Healing Charlotte Podcast

ounseling Associates and a therapist specialized in porn & sex addiction, betrayal trauma for partners, and childhood trauma. David's work focuses on helping men in these areas as well as assertiveness training.

David always had an interest in people as he watched his mom as a hairstylist listen to her clients. He earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology but found himself in sales after college. After some psychological testing, he learned that he would be a good therapist, so he returned to school to get his Master's in Counseling. His career started off in home therapy by using a system approach of not only working with the child but with the parents as well. He got into addictions work focuses on substances but shifted gears when he had a client with a porn addiction. This client fueled David to learn more. David trained at the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals as well as complementary methods of EMDR and Brainspotting.

"You can think of counseling like that; someone is going to listen to you, not judge you, hear you out, and try to work together with you like a coach even though they may do it a little deeper to be able to help you with those deper wounds and live a life you really want to live."

Through his work he has found that men put themselves through a lot of pressure to have it all and know it all which could lead to engaging in unhealthy behaviors. His work helps men shed these behaviors and discover the root of what has happened to them. He believes that porn addiction is easy to slip into based on the 3 As; Anonymity, Accessibility, and Affordability. The latest research has found that the highest users of porn are ages 12-17.

Seeking treatment is hard for men because they don't get vulnerable with their friends and portrayal of men in society as "tough guys." For many men, it feels embarrassing and scary to get help and for some they worry it will affect their job status. As a society, boys and men are raised and told to let it go, move on, and it will be ok making it even more hard to ask for help. David has found that the men he work with fear not being enough and have never learned to ask for their needs to be met.

"A lot of men are taught to stuff their feelings, suck it in, be happy, that's the only approved emotion, they can be angry if they are on the soccer field or football field but nowhere else, and that their feelings don't matter, that's for girls, and that could be so far from the truth. It's a human thing."

Gabor Mate's definition of addiction is "a behavior or substance a person does that in the short term provides relief, pleasure, and escape. In the long term, it provides more problems and consequences coupled with the inability to stop it or stop it for long." David has seen sex and porn addiction come in many forms such as massage parlors, strip clubs, etc. When men first start treatment with him, they determine if the behavior is a problem and then assess how deep of a problem it is and what level of care is appropriate for him. From there, he helps them stop the behavior and assess the needs of their spouse and partner as well as getting them support if needed. Finally he helps them develop coping skills and learn how to set boundaries. A unique offering that Charlotte Counseling Associates offers is therapy groups for men to connect and help support one another. David also offers intensive options such as half-day, full-day, or up to 3 days of work. He strongly believes in meeting people where they are and finding the right match of a therapist with his full staff. Room to Heal is another resource in Charlotte that many of his clients have taken advantage of as a residential center for those with sex and porn addiction.

"These guys just don't know how to express their needs and that's why they get caught up in these unhealthy behaviors. They are trying to meet their needs that provide an escape from the pain or maybe a dopamine boost in the short term because of the pressure."

David believes it is important for the betrayed partner to seek treatment whether they stay in the relationship or not. A common trend that he has witnessed is the person who is addicted gets all of the attention and support. The partner needs support as well as to know it's not their fault. They may have PTSD and need trauma processing as well as work on setting boundaries and utilizing coping skills. His practice has a betrayed partners group as well. He can facilitate a formal disclosure session where the partner who is addicted will share their sexual timeline and the betrayed partner can ask questions. He has found that this type of session can be helpful in the betrayed partner deciding the future of the relationship.

David describes talk therapy as utilizing the prefrontal cortex to explore thoughts and feelings and provides immediate relief. Some of the deeper methods he uses of EMDR and Brainspotting work on resourcing which is the ability to self-soothe. He describes EMDR(Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as a brain-body therapy that gets into the deeper parts of the brain attached to our nervous system. In this work, the client reprocesses traumatic material to clen up the wound and make it not as painful while introducing a positive belief. He describes Brainspotting as more of an eye-fixation modality where they have found that where you look is how you feel. The practitioner finds a point in space that is most activating and talking it out as the wound dissipates.

David finds that assertiveness training includes learning how to be calm, direct, and respectful in communication. David has followed Robert Glover's work and book called "No More Mr. Nice Guy." The idea is that men do a lot of nice things but don't meet their own needs. Inevitably the get run down and don't do nice things such as yelling, shutting down, pornography, etc. These men don't feel they have the right to ask for what they need. This work can be done in individual therapy or his assertiveness groups.

