Today's show is all about laughter! Our guest  is Laura
Gentry,is dynamic leader in the world of laughter yoga and the
founder of the Iowa School of Laughter Yoga. 
“Joy-real heart singing joy- is possible and you deserve to have
it.” Laura Gentry
Listen as Laura shares:

What inspired her to bring more laughter into her life
How she builds laughter into her day
Specific laughter exercises you can begin doing
immediately
How laughter can be a mindfulness practice and a daily
elixir
Insider details on this year’s lineup for the Laugh Fest of the
Midwest May13-15, 2016 

Warning- you may have to tune out your serious side to relax and
deliberately give yourself a minute to be silly with us. 
Recommended Links and Resources:
www.laughinglaura.com

Laughter as a Lifestyle

The Joy Factor is a podcast for anyone with a desire to create more joy in their lives.  Therapist,  life coach and yoga teacher,  Julie Hanson interviews experts in the field of mental health and wellness along with everyday people who’ve got their own take on how to be on the hunt for joy even in the midst of struggle. She’s on a quest to connect her listeners with the tools, tips and inspiration to claim their right to joy!

Social Sciences

Science & Medicine

Science

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

  Hello, and welcome to episode 37 of  The JOY Factor Podcast! My guest today is Safriana Degroat and we're chatting about considerations around safely using medical cannabis, According to the  National Conference of State Legislators,  “As of Feb. 3, 2022, 37 states, three territories and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products.”  Despite the rapidly increasing availability of medical marijuana there are too few settings where patients can have open conversations with their healthcare providers  about their needs, concerns and experiences using cannabis. Too often people feel shame or judgement about their medical cannabis use and oftentimes doctors and therapists are ill-equiped or uninformed of how best to provide trauma informed care. Our conversation today will give you safety guidelines to consider and a way to explore best practices for use.  Bio Through her own personal healing journey, Safrianna embraced her passion for creating a world where all people can be “freely themselves”. She has a Masters in Community Mental Health and is a licensed professional therapist. In 2020, she founded her company, Luna Counseling & Creative Services, LLC, promoting wellness through therapy, education, and professional coaching. She recently launched Living LUNA with her wife, Ikenna. Living LUNA is a podcast and digital community that affirms the worth of all people, acknowledging the right for everyone to live life unashamed, full of love and authenticity.  What does the phrase joy factor mean to you? Safi’s joy factor = “making empowered choices again and again.” What you do now influences your future enjoyment.  A question she lives by: Am I enjoying myself right now? Remember, we have the power to take actions that do or don’t align with the ones that do. What We’ll Learn Safriana Degroat is not a medical doctor. Before trying any cannabis consult your doctor and DO NOT consume cannabis that has not been prescribed to you. Avoid purchasing cannabis off the street and keep all medical marijuana in a locked container out of reach of children or pets.  Medical Cannabis- how safe or dangerous is it? Without proper medical guidance cannabis has a high potential to be abused or become addictive. Safi shared her framework for safely exploring correct strains and doses once you have been approved for a medical marijuana card. Remember the acronym RIDER Research- Do this for anything you ingest. What impact might it have on us if we have other medical issues or conditions? Ask your doctor. Research the strains ahead of time. Ask: What’s the turpine breakdown? Intention- Understanding why you are trying to use cannabis in the first place. Get honest, be specific. What symptoms are you needing help treating? What other healing modalities are part of your plan? Remember, cannabis is not a stand alone treatment. Documentation- Document your cannabis use if you want to fine tune what works best for your needs. Is it for pain, focus, writing? Safi uses different strains for specific reasons. Document how you were impacted when you use a specific strain.  Experimentation- Find what works for us personally, and keep your dosing as small as possible.  Repetition- Repeat the results, journal, look at dominant terpenes.  Tips from Safi: Be informed. Know the dosages and chemical compositions and don’t overdo it.  