The Big Silence

Today, on The Big Silence, we’re joined by Dr. Najwa Zebian, renowned activist, author, speaker, and educator in the mental health and relationships space. Her multifaceted self-help audiobook, Conversations on Letting Go, is a TBS favorite – packed with real-world advice and introspective thought exercises to help people get through the hard times and enjoy the good ones. 

We cover her inspired path as an educator of young refugees, writer, and mental health advocate – dipping into existentialism, how and why we do the things we do, and set forth ways to hack the system for joy and contentment. Touching on toxic relationships, infidelity, trust, and forgiveness – we reckon with ego and wrestle with the ultimate truth of it all – that we can’t, and never will, control the actions of others. 

As always, thank you for tuning in and supporting the show. If you’re looking for mental health support or want to donate to Therapy For All, our fund that helps people get access to therapy, visit thebigsilence.com/therapy-for-all. And if you’re interested in joining us for upcoming LIVE podcast recordings, sign up for The Big Silence newsletter at TheBigSilence.com to get access!

Resources:

• Audiobook: Conversations on Letting Go

• Website: najwazebian.com

• Instagram: @najwazebian

• TikTok: @najwazebian

• Facebook: Najwa Zebian

• Twitter: @najwazebian

• YouTube: @najwazebian

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today’s guest, Dr. James C. Jackson, is an internationally renowned expert on long COVID and its effects on cognitive and mental health functioning. He is a research professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Vanderbilt, where he is also the co-founder and director of Behavioral Health at the award-winning ICU Recovery Center, one of the first comprehensive clinical resources devoted to diagnosing and treating survivors of both mild and critical illness, including those who survived COVID-19. 

He and his team created the first psychologist-led long COVID support groups in the United States early in the pandemic and continue to offer multiple groups every week. He is the author of Clearing the Fog: From Surviving to Thriving with Long COVID. 

In today’s episode, we dive into what long COVID is, how to identify the symptoms, and tips for how to better live with its effects on your life and mental health. Dr. Jackson openly shares about his own mental health journey with OCD, supporting healthcare workers during 2020, the most detrimental impact of COVID on our society, and how to help children understand the importance of caring for their own mental health.

Dr. Jackson’s message is one of hope and encouragement, and shares that we can overcome challenges and improve our health. I’m honored to have him share his message with you all today. 

If you’re looking for mental health support or want to donate to Therapy For All, our fund that helps people get access to therapy, visit thebigsilence.com/therapy-for-all. And if you’re interested in joining us for upcoming LIVE podcast recordings, sign up for The Big Silence newsletter at TheBigSilence.com to get access!

Resources:

• Twitter: @drjimjackson 

• Clinic: Vanderbilt Adult Post-COVID Clinic

• Website: jamescjackson.com

• Email: [email protected]

• Bio: James C. Jackson, PsyD

• Read: Clearing the Fog by James C. Jackson PsyD

• Listen: Dr. Jackson on Fresh Air

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

It’s been a while since Bobby and I have gotten together for an AMA, so we’re back with a Wine Not Wednesday AMA episode! As we’re sipping on our Slate Theory Wine, we talk about our first impressions of each other and reflect on my growth, from a shy introvert to being more confident in myself and my mission in this world.

We give our honest tips for a healthy marriage and what’s been important to our relationship over the last ten years – describing how we navigate having different hobbies and interests, and unpack how we’ve evolved as individuals, and as a couple, throughout our time together. 

Overcoming challenges has been instrumental to our confidence journeys. So with that in mind, we share our experiences with race day anxiety and advice on what has helped us the most. And we answer a few rapid fire questions, like what’s our favorite book right now, our favorite food at Ski Shores, our go-to Austin lakefront restaurant, favorite guilty pleasure TV show, country song, and what we love most about living in Texas.

Resources:

• Slate Theory Wine: slatetheory.com

• One Man Show at Soho House Austin: eventbrite.com

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today’s guest Dr. Amy Kruse is the General Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Satori Neuro, a stage-agnostic venture fund focused on mental health, neurotechnology, and human flourishing. Amy leverages her decades of experience as a neuroscientist and her prior roles as an operator and a government program manager to discover transformational companies addressing the largest mental health, brain health, and wellness challenges and opportunities. She also draws on her expertise to support Satori Neuro’s portfolio companies as they evaluate and overcome scientific and implementation challenges, with a specific emphasis on deploying complex technology into real-world environments.

