The Viva Podcast

In our latest episode our hosts Jor-El and Rachel talk about mental health issues in pop culture. From public meltdowns (think Kanye and Britney circa 2007) all the way to Yankees Ace CC Sabathia (we love you CC!) Demi Lovato and Amanda Bynes, they weigh in on how public conversations about mental health impact our collective mental health and often reinforce stigma.

Please share your thoughts on mental health in pop culture with us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc and feel free to leave a rating and review on iTunes. Take care!Related reading:

My love for CC Sabathia and Visibility

An Open Letter to Yankess Ace CC Sabathia

How do you stay grateful when times are tough?

In our latest episode hosts and licensed therapists Jor-El Caraballo and Rachel Gersten talk how to practice gratitude during tough times. Obviously, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us and during tough times it can be hard to acknowledge the positives in our lives. Sometimes it can even feel disingenuous. Listen in as Rachel and Jor-El talk through how they themselves practice gratitude during tough times and how they encourage clients to think about things when times are challenging.

 As always, thank you for joining us and please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts on gratitude with us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc.  Also please spread the love and share our podcast with your friends. Don’t forget to leave a rating and review on iTunes. Until next time!

Related reading:

Feeling Down? Practice the GLAD Technique for a Positive Boost

Mainstream wellness tends to look a certain way; white, thin, mostly blonde women fill our feeds with tips on living healthier. But, why aren’t more people of color featured? This is exactly what Carolyn Su sought to change with Diverse We Run (@diversewerun). 

Join Rachel and Jor-El as they talk with Carolyn Su (Instagram: @irunfortheglory) about diversity in wellness and why representation is so important in embracing acceptance and inviting internal self-reflection. We think that you’ll learn a lot from this episode and hopefully you’ll join us in the ongoing conversation online.

Thank you for listening and please feel free to reach out to us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc.  Also please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Until next time!

This week our hosts Rachel and Jor-El talk with runner, host and health advocate Jonathan Levitt. Jonathan works for a company called Inside Tracker which offers personalized health and nutrition recommendations based on blood biomarkers (that you typically won’t get from your doctor!). As Jonathan puts it “we remove the opinion” on nutrition and lifestyle and rely on science. What a concept! 

This is an incredibly informative episode on the benefits of personalized healthcare and how it can be used to create a more optimal life designed specifically for you.

We hope you enjoy it! You can follow Jonathan on Instagram at @jwlevitt and you can learn more about Inside Tracker at their website.  As always, Thank you for listening and please feel free to reach out to us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc.  Also please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Until next time!

It’s hard to know when to step in when the people you love and care about might be going through a rough time. When is the right time to be seriously concerned about their mental health? And when is it just a slump?  

In our latest episode our hosts and licensed therapists Rachel and Jor-El answer these questions, and give some tangible examples on how you might respond when you want to offer your support to a loved one. 

Here are some related blog posts you might find helpful:

Is there a right way to help?

Want to help? Don’t wait until someone is struggling.

Setting boundaries with friends and loved ones.

What is therapy and how can it help you?

Thank you for listening and please feel free to reach out to us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc.  Also please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Until next time!

In light of recent events around racism going more mainstream, Rachel and Jor-El wanted to offer some therapist-led insight to help you become a better white ally in the fight for equality. In this latest episode, Rachel and Jor-El speak from their lived experiences as people, and as therapists, and model ways that you can move forward in allyship and be a part of progressive change.

In this episode you will learn some tips on how to engage with other white people (and other POC) when they may be behaving or thinking in racist ways. It’s hard, but necessary, work. We hope this helps you on your journey.

Content advisory: Please note this episode includes discussion of depression and suicide. Please be advised.In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El have a sit down with writer, social media manager, and mental health advocate Theodora Blanchfield. In this episode Theodora shares about her experiences with depression, grief and suicide. She offers up a story of resilience detailing her experiences with treatment, suicidality and the path forward in therapy and the new treatment that’s making all the difference. Tune in to hear her amazing story!If you are struggling with mental health issues, depression or thoughts of suicide here are some helpful resources to consider:National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

 Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Have you ever experienced a song or movie that changed your life?  We definitely have!

In our most recent episode, hosts Jor-El and Rachel talk about some of the most meaningful media they’ve experienced in their lives (+ some listener submissions!).  We hope that you enjoy this fun episode as we share some of our favorites and explore the utility of media in our lives, especially when times are tough.

Would you like to be a part of our podcast? If so, please feel free to reach out to us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc to submit your questions or topics you think we should cover. We greatly appreciate all your feedback.  Also, help others find us better and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!

Have you been curious about how to get started in therapy, but felt unsure about how to do it? Have no fear - we’re here to answer your questions!

In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El take on this listener submitted question on how to get started in therapy. They cover everything from how to search for a therapist and how to know if you’ve got the right fit for you.  Therapy is confusing and can be difficult too. We hope this episode provides some clarity and inspiration for you to get started.

And if you’re in NY state and interested in working with a member of the Viva Wellness team, hit up the New Clients page.

Thank you for listening and please feel free to reach out to us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc.  Also please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Until next time!

There have been some many (generally helpful) think pieces about how to adjust our lives during COVID-19.  In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El talk more about how they’ve been adjusting and how it’s so important to extend ourselves grace during these times. They also talk about the necessity of holding multiple emotions at the same time  (like feeling grateful and pissed!) during the pandemic.

We hope this episode helps you better process your own thoughts and feelings about life during this virus.  Please feel free to join the conversation with us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc, @rachelgersten and @jorelcaraballo. And if you feel compelled, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Thanks for listening!