Rotary Wellness Wednesday's Podcast

Guest - Dr. Namonya Soipan - "Sexual Vitality and Wellness" Center for Sacred Dialogue 

Conversation Questions - These are for reflection and guidance only. The conversation takes on its own energy. We won’t get to all of the questions, yet useful for thinking in advance.

The first two are asked of each guest as you recall from your last time. Perhaps there are deeper insights present since your last time on air with us and your work with Virgin Islanders. 

1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise. 

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1. There are certain topics that are often challenging to talk about since they create strong responses based on our history and beliefs. These often include money, religion, politics and sex. Today we are going to have a thoughtful conversation about sex & sexual vitality. We will be mindful of our language use as this is a morning show and a wide range of persons listen in. So, Dr. Namonya, why is it hard for us to talk about sex, let alone sexual vitality?
2. What is sexual vitality and why does it matter for adults?
3. Share the benefits of sexual vitality that may be a surprise to some in the listening audience.
4. When we’re young we often think of ourselves as having limitless vitality and yet we are just beginning to understand who we are as an individuals which has a great impact on our sexual experiences. What are your thoughts?
5. Many persons, especially women have had experiences that are unhealthy, negative and or traumatic that have impacted perceptions of sex and vitality. Can you comment on that reality?
6. Gender and culture have a part to play in our perspectives on sexual vitality. Sexual vitality may mean something different to a man compared to a woman. Share your insights on this dynamic.
7. There is an assumption that persons in their 60’s, 70’s and beyond no longer have any sexual desire. Yes, the aging process and life stresses has a part to play in sexual vitality. What are your thoughts and guidance about aging and sexual vitality.
8. Can you share briefly the impetus for recently offering a workshop that you provided on the female orgasm?
9. How do wellness practices aide in increasing sexual vitality?
10. Are there foods, herbs, supplements that can help, especially for those who have chronic health problems?
11. What wellness services do you provide at the Center for Sacred Dialogue that may be of interest to members of the listening audience?
12. Share your contact information.

 Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening?

Guest- Ivelices Linares Thomas, Esq- CEO, Human Resources & Beyond,
A Strategic Human Capital Firm - “The Positive Benefits of a Healthy Workplace”

BREATHING PAUSE - October was domestic violence awareness month. But knowledge, insight and ability to stop this horrible reality of human control and abuse is every day. 

• Season of gratitude and Thanksgiving
• Focus on person you are most grateful for, what about that person, how they make you feel, treat you, teach you & love you 

Conversation Questions - These are for reflection in advance used for guidance only. The conversation takes on its own energy.

We ask these two questions of all guests.

1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise. 

 ______________________________________________________________________

1. Your background is in labor law. Talk about the role and importance of a work environment that adheres to health, safety and non discrimination laws.
2. What contributes to creating and maintaining a healthy work environment?
3. What is the role of supervisors in a healthy workplace?
4. What can employees do to maintain a healthy workplace?
5. Many of the persons employed in the Virgin Islands are in government or in small businesses. Please comment on the challenges present in those environments on a healthy workplace.
6. Stress has been a part of our recovery journey post Hurricanes Irma & Maria. How do healthy workplaces deal with stress on the individual and in the organization?
7. What is one thing that if done regularly can have a positive impact on the workplaces?
8. Caribbean culture is distinct and special. Based on your experiences how may culture contribute to a healthy workplace?
9. Many small businesses don’t have HR professionals to provide training, development and advancement. What can small businesses do to deal with this reality.
10. Many people spend more time at work than with their families. What are some signs that work vs family balance are out of balance?
11. What are the range of service that HR and Beyond provides?
12. Share your contact information for follow up after our conversation today..

 Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening?

Conversation Questions - These are for reflection in advance of our time on Wednesday. Used for guidance only. The conversation takes on its own energy.

The first two are asked of all guests.

 1.     What does wellness mean to you?

2.     What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise?

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1.     After two years post hurricanes Irma and Maria what is your biggest takeaway about your recovery & resilience as we move through this hurricane season? 

2.     Tell our listening audience what Eco-schools USA is and why is it now being implemented in the U.S.Virgin Islands?

