Mettle Brain

Today's episode is with my husband, Ryan Miller. We are home! To give you an idea of timelines, governor Governor Newsom has just ordered a stay at home order to all CA residents. The situation around this Corona virus is a fluid one and constantly unfolding. I asked Ryan to sit down with me and share his thoughts on COVID-19, his story, and a few insights on life. I don't know anyone more well informed on global news than Ryan. He has a  background in political science, anthropology, and has a passion for travel which colors his already global perspective. Ryan has always been a news hound and at a time when there is so much information moving his insight has been a comforting one. 

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We often hear the value of keeping a journal. Great minds like Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Mark Twain, Oliver Sachs, and Frida Kahlo, to name a few, kept journals. My guest today, Allison Pond, shares a passion for maximizing the power of keeping a journal and writing in general. Allison Pond has a treasure trove of knowledge on expressive writing. Allison is certified in teaching expressive writing through the Therapeutic Writing Institute (T.W.I) and has held numerous workshops. She is here today to share some of her knowledge on how to use writing to gain deeper self realization and draw on our individual well of capacity. We end our interview with a few specific writing exercises including her own illustration of a two way dialogue with “money.” 
 

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In this short 13 minute M.M. (Morning Musing) episode, I share my thoughts about not identifying with the thinking mind. I share my favorite thought influencers on the mind and what experience I remember to empower myself when I am buying into thoughts that don't serve my best interests. How many times have you realized you were wrong when you really thought you were right? 

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In this short 13 minute episode, I share my thoughts about not identifying with the thinking mind. I share my favorite thought influencers on the mind and what experience I remember to empower myself when I am buying into thoughts that don't serve my...

Chances are you have heard of Roald Dahl, probably even read a few of his books. In today's Morning Musing I share a few insights that I have taken to heart from studying the life and works of Roald Dahl, did you know he's actually written 34 books?  In Dahl's last book, Billy and the Minpins published after his death, there is a particularly poignant last line, "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." In this episode I share just how easy it is to have a "been there done that" vantage point on life- I've caught myself falling into this death trap all too easily. This episode is geared to facilitate a reframe on the ordinary, fuel resilience, and hopefully recapture your interest in the beautiful life and work of Roald Dahl. 

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Today I am sharing the words of British philosopher Alain De Botton. Because of the busy holiday season and Christmas next week we discussed over e-mail. I am sharing his answers here in this short ten minute episode. I was fortunate to have stumbled onto Alain De Botton and his work years ago. His books cover subjects like love, travel, architecture, and literature. Botton is also one of the founders of the organization The School of Life. The School of Life is just what it claims to be, a school of life. It is a rigorous idealogical organization intended to help you with the important things that you were never taught to handle in school. His novel A Course of Love and Essays on Love I particularly love. Listen to the episode to hear his answer (via e-mail) of what helps give him mettle, his call to humanity, and something to keep in mind on the subject of boundaries. 

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This episode is with anesthesiologist Dr. Rachel Allen. In this episode we compare mutual life notes and learn from one another. We cover ground on topics like awareness, consciousness, the brain, how to create space in the mind to see who we really are and how we can differentiate from the not self narratives we buy into. Rachel discusses the dynamic at play in one's own mind in the thought process "this isn't who I want to be". Rachel encourages looking at that, "Wait, if "this" isn't who I want to be who's "I" and who's "This?" It's different." Rachel shares why that distinction is paramount and how to lengthen that brief moment in time to better grasp who you yourself are. In the last 15 minutes of our interview Rachel and I discuss the clinic, Satori, she's opened with her husband Scott Allen who is also an anesthesiologist.  Satori is the buddhist term for sudden enlightenment. Their clinic offers ketamine injections to heal anxiety and depression, as well as lidocaine administered intravenously for nerve pain. 

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In this episode I sit down with M.F.T. Kelly Faust McCann. We discuss the value religion played in her life, specifically the Mormon faith. As a therapist Kelly has helped many people through their faith transitions. Kelly shares a profound analogy derived from Buddhism that significantly helped her shift and transcend. We discuss the idiomatic expression: "don't throw the baby out with the bath water" in which something good, albeit sacred, is thrown out when trying to get rid of something bad.  Kelly describes what that means to her in reference to her journey no longer being a participating Mormon. Kelly shares her building blocks to greater meaning and purpose in her life including: prayer, community,  humility, and faith. 

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Jared and Erin are the creators of Mozz Artisan Pizza. In this episode we discuss their story, Mozz, and Jared's unique story overcoming a heroine addiction. Jared is one of the lucky few that have been able to thrive after being on the other side of a dabilitating heroine addiction. Jared shares his story overcoming some serious low points, i.e. robbing a bank - via note. Jared is the first person to describe his story as "absurd" but as he so poignantly points out in our interview he could either, "drown himself in shame or be grateful and forgive". We discuss how to remember that the past isn't more powerful than the present. Erin, Jared's wife and fellow owner in Mozz shares her insight on self awareness and what she's learned from Jared's addiction and how it's transformed her life. Be sure to not miss their excellent communication advice in the last ten minutes! 

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Today's episode is with Joanie Sprague, host of 'The Little Bit' podcast. We discuss getting out of the cycle of poverty, the privilege of beauty, and living life with integrity. Joanie shares a little about her experience teaching women of all ages how to use power tools in her once a month class in Huntington Beach. Joanie opens up about lessons she's learned, what she's always held onto in every stage of her life, as well as some fascinating stories from her time working as a world renowned model. 

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