David has many things that keep him grounded outside of his work as a therapist. Mostly therapy and being a part of therapist support groups, his faith, family, music, meditation, journaling, being in nature, working out, and yoga. He would like to Heal Charlotte by spreading the positive message about therapy and provide the community with education on sex and porn addiction.

You can connect with David and his practice, Charlotte Counseling Associates, through their website, by calling them at 980-224-3233, emailing [email protected], or on Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

Nurse Practitioner who focuses on women's health with virtual patients in North Carolina. She has been with Hormone Wellness MD since 2023, a practice that focuses on hormones and sexual wellness in women.

"For those who are willing to meet in a virtual format, it often works better for their schedules and we can accomplish really everything we need to accomplish over the telehealth platform."

Kate has always gravitated towards comforting others starting when she was a young child. She began her career in the medical field as an Oncology Nurse and found her way professionally to Functional Medicine by way of her personal journey after the birth of her second child. She didn't feel well but her labs were within normal limits. This took Kate on a journey of healing and professional awakening as she became certified in 2021 through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Typically Functional Medicine practitioners will come from a medical background as MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, Chiropractors, or Naturopaths.

In understanding where Functional Medicine fits into the medical model, Kate says that Functional Medicine does not take the place of or compete with Allopathic Medicine and that the basic standard of care is not overlooked. She describes Allopathic Medicine as disease focused or to find a diagnosis then recommending a course of treatment. Functional Medicine looks at all fo the systems and views them as interconnected. As a Functional Medicine Practitioner, she is looking for balance and oftentimes starts in the gut. At Hormone Wellness MD, she has a focus on hormonal health but does not just focus on estrogen and progesterone but rather looks at the thyroid, adrenal system, and insulin. She focuses on finding the root cause and working on all of the systems in harmony.

"What makes the difference is the mindset; so not the disease-focused orientation but looking at the body systems as interconnected, seeing them as working together, and so understanding that the gut impacts the brain, impacts the hormones."

Kate mentions that typically her patients will come to Functional Medicine when they aren't getting answers with conventional medicine, want a different way to manage, or their symptoms from their diagnosis aren't fully managed. It may even be intense PMS symptoms or chronic constipation.

Kate loves working with women and especially those in perimenopause or menopause because of the big shifts women go through during this time. The first session with Kate is an hour long and is focused on gathering not only information on past medical issues but looking at any history of trauma or stress. She starts with lifestyle as a foundation such as nutrition, movement and exercise, stress management, relationships, and sleep. Her next session is going over labs, developing a treatment plan, and recommending medication or supplements if needed. She is always fine-tuning the foundational areas.

"Women in this stage of life are doing big things. They are running their families, they are running teams at work, they are volunteering, they are making an impact in their community. When these women are feeling better, the world runs better."

Kate's own self-care is about creating margins for herself. She likes to engage in naps, reading, time outside, and many activities that are not goal-oriented. Kate would like to Heal Charlotte as it is a joy to be a part of seeing someone heal and reengaging in life. You can find more information on her website or Instagram.

On this episode of the podcast, we meet Megan Gelabert-McGee from Harmony Pilates. Megan comes from a professional dance background and heard about Pilates through her community while dancing for 2 professional companies in New York. She took a front desk job at a 2nd generation from Joseph Pilates studio. Many of the apprentices in the training program needed practice hours and this is where Megan started her introduction to Pilates. She began to notice not just the exercise component but an improved mental state and with her dance(i.e. balance). She completed her training from there about 20 years ago.

"I like to see it as the body is an orchestra; you have all these different parts that hopefully will work in sync with each other, but if that violin player is a little out of tune, it throws the whole thing off."

Pilates, originally named "Contrology" was created by a man named Joseph Pilates and is a sophisticated system of movement that can be done privately or in a group setting. It's made up of a series of movements on the machine(Reformer) or on the mat. Private sessions focus on the individual body and the instructor will create movement based on what they need taking into account injuries, medical issues, and lifestyle. It's made up of exercise, breath, and alignment catered to the person. Pilates use equipment like the Reformer to work on all of the areas of the body including the ranges of motion in the spine as well as the Cadillac and many different props. The spring resistance on the Reformer makes it safe for joints and bones by not forcing extra weigh on them that they aren't ready for.

