Small Changes Big Shifts

"I had a visceral understanding – people are dealing with some real stuff. If we don't see people as people, we can't make the progress we need to make." - Dr. Nicole Price In 2011, Dr. Nicole Price received shocking news that her mother had been hit and killed by a drunk driver. Shortlyafter, she also learned that her father wasn't her biological father. As she was navigating her late mother's four-year murder trial – and facing a shift in her identity by beginning to establish a relationship with her biological father – she was doing her best to show up every day for work as an engineer and push through the hours without giving away clues that she was struggling with emotional pain. During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Dr. Price to sharewhat happened when she realized what is missing in our society – more empathy. Her story includes the epiphany she experienced, and the revelation that prepared and shaped her to write her book called Spark the Heart. She'll also explain why "doing the work" to heal is so important to our well-being, and why building your empathy muscle can shift you from looking at people – and instead get you looking into their eyes and ultimately, their hearts. About Today's Guest: Trained as an engineer, Dr. Nicole Price later found her true calling: Leadership Development. As a highly sought-after keynote speaker, training leader, and as the CEO of Lively Paradox, she believes that leadership is personal and requires a balance of empathy and accountability. Her dedication to pushing her own limits, commitment to continuous development of her empathy muscle, and her logical, results-focused, technical background combines to enhance her objective approach to solving process problems, flipping dilemmas, and leveraging understanding to find successful solutions. She prides herself on helping leaders lead effectively, while honoring who they are as individuals. Mentioned in the Episode: Spark the Heart book by Dr. Nicole Price Dr. Nicole Price's website Ancestry 23 Dr. J Dunn podcast episode

"You get to make a choice that's bigger than this moment." - Rachel Freiman Did you know Americans spend a whopping $33 billion (yes, BILLION!) on diet products every year? Yet most diet programs and products are designed to go against our human nature (to avoid pain and seek pleasure). During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Rachel Freiman to share her profound journey of going from a successful jazz musician in New York City to a major influencer in the nutrition and fitness industry. Her story tells what happened when she started exploring the health industry, finding that diet culture is all about living in an uncomfortable and self-sabotaging state, which isn't how we were designed to live. It's also why people so often fail along this path. She'll also explain what T.F.A.R. means and how it can help us navigate and break down those major life overhauls that so many people are chasing. Grab a pen to jot down some notes – this episode is packed with truth, guidance, and a high vibration of good energy! About Today's Guest: Rachel Freiman is the CEO of MindStrong Fitness, a lover of lifting heavy things up and down, and a coach passionate about helping others unleash their strongest, most empowered selves through education and mindset training. She has more than 15 years of classroom instruction, and certifications in personal training, sports nutrition, and behavior modification. She has studied the Neuroscience of Nutrition under the renowned Dr. Nicole Avena, visiting professor of Neuroscience at Princeton University. Rachel is the author of the bestselling book Becoming MindStrong: The Truth About Health, Fitness, and the Bullsh*t That's Holding You Back. She developed MindStrong Fitness with an inside-out approach, to focus on both physical and mental attributes in building healthy, sustainable habits. When she's not in the gym, Rachel enjoys exploring the world, snuggling with her puppy, Charlie, eating, and thinking about the next time she'll be eating. Mentioned in the Episode: Becoming MindStrong book by Rachel Freiman MindStrong Fitness website Power vs. Force book by Dr. David Hawkins Quadrants of Well-Being

"The source is more complex than the symptoms.'" - Debra Campbell A recent CivicScience poll revealed that the number of U.S. adults who reported taking at least one prescription medication per day now is 70 percent – a 14 percentage-point increase since 2019. Many people often come in to be treated for one thing, but rarely is it a singular issue in the body. During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Debra Campbell to share why a multidimensional holistic approach is how where people get better – especially on the mental health front. Debra will also explain her own journey into the mental health landscape, and what inspired her to co-found Curis Functional Health – an organization that helps unlock people's optimal health through physical, mental, and nutritional care. To end the show, she will also explain why mental health symptoms - such as depression - can be a culprit of other issues going on in the body. About Today's Guest: Debra Campbell is the Chief Vision Officer at Curis Functional Health. She is a regional expert in PACT Couples Counseling, a style of relationship counseling that helps couples rebuild safety in their relationships using attachment theory, affect regulation, and neuroscience. She is one of approximately 50 PACT Level 3 candidates in the U.S. and is often featured on the radio, podcasts, and social media. With her unique background in applied sport psychology and positive psychology, Debra has worked extensively with professional athletes, CEOs, entrepreneurs, doctors, attorneys, and Olympic athletes. Her passion for getting clients to their optimal functioning was born out of her studies in elite domain performance and research on perfectionism. Previously, she worked with the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the U.S. Figure Skating Association, the International Center for Talent Development, Spectrum Club (South Bay), and The Sports Club (LA). She co-founded and sits on the board of the Relational Therapists of Dallas. She is the Past President of the Dallas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences for the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Mentioned in the Episode: Curis Functional Health The PACT Institute The Gottman Method Your Wellness Connection Small Changes Big Shifts Quadrants of Well-Being TouchPoints Big Shifts Foundation

"There's a part of the person that knows something is wrong, but they live with it for so long that they've learned to adapt around it.'" - Greg Helsel A National Survey of Children's Health data showed approximately 30 percent of children experience one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) - excluding external factors – and about 14 percent experienced two or more. Another study said that 1 in 6 adults experienced four or more types of ACEs in their lifetime. During today's show, Dr. Robin invites Greg Helsel to unpack what some of those ACEs people often experience in life and why it can disrupt their life and cause them to get stuck. He will also share some reasons people choose not to seek a therapist – everything from shame to their vulnerability of being wounded from previous help. Greg also explains some key landmarks that have changed about therapy in the last 10 years – including the accessibility for it being much easier than it used to be. He'll provide some helpful ways someone can take their first steps if they are ready to seek help. About Today's Guest: Greg Helsel is the Clinical Director of Behavioral Health at AdventHealth in Kansas City. His commitment to his patients is the same mission he carries to his friends, families, and community; to end needless suffering. Through AcceleratedResolution Therapy, he has been granted the opportunity to assist people in letting go of heavy burdens, restoring themselves to a healthy and productive life. Mentioned in the Episode: The Body Keeps the Score book by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk Behavioral Health Department at AdventHealth Outpatient Clinic at AdventHealth in Shawnee Mission: (913) 789-3218

"When people come in and talk about stress, I find that it's actually anxiety they are facing.'" - Subrena Hicks Did you know that anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the world? Moreover, other studies say that 1 in 5 adults don't receive therapy services to address their mental health. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites licensed therapist Subrena Hicks to share her mission on breaking the stigmas around mental health. She'll share insights about what she's been noticing with stress and anxiety today – and why there are repercussions in the body when we aren't able to understand which one we're experiencing. She'll also explain why many adults struggle with anxiety and why therapy can help them develop the right coping skills to lessen the buildup of anxiety in the body. Subrena ends the show with some tips around kids and mental health, providing some guidance on when parents should consider therapy for them. She'll discuss why we need to be teaching the younger generations that it's okay to start talking about what's going on, labeling their feelings, and finding someone outside of the family who can model these tools for them. About Today's Guest: Subrena Hicks is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Kansas. She strives to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment while showing compassion to help identify current life stresses, and create new, healthier patterns. She believes in helping people overcome life's struggles by focusing on each person's individual needs, and meeting people where they are at. She received her bachelor's in business administration and management from Friends University and completed her Master of Arts in Counseling at MidAmerica Nazarene University in 2016. She is currently a Nationally Certified Counselor and works with a variety of clients such as individuals, couples, families, and adolescents. Her treatment approach to therapy is Experiential and attachment based. Mentioned in the Episode: Love in Gray Counseling website Love in Gray Counseling Therapy Toolbox Love in Gray Facebook page Loving What Is by Byron Katie Big Shifts Foundation Counseling at Your Wellness Connection Quadrants of Well-Being Hoffman Process Feelings and Emotion Chart for Kids PsychologyToday.com to find a therapist in your area Therapy for Black Girls

"This is something that connected our region like never before.'" - Eileen Weir There's a famous saying that goes, "It only takes one tree to start a forest, one smile to begin a friendship... one thought to change the world" and that's exactly what happened in the Kansas City community through the Parade of Hearts that began from one drawing on a napkin. During its last auction in 2022, it raised more than $2 million for Kansas City charities. During today's episode, Dr. Michelle invites Jenn Nussbeck and Eileen Weir to share how this project began, the doors that it opened in our community, and the opportunity it provided to build connections with people in different neighborhoods across the metro. They also explain why public art has become a crucial piece to our community's well-being and why it evoked certain senses for the people who live here. Jenn will also tell a moving story about two people who met at one of the hearts and how that location formed their new friendship. At the end of the episode, they will give listeners an exclusive update about what's next for the Parade of Hearts in Kansas City, which means you will be the first to hear it on this episode! About Today's Guests: Jenn Nussbeck is the Parade of Hearts Executive Director. She has served on numerous public charity boards as well as dedicated the last 15 years supporting organizations throughout communities in Kansas City. Assisting those navigating the philanthropy and civic channels is not only her work, but her passion. Jenn was born in San Diego but raised in Kansas City. She comes from a large Irish family. Her great uncle (Pat O'Neill Sr.) started the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade with Mike Murphy. Eileen Weir was elected Mayor of the City of Independence, Missouri, in 2014. Prior to her election, she served on the Independence City Council representing the city's 4th District from 2012 to 2014. She began her career in communications and public relations with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1992, acting as the team's Manager of Public Information and Media Services. She served as the Chiefs Charity Game Coordinator from 2009 to 2013 for the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City. Eileen and her husband Tom live in southwestern Independence with their twins, John and Nora. Mentioned in the Episode: Parade of Hearts website Parade of Hearts mobile app Parade of Hearts on Facebook Parade of Hearts on Instagram Parade of Hearts on Twitter The story about the heart at Your Wellness Connection

"When I started taking the cofactors to get vitamin D into my body, immediately my brain chemistry turned on and I thought, 'This is what happy feels like.'" - Dr. J Dunn This month, Dr. Michelle Robin has invited a series of guests on the show to speak about the mental health crisis happening - something that has been a problem long before the pandemic hit. To kick off the series, she's invited Dr. J Dunn, who has been creating waves within the mental health landscape by unveiling why gene expression could be causing a rise in brain imbalances such as depression, anxiety, as well as other disorders and conditions. Dr. Dunn shares an incredibly powerful story about her own battle with depression, and how epigenetics played a significant role in how she began to heal from it. She'll also tell the story about what got her curious to go down this path, and how it began to translate into her own clients and resulted in her founding My Happy Genes. By the end of the show, she'll explain why understanding gene expression can help us be more compassionate towards other human beings. This episode is not only packed with helpful tips, but it's also a helpful introduction to why our genes play a critical role in the way everything else works in the body. About Today's Guest and Co-Host: Dr. J Dunn has been practicing natural medicine for over 30 years. She is a Chiropractic Physician and certified in Functional Medicine. She is an internationally known lecturer on genetics and nutrition, teaching physicians around the world on how to use genetic information to get to the underlying causes of disease. Her drive to understand true causes and her passion for helping those who are suffering with depression, anxiety, and attention issues has led her to create her program. She is the author of the books Wholistic Kinesiology and Perfect Health in Paradise. Mentioned in the Episode: My Happy Genes Wholistic Kinesiology book by Dr. J Dunn Perfect Health in Paradise book by Dr. J Dunn Dr. Georgia Nab at Your Wellness Connection Dr. J Dunn speaking at Dr. Robin's 25th year anniversary launch

