Fit As A Fiddle

Today we hear the personal journey of a dear friend of mine, John Arthur Greene, an actor, singer and songwriter. John reflects on the impact that the pause during the pandemic’s lockdown had on his career and mindset. John walked away from the entertainment industry after 26 years, performing on Broadway for 8 shows a week, and more. He talks about how difficult his career has been on his body, not always in a healthy way. John and I crossed paths during my time intensively treating Broadway performers so we were able to reflect on what health meant to him years ago compared to how he feels about it now. He discusses the type of physical and mental regiment that he endured to maintain excellent physique and mindset and succeed in the industry. For John, times of prayer, meditation, and stillness with God are the most important aspects of his daily practice now. 

John’s notable work:

He was most recently seen as Walker Jerome the Blouse Man in the East Coast Premier of A Walk On The Moon at the pre-Broadway house George St. Playhouse. Some of his other credits include: Stand-By for 5 Principle Characters, the Fight Captain & Dance Captain in the revival of Stephan Sondheim’s Company (Broadway). U/S Max Van Horn in Tootsie (Broadway), Theo - the lead singer of “No Vacancy” in School of Rock (Broadway); American Idol Season 15 - Farewell Season (FOX), Riff in West Side Story (Broadway); Doctor, U/S Mr. Wormwood in Matilda (Broadway); Robert Mullins in Peter Pan Live (NBC); Luke in Mim (Off-Broadway); Jonathan in Tick Tick Boom… (LA); Action in West Side Story (50th Anniversary European Tour); Jack Kelly in Newsies (Maltz Jupiter); Riff in West Side Story (Boston Pops Symphony); Danny in Grease (NCT - BroadwayWorld.com Award For Best Actor In A Musical) just to name a few.

He performs solo’s and his solo music all over the world, singing “Oh Holy Night” for ABC 11’s 2020 Happy Holiday’s Special; “Heavens On Their Minds” for the promotion of NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live with the kids from School Of Rock on Broadway, “Gethsemane” for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s New York Times Talk and “Jailhouse Rock” for Mike Stoller’s 80th Birthday Celebration.

His Latest Single “LiNE & THE LETTiNG GO” is out along with “March On!”, “Wild & Free”, “Hold Onto Me”, “Easy”, “Brooklyn”, “Takes Me Back” & his Debut EP “Shadows Of Light” are all now available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and YouTube under his own record label JAG Records.

The music videos for “LiNE & THE LETTiNG GO”, “March On!”, “Over & Over”, “Wild & Free”,  “Easy” & “Creep” are available on YouTube.

John runs a Prayer & Worship Ministry called REViAL SESSiONS which went global in 2017 reaching 18 different countries. After spending 15 years away, John is now back and has accepted the call to serve as the Worship Pastor at New Hope Church in Durham.

Connect with him:

www.johnarthurgreenemusic.com.

Anxiety and depression are prevalent across cultures and across time. It manifests in unique ways in the 21st century and particularly in America where technology and information is widespread. Our guest today is Allison Beck, a psychotherapist and pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood coach in private practice, specializing in reproductive psychology, parenthood and anxiety and mood disorders across all life stages. 

We begin our discussion with what anxiety and depression are and the difference between "normal" anxiety and sadness and these terms when used to describe a clinical diagnosis. We cover how adaptive states and moods are a normal part of the human experience but that there is much that can be done when they interfere with our mental and physical health. Allison dives into psychological mindfulness and how acceptance of emotions without judgment has helped her patients improve their wellbeing. She touches on the ideas of toxic productivity, toxic positivity and the pandemic’s effects on depression and anxiety in the U.S. Allison presents the idea that it takes a lot of work to live in discomfort (anxious and sad states) and how it’s less work to be proactive and tackle these emotions without fear by seeking help.

Allison holds certifications in Maternal Mental Health from the Seleni Institute and has advanced training in Perinatal Mental Health with PostPartum Support International. Allison has served as an advisor and written contributor on perinatal mental health for various professional service providers and organizations. She received a BS in Human Development with a dual concentration in Early Childhood and Adolescence from Cornell University and an MSW from NYU. Allison has been supporting individuals and families as a Psychotherapist in NYC agencies, hospitals, and in private practice for over a decade.

