Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we have extra special guest, Ivana
Miranda, where we discuss work-life balance as a busy professional, particularly in respect to working women.

Ivana H. Miranda is a Project Manager with the Department of Commerce and National Communications Chair for Federally Employed Women (FEW).  She brings experience from Human Resources, finance, sports marketing, communications, sales, and entertainment. With the motto, “mission critical does not equal boring,” she is known for interactive experiences and cost-saving strategies. She is an instructional designer, Distinguished Toastmaster, and earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Ivana was instrumental in chartering the FEW Bright Knights Chapter of FEW in 2015. She has served at the Chapter and Regional levels. In her spare time, Ivana loves karaoke, podcasts, and supporting the arts.

If you are wondering how you can balance a demanding job with family and other responsibilities while still having fun, this is the podcast for you. Best believe that many laughs were had with this one!

For more information on Ivana Miranda and FEW, feel free to visit her website at the following link: https://www.few.org/

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we are fortunate to have special guest, Dante Royster, where we discuss some of the common stressors people experience around finances, purchasing a home, making mortgage payments, and maintaining (atop a plethora of other fun bills). 

Dante Royster, a veteran mortgage broker and author of "The Ultimate Mortgage Guide," is dedicated to empowering lives through financial literacy. With over two decades of experience since his start in 2002, Dante attributes his success to lessons from his parents' nurturing upbringing. Despite challenges during the 2007 real estate collapse, he founded Full Court Services, learning resilience firsthand. Today, as the founder of Epic Mortgage, Dante coaches clients through the mortgage maze, prioritizing relationships over transactions. As a Regional Mortgage Broker licensed in multiple states, his mission is to make homeownership achievable for all, exemplified in his book and ongoing commitment to financial education.

Whether you already have a home, are leasing, or looking to make the big purchase; this podcast speaks to some important considerations while providing affordable strategies for those who might have otherwise doubted their ability to purchase a home. With a bit of planning, savings, and sometimes a bit of creativity; you can achieve your financial and real estate goals. 

For more information on Dante Royster and Epic Mortgage, feel free to visit his website at the following link: https://www.danteroyster.com/

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. This morning we are fortunate to have special guest, Nira Goyal, founder of Teen Mental Reset Inc., who is pioneering the pathway for other high schoolers interested in partaking in the work toward destigmatizing and advocating on mental health.

Nira is an incoming first year student at the University of Pennsylvania. She is an advocate of increased awareness around mental and emotional health. Seeing mental health issues in her personal extended family and in my fellow peers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, motivated Nira to start Teen Mental Reset Inc. to spread knowledge surrounding mental health problems that teens face and the proper resources available for teens through community activities and educational outreach. Nira has worked with organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, and the South Florida Behavioral Health Network. In the future, she hopes to become a psychiatrist in order to help patients with their mental health issues in a clinical setting.

Whether you are one interested in supporting adolescent mental health or curious as to how to broach the conversation, this episode is for you. For more information on Nira Goyal and Teen Mental Reset Inc., feel free to visit her website at the following link:

https://teenmentalreset.org/

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we are fortunate to have special guest, Dr. Anne Metz, where we discuss applicable considerations insofar as the use of psychedelics in clinical mental health. 

Dr. Anne Metz LPC has been a therapist, educator, and researcher for more than a decade. Originally from a military family in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Dr. Metz graduated with honors from the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar with a double major in Philosophy and Religious Studies in 2003. After a stint as a fashion model in Italy and the Netherlands, she returned to the US to pursue a career in media and worked as a reporter for an alternative newsweekly in Charlottesville from 2005-2009. 

In 2010, Dr. Metz enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at James Madison University in Harrisonburg and earned her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2019. During her PhD program, she received a research fellowship to study criminal justice reform at the University of Virginia School of Law. She also completed her clinical residency in emergency, inpatient, and outpatient settings. Dr. Metz has also completed training programs in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy through Fluence and MDMA-Assisted Therapy through MAPS.

Dr. Metz is licensed to practice counseling, psychotherapy, and supervision in several states, including New Mexico, Colorado, Virginia, California, and Oregon. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, ceramics, and hiking. You can follow her on Instagram @doctormetz or listen to her podcast The Psychedelic Skeptic wherever you get your podcasts.

Whether you have used psychedelics in the past or are curious as to their efficacy, this episode is for you. 

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we have special guest, Faust Ruggiero.  Faust A. Ruggiero’s professional career spans almost 40 years, and is diversified and compelling, as it has consistently established new and exciting cutting-edge counseling programs in its pursuit of professional excellence and personal life enhancement. 

He is a published research author, clinical trainer, and a therapist who has worked in settings that have included clinics for deaf children, prisons, nursing homes, substance abuse centers, inpatient facilities, major corporations, both national and international, and as the President of the Community Psychological Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania. In that capacity, he developed the Process Way of Life counseling program, and has developed it into a formal text presented in the Fix Yourself Handbook.

