The Problem With Perfect

It’s nearly impossible to turn on the television or open a magazine without seeing advertisements for the latest weight loss trend: GLP-1 medications, commonly known as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound. Approximately 15 million people are estimated to have tried these drugs for weight loss. However, as with any emerging health trend, it's important to consider whether these medications are safe and cost-effective.

What are the risks and benefits of these drugs? Is the pharmaceutical industry providing a quick fix for the approximately 42% (or 100 million) U.S. citizens who are obese? Are these medications the only solution to the obesity epidemic, or are lifestyle and dietary changes essential for long-term success? Dr. Nicole Dorotik joins us in this episode to address these questions and more as we explore the latest trends in the pursuit of health and wellness.

Special Guest: Dr. Nicole Dorotik

Dr. Nicole Dorotik earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed her residency at Long Beach Memorial Hospital in Long Beach, California. She is board-certified in Family Medicine and has over 20 years of clinical experience. Along with her professional accomplishments, Nicole is the proud mom to three great kiddos. 

Show notes:

Weight Comes Back When You Stop Taking Drugs Like Ozempic, Study Finds.

https://www.sciencealert.com/weight-comes-back-when-you-stop-taking-drugs-like-ozempic-study-finds#

A new era of weight loss: Mental health effects of GLP-1 drugs.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/07-08/weight-loss-drugs-mental-health

Rx History: The Rise of GLP-1s.

https://www.innovativerxstrategies.com/rx-history-glp1s/

Unintended consequences: Weight loss drugs are changing the way consumers buy groceries.

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2025/08/17/glp1-ozempic-grocery-store-food-price-weightloss/stories/202508070069.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet many of us don’t recognize the warning signs until it’s too late. 

This week, we welcome Sarah Hill, CEO of Helium and former award-winning journalist. At just 53 years old, Sarah experienced a heart attack while on vacation in Las Vegas, despite being healthy, active, and having a normal EKG. It was only because of her husband’s persistence that doctors ran the tests that ultimately saved her life.

In this powerful conversation, Sarah opens up about what happened, how it changed her perspective, and why every woman needs to take her heart health seriously. We talk about the risks, the signs you shouldn’t ignore, and what we can all be doing right now to protect our hearts and prevent more lives from being lost too soon.

Whether you’re in your 30s, 50s, or beyond, this episode will leave you both informed and inspired to prioritize your health. 

Special Guest: Sarah Hill

Sarah Hill is the CEO & Chief Storyteller of Healium, a mental fitness company blending neuroscience, immersive media, and storytelling to help people *see their feelings and learn to self-regulate. Backed by research in 9 peer-reviewed journals, Healium’s clinically validated biofeedback experiences are used by the world's top health, education, and sports organizations.

A 12-time Mid-America Emmy-winning journalist, Sarah spent 25 years leading media teams and reporting from global trauma zones working for NBC, ABC, and CBS news affiliates. After covering trauma for years, she flipped the script and began crafting stories that help people heal from it.

A media technologist, Sarah holds multiple patents for biometrically-powered stories—experiences fueled by EEG, heart rate, skin conductance, and respiration. She speaks globally on media as medicine, AI, mental fitness, and the intersection of spatial and sentient computing.

Sarah lives in Missouri with her husband (whom she lovingly counts as child #3), two grown kids, and a delightfully spoiled grandchild.

And wait, there’s one more thing you should know about Sarah. She can now add to her long list of accomplishments - she’s a heart attack survivor!

Show notes:

Heart Attack: Men vs. Women: https://theheartfoundation.org/2017/03/29/heart-attack-men-vs-women/

This week we’re talking about something we all need but often struggle to get—rest.

Join us as we unpack why God created our bodies to need sleep, the science behind how rest impacts memory and aging, and practical tips from leading sleep experts that will help you drift off more easily. You’ll hear everything from circadian rhythm hacks to soothing bedtime rituals, plus a unique spiritual cleansing practice for those nights when sleep just won’t come.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for slowing down, or wondered why rest feels so hard to prioritize, this episode is your invitation to embrace the peace and restoration you were made for.

Show notes:

Aging vs. Memory: How Sleep Affects Both. Mindful Journal #8, March 28, 2025.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#label/Podcast/FMfcgzQZTqCVHqqHrSkDCKMnBfnxZPFC.