3.     Why did you get involved? Describe your role as the USVI Coordinator.

4.     Please explain briefly the seven steps framework.

5.     What schools are included in the start of this initiative?

6.     I was struck by the step that describes integrating into the curriculum. I thought about the challenges and expectations that are put on teachers to have important content areas added/ integrated in the midst of a full plate. Please talk about that challenge. We had Tyler Rice recently on the show who talked about the Yoga in the Schools Program. Children need much and yet there is a finite amount of time to get it all done especially with mandated aspects of the instruction day. Your thoughts?

7.     What has the response to this program?

8.     What is most encouraging?

9.     What is most challenging?

10.  There is community component of the framework. What has worked in other US areas that are good examples of dynamic community involvement?

11.  Climate is changing, and we are feeling the destruction impacts as well as the subtle shifts. How can eco-schools be a vehicle / transformative initiative that meet that reality for the present and future?

12.  What are some tangible examples of the roll out of eco-schools VI?

13.  Are there any upcoming activities?

14.  How can the listening audience learn more and/ or get involved? Share your contact information.

 Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening?

Guest- Merla Phillips, Stroke Support Group Founder, Retired Nurse 
"Living a Full Life After a Stroke"

Conversation Questions - These are for reflection in advance of our time on Wednesday. Used for guidance only. The conversation takes on its own energy.

We love to ask these first two questions of all guests.

1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise. 

 ______________________________________________________________________

1. Let’s begin with a brief overview. What is a stroke? What impacts can it have on an individual?
2. As you are comfortable, please share with the listening audience what type of stroke you had and how your recovery is going.
3. You shared with me that you listen regularly to Wellness Wednesdays. How has the program been helpful to you?
4. Are there symptoms and signs that an individual should pay attention to?
5. Did your nursing background prepare you to be a patient?
6. What is a recovery plan like for a stroke survivor?
7. There is an emotional and psychological component of any illness of health challenge. What has surprised you the most about that part of the recovery process?
8. You started a stroke support group here in St Thomas, why?
9. Share some information about meeting time, frequency and what happens when the group meets.
10. Are there misconceptions or misinformation about strokes that would be helpful to address with the listening audience?
11. What can friends and family members do to be helpful for persona who are recovering from a stroke?
12. You shared with me that next week in October 29th is World Stroke Awareness Day. Is there any activity taking place in the VI to mark it’s observance?
13. Please share any contact information for follow up for the support group or to contact you.

Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening? 

Rotary Wellness Wednesday 10/16/19 Guest- Anya Stuart, Executive Director, Family Resource Center - “Increasing Awareness of Domestic Violence in the VI”

Conversation Questions - These are for guidance only the conversation takes on its own energy.

The first two are asked of all guests.

1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise. 

________________________________________________________________________ 

1. It’s been two years since Hurricanes Irma and Maria, what have you learned about yourself and its impacts as we move through this hurricane season.
2. You became the Executive Director after many years of working on behalf of women & families impacted by violence. Share briefly your journey from consumer to Exec Director.
3. What is domestic violence?
4. Please talk about the cycle of abuse?
5. What creates violence in a domestic environment?
6. Are there warning signs that are helpful to pay attention to when in a relationship?
7. How much of a issue is Domestic Violence in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
8. At times there has been concern that law enforcement doesn’t take these cases seriously. Please comment.
9. Talk about the cultural and for some religious beliefs that influence how an individual’s thinks about Domestic Violence?
10. Was there a spike in services after IRMARIA? Has that changed as we have moved into the recovery period?
11. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Why is it important to have a month devoted to increasing awareness?
12. Take Back the Night will occur on Thursday. Talk about the event and what inspired it and what will occur and why?
13. If someone is listening and is concerned or fearful for his or her safety what can that person do?
14. Share info about the range of other services provided at the Family Resource Center.
15. Any other upcoming activities that would be of interest the listening audience?
16. Please share your contact information.

Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening? 

Conversation Questions - These are for reflection and used for guidance only. The conversation takes on its own energy.

The first two are asked of all guests.

1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise.

