#30 - The Dynamics of Marriage During a Pandemic | Clinical Psychologist Dr. Lavelle

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Today, I’d like to introduce the very talented, Dr. Sera Lavelle, owner of NY Health Hypnosis & Integrative Therapy and co-founder of the soon-to-be-launched mindful eating app, Bea Better Eating. It’s practically a sin that we didn’t discuss her current project in great detail (especially with my interest in our relationship to food and the psychology of our eating behaviors). Instead, we took a deep dive into the role of hypnosis in the clinical setting and the intriguing dynamics of marriages and conflict resolution. A fitting topic as everyone reflects on their relationships during the last 12 months of the pandemic.

Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lavelle, is an expert in using hypnosis and integrative therapy for weight loss, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, infertility, and relationship issues. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn College and Adelphi University where she taught Psychology of Sex and Gender and Psychology from a Multi-Cultural Perspective. Dr. Lavelle’s work with eating disorders has been highly recognized, with articles about her and her team appearing in Forbes, Prevention, Elle Magazine, NY Times, and NY Magazine.

In our interview, we discussed hypnosis and the broader implications for one's inability to reach a hypnotic state as well as its integrative role in the restoration of a failing marriage. We also dissect the fair expectations in the marriage dynamic, maladaptive patterns that lead to the most conflict and sustained tension, the idea of “settling down,” and the new relationship challenges experienced during the shelter-in periods of the pandemic.

To learn more about Dr. Lavelle, visit https://www.nyhealthhypnosis.com/dr-sera-lavelle. Check out her latest project, Bea Better Eating, on https://www.beabettereating.com/, as well.

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#29 - Overcoming Illness and Poor Health with a Natural Diet and Mindfulness | Asha Gala

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Today, we examine the role of mindfulness in the transformation of your physical health with Asha Gala, a lifestyle coach and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MSBR) Teacher from the farm at Ethos Primary Care. No doubt, a relevant topic for those listeners interested in improving their health and reversing illness. We discussed the early cultural influences of Mumbai on her diet and the challenges of transitioning to the American way of life and diet as an adult. Most certainly, Asha’s experience with her daughter’s chronic sickness opened up a new world of “food as medicine” as she sought a remedy…and we explored the connection of that journey to the challenges her patients face today.

We also dissected the early influences on Asha’s dietary and lifestyle approach and how to convince ourselves to move outside of our wired way of life. Our conversation naturally flowed to the common obstacles to transforming your health, the role of compassion, and the importance of the readiness for change. We highlighted the foundation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the role of awareness and the breath, as well.

To learn more about Asha Gala, https://www.ethosprimarycare.com/asha-gala.

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#28 - Examining Our Connection to Racism | Dr. Maidenberg

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Today, we explore our connection to racism with Dr. Michelle Maidenberg. We examine how cultural perspectives and experiences shape much of the racist rhetoric and perspectives in our lives, and how we might perceive and manage the guilt and shame we feel. We also dive into how we might approach situations in which friends, family, or colleagues consciously or unconsciously share racist rhetoric. And finally....besides breaking down the role of biases, sitting in discomfort, and facing social fears in relation to racism, we break down the importance of mindfulness in our daily approach.

I’m excited to share my genuine and thought-provoking conversation with you. Michelle P. Maidenberg, Ph.D., MPH, LCSW-R maintains a private practice in Harrison, NY. She is the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of “Thru My Eyes”, a nonprofit 501c3 organization that offers free clinically-guided videotaping to chronically medically ill individuals who want to leave video legacies for their children and loved ones. She is also adjunct faculty at New York University (NYU) teaching a graduate course in Mindfulness Practice. Dr. Maidenberg is a Certified Group Therapist through the American Group Psychotherapy Association and a Diplomate and certified member of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.

Dr. Maidenberg has advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Structural Family Therapy, Mindfulness, and is a Level II trained Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. As a health/mental health advocate, she is also the author of the book “Free Your Child From Overeating: 53 Mind-Body Strategies For Lifelong Health” and is a blogger for Psychology Today.

