Lost or Found

Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in the world.  And it’s generally known that the power of medicine to relieve pain remains sadly inadequate. Dealing with chronic pain can wear a person down.  Oftentimes, people also experience frustration and mental health issues because of the pain.  People who suffer from chronic pain are three times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, and are twice as likely to be at risk for suicide.  Pain can affect all aspects of someone’s life.

Daniel Clauw has said in a 2019 lecture, there isn’t “any drug in any chronic-pain state that works in better than one out of three people.” He went on to say that nonpharmacological therapy should instead be “front and center in managing chronic pain — rather than opioids, or for that matter, any of our drugs.”

Our approach with chronic pain is mostly medications, specifically opioids. However, chronic pain patients require a multifactorial approach, but unfortunately, our approach is not necessarily multifactorial. Join us, as we talk with Dr. Lishanna Emmert about acupuncture as a treatment modality to help with chronic pain. You can find Dr. Emmert at Solis.care.

Christopher Greer joins the show today to continue our discussion on addiction.  Having worked in primary care, and as I continue to work in the hospital, I have witnessed so many people dealing with addiction. Those who struggle with addiction often hide it until it can’t be hidden anymore.  I’ve seen people in their worst state, and I would wonder if they had reached their rock bottom.  The truth is, no matter how bad the state – could be coma in a young person – you don’t know if they’ve reached that place where they finally choose their life.  Only they know.  And it’s really hard to see, witnessing someone’s demise because of addiction.  There is so much harm that’s done, not only to them, but also to the people who love them.  That’s why we continue to talk about hard topics on the show – because with learning and understanding, there can be a possibility for heathier choices and courage for something better.

Christopher Greer is a therapist in Santa Cruz, and he earned his Masters in Social Work.  He spent the last few years working at a local non-profit providing varying levels of support for people struggling with Substance Use Disorder, individuals with varying mental health disorders, and those who have been involved in the criminal justice system.  And he helps his clients with their mental health and well being, to consider the whole person.  You can find him at chrisgreertherapy.com.

On today’s show, Cierra Ryczek and I discuss The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  It was a New York Times Bestseller for almost a decade, and it is a timeless and inspiring book with many great lessons.  Everything we do is based on agreements we have made: agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life.  But the most important agreements are the ones that we make with ourselves.  Don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering.  Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, this amazing book offers a powerful way of thinking that can transform our lives.

Join us for a fun and upbeat conversation on this timeless classic!  Plus, Cierra is back on the show!  Love, Love, Love our discussions, as well as the unpredictability of our conversations!?!  You can also find Cierra’s lovely shop at  lumengal.com.

The psychologist Douglas LaBier believes all life forms have purpose, and we as humans feel a drive to define a purpose for our lives.  Maybe it’s okay to be comfortable just existing, not being aware of why we do things or behave as we do, but the drive to find meaning may also be essential to our human experience.  Your purpose is unique to you. Your purpose helps to create meaning in your life, and it offers a sense of direction guiding your path.  If you’ve ever wondered about purpose, join us in this interesting conversation with Chiara Woods!  She is a Mindset and Career Transition Coach, and host of The Soulicitor Podcast.  In her prior career, Chiara worked as a corporate lawyer, when her life changed in 2009.  Today, Chiara helps women who feel stuck in an unfulfilling career by helping them to overcome their fears, figure out what they want, and plan a life that they love.  You can find her at chiarawoods.com.

Meet Dr. Manas Kshirsagar: a board certified Ayurvedic doctor. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems: where the goal is to cleanse the body and to restore the balance to the body, mind, and spirit. He provides Ayurvedic consultations at his clinic in Santa Cruz, CA, and teaches both health professionals as well as the community how to care for one’s health and well-being.  Providing a holistic approach to medicine, his philosophy of healing revolves around diet, yoga, meditation, detoxification, nutrition, and effective stress management. Join us in this fascinating conversation. You can find Dr. Kshirsagar at ayurvedichealing.net.

Family Secrets. We all have them. And while family secrets can seem terrifying or traumatic, these discoveries also have the power to liberate, heal, and transform us. 

On today’s show, we have Yvonne Liu to talk about her life as an adoptee and childhood trauma survivor.  She is a freelance writer, who lives in Los Angeles, whose her Huffpost adoption essay was viewed over 1.5 million times in one week.  She has written multiple articles and essays, and is currently working on her memoir.  Her work has appeared in the NY Times, Newsweek, salon, and NBC News.  She had kept her family’s secret for over 60 years, and is now writing about it, telling her truth and her story. You can find her at yvonneliuwriter.com. Join us!

On today’s episode, we have Rabbi Eli Cohen on the show again to talk with us about Passover, as it brings up the powerful theme of redemption. The holiday commemorates freedom and justice for all.

Passover is centered around the retelling of the biblical story of the Jewish people being freed from slavery in Egypt.  The holiday is so rich in symbolism and meaning, as it incorporates themes of springtime, homeland, family, Jewish history, social justice, and freedom.  The central ritual of Passover is the Seder, which is a ritual packed feast with symbolic foods, intended to help the Jewish people relive God’s great redemptive act.  The overarching theme of Passover is redemption – the divine redemption of the Israelites for the understanding of God, divine morality, and ethics. 

I’m really honored to have Rabbi Eli back on the show, to talk with us about redemption and renewal, as we can all think about how we can celebrate our freedom and the profound meaning it has on all of our lives.  

You can find Rabbi Eli Cohen at cysantacruz.com.

We have a super fun conversation today, as Jonathan Miller is on the show to talk about healthful food.  He brings up the impact of globalization on food and how it’s changed how we eat.  It’s certainly a reminder how the convenience and availability of food doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for us.  And he describes to us what real eating is! I promise you, he’s going to inspire you such that you’re going to want to make more one pot wonders, for your health!

Jonathan Miller is a personal chef cooking for clients in the central coast area. He has been cooking healthful, vegetable-forward, seasonal food for over 15 years, and less healthful but still tasty food even longer than that! Though he claims his favorite bean is the Good Mother Stallard bean, it’s actually impossible to have a favorite since almost all beans are delicious!    

We live in a youth-obsessed society, that tells us our value declines as we get older.  Simply being alive implies growing older, but after a certain point, what may lie ahead becomes more real.  We may desire something that we can’t humanly have, as we are made to believe that our youthfulness is our ticket to remain relevant. Then, we might feel shamed for not better preserving that youth.  It’s exhausting.  And it’s merciless.  Instead of seeing aging as something to fight, what joys can we amplify to mitigate the losses of youth, so that we continue to embrace who we are?  

Join us for today’s conversation!  Connie Sobczak is here to share her thoughts on aging.  She is the founder of The Body Positive https://thebodypositive.org/.  Plus, Connie has authored two outstanding books – Embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and quiet that critical voice!) and The Wise Woman Guidebook.  You can also find her at conniesobczak.com. And check out her AMAZING TedX talkhttps://www.ted.com/talks/connie_sobczak_embracing_your_critical_voice_the_gateway_to_self_love