Small Changes Big Shifts

When your mind wants to feel in control of an uncontrollable situation, it resorts to self blame but when we have set blame down and truly grieve, we can take our empty and open hands and pick up responsibility for living well and living right. - Dennis Tirch

This week on Small Changes Big Shifts, Dr. Michelle Robin is joined by the Co-Founders of MaxLove Project, Justin Wilford & Audra DiPadova. Audra and Justin are the parents of Max and Maesie. When their son, Max, was 4 years old, he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor. Max's treatment, recovery, and journey into survivorship led Justin and Audra to found MaxLove Project to help other families thrive in childhood cancer treatment and beyond.

The MaxLove Project team is made up of a group of extraordinarily dedicated individuals who are passionate about improving the lives of all SuperKids and SuperFamilies and works behind the scenes to support the mission of the organization. They believe that survivorship starts the day of diagnosis. All childhood cancer survivors face a lifetime of serious life-threatening health risks. They believe that the statistics are not destiny and they are changing the odds for families facing childhood cancers with evidence-based integrative wellness and culinary medicine.

Discover how you can grow into our own journey of empowerment and greater wellness by focusing on what you can control.

MaxLove Project is powered by our fierce community. We need you! Please join us — there are a number of ways to help.

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. - Viktor Frankl Join Dr. Michelle, Justin, and Audra as they talk about:

• Their background in various industries from higher education, culinary, disease prevention, and health promotion.
• How all of their interests were combined together to empower them when Max was diagnosed with cancer.
• What life was like for them before and after Max's diagnosis including Justin's new mission to help as many people as he and Audra could with The MaxLove Project.
• The village it takes to really keep a cause like The MaxLove Project get off of the ground and also keep it moving.
• How they and their team have and continue to empower people through cancer.
• Their future plans to continue helping parents and children including their BeSuper Action Plan.

Learn new tools to add to your wellness toolbox including:

• How we can improve the quality of life and live our best days together.
• Steps to build a powerful mindset and give yourself permission to really listen to conversations like this one with Justin and Audra.
• What you can do to empower your family including cooking with "fierce foods" via their Culinary Medicine Program and applying whole-body wellness.
• Breaking down why social health in itself is a health behavior and how to find your wellness tribe.

Mentioned In This Episode

• MaxLove Project
• Justin Wilford
• Audra DiPadova
• MaxLove Project: Our Story
• Culinary Medicine Program
• The Ohana Project
• BeSuper Action Plan
• The Golden Apron Society
• Family Support + Local Social Programs
• BigShifts Foundation
• 265 Paul Long
• 263 Tess Masters
• 062 Melissa Hartwig
• Whole30
• 267 – Liza Ingrasci
• The Hoffman Institute
• Living in Vitality | AdventHealth Shawnee Mission

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"Your greatest wealth is your health." - Dr. Stephanie Gray

How can we build a healthier body through functional medicine? Today on Small Changes Big Shifts, we have Host of the Longevity Blueprint Podcast,Creator of the FNP Mastery App, Author of Your Longevity Blueprint, Co-founder of Your Longevity Blueprint nutraceuticals, and Co-Owner of Integrative Health and Hormone Clinic in Hiawatha, Iowa, Dr. Stephanie Gray, joining us to explain just that.

Dr. Stephanie is arguably one of the Midwest's most credentialed female healthcare providers combining many certifications and training.

In her book, Your Longevity Blueprint, Dr. Stephanie shares the most progressive functional medicine testing options currently available, as well as Your Longevity Blueprint (LB) nutraceutical products. From gut to hormone health, optimizing your nutritional status to your genetics, and even detoxing the body, she is excited to share her expertise with the world.

Free Gift from Dr. Stephanie Gray: 3 Tips to Boost Your Hormones Naturally

Join Dr. Michelle and Dr. Stephanie as they talk about:

• Why we're seeing issues with metabolic syndrome and hormonal imbalances in today's world.
• Exploring the three root causes of many health imbalances: stress, toxins, and nutritional deficiencies.
• How to lower the amount of plastic and radiation exposure in our homes from the kitchen to the home office to a child's playroom.
• The top three toxins we should focus on removing from our lives: plastic, radiation, and fragrances.
• Tips and products to reduce the amount of radiation coming from your cell phone.
• How we can help younger generations live healthier lives.