"We need the skills of people on the spectrum." - Dr. Temple Grandin We are bringing you a very special episode this week as it marks the end of our series on Autism Acceptance Month. In today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Dr. Temple Grandin to share the significant impact that early intervention had on her future and how it elevated the quality of life that she lives today. She tells her remarkable journey on the spectrum – everything from not speaking until she was four years old to becoming one of the most recognized autistic advocates, professor, best-selling author, and the person who changed the cattle industry forever going forward with her visual thinking designs. Dr. Temple tells how her mother and a science teacher, Dr. Carlock, were highly influential in helping her reach her potential. She also explains why she's an advocate today in bringing back those hands-on classes to encourage those inventor and curious mindsets – especially for kids on the spectrum. She tells a humbling story about how her journey to the Hollywood screen started out doing very small things in the autistic community, and how she met people along the way who continued to propel her teachings and bring visual thinking more forward into our world and help it gain acceptance. About Today's Guest and Co-Host: Dr. Temple Grandin was one of the first autistic people to document the insights she gained from her personal experience of autism. She is one of the world's most respected experts in the fields of autism and animal behavior and livestock handling. As a toddler, she had speech delays as well as other signs of severe autism. Many hours of speech therapy and intensive training ultimately enabled Dr. Grandin to speak. Mentoring by a high school science teacher and exposure to her aunt's ranch in Arizona motivated her to pursue a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer. She is a prolific speaker, internationally best-selling author, and Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. In 2020, she was honored as a Top Ten College Professor in America. In 2010, Times 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, named her in the "Heroes" category. She was also the subject of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning semi-biographical film called Temple Grandin. Desiree Cole is the Content Director and Brand Manager at Small Changes Big Shifts. She creates, writes, and manages the voice and content for the brand. She has loved all things wellness since she was introduced to the lifestyle in college, where she learned to cook more plant-based food and care for the whole body in holistic ways. She began her journalism career in Chicago and New York City, where she worked in Manhattan as an editor for news agencies, magazines, and book publishing. She's part of the Small Changes Big Shifts team because she believes words are powerful messengers to the spirit, heart, and mind. Desiree was born and raised in Kansas City and believes there's no place like it. Her husband (Zach), son (Ollie), and two golden retrievers (Linus and Lucy) live in a loud and happy house with its eight paws and a very joyful little boy who loves them. Mentioned in the Episode: Temple Grandin movie with Claire Danes Visual Thinking book by Dr. Temple Grandin Different Not Less book by Dr. Temple Grandin Dr. Temple Grandin's other books Wellness on the Shoestring by Dr. Michelle Robin

"There's something about these kids just getting on the field or court because it's their turn to try." - Raegan Shurr Research shows that early intervention for kids with autism spectrum disorder can significantly improve their quality of life as they grow older. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Raegan Schurr to share how the YMCA of Greater Kansas City has built something called the Challenger Program that helps these kids fulfill some of those critical early intervention needs through sports and teamwork. Raegan explains why they have cultivated an environment that helps parents let their guard down and watch their kids explore and grow by learning about patience, why it's important to show up on time, how to be a good teammate, and so much more. With over 300 volunteers across Kansas City who are giving their time to impact these kids' lives, the Challenger Program has multiple benefits for early intervention learning opportunities. At the end of the show, Raegan shares a heartfelt story about a boy who was in the Challenger Program many years ago, and why he decided to return when he was older to pay that kindness forward. About Today's Guest and Co-Host: Raegan Schurr is the Senior Director of Adaptive Programs for the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Having been with the YMCA movement for 29 years, her greatest love has been working with individuals with disabilities and the many volunteers through the Challenger Program. She also holds certification for faculty trainer for YUSA 's Strengthening Inclusion: Engaging Communities of Diverse Abilities and is a founding member of the Access and Ability Network. When not on the field or court with Challenger, you will find her on a golf course or enjoying music by her firepit with friends. Desiree Cole is the Content Director and Brand Manager at Small Changes Big Shifts. She creates, writes, and manages the voice and content for the brand. She has loved all things wellness since she was introduced to the lifestyle in college, where she learned to cook more plant-based food and care for the whole body in holistic ways. She began her journalism career in Chicago and New York City, where she worked in Manhattan as an editor for news agencies, magazines, and book publishing. She's part of the Small Changes Big Shifts team because she believes words are powerful messengers to the spirit, heart, and mind. Desiree was born and raised in Kansas City and believes there's no place like it. Her husband (Zach), son (Ollie), and two golden retrievers (Linus and Lucy) live in a loud and happy house with its eight paws and a very joyful little boy who loves them. Mentioned in the Episode: The Challenger Program at the YMCA YMCA Challenger on Facebook Fred and Shirley Pryor YMCA Sports Complex YMCA Greater Kansas City YMCA around the country

"This experience awoken a grace in me towards other parents." - Diana Toman Parenting can open new doors to community. While kids may be different from one another, parents are still able to speak the same language and navigate similar things happening in their lives. However, raising a child with autism spectrum disorder or other special needs can be a different experience for a parent – one that comes with a realization that you aren't speaking the same language as everybody else. These parents say isolation can be the hardest part of the journey. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Diana Toman to tell her story about raising her son who is on the spectrum, graduating high school, and soon entering college. She shares some of the challenges and triumphs that came while raising him in those early years, and why support and community made a difference in her family's life and her well-being. Diana also provides some guidance and advice to co-host Desiree Cole, whose son is also on the spectrum and beginning his journey into school and the community. By the end of the episode, Diana explains why she has no doubt that God selected her to raise her son, and that every parent should trust that they are the right parent whether they are raising a neurotypical or neurodivergent child. About Today's Guest and Co-Host: Diana Toman is the CEO of Toman Advisory Group and a former Fortune 500 Chief Legal Officer, who has parlayed years of large company experience into an advisory firm focused on corporate governance, ESG, risk management, and strategy. She is a mom of two teenagers, Parker and Reagan, passionate about being involved in the community, and advocate for the things she believes in. Desiree Cole is the Content Director and Brand Manager at Small Changes Big Shifts. She creates, writes, and manages the voice and content for the brand. She has loved all things wellness since she was introduced to the lifestyle in college, where she learned to cook more plant-based food and care for the whole body in holistic ways. She began her journalism career in Chicago and New York City, where she worked in Manhattan as an editor for news agencies, magazines, and book publishing. She's part of the Small Changes Big Shifts team because she believes words are powerful messengers to the spirit, heart, and mind. Desiree was born and raised in Kansas City and believes there's no place like it. Her husband (Zach), son (Ollie), and two golden retrievers (Linus and Lucy) live in a loud and happy house with its eight paws and a very joyful little boy who loves them. Mentioned in the Episode: The Joshua Center Your Wellness Connection Toman Advisory Group

"It's the small choices we make that determine the rest of our lives." - Robyn Rosenberger Each year, more than three million children are hospitalized – either for procedures or ongoing treatment for chronic or terminal illness. Additionally, one in six children have a disability in the U.S. such as autism, ADHD, Aspergers, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, to name a few. During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Robyn Rosenberger to share her awe-inspiring story about what led her to become the founder of TinySuperheroes in 2013 to help these kids fight unimaginable battles. Since launching her tiny cape organization, she has served over 120,000 children and families by providing capes for each child. Robyn shares how it all started with a little girl named Brenna and tells how the organization has evolved into ways these kids can experience extracurricular activities since 80% of them almost never get to participate in them. By the end of the episode, your heartstrings will be pulled by some of the powerful encounters she has had with kids who have received her capes and all the ways it has transformed their lives by giving them courage and strength. About Today's Guest and Co-Host: Robyn Rosenberger is a passionate and dedicated entrepreneur who is committed to making a positive impact in the world. As the founder and CEO of TinySuperheroes, a social enterprise that empowers children with disabilities or illnesses, Robyn has helped thousands of children to embrace their inner strength and courage. Her organization has been featured in numerous media outlets, including CNN, NBC News, and The Huffington Post. She is an inspiring example of a mission-driven entrepreneur who is passionate about building for-profit businesses that create social impact. She believes that businesses can be a force for good. Robyn's commitment to building a profitable business that makes a difference has resulted in a growing community of supporters and advocates who share her passion for social entrepreneurship. Through her work, she is a true champion for those who face adversity. She is dedicated to helping every other child feel like a superhero and inspiring others to make a positive difference in the world. Desiree Cole is the Content Director and Brand Manager at Small Changes Big Shifts. She creates, writes, and manages the voice and content for the brand. She has loved all things wellness since she was introduced to the lifestyle in college, where she learned to cook more plant-based food and care for the whole body in holistic ways. She began her journalism career in Chicago and New York City, where she worked in Manhattan as an editor for news agencies, magazines, and book publishing. She's part of the Small Changes Big Shifts team because she believes words are powerful messengers to the spirit, heart, and mind. Desiree was born and raised in Kansas City and believes there's no place like it. Her husband (Zach), son (Ollie), and two golden retrievers (Linus and Lucy) live in a loud and happy house with its eight paws and a very joyful little boy who loves his dogs. Mentioned in the Episode: TinySuperheroes website Nominate a child at TinySuperheroes Sponsor a cape for a child TinySuperheroes Mission Program John O'Leary

"The families we serve can feel isolated – even scared at times. We want to provide a tangible first step that brings comfort and creates a path." - Heath Burch The latest research shows 1 in 44 children are on the autism spectrum – a major change from the early 2000s when those numbers were 1 in 150. While environmental factors are something to consider, researchers say we have made advances over time that have helped build a greater understanding and awareness to it. During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Heath Burch from CommunityAmerica Credit Union to talk about their Special Needs Planning Center. Heath shares an inspiring and personal story about why he and his business partner, Scott Adams, decided to launch this center. Both of them quickly realized that families oftentimes felt stuck when raising a child with special needs. They couldn't rely on a book or course to walk them through each of their unique situations – which is what inspired them to do something about it. Today, they have helped guide and connect thousands of families to resources that may be available to them. They have helped create a path forward for families to be better equipped and financially prepared to raise a special needs child in the now, but also provide hope for the road ahead. Desiree Cole, one of Heath's clients, joins in on the conversation to speak to what the Special Needs Planning Center has done for her family as they begin raising their son who is on the spectrum. We encourage you to share this episode with any friends or family who may benefit from having this resource introduced in their lives! About Today's Guest and Co-Host: Helping members create a path to their financial goals drive Heath Burch's passion for being an advisor. His focus is to leverage two decades of experience as an advisor to help members navigate their complex financial planning needs. From integrating wealth management plans with trust and estate plans to diversifying wealth in a business, he empowers members to manage the transition of their wealth to the next generation. Heath has also dedicated focus on assisting families who have loved ones with special needs, building plans that can support more than one generation. His wife, Martha, and three sons are invested in being involved in the Kansas City community that they love. He currently sits as the President of the Board for Variety Children's Charity of Kansas City and as chair of the Board of Directors for the Liberty Education Foundation. Desiree Cole is the Content Director and Brand Manager at Small Changes Big Shifts. She creates, writes, and manages the voice and content for the brand. She has loved all things wellness since she was introduced to the lifestyle in college, where she learned to cook more plant-based and care for the whole body in holistic ways. She began her journalism career in Chicago and New York City, where she worked in Manhattan as an editor for news agencies, magazines, and book publishing. She's part of the Small Changes Big Shifts team because she believes words are powerful messengers to the spirit, heart, and mind. Desiree was born and raised in Kansas City, and believes there's no place like it. Her husband (Zach), son (Ollie), and two golden retrievers (Linus and Lucy) live in a loud and happy house from its eight paws and the most joyful little boy in the world who loves his dogs. Mentioned in the Episode: Connect with Heath at CommunityAmerica Credit Union CommunityAmerica Credit Union website Special Needs Planning Center website Securities and advisory services offered through Copper Financial Network, LLC ("Copper Financial"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Copper Financial is a SEC registered investment adviser. Products offered through Copper Financial: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. Copper Financial is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Special Needs Planning Center is a marketing name used by Copper Financial.

