SecondWind with Joyce

Today's episode dives deep into a topic that has become a national epidemic and affects countless families - dementia. Did you know that dementia is not a disease itself, but a group of symptoms affecting memory and behavior? Alzheimer's is the most common type, affecting over 70% of people with dementia.

Christiana Egi is an exceptional Dementia Advocate who brings a wealth of experience as a Registered Nurse, Diabetes Educator, Registered Natural Health Nutritionist, and Geriatric and Mental Health Specialist. In her endeavor to provide compassionate care for individuals living with dementia and their families, she has established Alexis Lodge Retirement Residences, memory care retirement facilities committed to person-centered and relational care for individuals living with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Dementia's definition as a group of symptoms affecting memory and behavior
• Different types of dementia, with a focus on Alzheimer's disease
• Christiana's early experiences with mental health in Nigeria and her realization of the global stigma surrounding mental health
• The absence of family involvement in dementia care facilities
• Difficulties caring for loved ones with behavioral issues
• The emotional toll on caregivers and the need for support

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Instagram | YouTube | Linked In | Twitter

This episode features Paula Munier, renowned author, editor, literary agent, and teacher. Paula dives deep into her passion for writing and shares invaluable insights on persistence and finding support within the writing community.

Drawing from her own experiences, Paula highlights the importance of joining a genre association and surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals. From her love for mysteries and classic authors like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, to her current work in helping authors refine and revise their first chapters, Paula's journey in the literary world is both inspiring and enlightening.

Paula also shares her unexpected foray into the world of yoga and how it transformed her life, giving her a newfound sense of vitality and purpose. Joyce and Paula discuss how her passion for writing and yoga intersect, ultimately leading Paula to become a qualified yoga instructor for seniors, including those with dementia.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Importance of persistence and support in the writing journey
• Paula's journey as a writer and editor
• How yoga has played a role in Paula's life and working with seniors
• Overcoming challenges and pursuing writing goals
• Writing techniques Paula uses

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Parenting is filled with challenges. This episode explores the power of parenting with consistency, compassion, and communication, with a focus on raising children who become brave, voice trusters, risk-takers, and problem-solvers.

Kiva Schuler is the founder of the Jai Institute for Parenting which has been training parenting coaches globally since 2011. Most importantly, she is mom to Myles and Charlotte, who inspired her journey toward her life's work, which is to change the world by changing how parents parent. Kiva's passion for parenting stemmed from her own childhood experiences of neglect and trauma. Like many of her generation, she had a front-row seat to witness what she did not want for her children. In many ways, Jai is the fulfillment of a promise that she made to herself when she was 16 years old - that when she had children of her own, she would learn to parent them with compassion, consistency, and communication.

Kiva is a serial entrepreneur and has been the marketer behind many transformational brands. Passionate about bringing authenticity and integrity to marketing and sales, she's a sought-after mentor, speaker, and coach.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The impact of childhood experiences on parenting
• Creating joy and allowing children to fail
• Observing changes in parenting styles
• Parenting with authority, compassion, and effective communication

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok

Dana Killion had always struggled with sleepless nights and a deep sense of emptiness. One particular night, while living in a high-rise in Chicago, she found herself gazing down at Lake Michigan, envisioning what it would be like to walk into the water and disappear. It wasn't that she was suicidal, but rather, she felt lost and unsure of how to cope with her emotional emptiness. This moment became the catalyst for her transformative journey, though it wasn't the start of her story. Dana experienced a series of events that led her to this pivotal moment, and it was through writing her book that she chose to share her dramatic journey of self-discovery and healing.

An accomplished author of a mystery series, Dana Killion shares in this episode her debut memoir, Where the Shadows Dance: He Got Sober. I Got Broken. It's a story born of a life in the turmoil of her husband's alcoholism, a situation where the only way through was to write it. Women ready to find the strength and solace Dana has found through her own re-invention.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Dana's journey of finding courage and hope
• The silence women often face in protecting themselves and addiction
• Helping others through vulnerability and courage
• A transformative and dramatic moment in Dana's life
• The impact of addiction on relationships
• Discussing narcissism and addiction with a therapist
• Differentiating clinical narcissism from narcissistic behaviors related to addiction
• The constant suspicion, mistrust, and pressure in relationships with addicts
• Dana Killion's journey and book
• Themes of personal trauma in Dana's writing and resonance with other women
• Overcoming silence and finding one's truth
• The importance of sharing one's truth and ending silence

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Book | Website | Facebook | Instagram

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