In this really cool conversation you’ll learn about the exciting work Dr. Amy is doing to invest in new brain and mental health technologies that will create more access and treatment options to those who need it. She shares the importance of sleep on brain health and how to improve your sleep hygiene. We also get into a super hot topic right now: mental health and psychedelics. Dr. Amy shares what the benefits are of using schedule one compounds in a therapeutic setting, the difference between or risks of experimenting with drugs recreationally, and what's really going to cause a revolution in access to mental health care. She also gives insight into what new technologies Satori Neuro is investing in now, and how we can go about addressing mental health deserts and make mental health care more accessible. Stick around to hear her top three tips for brain and mental wellness.

Resources:

• Website: satoricapital.com/team/amy-kruse-ph-d

• LinkedIn: Dr. Amy Kruse

• Men’s Mental Health Event on June 29th: One Man Show at SoHo House Austin

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today, we’re talking all about integrating the mind and body through innovative technologies with Dr. Jason Wersland, the Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Therabody. He is deeply involved in Therabody’s R&D process, starting with the invention of Theragun, the world’s first handheld percussive therapy device, to leading a team of scientists and engineers in creating the brand’s full ecosystem of wellness technologies. 

Having started his wellness career as a chiropractor, Dr. Jason has dedicated his life to giving people access to products that can enhance their health and well-being.

In this episode, we talk about the history of Therabody and the motorcycle accident that led Jason to create what he needed to heal, how your trauma can bring about blessings, and the benefits of and modalities for getting out of your head and into your body. We also talk about new Therabody technologies like the Therabody Lounger and TheraMind, with sound frequencies that activate your nervous system and healing capabilities in the body, his dream for how these technologies can impact people’s overall well-being, and trade a few top meditation and mindfulness tips.

Resources:

• Website: therabody.com

• Instagram: @therabody

• Facebook: facebook.com/therabody

• YouTube: Therabody

• Twitter: @therabody

• Episode 12: Evolving Out Loud with Kyle Cease

• Video: Slate Theory Winery Collaboration

• Instagram: @drjasonwersland 

• Facebook: facebook.com/DrJasonWersland

• Twitter: @drjasonwesland

• Joe Dispenza: drjoedispenza.com

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today's guest, joining us live in The Big Silence studio, is Trey Hardee, 2-time World Champion and 2-time Olympian (Silver in 2012) in the Decathlon. Trey was the World’s #1 ranked Decathlete four times throughout his career while racking up 4 US titles. A 7-time All-American, he also set the Collegiate Record in the Decathlon – no big deal.

Trey is also an ambassador for Flatwater Foundation, a group dedicated to providing mental health therapies surrounding a cancer diagnosis, and a coach at my gym in Austin, the Kollective.

He retired in 2017 and this is a discussion about his journey from world's greatest athlete to a man without a purpose. We talk about how he handled defeat and rebounded from “failure,” overcoming injuries and cultivating mental toughness, the low point he hit after retirement and how he began seeking help, the treatment that changed everything for him and how he has found purpose in this new phase of life. 

Trey is now sharing his story in the hopes others will find solace, camaraderie, courage, and hope along their own journeys. I'm so happy to have him here and sit down and talk about lots of good stuff. Please enjoy and share with anyone you think needs to hear it.

Resources:

• Instagram: @treyhardee

• Twitter: @treyhardee

• Participate: Calm Heart Quiet Mind Challenge

• Flatwater Foundation: flatwaterfoundation.org

• Event: bigsilence.com/kendrascottevent

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today’s super informed guest on The Big Silence is Kim Shapira, MS, RD, a practicing celebrity dietitian and nutrition therapist for the last 25 years. She’s famous for her 6 rules to develop and sustain a normal relationship with food, which forms the outline of her new book, This Is What You’re Really Hungry For, and our insightful conversation, today.

Kim specializes in helping people lose weight with a healthy mindset, the deep connections between mental health and eating, and disordered eating – all subjects we unpack in this episode. Surviving a rare health diagnosis, a dozen surgeries, and Epstein Bar as a youth – her story is one of triumph over pain, starring holistic practices and clean, mindful eating.

