Pursuing Health

Niraj Naik is a professional musician and pharmacist turned holistic health and breathwork expert. He started his path in healing others, as a community pharmacist, yet after several years he found himself a patient with stress-related depression and ulcerative colitis. This was a wake-up call that made him embark on a journey of profound self-healing and education. He created a global community of heart-centered changemakers by founding SOMA Breath - the global breathwork and wellness movement with over 2000 certified instructors, and hundreds of thousands of students around the globe.

Known internationally as the Renegade Pharmacist, Niraj is dedicated to educating others on topics of holistic health, breathwork, meditation, and more. Niraj’s breathwork is advocated by some top names in wellness such as Ben Greenfield, Marisa Peer, Vishen Lakhiani, and Josh Trent of Wellness Force Radio and his techniques are currently being studied by leading neuroscientists at Cambridge University.

In addition to the global breathwork and wellness movement, Niraj has created many other brands related to health and healing and was featured in articles from multiple news outlets across the world as well as hundreds of podcasts.

You can connect with Niraj via Instagram. @nirajnaikofficial DM the word ‘BREATH’

Related Episodes:

Ep 223 - Tapping to Reduce Stress with Nick Ortner

Ep 286 - Music for Healing: Barry Goldstein

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Dr. Wayne Jonas is a practicing family physician, an expert in integrative health, and a widely published scientific investigator. In addition to his medical practice, he has served as President, CEO, and Executive Director for Samueli Integrative Health Programs, Director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, and Director of the Medical Research Fellowship at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.  Dr. Jonas is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Corps of the United States Army and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Drawing on his experience from leading hundreds of research studies, Dr. Jonas authored the book How Healing Works, in which he explains the biology of healing and the science behind the discovery that 80 percent of healing can be attributed to the mind-body connection and other naturally occurring processes.  His goal is to change the way doctors and patients approach healthcare—away from a disease treatment model to an integrative system that incorporates the best of evidence-based conventional, complementary and self-care approaches.  Dr. Jonas’s advice can help us facilitate our own innate ability to heal after both minor and major medical incidents, changing how we consume healthcare, and enabling us to be more in control of our recovery and lasting wellness.

You can connect with Dr. Jonas via Instagram. @drwaynejonas

Related Episodes:

Ep 99 – Dr. Axel Pflueger on Fighting Chronic Disease with Fitness

Ep 109 – All About Functional Medicine with Dr. Elizabeth Bradley, Medical Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng is the department head of critical care at The Ottawa Hospital. He dedicates his time to care for the sickest of the sick patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).  As a researcher, he is interested in using ICU resources more efficiently and improving access to palliative care in the ICU. To help do this, he founded the Resource Optimization Network, a multidisciplinary research group working to reduce health spending in this area without compromising care. In September 2019 Dr. Kyeremanteng launched his ever-growing podcast “Solving Healthcare with Kwadwo Kyeremanteng. '' These podcasts feature interviews and discussions on the topic of improving healthcare delivery in Canada. Underpinned by the values of cost-effectiveness, dignity, and justice, these podcasts will challenge the status quo, leaving no stone unturned as we explore gaps, assumptions, and different perspectives in the pursuit of finding solutions to problems in Canada’s healthcare system. During the COVID 19 Pandemic Dr. Kyeremanteng created ‘Solving Wellness’ a virtual health & wellness platform for health care professionals. ‘Solving Wellness’ has been helping address health care burnout and providing health, fitness and self care for its members.

You can connect with Dr. Kyeremanteng via Instagram @kwadcast

Related Episodes:

Ep 168 - Avoiding the ICU + Racism in Medicine with Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng

Ep 143 - We Work Until It’s Done: Caity Henniger on Rogue Fitness and its Response to COVID-19

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Barry Goldstein’s musical experience spans many styles and genres from co-producing the Grammy Award winning track” 69 Freedom special” with Les Paul for Best Rock Instrumental in 2005, to providing ambient music for Shirley MacLaine. In addition, He has composed and produced music for television, film, major record labels and top ten recording artists.

Barry’s music is being used in hospitals, hospices, cancer centers, and medical practices. In addition, Barry has worked with the “Father of Biohacking” Dave Asprey and reached the Billboard Top Ten New Age albums with New York Times Best Selling Authors Dr. Joe Dispenza, Dr. Daniel Amen, Neale Donald Walsch, and Anita Moorjani. His bestselling book “The Secret Language of the Heart” has become a “go to” manual for utilizing music beyond art and entertainment. It provides over 50 groundbreaking studies that assist the reader in using music to improve their health and quality of life.

You can connect with Barry via Instagram @barrygoldsteinmusic and his website, www.barrygoldsteinmusic.com

Related Episodes:

Ep 263 - Resilience, Recovery + Performance with Kristen Holmes

Ep 149 - The Science of Spontaneous Healing with Dr. Jeffrey Rediger

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Christina Prevett, PT, PhD and Alexis Morgan, PT, DPT are pelvic floor physiotherapists who lead the Pelvic Division at the Institute for Clinical Excellence.  Together, they work to help other physiotherapists empower their pregnant and postpartum athletes to safely continue strength training via online and live courses across North America.

Christina recently completed her PhD at the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University, and she holds a Masters of Physiotherapy.  She also helps create programming for pregnant and postpartum athletes via The Barbell Mamas.  Christina is a national level weightlifter, who competed in powerlifting and olympic weightlifting meets within 6 months of giving birth to her daughter. She has also completed the CrossFit Open while pregnant twice!

