SecondWind with Joyce

Meditation is a popular buzzword right now, but what is it, why do you need it, and how do you do it?

Ambika Devi is on a peace mission to help people realize their true nature so that they can step out of the churning river of thoughts and activity of the mind, stop wearing insane schedules like badges of honor, and begin their days reinforced with the calmness a meditation practice brings. Meditating since the age of six, with 44 years of teaching experience, 13,000 plus hours of study and having taught over 19,000 people the art of meditation, she gives you clear steps that lead you directly into a deep state of meditation.

She is a scholar of Yoga with expert knowledge of the philosophy and teachings of the Far Eastern Mystery Schools. As a teen, Ambika became fascinated with Astrology and Astronomy. This took her on a journey of apprenticeships with world-class astrologers and a degree in astrology from NorthStar University. As a coach, Ambika utilizes this skill to guide clients to make better decisions and to unlock their hidden potential. In 2012 Ambika received a Masters degree from the Hindu University in the teaching of Yoga and Meditation.

Her internationally best-selling and award-winning books delight readers with easy to comprehend yogic philosophy embedded in stories and poems. Ambika's two favorite techniques that she passionately teaches to students are Pranayama-Yogic breathing techniques and Primordial Sound techniques. She believes that a body, mind, and spirit in harmony makes good choices that promote well-being.

What You'll Learn From this Episode:

• How Ambika's early childhood practice of meditation and stillness became a habit
• What meditation is and how it trains the mind
• How to use meditation for improved sleep
• Getting in touch with intuition through meditation
• Digging deeper into Ambika's background with astrology
• Using mantras to quiet the mind
• The benefits of yoga
• Background to her six books

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Find Ambika's seven-day course packed with unique methods to create a soothing environment for deep sleep here. Use the code: SLEEPWELLNESS at check out for a HUGE 50% discount on the course!

Many people allow their fears, negativities, and self-blinding beliefs to stop them from experiencing life to the fullest. That is not the case with Gail Hamilton.

Gail Hamilton is an NSA certified international motivational virtual and live speaker, TEDx Breckenridge speaker 2021, author Soaring into Greatness, a Blind Woman's Vision to Live her Dreams and Fly, trainer, opera singer, and is totally blind. Gail motivates, facilitates, educates, and exhilarates her audiences unlike any other presenter, to fully open their eyes and change the way they see and change the way they live.

Her soaring spirit has led Gail to build her former Habitat for Humanity home, to climb the historic 75-story Cydney Harbor bridge, and to partner with six spectacular Seeing Eye dogs over the years. Her astounding experiences, immense knowledge and unparalleled determination have inspired thousands to live lives of vision, purpose and action. Gail believes that everything is possible and everyone can live an unstoppable, unforgettable, and unbelievable life.

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

• Gail's story and how she overcame the challenge of blindness from a young age
• The turning point and book that changed her outlook and trajectory
• The importance of therapy and how Gail was inspired to get her master's in psychology
• How living a life of greatness means getting past the negative core beliefs and stigma and going for something more.
• The motivation and reason behind her book.
• The traits needed for a successful life.
• The importance of vulnerability and telling your authentic story.

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Learn more about Gail and access Twenty Ways To Soar, a handout of twenty ways to achieve your dreams on her website, Soaring into Greatness.

Grieving is a process we will all be familiar with at some point in our lives. Our guest for this week's episode of SecondWind, Emily Thiroux Threatt, is here to reveal healthy ways for us to cope with these profound emotions. Because she personally knows what it feels like to lose a loved one, she is able to connect to others while remaining sensitive to their emotional state.

Emily Thiroux Threatt is the author of Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief: A Comprehensive Guide to Reclaiming and Cultivating Joy and Carrying on in the Face of Loss.

Emily grew up in Porterville, California and earned her master's degree in English with a concentration in writing. She taught writing at the university level for 39 years. She currently lives in Maui, Hawaii.

Having gone through the experience of two husbands dying, as well as the deaths of her father, mother, sister, many family members and friends, Emily has much experience in the grieving process and has learned to face life with love, optimism, and joy. Her mission is to comfort and support those dealing with grief and loss focusing on happiness.

She earned a master's degree in English with a concentration in writing which led to her career teaching writing at the university level, so she naturally turned to writing to deal with her grief. She also is teaching those dealing with loss how to use writing to deal with their grief.

When she's not writing, you can find her in her tending to her garden, creating art, and walking on the beach.