1. It’s been two years since Hurricanes Irma & Maria, what have you learned about yourself and the impacts of creativity on the recovery journey?
2. Share with us the origins of the documentary Paradise Discovered: "The Unbreakable Virgin Islands".
3. Loss is a part of recovery even as we move forward. I read that your father had passed shortly before the island screening of the documentary. My condolences to you and your family. What was the impacts of his death on your resolve to share the documentary?
4. What has been the response to persons on island and Caribbean people in the states and Canada to your work?
5. Often traumatic experiences are buried in non verbal parts of ourselves. How has the film helped people to open up to those places?
6. “Don’t Be A Slave to Perception” I was intrigued by that statement by you. What does it mean?
7. Creativity and story telling is part of the heritage of the islands and African culture. Talk about how others can use story telling in ways that control personal narrative that can  affirm culture and bridge understanding across many divides.
8. What are your thoughts about Island Strong and the ways this can be a blessing and challenge for men.
9. What advice would you offer for those who want to explore a career in film and arts on a global stage?
10. How can someone watch the documentary?
11. What are other projects that you have coming in the future?
12. Please share contact information.

Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening?

Conversation Questions - These questions are for guidance only as the conversation takes on its own energy.

The first two are asked of all guests.

1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise. 

1. It’s been two years since Hurricanes Irma and Maria, what have you learned about yourself that is helpful as you move forward in the recovery process and through this hurricane season?
2. Let’s start with the basic question...what is yoga?
3. What are the benefits of regular yoga practice & lifestyle?
4. What role has yoga played in your life?
5. Why yoga in the schools? Talk about the history and goals.
6. What schools have been involved/ ages / grades?
7. You are a Caucasian male going into I would guess mostly school environments with majority students of color what has that dynamic been like?
8. This is a very Christian island please talk about responses to having yoga in the schools. There are some persons who have negative perspectives on yoga.
9. Share your experiences with how students initially react to the introduction of yoga and the changes that you observed.
10. Are there any programs in the states that have had positive impacts on student behavior, community, peace making, etc?
11. Describe some basic yoga movements, philosophies that one can try and integrate at home or at work.
12. Share contact information for Breath St. Thomas and for those who want to donate or get involved in the school program.

 Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening? 

Conversation Questions - These are used for guidance only. The conversation takes on its own energy.

The first two are asked of all guests.

1. What does wellness mean to you?
2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise. 

1. It’s been two years since Hurricane Irma & Maria what have you learned about yourself that is helpful as you move forward in the recovery process and through this hurricane season?
2. What is the ST. Thomas Long Term Recovery Group? Give some history and detail areas of focus. 
3. Do the other islands have a similar model for their long term recovery? Similarities &/or differences?
4. Has a similar entity existed from previous hurricanes? If not why now?
5. Are there stages of recovery? What does Long Term mean in time frames? Is there a finish line? Is the goal for you to be out of a job?
6. What is your overall assessment of how a typical Virgin Islander is recovering from Hurricanes Irma & Maria?
7. What are the most persistent areas of vulnerability or challenges that impact forward movement?
8. Do you interface with mostly non profits or mostly governmental entities or both?
9. What are you most proud of about the progress made since IRMARIA?
10. I attended a community event sponsored by the St. Thomas Long Term Recovery Group that brought a cross section of the community. It recognized the two year anniversary of IRMARIA. Talk about that event and the role of community engagement.
11. What are ways that the public can get involved in the Long Term Recovery Group?
12. It is personally gratifying to see you leading in the Virgin Islands. There has been a gap in tapping millennial's to use their gifts & talents and expertise to support the forward movement of the VI. What are your thoughts about leading in the VI?
13. Are there any upcoming activities to share with the listening audience?
14. As hurricane season continues what’s your message to the public, parents & children?
15. Please share contact information.

 Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening? 

Guest: Dr Carolyn Clansy Miller, 
Clinical Psychologist/ Ashar Counseling and Psychological Services 

Conversation Questions; These are for guidance only the conversation takes on its own energy. We begin with the first two questions for all our guests.

1.     What does wellness mean to you?

2.     What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise?

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1.     As individuals and as a community we are all still recovering from Hurricanes Irma & Maria. Hurricane Dorian came our way and has devastated the Northern Bahamas. The anniversary of Maria is this week. It is indeed Hurricane season. Briefly share what you have learned about yourself that is helpful as you move forward in the recovery process and the start of hurricane season?

2.     Watching the images from Hurricane Dorian has been gut wrenching. What is PTSD? Persons use the term to describe a variety of reactions.