Connect with her:

@_allisonbeck

allisonbeck.com

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong, that you don’t deserve to be where you are or go where you are going, or that you aren’t fit to provide the service you are expected to deliver, you’re definitely not alone. Star athletes, larger-than-life celebrities, and big business owners experience these feelings and thoughts from time to time. And so do pre-med students!

My cousin Trinith Radhakrishnan chats with us today about his experience through high school, college, and medical school application process. Trinith graduated from UCLA in 2021 with a bachelor's in Neuroscience and is the founder of Moorpark-to-UCLA (MC2UCLA). MC2UCLA is a mentorship program that links Moorpark Community College students with UCLA student volunteers. The program operates on a buddy system wherein participants are matched with a mentor to meet their specific needs. Students then meet with mentors weekly for support through the various aspects of their education, from transfer applications to adjusting to university. So far, the program has supported nearly 100 students. 

Upon transferring from community college, Trinith felt the weight of imposter syndrome. After his first quarter, he realized he was not alone. Nearly every transfer student he knew experienced a dip in academic performance. Surprisingly, many of those same students, including Trinith, thrived in the following quarters. Curious about this phenomenon, he approached the head of the UCLA transfer center and learned that nearly 30% of transfer students each year are at risk of facing academic probation should they have a subsequent quarter of poor performance. He realized that the proper guidance could make the difference between surviving and thriving at UCLA at this crucial moment.

Outside of supporting community college students, Trinith is deeply passionate about working with special needs and low-income minority populations. He also enjoy helping fellow pre-meds navigate the medical school application process

Connect with him at:

www.moorparkcollege.edu/mc2ucla-honors-mentorship

It’s true. A bomb sets off, school children get shot, and an innocent man is murdered, and THEN we all rally to fight for justice. But we don’t always think of how we can prevent violent actions from happening in the first place, let alone invest time or money to get to the bottom of solving these issues. To commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday this week, Mandar Apte joins us to tackle these tough conversations.

Mandar is a former chemical engineer and Shell executive who started off helping businesses maximize their value to help people heal from trauma and promote non-violence in their communities. He chats with us today on his experiences bringing together people who otherwise may never even converse in harmonious ways. 

At George Mason School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Mandar ran an innovation lab on the Business of Peace encouraging business to play an active role in UN Sustainable Development. Currently, he manages a strategic consultancy Cities4Peace that provides consulting to civic leaders to design solutions to promote peace and social harmony. 

Mandar is also the Producer/Director of “From India With Love” - a documentary film that showcases the transformational experience of victims of violence from across America during their pilgrimage to India. In 2018, Mandar produced the inaugural World Summit on Countering Violence and Extremism that brought together law enforcement and peace activists from across the world to brainstorm novel solutions to promote peace and compassion.

Connect with him at: 

mandarapte.net/cities4peace/

Everything in the human body is connected in some way. One type of tissue that provides structural integrity to our bodies, that we discuss today, is called “Fascia.” Our guest, Leslie Daley, is an occupational therapist using John Barnes Myofascial Release, a gentle, effective technique which provides consistent results in reducing pain, restoring motion and improving quality of life for her patients. 

She discusses how manual release work can be subtle and more superficial and how this can sometimes unearth bodily emotions that have been stored in our bodies. She dives into why she provides myofascial release work to her patients and how it can be used for many types of issues including post-surgical care. Leslie believes in not pushing the body, but allowing the body to guide her movements. 

Leslie has specialized training in women’s health to evaluate and treat pelvic conditions, providing individualized treatment, guidance and support. Because the fascia can not be seen with imaging, it is often overlooked by conventional medical treatments. John Barnes Myofascial release reduces chronic or mysterious pain where other modalities have failed. 

