Conversations with Joan

If you’re struggling with your weight or other health conditions, it may not be your fault. Our current living environment is making us sick. Dan Buettner, founder of The Blue Zones, has created a four-week guide and yearlong sustainability program for anyone looking to jump-start their journey to better health, happiness, less stress, and a longer life. His new book, The Blue Zones Challenge: A 4-Week Plan for a Longer, Better Lif...

At the start of each year, many people resolve to make it the year they lose weight, get in shape, and improve their health. We begin with the best intentions and usually within a few weeks, fall back into our old, familiar patterns. Rena Greenberg has helped countless men and women tap into their inner willpower to lose weight and keep it off for good. Her program has been taught in hospitals for more than 30 years and transforms ...

Wm Paul Young, author of The Shack, was raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was Netherlands New Guinea. Paul has suffered tremendous loss in his life and he has struggled to live with an underlying shame that ran so deep that it threatened his sense of sanity. He discusses the potency of love and forgiveness, the road of reconciliation, the surprises of transformational healing, and the...

Two days before Christmas and at 26 years old, Chris Wark was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He had surgery to remove a golf ball-sized tumor and a third of his colon. But after surgery, instead of the traditional chemotherapy, he decided to radically change his diet and lifestyle in order to promote health and healing in his body. Chris describes his healing journey and shares the strategies that he and many others have used...

Many of us have a fantasy of what a relationship is supposed to be. We have expectations for an ideal union. According to Dr. Carla Marie Manly, dating isn’t about being perfect or catching the perfect partner; it’s all about creating compassionate self-awareness and stronger self-esteem. Dr. Manly contends that self discovery is key to a healthy relationship and she helps us take the guesswork out of dating with real-life examples...

As a business owner, does it often feel like you’re riding a roller coaster? Do you find yourself confronted by the demons of fear, inconsistency, and doubt? Suzanne Moore dissects the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and she teaches how to ride with arms stretched high, rather than gripping in fear. Suzanne is a business and marketing coach, speaker, course creator and author of the book, Hang on Tight: Learn to Love the Roller C...

What happens when a family member betrays us and after we shut them out of our lives for years? Is it possible to let them back into our hearts? Laura Davis shares the story of her relationship with the mother who betrayed and failed to protect her many years ago. She teaches how healing between family members who have felt wronged by one another is not only possible, but can be the greatest joy both their lives. Laura is a six-tim...

As many of us know, quite often life doesn’t go according to our plan. And when that happens we can be left scared, frustrated, and frazzled. Duff McDonald has explored what he calls the precision paradox – the struggle between our desire for ease and our need to exert control. Duff discusses how he let go of his attachment to precision so he could pursue the things that brought him joy. Duff is a New York Times best selling author...

You’ve heard the expression, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. According to Dr. Paul Conti, what doesn't kill us can actually leave us with wounds that make life a lot more difficult. Dr. Conti contends that trauma alters our brains and changes the filters we use to perceive the world and it makes it difficult to see ourselves and others with clarity. He helps us better understand trauma and how we can heal from it. Dr. C...

Each of us carries wounds that can hinder our lives at work and at home. How do we manage these pain points, overcome our fears, and come out stronger on the other side? Dr. Kathy Hagler teaches how to foster healing, compassion, and communication. Dr. Hagler is a nationally recognized author, coach, speaker, and organizational consultant with 40 years of experience. She is the author of the book, Art of Scars.

Music: www.purple-p...

It is not easy to build and maintain a healthy, loving relationship. Sometimes it may feel impossible. But according to Dr. Katherine Ford, while it is no small feat, it is possible! Dr. Ford discusses how we can create a successful relationship. Dr. Ford's been practicing psychotherapy in private practice for more than 20 years. She received her M.D. from Brown University Medical School and completed her psychiatry residency a...

Midlife is a time when you may be looking back at how you have lived your life and you may be thinking about what comes next. Are you happy in your current job or relationship? Are there things you always wanted to accomplish but never found the time. What will your next 20, 30, or even 40 years look like ? Michael Clinton, author of the book, ROAR into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It’s Too Late), says that after 50 we all ...

Robert Thurman is a scholar and interpreter of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. In his new book, Wisdom is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life,  he offers an exploration into the nature of reality through Buddha's threefold curriculum of super-education. Robert invites us to travel the same road as the Buddha. Robert became a Tibetan monk at age 24. He was the first American to be ordained by the Dalai Lama. Ro...

Shannon Dingle has experienced staggering tragedy and trauma in her life, including surviving sexual abuse and trafficking as a child and the loss of her husband. But through the grief, she learned to find hope. In her first book, Living Brave: Lessons from Hurt, Lighting the Way to Hope, she gives women permission to wrestle with painful topics, to use their voice, to take a stand for justice, to honor the wisdom of their bodies, ...

Mental health is essential to our overall well-being. When we feel mentally well, we can work productively, enjoy our free time, and contribute to our communities. Many believe that mental health occurs in the brain, but it is actually the result of everything going on in the body. What we eat, how we move, our chemistry, all factor in to mental well-being. Victor Brick talks about wellness tools that can help us live a balanced an...

Most athletes dream about standing on the Olympic podium receiving their gold medal. But few ever have the opportunity to actually do so. Ashleigh Johnson knows what it feels like to earn gold. Ashleigh is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and goalie of Team USA Water Polo. She was named the Top Goaltender of the Olympic Games, having stopped an astounding 80 of 124 shots. Ashleigh is a Princeton graduate who is passionate about usi...

September 11 marks the 2Oth anniversary of the World Trade Center Attacks. Lisa Luckett lost her husband on that day, leaving her a single mother of three. Lisa survived the unimaginable and learned to face any experience head on, choosing to see the silver lining in all situations. Lisa is a life coach, speaker, and CEO of Cozmeena Enlightened Living, a brand of kindness. She is the author of the book, The Light in 9 11, Shocked b...

When faced with a health challenge, people often spend their time waiting for a miracle to happen. According to Dr. Mark Mincolla, we have the power to create that miracle. Dr. Mincolla contends that developing our superconscious mind and recognizing the divine source that exists within each of us, can generate miracles. Dr. Mincolla has been a practicing holistic physician for more than three decades. He shares experiences, resear...