Take as little as you can get away with and consult with your healthcare provider for ongoing guidance and support.  Find other people you can trust to discuss, compare and learn for mutual benefit.   For younger brains it’s not as good of a fit. If you are 24 or younger, this should not be a main part of your care plan. How has medical marijuana affected her? “It’s made me a more joyful person.” Cannabis and spiritual work have helped her healing from PTSD progress because she has found it easier to relax and integrate what she was learning and experiencing.   “I dance more. I enjoy more. “ -Important Health Information- From the website Cannabis Conversations  What are the signs of cannabis use disorder? Cannabis use disorder is the medical diagnosis for problematic cannabis use. Cannabis use is problematic when it begins to impact an individual’s life. Some common signs of cannabis use disorder include:   Using more cannabis than intended   Trying but failing to stop using cannabis when you want to   Spending a lot of time using cannabis   Craving cannabis   Using cannabis even when it causes problems at home, at school, or at work   Continuing to use cannabis despite social, relationship, or school-related problems   Giving up important activities with family or friends in favor of using cannabis   Using cannabis in high-risk situations, like while driving a car   Continuing to use cannabis despite physical or psychological problems   Needing to use more cannabis to get the same high   Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping use of cannabis   If you keep cannabis and cannabis products at your home, they should be stored safely, locked up, and out of reach of children and pets. Accidentally consuming edibles is a risk for children and pets that can result in cannabis toxicity or the need for emergency medical attention. If there is an accidental exposure to cannabis or cannabis products of any kind — call Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222 or visit your Emergency Room if needed.   Motivational Figure, Quote something guiding light-  “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou What matters most in life is our peace and us radiating that peace out to others. Make more energy for our peace and then make others feel that peace. Resources Mentioned  Leafly- Research new strains.  Greenhealth Docs- telehealth appointments with   High Yoga- Strains to use for different yoga poses.  I know why the Caged Bird Sings Other Useful Information For Safe Dosing, Warnings and Guidelines.   Important Information and Warnings about Medical Cannabis   Before you start, talk with your doctor and therapist to create a medical marijuana care team.   Startlow, go slow, stay low:      Start low- Studies show that beyond 20-40 mg/day for THC and 50-100 mg/day for CBD, there are no additional benefits from a higher dose for most patients.    Go slow- increase your intake very slowly, and try to stay as low as possible with amount consumed.   Edibles can be dangerous because they are slower to digest. Use caution and wait at least 2 hours before taking another dose.  Always, err on the side of caution.     People at an  increased risk of harm if they use medical cannabis include those who are:      Children, adolescents, young adults 18-25    Pregnant or breastfeeding   At increased risk of addiction or dependence   Affected by serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia   Diagnosed with heart or liver disease     Do not operate heavy machinery or vehicles while using medical cannabis.   Keep all medical cannabis stored in a locked container safely out of reach of children and pets.    Do not give away, trade or sell medical cannabis to others.   Follow all applicable laws for the state you are in or are a resident of.     Reach Safi https://www.safrianna.com/420friendly Safi’s main hub is Discord- instant messaging Living Luna Discord Community- social hub, hangout and uplift each other-Authentic Connection She has a podcast- Living Luna talking about authenticity, marginalization, inviting other voices  Launched a Patreon- Glad to receive financial support for people who believe in our mission. www.safriana.com free resources- cannabis journal Rise Program- Resilience, Integration, Self Empowerment-  Building Blocks, Quick, Easy, Low Cost, High Impact Thank you for Listening It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen.  Your support truly matters. If you feel led to offer a donation to keep our podcast running you can contribute here. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family.  The JOY Factor Podcast  Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast    