You can read more about Leslie or book a session at www.IntegralMFR.com

Kenna Bouvet is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Co-owner of Earth + Sky Massage and Acupuncture in Long Island City, NY. Kenna joins us to share with us about the integrative work acupuncture can offer from conception to birth for a birthing individual. She explains how nutrition, what you wear, mindset, movement, and energy can affect pregnancy. She encourages patients that she works with to be on board with a comprehensive plan, not just one that involves needles. Kenna touches on the latest evidence that analyzes how her work can be effective for breech babies to turn in the womb. Acupuncture is not just for one type of population, she says. Kenna has worked in pediatric oncology and has seen first-hand how effective it can be to optimize the way someone feels and functions.

Kenna received her Masters of Science from Tri-State College of Acupuncture, having trained in three distinct styles of acupuncture: Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Acupuncture Physical Medicine (trigger point needling). She has done postgraduate studies in Maternal Health Acupuncture, Oncology and Supportive Care for Cancer Patients, and Advanced Facial Acupuncture. Kenna most recently completed the first official certification program in pediatric acupuncture in the US from Jing Shen Pediatrics.  She has apprenticed in Tui Na (Chinese medical massage) and completed an internship in acupressure at NYU Langone Labor and Delivery. Her private practice focuses on women’s health, perinatal care, and pediatrics. Kenna is also an acupuncturist and integrative clinician in the Pediatric Oncology Department at Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Connect with her:

www.earthskylic.com

IG: @earthskylic

After a bit of a break, we resume season 6 on our podcast on Fit As A Fiddle! Today I give you a deep dive into some of the raw conversations I have with my patients regarding expectations from physical therapy, how movement (of some kind) is ALWAYS the answer, why it’s important to know the why behind what you are given to do during your course of care, and… “negative space.”

Negative space is the time you don’t think you have, but it literally pops out of thin air when you start paying attention to it and recognizing it. It exists in all of our lives in some form. By tapping into it we start to create a new identity inadvertently. We start to understand how we CAN take charge of our bodies and become aware in a way we never thought we could. From this, we can then create regiments, schedules, “must-do” lists, and consistency. It can be very difficult to suddenly start to exercise 3 times a week for 45min. But it is too easy to do 10 squats every time you get out of your chair at home. 

Can’t wait to share more on social media on this topic! May you breathe and move with more ease today!

Cheers,
Sneha

When you don’t have the answers from trusted sources, or the answers seem to conflict, you often turn to Dr. Google and social media for advice. But when it comes to pregnancy and postpartum, everyone’s journey from conception to menopause is so unique. Instead, we can draw from ancient cultures that often have almost the same advice: trust your intuition and evidence based research (what tends to work!). 

That’s exactly what we do on this show with Dr. Patricia Ladis, PT, CBBA, a licensed physical therapist and author of Wise Woman’s Guide to Your Healthiest Pregnancy & Birth. Patricia’s mission is to guide patients toward a pain free existence as they seek a lifestyle of optimal health and physical wellbeing. 

A former professional dancer herself, Patricia has been helping pregnant dancers and athletes get back on stage or sport after pregnancy since 1999. She has worked with the Rockettes, various Broadway shows including Fosse, Lion King and Movin’ Out, the American Ballet Theatre and Paul Taylor Dance Company and currently consults with the USTA and WTA. 

Always an advocate for women’s health, Patricia is building a new protocol for women returning to sport after pregnancy (WTA, IOC) and has designed the exercise program for the first-ever postpartum exercise study coming out in 2021 with the Hospital for Special Surgery and the Weill Cornell Medical Center. As an active delegate of the Global Wellness Summit and chair of the First 1000 Days Initiative for the Global Wellness Institute, Ladis has support from wellness centers around the world. 

As a mother of three, Patricia also understands the demands of everyday life and aims to help her patients achieve a balance in their body. She has had all 3 births (natural vaginal birth without medication, C-section and VBAC). She connects with her perinatal patients to help them have a pain free pregnancy and embrace this time in their life with confidence and happiness. 

