Drop The Shades

What if the key to healing isn’t doing more, but slowing down?

In this episode of Drop The Shades, Dr. Emily shares her journey from years of autoimmune disease and medication to finding true healing through functional medicine and lifestyle change. In this conversation with Joseph Elisha, she breaks down how stress, inflammation, and everyday habits silently shape our health and how small, intentional shifts can completely transfor...

What if the cracks in your life are the very thing that makes you valuable?

In this reflective episode of Drop The Shades, Joseph Elisha explores the Japanese philosophy of kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Through this powerful metaphor, he reframes pain, failure, and hardship as essential parts of the human story rather than flaws to hide.

Instead of chasing perfection, Joseph invites listeners to see their s...

What if recovery is not about willpower, but about belonging?

In this powerful episode of Drop the Shades, host Joseph Elisha sits down with Beck Gee, CEO of Breathe Life Healing Centers in Los Angeles, to explore a journey shaped by addiction, secrecy, gender identity, faith, and ultimately, profound self-acceptance. From growing up in an alcoholic home to navigating sobriety, depression, and coming out as trans later in life, Beck...

What if the person you’ve been searching for is you?

In this first episode of Drop The Shades, host Joseph Elisha invites you into a quiet moment of reflection. When life gets loud with responsibilities, expectations, and constant noise, it’s easy to drift away from who you truly are. This conversation is about slowing down, getting honest with yourself, and beginning the journey back home.

Instead of chasing perfection or productivi...

This podcast is evolving. In this special episode, Joseph shares the story behind the transition to Drop The Shades—a new direction focused on helping you quiet the noise, reset your nervous system, and find calm in a chaotic world. Drawing from decades in the operating room, Joseph introduces a deeper, more personal format built around stories, reflection, and practical tools to help you step out of overwhelm and reconnect with yo...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha shares a reflective monologue on how we think about the mind—as both a noun and a verb. Drawing from personal experience, everyday stressors, and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, he probes the labels we apply to our thoughts and feelings. Joseph explores the practice he calls “dropping the shades,” a method of pausing and resetting through nostalgic reconnect...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha sits down with pastel artist Robin Frisella, PSA-MP, IAPS/MC, whose still life paintings evoke nostalgia, serenity, and emotional depth. Robin shares how a casual invitation to a pastel class ignited her lifelong artistic journey, transforming a quiet post-childraising chapter into a vibrant second act. The discussion touches on the emotional processes beh...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha speaks with 12-year-old Madelyn Quinn and her parents, about Madelyn’s life as a heart transplant recipient. From enduring multiple surgeries in infancy to becoming a world-ranked junior golfer, Madelyn shares her powerful story of resilience, gratitude, and connection with her donor family. The conversation explores medical challenges, family dynamics, em...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha welcomes back Dr. Joseph Scherger, a leading voice in longevity and functional medicine. The conversation explores the fundamentals of anti-aging strategies—from supplements like metformin, NAD, and resveratrol to stem cell infusions and photobiomodulation. Dr. Scherger shares his insights on healthspan vs. lifespan, discusses cutting-edge therapies includ...

In this episode, I take a hard look at the cost of political assassination — not just in the moment, but in the waves it sends through history and society. From the shot that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand and set off World War I, to the attempt on Donald Trump that only deepened his support, we see a pattern: violence doesn’t silence a movement, it often strengthens it. What drives a person to believe a bullet is more powerful th...

In this episode (upon reflection on an embarrassing moment at home!), Dr.  Elisha explores why silence unnerves us, why we drown it out with constant noise, and why stillness may be the very thing we need most. From Susan Cain’s Quiet and the overlooked power of introverts, to the hush that falls in the operating room when a patient goes under anesthesia, Joseph reflects on what silence reveals, what we run from, and how to reclaim...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha speaks with Anyse Smith — educator, public interest attorney, and fierce advocate for the unhoused. Once in the throes of addiction and homelessness, Anyse recounts the turning point at a Riverside motel that launched her into recovery, community service, and ultimately law school. She shares hard-earned lessons on trust, shame, healing, and the underestim...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha talks with 17-year-old wheelchair tennis champion Charlie Cooper. From being born with spina bifida to ranking #1 in the U.S. and #3 globally in junior wheelchair tennis, Charlie shares the challenges and triumphs that shaped his path. They explore how a chance encounter at a guitar shop led to a life-changing discovery of tennis, the emotional and physical to...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha welcomes Dr. Shaan Patel, founder and CEO of Prep Expert and Shark Tank entrepreneur. Shaan shares his inspiring story of overcoming an average SAT score to achieve perfection, launch a successful test-prep business, and become a board-certified dermatologist. The discussion traverses his childhood in a budget motel, his parents' immigrant sacrifices, ...

In this episode of I’ll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha sits down with Ron Cukier, whose life story spans survival, loss, and renewal. Born to Holocaust survivors, Ron opens up about the deep family traumas that shaped him and the decades-long battle with alcohol and drugs that nearly cost him everything. He recounts how a wrong number led him to his wife, how hitting rock bottom saved his life, and why sobriety re...

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha sits down with Brandt Kuhn, Managing Director and Partner at Beacon Pointe. Brandt shares how his early career was shaped by the 2008 financial crisis and what ultimately brought him back to the Coachella Valley. They explore the realities of financial planning, addressing everything from risk and taxes to fatherhood and the role of money in our mental wellbei...

In this episode of I’ll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha speaks with Dr. Joseph Scherger, a renowned authority in integrative medicine, on rethinking modern healthcare. Dr. Scherger shares why he believes extended time with patients and lifestyle-based interventions are key to reversing chronic diseases. They explore how processed food addictions formed, the role of gut flora, and how habits like nutrition, physical...