Open Conversations and  Empowered Choices  for Medical Cannabis Use

Today’s Show Hello, and welcome to season 8, episode 36 of  The JOY Factor Podcast! My guest today is Dr. Sue Williams Dr.Williams grew up in Iowa and earned her BA in Psychology at University of Iowa. She is a 2001 graduate of the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. She specializes in Working with autoimmune diseases, Chronic Fatigue, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis, LYME, MS, Hepatitis, cancer, ED, Asthma/Allregies, COPD, Macular Degeneration, Candida, Heart Disease, Mold toxicity, weight management. fertility issues and women’s health. Dr. Sue Williams vast health and wellness consultations over the past 18 years contributes to her ability to support individuals with chronic and acute conditions, she will refer individuals out as necessary. Sue Williams embraces her mission of helping individuals stay healthy and balanced. Whether it is with her extensive knowledge of supplementation, ability to balance prescription medications with natural remedies, knowledge of ideal range values for blood chemistry, or her understanding of hormone interactions and genetic impacts on the body she always strives to treat the root of the problem without suppressing symptoms. No matter what a patient is suffering from, she works with them to heal their entire life- from the foods they eat, to the activities they participate in, and the thoughts they think, to achieve whole-body restoration for each particular patient. What does the phrase joy factor mean to you? Today my joy factor is food. I love to eat and I love to cook as my love language. I put thought and care into the food we eat and for my family and am thankful for my ability to think about what we want to put into our bodies and feed our families.  What We’ll Learn Shop the parameters of the grocery store and eat as much organic food as possible. If you’re eating the skin of the food, try to buy organic. Sue recommends shopping at Aldi :).  If you’re feeling achy or stiff… What are you eating everyday?  Evaluate your nightshade veggie consumption (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, peppers) Joint pain/stiffness, headaches, chronic neck, back and shoulder pain are all signs of inflammation. Finger and feet swelling. Eat more apples- high in  quercetin- anti-inflammatory.  Find the joy in getting started with a concrete goal and plan to eat more veggies!   Tips to help empower you to add more vegetables to your diet   Remember they are high in fiber- the more we have the more toxins can be washed out of our body.  Choose a vegetable you like. Half your plate should be vegetables. Try some new vegetables. Very easy to roast your vegetables. Cauliflower rice is a great addition to most diets- tasty and easy to season.   Ask- how do I make fresh foods and what is the easiest way to do it?   Saute Pressure cooking/Instant Pot. Add more beans to your diet! Do it with love.    Emotional and Mental Tips  See food as healing for the body What does my body need to feel strong and healthy? Ask good questions:    Why am I eating this? Will these chips make me feel better after I eat them?  What side effects from the food am I getting? Is there a better choice for me? If I don’t have a better choice can I have my quick fix choice (chips etc.) can I have only one serving?    Tips for Eating Mindfully  Pausing to ask: Where does your food come from? Say a prayer of thanks for the food Eat your food as slowly as possible   Enjoy the textures, smells, multiple flavors Slow down and savor!    Resources Mentioned  30 Day Diabetes Miracle Cookbook  Foxpoint Spice-Great for vegetables  Justice Spice Connect with Sue Williams: eatnurturegrow@gmail.com Thank you for Listening It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family.  The JOY Factor Podcast Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast  

Eat, Nurture Grow

Today’s Show Hello, and welcome to episode 35 The JOY Factor. My guest today is trauma specialist and substance abuse counselor Stephanie Snyder. You can read more about Stephanie’s background here .  Listen in as Stephanie shares her unique perspective on joy and healing as it relates to substance addiction and recovery. What We’ll Learn  Healing is a mind, body and soul experience. When someone starts the journey of healing and goes from surviving to thriving they are able to see joy and beauty in the little things and eventually the bigger things!  A recovery saying Stephanie references: I can hear the birds sing again. You have recovered enough and have healed enough that you can hear things that are outside of yourself instead of only being able to focus on what’s going on inside of you.  Questions to consider when considering getting help. We need to speak out against mental health stigmas. Labels dehumanize people.  Treatment success depends on having safe, non-judgmental space to address the fear and intimidation clients may feel. Recovery and the development of self-worth develops in phases. Families need to heal together. It’s not just one person, the whole family unit is impacted.  Society has put so many expectations on parents. The first thing to help parents understand: This is not your fault.  Our children learn how to cope with things not just through the family unit but from other things they’re surrounded by in society. A few considerations regarding medicinal marijuana use. Child’s brain is still developing until 21. Just like with alcohol and cigarettes, there’s a legal age and biological factors that need to be factored in.  Very important to educate yourself before you engage in any kind of medicine based treatment. You can’t advocate for yourself and learn how to take care of yourself if you don’t know what’s going into your body.  Consult a professional and educate yourself.  Medical grade and CBD products are very different from street marijuana.  The amount of fentanyl on the streets is scary. Very easily absorbed through the skin.  If someone is considering medical marijuana I advocate for them to do it the safe, legal way and not just buy it off the street.   Favorite quote: “My goal is to do better than I did yesterday.” Resources  Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration Know the risks of marijuana  National Institute on Drug Abuse   Trauma Informed Substance Abuse Treatment   Thank you for Listening It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family.  The JOY Factor Podcast Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast  

