Stress Management + Resilience Tools for Your Happified Life

Host Susi Vine welcomes Dr. Karyn Shanks, MD, to discuss the power of science-grounded, whole-person healing to restore wellbeing even after chronic complex illness or burnout. Dr. Shanks, author of the book “Unbroken: Reclaim Your Wholeness,” shares how she recognized that current medical training excelled for acute care but lacked tools for chronic conditions, as a functional medicine approach finally relieved her own lifelong issues of recurring injuries due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. 

They explore how chronic illness reflects adaptive survival patterns rather than someone being “broken,” and how your story and feelings of personal agency along with trauma-informed nervous system support can influence healing. Dr. Shanks explains the limitations of reductionist, symptom-focused care and the impact of chronic stress, reminding listeners that resilience is your birthright, and reclaiming whole health can begin with curiosity, presence, and self awareness. 

Inside this episode:

• 02:33 From Conventional to Functional Medical Care
• 04:03 Living With EDS
• 07:50 Finding Agency and Understanding Epigenetics
• 10:56 The Power of Story
• 14:16 Trauma and the Nervous System
• 19:30 Losing Our Personal Connection
• 21:30 Reductionism in Medicine
• 25:35 Why Modern Care Needs More Time
• 27:09 Science Meets Ancient Wisdom
• 28:15 Symptoms vs Root Causes
• 29:30 Stress Causes Problems Upstream
• 33:15 Emotional Trauma and Physical Body Connection
• 35:50 Resilience as Birthright
• 39:17 Why The Process of Healing Can Hurt
• 41:38 Presence as Daily Practice
• 44:04 A Trauma Informed Healing Portal, The Future is Almost Here

Connect with Dr. Karyn Shanks, explore her books and get updates via her website:  KarynShanksMD.com 

Learn more about the impact of your environment and physical stress in this conversation with Dr. Aly Cohen 

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at happifiedlife.com 

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Happified host Susi Vine explores how empathetic, caring people can stay aware of world events without becoming overwhelmed, burned out, or hopeless. She distinguishes caring - staying aware and taking action toward positive outcomes - from carrying, which includes treating every headline as a personal emergency, and ruminating to the point of overwhelm, even burnout. Susi explores the value of boundaries around attention and news consumption, suggesting small, sustainable actions and the importance of seeking positive moments even in the midst of heavy times. 

A brief mindfulness exercise invites you to set down what isn’t yours to carry. 

Inside this episode:

• 02:03 The Heaviness of Empathy in Difficult Times
• 05:12 Care Versus Carrying
• 13:10 When Carrying Is Real
• 15:44 People Pleasing And Guilt
• 19:18 Boundaries Around Attention
• 21:35 Three Guiding Questions
• 25:10 Small Actions Matter
• 28:37 Sustain Your Capacity
• 34:11 Joy And Resilience
• 38:48 Guided Mindfulness Reset
• 43:07 Recap And Closing

3 Questions to Check In: 

1. Why does this matter to me 
2. What is within my power to do today
3. What will help me sustain my capacity to care
    

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at happifiedlife.com, and join the conversation in the Live with Less Stress facebook group. 

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Host Susi Vine and her guest Stavros, founder of the artistic tea brand Leaf Sweat, explore inspiration, creativity, and mindfulness. Stavros is a lifelong creative, finding expression as a documentary filmmaker, author, musician, and artist, and shares how discovering herbal tea brought him the focus he needed through the pressure of editing a documentary film. From the ashes of a failed art-studio venture, he developed custom 12 blends that grew into a wholesale business. Stavros talks about meeting his own high standards and being able to pivot after a trademark challenge undermined his original Vampire brand. The conversation ranges from managing ego, making space for ideas, and holding space for diverse creative pursuits. Stavros describes his goal to bring “make the leaf sweat” into common parlance, and find authentic expression by honoring the artistic process.