Learn new tools to add to your wellness toolbox including:

• Short term and long term solutions for stress.
• How to arrange your room for a good night's sleep.
• What A, B, and C days are and how they can help you keep your health in balance.
• Understanding Hormones 101 especially for women after menopause.
• Unpacking the different categories of hormones and how she helps her patients optimize their estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone levels.
• The power of doing a month-long elimination diet to find out which foods are creating inflammation in your body.

"What use is a dream if not a blueprint for courageous action?" - Adam West

Mentioned In This Episode

• Stephanie Gray
• Your Longevity Blueprint
• Your Longevity Blueprint nutraceuticals
• Longevity Blueprint Podcast
• FNP Mastery App
• Integrative Health and Hormone
• Big Shifts Foundation
• EMF Pollution Solutions
• EMFs: Why They Are Dangerous To Your Health And What You Can Do About Them!
• Safe Sleeve Phone Cases
• DefenderShield
• Wifi Router Guards
• Small Changes Big Shifts 21-Day Sleep Program
• Small Changes Big Shifts Episode 199 - JJ Virgin
• Small Changes Big Shifts Episode 062 - Melissa Hartwig
• The Whole30 Program

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• LinkedIn

No amount of thought will ever result in any greater formulation then these three words, 'Love one another,' so long as it is love to the end and without exceptions. - Mother Maria of Paris

With a contagious enthusiasm for leadership and innovation and passion for entrepreneurship, Father Justin Mathews joins Dr. Michelle Robin in this week's Small Changes Big Shifts podcast episode. Fr. Justin is a Kansas City native with 20 years experience developing and executing successful strategies for social, mission-driven for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Father Justin Mathews serves as the Executive Director of Reconciliation Services [RS], a growing nonprofit located at 31st and Troost, the historic racial and economic dividing line of Kansas City, MO. The mission of RS is to "cultivate a community seeking reconciliation to transform Troost from a dividing line into a gathering place, and reveal the strength of all."

Join Dr. Michelle and Fr. Justin as they talk about:

• Why he changed his life's purpose from the music industry to combine faith, business and philanthropy.
• About Thelma's Kitchen's mission plus the delivery service they're providing during COVID-19.
• Their plan to launch Thelma's Kitchen Box Lunch in August 2020.
• What reconciliation means to him and how we can apply it to our lives.
• Their top tips to reconnect with other people to recharge their batteries during COVID-19.

Learn new tools to add to your wellness toolbox including:

• How to guide our inner soul during 2020.
• Self-care practices to come back into balance with himself including movement.
• The importance to connect with other people and being intentional of our proximity to them.
• Being aware of our thoughts and how they impact our actions and attitude.
• Learning to be okay with solitude and enjoy it as a gift.

Mentioned In This Episode

• Father Justin Mathews
• Reconciliation Services [RS]
• Thelma's Kitchen
• Thelma's Kitchen Box Lunch
• No Man Is An Island by Thomas Merton
• Episode 269 – Jessica Blublaugh
• ‎Five Minute Journal app

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How do we continue to serve our mission, but also do so from a financially responsible and cautionary way? - Jessica Blubaugh

What can we do to encourage movement during a time of restriction?

This week, director of Win for KC Jessica Blubaugh, discusses the mission of empowering women and girls in sports. Win for KC's annual TRYathalon is now virtual! Jessica describes the creative problem solving to keep the event accessible, fun, and safe.

About Jessica Blubaugh

Jessica began her career with WIN for KC as an intern over a decade ago. Since then, Jessica worked for KC Sports Commission followed by the Women's Sports Foundation in New York and Atlanta. Afterwards, she transitioned to Teach For America as Senior Marketing Director. Jessica then became the Director of Partnerships & Events for Visit KC.

She has come full circle and is now the Director of Win for KC, where she interned 10 years prior. She has spent 15 years in the nonprofit center and worked with great athletes such as Billie Jean King and Michelle Kwan.

