SecondWind with Joyce

Vanessa Kahlon is the founder of Kahlon Family Services School, a nonprofit organization that provides education for (K-8) along with resources and support to families with strong willed children, that some would call 2E (twice exceptional).

Vanessa is an experienced caregiver who has dedicated the past 25 years of her life to working with children. She is a Family Interventionist, offering comprehensive and individualized coaching and support regularly. Vanessa's natural ability to connect with and support these children quickly became evident, as families consistently sought her help. Despite occasional attempts to pursue different career paths, Vanessa's true passion always led her back to working with children who have autism. Her unwavering commitment and expertise have made her an invaluable asset in this specialized field, despite her occasionally strong opinions leading to challenges in maintaining employment.

YEAS YOGA (Yoga Education for Autism Spectrum) is an exciting and personal Yoga Curriculum for children that benefits Self-Regulation. Her book, "Shut Up and Parent" gives parents the tools for managing their kids' daily behaviors. She hosts the podcast, "Parenting With Vanessa Kahlon," and lectures at numerous schools and organizations.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The importance of communication and relationship in parenting
• Discouraging the use of time-outs and instead focusing on building a strong connection with the child
• Emphasizing the need for parents to be present and engaged with their child rather than relying solely on teaching mode
• Encouraging parents to take breaks when feeling overwhelmed, rather than resorting to punitive measures like spanking
• Promoting self-care as a way to recharge and better handle parenting challenges
• Highlighting the importance of growth and evolution for the whole family, not just the child
• Emphasizing the need for parents to apologize to their child when they make a mistake, promoting a culture of growth and learning
• Recognizing that moderate use of technology is not necessarily a bad thing for kids and can even help with social skills
• Advocating for parents to understand their children's technology use and use it as a means of connection and teaching
• Providing parenting groups and workshops to support parents in getting their children back into school
• Initiating a study with a self-care journal to help teachers better handle classroom situations
• Acknowledging the difficulties faced by parents, particularly those who have to juggle multiple jobs or face financial struggles

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Grab Vanessa's book here!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Lisa McCourt is a joy enthusiast and spiritual teacher who believes that at our core, we are beings of love and joy. Through her studies in comparative religion and various spiritual traditions, she has come to the realization that we are often conditioned to build obstructions that prevent us from recognizing our true joyful nature. This understanding has become the foundation of her work at Joy School, where she helps others identify and gently release these obstructions in order to reconnect with their inherent joy. Lisa believes that joy is not something to be found or created, but is already within us – we simply need to remove the obstacles in our path.

Lisa's books have sold over nine million copies, earned seven publishing industry awards, and garnered over 9,000 glowing Amazon reviews. She generously opens her comprehensive toolbox for joyful living in her newest release, Free Your Joy: The 12 Keys to Sustainable Happiness, which takes readers through a full year of vibration elevation practices guaranteed to sustainably elevate their Joy Setpoint.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The two paths to joy and manifestation
• The importance of finding joy and inspiration
• Uncovering and raising the "joy set point"
• Embracing all emotions and pursuing personal joy
• Listening to intuition and clearing limiting beliefs

Special for Listeners:

Lisa's newest book, Free Your Joy: The 12 Keys to Sustainable Happiness is available for preorder everywhere books or sold, or right here at Amazon.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Kelly Lutman grew up in a military household, moving frequently and living in multiple countries as well as the US. She originally trained in accounting at Bentley College and UT El Paso, earning her CPA, but after starting a family, she chose to stay home to homeschool her sons. It was then that she discovered one of them had ADHD, and she has been fascinated by the power of food ever since resolving his ADHD by simply changing what he ate.

A health coach certified in Applied Functional Medicine, Kelly firmly believes that symptoms are the body's cries for help, and that the body can heal when provided the building blocks it needs. She meets each client where they are, helps them understand what is happening in their body, and guides them in identifying the changes that will help them experience the vitality they were missing.

