Life's Essential Ingredients

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Joyce Mikal Flynn – Founder and Originator of MetaHab

 Where You Can Find Joyce:  Her website is www.drjmf.com Instagram @dr.jmf , Email is [email protected]

 About the Guest: Dr. Mikal-Flynn received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco, a Nurse Practitioner Certificate from the University of California, Davis, and her Master’s of Science in Nursing at Sacramento State University, publishing the thesis: “A Phenomenological Investigation of Near-Death Event Survivors.” She completed herDoctor of Education with a dissertation entitled: “Transforming Life Crisis: Stories of Metahabilitation After Catastrophic Life Events.”  

A marathoner and triathlete, in 1990 she survived a sudden-death event requiringtwenty-two minutes of CPR to return to life. Already a nurse practitioner and dismayed at the focus of her recovery and what was presented in the aftermath of her trauma, her mind emphasized the negative, painting a bleak future. However, her master’s and doctoral research focused on posttraumatic growth (PTG) and she created a strength-based clinical pathway guiding survivors toward a productive recovery and PTG. Her first book was Turning Tragedy Into Triumph: Metahabilitation: A Contemporary Model of Rehabilitation, which profiled survivors and detailed a pathway toward PTG. Her work and research continue involving how trauma affects families and communities and recognizing how they experience PTG. A Professor at CSUS, she speaks nationally and internationally on trauma, focusing on resilience and PTG. With multiple publications, her work and research continue to provide strength and hope for those who suffer in the aftermath of trauma.  Her second book Anatomy of a Survivor: Building Resilience, Grit, and Growth After Trauma just released April 27th.   
TOTD: 

To be ‘in charge’ is certainly not only to carry out the proper measures yourself but to see that everyone else does so too.  Florence Nightingale

Please enjoy this episode of Life's Essential Ingredients!  Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Where You Can Find Linden:  Her website – www.mermaidsinmotion.com, YouTube is mermaidsinmotion, Instagram – @mermaidlinden.
About the Guest: Linden is a pioneer of the exploding mermaid trend that shows no signs of slowing down. With well over 50 Million video views on her YouTube Channel and her own top-selling signature line of monofins with Body Glove, Linden is arguably the most successful “entrepremermaid” in the world. 

Featured alongside ocean legend Dr. Sylvia Earle in ELLE magazine, interviewed on ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, BuzzFeed, The Today Show, Discovery Shark Week, Inside Edition, NPR, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Huffington Post, Real Clear Life, Fast Company, Fortune, CNBC, Entertainment Weekly and The Undersea Journal to name a few, her story has compelled journalists from all over the world to cover her work in more than 30 languages and 80 countries. 

Over the course of her self-created career as a professional mermaid for the better part of two decades, Linden has spent the better part of her life truly living ‘the life aquatic.’ This real-life mermaid who has a passion for ocean “edutainment” is sharing the magic of our blue planet with anyone who crosses her path. Linden travels the globe in search of unique underwater habitats, unusual creatures and is addicted to the beauty and mystery of the big blue. Finding creative ways to share her love of the sea with others, she rarely swims with two legs. She prefers the aid of her 50-pound silicone prosthetic tail which propels her through the water at remarkable speeds, or one of the monofins she designed for Body Glove. A skilled freediver, she can hold her breath for an astounding 5 minutes, and dive to over 115 feet down and back up on a single breath of air.

Linden has found herself surrounded by dozens of sharks at 50 feet down on a single breath - with no mask and no air tanks in the Bahamas, danced with manta rays at night in Hawaii, and been enveloped by millions of non-stinging golden jellyfish in Palau’s infamous jellyfish lake. She has dived with minke whales and mola mola fish in the pelagic open ocean, been dwarfed by aggregating whale sharks in the Caribbean and mingled with pods of dolphins and sea lions in the Sea of Cortez. She has been circled by 5 Great White Sharks while cage diving in Guadalupe....with a tail on, of course! All of these experiences are captured on film and video, which Linden shares in the form of mini-documentaries for children on her YouTube channel. She has done underwater modeling and pro in-water stunt doubling for films, TV and commercials and has appeared as a mermaid in various feature films and music videos.

Linden is on the board of directors of Reef Check Foundation, a non-profit which monitors the health of our world’s coral and rocky reef systems in an effort to conserve and protect them (will come back to this). She co-branded in 2012 with Body Glove International and designed her own signature line of child and adult swim products, which can be found in the world’s largest retailers including Wal-Mart and Amazon. She is also a co-host for The DeeperBlue Podcast, the official podcast of the world’s most popular diving website. Linden has a Bachelor of Science in Film and Environmental Science from Emerson College, is a PADI Master SCUBA Diver, AIDA International Freediving Judge and US Team Coach, with a 20-year background in ocean conservation and education through visual storytelling and live performance.