To learn more about Dr. Michelle Maidenberg, visit https://michellemaidenberg.com/!

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#27 - Living with Intent | Author Michael Moody

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The Elements of Being Podcast with Michael Moody

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Wellll….In 2020, our will was challenged as well as the habits and routines that defined our lives up to that point. The pandemic, social unrest, and election friction certainly shook the best of our physical, emotional, and mental selves in different ways. Similar to past years, I take January to reflect on the prior 12 months, to adopt new mental software (which are habits, perspectives, and patterns of thinking), and to reboot. As my best friend Craig mentioned this past May, this historic period is what we've been preparing for over the last decade: The steps to improve physical health. The steps to manage stress effectively. The steps to adapt effectively and efficiently. Having been tested, this is truly the best time to reexamine my adaptability and the needed protocol to move forward with my best self. And I challenge you to pledge the same.

Although the popular approach at this time of year is to list desired behaviors and actions first, the most important step (and the true beginning) is identifying the principles that steer my behavior. In essence, all behaviors and perspectives extend from this moral/ethical/philosophical base. Although I don't expect to live perfectly and follow every principle and intent to a "T," they will certainly steer my conscious and unconscious daily. It is my "business plan" for the new "fiscal year" of my personal life. I encourage you to think about the plan I’m about to share as an example and formulate your own approach within a similar template.

Please keep in mind that "living" always requires effort and the root of all being is interaction. The universe is undoubtedly interconnected, and true isolation is non-existent. My presence...my actions....my movements....all affect my environment and other living things.

Although my intents serve my selfish needs, they also serve a good beyond myself (for example, being there for my family for years to come, protecting our natural environment, depending less on healthcare, contributing to empathetic and compassionate energy in the community, and more.). All of us can curate a better world with the same intent.

So, what are my principles? What will steer my behavior and perspectives in 2021? I'll admit that I’m not reinventing the wheel this year…I’m simply amplifying my approach and effect in our beautiful world. In 2005, I created a business plan over the course of three months. Little did I know, this practice not only provided the structure for my professional endeavors for the next fifteen years but it guided my day-to-day personal approach as well. It steered my reflection process and organized my thoughts about “living.” It provided my purpose to “live with intent and to guide people in their journey to understand themselves, the people around them, and their interaction with the world.” No small undertaking and a challenge I believe I was meant and fit to do. From day one, I committed to an alignment of my professional and personal lives based on this purpose. In this period, the relationships I developed, the self-improvement book I published, and this very podcast exemplifies the progression of that original plan.

And each year I reexamine that original intent….that mission. I update it with modified principles based on my status and the status of the world at a given point. In 2021, here is my list of principles. Of course, I wouldn’t dare to stop there. Like the many others who approach the new year with a new sense of invigoration and passion, I’ve also broken the habits and behaviors that I seek to change or amplify. Photo: Cruise America - All of us need to cruise in nature to reflect on this past year.

To learn more about Michael, visit https://www.theelementsofbeing.com/!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

- Identifying the principles that will steer your behavior in 2021.
- Creating a list of intents (resolutions) for a new year including a focus on physical health, diet, reflection, relationships, attention, the environment, and civic duty.

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#26 - Designing the Mind in a New Year | Author Ryan A. Bush

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#25 - Our Cognitive and Emotional Connection to Film Narrative with Dr. Weik von Mossner

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

In today’s episode, I dove into the “mind” with author Ryan A. Bush and discusssed his new book Designing the Mind: The Principles of Psychitecture. His book was a complete indulgence to discuss and certainly appropriate for a deep exploration of ourselves at the start of a new year as we recover from the ongoing pandemic, an economic downturn, the rise of social protests, and an enflamed US election. I think most listeners will agree that the true start of this decade should begin on January 1st of 2021 instead….and there’s no better way than to understand our current mental software as we are about to reboot.