Her new book is called Thriving Through Cancer: A Whole-istic Approach for Your Journey.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Importance of nutrition and natural substances for the body
• Kelly's journey in health coaching and functional medicine
• Empowering cancer patients through nutrition and writing a book
• Prioritizing self-care and joy for well-being
• Understanding and supporting individual bodily needs in food practices

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linked In | YouTube

David Dennis is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Eckerd Connects, one of the nation's largest nonprofits providing workforce development, Job Corps, juvenile justice, and child welfare services across the country. His book is called GAMENESS, Land on Your Feet, Not on Your Feelings.

Inspired by the word "gameness," which is not commonly used today but was prominent in the 1800s, Dennis explores its rich meanings and attributes in his book. The four defining characteristics of gameness that he highlights are a never-quit mindset, resilient purpose, a fighting spirit, and the will to act beyond one's feelings.

David has earned certifications as a licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, and childcare administrator. He holds a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and a master's degree in marriage and family counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Becky live in Clearwater, Florida. They have five grown children.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• David's personal story and background
• The importance of discipline and acting beyond feelings
• Cultivating a mindset of game and taking charge of circumstances
• Turning pain into power and bouncing forward
• Introducing the concept of gameness and its significance

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website

Escaping an oppressive relationship requires immense strength. On this episode, Kanchan Bhaskar shares a courageous story of her escape from a toxic marriage. Be inspired by her determination to regain confidence, independence, and the freedom to live life on her own terms.

Kanchan Bhaskar (Kan-chan Bhas-car), an Indian-American, is a first-time author of Leaving: How I Set Myself Free from an Abusive Marriage. She holds a Master's Degree in social work and a certificate in life coaching. She is also a certified Business Coach. Being a successful Human Resource professional, her expertise is in training and mentoring. She is a certified advocate, speaker, and coach for victims and survivors of domestic violence. Kanchan lives in Chicago.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The tradition of arranged marriages in India

• How Kanchan's marriage turned into a nightmare after marrying a narcissistic man

• How revolution and hope can bring change, even when it's hard

• Simple techniques to developing belief in self

• Finding joy within, spirituality, nature, self-expression

• How to encourage struggling friends

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Linked In | Instagram

Near-death experiences contradict the idea that there is no realm outside of what we can see on this earth. This episode dives deep into a fascinating new concept of heavenly bodies, and how physics and neuroscience bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and mystical experiences.

Joseph Selbie enjoys making the complex and obscure simple and clear. He is the author of Break Through the Limits of the Brain, how neuroscience supports spiritual experience, The Physics of God, a unification of science and religion, and The Yugas, a factual look at India's tradition of cyclical history. He is known for creating bridges of understanding between the modern evidenced-based discoveries of science and the timeless experience-based discoveries of the mystics. A dedicated Kriya yoga meditator for nearly fifty years, he has taught yoga, meditation, and universal experiential spirituality throughout the US and Europe.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Description of bodies in heaven as coordinated images of light
• An introduction to M theory in physics, and how it offers a new view of reality
• How Selbie's work bridges the gap between scientific discoveries and mystical experiences
• The importance of meditation as a starting point
• How neurons in the brain communicate with the body

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Book | Facebook

Patti DeNucci is an author and entrepreneur known for her expertise in networking. In 2011, Patti embarked on an empty nest project as her son was about to graduate from college. With a desire to share her thoughts on entrepreneurial success, she began writing a book. That book, The Intentional Networker: Attracting Powerful Relationships, Referrals & Results in Business, was dubbed a "success guide." It earned excellent reviews, two prestigious book awards, and a community of enthusiastic readers.

Later, her focus shifted towards networking, emphasizing quality over quantity. Patti believes that effective networking doesn't require constant socializing and superficial connections. As an ambivert, she values enjoying her interactions and leaving them energized rather than drained. Patti's book, More Than Just Talk: The Essential Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Enjoy Better Conversations, offers practical advice on how to network better, making it a valuable resource for professionals seeking to enhance their networking skills.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The importance of asking open-ended questions
• The value of conversation and connection
• Improving social intelligence
• The power of networking
• How to have more meaningful conversations
• Networking and "conversational salons"
• Finding joy in the midst of hardship

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Does clutter got you down? In this episode, Julie Ann Segal, interior designer and feng shui expert, sharing her secrets to creating spaces that make us feel good. Julie Ann reveals how getting rid of unnecessary items and organizing drawers can bring ease and simplicity into your life.

