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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with film industry data researcher and movie producer Stephen Follows about “The Horror Movie Report,” which covers and uncovers cultural fears, how anxieties have shifted over time, and how all of this is portrayed and reflected in the horror movie genre.
As these films tend to operate on a much lower budget with less oversight and restrictions, they end up not only increasing artistic freedom of speech and expression, but they can also dive in more freely into topics, subjects, and themes that are often off-limits and taboo in mainstream cinema.
At the same time, these movies also give us insight into and feedback upon the make-up and psychology of the audience and what that can tell us about the interests and anxieties of any given period. For instance, this is also reflected in changing victim demographics as well as how and why serial killer movies peaked in a particular decade.
Culturally, there is also a shift from fear of communism and nuclear war as evidenced in Godzilla and zombie movies and The Invasion of the Body Snatchers to slasher and found footage films and horror films on epidemics and pandemics. In many ways, this data and the correlations give us important and relevant glimpses and insights into the psyche, the mindset, and the culture of any given time period.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Social Scientist and Sustainability Practitioner Thomas Legrand, author of “Politics of Being: Wisdom and Science for a New Development Paradigm” who is also involved with the UN initiative of Conscious Food Systems Alliance.
We discuss the importance and necessity of biodiversity both in our natural and social world and how each person ought to be provided with the opportunities, resources, tools, education, and support to reach their full potential. By changing our definition and understanding of economic growth and switching the bottom line from a “having” to a “being” mode, everyone could benefit in the process.
Moreover, it is also vital to change our view and outlook on mental health in general. Currently, there is too much focus on issues and problems but a more positive approach in the lines of positive psychology and positive psychiatry could aim at boosting each and everyone’s wellbeing level.
That said, it is still important to consider and look at the influence of individual and collective trauma and how healing could not only help us connect with ourselves and others on an authentic and much deeper level but also motivate us to take positive action and increase pro-social and pro-environmental values and behaviours.
We are on the cusp of a vital transformational wave and by emphasizing being and spirituality and our connection with other human beings and our natural habitat, we can not only face and overcome the upcoming challenges and crises but use them as an opportunity to build a better, more hopeful and joyful world for ourselves, our children, and al the subsequent generations to come.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Ramaa Krishnan, founder of “Full Bloomed Lotus Center for Self-Awareness” and author of “The Yoga of Self-Love: The Sacred Path to Wholeness and Healing through Inner-Child Work” on the different phases and aspects of healing and of loving ourselves in healthy ways and manners.
First off, we need to discover ourselves and truly see and connect with our essence and only then can we practice self-love, which is much more and much deeper than appreciating our strengths but rather accepting, embracing, and loving the entire package that is who we really are.
This is a life-long practice and both mindfulness and self-awareness are essential and vital for this. In that sense, love is not so much feeling but rather seeing ourselves and fostering and developing qualities that we have ignored or neglected in our lives. For this to occur, it is important to engage in inner child work.
This also entails facing difficult moments and addressing traumas of the past so that we can come out feeling better about ourselves and liberating ourselves from accumulated shame, blame, and guilt. As such, we can live a much happier life with stronger will, more intention, more trust, and one that opens up and is filled with self-love and love for all beings around us.
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In this fascinating and enlightening episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking to Dr. Viktória Duda, Consciousness Researcher, Writer, Hypnotherapist, and Author of the book “Twenty-Five Centuries Without You” on consciousness and past lives.
As she explains, consciousness is the fundamental creative principle of life that is within and working through each individual sentient being. By studying and better understanding consciousness, we would not only overcome our fear of death but could also improve our own lives.
Each life can be perceived as a story with elements and themes often connected through what Stan Grof calls condensed experiences, which can help us resolve issues and problems in a given life, and in that process, we would elevate our own consciousness and the world around us.
Once we elevate our vibrations and frequencies and move away from the narrow and limited paradigm of materialism, we will find ourselves more in alignment with our true self and surroundings imbued with an overall sense of joy and happiness. In this higher state of consciousness, challenges are not seen as stumbling blocks but as temporary hurdles that can lead us to personal growth, resilience, and better outcomes for everyone involved.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of talking to Conflict and Boundary Strategists and Authors of “Boundary Badass: A Powerful Method for Elevating Your Value and Relationships” Jan and Jillian Yuhas about the importance of having your voice heard and feeling valued both in your personal as well as professional relationships. Both at the workplace and home, it is important to not only set boundaries and communicate clearly and effectively but also deal with conflicts as soon as possible and in a way that does not lead to negative outcomes such as lingering feelings of resentment or alienation.
