They say that Pain is mandatory, but suffering is optional. On the fourth anniversary of the Seal Beach Salon shooting that happened in Dr. Marissa's hometown, Grief and Healing is the focus of today's show using the Life Balance Coaching process with Vanessa....who lost her sister, mother, her husband and her daughter (2 months ago) in a short span of 3 years. Tears are the disinfectant that keep your heart soft and free from infection...that can happen when you go from one extreme of not processing and burying grief at all, to the other extreme and marinating in it by continuing to revisit and getting stuck in the pain. Vanessa is encouraged to feel, to find the bottom of the black hole and to let the tears flow...remembering not just the circumstances of their passing but bringing to mind and heart beautiful memories of her time with her loved ones. Dr. Marissa explains how choosing to believe that life is eternal and that love will never die is a belief system that helps you feel good about being alive and that those loved ones are just transitioning to another place where we can all meet again one day. In a heart warming and honest session with someone who has enough reason to blame and rant and wallow in despair, Dr. Marissa encourages Vanessa to feel her feelings and share her pain to help others heal themselves. Episode sponsored by Salt Oasis and www.4Balance.org

In another laughter-filled episode talking about the positive side of sex, breasts, pleasure zones and other G-spot rated topics, Dr. Marissa's first/Virgin womens' panel enlightens and identifies what women want from men! Breaking the tradition of being too embarrassed to ask for what you want or would like when it 'comes' to sex, literally ;) the panel tries to undo decades of shame and darkness about our bodies. Sonia Jackson, the producer and director of the play, "Conversations Bout the Girls, singer/songwriter and producer Marianne Lewis and Sexpert Tynyetta Dynear help shed some light on erogenous zones and how to best communicate and separate the men from the boys. Dr. Marissa asks the panel to comment on modern women and paying for half, chivalry and what constitutes kicking a man to the curb! The "moose on the table" discussion also ensues ways to achieve intimacy between partners from games to barber shops! Episode sponsored David Beck's book "They Asked You What?!" and www.4Balance.org

Oprah guest and mega bestseller Geneen Roth, a pioneer in finding a solution to compulsive dieting and emotional eating listens to Dr. Marissa's honest account of her own challenging and painful past around body size, body image and the critical voice that judges to a point of anguish...a story that is experienced by many women all over the world. Geneen speaks about her own struggle, that won't just disappear but is all about taking off the shattered lenses through which we see our bodies, and not letting that harsh critic beat us up anymore. Dr. Marissa listens to others' advice for a change ;)...to treat our food with a curiosity and to change our deep-seeded beliefs about who we are regardless of the size we are...and to finally escape hell...which is wanting to be where we're not! Geneen receives Dr. Marissa's Beneficial Presence on the Planet Award for the Second time??¦ for specifically helping her take the advice to "Treat yourself like a little girl with kindness and compassion instead of judgment and blame". Episode sponsored by Yvette's Bikinis on Main Street Seal Beach www.thebathingsuitqueen.com and www.4Balance.org

Religion...a loaded necessary topic for hope and happiness. Your blind faith...is it working for you? How about 20/2 Faith where you choose to believe in concepts that you already know???¦that you are worthy, that everything is going to be Okay, that we are fundamentally spiritual beings having an amazing human experience. Bishop Carlton Pearson, went from preaching punishing hell and hate from a fundamental upbringing and ministry to preaching the Gospel of Inclusion???¦ Where we are all beloved by God, that we are naturally sensual sexual and spiritual???¦but not naturally religious so the rules and moral code are making matters worse not better. Carlton uses his gift with words to highlight the problems with bias, discrimination and war which come from our trying to root out that which is just the natural fecal matter of life. The solution is to take all of the shiitake that is thrown at us, including that which was thrown at him when he left his ministry, and turn it into fertilizer to grow and expand and unfold in the most magnificent of ways. Bishop Carlton Pearson is presented with the Dr. Marissa Beneficial Presence on the Planet Award. Episode sponsored by http://www.shineyourlightbooks.com www.TimelessTreasuresBoutiques.com

Hate your job? In this episode, Dr. Marissa, aka the 'kinder gentler Dr. Laura' gives Dee from Los Angeles and Godfreda from Phoenix Arizona a hard reset to delete some BS (Belief Systems) and expired cookies on their Critical Thinking browser that are affecting their ability to be happy 88% of the time. Midlife crises being actually a midlife opportunity, and reframing being laid off and help raise holler vibrations so they feel better about themselves and their ability to open a new chapter in their book of life. Balance tools include how to decide which is the best still small voice to listen to in your head, answering Einstein's questions about how Friendly the Universe is, and the most powerful tool??¦ Freedom of choice! Episode sponsored by www.TimelessTreasuresBoutiques.com and "They asked you what?" book by David Beck.