Inside this episode:

• 00:57 Meet Stavros and Leaf Sweat
• 02:00 Tea Discovery and Curiosity
• 04:57 Tea as Creative Fuel
• 07:35 Blending Breakthrough
• 09:47 From Art Studio to Brand
• 11:16 Signature Blends with Dark Flair
• 14:35 Suitcase Sales to Loyal Clients
• 16:50 Vampire Pivot
• 19:07 Staying Inspired as Creators
• 21:19 Creativity Flows and Connects
• 23:31 Making Space for the Spark
• 24:18 Ego and Perception
• 25:52 Tea Snob Confessions
• 27:20 Mindfulness in Tea
• 28:13 Writing Process Ritual
• 30:14 Tuning the Creative Filter
• 31:45 Ideas Find Their Maker
• 34:10 Leaf Sweat Vision
• 37:24 Crazy Shoots and Rebrands
• 40:03 Leaf Sweat Online
• 40:37 Gimme Some of That Stuff

Find Stavros online at leafsweat.com and @leaf.sweat on Social /  Find Tacos and Venus and Anatomy of a Mixtape by Cherokee Starlight on Spotify 

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at happifiedlife.com

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Host Susi Vine revisits people-pleasing and the hidden mental and emotional labor it creates, focusing on what happens next, when you find your “No". You may be feeling guilty or wanting to soften newly established boundaries, however Susi invites you to notice that patterns of being the helper or peacekeeper may be tied to identity and self-worth, to practice tuning into quieter signals of what you truly want and ways in which to receive support. She encourages listeners to make choices from love rather than fear, and care for others without trying to protect them from painful lessons as everyone learns and loves in reciprocity.

In this two-part Happified series, we explore how to recognize where people pleasing is costing you your own voice, create boundaries that honor your needs, and move beyond guilt and approval-seeking to build the self-trust to live and express yourself more authentically. 

Catch episode 1 Here: https://3xlessstress.com/people-pleasing/ 

Inside this episode: 

• 01:20 The Healthier Boundary Conundrum
• 04:01 Second Guessing Your ”No”
• 05:05 Guilt Is Not Proof
• 08:57 When Others Push Back
• 10:43 Stop Over Explaining
• 12:43 The Helper’s Identity Trap
• 16:25 Let Others Learn
• 19:38 Practice Receiving Help
• 20:11 Rediscover What You Want
• 22:30 Body Signals And Preferences
• 24:55 Aligned Choices And Compromise
• 26:23 Authentic Communication

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at https://happifiedlife.com

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Susi Vine is joined by Dr. Gary Sprouse, a retired primary care physician who now uses hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming to help people reduce stress and access their “happy place.” The author of ‘Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress,’ Dr. Sprouse describes “stress blindness,” distinguishes stressors from stress responses, and outlines “happy place” rooms, such as gratitude, pleasure, anticipation, fulfillment, that you can decorate as you desire. He explains how perceptions arise from a “perspective prism” and how reframing can transform trauma, panic, and low self-esteem to end cycles of overwhelm and victimhood. Dr. Sprouse pokes holes in the prevailing addiction disease model, sharing his “stress reducer loop” concept that recognizes coping mechanisms and resolves the source of stress to help his patients successfully free themselves from the habits that sabotage their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Inside this episode:

• 02:41 From Western Medicine to Neurolinguistic Programming
• 05:13 Stress Blindness Explained
• 06:53 Defining Stress
• 08:23 Finding Your Happy Place
• 12:33 Gratitude and Perspective
• 14:49 50 Point Wake Up!
• 15:36 Perspective Prism Model
• 21:31 Reframing Trauma with Hypnosis
• 23:56 Victim to Creator Mindset
• 26:41 How the Brain Stores Fear
• 28:53 From Trauma to Growth
• 29:50 Rethinking Addiction Models
• 31:39 Stress Reducer Loops Explained
• 36:55 Addressing Stress to Break Loops
• 39:13 Three Types of Loops
• 39:34 Self Sacrifice Trap
• 42:11 Control and Lifeguard Story
• 44:53 Stress Ingredients Framework
• 48:13 De Lumping Overwhelm

Resources: 

• Connect with Dr. Sprouse online at thelessstressdoc.com and stay tuned for his new books coming soon: Highway to Your Happy Place, Mile Marker 2 and a book describing his new approach to addiction called New Outcomes, The Stress Reducer Loop.  
• Dr. Sprouse recommends ‘The Power of Ted’  book

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at happifiedlife.com, and join the conversation in the Live with Less Stress facebook group.  

