I Wish They Taught That In School

In this episode of I Wish They Taught That in School, I sit down with my wife, Renee Brna, to talk about something rarely discussed openly: the quiet shame many mothers carry.

Before entering the mental health field, Renee spent 20 years as a professional performer in theater, television, and music. She began working in crisis support and client services more than a decade ago, and after stepping back to raise her children, she returned with a focus on research and clinical training. She’s now a graduate student therapist pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Ahead of the release of her new book, A Happy Healthy Mom—a revised and expanded second edition of Mother Nurture, co-authored with Rick Hanson, Jan Hanson, and Ricky Polycove—Renee shares insights into the emotional realities of modern motherhood.

We explore how unrealistic expectations—especially those amplified by social media—can leave new moms feeling like they’re falling short, even when they’re doing everything right. This conversation dives into identity, comparison, mental health, and how to redefine what it actually means to be a “good mom.”

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not measuring up—or love someone who feels that way—this episode is for you.

Sachin Narayan is the founder and former CEO of Cathartic, a non profit company that focuses on preventative health of under-resourced populations. He is recent graduate from the University of Southern California and is matriculating as an MS1 this fall at the Stanford School of Medicine.

In this captivating podcast episode, join me as I sit down with this remarkable young man who achieved the extraordinary feat of getting accepted into the nation’s top medical schools. Discover the secrets behind his success, delve into his insights on navigating the pre-med journey, and explore the intersection of AI and medicine. Together, we explore the inspiring story of how he started a social impact non-profit, while also discussing the profound question of knowing whether a medical career is truly the right path for you. Prepare to be inspired, informed, and empowered by this enlightening conversation.

Chris Ekstam is a physician and entrepreneur living in Texas. After college at the University of Delaware, he went to New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and then did residency in Anesthesiology at Yale New Haven Hospital. In addition to practicing anesthesiology, he owns a patent for a medical invention he created.

Chris shares his journey from college to medical school to residency and then to attending. More importantly he shares life lessons about how and why to travel. Somtimes you just need to put your phone down and wing it—essentially figure it out in the moment.

He concludes an almost 2 hour discussion with some financial advice reminding us to pay ourselves first and the things you own…end up owning you.

Collin Kachel is an educator in Wisconsin, teaching tech education, automotives, robotics, machining, welding, electronics, graphic arts, computer aided design and drafting. He shares his thoughts on the impact of tech (smartphones as an example) on our well-being and the direction society is headed. In this 90 minute podcast, we go deep covering topics from fractured attention to comparing ourselves in the age of instagram. Specifically we try and understand what is happening to young men as they are more isolated and destitute than the previous generations. Are young men in desperate need of a healthy rite of passage?

Colin is a lover of technology but recommends using it as a tool rather than being controlled by it. He often uses analog products in his own home. An analog tool—a tape deck for instance— is specifically for one purpose and using such inventions are focused and brings a sense of tranquility not felt when using digital products.

We also converse about the difference between car-centric and people-centric cities. The latter of which is far more common and illustrates just one of many unhealthy types of communities in which we live. Cities like Boulder, Colorado and Madison, Wisconsin have well protected bike lanes and closed off streets allowing people to enjoy community expereinces where they are the focus rather than feeling threatened by vehicles.

Collin is ultimatley an optimist and thinks we can save ourselves by turning to the mentors of our own communities.

Books mentioned:

Fire in the Belly

The Wonder of Boys

Oversuccess

What is up California?  Today is November 6, 2018 and the most important midterms of our lives is here.  Please go out and exercise your right to vote.

Don’t forget that your voice matters.  The polls are open late and you have a federal right to get be released from your job for an hour to go and vote.  Even if you are too young to vote, that does not mean you get off the hook.  You still should learn about the issues as they affect everyone and your voice on social media matters.

On this podcast I simply read verbatim the content from votesaveamerica.com to provide verbal content just explaining what is on the ballot.

Flying over South Sudan in 2010, just months before the biggest election in the country’s history. That referendum led to the breakup of Sudan into North and South Sudan.

Prop 7 calls for getting rid of daylight savings time changes.

This is a special episode because I want to share a story with you, it’s a story about Skakti Patel, an immigrant from Zambia who now lives and works in California.  Here’s the thing though, he’s been here since he was 5 years old and he’s a legal resident here.  His status is called being a DACA recipient.  Shakti and I talk about how he came to the US, and the challenges of being a DACA recipient.  He’s an incredibly talented young man who is applying to medical school and will one day become a doctor.  But like over a million other people, he is here in this country as a legal resident with no clear path to citizenship and he is making a real impact here.  He volunteers for the american red cross, he is involved in the future physician leader program in San Bernadino, and a health scholar at COPE health solutions. 

This is a very special episode because tomorrow is November 6 and that means it’s the midterm elections, probably one of the most important midterms in my lifetime.  We see a nation divided like I have never seen before and what I hope you can take away from Shakti’s story is that there are over a million people in this country who are here legally and do not have the right to be citizens and don’t have the right to vote.  Please listen to his story.  Tomorrow, please go out and exercise that right to vote because your voice really does matter. 

Music

Intro:

Music by BENSOUND

http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-…

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/osg9PmkfTB0

Main Title: Bay Breeze Artist: FortyThr33

Download: https://goo.gl/HCmgSQ

Bay Breeze by FortyThr33 https://soundcloud.com/fortythr33-43

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/XER8Zg0ExKU

Contact the artist:

https://twitter.com/FortyThr33music

https://www.facebook.com/FortyThr33/

https://soundcloud.com/fortythr33-43

Interview Intro:

Title: Going Higher

Artist: Bensound

Genre: Rock Mood: Inspirational

Download: http://goo.gl/HH8AK8

This week I get into a hot topic: money.  Everybody has been asking about it.  “What do we need to know about money and taxes?”

Music

Intro:

Title: Solar Flares

Artist: Silent Partner

Genre: Dance & Electronic Mood:

Solar Flares – Silent Partner https://youtu.be/h9bqn5Q3jVI

Main Title:

Download: https://goo.gl/HCmgSQ

Bay Breeze by FortyThr33 https://soundcloud.com/fortythr33-43

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b…

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/XER8Zg0ExKU

Contact the artist:

https://twitter.com/FortyThr33music

https://www.facebook.com/FortyThr33/

https://soundcloud.com/fortythr33-43

Closing Music:

Title: Longing

Artist: Joakim Karud

Genre: Dance & Electronic Mood:

Inspirational Download: https://goo.gl/haRL6Q

Longing by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud