Women In-Depth: Conversations about the Inner Lives of Women

Welcome to the podcast! Today I am very delighted to be joined by dreamer, writer, and artist Toko-pa Turner.

Toko-pa was born in a farmhouse in Devon, England by a midwife to poet-parents. Because they liked the music saying it made, they named her after the Maori deity, Toko-pa, who is the "Parent of the Mist" according to the Maori creation myth.

She came to Canada at the age of four, where her grandparents settled after the war in Poland, and was raised in a Sufi community in Montreal.

Along with yoga, meditation, Sufi dancing and singing, dreaming was an everyday part of her culture. From a very young age, Toko-pa was encouraged to share and explore her vivid dreams.

In her early twenties, Toko-pa toured with a band, eventually recording her first original album. It wasn't until her mid-twenties that she returned to the mystical teachings of Sufism and the study of dreams. She became deeply interested in Analytical Psychology and did a 3-year internship at the Jung Foundation of Ontario, while pursuing her studies in spirituality, mythology and shamanism.

In early 2001, she was awarded a scholarship to study with psycho-physiologist and lucid dreaming expert, Dr. Stephen LaBerge, in Hawaii. She spent the following year writing a documentary series, "Awake and Dreaming" which was picked up for development by Vision TV.

Blending the mystical tradition of Sufism in which she was raised with a Jungian approach to dreamwork, Toko-pa founded the Dream School in 2001 from which hundreds of students have since graduated.

Toko-pa has been interviewed by CNN News and BBC Radio and has a community of over 100,000 online readers. Her writing has been published worldwide, and she is currently releasing her first book "Belonging" which explores the themes of exile, and the search for belonging.

Sometimes called a Midwife of the Psyche, Toko-pa's work focuses on restoring the feminine, reconciling paradox, and facilitating grief and ritual practice. You can find Toko-pa on her beloved Facebook page "Dreamwork with Toko-pa" or on her website at toko-pa.com.

Welcome to the podcast! Today I am delighted to be joined by Dr. Ellis Edmunds, Psy.D. who is licensed psychologist in Oakland, California.

Ellis spent much of his childhood playing board games, card games, and video games. As a graduate student, he became interested in using games in a therapeutic context. In his training, he focused on learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness and continues to practice ACT with his clients. He also continues to love games and plays them regularly.

Ellis was born and raised in Oakland, CA and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology in 2009. Ellis received his Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) in San Francisco in 2013 where he wrote his dissertation on teaching mindfulness to socially anxious young adults. He has worked in community mental health, college counseling, and various Bay Area schools helping people from a variety of backgrounds improve their mental health and live more fulfilling lives.

Full show notes available at - https://lourdesviado.com/womenindepth

Welcome to the podcast! Today I am joined by Anita Johnston, Ph.D. who is the Director of the Anorexia & Bulimia Center of Hawaii which she co-founded in 1982 and is the Clinical Director and the Founder of the 'Ai Pono Intensive Out-Patient Eating Disorders Programs in Honolulu and 'Ai Pono Maui, a residential treatment facility in Maui. She is also Senior Clinical Consultant to EATFED intensive outpatient program in Sydney Australia.

Dr. Johnston developed Hawaii's first inpatient eating disorders treatment program at Kahi Mohala Hospital in 1986 and is an expert in treating a wide range of eating disorders.

She is the author of Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food Through Myth, Metaphor, and Storytelling which has been published in six languages, and the co-creator of the Light of the Moon Cafe, an online e-course and support circle http://www.lightofthemooncafe.com

Dr. Johnston has a private practice specializing in women's issues and is a recognized international workshop presenter, lecturing widely to professional organizations, universities, medical institutions, and the community at large.

In her work, she uses metaphor and storytelling in addition to her training as a clinical psychologist to explain the complex issues that underlie disordered eating behavior.

Full show notes available at - https://lourdesviado.com/womenindepth

Welcome to the podcast! Today I'm very excited to be joined by Susan Winter (Allowing Magnificence and Older Women/Younger Men). Susan is a bestselling author and relationship expert specializing in higher thinking for an evolving world. She writes, speaks and coaches on cutting-edge partnership models as well as traditional relationship challenges from a platform that fosters self-esteem and personal empowerment.

Having graduated from Indiana University's School of Music, her experience as a professional communicator led her from Opera singer to On-Camera Anchor. Transitioning from the stage to TV, Susan became the host/moderator of Corporate Profiles on FINANCIAL NEWS NETWORK (now CNBC). Prior to that position, she spent a decade as the On-Camera Spokeswoman for over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies. Susan is the recipient of numerous awards in the field of business communications.

Given her vast media expertise, she's worked as a Consultant for the TELEVISION BUREAU OF ADVERTISING, MIRAMAX FILMS (Tadpole), and in strategic alliances with MCGARRYBOWEN's Fortune 100 clientele. Aware that foundational shifts in social consciousness alter consumer preference, Susan's understanding of human behavior helps her clients anticipate trends while connecting to the heartbeat of their customers.

Susan's first book, "Older Women/Younger Men" quickly became an international bestseller as it opened the hearts and minds of readers' worldwide to the validity of this type of age-gap love. Susan's second book, "Allowing Magnificence" completely reframes how we view life's challenges, empowering the reader to reconnect with the limitless power they already possess. Susan is currently a contributing writer for The Huffington Post and The Good Men Project.

Full show notes available at - https://lourdesviado.com/womenindepthh

Welcome to the podcast! Today I'm very excited to be joined by Venessa Rodriguez. Venessa is a certified holistic and integrative nutrition coach, practicing functional nutrition. That means she uses food as medicine and creates a roadmap to better digestion, more energy and healthy weight management that's totally unique to YOU.

Her path to integrative nutrition and holistic health began when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. That's when she truly witnessed the healing power of nutritious foods and a well-balanced lifestyle. After 5 long years of treatments, triumphs, ups, and downs… she lost her beautiful mom Norma. It was the most difficult and transformative time in their lives, and it taught her more than she could ever imagine.

Her mom's journey taught Venessa that we are the stewards of our own health and must be our own advocates; that food truly is medicine; that positivity, happiness, and love are more potent healing tools than anything else; that every day truly is precious so we better live like we mean it; and that we can't do it alone.

Full show notes available at - https://lourdesviado.com/womenindepth

Welcome to the podcast! Today I'm very excited to be joined by Anna Osborn, LMFT. Anna Osborn, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist and relationship specialist in Sacramento, California. Anna works with individuals and couples to restore connection, heal trust, improve communication and increase intimacy. Anna gets the privilege of seeing folks transform their relationships and begin to live a more happy, connected, and loving life.

As hard as it is to admit, we are our relationships. Whether we are in an amazing relationship, a lonely one or an unhealthy one, it has a profound impact on success in all areas of our lives. Specializing in relationships over the past 10 years has allowed Anna to work with folks leaving abusive relationships to singles seeking out "the one", to couples wanting to improve their relationships, and even divorced parents struggling to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship.

As a psychotherapist and relationship specialist, she knows the profound impact that working on our relationships has on improving all aspects of our lives. Anna sees the folks that she works with improve their primary relationship and then experience amazing success in their professional lives, their hobbies, and their friendships.

Anna practices in the vibrant town of Sacramento, California and loves having a practice there and having the opportunity to work with diverse people who are successful in their professions and want to have that same success reflected in their relationships.

Full show notes available at - lourdesviado.com/womenindepth

Welcome to the podcast! Today I'm very excited to be joined by Katie Ortlip, RN LCSW & Jahnna Beecham, authors of the book "Living with Dying: A Complete Guide for Caregivers."

At this moment in the U.S., nearly 10 million people over the age of 50 are caregivers for a parent or loved one. They are often overwhelmed trying to handle health emergencies, confusing legal matters, and prepare for the worst, while trying to live their own lives.

Given there wasn't a guidebook for death, Katie always wanted to write a sort of "Death for Dummies," because it was sorely needed by her patients and their families. Being a writer, Jahnna said, "Let's do it together." It was at this time that Jahnna's 90-year-old father was told his long-dormant prostate cancer had spread to his bones. She became his caregiver; Katie became his hospice social worker; and their writing journey began.

Katie Ortlip is a Hospice Expert on SHARECARE, Dr. Ahmet Oz's online health and wellness platform that provides consumers with expert information to help them lead healthier lives. She is also the co-author of Spiritual Tools for the Dying, a booklet distributed by Asante Health Care of Oregon to patients on hospice.

She received her nursing degree from Santa Barbara City College in 1982 and then spent three years working in neonatology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and Mary Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Jahnna Beecham most recently edited National Geographic's Science Encyclopedia, which was released in the fall of 2016; and was a contributing editor for National Geographic's The Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Birds.

For the past 15 years she has been a contributing writer and editor for Uncle John's Bathroom Reader—both the adult books and For Kids Only. Under the pen name Jahnna N. Malcolm, Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner have written more than 130 books for juveniles and young adults for Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Random House, HarperCollins, Bantam and others.

Full show notes available at lourdesviado.com/womenindepth

Welcome to the podcast! Today I'm very excited to be joined by Dr. Sharon Cohen who is a Relationship and Love Consultant in Newport Beach, California.

She specializes in rational communication strategies and the social dynamics of men and women. Her primary mission is to help women gain the skills to attract and keep long-lasting love. A sub-set of that mission is to get women inspired to attract the love they desire. Her expertise and life experiences spark awareness and prompt change in her clients.

Using an educational and action-oriented program, Dr. Sharon's clients see their interactions and relationships in a whole new light. With this new-found awareness, her clients free themselves from their past mistakes in their dating, relationships, and life so they can now relax into love. Dr. Sharon graduated from UCLA (B.A. in Sociology; Business and Administration concentration), USC (Master in Social Work; Families and Children concentration) and the University of Texas at Austin (Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., School of Social Work).

She was in charge of the Outpatient admissions process at Seton Shoal Creek Hospital in Austin, Texas. Included programs: a Substance Abuse & Addictions Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and an Adult (Mental Health & Well-Being) IOP. She's worked for start-up companies, music festivals, as a social coordinator and much more. All these experiences add to the secret sauce that makes Dr. Sharon who she is.

Full show notes available at - lourdesviado.com/womenindepth

Welcome to the podcast! Today I'm very excited to be joined by April Snow, a psychotherapist in San Francisco, California who wants to help you heal your past wounds, embrace your true self and begin to thrive again.

In an effort to survive the struggles of early life or cope with present-day stressors, we often become disconnected from ourselves, needs and innate internal resources. We also may lack connection and nurturance during these difficult times, making them even more challenging to navigate.

April's own journey towards emotional healing and growth has come most easily through safe connections with another. By offering a compassionate and supportive atmosphere suited specifically to your needs, she aims to be that safe place for you to explore your deepest feelings without judgement.

April helps her clients explore these areas of deep suffering or disconnection; their current impact; and how the impact prevents them from living fully. April truly believes that when we can begin to feel, we can finally begin to heal.

Full show notes available at - https://lourdesviado.com/womenindepth

Welcome to the podcast! Today I'm very excited to be joined by Lisa Marchiano, LCSW who is a Jungian analyst, writer, and mom. She has a private practice in Philadelphia, PA, and is on the faculty of the Philadelphia Jung Institute.

Lisa has a particular fondness for fairy tales and what they can teach us about relating to our inner lives and leads workshops on fairy tales nationally. She enjoys running an online workshop for mothers that explores how being a mom can be a catalyst for personal growth.

Lisa holds a BA in history from Brown University, a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University, and a Masters in Social Work from New York University. She trained as an analyst with the Inter-Regional Society for Jungian Analysts.

Lisa has taught across the United States on fairy tales and related topics, and is the Seminar Director for the Philadelphia Jung Institute. She is currently writing a book on motherhood as a psychological growth opportunity.

Full show notes available at - lourdesviado.com/womenindepth