Often our lack of comfort with speaking up or setting boundaries has its root in our childhood stemming from experiences we had in the past where we may have felt that our opinions did not matter or were not valued or respected. But through self-awareness and self-regulation we have the opportunity to not only address these wounds and issues but to come out stronger and be able to attain better outcomes and results in our relationships.
As Jan and Jillian explain, their ASAP method is applicable to all types of relationships, and they can help us find common ground, build bridges, and lead to win-win situations for everyone involved. Such a shift from a "me mindset" to a "we mentality" with teamwork will pay dividends not only for employees, upper management, and CEOs but also for the company and corporation as it will boost motivation and satisfaction and increase productivity across the board.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Entrepreneur and CEO of Rewiring the Mind and Mind Model Coach Blair Dunkley and author of Ultimate Mind Hacking: 16 Highly Effective Ways to Smash Unhealthy Mindsets. Blair talks about his successful and popular podcast and show The Blair Dunkley Experience and how his longstanding evidence-based research can not only help and effectively deal with different types of phobias, fears and anxieties but it can also lead to a more successful and happier life.
As he explains, mind models are much more than mindsets, beliefs or a state of mind; they are behavior-based and produce real-world results that are visible and observable by yourself and others and they put the power and control in your hands. This can be achieved with the three Es model, which show you whether your approach is effective or not by using a process of evaluation as opposed to judgment that are externally verifiable.
We also talk about the practice and effects of mindfulness and intuition and while we generally agree on both, there are slight variations in our understanding and practice of each of them. Yet Blair fully appreciates the potential power and positive effects of faith and prayer and how they can be externally verifiable by consistently and repeatedly producing states of calm and peace. Furthermore, Blair explains how we can choose our reactions and emotions to life events and that we can rewire our brain to experience less anxiety and more joy, happiness and success in our daily lives.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with neurologist and headache specialist Dr. Mark Burish at the Will Erwin Headache Research Center. We talk about the rare but painful case of cluster headaches, which have certain commonalities with migraines but also demonstrate some vital differences.
For instance, cluster headaches go through cycles but unlike migraines, we are not aware of specific triggers except that smokers tend to be more likely to suffer from it whereas alcohol can be a potential factor. There are preventive measures and a range of treatments but there are still many unknown aspects to cluster headaches.
Although wellness initiatives, such as mindfulness or lifestyle changes reducing stress and anxiety tend to provide aid and relief for migraine sufferers, it is not as closely associated with improvement when it comes to cluster headaches. However, more research is needed and initiatives like Intermittent Fasting may potentially work as it can affect and change the circadian rhythm.
Finally, Dr. Burish talks about his background in neuroscience, how the brain does not have pain receptors as well as his decision to engage in this type of research, which includes helping and providing relief to patients suffering from chronic conditions like this one.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with writer and journalist Wendy Lyons Sunshine about her book “Tender Paws: How Science-based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs” and how this can enrich our overall understanding of parenting.
Whether you are taking care of a child or a dog, there are different parenting styles that are applicable and certain methods that are preferred and recommended. Wendy explains the links and parallels while proposing and advocating the broad and holistic HEARTS approach, principles and goals that are helpful for and beneficial to the raising of both children and dogs.
At the same time, it reinforces that these sentient beings are unique in their personality traits as well as their needs, desires, and wishes. It is important to be responsive to them and yet to leave some space for them to figure things out on their own and have time to be themselves while playing, learning, and exploring freely.
As we are guiding and leading them, it is a great chance not only to break old harmful patterns, upgrade our skills and heal ourselves from negative experiences rooted in our own respective childhood but also to be able to pause and start anew as we try our best and keep learning with and growing from each new challenge and opportunity in the parental realm, be it human or canine.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Master Life Coach, Author, and Speaker Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino on her book “The Success Guidebook: How to Visualize, Actualize, and Amplify You.”
Elizabeth challenges us to rethink and redefine what success means and to do so individually and not on a cookie-cutter basis (this coming from a chocolate chip cookie connoisseur!). It is important to first figure out what your passion is clues of which may be present during our childhood and then formulate it in clear and concrete terms both to yourself and others.
As she explains, it is best to not compare yourself with others but rather visualize what you would like to achieve. Although there may be physical limitations, there are no age limits on what you can do as long as you can see it, be it, and then follow through by doing it.