TOTD: 

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl

Incredible episode, thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Christine is a Nurse Practitioner with the Neurocritical Care team at UCDMC.   Christine has only been in the nursing/medical profession for 10 years but during that time, has accomplished 50 plus years of achievements.   Christine gets after it!!! And the patients and staff at UCDMC are better for it.
Not only does Christine manage other NP's at work, she recently gave birth to her first child.   Christine has an appreciation of her new role and is embracing the opportunity to slow down and enjoy each moment with her family.
In this episode, we discuss Christine's journey from nursing school, to achieving her NP, and her most recent achievement - the birth of her son.   Please enjoy this episode of Life's Essential Ingredients.   Thanks for listening.

Send us Fan Mail

About the Guest: Cristina Zenato is the Director of Training at Underwater Explorers Society, Founder of People of the Water (501c3 whose mission is to widen the conduction and distribution of training, education, research, in relation to water, ocean, and environmental issues), she is experienced working with different species of shark in the wild with specialization in safely handling Caribbean Reef Sharks (hold up… did I just say, safely handling…got to watch an incredible video of Cristina called THE SHARK DANCER), PADI Course Director and Author PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors -, extensive background in cave and technical diving (most of which she donates her time to the Bahamas National Trust), active member of Women Divers Hall of Fame, Youth Educator, & Personal Development Speaker and literally countless honors and awards… we gots to get on with the show.  Cristina also speaks 6 languages, she has accomplished 8000 + dives, 1600 + shark feeding dives, 600+ cave dives, 1000+ mixed gas dives and has been in countless moves, videos, and photoshoots.

TOTD: “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”  Albert Camus

In this episode Cristina discusses:
SEASPIRACY – 
Essential Teacher/Mentor – Ben Rose   
Ampullae of Lorenzini – electroreceptor cells that are jelly filled pores around the animals nose and mouth that when rubbed induce a relaxed state
Taking out her first hook of a sharks mouth
70% of the earth’s surface is water, ocean soaks up the earths heat and redistributes via the Great Ocean Conveyer Belt, the ocean absorbs at least 30% of Carbon Dioxide, in order to do so, THE CHAIN OF NATURE needs to be protected … and many other incredible thoughts and insight.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the show.

Send us Fan Mail

About the Guest: Born and raised in the Chicago.   Sejal received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from University of Illinois at Chicago and her JD from Northern Illinois. In 2000 she moved to the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area and embarked on her law career.  17 years experience in employment law and during that time, uncovered a need for proactive and relevant workplace training programs.  Sejal created experiential workshops tailored to bringing the courtroom to the training room, focusing on engaging her clients with stories, as opposed to checklists.  Sejal believes we need to address the root cause of workplace incivility.  Founder of Trainxtra, Chief Civility Officer, Legal Training Ninja, TEDx Speaker, and most importantly, Master Juggler.  Sejal is passionate about reducing bullying and harassment – unfortunately Sejal was bullied and ridiculed growing up because she was different –  which pushed her to the margins.  Sejal used that pain to create cultures that see and value all people.  Sejal speaks three languages, has an 8 year old son and is honored to be his MOM.

Where You Can Contact Sejal - [email protected] and https://trainxtra.com.
TOTD: A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.  Amelia Earhart 
In this episode Sejal discusses:
Best thing about being at home with her son
Essential Ingredients in her life at this time  
The importance of self-awareness
Civility 
Unconscious Bias
Inclusive behavior and rewiring our brain to make the world better…
Accountability
Light the Fuse - Sejal suggests to be vulnerable and encourages listeners to create a strong support network.
Thanks for listening and enjoy the show.

Send us Fan Mail

About the Guest: Born and raised in Berkeley, CA by his incredible mother who valued hard work and education.   Dre listened well and received his Bachelor’s degree from Occidental College, kept listening to his mom and received his Master’s in Counseling from Long Beach State and is still listening to his mom because he is in process of getting his Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from Touro University.   Dre wears many hats but the one he most favors is that of father to his beautiful and energized daughter Mia (7).  Dre is an accomplished cook and makes a mean bowl of gumbo (so I hear), Dre loves people and storytelling, but most of all Dre is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young people, specifically, the amazing students of Sacramento City College.   Currently, Dre is the Dean of Campus Interventions at Sac City Campus. Dre is an engaging speaker and has delivered hundreds, if not thousands of meaningful, thought provoking, inspiring, and informative presentations.  Dre is in the best way possible, “A MOVER AND SHAKER” = someone who gets it done!  Dre has received countless awards throughout his career (Employee of the Year, Innovative Program Award, Graduate Rising Star Award, and my favorite, BEST DEAN of COUNSELING award presented by Jeff Christian and Wendy Gomez.  

Where You Can Contact Andre – [email protected]

TOTD: If you want the cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important – and you do that by being genuine and humble.  Nelson Mandela
The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.  Bob Marley

In this episode Andre discusses:
Best part of being Mia’s dad during COVID
Dealing with challenges
Mentor who was influential and how to ask to be mentored
Tool box of skills
Pivotal moment – the internship moment
What can parents do to support their children in returning to school
What can parents do to support their children’s teacher in returning to school
Education – setting the bar high – expectations for students to meet the challenge as well as supporting students to meet the challenge – goes hand in hand.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco - 
CEO of People Building, Incorporated, Host of What Are You Made Of podcast (on the top 100 list), performance coach, author, public speaker, visionary, thought leader, people builder, mortgage and real estate expert, entrepreneur, finance leader, story teller, believer of helping people turn setbacks into opportunity.  C Roc is married to his beautiful wife Jennifer and has two amazing children Nicolas and Sophia and currently resides in Ocean City, Maryland. 