Julie Ann, Interior Designer and President of Metro Interiors, is renowned for her deep commitment to providing clients with state-of-the-art design. Always on the cutting edge, Julie Ann's dynamic approach is to utilize all resources within reach.

Eclectic to classic, modern to traditional – there is nothing she and her team will not do to create that "wow" factor that has exceeded clients' expectations for over 3 decades. A certified feng shui consultant, Julie Ann infuses elements of the ancient art into all design endeavors, revealing environments rich in comfort, beauty and harmony.

For over 30 years, Julie Ann has enjoyed taking the stress out of making design changes. With her "Fun" Shui approach, she makes the design process simple and loveable. Listening to each client's needs, she's inspired in a unique way to choose colors, materials, fabrics, and art to create a new space. Trustworthy and dedicated, Julie Ann values relationships formed with clients and designs homes and businesses of their dreams. Her book, Change Your Space to Change Your Life, is available now.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Incorporating feng shui principles in interior design creates a balanced energy and promotes well-being.
• Decluttering and organizing spaces can have a profound impact on both physical and mental health.
• Utilizing the Feng Shui Baghwa grid and intentional placement of objects can help manifest specific desires in our lives.

Just for Listeners:

When someone purchases the book they can come back to the website and put in their name, email and order number to receive FREE feng shui tips for business!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Mary Beth O'Connor has been sober from methamphetamine and other substances since 1994. She also is in recovery from abuse and trauma. The details of her story can be found in her memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction.

Mary Beth is a Director for LifeRing Secular Recovery. She also is a Director and Secretary for She Recovers Foundation. She develops relationships with organizations supportive of the multiple pathways approach, such as working on joint projects with Women for Sobriety.

Mary Beth regularly speaks about her personal story, on behalf of LifeRing and She Recovers, about multiple paths to recovery, and shares her expertise on other substance use and recovery topics. She's appeared on podcasts, radio, and television. She has presented keynotes and workshops at a variety of conferences and events.

Mary Beth writes opinion pieces and has been published in The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Recovery Today, among others. She's also had numerous memoir writings published. Professionally, 6 years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended Berkeley Law. She worked at a large firm in Silicon Valley, then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014 Mary Beth was appointed an Administrative Law Judge. She retired early in 2020 and now devotes her time to her writing and recovery advocacy.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The interconnectedness of trauma and substance abuse
• Mary Beth's multi-pronged approach to recovery
• The challenges she faced in relationships during her recovery
• Debunking outdated ideas of substance abuse and addiction
• How Mary Beth went from substance abuse to federal administrative law judge
• How to combat the stigma of addiction and find hope and healing

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Linked In

Terri Banner Fitzsimmons (TK Banner) is the author, motivational speaker, and best-selling author of four books. She has been in the field of education most of her adult life as a teacher of all grades, a Sociology Professor for twenty years, and director of an Independent Study Program, helping adults earn their diplomas. She won many awards, including being recognized for initiating a girl power group, developing innovative career strategies, and working for United Way, helping parolees find employment. She has worked with various Indian Reservations, homeless shelters, and the Cal-Works program at a local college. Her biggest passion is helping women achieve their passion for life, to break free of all the doubts they cling to that stop them from recognizing their worth.

On this episode, TK joins Joyce to discuss the camp fire fire that took place in 2018. Terry shares her experience of buying a beautiful home in Paradise, California with her fiancee and staying behind to care for 6 children when others were evacuated during the fire. The conversation then transitions to the importance of teaching social skills to youth, as it is crucial for their success in university and beyond.

What You'll Learn From This Episode:

• TK's personal experiences of writing and career
• Traumatic experience of TK losing her possessions and how she dealt with it
• The importance of teaching social skills to youth, especially disadvantaged ones
• TK's experiences and thoughts on spirituality and meditation
• The importance of being authentic and not relying on possessions
• Writing tips and suggestions, including finding inspiration and sharing writing with trusted friends

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

Website | Facebook