You will not want to miss this episode; it is near and dear to my heart! Jolene Park was one of three people who personally changed the trajectory of my life. When someone told me to check out Jolene Park's famous TED Talk, and her resources on Gray Area Drinking, I said, "Huh? Gray Area Drinking? What the heck is that?"....Little did I know in that moment that that phrase, and Jolene's description of what it means to be a Gray Area Drinker, would ultimately lead me to give up alcohol for good. Leaving alcohol behind has changed my life in such profound ways that it's difficult to capture in words. It often brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

I am so excited to bring this episode to the world because I know that so many people, especially women, are seriously struggling in this area. I see it in my friends, I see it on social media, and I see it in my community, even in my FAITH COMMUNITY, which Jolene and I decided was an important topic to discuss, so we did!

I can't wait to hear how this episode blesses you, your family, your loved ones, your sisters in Christ, and beyond. It's a long one, but so worth your time friends.

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Jolene Park is a sought after speaker and leading authority on Gray-Area Drinking. Her pioneering TED talk has been viewed 400,000 times! Wowza! She’s a functional nutritionist and health coach who provides a new and revolutionary way to rewire, replenish and repair the nervous system after quitting drinking. Her NOURISH method is applicable to anyone questioning their drinking, or who has already quit — especially those who don’t have a crash-and-burn drinking story. Today, Jolene guides clients through the missing physiological pieces that they need to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, anxiety and cravings. She also trains healthcare practitioners on the importance of nourishing neurotransmitters and supporting their client’s nervous system in a comprehensive way. Her work has been featured on NPR and many other outlets. Jolene is a Colorado native and currently lives in Charleston, SC. 

To learn more about Jolene and her offerings, you can find her at the following links:

Website https://grayareadrinkers.com

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/jolene__park/

Coach Training https://healthydiscoveries.mykajabi.com/nourish

TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jolene_park_gray_area_drinking?language=en

In this episode I chat with my teacher and mentor, Christina Veselak! I took Christina's course on Recovery Nutrition and Amino Acid Therapy in 2017. Her Level 1 training program helped launch me into the world of addiction nutrition and taught me what NO OTHER PROGRAM is teaching: how to feed a recovering brain! Christina is the founder of The Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition, and she is on a mission to spread a vital message. If you are a clinician working in the field of addiction recovery, this episode will be of special importance. I had so much fun catching up with Christina, discussing her newest project, the non-profit Eating Protein Saves Lives, and her nationwide campaign.

To learn more about Christina, the Academy, her non-profit, and all the programs she offers, please visit the following links.

Options for Discovering & Experiencing more about Amino Acid Therapy and Nutritional Recovery.

Option 1 - FREE Practice Enhancement Session with Christina                 https://calendly.com/aminoacidtherapy 

Option 2 - FREE Practice Enhancement Session with Mark              https://go.oncehub.com/AcademyforAddictionandMentalHealthNutrition 

Option 3 - “Discover The Power of Nutrition in Recovery” 6-Hour Introductory Training $180                

https://aminoacidtherapy.com/peer-coach-training-and-recovery/           NEXT COURSE: Sat 16th September

Option 4 - “How To Do Amino Acid Therapy” On-demand training + 1 Coaching Call $129                  

https://aminoacidtherapy.com/course-lesson-1/# 

Option 5 - Christina's Weekly Amino Club Weekly group ‘Using Amino Acid Therapy’ Case Coaching  $50 per month 

https://aminoacidtherapy.com/the-amino-club/  

Option 6 - ”Feed the Brain, First!” 12-Hour On-demand training $900

[ Deductible from any Full Coaching and Certification Courses]                  https://aminoacidtherapy.com/two-day-intensive-course/ 

Option 7 - Full Coaching and Certification Courses $398 per month                  https://aminoacidtherapy.com/course-all/                    

NEXT On-Demand Core Training COURSE: Starts DAILY                  

NEXT LIVE Core Training COURSE: Starts Tue 21st September    

Eating Protein Saves Lives Website - 

https://eatingproteinsaveslives.org/

Feeding Recovery Network Meetings - https://eatingproteinsaveslives.org/feeding-recovery-network-meetings/ (Resumes on October)

In today's episode, I take on the topic of Healthy Fats. What are healthy fats, where can we find them in the diet, which specific types of fats may help recovery outcomes, and which fats should we all avoid. Healthy fats are an essential part of everyone's diet, but there is often confusion around how much we should consume and what are the best sources. I attempt to clear up some of the myths and confusion in this episode. If you have questions about anything related to nutrition in recovery, please send your questions to [email protected]. I will start to compile a list of questions that Nikki and I will answer on the air.