"The spring weight, for instance you are on your back, and you push into a bar, the spring causes tension when it opens but then it loses tension when it closes. So not only are you creating strength to press against the tension of the spring, you have to use so much control to contain the closing of the spring."

Some of the benefits of Pilates in injury prevention, injury recovery, and to train safely with your body. It uses breath-work, intentional movement, strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance.

Megan enjoys working with those who are curious about movement and their body. Sessions with her would start with a health and history form filled out ahead of time and possibly a no-charge consultation to acquaint yourself with the space and to meet in person. The first session will be a review of your health and history, Megan will take an assessment of your standing posture, and begin the movement practice. The first 3 sessions typically take trial and error to determine what feels right in your body. There are approximately 500 Pilates exercises so if one doesn't feel right, there are plenty others to try. Megan emphasizes that the body is always changing so there is always something to address and support.

For her own self-care, Megan uses "Transcendental Meditation" where she works with a meditation instuctor and receives a mantra to practice 2x a day. She started this practice 14 years ago. She also utilizes EMDR(Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy.

She wants to Heal Charlotte as she had a car accident in 2021 where she had multiple surgeries to reattach her hand and make it as functioning as possible. Her journey in regaining movement in her hand has helped deepen her passion for Pilates as well as acutely understanding medical trauma and having even more compassion for those who have gone through it.

"My OTs and my Surgeon; they were over the moon, they couldn't believe the healing, they couldn't believe how far I'd come in terms of gaining all that movement back and I have nothing but Pilates, Yoga, and dance to credit that to."

Her studio is located in Hart Witzen Gallery among local artists on the outskirts of the Noda area of town. You can get more information on her website, as well as her Facebook and Instagram pages.

On this episode of the podcast, we meet Kristen Bunich, a Registered Dietician and owner of “The Intuitive Dietician.”

Intuitive eating was created by two dieticians in the 90s and by now has over 200 research studies on it. The adoption rate increased in the last 10 years. It’s based on 10 principles and fosters a positive relationship with food as we move away from restrictive diets. The principles work on hunger, fullness, satisfaction, and movement and is a more holistic approach looking at what other factors are influencing our bodies. The original researchers were frustrated that diets weren’t sustainable for people. For example, some research followed contestants from “The Biggest Loser” competition show. They found that the contestants lost weight and subsequently muscle mass, then their metabolism slowed down and then they gained more weight.

“We ignore hunger, we ignore fullness, we stay on that schedule, we eat at 12, we eat at 5. If you feel any pangs of hunger, we ignore it. A lot of people have broken hunger meters.”

Kristen’s work before starting her private practice was spending 16 years in a hospital setting working with those in critical care.  The work she did there was more problem-oriented. less flexible, and the relationships were short term.  She moved into private practice where she enjoys having a much more personal relationship and can introduce those she works with to approaches like intuitive eating.  She can still work with specific medical conditions with the intuitive eating approach.  She fell in love with this approach and quickly became credentialed.  

Sessions with Kristen start off with a discovery call to see if the relationship is a good fit. Appointments can be in her office or virtual, and start off weekly. 

“We usually start off with the framework of timing and then more of the nutrients and then we talk more about movement and stresses, and our sleep.”

Kristen will also help with meal planning and prepping and all of her patients have access to meal software that includes recipes and meal prepping ideas.

“Planning ahead with your food is a form of self-care. You are really taking care of yourself and taking a minute for yourself.”

Kristen enjoys working with women in a similar stage of life including those who are raising children, having gastrointestinal issues, have dipped into disordered eating, and are perimenopausal/menopausal.

“If there is anything I can do in nutrition counseling that changes how people feel about their bodies and about themselves. If there is anything I can do when I post things on my social that ripples out and improves how people feel or if there is anything I can do that helps my clients live happier lives and that ripples out to the people they live with, that’s the kind of work I want to do.”

You can reach out and schedule a discovery call with her on website or check her out on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

doctors to help us get out of our heads and into our bodies. This modality can benefit anyone who is breathing. Contraindications are for those with heart conditions, epilepsy, and newly pregnant. It can be approached from physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual places. This is a deeper experience than coping skill type of breath-work.