Today's show is a special treat as Dr. Michelle Robin is celebrating her 57th birthday this weekend. During her solo episode today, she spends some moments reflecting on the things that she and our listeners have learned from all of our guests on the show in the last few months. She'll also tee up what's to come on the podcast in the next few months and they are some near and dear topics to her heart. To end the show, she will also explain some wellness tips she's embodied over this last year and the things she's taking with her as she walks into this new year of life. She wraps up with some tips about how you can celebrate this year with her, and how you can watch some changes she's been seeing in the younger generations through the Big Shifts Foundation. Mentioned in the Episode: Big Shifts Foundation birthday fundraiser Big Shifts Foundation scholarship Big Shifts Foundation new video Big Shifts Foundation website Sit in Peace meditation video Dr. Robin's 30 lessons Isaac Lee Collins episode Kim Newton episode Whitney Bartelli episode Brett Blair episode Dr. Heath and Nicole Wilt episode Mark Hulet episode Dr. Michelle Dew episode Dr. Georgia Nab episode Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer episode Brooke Seiz episode Amy Grothaus episode

"Counseling helped me befriend my nervous system." - Brooke Seiz Did you know we only need one teaspoon of sugar in our body at a time? During today's episode, Dr. Robin invites Brooke Seiz to unpack why sugar can oftentimes be a culprit for anxiety. Brooke shares what inspired her to become a counselor and functional medicine practitioner for others, including her own bout with anxiety, an eating disorder, and other mental health challenges. She goes on to describe why there can often be many root causes of anxiety, but when our blood sugar levels are too high or low, our cortisol levels (stress response) get activated and we easily enter that fight or flight mode. Brooke also covers how sugar is often disguised on labels, and how fast our bodies can experience inflammation (even pain) after we consume too much sugar. By the end of the episode, she'll provide some ways you can test if sugar may be causing problems. She'll also provide what foods can help aid in regulating sugar levels. Grab a pen and paper – this episode is packed with helpful tips! About Today's Guest: Brooke Seiz with Evolve Wellness & Counseling helps individuals as well as couples find a better quality of life, fulfillment in their relationships, and comfort in their body through counseling and functional nutrition. She is a licensed counselor and helps individuals as well as couples in therapy to befriend their nervous systems using Somatic Experiencing and in turn improve trauma, PTSD, anxiety, as well as binge and emotional eating. She also provides sex therapy to individuals and couples, in addition to couples' therapy. For those interested in functional nutrition, she takes a deep dive into gut, hormonal. health and more to address the root cause for their symptoms with nutrition and lifestyle interventions. Brooke is a mom of three awesome young people, and also enjoys going out to sing at local music venues with her spouse. She's grateful to be involved with the Small Changes Big Shifts team and mission! Mentioned in the Episode: Connect with Brooke Seiz on LinkedIn Evolve Wellness & Counseling Signos CGM technology – glucose monitor Glucose Goddess on Instagram Resistance Starch

"Overseeing your own health is so valuable – and we're at the cusp of it in America. We are giving people the information that can finally help themselves in a unique way." - Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer Did you know trillions of dollars are being poured into chronic conditions in America – and many of them are unknowingly rooted in glucose challenges or mismanagement? During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer to share his reasons for co-founding Signos – a CGM technology that shows how your body uniquely reacts to what you eat, plus other lifestyle factors such as stress patterns and sleep habits that are affecting your glucose levels. Sharam tells his personal journey of weight management issues growing up and why he finally figured out that glucose spikes and dips were causing more harm on the overall body than he realized. He explains how Signos technology works and some stories of people who have tried everything from diets to exercise, but the Signos CGM monitor is the first thing that has made them feel empowered to see what their bodies need on an individual level to reach their goals. Sharam also unpacks why glucose monitoring is not just for people who have diabetes, and why this can be a powerful tool in life to manage pain, weight management, increase energy, and even impact mental health. About Today's Guest: Growing up in upstate New York, Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer fluctuated between obese, overweight, athletic, and back again before he founded Signos to tackle the obesity epidemic in America. Sharam is also the Board Director and Co-Founder at Onclusive, an Al software company to measure the impact of PR, as well as originally serving as the company's founding CEO. Prior to Onclusive, he was an entrepreneur in residence at Shasta Ventures focused on consumer internet and the social graph. Before joining Shasta, Sharam was a Venture Capitalist at Sierra Ventures and served on the Board at Makara (sold to RedHat) and TouchCommerce (sold to Nuance). Sharam began his career as an early employee at Appian (NASDAQ:APPN), a low-code software company. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He played NCAA D-1 ice hockey and lives with his family in California. Mentioned in the Episode: Signos website What is Signos? Dr. Georgia Nab's podcast Signos is hiring

"Blood sugar is like comparing water to Kool-Aid – while water flows through our body, Kool-Aid can't flow as well because it's stickier. When we have too much sugar in our bloodstream, our body has a harder time carrying out the processes it needs to." - Dr. Georgia Nab About 1 in 5 people in the United States have diabetes but don't know it, according to the CDC. While people generally know sugar isn't good for the body, most people don't know why our consumption of it needs to be managed – not eliminated. In today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Dr. Georgia Nab – a Functional Medicine doctor at Your Wellness Connection – to help people understand what's really happening in the body once we consume sugar and why it's then converted to blood sugar. If you have ever wondered what glycemic and glucose mean – or the difference between metabolic syndrome (prediabetes), Type I, Type I.5, Type II, and Type III – this week's episode will give you a clearer understanding of each one in very simple terms. Dr. Nab even dives into how our blood sugar numbers have a tremendous impact on our hormonal levels and anxiety issues in today's world. She encourages listeners that small changes can make a big difference. At the end of the episode, Dr. Nab will also share why sleep and movement matter in managing your blood sugar – ending with some tips that can help you get on a better path toward wellness. About Today's Guest: Dr. Georgia Nab entered the chiropractic industry in 1992 by owning a chiropractic clinic in Wichita, Kansas. From 2012 through 2017, she joined a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin to provide chiropractic care, nutritional counseling, and educational training to the employees at the company's corporate headquarters. While there, she authored her book called 1 Degree of Change, in addition to numerous other publications. In 2015, she graduated with her Master's degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine degree. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Western States for their Master's program. Dr. Nab is a Certified Nutrition Specialist from the Board for Nutrition Specialist and works with Affiliated Monitors, an independent monitoring company for professionals. Mentioned in the Episode: Your Wellness Connection 1 Degree of Change book by Dr. Georgia Nab – contact Dr. Nab for a free PDF version

"Our CEO was very passionate about making a positive impact in our community, and what better way to do that than to give people a direct connection to the resources that they need, all in one single place." – Amy Grothaus Many people don't know where to turn when they have a goal in life, especially when it's a financial one. CommunityAmerica Credit Union is an advocate for changing that, and they are doing it through their brand-new Community Access Center in Kansas City. During today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Amy Grothaus to talk about what this center is helping to fulfill in our community. The space is designed to promote the overall well-being of its all who enter its door. The entire 6,000-square-foot top floor is occupied by the Metropolitan Community College (MCC), which offers classes and other educational support to compliment the resources that CommunityAmerica provides. Their goal is to help break down barriers of banking and promote financial literacy for all, but to also to connect individuals with the support and resources they need to achieve overall well-being, beyond financial needs. Certified Financial Well-being coaches are on-site to help their visitors achieve as many of their goals as possible. Tune in as Amy shares more about how this building is designed, plus why they have a heart to see people step into their brightest future by introducing them to all the resources, organizations, and nonprofits available as they journey through life. About Today's Guests: Amy Grothaus is the Senior Vice President of Community Development at CommunityAmerica Credit Union in Kansas City. She is a motivated, passionate, and results-driven leader with experience in overseeing and directing member/customer experience and sales initiatives for organizations in the financial services industry. She has 20 years of expertise in customer service, retention and loyalty, strategic planning, and relationship building. Amy has proven results in launching new initiatives, driving sales, and technology implementation. She is a trusted visionary with the ability to energize teams, partner cross-functionally, and influence at all levels. Mentioned in the Episode: CommunityAmerica Credit Union website - Search for "Access Center" Big Shifts Foundation Scholarship Program

"You have to feed both hearts – the one in your chest and the one that is upstairs." - Dr. Michelle Dew As we continue to celebrate the heart this month – both mechanically and emotionally – Dr. Michelle Robin has invited a cardiologist on the show today to share why the heart encompasses so much of how we experience life around us. Dr. Michelle Dew shares her inspiring journey of becoming a cardiologist, including how one family emergency greatly impacted her. Her encounter with a remarkable doctor and their energy in a room will remind listeners how important every individual is on earth – because you never know when (or how) your presence will change someone's life forever. At the end of the episode, Dr. Dew explains why joy is a vital part of our well-being, why the heart needs it, and how she founds hers. About Today's Guest: Dr. Michelle Dew is a Board-certified cardiologist with AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery. She joined AdventHealth in 2022 and provides general cardiology care to Lawrence-area patients within our Primary Care in Lawrence. Her clinic interests include women's cardiac issues including during pregnancy and menopause, men's cardiac care, and general cardiac care such as prevention, maintenance and pre- and post-surgical care. In addition to having earned a reputation for providing excellent, compassionate patient care, Dr. Dew is well-respected among her peers as a standout physician leader and cardiology expert. Her passion for patient education and her vast clinical and leadership experience have earned her countless honors, including being named a Kansas City Top Doctor by Ingram's Magazine in 2021 and 2022. Dr. Dew's personal interests include family and friends, dogs, reading, hiking, flying kites, traveling, playing spades, dominoes and board games, and riding dressage. Mentioned in the Episode: The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu AdventHealth Wellness on a Shoestring Book by Dr. Michelle Robin

"We're all connected to serve." - Mark Hulet Mark Hulet's life was forever changed when he decided to leave football coaching days behind him and take a job at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, where he would serve for the next 22 years in a variety of roles. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Mark to share his journey with the Y, and how this organization brings people in from the community to build a connection with others. Because this month's theme is about heart, Mark will also share how the Y supports the heart for people – not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. People may come in to get on a treadmill or take a swim, but he shares that once they come inside and get to know the "heart" of the organization, a lifetime relationship is made. At the end of the episode, Mark shares his dream of being able to take people forward with all the seeds they are currently planting in our community. About Today's Guest: When Mark Hulet left college, he began college football coaching. But after bouncing around from city to city with his young family, they decided to permanently move back to Kansas City where he landed his first job at the YMCA, now 22 years ago. Mark has been with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City ever since that day, serving in a variety of roles. Today, he is the Interim President & CEO of the YMCA in KC. The reason he has stayed with the YMCA all these years is because of the people. He especially loves being able to see the connection kids, families, and seniors are making here within their community. Mentioned in the Episode: YMCA – Find a location near you in the U.S. YMCA of Greater Kansas City Drive-thru food pantries at the YMCA

"Happy and healthy people do great things." - Nicole Wilt Did you know 80% of cardiovascular events may be preventable? In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Heath Wilt and Nicole Wilt to share what they are doing to help families better understand the different ways they can prevent heart trouble. Through their family-owned business called ABC's of Health, this husband-and-wife duo shares why their kids inspired this movement for them, and why they are advocating for other families to discover their rhythm around wellness. Dr. Heath, who is a cardiologist at AdventHealth in Kansas City, also shares some ways that practitioners are viewing the heart differently now – specifically the emotional component becoming a more prominent connection to heart health. As a certified yoga instructor, Nicole also explains how they encourage their kids to embrace big feelings and the other emotional weight that comes with life – teaching them that there are many elements that impact their heart such as what's on their plate, getting them in the kitchen, and teaching them what certain nutrients do for their mind and body. At the end of the show, Dr. Heath and Nicole share what advice they would give parents and to anyone looking for that first step to get in better tune with your heart and emotional well-being. About Today's Guests: Heath Wilt and Nicole Wilt are the co-founders of ABC's of Health. Between Heath's knowledge of wellness as a cardiologist and Nicole's expertise as a certified yoga instructor, they are on a mission to share information about cardiovascular health, heart-healthy recipe ideas, and inspiration for living a more active life for the spirit, mind, and body. They encourage people to follow along as they share their adventures along with their three boys, who helped inspire and name their movement. Mentioned in the Episode: ABC's of Health Cardiac score description ABC's of Health on Facebook ABC's of Health on Instagram ABC's of Health on TikTok AdventHealth Big Shifts Foundation Scholarship Small Changes Big Shifts

"A new level of presence came to me, and I don't want to lose what I learned from her." - Brett Blair Our lives take us through turbulent seasons. Most of us wait for a page to turn – a new chapter to begin – and sometimes, it feels like we've finally reached happiness and the life we were born to live. But what happens when that newfound happiness is shattered with a shocking diagnosis – especially if it's the love of your life? In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Brett Blair to share his story about love, loss, and what it means to flourish in the hardest season of all. Shortly after meeting his soulmate Kim, Brett shares how their time together was cut short when his healthy, vibrant wife was unexpectedly diagnosed with ALS and passed away just 12 months after the news was delivered. Brett will share the most impactful lessons he learned from Kim as she battled the disease, such as how to love other people in a way that he didn't know was possible. Through his journey, he's compiling his next book about these lessons and explains how he's learned to tune into his heart to heal and flourish again – taking with him this time everything Kim taught him. About Today's Guest: Brett Blair is the founder and president of Best Life Global, LLC. Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, Best Life Global is an executive coaching and consulting company, providing personalized business growth, executive and life coaching, training, and organizational consulting services. He's published two books, From Autopilot to Authentic and Living at the Summit, and is currently working on his next book called Born-Love-Die. He is a keynote speaker on a variety of subjects relative to peak performance, and the founder of the Best Life Movement, a nonprofit organization that aims to help people live their unique best lives. Brett lives in Durham, North Carolina, and is active with his church and nonprofit organizations. He also enjoys long-distance running, snow skiing, and travel. Mentioned in the Episode: From Autopilot to Authentic by Brett Blair Living at the Summit by Brett Blair Flourish by Martin Seligman Brett Blair's LinkedIn

"My passion was to find a career that I felt like I was helping people." - Whitney Bartelli Money can enable us to do the things we love – take vacations, buy things we want, and even help us celebrate the big milestones. However, money can also block us in ways, too. When we are financially unwell (in debt or unable to save), anxiety builds up in our body – causing us to miss some of life's greatest moments because we're worried about the future – even tomorrow. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Whitney Bartelli to share more about those barriers that money can create in our life – and how it can even derail us from discovering our purpose in life. She will share a few stories about how she fell into her purpose, but also why having a financial plan was crucial to her getting to this point in her life. By the end of the episode, she will provide some small steps someone can take to get on a financially healthy road – and ultimately, get that much closer to living their best life and fulfilling their purpose. About Today's Guest: Whitney Bartelli serves as the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at CommunityAmerica Credit Union, overseeing the areas of brand strategy and brand growth, content strategy, social and digital engagement and management, product development, member/corporate communications and community engagement. Whitney leads high-level strategic, data-driven initiatives that directly impact sales growth and each line of business at CommunityAmerica. With a people-helping-people focus, Whitney's teams are focused on elevating CommunityAmerica's brand and connecting Kansas Citians to its mission of helping members to achieve financial peace of mind. Mentioned in the Episode: CommunityAmerica Credit Union Financial Planning at CommunityAmerica Credit Union Community Access Centers Big Shifts Foundation CommunityAmerica Credit Union is insured by NCUA. Profit Payout. Dividend is discretionary and approved annually by CommunityAmerica's Board of Directors. Amounts advertised are representative of actual dividends paid in 2023. Dividend is not guaranteed and may vary based on criteria established by CommunityAmerica Credit Union and the total amount allocated by the Board of Directors each year. Not everyone receives a dividend and member must be in good standing and meet other criteria on processing date to qualify. Dividends are reported to IRS and a 1099 form will be issued at year-end. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of recipient. All loans subject to approval. High Interest Savings. Top of market according to S&P Global Deposit Ranking Report – Kansas City Metro Area as of January 19, 2022. First Tier: 3.92% – 4.00% APY from $1.00 – $1,500, if First Tier qualifications are met. Second Tier: 0.025% APY on $1,500.01 or more, and on balance if First Tier qualifications are not met. The account requires a $1 minimum opening deposit. The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) shown is effective as of 03/01/2021, unless otherwise noted. Rates are variable and may change without notice after the account is opened. Fees could reduce earnings on this account. Balances up to $1,500 will earn first tier APY when 'Qualifications for cash back'. Each statement period that Qualifications are met after the account opened, the first tier APY will be applied to the next statement period. Due to compounding, interest earned may push balances into next rate tier, causing an APY change. Please see rate page for range. If Qualifications not met, the first tier APY will discontinue and will revert to the credit union's base rate for Savings accounts until 'Qualifications for cash back' are reestablished. Balances of $1,500.01 or more will earn the credit union's current applicable base rate for Savings accounts. Limit one High Interest Savings account per member. Business, IRA, and Minor accounts not eligible for this product. Qualifications for cash back: The membership account number tied to the High Interest Savings account must complete the following: Enrolled in eStatements; Monthly direct deposit of at least $250 posted to one deposit-suffix; 15 posted point-of-sale debit card transactions per month to a single checking-suffix; OR Enrolled in eStatements; 25 posted point-of-sale debit card transactions per month to a single checking-suffix. Transactions exclude refunds, credits, fees, pre-authorizations and ATM transactions. Deposit products insured by NCUA include: Checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) Wealth Management by CommunityAmerica: Securities and advisory services offered through Copper Financial Network, LLC ("CuFi"), Member FINRA/SIPC. CuFi is a SEC registered investment adviser. CuFi is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Wealth Management by CommunityAmerica is a marketing name used by CuFi. For important disclosures from CuFi, including our Form CRS, please visit here. Investment and insurance product

"Pausing and intention are key to self-fulfillment." - Kim Newton Did you know 36% of women aren't following their dreams? Kim Newton was one of them several years ago, and it took some monumental people (and moments) to help her realize there was so much more to life. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Kim to unfold what was going on inside her heart when she began to sense a change was needed. Her story is both inspiring and action-oriented, meaning it wasn't the inspiration that took her forward but the people around her that made her take steps toward a life full of happiness, abundance, and fulfillment. The decision to "disrupt her life" and take time to pause was exactly what she needed to quiet her head talk, and tune into her heart. Kim will help you think about what your truest "joy" is inside your own heart. She will ask some emotionally-charged questions for you to reflect on, but also share how her passion was something that had actually been part of her for a majority of life already – but it took some rekindling to find it. This episode is sure to linger in your heart long after it's over. About Today's Guest: Kim Newton is passionate about leadership and innovation. She's an exceptional developer of people and has advised hundreds of leaders personally and professionally. She has a unique right-brain/left-brain approach to helping people and companies meet their fullest potential. Kim is a seasoned global marketing executive, board director, advisor, artist, and entrepreneur. During her two decades at Hallmark, she directly influenced global corporate strategy and led transformation across a $4B diversified portfolio of top brands. She has been recognized multiple times as a top African America in corporate America. Kim has always left a space for creation of her own heart, a modern approach to quilting. Kim's quilts have been called "unique and inspiring contemporary fiber art that tells a story and ignites the spirit." In 2019, after leaving corporate America, Kim sold her first piece that now hangs on the wall of Oprah Winfrey. Since that time, she has embraced and loves nurturing her artist self. As the founder of Alexis Enterprises, LLC, Kim brings to life all of her passions, including an art studio focused on her one-of-a-kind quilts. She also created and designed the Intentional Pause Project, which helps others embrace the journey she went on herself. The workbook helps people discover the powerful reason pausing can help them move forward to achieve their dreams. Mentioned in the Episode: Kim Alexis Newton's quilt website Kim's Intentional Pause workbook by Kim Kim's Intentional Pause Project

"We all have gifts. I think it is my responsibility to use mine to build into as many lives as possible in my life, beyond my reach, and beyond my life. I don't know how to build bridges, I don't have a whiz bang invention, but I do know how to influence others and change their thinking. Their changed thinking changes their lives. That is my job – by speaking, writing, or coaching." - Dr. Roger Hall Author of Staying Happy, Being Productive: The Big 10 Things Successful, Dr. Roger Hall helps people learn to monitor and manage their thinking. For over 25 years, he has consulted with leaders from all types of companies, judges in federal courts, university faculty, social workers, teachers, nurses, construction workers, landscapers, and box-makers. He helps his clients become better versions of themselves so they can improve their own lives and the lives of those they serve. About Dr. Roger Hall Roger does his best as a speaker to keep people like him engaged in what he's talking about. He has had the good fortune to work with entrepreneurs, tech companies, big Fortune 20 companies, and professionals like lawyers, financial planners, and other high relationship sales people. Roger wants to influence our culture, so he likes working with companies that distribute information, create technology, and create entertainment. Mentioned in the Episode: How he helps people monitor and manage their thinking. Unpacking his book, Staying Happy, Being Productive: The Big 10 Things Successful. Some of his favorite takeaways from his book which include getting more sleep. What are some of the tools and assignments he gives people to help manage their thoughts. The benefits of checking in with your thoughts every hour to help you monitor them and notice common themes. How you can break the cycle in negative thought loops and emotions. What steps you can do to replace false, negative thoughts with accurate, true counter thoughts. The importance of loving relationships for wellbeing. How the lack of human interaction and connection has impacted our mental health in 2020 and now in 2021. What advice he would give to leader

"You can't run from your passion or your purpose, it will try to find you." - Dr. Michelle Robin Dr. Michelle Robin gives listeners a special treat today – a solo episode that celebrates the beginning of her 10th season of the podcast. She will share the story behind how the podcast was born, but more importantly, what has propelled her to continue making episodes all these years later. She will also highlight the most memorable conversations and moments she's had with guests over the years. If you are seeking guidance on to remain true to yourself, and grounded this year, you don't want to miss this episode. She will reveal her one-word this year as well, and how it always helps her feel more anchored to her well-being. By the end of the episode, she will share the wisdom she learned in 2022, which are now the lessons she is taking forward into 2023. About Dr. Michelle Robin: Dr. Michelle Robin is the founder of Your Wellness Connection, Small Changes Big Shifts®, Big Shifts Foundation®, and the Kansas City Wellness Consortium®, but more importantly, she is a visionary for the well-being of many generations. After opening her chiropractic practice in Kansas City over 30 years ago, she's become a national influence and memorable leader in the wellness industry. Her simple framework – called the Quadrants of Well-Being – is the key to what many people have been looking for when it comes to discovering their best life. She has spent the majority of her career helping people make small changes that ultimately create the biggest shifts in their well-being. As a chiropractor, author, teacher, holistic healer, podcast host, unshakable optimist, international speaker, and passionate advocate for generational change, Michelle has left an impression on thousands of lives by helping them find their unique path to wellness and enrich their purpose in life. Mentioned in the Episode: Your Wellness Connection Small Changes Big Shifts Big Shifts Foundation Scholarship 30-Year Celebration Video & Lessons Wellness Consortium website Troy Nash episode How Kindness Raises Your Vibration with Sonia Choquette Your One Word This Year with Jimmy Page and Dan Britton Why Surrendering is the Passage to Freedom with Kute Blackson From Comfort to Chaos – and the Journey Home to Peace with Tareq Hadhad Super Gut with Dr. William Davis How Every Child Can Thrive by Five with Molly Wright (TedTalk) Caterpillar post by Dr. Michelle Robin Finding Purpose in Unexpected Places with Isaac Lee Collins 31 Days of Kindness

"We can find purpose in everything that we do." - Isaac Lee Collins From the outside, it may look like Isaac Lee Collins encountered a smooth journey toward success. At 23, fresh out of college, he opened his own chocolate-making store that quickly earned him a half-a-million dollars. However, what people don't always see is the "life story" that got him to where he is today – which is the owner of seven other businesses (plus one non-profit), ranging from handmade chocolates, construction, real-estate investing, health supplements, yoga teaching, frozen yogurt, and now business coaching. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Isaac to share his story – the ups, downs, and even some of the trauma he endured in life that he managed to turn into good for the sake of humanity. He will uncover some secrets that will help others discover their purpose, and also help listeners see the extraordinary things that can come out of ordinary places. About Today's Guest: In 2011, Isaac's college football season had just ended and he was about to graduate. He just landed the perfect job with one of the city's largest employers making great money and full benefits. However, he was miserable at the thought of working in corporate America. He knew that if he took this prestigious job, he would get comfortable and never pursue his dream of running his own business one day. Today, him and his wife, Rachel, still own five out of eight businesses. Due to the pandemic, his passion project became the Streamlined Profit Academy, which is his business training and coaching company. His mission is to help entrepreneurs get past the "I'm stuck" phase and to build their streamlined, profitable business so they can maximize their income, impact, time, and freedom. Mentioned in the Episode: Yogurtini locations Isaac Lee Collins' website Isaac Lee Collins' LinkedIn Tareq Hadhad's podcast Big Shifts Foundation Kansas City Wellness Consortium

"While I was packing, the only thing I was thinking about was how grateful I felt and how I could thank that cab driver who changed my life forever with a small act of kindness." - Tareq Hadhad Tareq Hadhad's life was changed forever during a cab ride home one day. His driver, who was singing and smiling as he drove, noticed that Tareq looked heavy-hearted. After explaining what was on his mind, the driver shared an idea with him that would positively impact Tareq's entire future – and his family's safety. It was the answer he had been searching for. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Tareq to share his awe-inspiring story about his family's refugee journey from Syria to their new home in Canada. He provides a glimpse into what was going through in his mind during this incredibly challenging time of war in their country, but also what he noticed about his father who was losing everything he had built for his family – including his chocolate factory. Enjoy this special holiday episode, which reminds us that there will be moments in life that are truly hard, sometimes devastating – and it may even feel like we are losing everything in the blink of an eye – but what matters is how true we stay to our values and how we can learn some of life's greatest lessons through crisis. About Today's Guests: Tareq Hadhad was a Syrian refugee and is now living his new life with his entrepreneurial family in Canada's east coast. He is the founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, the recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 for Atlantic, named one of the Top 25 Immigrants in the Maritimes, selected by Google as the National Hero Case, was awarded RBC's top Immigrant Award and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020 – in addition to Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal. All of this happened since Tareq's arrival on Canada's East Coast in December 2015 as a Syrian-Canadian newcomer. In 2012, the Hadhad's home and factory that housed the family chocolate-making business were destroyed, which forced them to seek safety in other countries. Passionate about peace and entrepreneurship, his family relaunched the family business to recreate the chocolates they once exported across the Middle East and their story has turned into an international inspiring phenomenon. Mentioned in the Episode: Peace by Chocolate movie Tareq Hadhad's website Peace by Chocolate company website Tareq Hadhad's LinkedIn

The colder months can make it difficult to stay active, which is why today's episode is all about how to keep our bodies moving, even indoors. During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Danelle Husk from the YMCA to share how organizations like theirs are offering new ways for people to stay active during the wintertime. Danelle shares some of her favorite indoor activities, but also speaks to the YMCA 360 portal that allows their members to explore classes that promote a spirit, mind, and body connection to stay well this winter. She provides some examples of why this new platform has been so successful for their members, especially since it gives people an opportunity to try a new workout inside the comfort of their own home rather than a public gym. Later in the show, Dr. Robin welcomes Ant the Trainer, who shares his inspiring story of how he lost 65lbs in 8 months by becoming a mailman – and what motivated him to begin learning the science behind how our bodies work and what they need. He covers some important topics such as why people struggle with a healthy lifestyle, and also gives listeners a few tips that will inspire you to keep focusing on the impact small changes can have in your life. About Today's Guests: Danelle Huske is a Program Director II for the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, supporting membership and healthy living at the Olathe and Prairie Village locations. She has a Master's degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Emporia State University. She first worked at the Y in 2001, and returned in 2004 and has worked at the Y since then. Her favorite part of working at the Y is helping people improve their overall health and making it a welcoming place for all. She's from Silver Lake, Kansas. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to sporting events, watching sports, and staying active. Ant the Trainer used to be a truck driver that delivered farm equipment from coast to coast. His eating habits were poor from always being on the road. He struggled with his breathing and was borderline hypertension. In 2018, he moved to Kansas City and became a mailman, which meant he went from sitting all day to now walking 10-15 miles nearly every day to deliver mail. He quickly lost 65lbs in 8 months, and this was just the beginning of his brand-new story. After he realized how good he felt, he enrolled in a Bachelor's program for Exercise Science to learn everything he could about how our bodies functioned and what they need to stay well. Today, he is a professional personal trainer who helps others to build confidence and change their life like he did. Mentioned in the Episode: YMCA 360 YMCA of Greater Kansas City YMCA – Find a location in the U.S. Big Shifts Foundation Ant the Trainer's website Ant the Trainer Instagram Small Changes Big Shifts Kansas City Wellness Consortium MajorMove.fit

"We now understand in the rapidly growing field of traumatology, those kinds of traumas can be more damaging to our nervous system regulation and the state of our brain than adverse childhood experiences." - Dr. Lissa Rankin Dr. Lissa Rankin didn't expect to go down a particular path when she left her promising career as an OBGYN in 2007. The plan was to focus on her own health and well-being during a two-year sabbatical, but she soon came face-to-face with people who were doing all the right things – eating well, yoga, and other popular wellness practices – yet they were some of the sickest people she had ever met. When she started asking them deep-rooted questions about their lives, her passion and purpose suddenly revealed itself. She realized what was holding people back from feeling better – developmental trauma. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Dr. Rankin to unpack the story behind what made her go around the globe to collect tools from the world's medicine bag (from experts, traditions, faith healers, spiritual healers, energy healers). She was on a quest to find out how these things could transform lives – especially for those who weren't aware they experienced developmental trauma growing up. She'll also share about her latest book release called Sacred Medicine, and why developmental trauma is such a danger to our nervous system and our brain health. About Today's Guests: Lissa Rankin, MD, is a mind-body medicine physician, author of seven books, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic who researches radical remission, trauma-informed medicine, and spiritual healing. Her TEDx talks have been viewed over 5 million times, and she starred in two National Public Television specials – Heal Yourself: Mind Over Medicine and The Fear Cure. Lissa's interest in the link between loneliness and disease led her to spearhead her latest project. Heal At Last, a non-profit organization which aims to bring effective trauma healing and spiritual healing methods to anyone ready for the deep dive of healing. Mentioned in the Episode: Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself book by Lissa Rankin Sacred Medicine: A Doctor's Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing by Lissa Rankin The Shocking Truth About Your Health TedTalk by Lissa Rankin Kitchen Table Wisdom book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World book Lissa Rankin on Facebook Lissa Rankin on Twitter Lissa Rankin on Instagram Lissa Rankin's blog HealAtLast.org Healing with The Muse

"We can't judge people today who could be different tomorrow." - Michael Glauser The greatest of happiness occurs in relationships, yet as a society, we have lost our way in building and sustaining meaningful relationships. We don't talk to our neighbors as much as we did a decade ago – and the detrimental effects of this lost art is greatly affecting the next generation to lead our world. Over 40% of high school students are persistently sad and feeling hopeless, while 40% of college students say they are too depressed to do their school work. Additionally, 60% of college students say the loneliness epidemic is a very real problem in their own lives. After years of pulling research together about the principles for happiness and civility, Mike Glauser decided it was time to put it all into book form and call it One People One World. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin asks Mike what those six universal truths are that he presents in his book. While these truths have been on this earth for 5,000 years – and are backed by significant academic research – people are still struggling to reconnect to them despite how simple they seem. Mike dives into why action is required – not just reading or thinking about them. Tune in as he shares insight of what he's learned over the years after doing bicycle tours through small-town America. About Today's Guests: Michael Glauser is an entrepreneur, business consultant, university professor, and author of Main Street Entrepreneurand One People One Planet. He's also the Executive Director of the Clark Center for Entrepreneurship at Utah State University. He has built successful companies in the retail, wholesale, and consulting industries. He has worked with hundreds of startup ventures and large corporations. He is the co-founder and CEO of My New Enterprise, an online training, and development company. He's the Director of the SEED self-sufficiency program, helping people around the world to improve their standard of living and benefit their communities through entrepreneurship. Mike's great passion is helping people create successful companies, gain financial freedom, and live the life of their dreams. Mentioned in the Episode: Main Street Entrepreneur by Mike Glauser One People One Planet by Mike Glauser One People One Planet website Mike Glauser's website Big Shifts Foundation

"Stress tends to occur when there's an imbalance from a demand being placed on you, and it seems like you might be incapable of meeting that demand." - Megan Walker Many people experience higher stress levels during the holidays, mainly due to having a lot more on our plate. However, creating a stress response toolkit can better help your body and mind manage that stress. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Megan Walker, who is the Healthy Living Director at the YMCA in the Greater Kansas City area to talk about what that toolkit can include for you. She dives into the importance of understanding what stress is in the body and why it happens, then provides some steps you can start making today before the holiday parties and family events begin. Some key tips that are mentioned include reframing our mindset, physical activity to release stress, blood sugar, hydrating with water, the role fiber has in your body, and where we need to allow more self-compassion on ourselves during the holidays. About Today's Guests: Megan Walker is the Healthy Living Director for the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, at the Platte County Community Center North location. She has a passion for helping others lead a healthier lifestyle and approaches overall wellness from a holistic perspective. She joined the YMCA in 2021 as a Healthy Living Coach, Group Exercise Instructor, and Personal Trainer, and now gets the pleasure of serving the community in her role as director. Although she is relatively new to the YMCA, she has been in the exercise and sport science field for eight years having worked within higher education as a collegiate softball coach, Mental performance Consultant providing services to individual student-athletes and teams, and as a faculty member teaching Sport and Exercise Psychology. Mentioned in the Episode: YMCA.org - Locate all locations nationwide YMCA of Greater Kansas City Big Shifts Foundation

"The value and power of gratitude is that it allows you to shift your perspective. It helps you dig deep and look for good." - Kim Becking The holidays bring an immense amount of pressure, tension, and stress on us – but are we missing out on life by not finding the good? Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Kim Becking to the show today to talk about how you can utilize a gratitude practice right now to build a momentum mindset. Kim shares how she redefines what resilience means in today's world, and some of the practices she started doing when she began a life that was intentionally focused on gratitude. Get ready to receive multiple bits of wisdom and one-liners that you can lean on this holiday season. Some of her advice includes letting go of unrealistic expectations during this time of the year, and she'll offer some wisdom and other tips to help you have a calmer and more peaceful experience around others. Enjoy this wonderful conversation as they dive deep into why gratitude requires growth and everyday practice. About Today's Guests: Kim Becking is an engaging, high-energy, fun, and impactful motivational keynote speaker, change and leadership expert, coach and consultant, and award-winning author. Her Momentum Mindset model helps leaders, teams, and organizations conquer change, boost resilience, accelerate success no matter what. Kim knows a thing or two about change and challenges through her own experiences in business and life. As an attorney, serial entrepreneur running two successful businesses for over two decades, communications strategist and "recovering" political consultant, Kim has conquered the ever-changing tough worlds of business, government, and politics. She's also conquered breast cancer. She doesn't want you to just bounce back after change and adversity – she wants you to develop that Momentum Mindset where you push past limited thinking, get unstuck, and use the change and adversity in life as the fuel needed to propel you forward – faster, further, stronger, and better than ever before. Mentioned in the Episode: 31 Days of Kindness series – sign up for the free emails here 52 Inspiring Quote Decks 3 Good Things app Kim Becking on LinkedIn Kim Becking on Facebook Kim Becking's website Kim's books

"My favorite definition of compassion is to engage in the suffering of others – and that's what this small town did. They had true compassion for five days on us." - Kevin Tuerff Kevin Tuerff was flying from Paris to New York City on September 11, 2001, when the plane suddenly began to appear like it was descending toward the ocean water. A few moments later, the captain came on to say there had been a terrorist attack in the United States, and the plane would be making an emergency landing in a small town in Canada called Gander. Soon after landing, they discovered other planes had been grounded in Gander as well, causing the small town's population of 9,000 to experience a sudden increase of 7,000 people on their streets. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Kevin to share this moving and inspiring story about what happened over the course of these five days being stranded there. He explains how people in this town began opening their homes, churches, and kitchens to the passengers like him, asking if they needed a shower, needed a warm meal, or simply needed a ride across town. He recounts how everybody in Gander was helping out, and there was something magical about it. This opened up a brand-new meaning for Kevin about what random acts of kindness could look like – leading him to launch a nonprofit organization around this experience called Pay It Forward 9.11 after he returned back home in Houston, Texas. Since its launch in 2002, the nonprofit has become an international phenomenon around kindness and continues to teach people about the power it has in our lives. About Today's Guests: Kevin Tuerff's experience as a 9/11 stranded airline passenger in Canada inspired him to develop Pay It Forward 9.11 in 2002, and it's been growing every year. Today, he serves as Founder and Volunteer President of Pay It Forward 9.11, Inc. His 9/11 story is one of the true stories inspiring the Tony-Award-winning Broadway musical "Come from Away". The character "Kevin T" is referred to as the compassionate "gay lumberjack" in the show, and this Pay It Forward 9.11 effort is mentioned in the script of the musical. He is featured cast member in three related documentaries (HBO Canada, CBC, and Fox). In 2018, House of Anansi Press published his memoir called Channel of Peace: Stranded in Gander on 9/11. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the books is donated to nonprofit organizations help refugees. Kevin currently works for Environmental Defense Fund and is TEDx speaker and certified as a virtual presenter by eSpeakers. Mentioned in the Episode: Pay It Forward 9.11 Come From Away Musical TedTalk: Compassion is the New Life Hack by Kevin Tuerff 31 Days of Kindness – sign up to receive the free email series Channel of Peace: Stranded in Gander book by Kevin Tuerff Be Good to People Foundation Be Good to People online store – DMRAMB to get 15% off your order

"Anything that goes from the heart up creates a vibration that actually has a very positive effect on humans. It will jumpstart other human hearts." - Sonia Choquette Sonia remembers her mother being a central figure when it came to including kindness as a core value in life. Through all the adversity she faced, Sonia's mother focused on raising her children to believe that kindness creates the family you need, no matter what the circumstances. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites one of her longtime friends to talk about how kindness can raise your vibration – which is the energy that connects you to everything and everyone in the universe. Sonia, who is a world-renowned intuitive, also will share what happens when we intentionally commit to kindness and dives into exactly how powerful your vibration as a human being is to an entire room of people. She ends the episode with some helpful tips about you can begin to show yourself more self-love to raise your vibration. About Today's Guest: Global author and speaker, Sonia Choquette, is the most highly regarded expert in the field of intuition. Over the course of 40 years, she has become a world-renowned intuitive guide and spiritual teacher. Author of 27 New York Times and International best sellers, her books have been published in 37 languages and 40 countries and has been read by over one million people. Sonia experienced some very difficult times at one point in her life. Within six weeks, her brother died, her father died, her marriage imploded, and her life as she knew it fell apart. Even after being a leader who taught hundreds of thousands of people around the world, she found herself shattered by so much loss happening so fast. She was guided to undertake a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago across Spain to help heal herself and find a way forward. Along the journey, she encountered all her "old stuff" - the pieces of her life that helped her discover the most profound level of wholeness she's ever experienced. Today, she continues to help people all over the world by teaching them to use their senses. Mentioned in the Episode: 31 Days of Kindness – Sign up for the free email series Sonia's Website Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette – new book just released in June 2022 Be Good to People Foundation Be Good to People Online Store

"When you look at the Y's core values since the beginning, it's all about honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring." - John Mikos The YMCA was established 178 years ago – and 162 years ago the Kansas City location was founded. Since then, the nonprofit organization has expanded to 135 countries around the world, and annually serves 155,000 people in just the Kansas City community. During today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites John Mikos, who is the CEO of the YMCA in Greater Kansas City, to share why kindness is such an integral part of who they are and everything that they do. John began his career at the Y as a lifeguard when he was a teenager, quickly deciding this was the place he wanted to work for the rest of his life – a big reason being the kindness the organization shows every day to its community. He also shares some examples about how they incorporate many of their core values into their youth programs to help kids grow with an understanding and awareness about how these things impact their spiritual, mental, and physical health. About Today's Guest: John Mikos became the CEO of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City in 2019 after serving as the Chief Operating Officer since 2013. He's led many progressive developments with the Y in Kansas City, bringing focus to innovative integrated health programs, fostering the Y's vision, and building great relationships with health and community partners across the region. Since joining the organization, Mikos has been part of the downtown YMCA/Kirk Family Community Center breaking ground at the former Lyric Theatre building, as well as the expansion and renovation of facilities, including the Atchison Family YMCA/Cray Community Center and the Linwood Family YMCA/James B. Nutter, and Senior Community Center. Mikos has also worked with North Kansas City government to renovate its area location. Prior to joining YMCA of Greater Kansas City, John held the Chief Operating Officer positions at both the YMCA of Western North Carolina in Asheville and the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. Mentioned in the Episode: 31 Days of Kindness – Sign up for the free email series YMCA of Greater Kansas City YMCA- to find a location near you Before & After School Y Club Youth Sports Nutritional, Personal Training & Weight Loss Challenger Buddy Program Youth Swim Programs Be Good to People Online Store Be Good to People Foundation

"One of the most eye-opening things when writing this book was my realization how influential we are as leaders. We create a ripple effect that goes out into the world." - Jim Blake We have been raised in a culture that tell us hard work is the only way to be successful, but self-care often gets left out of the equation. Spiritual seeker and Reverend at Unity World Headquarters, Jim Blake, knows firsthand what happens when we neglect self-care, especially in times of adversity. During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites him to share more about what inspired him to write his latest book called The Zen Executive: Gems of Wisdom for Enlightened Leadership. One of those things being that if the systems are "off" inside of you, you aren't making the best decisions for your company. His new book aims to help leaders tackle their well-being and take those small steps he would personally advise in their shoes coming from his own personal experience. Rev. Jim also shares some things leaders should think about when it comes to creating a healthy company culture – and it starts with being an example to your team. About Today's Guests: Reverend Jim Blake has more than three decades of study and service in New Thought traditions and organizations. He rejoined Unity World Headquarters as CEO in 2016, having previously served as Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Operations from 2006 to 2011. Prior to being named CEO, he served with global leading innovators in the traffic and energy industries. Rev. Blake has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience with some of the fastest growing and most innovative companies in North America. Jim has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Central Methodist University and a Masters of Divinity from the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 2021. Mentioned in the Episode: The Zen Executive: Gems of Wisdom for Enlightened Leadership book by Jim Blake Unity Church Unity Worldwide Ministries Bookstore at Unity Kindness Campaign IAmJimBlake.com

Show Notes Coming Soon...

"Acts of kindness, compassion, humor, contentment – all of these things have a spiraling upward effect that actually creates resilience in people. The more you contribute positively to the world, the more you're going to be resilient." - Dr. Roger Hall Your brain is malleable all the way through life, meaning your brain has the ability to grow and change the more you practice and rehearse a pattern of thinking. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Dr. Roger Hall, who just released his newest book called DIY Brain: The Mindset Makeover Manual for Peak Performance. He shares what inspired him to write this book – including some backstory of how many years ago he started writing it – and what called him to finally publish it this year. Dr. Hall also explains how kindness, compassion, humor, and contentment all have powerful effects on our brain health and why these things help us to become more resilient and creative in the world. By the end of the episode, you will learn a simple exercise on how you can begin thought-monitoring your brain and why the book is a companion when it comes to shifting your thought patterns – and ultimately your life. About Today's Guests: Dr. Roger Hall is a business psychologist, author, consultant, and speaker. He has one trick: he trains leaders to monitor and manage their thinking. His clients are entrepreneurs, professionals, and business owners. He has worked with leaders from little companies with a few people all the way up to behemoths that dominate their industries. He helps leaders become better versions of themselves so they can lead their people better. Mentioned in the Episode: Staying Happy Being Productive book by Dr. Roger Hall DIY Brain: The Mindset Makeover Manual for Peak Performance book by Dr. Roger Hall Hoffman Institute 31-Day Kindness Campaign – sign up for the free 31 emails on kindness

"Everywhere you wear this message or carry it, it creates kinder behavior." - Kris Wittenberg As we begin our final countdown to launching the 31-Day Kindness Campaign, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes a very dear and longtime friend to the show, Kris Wittenberg. Kris is the founder of Be Good to People (BGTP), a company that came to be after a negative encounter with a stranger one afternoon in 2008. In today's episode, Dr. Robin reveals why the Be Good to People Foundation has come on board as the Presenting Sponsor this year for the Kindness Campaign. Giving back has always been at the root of Be Good to People. Since day one, 2% of every BGTP merchandise purchase goes to the Be Good to People Foundation to celebrate other GoodDoersTM and their nonprofits, support kind work in communities, and to build kindness education programs in schools. Also in today's episode, Dr. Robin and Kris share an important story about how they met, the wellness benefits of kindness, their personal mental health journey, and why being kind has been hard for many people during these times. Kris wraps up the conversation with some advice she would give younger generations about kindness. About Today's Guests: In the spring of 2008, Kris Wittenberg was out at lunch in her small town of Eagle, Colorado, when a woman was rude to her. Looking back, she doesn't retain the exact details, but she does remember what happened that afternoon after the encounter. She came back to her office and wondered why people can't just be good to people. After creating a t-shirt with the words, "Be Good to People" - the brand was born and quickly gained attention among humanity, even earning two kiosks at the Denver International Airport to remind travelers about being kind and providing an opportunity to purchase some of the gear. Mentioned in the Episode: BeGoodToPeople.com Contact Be Good to People about co-branded gear Be Good to People Merchandise BGTPFoundation.org www.BigShifts.org/Kindness - Sign up for the free email series 31 Days of Kindness Decks - for Ages 18 and Up 7 Days of Kindness for Kids Decks – Ages 5 through 18

"Sometimes it's the things that come most natural to us that we take for granted. We don't even realize what a superpower that is until we see people who don't have that ability." - Jana Stanfield Welcome to our Special Topics episode in September, where we invite our sponsors to present unique topics that help listeners build community, boost wellness prevention, and provide educational opportunities to further their well-being. Today's Special Topics Episode Music has been a part of Jana Stanfield's entire life – ever since she was a little girl when she began learning the piano, but eventually chose guitar. In today's episode, Jana shares part of her life story that includes the moment she had a wake-up call about her career. She began as a hard news television reporter, but quickly realized the words that were getting people to tune in to the network were only inciting fear. Jana realized it was time for a change, and that going forward she wanted to use her words – combined with her musical gift – to inspire and lift people up. This launched her into a profound speaking and performance career all over the world. Listeners will even get a chance to hear her perform some of her music in today's episode, and again as one of the speakers at the Living in Vitality annual event by AdventHealth this year. Later in the show, Dr. Robin welcomes Andrea Toney, who is the Executive Director at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Because September is Hunger Action Month, Andrea shares how the YMCA of Greater Kansas City is helping people who are hungry find their next meal. Through their mobile food drive and the development of soon-to-be food pantries at some of the Y locations, this organization is all about finding what the gaps are in our community and filling them through these hunger initiatives. Andrea shares that 1 in 8 people in the Kansas City community are hungry, and 1 in 6 kids don't even know where their next meal will come from. She goes on to explain why the Y is on a mission to strengthen this community so that kids do better in school and help alleviate the stress many families are feeling from the unprecedented times. About Today's Guests: As a motivational performer, Jana Stanfield combines music with a message that entertains, inspires, and encourages. Her mission is to give organizations a "faith lift" by delivering music, humor, and a message that makes people feel better about who they are, what they do, and why they are doing it. Jana teaches half-day life skills workshops and often delivers the motivational close at conferences and conventions, sending attendees out with a message that is empowering and uplifting. She is a multi-platinum songwriter, and many have heard her songs on the radio, television, and in movies – one even being sung by Reba McEntire. She is the founder of Refugee Film School, and the co-founder of Together We Can Change the World. She now spends her time overseas helping teen refugees. Andrea Toney is the Executive Director at the Cleaver Family YMCA in the Greater Kansas City area. She has a deep passion for serving and leading others and has been lucky enough to get to do this through the YMCA of Greater Kansas City for the last 20 years. She loves coming together with others in the Kansas City community to serve a need and to be a bright light in their lives. Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, cheering for her kids from the sidelines, and gathering with friends and family. Mentioned in the Episode: Unity Church of Overland Park Living in Vitality event at AdventHealth – September 30, 2022 The E Factor: Engage, Energize, Enrich book by Dr. Michelle Robin Mobile Food Pantry at the YMCA in Greater Kansas City Volunteer at the YMCA in Greater Kansas City Donate to the YMCA to help them continue their mission

"The one thing that pulled me out of my hole was expressive writing. Nothing really happens or changes without expressive writing." - David Hanscom In 1990, Dr. David Hanscom, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, had his life turned upside down. He began experiencing chronic pain that made him develop 17 symptoms – including OCD, depression, migraine headaches, and many more issues. He shares that his "whole body was lit up" and nobody could help him figure out what was going on. In today's episode, he explains why 90% of symptoms in your body's physiology (how your body functions and runs), and only 10% of issues are structural. Unfortunately, the medical community tends to treat people backwards by doing structural fixes (i.e. spinal surgery) before treating the physiology, which can end up being more destructive on the body and not what it needs to heal. In 2019, he quit his orthopedic practice to go on a mission full-time to stop the aggressive trend of spinal surgery after years of researching and discovering other profound ways to heal from physical and mental pain. Tune in as he talks about what causes inflammatory markers in our body that lead to many people's pain problems today. About Today's Guests: Dr. David Hanscom believes that each human being has a deep drive to thrive and give back. This force is frequently compromised by chronic pain, which has been documented to have a similar impact on your quality of life as terminal cancer. Life becomes one of survival. Through his own personal ordeal, he discovered that chronic pain is curable by systematically using established medical practices in a self-directed manner. The key is connecting to your own healing capacity. He is a renowned spinal surgeon of 30 years. His revolutionary approach to treating chronic pain has helped hundreds of patients live pain-free. His pioneering book, Back in Control: A Surgeon's Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain, showed chronic pain sufferers how to quiet a turbocharged central nervous system, relieve the anxiety and depression that often accompany chronic pain, and make a full recovery. His much-awaited follow-up book, Do You Really Need Spine Surgery? Was later published in 2019. Dr. Hanscom is a frequent guest on TV and radio programs, a regular contributor to Psychology Today, and a sought-after speaker at medical conferences around the world. Mentioned in the Episode: The DOC Journey App com Do You Really Need Spine Surgery? Take Control with a Surgeon's Advice by David Hanscom Back in Control: A Surgeon's Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain by David Hanscom

"It's the simple things done consistently that promote long-term health." - Dr. Dom Fraboni How is mindset connected to chronic pain? Most people describe pain as scary, yet Dr. Jen Esquer and Dr. Dom Fraboni say it's an incredible cue our body is sending to say we need to shift in the way we're doing something. In today's episode, Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom – both physical therapists – explain why many people aren't getting down to the root causes of their pain and why many treatments are only passive to the body. They unpack some chronic pain myths and provide tips listeners can start doing that more actively (vs. passively) help the body correct itself and reverse the pain. They also share why learning "what to say to the body" is such an important tool and why encouraging fear around movement isn't the right path toward healing. About Today's Guests: Dr. Jen Esquer is a top-40 physical therapy influencer. With a Doctorate in physical therapy, she is ranked as one of the Best Fitness Trainers on Instagram by Shape Magazine and has been featured in Self Magazine, Men's Fitness, Muscle and Fitness as well as a select interview guest on CBS and on the RISE podcast with Mogul CEO Rachel Hollis. As a self-proclaimed "mover", Jen has spent more than 2/3 of her life upside down. She graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology and received her DPT degree from Lomo Linda University. Nowadays, she offers private sports therapy, online programs, workshops, and speaks at global engagements, attracting audiences from stay-at-home moms to Hollywood actors and Olympic athletes. Her mission is to help those who are willing to listen to their body, reverse aging, eliminate pain, and establish sustainable health. Dr. Domenic Fraboni is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. He earned this after graduating from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Rochester, Minnesota. He's an advocate for the advance of the physical therapy profession as well as accessibility to higher quality of care. He loves to focus his efforts on systemic healthcare change. He was an avid coach, unified partner, and volunteer coordinator for the Special Olympics. Today, he coaches clients by working with their mindset, movement, and meals through his company called The Wellness Destination. Mentioned in the Episode: Jen Health Platform Jen Health on Instagram (@jen.health) Find Jen on Instagram (@docjenfit) Find Dr. Dom on Instagram (@drdomdpt) The Optimal Body Podcast with Dr. Jen and Dr. Dom Quadrants of Well-Being Wellness on a Shoestring by Dr. Michelle Robin

"Any time you feel stressed and go into that fight or flight mode – everything about your body changes." - Cindy Perlin Between the opioid epidemic and her own life story, Cindy Perlin set out on a journey to help people see a different side of the story behind chronic pain. In today's episode, Cindy shares how she became suicidal after battling severe chronic back pain for three years, beginning at age 25 – without doctors being able to help her. The change happened when a friend recommended a book about the mind/body connection that changed her life forever. She began healing herself using many of these techniques, leading her to write a book called The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatmentsso that others could follow in her footsteps. About Today's Guests: Cindy Perlin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified biofeedback practitioner. She's been helping people achieve their health and wellness goals for over 25 years. Her practice is located in Delmar, New York, near Albany. She is passionate about the power of biofeedback to heal because of her own journey and became increasingly passionate about helping people when she noticed a rise in opioid overdoses for those trying to manage their pain. She is the author of The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free and the creator of the Alternative Pain Treatment Directory. Mentioned in the Episode: Alternative Pain Treatment Directory Cindy Perlin's website The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments by Cindy Perlin

"We don't want stress to go away – we want some stress, we want some challenge, we have a need to grow, but the key is joy. I find it's less about getting rid of stress, but seeking joy." - Dr. Heidi Hanna Studies show that nearly half of adults in the United States (46.4%) will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. * Other research has also shown that when stress becomes chronic, the risks for mental health problems and other medical problems increase. * Stress levels are beginning to return to pre-pandemic days. However, there is a rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which happens when someone has an impact and they aren't able to get back to where they were before the event. PTSD can contribute to sleep problems, weight problems, brain fog, dementia, and/or anger. In today's episode, Dr. Heidi Hanna shares what led her down the path to studying brain health and why stress is something we can actually control in our brain. Dr. Hanna reveals her own struggle with anxiety and panic over the years, and what she learned are the five key factors for improving brain health. Later in the show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Caleb Brown from CommunityAmerica Credit Union to share why our financial health is just as important as our physical and mental well-being. Because many people experience stress due to debt, Caleb shares options available that can help someone get in control their debt, which can lead to long-lasting happiness, joy, freedom, peace of mind, and many other facets of life. He provides helpful tips to dive into your debt and why that experience will be different for each person. *Sources: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/02/5-surprising-mental-health-statistics/; https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/stress About Today's Guests: Dr. Heidi Hanna is the Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, a company providing brain-based health and performance programs to individuals and organizations. She is a New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic, and Recharge. As an experienced speaker, Dr. Heidi Hanna has been featured at many national and global conferences, including the Fortune Magazine Most Powerful Women in Business Summit, ESPN Women's Leadership Summit, and Million Dollar Round Table. Caleb Brown is a Financial Relationship Consultant at CommunityAmerica Credit Union. In 2020, Caleb made a big career change, switching his focus from helping people with their physical health to assisting with their financial well-being. He specializes in helping members achieve financial peace of mind by listening, educating, and consulting, to determine the right options to fit their financial needs. He has also led multiple finance-themed seminars, sharing tips on budgeting and credit consultation. Mentioned in the Episode: Debt Consolidation Calculator CommunityAmerica Credit Union Kansas City Pig Rescue Living in Vitality event in AdventHealth – September 30, 2022 Wellness on a Shoestring book Heidi Hanna books

