Aware with Daniel Siegel

In my interview with Dan Siegel, I discuss his new book Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence. Dan provides us with insight into the practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one's day-to-day life.

We discuss the three pillars of Mind Training or mindfulness - focus attention, open awareness and kind intention and how the science is proving that these elements in practice can help reduce stress and inflammation, improve cardiovascular function and our immune system and extend life. Mind Training assists with intentional change and creates healthier, happier lives. Enjoy!

Guest bio

Daniel J. Siegel received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics and child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. He served as a National Institute of Mental Health Research Fellow at UCLA, studying family interactions with an emphasis on how attachment experiences influence emotions, behaviour, autobiographical memory and narrative.

Dr. Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Dr. Siegel's unique ability to make complicated scientific concepts exciting and accessible has led him to be invited to address diverse local, national and international groups including mental health professionals, neuroscientists, corporate leaders, educators, parents, public administrators, healthcare providers, policy-makers, mediators, judges, and clergy.

Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari

Johann Hari is a British writer and journalist. Having published a New York Times Best-seller, Chasing the Scream he now brings us Lost Connections, a book about the real causes of anxiety and depression.

In this very personable story, Johann shares his journey through depression and beyond. One that leads him to travel across the globe interviewing experts in the fields of anxiety and depression. What’s left is a book that highlights 9 causes and several remedies for healing a population with an evidently increasing problem.

Enjoy this week's book reflection on The Hidden Why.

Prosperity

Today's featured guest is Joan Sotkin.

The topic is "Prosperity."

Let the show begin.

Guest Bio

Joan Sotkin has been helping people resolve money issues for over 30 years. She is the founder of the popular website ProsperityPlace.com, host of The Prosperity Show Podcast, and author of the award-winning book Build Your Money Muscles: Nine Simple Exercises for Improving Your Relationship with Money. Joan is known for her insightful understanding of the connection between money and emotions and how family-of-origin experiences affect a person's business, financial and life outcomes.

The Life of an Entrepreneur

Are you interested in the life of an entrepreneur? In this episode, I touch on the reality of becoming an entrepreneur. It's definitely not for everyone.

From an external perspective, the idea of being an entrepreneur looks desirable. Freedom to pursue your interests and passions. Be your own boss and make a handsome living in the process. But is it for you.

I share some symptoms that might be a good indication that it is indeed a path for you and also some thoughts on how to get started.

The Tangled Tree with David Quammen

In this interview, I speak with David Quammen about his newest book The Tangled Tree. David lives a fascinating life travelling the world as a journalist and author - his interests lay in the fields of science, history and evolution.

In The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life David uncovers how molecular biology and how it can change our understanding of evolution and life's history. The crux of this discussion is Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) - the movement of genes across species lines. It challenges Darwinism and the traditional view that genes are passed along via heridity and instead can move sideways through viral infection.

At times it's all a little over my head but certainly taught me a thing or two about molecular science and sure did get me thinking. I hope you enjoy my conversation with David Quammen.

In this book, Dr Dan Ariely, A professor of behavioural economics at the Duke University uncovers why humans are predictably irrational. Every day we are responsible for making numerous decisions and what Dan was intrigued by is that despite our assumption that we are smart logical beings, we often make poor designs that don’t seem logical at all.

Often emotions become entangled in the decisions we have to make. We overvalue, we procrastinate, and we make the same poor decisions time and time again. From his perspective, it seemed humans are highly irrational, hence his research behind this book.

Enjoy this week's book reflection @ The Hidden Why.

Emotional Intelligence

Today's featured guest is Sam Alibrando.

The topic is "Emotional Intelligence."

Let the show begin.

Guest Bio

Sam Alibrando, PhD, is an organizational consultant, psychotherapist, author, teacher, workshop facilitator, collaborative mediator, and executive coach. He has worked on the three-dimensional model for nearly 35 years and has taught it to thousands of people. He is currently an assistant professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where he teaches executive coaching.

Spirituality

What is spirituality?

The subject of spirituality is sometimes a difficult one to navigate. It can be misunderstood, confused as a religious pursuit and associated with people that are a little bit “out there” in how they live their life.

I believe that to walk a spirituality is fundamental in living a purposeful and happy life. A spiritual path in life is available to all humankind. It is out a connection to life. In this episode, I speak about spirituality and how we can learn to walk a spiritual path.

Fearvana - Turning Fear into Happiness

After overcoming drug addiction, post traumatic stress disorder, and alcoholism that pushed him to the brink of suicide, Akshay has dedicated himself to a path of mastery and service.

Today, he is a US Marine veteran, ultra-runner, explorer, speaker, entrepreneur and author of the book - Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear Into Health, Wealth and Happiness.

“Fearvana inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences and find the positive side of our lives.” The Dalai Lama

Revisionist History Podcast by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of Five New York Times bestsellers. He is a journalist for the New Yorker and prior to that the Washington Post. He writes and speaks about the research and science in sociology, psychology and social psychology.

Within his works, he often examines the past - the history of ideas, events, people, cultures and how they have been misunderstood and how they impact our lives today. The Revisionist History is a podcast series dedicated to this curiosity.

Please enjoy this month's Podcast Reflection.