At the same time, it is essential to have a positive outlook even (or especially) during hard and difficult times but also to surround oneself with positive people who understand and fully support you alongside your wishes and desires. In fact, as Elizabeth illustrates, often the desire to change and grow comes from initially feeling stuck and being at an impasse in life.
Yet by taking the step-by-step process toward comprehensive success as you visualize, actualize and then amplify this unique path of yours, you can start celebrating the smaller wins as you aim and reach toward the bigger ones. And at all times, it is important to keep your positivity intact, be surrounded by loving and caring people, and be grateful for what you have instead of worrying and fretting over that which you do not have (yet).
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with law professor Mehrsa Baradaran, the author of “The Quiet Coup: Neoliberalism and the Looting of America” on how neoliberalism was gradually and surreptitiously incorporated and implemented into law for economic and political purposes.
Mehrsa details that during the 1960s, there was a significant and pivotal global shift in terms of freedom and human and civil rights, international law, and the sovereignty of nations, and that is when neoliberalism gained its foothold not only in American policy but across the world.
This ideology made itself known at that time as an antidote and protection against communism and was touted as a free-market policy that would decrease laws and government intervention, but it ended up creating more laws and regulations to benefit its own agenda.
As Mehrsa explains this profit-driven ideology operates on double standards, is algorithmic in nature and has infiltrated laws and policies in the form of a quiet coup, which has been propagated by both sides of the political spectrum.
Furthermore, we discuss how this has the potential to lead to totalitarian and fascist regimes and that we need to be aware that evil exists in its “banality” as Hannah Arendt noted, namely as common forms of blindness and ignorance among the people and citizens.
People are frustrated with the rampant corruption and hypocrisy, and are hence distrusting of governments, institutions, and corporations as the game is rigged and tilted in the favor of the wealthiest.
In a sense, we are at a crucial and pivotal point in history as events around the tumultuous 60s are reoccurring and are being mirrored but this time around we have the chance and potential of solving the issues together and attaining true and lasting democracy for everyone by investing in human genius and giving it free reign.
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In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with spiritual healer and coach Sheila Winter Wallace about the importance of body awareness and the focus on the breath to deal with and overcome physical and emotional pain and blockages in our mind and body.
Over the years, Sheila has worked predominantly with women, most of whom are successful but do not think they are as they tend to feel burdened and weighed down by an unhealthy and unrealistic drive for perfection as well as the impostor syndrome.
Sheila points out that we often need to define states and concepts for ourselves to be able to discover our uniqueness and where we excel most. A shift in mind and perspective can help us see things more clearly, while curiosity can be our anchor and driving force throughout our life's journey.
Finally, she gives examples of Hawaii and some of their chants, which focus on each of us having powerful spiritual forces that make us whole, unique, and essential to our world. By drawing parallels to quantum field theory, we may better understand that nothing is good or bad, right or wrong in and of itself, and that our aim and goal should be to connect with our spiritual force within and to create the life we want and wish for.
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In this episode, I have the great opportunity of speaking with author, entrepreneur, and strategic consultant Gary Laney about his book “Become a Super Leader: The 4 Essential Anchors for Mastering Influential Leadership” as well as his own personal and professional experience regarding leadership.
Successful leadership goes beyond making one’s business function well or making it good and reputable in the eyes of the world, but an important, necessary, and crucial aspect is relationships with one’s staff and employees, clients, and community. Moreover, it is interesting to note that you are not just born a leader, but it is a skill that can be taught, learned, practiced, and improved upon.
Gary shares how Benjamin Franklin’s quest and work on 13 virtues influenced and inspired him to consider and look at 40 competencies that make a good and effective leader based on surveys of various successful business leaders around the world. These different skillsets can make you tap into and become your best version in the business field and perhaps even turn you into a polymath like Franklin himself.
Moreover, a super leader wears many hats and has access to a wealth of knowledge and experience that they can put on and take on at any given moment. Although we may not be multitaskers, we can do, focus, and improve upon various things one at a time. Yet, an important question to ask yourself is what your superpower and your legacy are, and we may start asking ourselves this question at a young age so that we can activate, realize and even go beyond our inherent potential.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with presidential historian Talmage Boston and the author of “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from Our Top Presidents.” We talk about timeless leadership qualities embodied in each of the Top 8 American Presidents and how this knowledge and insight can be of great benefit to anyone interested in becoming a leader in any field or business.
Talmage explains how each of the presidents offers something unique that can inspire us and help us on our own leadership path. For instance, Washington was good at learning from his mistakes, was good at making decisions and had an impeccable reputation, whereas Jefferson demonstrates the importance of having positive relationships, keeping the communication lines open, and getting people in a mode of collaboration and cooperation.
