Conversations with Joan

Many people strive for work/life balance but is there really such a thing? According to Kristel Bauer, our model for work/life leads to burn out. She discusses what she calls a more intelligent, holistic and effective way to live your life. Kristel is a corporate wellness and performance expert, who is the creator and host of the podcast, Live Greatly. She is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur, and author of the book, Work-Life...

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in our busy lives and overlook the beauty that surrounds us. Karen Wingate talks about why we need to slow down, observe, and appreciate the sights, sounds, and experiences that make life truly remarkable. For most of her life, Karen was legally blind, until surgery gave her what she describes as “better than ever vision.” According to Karen, our senses are so intricately wove...

We are all hardwired to think and work differently. What challenges and excites one person may seem boring or unsatisfying to another. According to Betsy Wills, discovering your hidden genius is the key to discovering your life’s work. She talks about how you can identify your natural talents, interests, and personality traits. Betsy is the cofounder of YouScience, a national onlinepsychometric-assessment service. She is a regular ...

Raising kids is one of the toughest jobs you will ever have and the one for which you might feel the least prepared. Knowing how to be an effective parent is challenging. Dr. Paul Sunseri offer tools to help parents solve parenting challenges. Through his work with gentle parenting, Dr. Sunseri helps families create loving and supportive environments with kids who he contends are far better behaved and respectful. Dr. Sunseri is a ...

Think back on the most spectacular love affair of your life—the big one that toppled you head over heels. Life was so beautiful that you couldn't wait to bound out of bed in the morning to experience more heaven on earth. It was the honeymoon effect that was to last forever. Unfortunately for most, the honeymoon effect is frequently short-lived. Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, bestselling author of The Honeymoon Effect and The Biology of Bel...

Many people want to enact change but don’t know how to begin. According to Alexis Fernandez Preiksa, you already possess the most powerful tool to get the job done … your mind. She discusses how to enact change and improve mental, physical, and emotional health one day at a time. Alexis is a neuroscientist turned podcast host who is known for her tough love attitude and accessible approach to scientifically proven mindset hacks. Sh...

Most everyone dreams of having a successful career that they enjoy and that provides them with the life they desire. But more often than not, many end up settling for less and living day by day unfulfilled. The good news is that having a successful career may be more in your control than you believe. According to Erika Ayers Badan, you’re not perfect, work isn’t perfect, but you can both be great. She discusses how to be effective ...

Are emotional wounds from your past keeping you from the life you desire? According to Tamala Floyd, no matter what you’ve experienced, healing, growth and transformation are possible. She explains how concepts of Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) can be interwoven with the power of ancestor wisdom to support people on their healing journey. Tamala is a psychotherapist, IFS lead trainer, consultant, author, and speaker. She is ...

With constant demands on your time and attention it’s easy to neglect your romantic relationship. The spark may be gone and you may feel disconnected from each other. Carolyn Sharp offers a solution for relationships that are struggling, feeling stale, or just in need of a little extra care.  Carolyn is a couples therapist who helps people build vital, vibrant, and secure functioning relationships. She is the author of the book, Fi...

Despite having more comfort and knowledge than ever before, many people struggle with mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Dr. Anders Hansen contends that understanding our brain’s design, which is built for survival and not constant happiness, is key to addressing today’s mental health challenges. Dr. Hansen talks about the brain and offers actionable strategies to cultivate genuine happiness and well-being. Dr...

Dr. Bernie Siegel is a leading teacher of the mind-body connection. He broke new ground with his monumental book Love, Medicine and Miracles, and he continues to impart wisdom about the true nature of life, love, and well-being. A retired pediatric/general surgeon, Bernie is a New York Times bestselling author, lecturer, and founder of ECaP (Exceptional Cancer Patients). He has been named one of the top 20 Spiritually Influential L...

Anyone who has watched the Holiday Classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, can fondly recall Clarence, the guardian angel sent to earth to aid George Bailey in his time of need. Clarence helped George see the value in his life, and George helped Clarence earn his wings. This touching story has led many to wonder if there really are angels by our side and what their role may be in our lives. Lorna Byrne has been seeing and talking to angels...

Dimitri Moraitis says that everything you think, feel, and do radiates a spiritual energy that comes through in various colors and hues, which is your aura. He contends that by changing the quality of your aura, you can automatically change the quality of your life. Dimitri discusses the intricate anatomy of the auric field and how it impacts the way you live. Dimitri is co-founder and co-spiritual director of Spiritual Arts Instit...

Changes to your body and brain are normal as you age. And while it may feel like it’s out of your control, research shows that there are things you can do to maintain brain health and slow or reduce the effects of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Partha Nandi discusses the gut-brain connection and how that connection shapes emotions, cognitive abilities, and overall mental health.

Dr. Nandi is American Board of Internal Medicine cer...

At 41 years old, Katie Kaiser Smith was diagnosed with inoperable, terminal brain cancer. More than a decade later, Katie is here to share her story. After her diagnosis Katie started writing a daily diary to inform her friends and family of her health and ongoing treatment. That daily blog was so therapeutic for her that she continued writing it for four years, chronicling everything from her diagnosis and treatment, to her physic...

Whatever your dream may be, the idea of actually following that dream can be terrifying. Instead of doing what you really want, you may strive to meet the expectations of others because you fear what they may think. Following what you desire is worth it. Studies show that living as your authentic self can help you find more meaning in life, among other benefits. In addition, research as shown that people are far more likely to regr...

Holistic psychiatry is an emerging approach to mental healthcare that focuses on the biological, psychological, spiritual, and social factors that contribute to mental health issues. Dr. Judy Tsafrir shifted from a conventional practice of psychiatry to one that treats the whole person. She discusses the limitations of conventional psychiatry and why it’s important to integrate the spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions of h...

Dr. Laura Copley believes that at the core of most toxic relationships is a painful trauma wound desperate to be healed. She contends that trauma survivors try to navigate romantic relationships in the only way they know how – fearfully and painfully. She discusses how to untangle trauma bonds and transmute toxic patterns into healing opportunities for intimacy and connection. Dr. Copley is a licensed professional counselor and tra...

Hearing the words, you have cancer, is a major fear for most people. A cancer diagnosis is shocking and scary – it can change your life and the lives of your loved ones in an instant. With so many questions and with a frightening road ahead, it’s often difficult to know what to do. Dr. Chadi Nabhan has decades of experience treating oncology patients.  He discusses this complex disease and offers a compassionate guide to understand...