"Using our breath as a flashlight to shine within the parts of our bodies where we might be holding, suppressing, repressing, and using the breath, we are able to shine the light and dispel those shadows. In doing that we are able to live more fully, more connected, more authentically."

A typical session with Kaley starts with getting to know you and learning about your intentions. Next you will move to either the massage table or the floor and start with a grounding meditation. From there, the active breath starts that moves like a wheel, no breath holds. This active breath continues for 25-40 minutes. It can take 7-10 minutes to get past the mind's resistance. During this time, you can drop into the subconscious. The active breath will end and integration happens for about 10-15 minutes. The session ends with tea and discussion if you want. Kaley recommends 6-10 sessions that can be conducted individually or with a small group either in-person or virtually.

Some of her clients have said that it helps them release physical tension, create stronger connections with others, and releases bitterness or resentment. Kaley says the key is to accept whatever happens.

"I am very sentient. I do love to talk about feelings and go deep with people. I care so much about the nitty gritty parts of people. I didn't know what to do with that and it was at this breath-work retreat where I had this knowing of 'this is for you, this is why I created you, this is your thing.'"

Kaley was drawn to this work and she has a background in dancing, yoga, and as a fitness instructor. She has always been body oriented and in her feelings. At one point, being so connected to her feelings felt heavy for her but now she looks at it as a gift. She found this type of breath-work while on a retreat in Costa Rico.

"I hold it very sacred and I recognize it's extremely vulnerable for people. So I feel very fortunate that I'm in this place to hold people and show up for people in this way."

Kaley wants to heal Charlotte because she sees so much potential for goodness, love, and seeing people for who they really are. She wants to offer more compassion and connection to this community.

Connect with Kaley through her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

his episode features Charlie Petrizzo the Founder and CEO of Project 2 Heal. His organization is the only non-profit in the United States that focuses on expert animal husbandry and rearing of outstanding pedigree Labrador Retrievers to serve the service dog industry. Charlie's path leading up to starting Project 2 Heal was marked by tragedy and triumph during his childhood. He suffered from two accidents in his childhood; one was when he was 4 years old and was struck by a car and suffered a traumatic brain injury and paralyzed on the left side of his body ~1 year, and electrocuted at age 16 that burned 70% of his body. Charlie understood the support dogs can provide as his childhood dog was by his side during his recovery as a teenager. As an adult, he moved to Charlotte for a job and shortly thereafter lost his father in law and mother. This gave him an opportunity to rethink his own life as he went through a depression, and came out on the other side with a call to serve others. Charlie and his wife Sandy started to narrow their focus on using dogs as healers. He read an article about service dog organizations that don't have a breeding program will use dogs from the shelter and only about 1/12 dogs will make it to service work. From there Charlie found his calling. In 2006, Charlie and his wife Sandy decided that they would run a breeding program for Labrador Retrievers to donate to service dog organizations where they would train the dogs to give to military vets in need of support.

The most recent shift in the service dog industry is the decline in "puppy raisers." These are volunteers who keep puppies in their home that are in line for service work from 12 weeks to 1 year old. They are a vital piece of raising a service animal. Before the pandemic, a majority of puppy raisers were in the prison population and on college campuses. These sources dried up during the pandemic. Charlie has decided to start his own puppy raising at Project 2 Heal by keeping the puppies and providing all of the necessary tasks in the first year before turning them over for the professional service dog training. He knows this will reduce costs and shorten the length of time to getting the dog to the vet. K9s for Warriors has a 4-year wait for dogs to get to their vets. Purdue University which is the leading researcher of the canine-human bond, found that Vets with a service dog vs Vets without a service dog had decreased episodes of hyper-vigilance, night tremors, outbursts of anger, and irrational outbursts, and lower waking levels of cortisol. All of these symptoms are contributing factors that lead to death by suicide.

"They{military vets} said yes to their country and they're coming back now and it's really hard for them to pay $30k for a service dog. So we have to find it in our non-profit work to get these dogs to these guys quicker so we don't lose as many."

Labs are used in this work because they were originally breed to be working dogs. They started in Canada helping retrieve nets and fishing gear out of the water, then to England as hunting dogs, and in America were used historically for bird and duck hunting.

"They{labrador retrievers} are as comfortable laying down at the feet of their owner as they are out working or retrieving in the field."