"It's not that you're trying to get over grief, it's that you're trying to work with it so that you can move forward with the rest of your life…" Emily Thiroux Threatt

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• How Emily was brought face to face with the fragility of life at a young age
• Dealing with grief sooner rather than later will be easier in the long run
• The process of grieving isn't negative if you look at it from a certain perspective
• Parents often shield their children from death because they don't know how to explain or handle it themselves
• The process of creating Emily's book from what inspired her, to getting it published
• The interesting writing exercise Emily advises people who are experiencing grief to try.
• How we should interact with people who are grieving the loss of a loved one

Free Offer: Sign up to review a preview of Emily's new book "Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief". A Comprehensive Guide to Reclaiming and Cultivating Joy and Carrying on in the Face of Loss. - Get free access here

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Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

Public relations and marketing continues to evolve before our eyes, but as members of the public, we can only see these changes from the perspective of a consumer. Today, communications professional Jeanette Brown gives us a peek behind the curtain for a full picture of what it is like to work with a variety of famous brands. We delve into what it means to be successful, and how we should adapt the meaning of success to fit our daily lives

Jeanette Brown Green Founder of Excellence & Presence Communications - an integrated PR & Marketing Agency providing corporate, lifestyle and non-profit clients with brand development, communications campaigns, culturally relevant programs, crisis communications as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consulting.

Jeanette is a Brooklyn native whose family tree branches reach the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. Her appreciation for community, family, and culture developed while growing up in a multi-ethnic neighborhood, Bushwick. The sounds of Latin music filled every bodega, the aroma of exotic dishes infiltrated the air, and everyone was treated like family at celebrations.

She is a communications professional with more than 20 years of public relations, marketing, and branding experience representing a variety of brands, including wine and spirits, luxury, sports, and entertainment as well as high-profile personalities. Jeanette has led marketing communications strategies for brands like Ketel One Vodka, Maker's Mark, Pisco Portón, Bacardi Global Travel Retail, MillerCoors, Pepsi Global, Audi, Reebok, and many more. She has overseen the development and execution of all channel-neutral communications plans in support of a brand's PR and trade programs in addition to experiential and strategic partnerships.

"It took me a long time to build my confidence, a very long time and lots of experiences. I just wanna help people not have their bumps in the road be as hard as mine were." Jeanette Brown

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• What it felt like growing up in a diverse neighborhood like Bushwick, Brooklyn
• How losing her mother at a young age impacted Jeanette Brown's life
• What motivated Jeanette Brown to take a moment to look at her family and friends and evaluate her life
• People have a tendency to work hard, but not recognize their own growth
• What motivated Jeanette Brown to process the loss of her mother years after she passed
• How starting her own PR & marketing agency allowed her to work on a wide range of marketing categories
• The types of amazing clients Jeanette Brown has, and how they continue to inspire her

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Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

It can be difficult for working mothers to manage their duties at home and at work. This week on SecondWind, we have Stacey Hiles on to share her story about raising her children, running a business, and then getting introduced to a company that allows for a better work-life balance. She speaks on the importance of giving back to your community, and how being a Rodan & Fields consultant helps her to help others.

Stacey Hiles is a mom to four, and a business owner. She grew up in Tyler, Tx and attended college at Abilene Christian University. 13 years ago, she found herself going through a divorce, raising children alone and with a business that her ex had run primarily. Her journey was far from easy and she made a huge change in careers after 5 years running that business. Stacey found a company that let her work around her life and help people. It was a leap of faith and took consistency to build what she has today. That was the hard part. Sharing products she loves and helping others do the same is a pleasure. Her passion through life has been volunteering in her community and she has had the privilege of leading some large events. Stacey gives credit to her volunteer experience in preparing her to survive her life transition. Today, she's married to an amazing man. She never thought she'd trust anyone again, but it's possible. Their three older kids are successfully adulting and they have one still at home that's doing great. Stacey has been working at her new business for 9 years and it continues to be a blessing. The ups, downs, twists and turns of life haven't always been easy. Through adversity, we have to keep going, push through, be brave and find joy!

"Another thing I love about not only our skincare, but the company is the diversity, and the inclusion, and the love that everyone feels for each other. We're just a big family." Stacey Hiles

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• What gave Stacey the confidence to know that she can run a dry cleaning business
• What it was like balancing motherhood and a business after her divorce.
• How she met her husband, and what helped her determine that he is trustworthy
• The insecurities that come with starting a business, and how Stacey was able to get past them
• The types of skin care regimens Rodan & Fields offers for different skin types
• Important information to know about skin cancer
• What makes Rodan & Fields and excellent business for anyone to be a part of

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Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

Though it may be difficult to admit, many of us have trouble managing our finances. This week on SecondWind, we have Bob Wheeler on to talk about how our emotions and money management can be connected, and how money can become a source of contention in a marriage. His background in comedy gives him a unique way of seeing the world and connecting with people in order to give them the life they envisioned for themselves.