TOTD – Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. You playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.   Marianne Williamson

In this episode C-Roc discusses the following:
"Sticking to your GUNS"
Impact of growing up in a broken home
Using life's challenges as opportunities
The importance of self-care, surrounding yourself with great people, and being proactive in anticipating adversity
C-ROC defines success and impact, as well as the joy and challenges of married/family life
C -ROC makes a huge impact on me to highlight the importance of INVESTING in SELF.  
C-ROC brings great energy, is heartfelt, sincere, and wants each and every last person to BE RELENTLESS IN LIVING TO THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.   Thanks for listening to another episode of LIfe's Essential Ingredients.

You can find C-ROC here: @mikeycroc, [email protected], Facebook @mikeciorrocco, www.mikecroc.com and to purchase his new book ROCKET FUEL please go to www.mikecroc.com/book.  Thanks C-ROC!

Send us Fan Mail

About the Guest: Jae Taft, Hooper, healer, inspirer, bucket filler, hope dealer, youtuber, influencer, believer in God and of all people, daughter, sister, friend, and someone who is undefined.

Jae has a huge heart and a passion to help women be seen and heard.   Jae is a high school basketball coach who uses LOVE, VULNERABILITY, & CREATIVITY as her coaching foundation.  Jae is faith based and is driven by the WORD.   Jae journals, uses daily affirmations, and surrounds herself with a COMMUNITY of positive people.

TOTD: “No matter where you are in life, inspire and empower the women around you.  Success is never reached alone.  And, wisdom and wealth are sweeter shared.”  Mizzfit

YouTube – Starting making and posting videos in 2015.   Content is about life: Not Giving Up, Believing in Yourself, Being Raised by a Single Mother, Being Coached by Your Dad, Developing Your Best Self, Empowering Your Self and Others… 

Podcast – US Girls Basketball – real players, real women, real stories… 

Jae has raised money for basketball shoes for players in the Florida area who don’t have the necessary supplies to play the game.   If you are interested in helping, please reach out to jae via Instagram @jaetaftxoxo.  Jae is an inspiration for young women and this episode provides insight into her blessed life.  Enjoy the show!

Where You Can Find Jae:  Instagram & Twitter – @jaetaftxoxo, YouTube – Jae Taft, US GIRLS BASKETBALL Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

About the Guest: Dr. Jeff Williamson, Founder and Author of “The Power of 168”, Gallup-certified Strengths Coach, Mentor, and People Developer.  Jeff is the Executive Director of Corporate Engagement at Olivet Nazarene University, A faculty member in the Doctorate of Ethical Leadership Program, CMG Group Founder, Strengths Evangelist, Founding Member and Investor of SOAR – connects coaches to clients.  Jeff has held other leadership positions with several other universities.
Jeff received his Bachelor’s Degree from ONU, Masters in Speech Communication from Ball State, Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, Certificate of Fundraising Management from IUPUI and finally his post doc work in marketing from The Ohio State University.
Jeff is on several nonprofit boards, is married going on 32 years, has three beautiful adult children. 

TOTD: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglia

In this episode Dr. Williamson coaches Mike through his role of head boy’s basketball coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School.  Dr. Williamson shares the inspiration behind his new book “The Power of 168” as well highlights how to take action toward living your values.  Not to be missed is Dr. Williamson’s advice for selecting a coach, the prices for coaching, and the ins and outs of why we all need a coach.   Dr. Williamson also shares his dream of hosting a Strengths week at a dude ranch in Montana.   I signed up Tex Sestich (Mike) as the first guest.   We shared lots of laughs and gained tremendous life insight in this fun episode of Life’s Essential Ingredients.   Thanks for listening!

Where You Can Find Jeff:  coachmentorguide.com, soar.com.

Send us Fan Mail

I had the good fortune of coaching this amazing young lady when she was in high school.   Words to describe Brandi include: dedicated, loyal, hard working, genuine, authentic, beautiful, talented, nurturing, happy, fun, playful, servant leader, a Believer, athletic, and hero.

When thinking about the TOTD for Brandi, I had a hard time picking one and picking the one that spoke to me.   So I said, forget it and listened to my heart.   Brandi’s thought of the day is an original quote from me, “The light of who you are touches the heart and soul of all who feel its warmth.”

In this episode (which I suggest you watch on YouTube) Brandi shares:

·      Process of becoming who she is today

·      Developing her best version of her current self

·      How BALANCE is her key ingredient

·      The 6 F’s of her life

·      The love and joy she feels as a mom

·      The love of her husband

·      How she wants to deepen her Faith

·      How she wants to be remembered as a good mom, wife, and person.

 Brandi is one of the most genuine people I have ever met and you don’t want to miss this episode of Life’s Essential Ingredients.   Thanks for listening.