Upon graduating from Mansfield University in 1977, Mr. Ruggiero enrolled in the graduate program in Psychology at Illinois State University. There, with a dual major in clinical and developmental psychology, with a minor in research, he assisted in the publication of several research articles, including his thesis “The effects of prosocial and antisocial television programs on the cognitions of children”. In the summer of 2016, Mr. Ruggiero decided to develop the Process Life Program into a text that can be published, and would help people in need address the difficult situations that are affecting their lives. The Fix Yourself Handbook was completed in December of 2019. On February 1st, 2020, The Fix Yourself Handbook received the Silver Award from The Nonfiction Authors Association. On May 2, 2020, it received the Gold Award from Literary Titan. On September 1st, 2020, it received the Bronze Award from Reader's Favorite. He has appeared on television and radio shows, and podcasts discussing the Process Way of Life presented in The Fix Yourself Handbook both nationally and internationally. His radio show "Fix It With Faust" debuted in June of 2021. On June 8th, 2023, the second installment in The Fix Yourself Empowerment Series, The Fix Your Anxiety Handbook was published. It is also an award-winning publication. December 2023, the third installment was released “The Fix Your Depression Handbook”, also an award-winning publication.

Admittedly, this was a humbling interview for me. Faust has achieved over the past 40 years much of what I hope to in my own career, and it was affirming to find that we think so much alike in many ways. It was almost like interviewing a wiser, more articulate version of myself. I learned a lot, and I am hopeful you will, too. This one is definitely a must listen, as we delve into various topics of mental health including accountability, stepping outside of one's comfort zone, being tactfully direct with self and others, and so much more. 

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we have special guest, Dr. Trinaa' Copeland.  Beyond being a colleague and personal close friend of mine, Dr. Copeland is truly a helping professional in every sense of the term.  While many believe that their purpose lies in titles, position and monetary gain, Dr. Copeland knows her purpose is found in recreating and refining people. Serving as a catalyst of change for people who, many times, are at their darkest hour, is best known for her ability to walk others through the pain of their past so they can excel in their future. Working through a number of different facets and platforms, Dr. Copeland works diligently to engage, counsel, teach and supervise by helping others to develop and grow for evolving into a better version of themselves. Throughout this episode, Dr. Copeland shares some of her tips and tricks insofar as life lessons learned, ways individuals may maximize their life potential, potential barriers to success, and how to not only have fun but also proceed with confidence in most everything we do. Rest-assured, if you are looking for an energy boost this morning, this episode is the one for you! :-) 

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we have special guest, Dr. Shaquala Reese. Dr. Reese’s passion for helping people feel better inside and out led her to found "In Good Hands" in 2013. She has over 10 years of experience in chiropractic care and over 20 years in muscle therapy. Dr. Reese graduated from the National University of Health Sciences medical school in 2012 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Together, we highlight how interdisciplinary care may maximize the benefits of holistic treatment, as having the right specialist in the right place can truly make all the difference. Though not a mental health professional, per se, Dr. Reese focuses on the mind-body-spirit connection through her realm of healing. As we conclude the episode, we discuss considerations toward "caring for the caring professional." Especially for those who work in the capacity of helping others, they--too--can benefit from some additional support. In this respect, we bring it all together for another uplifting and mindful morning.

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we have special guest, Dr. Rita Rios: owner of Brazilian Lash Doctor & Brazilian Spa Suites, licensed aesthetician, celebrity lash guru, and breast cancer survivor. Dr. Rita is one I consider a friend, role model, and inspiration. During this episode, Dr. Rita shares some of her experience from her diverse roles while motivating others to be their best through even the most difficult times. Diagnosed with triple negative metastatic breast cancer, her light of hope became dampened, but through that experience and continuing to help others, she not only found her own cancer move into remission but that what she did to help herself cope would be the very thing to help so many others. Dr. Rita's story truly is a touching one, and hopefully listeners will find it as awe-inspiring as I have. 

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we have special guest, Leslie Urbas, who helps professional women defeat overwhelm, erase guilt, achieve optimal health, and reach their unattainable goals with ease. As one who "tells it like it is," Leslie shares from her personal and professional experiences various tips and tricks to move forward with life in a meaningful, healthy way by dispelling some of the common myths that are out there. I personally learned a lot throughout this interview and am hoping that listeners will as well. 

Welcome to "Mindful Mornings with Dr. Matt," where we explore the depths of mental wellness and personal growth. Today, we have special guest, Bryan Kuhn, a local musician, mental health advocate, and personal friend. In this week's episode, Bryan graciously shares his emotional journey encompassing music and mental health.  Together, we navigate the complexities of major depressive disorder, effective communication, coping through difficult times, and using music as a means of not only healing self but further connecting with others in a spiritually meaningful way.