What others have shown as well is the importance of a clear vision, of unwavering faith and dedication to one’s goals and aims, and of overcoming various obstacles and challenges. In addition, Lincoln shows us great focus and not being distracted from one’s path, while Franklin Roosevelt’s strength and resilience are commendable and inspiring.
Finally, a sense of pragmatism imbued with optimism often leads to success. This is embodied in both the attitude as well as deeds of Reagan, who managed to restore confidence and motivate the nation after a period of stagnation and demotivation. Not only do we learn more about the selected presidents, their personalities, and political careers but also, how this information can make us all more successful leaders in our own respective endeavors.
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In this episode, filmmaker Jennifer Takaki talks about her documentary “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” on the photographer and journalist Corky Lee who over 50 years and with almost a million pictures to his credit managed to combine art, images, and photographs with politics as well as awareness, inclusion, and social change.
In fact, Corky retook the 1869 photo of the railroad celebration and made it more diverse, inclusive, and true to fact by - this time around - not excluding Asian faces from the image even though many Chinese workers had been involved in the work and labor of the railroad construction.
Moreover, Jennifer explains how Corky was very passionate, persistent, dedicated and very good at his art of photography while always being at the right place at the right time. A picture speaks a thousand words, and, in this case, it also caught what had often eluded mainstream media at the time and has framed and reframed our knowledge and understanding of historical events.
Finally, his influence needs to be put into perspective as in the lens and framework of his times, it was rather uncommon for people and society to be diverse and inclusive in their practices. At the same time, by being open to and even expanding his community to include many others, he has always brought attention to a lot of cultural festivities and celebrations in New York.
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In this episode, I have the wonderful pleasure of speaking with Rabbi Jeffrey Katz, the author of “Rules to Live By: Maimonides’ Guide to a Wonderful Life,” which provides us a summary of fascinating maxims and proverbs by this intellectual and spiritual mind of the Middle Ages.
Maimonides was a multi-talented person, and he was a doctor as well as a prolific writer who was persecuted for his beliefs but whose ideas influenced many philosophers, thinkers, and scholars, including Thomas Aquinas. In fact, the writings of Maimonides were discussed and even revered by three main Western religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Yet on this podcast, the Rabbi focuses on practical tips and guidance for everyday life and taps into the wisdom of Maimonides’ maxims and proverbs. We learn about finance and how to best deal with money as well as how a charitable and philanthropic mindset and lifestyle can attract affluence in different ways.
Moreover, it comes down to character and attitude, which can bring not only happiness to our personal and professional life, but they can also build and create trust and respect within our own community. Moreover, family is of great importance and so best practices and values are encouraged to ensure that there is mutual respect and love within the given family unit.
Finally, we also delve into the more mystical aspects of Maimonides and the importance of tapping into the good and the light and refraining from falling prey to evil and negativity. Through a spiritual lens and outlook, we can not only find love but also connect with God and experience divine overflow, which would help us see and notice signposts and divine providence throughout our lives. This would lead us to a feeling of awe and connectedness and transform our lives in profound ways and manners.
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In this episode, I have the wonderful pleasure to be once again speaking with Clinical Psychologist, Author, and Podcaster Dr. Carla Marie Manly about her book “The Joy of Imperfect Love: The Art of Creating Healthy, Securely Attached Relationships.”
We talk about the intersection between the letting go of perfection and the letting in of joy while not only accepting the flaws in each of us but also allowing space for and embracing the quirky and idiosyncratic parts of one another.
Dr. Carla gives us a summary of four different relationship styles and how we can adopt the healthiest one that, like a braid, allows for dependence while also supporting independence as well as fostering connection between each other. At the same time, if the relationship includes emotional intelligence, with strong communication and healthy conflict, it could lead to even more joy and harmony.
Furthermore, we discuss how and why the relationship with oneself is of great importance and that we need to be reminded that self-love is not always synonymous with self-care. It is best to be kind and gentle with oneself including past versions of our selves.
Often, there is a lot of pain and traumatic experiences that need to be addressed and processed to be able to move forward and onward in life, yet we should not be afraid to change direction or our mindset to attain what works best for us at a given moment. We also look at how change may be difficult but necessary to embrace and the three positive purposes of uplift, grow, and accept that can help us along the way.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with historian and author James Swanson on his fascinating book of “The Deerfield Massacre: A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America” as well as on his recent involvement with the Apple TV+ series “Manhunt” an adaptation based on his own best-selling book.