How Sleep Rewrites the Brain to Strengthen and Optimize Memories.

https://search.app/?link=https://neurosciencenews.com/sleep-memory-optimization-28509/&utm_source=dsdf,sh/x/discover/m1/5.

6 Little Things Sleep Doctors Actually Do Every Day for Better Shut-Eye. 

https://search.app/?link=https://www.self.com/story/sleep-doctor-habits&utm_source=dsdf,sh/x/discover/m1/5.

Cleansing a Poor Night’s Sleep by Sherianna Boyle. https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/cleansing-a-poor-nights-sleep?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4.2.25&vgo_ee=T9X1vsz90fDmnGqwvNxcgAa6dUHgNxiVaej%2Ftr2DULg%3D%3A1GnvbJnKaFFce7UqD9SU4XF%2FriJAgGpG.

3 deep cleansing breaths exercise

Activate. See it! Visualize a release, calm, letting go, surrender, and peace that is as effortless as the way you might release a handful of sand back onto the beach.

Nourish. Feel it! Imagine what it would be like to squeeze the sand in your hand and then let it go.

Surrender. Say: “I allow release. I allow surrender. I allow freedom. I allow digestion. I allow feeling.”

Ease. Say: “I am feeling. I am receiving. I am surrendering. I am at peace. I am free.”

3 deep cleansing breaths

We’ve explored many types of therapy on this podcast—from talk therapy to yoga and everything in between—but one powerful, ancient healing technique we’ve known little about is sound therapy.

In this episode, we explore the surprising power of sound therapy with yoga therapist and sound healing expert Catina Topash. We sit down with Catina to unpack the science behind sound baths, how vibrational healing works, and why frequencies might just be the reset our nervous system needs.

Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or already obsessed with sound healing, this conversation will open your ears—and your heart—to a new form of wellness.

Special Guest: Catina Topash

Catina is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), E-500 RYT, YogaFit Yoga Therapy faculty member, Sound Healer, YogaFit Senior Master Trainer, and has specialty yoga training in trauma, chronic pain, nervous system disorders, heart disease, diabetes, back pain, pre/post natal, injury prevention and recovery, positive psychology, yoga for seniors, and other specialty areas. In addition, Catina holds over 25 additional certifications including American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer and DK Body Pilates.

Along with her husband Bryan, Catina owns Breathe@JJ's Folly Retreat center and Bed & Breakfast in Fayette, MO, and is the Wellness Director at Wilson's Fitness in Columbia, MO.  Catina is passionate about helping individuals live their best lives and empowering them to find their innate healing and happiness. Catina lives each day with gratitude, in a way that brings santosha, a Sanskrit term for contentment, to her life.

Despite increased awareness of the importance of mental health, many men still hesitate to seek support. While they may appear to manage their mental health challenges well, statistics tell a different story.

Several factors contribute to men's reluctance to pursue counseling, including cultural and societal norms, issues related to masculinity, and fear of the unknown. However, research shows that the benefits of talk therapy far outweigh the difficulties of dealing with anxiety, stress, grief, or depression on one’s own.

Going to therapy is much like going to the gym: to get stronger, individuals need a coach, commitment, and a bit of discomfort to maximize their goals. Welcome to Talk Therapy 101.

Show notes:

https://chrisoneth.com/blog/why-men-hate-therapy-6-reasons-why-guys-dont-like-to-see-me

Work Man Ship by Fred J. Parry

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/substance-use-in-women/sex-differences-in-substance-use

• CDC Data on Suicide & Mental Health
  https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db452.htm
• APA Guidelines for Boys and Men
  https://www.apa.org/about/policy/boys-men-practice-guidelines.pdf
• Mental Health America: Men and Mental Health
  https://mhanational.org/men-and-mental-health
• Ted Talk: “There’s no shame in taking care of your mental health” by Kevin Love
  https://youtu.be/DpdMsPgR7g0
• What Can You Expect to Get From Talking Therapy? A Guide for Men https://johnday.com/2025/01/28/what-can-you-expect-to-get-from-talking-therapy-a-guide-for-men/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com

What does it really mean to be a man of faith in today’s world—and why should women care? In this powerful and timely episode, we sit down with Fred Parry, Christian author, to explore how a man’s journey toward spiritual growth, emotional maturity, and servant leadership impacts the women around him more than we often realize.