What do you say to yourself when you grow up in a communist country with no freedom and no liberties??¦How do you deal with fear and a lack of hope? Dr. Marissa talks to author and educator Dr. Aura about her life experiences being blacklisted due to her father's refusal to join the Communist Party, the experience of being on the front line of the revolution, and the fulfillment of visions coming to the land of palm trees and oceans. Dr. Marissa also gets a history lesson into the real life of Dracula and Romania. The two doctors agree on the importance of focus and choice and the freedom that comes from the discipline of your perception of life events... I live in a beautiful city that has one road with a pothole...don't keep driving down that road! A glowing tribute to the life and teachings of Dr. Wayne Dyer is made and Dr. Marissa challenges listeners to honor one of her favorite teachers with his greatest lesson to her...to start every day with five (or eight for any other recovering overachievers ;) gratitudes. It will change your life as it continues to change hers. Episode sponsored by http://www.proyouthint.jeunesseglobal.com and www.TimelessTreasuresBoutiques.com

Are men really simple? Are they being villainized because of women's lib? Linda Gross, author of "Mastering Women" shares what men think and want after interviewing 20,000 men...and shares dating tips for both men and women with Dr. Marissa???¦ Including ones that apply to her personally! Men who were tired of being friend zoned as nice guys are advised to not play their "nice" card until after they get what they want, that appreciation goes along way and that we have to come to a balanced place between the old days and the new days. Dr Marissa finds more to agree with than disagree halfway through the show with wanting a man 1% stronger and when a woman should just throw the fish back to the sea! Linda's perspective provides a new look into why relationships don't work and how they can work better. Episode sponsored by www.DeviWardTantra.com and David Beck.

Dr. Marissa asks Rickie to answer the Questioning/Answering machine...Who are you? And what do you want? The First Lady of New Thought Music (married to Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center and one of the esteemed teachers on "The Secret" ) describes the joy that is in the center of her from the beginning of her life until now, and that what she seeks is Attention...to the messages of love and joy that are so lyrically expressed in her music. Founder of the Rhythm and Joy Festival--a different kind of music festival, now in its third year, Rickie invites all to remember what it used to be like going to a family-oriented and meaning-filled music festival, free of drugs and alcohol and saturated with music that may not be mainstream but on a mainroad to the heart. And all proceeds from the free music festival will be supporting another one of Rickie's creations, the Kuumba School, where children are not corralled into the mainstream but are encouraged to experience the natural joy of who they already are. Ricky emphasizes the unique expression and talents that everyone has, especially a diva/first soprano like Dr. Marissa! In a laughter and joy filled hour, the Agape International Choir is highlighted and celebrated along with its director and inspiration, Rickie BB aka my choir boss!

Dr. Marissa works with Lynn from Los Angeles and Sean from Alabama to improve their Happiness and reduce Stress affecting blood pressure...using Balance tools that encourage faith in a Friendly Universe. Lynn realizes that her "Back to the Future" circumstances are a second chance to improve relationships with her parents and how her positive attitudes about her work will continue to plant seeds of more good. Sean gets to reframe his sensitive nature and see the benefits of positive interactions with all of his relationships, using Balance tools like Drop out of MSU (Make Sh$&% Up University), seeing feedback as just an invitation for a better relationship and letting go of the unnecessary stress that comes from trying to get people to agree with you. Dr. Marissa starts the show with some kudos to the Jazz Festival and Pinks for all the birthday love over the last week! Episode sponsored by www.AnaheimLighthouse.com and www.proyouthint.jeunesseglobal.com

80-year Young Reba Merrill helps Dr. Marissa celebrate her birthday episode and 170 weeks on the air with inside info from her interviews with Robin Williams, Meryl Streep and Whitney Houston. Reba talks about the reality of the casting couch and then lays down on Dr. Marissa's virtual couch to ask her advice about how to handle rejection. Dr. Marissa, aka 'the Asian Oprah' introduces her new term The Van Gough Effect, describing the fine line between brilliance and despair that seems to be a common occurrence in the industry...the irrational fear of failure with 'successful' people, of not being good enough, and self-criticism on steroids. Yes, Happiness is an inside job and a choice! And throughout the interview, Dr. Marissa is happily interrupted with birthday wish calls from other hosts on her syndicated CNBC News Radio KCAA AM 1050 channel. The meaningful week with the Special Olympics in LA was also highlighted. Episode sponsored www.SaltOasis.com and www.AnaheimLighthouse.com