Wellness in Today's World

How are digital technologies changing the way we think, move, communicate, and experience our bodies? What responsibility do we have in shaping that relationship? In this episode of Wellness in Today’s World, writer and educator Vanessa Chang explores the intersection of technology, history, and what it means to be human with host Dr. Debra Kawahara. Drawing on her book The Body Digital, Chang explains how technologies have always shaped our embodied experience, while arguing that the pace and scale of today’s digital tools and AI have amplified their effects. She examines both the benefits of technology, including accessibility and connection, and its risks, including data collection, loss of consent, and the outsourcing of cognitive and emotional labor. 

The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping education, cities, and other systems—and why communities should have a voice in deciding how these technologies are implemented. Ultimately, Chang encourages us to view humans and technology as engaged in an ongoing process of co-evolution and to participate intentionally in shaping that relationship.

Immigration is more than a policy debate; it’s a human experience shaped by family, trauma, resilience, culture, and belonging. As part of Latinx Heritage Month, this episode of Wellness in Today’s World features Dr. Alfonso Mercado, psychologist, researcher, and professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He discusses what psychological science can teach us about the mental health challenges facing immigrant communities. Drawing on his lived experience and years of work along the U.S.-Mexico border, Dr. Mercado explores the lasting effects of family separation and immigration policies, the importance of culturally responsive and trauma-informed care, and the resilience that immigrant communities bring to the United States. He also discusses the APA’s updated research on immigration and health while challenging psychologists, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community members to recognize the humanity behind the statistics and take action to support their communities. 

What does it mean to reconnect with yourself when life, relationships, or expectations have caused you to lose touch with who you are? In this episode of Wellness in Today’s World, recorded on-location in Washington, DC, host Dr. Debra Kawahara visits with psychologist, ordained minister, professor, and author Dr. Thema Bryant to explore the importance of reclaiming joy, authenticity, and self-worth.

Drawing on her book Matters of the Heart, Dr. Bryant discusses why we must allow ourselves to experience the full range of emotions rather than rushing toward positivity, and how vulnerability and self-acceptance create the foundation for genuine connection. She also discusses integrating spirituality with evidence-based psychology, honoring cultural and Indigenous wisdom, and bringing psychological knowledge beyond traditional academic and clinical settings. The conversation ultimately offers a powerful reminder to choose yourself, nurture your relationships, and “go back and get yourself” when you’ve left parts of yourself behind.

What if healing from adversity isn’t about returning to who we were before something difficult happened, but learning how to live meaningfully with what has changed? In this episode of Wellness in Today’s World, host Dr. Debra Kawahara sits down with psychiatrist, humanitarian mental health expert, and author of Why We Suffer and How We Heal, Dr. Suzan Song. Recorded on location in Washington, DC, the episode explores why suffering is an inevitable part of life and how we can find meaning, connection, and purpose amid instability. Drawing on her personal experiences and humanitarian work, Dr. Song introduces her “three friends of winter”—narrative, ritual, and purpose—and explains how they can help us make meaning from adversity, restore a sense of safety, and live according to our values. The conversation also challenges the emphasis on individual healing by highlighting the importance of community, co-regulation, and collective connection. 

Why do so many people feel that they’re never doing enough? In this thought-provoking episode of Wellness in Today’s World, psychiatrist and Guilt Free author Dr. Jennifer Reid explores with host Dr. Debra Kawahara why guilt can become such a persistent burden, particularly for women. She distinguishes between healthy, adaptive guilt and the excessive guilt driven by unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, caregiving roles, and social conditioning. Introducing her “Guilt Equation,” Dr. Reid explains how the gap between expectations and perceived reality fuels chronic self-criticism while offering practical strategies for cultivating self-compassion, setting healthy boundaries, and aligning decisions with personal values. The conversation ultimately reframes guilt not as an individual failing, but as a shared experience shaped by culture—one that can be transformed through awareness, community, and intentional change.

Thirty-six years ago this month, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. In this enlightening episode of Wellness in Today's World, Alliant University Distinguished Professor Dr. Rhoda Olkin shares her personal journey as a clinical psychologist and disability rights advocate. She discusses the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in psychology, the importance of mentorship, and the need for greater inclusion and understanding within therapeutic practices. Dr. Olkin emphasizes the significance of viewing disability as a part of human diversity rather than a deficit, and she calls for systemic changes in organizations and society to better accommodate and support individuals with disabilities. Her insights provide a roadmap for creating a more inclusive future in mental health and beyond. 

What makes for a truly rich existence? In this episode of Wellness in Today’s World, host Dr. Debra Kawahara sits down with renowned psychologist Dr. Shige Oishi to discuss his groundbreaking concept of psychological richness, the third dimension of a well-lived life alongside happiness and meaning. Drawing from decades of research in positive psychology, Dr. Oishi explains why a fulfilling life cannot always be measured by comfort, satisfaction, or purpose alone. Instead, some of life’s most transformative moments emerge from curiosity, exploration, unexpected experiences, and shifts in perspective that challenge how we see ourselves and the world. Through personal stories, research findings, and practical advice, Dr. Oishi explores how people can experience greater psychological richness by cultivating openness, lifelong learning, and embracing experiences that expand their horizons. The conversation offers listeners a compelling framework for understanding personal growth, wisdom, and wellness across every stage of life.

Just in time for this summer’s major championship sporting events, this episode of Wellness in Today’s World features host Dr. Debra Kawahara in conversation with sports psychologist Dr. Sara Hickmann about the growing mental health pressures facing athletes at every level of competition. Drawing from her experience working with professional teams including the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Jets, and Brooklyn Nets, Dr. Hickmann explores topics such as perfectionism, burnout, performance anxiety, “the yips,” and the mental difference between clutch performances and choking under pressure. The conversation also examines the impact of NIL culture, social media, and constant performance expectations on young athletes, while highlighting practical tools such as visualization, self-talk, reset routines, and cognitive flexibility that can help athletes and non-athletes alike navigate stress, adversity, and high-pressure situations.

Author Banning Lyon engages in a profound conversation about his memoir, The Chair and the Valley, in this episode of Wellness in Today’s World. He and Dr. Debra Kawahara explore themes of trauma, healing, and the transformative power of nature. Banning shares his personal journey through hospitalization, the challenges of writing about his experiences, and the importance of agency in therapy. He emphasizes that trauma does not have to define one's identity and discusses how punk rock and nature played crucial roles in his healing process. The conversation concludes with reflections on parenthood and the ongoing journey of wellness. 

In this compelling episode of Wellness in Today’s World, psychotherapist, activist, and author Satsuki Ina reflects on intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and the power of collective healing, drawing from her lived experience as a child born in a World War II incarceration camp and her decades of clinical and community work. Grounded in her memoir, The Poet and the Silk Girl, Ina shares how uncovering her parents’ letters and diaries illuminated both the depth of their suffering and the silence that shaped her upbringing, emphasizing how trauma is passed down not only through stories but through unspoken behaviors, embodied anxiety, and relational patterns.  

The conversation explores the limitations of individual therapy in addressing collective trauma and highlights the importance of community-based healing practices, including storytelling, healing circles, and “compassionate witnessing,” as pathways to reclaim voice, identity, and agency. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this episode invites listeners to view mental health as both a personal and collective journey, encouraging them to honor their histories, engage in community healing, and stand as witnesses to injustice.