Certified CPA and CORE Energetic practitioner, Inspirational Speaker, Author, and CFO of the world-famous Comedy Store in Los Angeles Bob Wheeler inspires people with his financial acuity, compassion and genuine energy, sharing his simple and effective concept, "The Money Nerve" regarding emotions and money. He teaches people from all walks of life how to create a healthy relationship with money. Bob is a popular speaker, workshop presenter, thought leader, and TV / podcast guest.

His crusade for personal growth and deeper awareness developed from his thirty years of helping clients, while baring his soul onstage as a stand up comedian. Digging down to find clarity and purpose on a personal level motivated Bob to help others to explore their past without judgment and to provide insight for people to recalibrate their mental mindset. Knowing that shame or personal memories about money can affect numbers-based budgets, Bob's passion to help others gain an understanding about emotional triggers – that often sabotage financial decisions – is transforming lives for thousands of people.

Bringing emotions to the center of personal finance conversations sets Bob apart from other financial experts. His book, The Money Nerve: Navigating the Emotions of Money, explores how negative emotions and habits surrounding money impacts people, and then guides people to determine their life values, be proactive, explore unhealthy emotional habits and start making intentional decisions. Integrating an intentional mind-body balance of energy, certified Radical Aliveness and CORE Energetic Practitioner, Bob has conducted numerous Proactive Abundance and Money at its CORE seminars through the USA & Canada.

"I think each of us wants to have an impact on the world. I think each of us deep down want to be the best versions of ourselves and we want to make a difference. And I think all of us are starved for community and we want connection..." Bob Wheeler

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• How we can tell that we hold our trauma and emotions in our bodies
• How CORE Energetics & Radical Aliveness has helped Bob express his vulnerability
• What Bob learned when he separated men and women in his workshops, and asked them to talk about money.
• Couples often don't have an equal say in how money is spent and saved within their household
• What one of the biggest takeaways from his workshop is
• What Bob used to do early in his comedic career to help in case he had a bad performance, & what he does with a negative reaction
• One of the hardest lessons he had to learn about accomplishments

Offer: A Chance to Win a Free Copy of Bob Wheeler's Book (Must Sign Up for 3 Motivational Guides) - Get free access here

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Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

A near death experience can have a profound effect on how you view your health and life's purpose. My guest Anita Pirkle can relate to having a life threatening illness, surviving, and finding her new mission in life. In this devastating yet inspiring story on battling Covid-19, we are left with a lesson on the significance of prayer, having a positive mindset, and healthy diet.

Anita Pirkle was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated from Purdue University. She was married for 61 years, and has 3 children and 2 grandchildren. They moved to Atlanta 40 years ago, and have been sharing a product called Juice Plus for 25 years. With all the many nutrients Anita has been putting in her body, she was in excellent health. That is until Christmas Day when 7 members of her family were exposed to Covid-19. Only 3 of them were hospitalized. Her daughter, Dana, her husband, Carl and herself. It was one of the most terrifying experiences she has ever had. Dana was released in 6 days and Anita was released in 14 days. Her husband, Carl, died after 8 days. One night she heard her doctor tell a nurse that her lungs were not sustaining the oxygen, and he didn't think Anita would make it. She awoke at 2:00am in a sheer panic. She had to talk to someone so she called Dana. Anita didn't know what she said, but when she closed her eyes she prayed harder than she had ever prayed. Carl had just died and Anita knew she had to survive. She asked God and Carl to help her lungs heal and pour healing light over her body. Anita then went to sleep. The next morning she woke up a different person. It was a miracle. She knew she was going to survive and go home. The doctors and nurses were amazed at how much Anita had changed. From lying in bed dying to sitting up living. Everyday she grew stronger. Her mission is to tell people they have choices. Being grateful for everything puts you in a different frame of mind.

"God really knows I have more to do. I have a message. I have more to do in this life. He's not ready for me to go over." Anita Pirkle

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• The Pirkle family's experience with Covid-19
• What Anita Pirkle credits to saving her life
• What Juice Plus is, and how it played a part in Anita's recovery
• How it felt to be grieving in the hospital and live alone for the first time
• Anita's daughter-in-law's idea on how to help with grieving at home
• Why Anita isn't worried about not being able to visit her loved one's resting place
• A good way to process pain and capture moments

Featured on the Show: Website

Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

Dating today looks very different from how it was when many of us were coming up. We now have the internet to help us find our soulmate, and my guest Dr. Joan Bragar has first hand experience with the wonders of online dating. Most people desire to have a partner to commit to, but for those who went through a gray divorce, dating again can be a challenge that a dating coach can guide you through.

Dr. Joan Bragar is the author of Never Too Late for Love: The Successful Woman's Guide to Online Dating in the Second Half of Life.