Join Dr. Michelle and Jessica as they talk about:

• Jessica's COVID tradition - writing positive quotes on a chalkboard outside
• Win for KC's mission of empowering women through sports
• The inspiration of TRYathalon Triathlon
• Pivoting the TRYathalon to a virtual event, transitioning Camp Win at home, and opening the events to boys for the first time
• The inspiration of the Youth Advisory Board, giving local youth positions to make positive change
• Robin sponsoring 2 participants for the TRYathalon
• Envisioning the conversations we'll be having in 2022

Discover how to be impactful during times of controversy as Jessica shares:

• Creating connections for kids through diversity and inner city initiatives
• Decisions in wearing masks
• Systemic racism being a muscle we have to work at every day
• Managing negative thought patterns
• Guidance to move safely outside and social distancing

"If you think you are too small to make a difference, think again. Try sleeping with a mosquito."- Dalai Lama

Mentioned In This Episode

• Big 12
• TRYathalon
• Win For KC
• Camp Win
• Black Lives Matter
• Youth Advisory Board
• Wellness Consortium
• Britt Frank
• The Shack by William Paul Long

Connect

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• Twitter
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

What are some new wellness practices that you can add to your toolbox during 2020?

Today on Small Changes Big Shifts for our Wisdom Wednesday series, Dr. Michelle Robin is joined by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Author of Building Healthy Family Relationships: A Workbook for Parents & Stepparents, Debra Orbuch Grayson.

Debra works from a Family Systems Model which recognizes that each family and individual is unique and that change comes from addressing the dynamics and interactions among members of a system.

When working with families she meets with different subsystems of the family to help strengthen relationships which benefit the whole family. She enjoys working with clients and helping them to identify the challenges they are experiencing and to set goals and move toward creating changes in their lives.

Throughout her work with clients, she provides tools, support and encouragement as well as additional community resources to help sustain their growth.

Join Dr. Michelle and Debra as they talk about:

• What inspired her to move from teaching to marriage and family therapy.
• The ripple effect she experiences first hand when she works to help family units.
• Lots of changes and losses we face as we work towards resiliency and flexibility during COVID-19.
• Why the most relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself.
• Trends and needs she's witnessing personally in the families that she is working with in 2020.

Learn new tools to add to your wellness toolbox including:

• How to disrupt stuck patterns with the Small Changes Big Shifts Four Quadrants.
• Creating new language vibes including self-talk words to focus on the positive rather than the negative.
• Concentrating on what you want to do as an individual and live by what fits you.
• How to set up healthy boundaries including during COVID-19.
• Pausing when you think you may be over-committing and not putting yourself first.

Mentioned In This Episode

• Debra Orbuch Grayson
• Building Healthy Family Relationships: A Workbook for Parents & Stepparents
• Blog Post - Five Years After The Accident

Connect

• LinkedIn

We're all learning how to belong. - Liza Ingrasci

How do we learn to have a sense of belonging?

This week Hoffman Institute CEO, Liza Ingrasci, joins us for Wisdom Wednesdays to discuss the power of emotions. Liza has been a part of the Hoffman Institute for decades and is an expert in emotional processing and personal development. She is a heart-centered educator who has done the Hoffman Process and now leads the company.

About Liza Ingrasci

Liza received her BA in Developmental Psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1974. She has been with the Hoffman Institute since 1990, and now resides as their CEO. Liza has held executive positions in national seminar companies with responsibilities for both enrollment and alumni participation.

Join Dr. Michelle and Liza as they talk about:

• The concept of the negative love syndrome
• Bob Hoffman starting the process and creating the Hoffman Institute
• Using the Quadrinity process as a tool for resilience - body, intellect, emotions, and spirit
• Liza's interpretation of emotional freedom
• Quad Check In - The importance of recognizing the emotions you're feeling, and identifying what they are
• The transition of COVID-19 and how it has "sent us all to our room"
• Robin and Liza's family going through the Hoffman Process
• Recognizing you're on the path and some helpful resources

Discover the power of emotions as Liza shares:

• Emotional Quotient vs. Intelligence Quotient (EQ & IQ)
• Looking through the eyes of kindness
• How important it is to recover sadness to push you forward
• The newest class of prejudice the Hoffman Institute is offering
• Success stories from the Hoffman Process

Listen and learn about forgiveness and belonging through:

• Awareness
• Expression
• Forgiveness
• New Behavior

When you learn you teach, when get you give.- Maya Angelou

Mentioned In This Episode

• Hoffman Institute
• Negative Love Syndrome
• Quad Check In
• Bob Hoffman
• Brene Brown
• Britt Frank
• Wellness Consortium
• Joe Gauld
• Carol Phillips
• Chris Pam "What's Your Word?"
• David White
• Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
• Hoffman Feelings List
• Hoffman Reading List

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• LinkedIn

Tune in as Dr. Michelle Robin talks on the 10-year anniversary of her first book "Wellness on a Shoestring" along with some very special guests.