Charlie and his team's work at Project 2 Heal is to breed dogs that have the right demeanor and desire to work. They do hip, elbow, heart, and eye tests as well as 8 genetic test to make sure they are donating top notch dogs free from as many health issues as possible. Before the puppies are 12-weeks old, Project 2 Heal engages them in as many activities to prepare them for this work. Early Neurological Stimulation starts at 48 hours which helps jump start further brain development and creates a stronger cardiovascular and adrenal gland system as well as makes them less reactive to novel stimulus. Puppy Prodigy works starts at 3 weeks where they learn to move their bodies which gets them ready for obedience training. At 8-weeks old, puppies start positive reinforcement for obedience. During this time, the puppies also have a puppy experience room to visit which exposes them to different objects and sounds.

Service dogs for Psychiatric work take about 1.5 years of training before they are ready and Service dogs trained for mobility task work take a few months longer. Costs for training vary between $25k and $40k. Charlie's work is to lower the costs and time of getting these dogs to vets who need them.

Outside of breeding dogs for service work, Project 2 Heal has several other programs. The school based program brings his dogs into Union County schools to help special needs, lower socioeconomic, and talent development students. The mental health program is for businesses to schedule time for the puppies to be on-site for employees to engage with them. The chaperone home program is for people who are willing to house a dog who may be used in the breeding program for up to 3x and then keep the dog after that. Their volunteer program is for anyone who would like to help out with puppy parties and taking the dogs to places and events.

"We think that we are called to serve others and this is our community and we are trying to build a community of dog lovers who want to use that love and understanding of their own relationship with a dog and who understand how it can help someone who is really hurting to join us in whatever way they can."

Ways to support Project 2 Heal are through volunteering your time, talent, and/or treasure. Charlie wants to heal Charlotte as he loves it and wishes he was born here. You can watch "Charlie's Scars", a movie about his life and work. Contact Project 2 Heal through their website or call the office, 704-256-4056.

Heather Siblik the founder of Dish Course is on this episode of the podcast. Her journey in creating Dish Course really began 5 years ago when she moved to Charlotte from Wisconsin for a relationship that ended shortly after. She remembers how much effort, courage, and time it took to meet people and make friends. This is what sparked the idea for Dish Course, a dinner party with strangers organized by categories. The categories have ranged from "Must Love Sushi" to "Starting Over" to "New in Town." Heather has found that even within the categories, there is still a lot of diversity in ages, stages of life, and situations.

"Instead of getting too ahead of myself and diving in head first. I really took the time to think about it and grow it, and think about how I wanted it to look, what I wanted the process to look like to build these table of strangers for dinner parties."

Heather believes it is harder to make friends as an adult due to lower confidence compared to childhood, fear from past experiences, and reduced amount of times around people to connect with. Heather wants to assume the burden of labor for getting people together, and help spark conversation between guests. Dinner parties are limited to 6 guests total including Heather. The connection doesn't stop after the dinner is over. Guests will join a group text and build their connections further. Previous guests are already planning a Dish Course Reunion for all dinner guests.

"You would be surprised how quickly you open up to a group of strangers because you have nothing to lose and these people are just dumping their souls and it's just so beautiful because 30-minutes ago they didn't know each other and now they are talking about their divorce all of these super heavy emotionally driven moments in their lives and it's very beautiful."

Heather wants to heal Charlotte as this has become her home, where she built her social world, and the place that healed her.

"How can we make Charlotte happier healthier, more social, and more connected?"

You can find more about Dish Course on their website, emailing Heather([email protected]), Facebook, and Instagram.

Austin Buergermeister a Chiropractor from Live Well Chiropractic in Lake Norman is the latest guest on the podcast. His journey started out while in school at UNCC where he majored in Exercise Science and minored in Public Health. He knew he wanted to help people but had not found in what way yet. A Chiropractor came to speak at one of his classes and his interest was piqued. About the same time, he hurt his back lifting in the gym and decided to give Chiropractic a try. He felt 85% better after his first session and continued to heal quicker than he had in the past. From there, he was hooked. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic and returned to the Charlotte area. Live Well Chiropractic has been opened since November 2022. Austin knew he wanted to go out on his own so he could try to reach as many people as possible.