So, what is Ryan’s psycho-philosophical book about? It combines the ancient adage that true happiness comes from within with the modern metaphor of the mind as an operating system. It integrates the wisdom and insights of ancient mystics, practical philosophers, and cognitive scientists into a mindset and method for reprogramming your own psychological software. Basically, it’s a handbook for mastering your behavior, cognition, and emotions, one algorithm at a time. Whether fear prevents you from pursuing your ambitions, jealousy ruins your relationships, distractions rule your life, or you have an inner critic whose expectations you are never able to meet, the psychitectural framework will enable you to understand and rewire the hidden patterns behind your biases, habits, and emotional reactions.

If you know me well enough by now, then you probably know I was salivating at the opportunity to discuss these themes in detail…especially in relation to retraining our minds to achieve what we want. We’ll call this episode the prep work for your New Year’s resolutions and intents.

To learn more about Ryan A. Bush, visit https://designingthemind.org/!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

- Whether or not behaviors and perspectives are predetermined.
- How our daily lives specifically contribute to the program of the brain.
- How we can develop the ability to increasingly determine our own subjective experience.
- The basic foundation of psychitecture.
- The influences that corrupt our mental operating system.
- How our default algorithms contribute to many of our psychological problems today.
- The importance of metacognition when critically thinking about a problem.
- The consequences of our mental patterns and biases.
- The false assumptions about exceptional critical thinking skills and self-control.
- How to beta-test and challenge our belief system.
- How our emotions weren't built to deal with modern life.
- The role of unregulated emotion and the underlying influence on brutal dictators, school shooters, and belligerent bigots.

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#25 - Our Cognitive and Emotional Connection to Film Narrative | Dr. Weik von Mossner

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#25 - Our Cognitive and Emotional Connection to Film Narrative with Dr. Weik von Mossner

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

In today’s episode, I examine our emotional connection to film narrative with Dr. Alexa Weik von Mossner….in particular, we focus on documentaries about veganism. She is a writer and ecocritical cultural studies scholar who works on American literature, film, and digital media. Dr. Weik von Mossner’s scholarly research explores contemporary environmental culture from a cognitive perspective with a particular focus on affect and emotion.

After working for several years in the German film and television industry, she earned her Ph.D. in Literature and is currently appointed as Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria. Currently, Dr. Weik von Mossner is a principal investigator on the research project “Narrative Encounters with Ethnic American Literatures” as well as a researcher on the project “Cinema and Environment: Affective Ecologies in the Anthropocene”.

Along with other prominent researchers, she is developing a new interdisciplinary research field in the environmental humanities, Empirical Ecocriticism. Dr. Weik von Mossner’s academic book publications include Cosmopolitan Minds: Literature, Emotion, and the Transnational Imagination and Affective Ecologies: Empathy, Emotion, and Environmental Narrative. She is also the editor of Moving Environments: Affect, Emotion, Ecology, and Film and the co-editor of The Anticipation of Catastrophe: Environmental Risk in North American Literature and Culture.

To learn more about Dr. Weik von Mossner, visit https://www.alexaweikvonmossner.com/!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-Dr. Weik von Mossner’s experience in German television and her creative writing process.
-The foundation and long-term implications of cognitive ecocritical analysis.
-The depictions and narrativization of food and how they engage audiences.
-How the type of medium can change the imaginary culinary experience.
-Our emotional and neuro reaction to depictions of animal abuse, global warming, and food in general.
-The processes of liberated embodied simulation and how these processes are similar or dissimilar to real-life interactions with physical (edible) objects.
-How the narrative strategies of a documentary, such as Cowspiracy, are mutually reinforcing on the cognitive and affective level.
-The emotionalizing strategies of documentaries on veganism.