Get her book Wise Woman’s Guide to Your Healthiest Pregnancy & Birth! We are happy to have her as a returning guest on the show, so tune into her first episode on Fit As A Fiddle for advice on Pregnancy & Birth!

Connect with her:

PatriciaLadis.com

Whatever type of parent you are, the world often categorizes you and you are set to behave and see the rest of the world through lenses that have already been created for you. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Our guest, Justin Batt, joins us today to talk about the real meaning of parenthood, specifically, fatherhood. Justin is the founder of Daddy Saturday Foundation, a 501(c)(3), and The Fatherhood Institute, LLC. He is a husband, a father of 4, TEDx international speaker, author, and an athlete. 

On the show, Justin discusses what fatherhood means to him and ways we can optimize our roles in our family units even through the exceptionally busy lives we all lead in society. He shares that he writes obituaries with his wife at the start of every year to reflect on life and their goals. By doing this, they are able to live the present to the fullest. He talks about the importance of children seeing their fathers as human, which means that seeing a parent fail might only strengthen their self worth as they become adults. 

Justin is on a mission to reignite and restore fatherhood around the world and change the next generation through events, experiences, education and technology that end the cycle of fatherlessness. Justin has created a for-profit and a non-profit to create education and experiences that will impact 10 million fathers in the next 10 years and end fatherlessness. Justin has the pleasure of working with entrepreneurs, business leaders, politicians, celebrities, athletes and other incredible people who desire to build their brand and business with a book.

Connect with him:

justinbatt.com

Daddysaturday.com

With the wonders of technology in healthcare come tremendous improvements in patient outcomes and quality of life. On today’s episode, we have two phenomenal guests chatting with us about osseointegration in the field of prosthetics, which helps individuals with limb deformities such as amputations move and function more optimally.

Haris Kafedzic is an American Board Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist and Eschen’s lead Manhattan Prosthetist and Residency Director. Dr. Robert Rozbruch is an orthopedic surgeon, the Chief of the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Service since 2005, and Director of the Limb Salvage and Amputation Reconstruction Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). 

On the show, our guests talk about the role of a prosthetist and an orthopedic surgeon along with the various other practitioners like physical therapists that contribute to a patient’s care. They discuss typical patient cases like individuals with leg length discrepancies or limb amputations of all kinds. Currently, the United States’ medical system hasn’t fully caught up with the advancements in the field of prosthetics, which makes it difficult to refer appropriate patients to the right places. Both Haris and Dr. Rozbruch advocate for building awareness around osseointegration as they celebrate their patients’ success stories. 

Dr. S. Robert Rozbruch, after graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania, attended Weill Medical College of Cornell University from which he graduated with honors in research. Residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at HSS was followed by two fellowships. He did specialized training in Trauma as an AO fellow at the University of Bern in Switzerland. Additional training in adult and pediatric limb lengthening followed at the Maryland Center for Limb Lengthening & Reconstruction. He is Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He is a member of several national medical societies including fellowship in the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Orthopedic Trauma Association, and The Limb Lengthening & Reconstruction Society (LLRS) of which he was President 2012-2013. He has lectured on his clinical and research works at both national and international meetings and has authored over 150 articles in medical journals and chapters in orthopedic textbooks. He is the editor of 2 major textbooks: Limb Lengthening & Reconstruction Surgery and Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Surgery Case Atlas.

Haris Kafedzic received a Master’s degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.  While attending Northwestern University, he was part of a small group of students selected to travel to Guatemala and provide orthotic and prosthetic care to underprivileged patients. Haris’s personal story has greatly influenced him to focus on prosthetic care.  He started working for Eschen as a dual-discipline resident. Haris has advanced training in many aspects of prosthetic care including myoelectric upper limb prostheses and microprocessor knee and ankle units.  He has worked closely with Dr. Rozbruch the past four and a half years treating upper and lower extremity osseointegration patients.  He is committed to helping every patient achieve their maximum functional potential utilizing the latest technology and technique.  

Connect with them at:

Eschenpo.com

hss.edu/limblengthening.asp

osseointegrationUSA.com