The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, host Dr. Stephanie Romero speaks with Erica Strasser—a licensed clinical psychotherapist, practice owner, adjunct psychology professor, and yoga and pilates instructor based in Pittsburgh. Erica shares her clinical insights and deeply personal journey of using mindfulness and somatic practices to anchor through grief, life transitions, and trauma.

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, host Stephanie Romero speaks with Bhante Pema, resident monk at the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center. Bhante Pema reflects on his early ordination in Sri Lanka at age 10, inspired by his granduncle, and his journey to leading monastic and community spaces in the U.S. The conversation addresses the distinct ways Western and Eastern audiences approach practice, emphasizing...

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, host Stephanie Romero sits down with Reverend Jim Magaw, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (Sunny Hill). Reverend Jim reflects on his personal journey with spiritual exploration and 28 years of addiction recovery, sharing how contemplative tools offer a container to observe life's challenges rather tha...

In this inspiring episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero sits down with master educator and 36-year Raja Yoga practitioner Felicia Savage Friedman to explore the powerful intersection of embodied mindfulness and anti-racism activism. Together, they discuss breaking free from perfectionism, recognizing rest and joy as innate birthrights rather than rewards, and using the eight-limbed path of...

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero walks us through a gentle, trauma-informed meditation designed to bring awareness to the lower body. Following the practice, Dr. Romero and Josiah discuss the practical applications of using physical grounding to manage panic, anxiety, and daily stressors.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis a...

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero speaks with Gary Crouth about his path to Zen meditation and his volunteer work with The Still Workers at the Allegheny County Jail.

Gary discusses why the stark simplicity and discipline of Zen resonated with him, how engaged Buddhism sparked volunteer efforts in the local criminal justice system, and the real-world impact mindfulness tools ha...

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero leads co-host Josiah Gilliam through a practical, accessible mindfulness exercise: 7-11 Breathing.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or dealing with a racing mind, this breath-focused awareness practice offers an immediate reset. By simply extending your exhalation so that it is longer than your inhalation—conceptually inhaling for...

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero sits down with composer, performer, and certified music practitioner Stephanie Miller to explore the powerful relationship between music, meditation, healing, and human connection. Stephanie shares how music has served as a meditative practice throughout her life and discusses her work with vibroacoustic harp therapy, u...

In this episode, host Stephanie Romero speaks with guest Julie Jansen, a somatic movement teacher, meditation practitioner, and forest therapy guide, about the deep connections between embodiment, nature, and mindfulness. Julie shares formative childhood memories of nature—fireflies, wildlife, and moments of awe—that shaped her lifelong relationship with the natural world, even without a nature-centered upbringing. Her ...

In this thought-provoking episode, Stephanie Romero sits down with longtime meditation teacher, scholar, environmental activist, and community leader Adam Lobel to explore what it means to live, lead, and practice amidst profound personal and societal change.

Adam shares his journey from a young spiritual seeker discovering Tibetan Buddhism and the Shambhala tradition to becoming a ...

In this calming and reflective episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dawn Lehman guides listeners through A Practice of Meditation with The Unexpected, a gentle mindfulness experience designed to help us meet uncertainty with presence, compassion, and curiosity.

Through grounding awareness, thoughtful pauses, and mindful reflection, Dawn invites listeners to notice how they relate to unexpected moments in...

In this gentle guided meditation, Dawn Lehman invites listeners to slow down and cultivate a deeper sense of connection — with their bodies, their breath, their ancestors, loved ones, and the living world around them. Through grounding reflections and compassionate awareness, the practice reminds us that we are never truly separate, but part of an interconnected web of life sustained by shared breath, care, and presence. Dawn...

In this thoughtful and deeply embodied conversation, Stephanie Romero sits down with meditation teacher, somatic psychotherapist, and Dharma practitioner Gavrila Abramson to explore the intersections of Buddhism, trauma-sensitive practice, embodiment, and healing. Gavrila shares her personal journey from burnout and depression while working as an engineer in New York to discovering meditation and spiritual practice in an ashram in ...

In this conversation, Stephanie Romero speaks with Allie Greene about the healing power of mindfulness, somatic therapy, and coming home to the body. Allie shares how her background as a professional dancer, along with her own experience with anxiety and disconnection, led her toward body-based practices that help people regulate their nervous systems and reconnect with themselves. Together, they explore how trauma can show up as b...

Often when I sit to meditate, it is the only time that I take a moment to notice what I am holding in my body -- and many times that means tension.  We try to tell our minds to relax, but the body is still holding onto the stress of the day.

Sometimes, we can't just think ourselves into calm...

This guided Six Anchors meditation invites listeners into a steady, grounding practice that gently moves attention through breath, body, sound, thoughts, emotions, and open awareness. Designed to cultivate presence and reduce stress, the practice offers a simple yet powerful framework for reconnecting with yourself in the midst of daily demands. Whether you are new to mindfulness or deepening your practice, this episode creates spa...

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero sits down with educator and mindfulness practitioner Tina Raspanti to explore how a non-linear journey through mindfulness can transform both personal life and professional practice. Tina shares how integrating mindfulness and positive psychology into education creates more compassionate, connected classroom environments and supports both ...