In today's episode I chat with Meghan Bottom, a faith based Mental Health Coach., We have a great discussion regarding anxiety and depression, and how practices that merge science and faith can help you to overcome various mental health disorders.

Megan is a highly skilled Christian counselor and Christian Mental Health Coach dedicated to helping individuals and couples find healing, growth, and fulfillment in their lives and relationships. With a deep passion for integrating faith and clinical counseling techniques, Megan offers a compassionate and holistic approach that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and relational aspects of her clients' lives.

With years of experience in the field, Megan has a deep understanding of the challenges and complexities that individuals and couples face. From an individual counseling standpoint, she is practiced in overcoming anxiety, beating depression, healthy boundary setting and overcoming trauma. She also enjoys working with couples and specializes in relationship struggles, communication issues, conflict resolution, premarital counseling, and marital enrichment. Megan believes that God's love and wisdom can transform relationships and guide individuals towards healthier connections and deeper intimacy.

If you would like to learn more about Megan's resources or how to get in touch with her, she can be reached at the following links.

https://www.facebook.com/MeganBottomSpeaker/
https://www.instagram.com/_meganbottom_/
https://bookme.name/broken2blessed

In this episode my friend and colleague Jeff Jones who is an LPC, CACIII, Nutritional Recovery Life Coach and owner of The Family Recovery Solution, shares with us what he calls a "spotlight diagram", that gives a visual of how family members organize themselves around their loved one who is struggling with addiction. You can access the Spotlight Diagram here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b72k1yskohwnp9v/Screenshot%20%28253%29.png?dl=0

Jeff discusses the different roles that family members play during the stress and chaos of navigating addiction, including what he calls the "blamer", the "helper", the "avoider", the "distracter", the 'distancer", and the "object of focus". Jeff shares why family members take on these roles, what that looks like, as well as what these individuals can do to move towards healthier interaction.

Jeff's diagram and explanation of these roles can really help individuals better understand how they themselves have developed coping skills that may either be helping or hurting the situation, and how you can get really curious about your own behavior. Jeff believes that whole family healing must take place in order to give the person suffering from addiction their best shot at abstinence and recovery.

Jeff is an amazing resource for families looking to develop their tool box of healthy coping skills so they can best support their loved ones. If you would like to learn more about Jeff's resources you can connect with him here:

In this episode Nikki and I trade places, while she gives us the low down on mindfulness and meditation. Nikki has spent years and countless hours in training, teaching and education, to better understand these two practices, where they are similar, how they different, and how they can be applied to radically change your life. I have personally benefited from mindfulness practices resulting in major behavioral changes around everything from food, to nicotine to alcohol (plus hair sniffing but you'll have to listen to find out what that means)...Nikki shares with us her highly practical tips on how to make both of these practices more approachable, and the many resources available to help you begin. I hope you'll give this episode a listen and consider adding one or both of these practices to your recovery tool kit!

In today's episode I chat with Helen Duyvestyn, a Holistic Mental Health Coach and Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Helen has made it her mission to educate nurses in New Zealand about the importance of nutrition for mental health. Helen was the keynote speaker for the Auckland District Health Board where she shared striking studies and undeniable evidence that demonstrated nutrition must play a role in mental health care moving forward if we're going to make any difference in this world wide epidemic. Helen shared with us her story of how she moved from traditional nursing to mental health coaching, and the challenges she began to realize individuals face when trying to get well using conventional approaches to psychiatric illness. One of my favooitre parts of this episode is when Helen and I discuss how incredibly simple it can be to begin changing the diet, and the remarkable results you can see in such a short amount of time. We can talk about specific nutrients all day long, but often times people are just simply undernourished globally, and just need a a bit of a bump in a few areas to start making a noticeable difference in their lives. It really doesn't need to be rocket science and I love how approachable mental nutrition can be, with the right support and the right tools! I hope you'll give episode a listen, Helen was a pleasure to have on the show! Be well friends!