Austin describes Chiropractic as a licensed healthcare profession based on diagnosis and treatment of the cause of the condition by using holistic methods to treat. These treatments may be adjustments of the spine and extremities, dry-needling, cupping, as well as exercise and stretches. Proper alignment helps the body in that the Central Nervous System which is made up of the brain and spine connects to all other functions in the body such as organs, sensory input, and motor output. A misalignment of a vertebrae can create a kink in the flow of the CNS. The 3 causes of subluzations(misalignments) are thoughts(stressors in life), traumas(sitting, accidents, etc), and toxins(what we put in our body).

"If you wait for symptoms to appear, it takes even longer to get out of that acute phase and back to your wellness picture that you really want and to function optimally."

Austin encourages Chiropractic to be the first outlet of care due to the conservative nature. Intake sessions look like a range of motion testing, neurologic and orthopedic examinations, development of a working diagnosis, and creation of a treatment plan. This work focus on mobility as well as stability in the body.

"A Chiropractor is similar to a mechanic but for the body. You wouldn't just let your car start breaking down before you bring it in for routine oil changes so why would you let your body start breaking down before you went to a Chiropractor?"

Austin patients are usually dealing with back pain, shoulder problems, vertigo, knees, ankles, foot, and muscle issues. He enjoys working with everyone from newborns to the elderly and gravitates towards a more active population. He wants to heal Charlotte by helping everyone gain the knowledge of Chiropractic and different ways to keep the body healthy.

You can find Live Well Chiropractic on the internet, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and Youtube or by calling 704-912-5050.

Today's guest is Daisha Williams who is the Environmental Justice Manager for CleanAIRE NC. CleanAIRE NC utilizes action, education, and innovation in their partnerships to restore the environment. They started in 2003 as CleanAIRE Carolina where volunteers banded together to improve air quality and noticed the link between that and climate change and public health. Their focus today is on climate change and air quality; addressing it through advocacy, education, and community-driven research and programs. CleanAIRE NC has 4 programs; health, policy, citizen science, and environmental justice. The Health program provides information to help health professionals talk to their patients about climate change, air pollution, and how it is affecting their health. The Policy program advocates for strengthening environmental policies to limit the factors that contribute to air pollution and climate change. The Citizen Science program uses air monitors in impacted communities to translate data for actions and improvements. The Environmental Justice program incorporates all of the other programs to make sure those who have been affected the most by climate change concerns are being included in efforts and decisions as well as empowered with knowledge. While CleanAIRE NC is based in Charlotte, NC, they assist communities all over North Carolina and have offices in Greensboro and Durham as well.

Before landing at CleanAIRE NC, Daisha received her Bachelor's of Science in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University and was interested in animals so she joined the Woodland Park Zoo in Washington. From there she learned she was more interested in working with people, so she got a job as a Legislative Assistant at the Washington Environmental Council where she worked with students in Title I schools in the Seattle area on the legislative process, who their representatives are, and how to use their voice for change. She was also part of a team that helped create a policy strategy that was passed to safeguard the environment. Next, she decided to get a graduate degree in Policy at John's Hopkins University, and moved back to Charlotte where she got a job working with the Americorps' Regional Stormwater Partnership of the Carolinas and began her work in the Historic West End. Because of her strong work in the community, it made sense to be involved with CleanAIRE NC as the new Environmental Justice Manager. She also has a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology.

The Historic West End in Charlotte was subjected to red lining back in the 1930s which caused this area to have a lot of pollution due to the nearby highways and industries. Three highway systems cross through this neighborhood. The Airkeepers program through CleanAIRE NC was launched in 2017 which was the first one in the state. This system measured particulate matter. This is important as our lungs cannot remove certain sizes of particulate matter as it reaches deep into the lungs and bloodstream. The intention for this program was to arm the community of how much particulate matter is present and when it's at the highest concentration. In 2018, community members and CleanAIRE NC created a report on pollution and health concerns to present to the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioner's in order to advocate for a federal EPA monitor which they received. The importance of the federal EPA monitor is that now the government is responsible for implementing programs to address the present issues. This also helped them formalize a Historic West End Green District which is designed to improve air quality, reduce emissions, and improve overall health. The community-led program started with 3 volunteers and now has 13. The health impacts of poor air quality are great and include issues such as inflammation, imbalanced nervous systems, can exacerbate diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. Recent studies have even found that poor air quality has a strong link to death by COVID.