"Lower back pain is not bad genetics or bad luck. A majority of the time it's just a mechanical issue." - Dr. Sean Cailteux Between medications, surgeries, treatments, and missed work, lower back pain is costing people in the United States over 200 billion dollars per year. Even more, research shows that 4 out of 5 people will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, and most of them either feel hopeless about it or unsure how to treat it. In today's episode, Dr. Sean Cailteux shares his story about how he found his calling in chiropractic medicine and how God played an integral role in getting him to this point in his life. Dr. Cailteux specializes in lower back pain, so he provides several methods that chiropractors can do to help people who experience it. He recommends what every good chiropractor should do when someone comes in with pain in the body as well as a few prevention tips. He also describes why decompression treatments and the Kinesio Taping Method are growing holistic treatments. Later in the show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Starla Bargmann from the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Starla explains how their LIVESTRONG program is impacting our community who are currently fighting cancer or cancer survivors. The LIVESTRONG program helps them work on their physical and mental health by providing fitness activities and a community of others who are along a similar journey. About Today's Guests: Dr. Sean Cailteux specializes in lower back pain conditions and the care of extremities using Cox Flexion Distraction, Diversified, Activator, Spinal Decompression, Kinesio Taping Method, and Cold Laser therapy. He received his undergraduate from Washburn University in Exercise Physiology and Pre-Med. Graduating with Honors, Dr. Cailteux continued on to Parker University for a Doctorate in Chiropractic, Bachelor of Science in Human Anatomy, and a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. Dr. Cailteux finished his time at Parker University Cum Laude and was awarded The Robert J. Czopoth Service and Leadership Award as well as Best Technique Award, awarded to one member of every graduating class. He grew up in St. Mary's, Kansas, and now calls Kansas City home, where he has been chiropractor at Your Wellness Connection for 12 years. Starla Bargmann is the Healthy Living Director at the YMCA in the Greater Kansas City area. She joined the YMCA team in 2012 when she became a group exercise instructor, healthy living coach, personal trainer, and LIVESTRONG certified instructor. She is also a NETA certified personal trainer and a YUSA certified group exercise instructor. Starla has a Master's degree in teaching. Before the YMCA, Starla taught high school history for six years and preschool for two years. When she isn't working, she's gardening. She and her family have a mini farm where they raise chickens, sell eggs, and raise turkeys for Thanksgiving. Mentioned in the Episode: Cleveland Chiropractic School Chiropractic Experience Wellness Center in Lawrence Cleveland Clinic Research Small Changes Big Shifts Kansas City Wellness Consortium Network Spinal Hygiene Exercises from Dr. Sean – Download will begin immediately LIVESTRONG program at the YMCA in Greater Kansas City

"The health of your feet is critical to your overall well-being." - Karen Kipp Many people are often afraid to seek help for pain due to fear of requiring surgery or medication. However, most don't realize that small changes to your foot health can make a big difference, if not eliminate it completely. In today's episode, Karen Kipp and Khalil Elgharsi join Dr. Michelle Robin as they embark on a conversation about why our feet are responsible for so much in our bodies. They both discuss their line of work – reflexology and pedorthy – and explain some common problems they are seeing in people's feet today. This includes why people are wearing the wrong-sized shoes, why tennis shoes are sized differently than other shoes, why hip pain is higher in the summertime, and how to know if you are wearing the right shoes. Khalil also explains the importance of making sure all 26 bones in your feet and the 18 muscles attached to them are being used and supported at all times. About Today's Guests: Karen Kipp has been a reflexologist for over 25 years and loves helping people feel empowered by providing the tools they need to manifest their wellness vision. In addition to reflexology, her services include wellness coaching, juice fasts, and cleanses for groups and individuals, facilitating a variety of retreats and wellness presentations. Khalil Elgharsi is a pedorthist who has been in the foot industry for over two decades, beginning in New York City and later relocating to Kansas City. He is the owner of Wealcan Medical Equipment, Supplies & Orthotics. He is also a board-certified compression fitter for the treatment of lymphedema and venous disease. Mentioned in the Episode: Karen Kipp's Practice Khalil's Wealcan Orthotics Services Kansas City Wellness Consortium (Wellness Network)

"We need to be breathing slower and lower." - Erik Peper Dr. Erik Peper has become a recognized expert on stress management and workplace health all over the world, in addition to being the author of numerous books and articles. In today's episode, he shares what got him into holistic health back in the 1970s, plus why his passion and lifework became all about helping his students and other people optimize and mobilize their health. As a culture, it's time we start looking at health as much bigger than just one window. He also shares more about his newest book called Tech Stress, which helps people re-imagine what it means to move during the day. Dr. Peper shares some easy exercises to help you become more aware of what the body experiences when your muscles get tense for long periods of time. Listeners will especially enjoy his tip about what you can do when you begin to feel stressed – and how one simple posture change can reverse the path of our thoughts and emotions. About Today's Guest: Dr. Erik Peper is an internationally known expert on biofeedback (applied psychophysiology), holistic health, and stress management. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and his PhD in psychology from Union Graduate Institute. Since then, he's taught at San Francisco State University, where he has been instrumental in establishing the Institute for Holistic Health Studies, the first holistic health program at a public university in the United States. Dr. Peper lectures and teaches frequently all over the world and runs a biofeedback practice at BiofeedbackHealth in Berkeley, California. Mentioned in the Episode: Tech Stress book by Dr. Erik Peper Biofeedback with Dr. Erik Peper Stretchbreak.com Quadrants of Well-Being

"People don't realize that stress causes muscle tension, yet stretching can release that tension. That's why they feel better when they get off our tables." - Kelly Harrick Kelly Harrick grew up in a small town in western Kansas – so small the town only had one stoplight. However, that close-knit community was a gift to her as it allowed her to get to know everybody in town, including the one and only physical therapist whose family she began babysitting when she was a young girl. In today's episode, Kelly shares the impact those early connections had on her life, as well as her inspiring story of how she fell in love with helping people feel better. After a successful and fulfilling career as a physical therapist for many years, Kelly decided to take a break and went out searching for how she could take her passion of helping people to a new level. This episode includes the inspirational journey of how Stretch Zone was founded and how changed our community's perspective about the ever-growing benefits of stretching. She also provides some bonus tips on how often you should be stretching throughout the day at home, how stretching impacts your stress levels, and why people say they feel younger and lighter after their time at Stretch Zone. About Today's Guest: Kelly Harrick took her passion for stretching and built a business around it. Today, she is the owner-operator of Stretch Zone in Kansas City, where they help people increase their range of motion gradually by utilizing their patented equipment alongside their practitioners. Kelly has been a physical therapist for over 25 years, specifically working with orthopedic patients. Opening Stretch Zone became a passion for her because she wanted to use her wellness background to help people experience less pain, improve their flexibility, and even increase their circulation. She believes that if we all start with the base of stretching, other things in the body get better. Mentioned in the Episode: Stretch Zone Stretch Zone Patented Equipment & Practitioners Quadrants of Well-Being 21 Days to Better Posture Program

Welcome to our Special Topics episode in July, where we bring in two of our sponsors to help bring our listeners community-building engagement, prevention and education opportunities available. Today's Special Topics Episode Diane O'Byrne presents an amazing opportunity for women in the Kansas City area on September 3, 2022 – the Living in Vitality conference at AdventHealth (formally known as Shawnee Mission). This year marks its 25th anniversary, where they have spent all prior years bringing women together to learn and receive lifelong self-care takeaways that will finally get them closer to stepping into their best lives. She highlights what the day encompasses and what the admission includes for each woman. She even shares a heartwarming story about a friend's sister who experienced a life-changing moment for herself while at this event, which is often why so many women choose to return again and again for this event every year. In the last segment of the show, Kathy Armitage from the YMCA in Greater Kansas City joins us to break the barriers that we often put around ourselves as we age. After her father experienced a tragic fall, which led to complications and his passing, Kathy has spent the last 22 years of her career at the YMCA creating programs for people aging and looking for a way to stay active, improve their flexibility and strength, all while removing limitations we often put on ourselves as we age. She shares a handful of opportunities and programs available at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City that have helped thousands of people see that society has put folks who age in a box – but each person has an opportunity to go outside that box and start gaining strength and confidence at any age. She even shares some tips you can do at home to improve balance and fall prevention, since most falls happen at home. About Today's Guests: Diane O'Byrne is the Co-Chair of Living in Vitality annual event at AdventHealth. She has four generations of women in her family who are living in vitality, and has a passion to see more women in our community discover the power in self-care and resources available for them to live a life better than they could have ever imagined. Kathy Armitage is the Active Lifestyles Program Director at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. She specializes in working with people who are 50 and older through healthy living programs that support body, mind, and spirit. She has spent the last 22 years at the YMCA developing programs for these ages, and pioneered the programs that help people see that aging doesn't mean they will lose their flexibility, strength, or mobility. Mentioned in the Episode: Living in Vitality Event – September 30, 2022 Get Moving like an Animal with Tony Temple – Kids Living in Vitality YMCA in Greater Kansas City SmartStart Program at the YMCA

"When your body is free of interference, your body will heal." - Dr. Gilles LaMarche Dr. Gilles LaMarche was living his best life – a successful chiropractic practice, healthy, fit, active, and raising his children who became incredible human beings themselves. But in 2003 at age 48, his world was turned inside out when he suddenly began having difficulty breathing while doing simple activities like walking from one side of the room to the other. Doctors soon discovered he had cardiomegaly – an enlarged heart that was continuing to enlarge due to breathing difficulties. He was given 24 months left to live, with the only option being a heart and lung transplant that may give him another five years. Because his lifestyle would be extremely limited after the double transplant, he decided to come to terms with the terminal diagnosis and opt out of the procedure. On May 15, 2004, Dr. Gilles woke up with a revelation. He realized he had been preaching the chiropractic paradigm and its healing power for 25 years to his patients, and began wondering about his own spine and nervous system. This episode will have you leaning in to hear every word of his powerful story about how he discovered what was really going on inside of him – and how his body could heal from chiropractic medicine. As he approaches his 25th year since his diagnosis, he is preparing to run the 2023 Masters World Championship – the toughest race in all of track and field. About Today's Guest: Dr. Gilles LaMarche is a natural-born leader and one of the greats within the chiropractic world. He is the Vice President of University Advancement and Enrollment, but has also dedicated his life to helping over 750,000 people as a chiropractor over 25 years in Northern Ontario, Canada. He has spoken to audiences throughout Canada, United States, Mexico, Japa, Scandinavia, Australia, Europe, and the Caribbean. He is the co-author of more than nine books including Say Yes to Chiropractic Success and the Parker System for Professional Success. He was named Canadian Chiropractor of the Year in 2006 by readers of Canadian Chiropractic Magazine, and has been sharing his story around the world about the healing power of the nervous system in our body. Mentioned in the Episode: Parker's Principles Gilles LaMarche LinkedIn Diversity Woman Media Conferences Life University