Understanding others perspectives is critical to thrive in this world. - Paul Long

How does optimism move us towards strength?

This week, motivational speaker Paul Long discusses "What's Good?!" Paul travels the world delivering high-content keynotes and training to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and trade associations. Paul is the author of the F.U.N. work book, podcast host, and president of Noah's Bandage Project. In this episode, Dr. Robin and Paul discuss his acronym for F.U.N., inspiring story of pediatric cancer, and how to gravitate towards what gives us strength.

About Paul Long

Paul Long is a motivational speaker and consultant that has challenged the corporate landscape for over a decade. Paul has provided memorable experiences for countless engagements including workshops, trade shows, keynotes and more.

Paul Long's Fundamism philosophy can be defined as the fundamentals of a F.U.N. and optimistic lifestyle. Paul's offering provides tactical skills on how to gravitate more towards the things that give you strength, as opposed to the things that don't. Doing so will provide you more FUN, joy and fulfillment in life.

As the Kansas City Royals' 2016 Fan of the Year as selected by Major League Baseball, his shenanigans have been featured in media outlets like ESPN, the Washington Post and even the Wall Street Journal! In 2014, his catsuit adventures led Paul to Noah Wilson, a seven year old boy diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. Motivated by Noah's presence and love for life, he began his lifelong commitment to help find a cure for pediatric cancer through Noah's Bandage Project.

Join Dr. Michelle and Paul as they talk about:

• Paul's first career in insurance and the evolution into FUNdamism
• How Paul is coping as in extrovert in Quarantine
• F.U.N. - Foundation, Understanding others perspectives, Next steps
• How to create joy, fun, and fulfillment for everyone in times of collective tension
• The importance of listening and learning about other's perspectives, and how to be sincere when doing so
• Noah Wilson's inspiring story of pediatric cancer
• Identifying opportunity gaps and how to close them

Discover how we can be mindful with optimism as James shares:

• How to offer value during a time of isolation and radical change
• Times when it's necessary to close the gate on people who don't bring you strength
• The importance of awareness "When you're aware, you're halfway there" - Wendy Bash
• The mindset of being a victim vs. victor
• How you never want to be a rocking chair; moving a lot but never forward

Listen and learn all about F.U.N with the acronym:

• Foundation
• Understanding Others Perspectives
• Next Steps

"I am going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there is no other way of life. You just have to decide whether you're a tigger or an Eyeore"- Randy Pausch

Mentioned In This Episode

• Paul Long
• FUNdamism
• Noah's Bandage Project
• Be Good To People
• Keith Haring
• Wendy Basch Episode on Small Changes Big Shifts
• Some Nights by Fun
• Randy Pausch
• Darrell Misak

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• Twitter
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Podcast

There are only two things you can control in this world - where you spend your heartbeats & your attitude as you pay. All else is an illusion. - James Beck

What are some small changes you can make to shift the world for yourself and others?

This week, Ted Talk Speaker, mind behind the Give Beck journey, Massage Therapist, and Author of Hey Dad, Remember Me?,and Founder of Beck Balance, James Beck, joins Dr. Michelle Robin to share his own transformational journey, life lessons we can all learn by "paying it forward," how generational dysfunction impacts everyone, and the four steps to know if you should promote a relationship in your life with the Relational Currency acronym, AC/DC.

About James Beck

James Beck of Beck Balance is changing the massage therapy world by helping practitioners and clients re-create the way they work with the human body so they can significantly reduce pain, improve energy, and enjoy a better quality of life!

Beck's professional training began in 2003 as a Massage Therapist at Burke Williams, in Santa Monica, CA, where he grew to become the facility's lead Deep Tissue instructor and one of the top therapists for four years.

Beck spent most of his life traveling the world, studying different healing theories & modalities. In 2007, he worked with NBC's American Gladiators (Seasons 1 & 2). After experiencing great results with his protocol, NBC's medical staff asked him to work on their hit show, The Biggest Loser (Seasons 7-11).