Alexis is a clinical practitioner and co-owner of Onward Physical Therapy in Hendersonville, TN with her husband.  In her practice, she works with individuals interested in improving their pelvic health, utilizing and applying the latest research. As a CrossFit Level 2 trainer, Alexis is dedicated to fitness; you can find her exercising at the 4pm class at CrossFit Hendersonville.

You can connect with Alexis & Christina via Instagram. @alexismorganpt, @christina_prevett, & @icephysio

Related Episodes:

Ep 83 - Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes with Dr. Julie Wiebe

Ep 179 - Half His Size: Physical Therapist Alan Fredendall on Losing 200 Pounds and Introducing Patients to CrossFit

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Mark England is a TEDx speaker and co-founder and head coach of Enlifted. He has been researching, coaching and presenting on the power of words and stories for the past 15 years. Mark holds a Masters degree in education and was an elementary school P.E. teacher before getting into personal development.  Through his coaching program and his public speaking engagements, Mark gives athletes and professionals the tools they need to translate their inner conversations to take control of their lives and perform their best.

You can connect with Mark via his website, his podcast,  or Instagram @enliftedcoaches, and you can listen to his TEDx talk here: Identity vs. Process: Reinterpreting Failure.

Related Episodes:

Ep 262 - Upgrade Your Language with Mark England

Ep 260 - Tiny Habits to Create Behavior Change with BJ Fogg, PhD and Stephanie Weldy, MEd

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Feeroozeh Saghafi is a two-time CrossFit Games athlete who made her individual debut at the 2019 CrossFit Games.  She’s currently gearing up for her second appearance this August in Madison.  She has also made multiple appearances on the Regional and Sanctional stage both as an individual and team athlete.

Fee’s rise to the elite level is remarkable.  When she first started attending CrossFit classes, she had no aspirations of competing; she was looking to lose weight and surround herself with a healthy community.  As she began consistently attending classes, she grew to love how strong and powerful she felt, and she was inspired by seeing other elite athletes.  A competitive fire was born.  For several years Fee trained alongside Scott Panchik at CrossFit Mentality, and recently she has moved to Florida to train with Brute Strength.

You can connect with Fee via Instagram. @fee.saghafi

Resources:

• Lycam Fitness Feroz barbell will be available after the CrossFit Games here with proceeds benefiting Buddy Strong Academy

Related Episodes:

Ep 115 - Becoming a CrossFit Games Athlete: Feeroozeh Saghafi & Erin Vandendriessche

Ep 18 - Scott Panchik and his Father on Running an Affiliate, Competition, and Recovering from Injury

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Will Moorad is a four-time CrossFit Games athlete with a career spanning a decade.  This August, he heads back to Madison to compete in his 5th CrossFit Games.

In 2017, after being mis-diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, Moorad was forced to take a break from the sport.  When he returned to competition in 2019, he achieved his highest-place position on the Games leaderboard to date, finishing 10th overall.

Moorad is also a patient of Wild Health, a genetics-based personalized medicine practice he uses to help optimize his performance.  He trains out of CrossFit East Nashville with PRVN Fitness.

You can connect with Will via Instagram. @willmoorad

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every week.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Meet Megan, also known as The Savage Meglet. Megan is a force to be reckoned with, known for her grit, determination, resilience, and perseverance. As a lifelong athlete playing two Division 1 sports, field hockey and track, Megan had her sights set on her next athletic pursuit - a calm 80mph sled ride experiencing 5Gs of force going head first with her chin off the ice, representing Team USA and the Army World Class Athlete Program for over a decade.

However, Megan's dreams were put on hold when she was diagnosed with life-threatening blood clots and was told she'd never be an athlete again. But instead of giving up, Megan chose to tell a different story. She battled back to become a multiple World Championship team member, a 2x Track Record Holder, and ranked as high as 8th in the world. She was also the fastest pusher in the United States and #1 in the United States for many years and a 2022 Olympic Alternate.

Now, Megan is pursuing sport psychology, where she helps athletes harness their inner power by changing the story they tell themselves and harnessing the power of consistency and habits. Megan is a true inspiration to all who know her, and her story serves as a reminder that anything is possible with hard work, self belief and determination.

You can connect with Megan via Instagram. @thesavagemeglet

Related Episodes:

Ep 52a - Tia Clair Toomey on Realizing Her CrossFit and Olympic Dreams and Finding Confidence

Ep 262 - Upgrade Your Language: Mark England

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every week.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Colleen + Jason Wachob are the co-founders and co-CEOs at mindbodygreen, the leading independent media brand dedicated to well-being with 15 million monthly unique visitors. They in Miami, Florida, with their two girls, Ellie and Grace.

Colleen graduated from Stanford University with degrees in international relations and Spanish. She spent ten years working at Fortune 500 companies including Gap, Walmart, and Amazon before devoting her life’s work to mindbodygreen. Colleen has been a speaker at Fortune 500 companies and numerous trade conferences on well-being trends. Her new passion that brings her joy is pickleball.

Jason is the host of the popular mindbodygreen podcast and the bestselling author of Wellth: How I Learned to Build a Life, Not a Resume. He has been featured in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, BoF, and Vogue, and has a BA in history from Columbia University, where he played varsity basketball for four years. In his spare time he loves walking to get hot black coffee.

You can connect with Colleen + Jason via Instagram @colleenwachob + @jasonwachob

You can purchase The Joy of Wellbeing here and wherever books are sold.

Related Episodes:

Ep 43 - Jason Wacob, Founder and CEO of mindbodygreen on Inspiration To Live Your Best Life

Ep 277 - The Science of Spirituality + Mental Health with Dr. Lisa Miller

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health every week.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.