3.     Talk about the impact of imagery in our wellness and triggering our hurricane experiences.

4.     What have you observed in your clinical work in the progress persons have made since IRMARIA?

5.     What are individuals and families continuing to find most challenging?

6.     Let’s talk about traumatic experiences and the ways that persons can help themselves to possibly interrupt negative memories from becoming debilitating and ingrained in our brain structure?

7.     I realize that all challenging experiences are not traumatic. What makes the distinction for one person compared to someone else?

8.     Are there examples of community wide PTSD programs / interventions? I have heard individuals make those statements. How would that work. Is there basic information on PTSD that is helpful for all of us to know?

9.     Sometimes individuals need professional support? Please talk about the role and value of counseling / psychotherapy. How does it help?

10. The weather forecast indicated initially that Dorian was going to impact St. Croix. We in St Thomas were very surprised with the shift to hurricane status with the eye passing over us. What can help to manage the anxiety that gets creates from this reality? We hope that this was an exception and not anything more regular.

11. Can you share some in the moment strategies / tools to deal with in the moment arousal / distress from nature? Sort of like an internal hurricane preparation kit. What should be inside?

12. We have had a wide variety of guests on the show sharing wellness strategies for mind, body, and spirit. What are some ongoing wellness strategies / ways of living that you have seen to be very beneficial over the short and long term?

13. Please share your contact information and the range of services that are offered in your practice.

Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening? 

Conversation Questions for reflection in advance of our time on Wednesday. Used for guidance only. The conversation takes on its own energy.

We begin with the first two questions for all our guests.

1. What does wellness mean to you?

2. What do you do to support wellness in your life, especially given your training and expertise.

Since there will be three persons sharing I ask that you share ONE  word that captures your definition of wellness. In addition share ONE practice or thing that you do to support wellness in your life.

1. As individuals and as a community we are all still recovering from Hurricanes Irma & Maria. Hurricane Dorian came our way. The anniversary of Irma was last week. It is indeed hurricane season. Briefly share what you have learned about yourself that is helpful as you move forward in the recovery process and the start of hurricane season?

2. The theme song to start the show every week is Three Little Birds sung by Robert Nesta Marley. Yet may listeners may not have good factual / basic information about Rastafarianism. Let’s start there. What are the central beliefs and practices? 

3. What is a good estimate of the Rastafarian population in the VI?

4. How does a person become a Rastafarian?  As with other religions and belief systems there are typically study processes, rituals and a community that one is received into? Please help us to understand the process as it currently exists.

5. How long have you been practicing and living a lifestyle anchored in Rastafarianism? Why did you make that decision?

6. My understanding is that over the years "Rastas" have received discriminatory treatment in various ways in the VI. Share some specific ways that treatment of Rastafarians has been present in the VI?

7. From your perspective why did this exist and what has changed over time?

8. The role of cannabis plays a central role in the religious practices of Rastafarianism. From those on the outside there is a perception that smoking weed is escape / fun activity and not a religious practice. Talk about that stereotype and that assumption. 

9. Why does the Cannabis Council exist? What are its goals and objectives?

10. How does the legalization of marijuana impact the Rastafarian community?

11. Are there ways that the Rastafarian community will benefit economically from the expanding and evolving cannabis industry?

12. Share any concerns about others profiting off an herb that is an essential part of the community and culture?

13. There are many who have great concern about the availability of marijuana in the VI to teenagers and the impact it has on developing brains and ability to make good choices for the present and the future. Some say it’s a gateway drug. What are thoughts about this concern?

14. On the other side of this issue there are persons who have discovered the healing benefits of cannabis (CBD) for a wide range of health issues and challenges. Please comment on this reality as well.

15. Living a natural life anchored in the love of freedom, Africa, liberation, creativity and a lifestyle void of meat, and healing and wellness from herbs beyond cannabis are my own associations of Rastafarians that I have known throughout my life. If you agree with those tenets how does contemporary life create challenges for the deep embrace of some of those beliefs? If I’m off base please correct and expand.

16. Many in the VI love to go to Bordeaux for cultural expression, fresh produce, vegan  food and reggae music. Is that where the communal living of Rastafarians is best seen in the VI? What about on St John and in St Croix?

17. Share contact information for our listening audience about the council and any upcoming activities.

Closing thoughts or words of encouragement to the audience. What’s the take away for those who are listening?