We begin by carefully reframing diet language – identifying triggers and where/when/how we develop our highly unique coping mechanisms – before going deep on her 6 rules and applying them to your life.

Resources:

• Website: kimshapiramethod.com
• Follow Kim Shapira on Instagram: @kimshapiramethod
• Follow Kim Shapira on Facebook: @kimshapiramethod
• Follow Kim Shapira on TikTok: @kimshapiramethod
• Explore: Norman Cousins, Still Laughing | Washing Post 
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

I am so excited to have Sasha Pieterse-Sheaffer on the show. A passionate actress, author, and entrepreneur, she’s been an actress for 22 years with the privilege of working on some fantastic television shows and films, including the hit series Pretty Little Liars. 

She’s also the author of In Good Taste, a book inspired by her love of hosting and passion for healthy living. Sasha is a proud wife and mother (her favorite role) and most recently, podcast host!

We touch on all the juicy stuff in this one… Growing up in Hollywood and her experience as a child actor, how to speak your mind and #notbeanasshole, how she and her husband work together, body shaming in the public eye, her journey with PCOS, postpartum depression and motherhood, and what confronting rejection has taught her. 

Sasha's newest venture, the Women In The Nude podcast, is a passion project exploring the issues facing women today, from body positivity to mental health, sex, and more. Make sure to check it out later this summer.

Resources:

• YouTube: Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer
• Instagram: @sashapieterse
• Instagram: @womeninthenudepodcast
• Podcast: Women in the Nude 
• Facebook: @TheSashaPietersePage
• Participate: Calm Heart Quiet Mind Challenge
• Event: bigsilence.com/kendrascottevent
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today's guest is Miki Agrawal. Miki is a social entrepreneur, advisor, and investor who uses creativity and disruptive innovation to challenge the status quo and change culture. She is the founder of several acclaimed social enterprises: TUSHY, THINX and WILD (collectively valued at over 200 million). She is also the author of the #1 best-selling books Do Cool Sh*t and Disrupt-Her. 

She passionately speaks about her 15 years of entrepreneurial adventures, from inventing products in taboo categories, to creatively launching them, to marketing and scaling them exponentially, to dealing with shocking setbacks – and shares her colorful, authentic revelations along the way.

We also unpack how growing up in a multicultural environment allowed her to see the world through various lenses and led the way to her becoming an entrepreneur and innovator, raising money for her first project at 18. 

Miki has truly found and stuck to her zone of genius, cultivated authentic connections both professionally and personally, and knows what she wants in this next phase of her life. This conversation is inspiring and deeply moving. I hope you enjoy hearing about Miki’s life and learnings as much as I did.

Resources:

• Website: mikiagrawal.com
• Instagram: @mikiagrawal
• Facebook: @twinmiki
• Pinterest: pinterest.com/mikiagrawal/_created
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikiagrawal
• Read: Do Cool Sh*t and Disrupt-Her by Miki Agrawal
• Tushy: hellotushy.com
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today's guest on The Big Silence is Dr. Doni Wilson, a naturopathic doctor, certified professional midwife, certified nutrition specialist, and author of Master Your Stress, Reset For Health. We go deep on stress, how it manifests in our bodies and minds, long term effects, and ways to effectively manage it in our day-to-day lives.

Her diverse background makes her an expert on stress as it relates to women who are pregnant or in labor, how the foods we eat can affect mood and energy levels, and even creative stress – like birthing a book! I also relay a few listener questions related to how stress directly impacts our physical health (weight fluctuations, hormones, cortisol, moods – all the good stuff) as stress is such a hot topic for so many of us.

As always, thank you for tuning in and for supporting this foundation and our mission to educate and connect people on all things mental health. So many great conversations, programs, and ideas have been created and shared – we can’t wait to keep up the positive momentum. 

One conversation can save a life; sharing, liking, reviewing, or posting about this show could mean all the difference to someone in yours. 

Resources:

• Read: Master Your Stress, Reset For Health
• Website: doctordoni.com
• Twitter: @glutenfreedoc
• Instagram: @drdoniwilson
• YouTube: @DoniWilsonND
• Podcast: Narcissism 101: There’s Always a Motive with Dr. Jaime Zuckerman #35
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.