If you'd like to learn more about Helen and what she offers, you can connect with her on her website One Life:https://www.onelifenz.com/

In today's episode I chat with my friend and returning guest Matt Salis, the author of Soberevolution (a book about how to survive an alcoholic marriage) and host of the Untoxicated Podcast. I was casually listening to episode 197 of Matt's podcast when he started talking about how shame has creeped back into his life 6 years into sobriety, but this time it circles around food. I was so moved by what Matt shared that I knew I had to have him on to explore this topic deeper! Turns out, the same patterns we develop around alcohol consumption, hiding, lying, defensiveness and deflections, can rear their ugly head when it comes to our relationship with food. Matt and I discuss what happens when other people judge our food choices, when we judge ourselves for our food choices, and where alcohol and food are different when it comes to moderation. We discuss the role of will power, the importance of releasing rigidity, and the power of vulnerability. Shame and perfectionism are major enemies to progress, and there's just no room for them in a resilient recovery. I hope that Matt's vulnerability with this topic inspires and encourages you to better understand your personal relationship food, and know that we are all in this together!

If you want to learn more about Matt and his resources he can be reached at the following links:

In this episode I chat with Becky Doidge, an SLP and Feeding Specialist who helps her patients move from a primarily processed foods diet to a more varied and nutrient dense one. Becky works with special populations including those suffering from ARFID and Eosinophilia Esophagitis, but the strategies she uses to help individuals move away from eating a highly restricted diet (due to fear, sensory issues like taste and texture etc.), are highly applicable to anyone who considers themselves a "picky eater". In active addiction we can become addicted to "comfort", which can keep us stuck eating the same foods over and over because they're consistent and highly predictable (a Cheez-It will always tastes like a Cheez-It), foods that feel good on our stomach, and foods that do not overwhelm our senses. If I had a dollar for every time I heard "vegetables are too bitter"...! Becky introduces us to the idea of interoception, one of the "senses" we often forget about during the experience of eating, and how we can use it to expand our palettes. The most surprising strategy that Becky shares with is has to do with mindset and the way we speak about our food. Surprise, surprise, our thoughts and language matter when we are trying to change a behaviour! Becky shares why anxiety about food can be a good thing, and why playing with your food is a non-negotiable! I love the strategies she shares with us in this episode and I have started to implement them in my own life (hello cheese grater in the bottom drawer!). If you're a picky eater, are the primary care giver for a picky eater or just want to learn how to move away from a diet full of processed foods and incorporate more nutrient dense foods like fruits and vegetables, this episode is for you! I hope you'll give it a listen and consider using some of these strategies in your own life. Be well friends, and let's mature those palettes together!

If you would like to learn more about Becky's services, she can be reached through her private practice website at Thrive Feeding Therapy:

https://www.thrivefeedingtherapy.com/

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a 10 week class that today's guest Alyssa Vogelwede, taught about the science of building joy. My mind was blown on so many levels during the course that I just knew I had to have Alyssa on to share her wisdom with us. I had never really given joy much thought, other than holding the belief that it was not much different than "happiness", but boy was I wrong! Alyssa shares with us the distinctly different traits of joy, where it's housed in the brain, how it operates much like a battery charger to the rest of the brain, and it's relationship with desperately needed skills in recovery like emotional regulation, maturity and character development.

Alyssa shares with us the brains capacity for building joy, the basic ingredients necessary to begin the process, and how to start exercising your joy muscle so you can build more joy into your life. She highlights the especially important topic of relationships, and how joy fertilizes the soil for healthy community development. She also gives us practical tips on how to amplify joy throughout the day, so we can build our emotional resilience and capacity for big feelings. Alyssa and I discuss the concept of "joy camp", how we can map our brains back to joy, and how we can make joy our default emotion. Lastly, Alyssa takes us through a 5 step process of how information comes into our brains, and how our brain uses old and or updated files to process that information. She also shares where the brain can short circuit, potentially leading us to use "pseudo joys" like processed foods, substances or unhealthy behaviors in place of true joys, and how we can begin to recognize where pseudo joys may be taking up space in our lives.

This was truly one of my favorite episodes so far. This discussion was so incredibly helpful to me, and I know it's going to bless so many of you who may be looking for ways to increase your own joy. I hope you'll give it a listen and feel as inspired as I did to start implementing some of the easy tools that Alyssa shared with us in this episode. If you would like to learn more about Alyssa or what she has to offer you can learn more about her here: https://www.claritygroup.org/alyssa-voglewede or you can reach out to her private practice at Rising Oaks in Castle Pines Colorado https://www.therisingoaks.com/

Slide of the 5 levels of information processing:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rionybmye3j2wvv/5%20Levels%20of%20the%20Brain%20%283%29.pdf?dl=0