If you’ve ever prayed for your husband to lead with love, hoped your son would grow into a man of character, or wondered how we can encourage healthier masculinity—this episode is for you.

It’s not just a conversation about men—it’s a conversation for anyone who wants stronger families, deeper faith, and real connection. Grab your favorite man and give it a listen.

Special Guest: Fred Parry 

Fred J. Parry is a former magazine publisher, radio talk show host, and television commentator. After struggling to find a meaningful relationship with Christ, Fred devoted himself to helping men understand how the Word of God can transform their lives and empower them to develop more meaningful and fulfilling relationships with God, their families, and other men. He is the author of seven Christian devotionals and Bible studies. Fred is also the founder of the CoMo Christian Men's Conference and lives in Columbia, Mo. He is and his late wife, Melody, has two sons, Max and Nick.

Fred's newest book, WorkManShip: Living, Loving and Leading As A Christian Man, is a provocative exploration of manhood that challenges contemporary norms and transcends the boundaries of political correctness. To purchase it, use the following link:

https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=ObvXyshwFh1LUlbQIorZRcwCVCiNMU5fjF9HbTM4HI1

Is it really possible to reset your emotions in just 90 seconds? In a world overflowing with stress, tragedy, and everyday annoyances, finding peace can feel impossible. But what if happiness was just a minute and a half away?

In this episode, we explore the powerful “90-Second Rule” from happiness researcher Mo Gawdat — a rule born out of unimaginable personal loss, yet designed to help us all move from rumination to resilience.

Join us as we reflect on their own struggles with letting go, discuss practical questions to break free from emotional spirals, and share why building new habits of happiness is a choice worth making. You’ll come away encouraged, equipped, and maybe even ready to start over — in this minute, this hour, or this very day.

Show Notes:

To learn more about Researcher Mo Gawdat's research, check out this article:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/05/happiness-researcher-shares-his-90-second-rule-to-live-a-better-more-fulfilled-life.html

We often think about a yoga practice as being about physical movement. Many of us know about child’s pose, downward facing dog, and tadasana. However, it may surprise you to know that the basis for all yoga practices is found in the elements of Yamas and Niyamas.

The elements of Yamas and Niyamas teach a practical, step-by-step methodology that brings understanding to our life experiences, while at the same time pointing the way to the next experience. They are like a detailed map, telling you where you are and how to look for the next landmark. They facilitate taking ownership of your life and directing it towards the fulfillment that you seek.

The five Yamas guidelines, or jewels, are about restraint. We are encouraged to practice non-violence, truthfulness, nonstealing, nonexcess, and nonresponsiveness.

These 5 Niyamas, or observances,  encourage purity, contentment, self- discipline, self-study, and surrender. These yoga guidelines do not limit us from living life, but rather they begin to open life up to us more and more fully, and they flow easily into one another in ways that are practical and easy to grasp. Join us for this episode, no yoga mat required.

Show Notes:

The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele

Brene Brown on empathy versus sympathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZBTYViDPlQ

Have you ever looked around your house, or in your closet, and wondered where did all that shtuff come from? Most of us have acquired a lot of shtuff over our lifetime, some are precious keepsakes, but the majority of our worldly possessions are just things.

Have you ever wondered what would happen to all that shtuff if your children, relatives, or friends were responsible for disposing it? Research tells us our kids don’t want our shtuff, and the burden of disposing someone’s worldly possessions is a practical, psychological, and emotional journey not for the faint of heart.

Please join us as we discuss the book, The Swedish Art of Death Cleaning, and how to spare our loved ones of that burden.

What would we do without our four-legged family members? They bring us companionship, comfort, and laughter. They keep us healthy by inviting us to walk with them, and they gladly accompany us everywhere we go. Quite simply, they are man’s (and woman’s) best friend.
 
Something you may or may not have thought about is what would happen to your pet if something happened to you? Often, the death of a pet owner leaves many unanswered questions. Are there family members willing to adopt the pet? Is the animal up-to-date on its vaccinations? Which veterinary clinic has the pet’s medical records? Food allergies? House-trained? Good with children?

For many, our pets are treasured family members and a best friend we didn’t know we needed.

Show Notes:

Interview with Dru Dunham, Foothills Veterinary Medicine, Lakewood, CO

American Kennel Club: www.akc.org: Do Dogs Grieve the Loss of Their Human Owners?