Joan is a certified relationship coach who helps women to find happy healthy love in the second half of life. She was happily married at age sixty-two to Marc, whom she met on Match.com. They are living a full life working, staying fit, and enjoying their many children and grandchildren.

She has worked as a professor of leadership at Boston University and as an executive coach to business owners at Harvard Business School.

Joan earned her AB, EdM and EdD degrees from Harvard University. She has taught leadership around the world in universities, businesses, and health ministries.

"Dating is a practice in asking for what you want and finding out how they respond" Dr. Joan Bragar

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• Dr. Bragar's message for women who are giving up on finding love in their midlife or after divorce
• Why some women feel the need to be an overachiever
• The importance of vulnerability while dating
• The difference between how men and women experience attraction towards one another
• The beauty in friendship before intimacy
• How long you should wait to marry your partner, what to look for and why
• How to rebuild trust after it has been broken

Free Offer: Dr. Joan Bragar's book Never Too Late for Love:

The Successful Woman's Guide to Online Dating in the Second Half of Life - Get free access here

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Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

Aging and preparing for retirement can be sensitive topics to navigate through with your parents or even your peers. With the help of my guests, Amanda Lambert & Leslie Eckford, these grim topics became more pleasant by discussing the variety of ways the elderly can be taken care of. In this episode, we take a look at the negativity we associate with the word "old" and how we should all work to make sure the elderly feel seen and heard.

Leslie Eckford is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and RN with a long practice in mental health and geriatric health. She is co-creator and co-author with Amanda Lambert of mindfulaging.com and three books. Leslie has been a long distance caregiver to her aging parents. As her own children become young adults, Leslie is determined that the "empty nest" is the "empty NEXT."

Amanda Lambert grew up on the east coast and went to undergraduate school at University of Massachusetts in Boston. She migrated to Salt Lake City, Utah over 25 years ago and received her Masters at University of Utah. She spent several years working as a geriatric care manager and professional guardian and started her own geriatric care management company about 4 years ago. In addition to co-authoring three books with Leslie Eckford, Amanda is a full time freelance writer on topics related to aging, end of life, caregiving, home accessibility and senior living. Amanda's particular area of interest is how we can age with good mental and physical health. Her parents live in Salt Lake City in independent senior living and her sister is here as well. She enjoys hiking out with her trainer, reading, family time and exploring healthy cooking ideas.

"We all have wishes. We have a life that we wish for, and we have a life based in reality. And when we put a lot of effort and thought we can make a life that is closer to our wished for life, but it doesn't always work. One of the things that Amanda and I are really emphasizing in this book is you have to keep an open mind. Some things are going to fit, and some things aren't." Leslie Eckford

"You may fantasize about this wonderful living situation, and then you may find that there are parts of it that you just didn't anticipate and that's just part of the process" Amanda Lambert

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• We have more options for assisting the elderly than we used to
• Why people are gravitating away from the concept of assisted living
• Our society puts an emphasis on youth and denies aging
• A lot of aging women are starting to do home sharing with like minded people
• Making preparations for your later years helps take the burden off of your adult children
• Women often give up paying jobs to be a caregiver for their families
• Many people, especially women, say that they often feel invisible as they age

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Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.

With the rise of internet pornography, more people have access to sexually explicit content, and are more susceptible to develop an addiction. In this episode, we will have an informative conversation with Rosie Makinney on the dangers of porn addiction in a relationship, and how you can move forward from this as a couple. We dive into why she also went into recovery for her husband's addiction, and why some women have a crisis of faith in these relationships.

Rosie is an author, podcaster and founder of Fight For Love Ministries. Her heart is for women in relationships affected by porn addiction, especially those in the lonely and confusing stage between discovery and recovery. She grew up in a small seaside town in Yorkshire, England, and now lives in a small seaside town in California. Her garden is her happy place, and in it she has planted a seed for every woman in her support group. Rosie's mission is to give women hope that a porn-free marriage is possible, and to educate and empower them with the faith and the facts to help them get there.

"Pornography is not actually the problem, it is the solution to the problem which is an intimacy disorder" Rosie Makinney

What You'll Learn from This Episode:

• The gender demographic of porn watchers, and how the global sex industry is trying to change women's views on sex
• The shame attached to watching porn is nonexistent for some people, and prevents others from seeking help
• Why men and women are affected differently from viewing adult entertainment
• Pornography programs women to accept and expect to be degraded
• There is no profile or personality type that is more likely to be addicted to internet porn
• 75% of wives of porn addicts blame themselves for their partners addiction
• The red flags women need to watch out for to determine if their partner is watching porn

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Effortless Happiness: How to Find Your Voice and Finally Ask For What You Really Want Paperback or Kindle copy.