Hearing the birds sing.

Hello and welcome to episode 34 of The JOY Factor Podcast. Today's show is sponsored by Prose. Thanks to my personalized Prose routine, I can honestly say I’ve never been more in love with my hair! Today we've got a special conversation with our guest Cheryl Rice Cheryl Rice works with women eager to be leaders in their own lives. Since 1990 she has been working with clients to improve individual, team and executive performance. In her powerful seminars, Cheryl inspires women to use their voice and vision for maximum impact. Her clients include: Pfizer, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Penn Medicine, Campbells Soup, and the Wharton School. Cheryl is also the author of the inspiring memoir, Where Have I Been All My Life? A Journey Toward Love and Wholeness. Additionally, her essays on life, love and loss have appeared in local and national publications including the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Chicago Tribune, Cure Today, and Maria Shriver’s Blog, Architects of Change.  In 2016, Cheryl founded the You Matter Marathon – No Running Required - a global initiative that creates positive connections between individuals and within communities. With a BA in Psychology from Monmouth University, an MS in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a MS in Organization Development from Pepperdine University, Cheryl brings significant academic training to compliment her practical work experience. Additionally, Cheryl has completed her professional coach certification, obtained a certificate in applied positive psychology and taught classes in organization change at local universities. Cheryl's Contact Information: cheryl@cherylriceleadership.com www.youmattermarathon.com https://www.facebook.com/YouMatterMarathon https://www.instagram.com/youmattermarathon/ @umattermarathon Additional Resources  Sign up for You Matter Marathon Thank you for Listening It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends and family.  The JOY Factor Podcast Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast

You Matter Marathon

Today’s Show Welcome to episode 33 of the JOY Factor Podcast. Today’s Guest is Jeff Harry  Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled — all by playing. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day.   While we spend most of our time pretending to be important, serious grownups, it's when we let go of that facade and just play, that the real magic happens. Fully embracing your own nerdy genius — whatever that is — gives you the power to make a difference and change lives.  Jeff believes that we already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to create a better world.   Thank you to Prose Hair for sponsoring this episode. I love their products because they make my hair look, feel and smell great! TWITTER: @prosehair FACEBOOK: @prosehair INSTAGRAM: @prose HASHTAG: #prosehair, #prosepraise What We’ll Learn  It's ok to play. It's a skill we all have but need to remember. You deserve to have some play in your day. A playful attitude is contagious. Just for today...remember to play!  Reach out to Jeff SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES: Website: RediscoverYourPlay.com   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jeffharryplays  Instagram: @jeffharryplays    TikTok: @jeffharryplays     Medium: @jeffharryplays   Twitter: @jeffharryplays  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-harry-6991a94/ Your Joy Factor It is a true honor to bring this podcast to you and I am so grateful that you took the time to listen. Did you learn anything that can help you with your own joy factor? If so, pass it on to your friends and family and give us a positive review at   The JOY Factor Podcast. Do you have a second to complete this brief listener survey? It helps our show track who is listening so we can create topics of interest to you!  http://survey.libsyn.com/thejoyfactorpodcast  

Laughter as a Lifestyle

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