What happened on February 29, 1704, in the remote town of Deerfield, Massachusetts? James Swanson gives a chilling account of this chapter in early American history by examining the massacre perpetuated by 300 Indians and 50 French officers and the subsequent abduction of over a hundred residents and their experience of captivity.
Many Deerfield residents, including women and children were murdered on the spot, others were slaughtered on the long march to Canada through wintry conditions, and some of them, like Eunice Williams, daughter of Reverend John Williams, were forcefully adopted by Indians and then incorporated into their tribes. No matter how much the Reverend tried, he could not get his daughter to come home in addition to having lost two very young children and his wife to this brutal and unexpected attack.
We also look at the importance of preserving history in the form of relics like the “Old Indian Door,” the constant threat of attacks combined with fear and superstition of the times including witchcraft, and the belief in divine punishment. James also explains the reason for using horseshoes at the door, how native voices had been erased but have now been added to the historical accounts, and how today, there are many descendants of mixed blood in these areas, especially in Canada.
Finally, we look at how history can be complex and filled with irony, especially the relationship triangle between France, England, and America, and how French support had been instrumental in winning the revolutionary war and how the Statue of Liberty is a French gift and symbol that commemorates American independence.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with biographer and historian Lord Conrad Black and author of “The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol. I”, an ambitious and comprehensive project that will encompass a trilogy of books starting from the Old Testament and focusing on various influential people and leaders that have made history.
In the first volume, Conrad looks at how clans and tribes organized themselves in Mesopotamia, India, and China, and it ends with the death of the first Roman Emperor Augustus. He also looks at other notable and noteworthy historical figures that have left indelible marks in the annals of history, including Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar.
We also touch upon the founding fathers and the American Experiment and the strategic contributions of Benjamin Franklin as well as later important influences by Franklin Roosevelt, who is generally considered to be a polarized figure ranging from being a socialist to the “greatest friend capitalism ever had.”
Moreover, we agree that history is a fascinating subject and that it is not merely a repetitive cycle but that it in fact represents a line of progress, which is not straight but rather jagged in its shape and nature. Conrad also gives two "what-if" examples and scenarios of speculative history, the nightmare and the best outcome, in his view.
Finally, we talk about how the Americans faced the Communist threat during the Cold War period and how despite occasional overreactions, it was a bold and successful strategy to keep the Soviet Union at bay. At the same time, Nazis were not as unified as is often thought and believed but that they faced internal strife and opposition including the assassination attempt on their leader.
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In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Spiritual Healing Coach Alison Davies about the process and different states and stages of healing. First off, a wide holistic outlook on wellness and wellbeing is crucial while at the same time, one must go within and acknowledge and embrace ownership and accountability.
Moreover, to be able to reach healing and live blissfully and joyfully, we must pause, be curious about life, and listen to the voice of our soul. Then, it is necessary to be courageous and act and engage consistently to solidify these experiences so that we can achieve alignment across all four bodies in healing: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body.
Different analogies are given to illustrate this, including how it is often not a matter of right or wrong, how we can welcome doubt without being dissuaded from acting and moving forward, and finally, how it is everyone’s own personal choice and responsibility to take up the path of self-discovery, growth, and spiritual harmony. Each of us must journey toward our very own awesome and life-transforming spiritual awakening since life is so much more fun, enjoyable, and fulfilling with authentic love, compassion, and empathy.
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In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Health & Wellness Coach and Educator Michelle Biton about her book “The Instant Anxiety Solution: 5 Simple Steps to Quiet your Mind and Achieve Calm” and how her Five Step Alarm Program can help dealing with anxiety.
Michelle explains how she has used it, applied everything she talks about here, and that it works. This holistic approach starts with the first step, which involves tools and strategies to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Thereafter, it is important to identify and label one’s emotions. We discuss how anxiety is on a spectrum and in lower doses and levels, it can be necessary and even beneficial to function in daily life.
The next step involves acknowledging one’s feelings and not suppressing, numbing, or avoiding them because if you can’t go through the emotion, you can’t get to the other side. Moreover, we must remember to avoid layering our thoughts and emotions because this would be feeding them, and it could snowball into catastrophic thinking and negativity.
The final step is about taking charge and moving forward with the art of mindfulness. That would help us combine all the different steps and by being centered in the present moment, we can figure out what it is we want to pursue for the future. In many ways, our anxiety stems from a fear of the future, which is something that we can manage and control, especially since emotions are transitory and not permanent.
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