THE EXPLODING HUMAN with Bob Nickman

SONNY MAYO, former guitarist for bands like Ugly Kid Joe and Snot, talks to me about getting STEM CELL THERAPY in Panama for a genetic heart condition. After two heart attacks and unpleasant side-effects from heart medications, Sonny was introduced to stem cell therapy through listening to a Joe Rogan podcast. Raising money through GoFundMe, he was able too make the trip and receive treatment which is not yet legal in the United States. Sonny is a stellar example of taking back his health treatment from an often limited and close-minded medical system. This is an important message as heart disease is the #1 killer in our country!

Combat veterans SCOTT HUESING & PETE TURNER, talk with me about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan and the resulting issues and trauma they and other veterans face on a daily basis upon returning home. Both have made a commitment to help other veterans through Save The Brave organization, where Scott is Executive Director. Pete also uses his podcast, Break It Down Show, to carry the message of hope and healing. We cover what it was like in the military, PTSD, veteran suicide, and their take on millenials in the service. It is a message of of hope, service and compassion.

SADIE ADAMS talks to me about meditation, transformation and changing old beliefs which are no longer working. We cover a range of topics from childhood trauma to the various disciplines she has studied; including embryology, a topic I had never heard of until this interview. She also talked about how this study of humans from pre-conception to eight weeks, informs her other career in skin care. FYI, she looks 20 years younger than her actual age!

In our second interview, DAVID RIPPY and I discuss his newest book, "Powering Through Paralysis," a continuation of his remarkable journey following an accident which left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. We talk about the power of the mind in dealing with challenges and some of the other ways he has learned to thrive through nutrition, hypnosis and a connection to the spiritual realm.

JERRY WHITING talks to me about all thing cannabis from his car in Seattle. His company LeBlanc CNE creates cannabis healing products as well as recreational strains. Jerry's passion and vast knowledge of cannabis history, genetics, pharmacology and advocacy have made him a favorite on the lecture circuit. And find out why he never uses the word "marijuana."

GRACE CHENG-BRAUN runs the non-profit WISE and Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, Ca.. We talk about the challenges of aging and caregiving and the many services the organization offers to assist our aging population such as enrichment programs, benefits assistance, assisted living, caregiver support and training and financial assistance. Her vast knowledge and experience in the field makes for an energetic and informative talk on all aspects of aging.

DAN GRIFFIN, M.A., has worked in the field of recovery for over twenty years and leads men's retreats across the country. He is also the host of his own podcast The Man Rules which explores what it means to be a man in our modern world. We talk about how our culture is shaped by how men and boys are raised, how trauma affects us and what he does in his workshops. He even does a couple of his exercises on me to illustrate how he works with both men and women to improve understanding and communication.

RABBI MARK BOROVITZ talks to me about his alcoholism and two terms in the state penitentiary to becoming a Rabbi in his 40's. He heads the Beit T"Shuva recovery center in Los Angeles helping addicts of all kinds and imparting a spiritual message. We talk addiction, recovery and his views on the spirituality that has often been lost in Judaism.

BRIAN AVERY is an actor and producer who has spent his life studying, enjoying and promoting poetry. He talks about a surgery he had without anesthetic, in which he recited poetry to transport himself to a place of no pain and relaxation. We talk about the healing power, passion and enjoyment poetry has given him and he recites a variety of poems along the way.

CATHY LADMAN is a successful stand-up comic, actress and writer who has struggled with anorexia her entire life. She talks about her childhood, family of origin, the onset of anorexia and the "quirks" of her eating disorder and how she has learned to manage her disease. She is incredibly honest, open and always funny.

KIRK SCHNEIDER is an existential psychologist who is the source of my finding the book "The Denial of Death," by Ernst Becker, a stark and fearless look at man's denial of the ultimate. We talk about living a life of awe amongst the chaotic and mundane. Kirk talks about how the death of his older brother when Kirk was two years-old changed his family dynamic and set him on a quest to discover meaning. We also get into the influence 60's sci-fi TV had on us both -- and his thoughts on technology and robotics in shaping our future.

David Rippy talks about his life as a quadriplegic, following a devastating car accident at age twenty-five. We discuss the aftermath of having his destiny instantaneously spun in a new direction and his recovery -- physical, emotional and spiritual -- as he learned to look inward and discover deeper knowledge. His remarkable story is an inspirational testament to the human spirit and the power of the mind.

Jon Paul Crimi the power of meditative breathwork and how it transformed his life from resentment and anger to positivity and healing. And how a serendipitous encounter with Tony Robbins sent him in a new direction where he discovered a calling to teach and promote this simple, yet powerful, technique. Make sure to check out his website: breathewithjp.com to learn more about his live and virtual live classes, teacher training and special workshops.

Glenna talks to me about the importance of setting intention, soul in Psychology, hospice work and relationship with prayer. Raised in Christian Science, she began further study in spiritual matters at The University of Santa Monica, continuing her lifelong passion to seek God and help others.

Former guitarist from the band Korn, Wes talks about his organization Rock To Recovery, which uses music to heal. They work in a variety of environments such as drug & alcohol treatment, with people who have eating disorders, veterans with both physical and psychological injuries and at-risk youth. He talks about his own struggles with addiction, his life in rock music, and his passion for helping others to recover and discover through musical expression.

AMANDA COWAN talks about the differences and similarities in social work and addiction treatment between the U.S. and England based on her nine year experience working in London and other cities. In a wide-ranging, tell-it-like-it-is conversation we discuss difficult and complicated issues surrounding addiction, poverty, mental illness, street drugs, pharmaceuticals. cultural trends, government policy, the health care system and the lighter side of being stalked.

Hypnotherapist CYNTHIA MORGAN says, "You are already hypnotized!" What we really need is to be "un-hypnotized" from false and unhealthy beliefs and expectations imposed by our parents. society and our ourselves. She talks about the surprisingly fast results which can be achieved with hypnotherapy for weight loss, smoking cessation and other emotional issues. We get into some the specifics of my own experience in the sessions I did with her about ten years ago, including back pain and past-life regression.

I talk with Elena about the various forms of sex addiction, childhood sexual abuse, and the types of treatment she uses -- including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma.

Writer/Comedian Ritch Shydner and I talk about his turbulent childhood, how comedy helped him escape and how his childhood depression kicked in again when he stopped doing stand-up. We talk about pharmacology, UCLA psych ward and his mind/body/spirit approach to extricating himself from all meds.

We talk about intuition, inspiration, creativity and how it applies to Jules' outrageous, beautiful, funny and irreverent street art. We learn how her upbringing in Greece, England and New York informs her work and what made her pick up the spray paint can. She talks drugs, healing through art and the public controversy over her paintings of copulating bunnies. It's a fun ride!

I talk with equine therapist BRAD LANGENBERG about how he uses horses to work with a variety of people in learning more about themselves and how they might improve their lives. His work with recovering addicts, children with various personality disorders and business organizations has improved communication skills and self-knowledge for hundreds of people. His unique upbringing and intimate knowledge of what horses can teach us is a truly fascinating listen.

I talk with pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Sheryl Lewin about her unique work with creating prosthetic ears for children born with microtia (partial or no ear). We also talk about her philanthropic organization "Earicles" and how her surgical technique has evolved, making her one of the leaders in her field. And we have some laughs, too.

Welcome to the first episode!! I talk with end-of-life, palliative care and hospice nurse JAY WESTBROOK. It was a frank, compassionate and spiritual discussion on all aspects of the dying experience.