In 2011, Beck left Hollywood & took an epic, "pay-it-forward" journey across America (go to www.givebeck.com for details). In 2014, he returned to Southern California and began a successful Structural Integration practice and a Wellness Program for March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, CA. He spent six years assisting C.A. National Guard soldiers in passing their Physical Training tests during Drill Weekends through hands-on therapy.

Join Dr. Michelle and James as they talk about:

• His difficult relationship with his father and how that impacted his mental health.
• How sharing his suicide attempt with his father led to a powerful shift in their relationshp and greater emotional intelligence.
• Unpacking Generational Dysfunction - What it is, why we all have it, and understanding its impact on our life.
• Some areas of generational dysfunction that you might be experiencing and how to handle them.
• How to look at our parents' traits as neutral rather than positive or negative.
• What steps he did to rewire his brain to reduce stress, anxiety, and PTSD.

Discover how we can cultivate ourselves and others as James shares:

• How we can appreciate pain as a teacher as it points out our problems and brings us all closer together.
• How gardening has reminded him that there are stages in life we should pay attention to and appreciate.
• His biggest takeaways from giving everything away including leaving his job as a massage therapist for The Biggest Loser and travelling to all 50 US states to shift his mind, his ways of being, be of service to others, and "pay it forward."
• What the 5 Love Languages are and why we should try to implement all of them; not just your natural languages.
• The power of giving more than taking in life to get out of a scarcity mentality and heal yourself.

Listen and learn all about the four steps to know if you should promote a relationship in your life with the Relational Currency acronym, AC/DC:

• Appreciation
• Connection
• Detachment
• Cultivation

"Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. You gradually struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything. - Thomas Merton

Mentioned In This Episode

• James Beck
• Beck Balance
• Give Beck
• Be Good To People
• SerfBliss -- Pay-it-forward | James Beck | TEDxRiverside
• Hey Dad, Remember Me? By James Beck
• Be Good To People
• The Hoffman Institute
• Day 9 - Rhythm and Resilience with Frank Ferrante
• Liza Ingrasci
• The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
• Couchsurfing
• The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
• Small Changes Big Shifts Ep 212 - Bob Burg
• Paul Long

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How do we celebrate uncertainty?

Join us as we gather to reset our new daily rhythm and build resilience during this time of change.

The Blender Girl and her healthy fast food have been featured in the L.A Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Real Simple, Prevention, Family Circle, Vegetarian Times, Living Without, Allergic Living, Thrive, Today.com, Prevention.com, Shape.com, Glamour.com, FoodNetwork.com, Yahoo.com, Parents.com, Chow.com, among other publications around the world. Tess has also made numerous media appearances including the Today show, Home & Family, Fox, WGN, Reluctantly Healthy, and many others. In high demand as a spokesperson, presenter, and recipe developer, Tess collaborates with leading food and lifestyle brands. She is the global spokesperson for KitchenAid blenders, ambassador for Massel bouillon and broth, ambassador for Temple Turmeric. Away from the blender, Tess also enjoys a diverse performance career. She has toured internationally with acclaimed theater productions, worked in film and TV, and lent her voice to commercial campaigns, audiobooks, and popular videogame characters. ​​​​​​​

I'm happy to have Tess share how they're finding Rhythm and Resilience right now, and how we can do the same. I invite you to tune in as we unite as a community.

Looking forward to spending time together for some R & R.

Join Dr. Michelle and Tess as they talk about:

• Celebration! How Tess inspired Dr. Robin with the word "celebrate".
• How Tess discovered inspiration comes from unexpected places.
• Putting a positive spin on the unknown.
• Viewing COVID-19 as a gift, sometimes successfully and sometimes not.
• Tess' food evolution from serious to fun.
• Opening up the spirit and the heart.
• Tess' health philosophy on good, better, best.
• Making data-based decisions while remaining fluid.
• Meeting people where they are.
• The idea that there is only one story we're all living, the story of redemption.
• Human connection, how social media influences bonding
• Failures are the most valuable steps.
• Tess' medicine she has to offer the world.

The journey is a cha-cha, sometimes you take a step backwards to take a step forward. - Tess Masters

Mentioned In This Episode

• Blender Girl
• Tess's Detox Programs
• Live Cooking Classes with Tess
• 5 Minute Journal App
• Steven Acuff - Macrobiotics
• Scott Brick

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