, Loving You Is Hurting Me: A New Approach to Healing Trauma Bonds and Creating Authentic Connection.

To combat negative life events, we need resilience. But what is resilience and how do we get it? Sally Baker offers a guide to developing a deeper understanding of how we can successfully emerge from life’s inevitable challenges. She discusses strategies to help us re-assess unhealthy coping mechanisms so we can gain resilience from the inside out. Sally is a therapist who began her training working with women survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. She is the author of The Getting of Resilience from the Inside Out: A Practical Guide to Learning Resilience at Any Age, No Matter Your Upbringing.

What if you could flip the script on the pain in your life and learn how to cultivate purpose and joy not after grief but during it? John Tsilimparis contends that we can understand our emotions and reframe grief that opens us up rather than shuts us down. He discusses how grief and loss can empower us to build emotional resilience in a difficult world. John is a psychotherapist, mental health consultant, writer, podcast host, and former adjunct professor at Pepperdine university and UCLA. He’s the author of The Magic in the Tragic, and Retrain Your Anxious Brain.

Do you believe that it’s possible to use your nighttime dreams as a practical tool to develop your fullest potential and live a life of purpose? According to Dr. Bonnie Buckner, we all have a “secret mind” that can be accessed through dreams. She shares her method for translating the mystery of dreams so you have access to your inner powerhouse for transformation. Dr. Buckner is the founder and CEO of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery. In addition, she serves as an executive coach and senior fellow at George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. Dr. Buckner is the author of the book, The Secret Mind: Unlock the Power of Dreams to Transform Your Life.

In a world that feels more anxious, divided, and uncertain than ever, many of us are searching for a way to find calm, clarity, and inner peace. Dr. Stephen Post offers a science-based roadmap to cultivating love, resilience, and harmony. He draws on decades of research, real-world examples, and practical exercises, to show how embracing the power of unconditional love —. toward ourselves and others — can transform not just our hearts, but our communities and the world. Dr. Post is a researcher, speaker, and author, whose work has inspired countless people to live with more meaning, compassion, and connection. He is the founder and President of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, and the founding Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. His new book is, Pure Unlimited Love: Science and the Seven Paths to Inner Peace

Manifestation isn’t just about wishing for what you want, it’s about aligning your energy, mindset, and actions to bring your dreams into reality. Colette Baron-Reid helps people turn intention into inspired action and step into lives of clarity, purpose, and fulfillment. Colette is a spiritual teacher, transformational coach, and intuitive guide. She is the author of the new book, The Art of Manifesting.