"It really disheartens me that pollution touches this community and many communities like it in a cumulative way; it's not just water quality concerns, it's not just air quality concerns, it's also a concern of a lack of resources, whether that's lack of access to fresh and healthy food, lack of access to medical services, you also have concerns of displacement as Charlotte expands and grows rapidly and these communities are getting pushed out of their neighborhoods."

The Historic West End Green District's projects are chosen by the residents and have 3 main goals; strategic tree planting and maintaining of current trees as well as installing green walls and roofs, advocating for electric car charging stations and increasing access to more clean transit, and education on sustainability and solutions for clean air. The Historic West End Green District is working on Community Benefits Agreements which would work with industries in the area to help cut down particulate matter and pollutants.

"So building up those relationships because that's where you start is just listening and building up trust and expanding this work and even connecting other environmental justice communities to each other because there is power in numbers and there's also a lot of solidarity in listening and creating solutions with those that are experiencing the same things."

If you would like to support CleanAIRE NC, Daisha recommends educating yourself first on the historical inequities, environmental justice, and the legacy it has left behind. From there you can speak out against it and vote for people who will support efforts. You can join their Advocacy program or donate to support them.

For self-care, Daisha enjoys spending time in nature, walks with her dog, and baking.

To connect with CleanAIRE NC you can visit their website here or email Daisha at [email protected].

Amanda Jones from QC Hydrate joins us on the podcast to discuss her mobile hydration infusion company. The idea came to her 3 years ago and was pushed forward with the pandemic. Amanda recognized people's discomfort in going into clinical settings unless absolutely necessary so she decided to take her idea into people's homes. Amanda has been a nurse for 10 years and the last 6 were spent as an oncology nurse where she fell in love with the work. The day after chemotherapy is given, typically patients come back in for "replacements" which is an infusion of micronutrients such as magnesium, potassium, among others, and basic hydration and possibly zofran for nausea. Many times, patients aren't able to come back into the hospital the next day for many reasons. Amanda had the idea of being able to travel to patients homes and give them what they need to recover. She has now stepped back from the oncology world to focus on the growth of her business.

Infusions have to be given by a licensed medical professional and Amanda's nurses all have a strong infusion background of at least 5 years. QC Hydrate contracts with a physician to oversee policies, procedures, safety, and efficacy and works with a specialty pharmacy to create the infusions. QC Hydrate is the only Board Certified Hydration Company in Charlotte.

By offering this service in the home, people feel pampered, and can receive the treatment in their own space for a short amount of time. Amanda can help develop an individualized treatment plan with her client's goals in mind. They can provide infusions to individuals, couples, or a group of people. Some have set up for bridal parties, golf events, or ladies night.

"One of the most common feedbacks that I get is 'oh I feel so pampered, this is so luxurious, or I feel like a star' and that's what we want."

At QC Hydrate, they have tried to create something that everyone can benefit from. They have immunity, athletic, beauty, and hangover blends to name a few. Infusions are not recommended for those under 18 or anyone with congestive heart failure, or liver or kidney disease.

Intravenous supplements are more effective than oral because when taking one orally, the gastric acid in the stomach breaks down the nutrients and therefore lose 50-60% of the efficacy. Infusions bypass the digestive system so that 100% of the micronutrients enter the bloodstream. Many people especially in the winter months are deficient in vitamins such as B and D. QC Hydrate has a 6-session package to get your levels balanced with a blood test before and after to.

According to the NIH, dehydration affects 75% of the population. Most people aren't drinking enough water through the day to get hydrated and are also getting dehydrated in the sun or by drinking caffeine or alcohol. When people are properly hydrated, they feel better in their bodies, have less inflammation, and sleep better. QC Hydrate recommends infusions at least 2x a month to be within the therapeutic range of hydration.

"We are going to do everything we can to make sure that we are providing a safe, comfortable environment for you."

By her 3 year mark, QC Hydrate wants to have a bus to provide mobile infusions to people in the community, and provide infusions to those in the community who can not access it through charitable donations.

Amanda loves reading as self-care and loves "Vitamized Health" by Dr. Stephen Petteruti. She wants to heal Charlotte by giving everyone an opportunity to feel the benefits of hydration.

Find QC Hydrate on their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.