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Host Susi Vine speaks directly to people pleasers about why it can feel easier to defend loved ones than to protect one’s own peace, exploring the intersection of boundaries, self-care, and authentic self-expression. She distinguishes kindness from people-pleasing, and uncovers the emotions like fear, guilt, obligation, anxiety, and conflict avoidance that continue the pattern. Listeners can practice tuning in to whether a “yes” is genuine or motivated by discomfort, explore the costs of overcommitting, and how emotions like resentment carry useful information. Practical tools include mindfulness, the “power of pause,” and body-based check-ins, emphasizing that boundaries are stress-management tools that protect your personal peace, energy and wellbeing.

Inside this episode: 

Related Podcast Episodes: 

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at happifiedlife.com, and join the conversation in the Live with Less Stress facebook group. 

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Dr. Amy Behimer joins Susi on Happified to share her tools refined in her own work to meet the challenges of myriad autoimmune diagnoses, including multiple sclerosis at the age of 27.  As a Doctor of Pharmacy and National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, she brings a truly complementary approach to restoring autoimmune health through optimized inner and outer habits, including mindset, nutrition and restorative practices. 

Dr. Amy shares how Western medicine and functional approaches can work in synergy, and how health can mean so much more than simply “the absence of disease” when you focus on the days in between medical visits where essential lifestyle habits are built. Exploring the power of mindset coaching to reframe optional thoughts, how emotions influence habits, and how to start small—one habit at a time—to build resilience and self-efficacy, Dr. Amy makes true wellbeing feel attainable even if you’re starting out with low energy and a maxed out schedule. 

Inside this episode: 

Connect with Amy online: 

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at happifiedlife.com, and join the conversation in the Live with Less Stress facebook group. 

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Host Susi Vine shares Bach flower essences as a key tool in her stress resilience toolkit to help balance big, overwhelming emotions without numbing them. She describes current stressors—caregiving, relationship strain, social and political division, troubling news, financial uncertainty—and explains the important messages our emotions are trying to deliver, the power of emotional vocabulary, and encourages curiosity, fostering personal awareness so feelings don’t lead to reactions that can cause more emotional chaos. 

Inside this episode:

Susi explains what flower essences are, highlighting Rescue Remedy and specific Bach essences for overwhelm, fear, mental chatter, overzealous passion, anger and resentment, discouragement and despair, guilt and shame, authenticity and boundaries, and grief and transition. She notes essences are gentle and generally safe for all ages of people and even pets.

Free Resources:

More Support from Susi:

Search all episodes of Happified by topic at happifiedlife.com, and join the conversation in the Live with Less Stress facebook group. 

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Host Susi Vine welcomes Terry Healey, an author, business strategist, keynote speaker, and a facial cancer survivor, to discuss overcoming adversity and building resilience. Diagnosed at 20 with a rare fibrosarcoma, Healey underwent more than 30 procedures while finishing UC Berkeley and beginning a high-tech career. He describes losing confidence and hitting rock bottom, then rebuilding his confidence and self-esteem through reflection, goal setting, gratitude, and visualization. Healey explains Martin Seligman’s “three Ps” and shares his REBAR framework for individuals and organizations, emphasizing growth mindset, healthy culture, servant leadership, learning from failure, boundaries, empathy, and forgiveness. He highlights skier Jamie MoCrazy’s recovery from traumatic brain injury and demonstrates the profound power of practicing gratitude to shift attitude and transform your reality.

Inside this episode: 

Learn more about Terry and his work at www.terryhealey.com 

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!

Host Susi Vine shares reflections after returning to Southern California from a seven-day Camino de Santiago experience on the Camino Portugués as a “champagne pilgrim.” Calling upon the Camino’s long history and significance, she describes surprises and lessons picked up along the way, adopting a new rhythm and noticing the extensive economy of supporting pilgrims along the Camino. Tune in for a mindful perspective of adventure travel, the different reasons it beckons and the lessons that last long beyond the end of the path.

Inside this episode:

Links: 

The information in this podcast, or in any linked materials, are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific health problem, and it is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The content of this podcast is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. It provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects that are deemed reliable at the time of production.

Always consult with your health care provider so that they can address your specific situation with all the information and knowledge they need in order to provide the fullest extent of medical support that you require.

Be well, and thrive!