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#24 - Exploring the Psychology of our At-Home Environment | Dr. Preston

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#23 - Examining Partisanship, Nationalism, and Voting Behavior with Social Psychologist Dr. Huddy

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

In today’s episode, I examine the effect of the at-home environment and space on our mental and emotional well-being with the business psychologist, Dr. Camille Preston. A fitting topic as we move into a winter of escalating COVID cases, social restrictions, possible lockdowns, and rampant remote learning and working. Dr. Preston is the founder and CEO of AIM Leadership—an executive leadership firm that works with leaders, teams, and organizations to align and optimize human capital to drive scalable and sustainable results. Since founding AIM Leadership in 2004, Preston has helped hundreds of leaders navigate the challenges of today's disrupted workplace. She also helps teams work together more effectively by discovering how to map priorities, build trust, and optimize systems.

Beyond her work at AIM Leadership, Preston partners with Blackhorn Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, and serves as part-time faculty at The Center for Creative Leadership. A recognized thought leader on leadership, virtual effectiveness, and team optimization, Camille is the author of two books, Rewired and Create More Flow, a regular contributor to Forbes, Psychology Today, Fast Company, and Thrive, and a sought-after keynote speaker.

To learn more about Dr. Camille Preston, check out http://www.camillepreston.com/ and https://aimleadership.com/!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-What sparks the drive of a business psychologist.
-The two questions every child and adult need to ask themselves.
-How to unwire and step back from technology to regain focus and clarity.
-How to reconnect with the spaces around us.
-How to extract the very character of the places you travel to and inject them into your home to provide the same neural stimulation.
-How to create an environment that invokes positive energy, inspiration, and flow states.
-How to minimize the attributes that contribute to our stress and anxiety during this time of uncertainty.
-How we can elevate our influence on the environment.

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#23 - Examining Partisanship, Nationalism, and Voting Behavior | Social Psychologist Dr. Huddy

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#23 - Examining Partisanship, Nationalism, and Voting Behavior with Social Psychologist Dr. Huddy

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Today, I’d like to share the 3rd part of a series on the psychology behind the 2020 US presidential election and the political issues that pervade the campaign airwaves. A few episodes ago, my interview with Dr. Madva dissected the role of implicit biases as an undercurrent of many social injustices, including incidents related to racism and classism. And then, my conversation with Dr. Baron was an examination of the moral judgments surrounding political issues and our decision-making process. In this interview with Dr. Leonie Huddy, we discussed the roles and trends of partisanship in politics as well as the topics of nationalism, individualism, and voting behavior.

Dr. Huddy is Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Stony Brook University. She is co-editor of the 2nd edition of the Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology, served as co-editor of the journal Political Psychology from 2005 till 2010, is past-president of the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP), serves on the American National Election Studies Board of Overseers, often appears on CBS Radio as an exit poll analyst, and serves on numerous editorial boards in political science. Dr. Huddy has written extensively on social and political identities, emotions, reactions to terrorism, gender and politics, and race relations. She is the co-author (with Stanley Feldman and George Marcus) of Going to War in Iraq: When Citizens and the Press Matter published by the University of Chicago Press. Dr. Huddy was born in Australia and shared an incredible global perspective on the current US political landscape.

To learn more about Dr. Leonie Huddy and his research, check out http://you.stonybrook.edu/leonie/!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The difference between print and television journalism during the war in Iraq.
-How individualism affects the regulation of empathetic ability.
-Nationalist appeals and the connection to future elections worldwide.
-The difference between nationalism and patriotism.
-The social nature of partisanship and how it’s a form of tribal self-expression.
-The positive and negative consequences of political partisanship.
-What contributes to affective partisanship, and how we can diminish it.
-The role of partisan politics in our democracy.
-The underlying influences of voting behavior.
-The difference in voting behaviors between the US and other democracies.

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#22 - Exploring Moral Judgment and Individual Decision-Making | Author Dr. Baron

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#22 - Exploring Moral Judgment and Individual Decision-Making with Dr. Baron

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

In the spirit of the 2020 US presidential election, Dr. Jonathan Baron and I discuss moral judgment and individual decision-making in today’s episode. Dr. Baron is the founding editor of the open-access journal Judgment and Decision Making and has been on several other journals' editorial boards. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association for Psychological Science, and was the President of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making.

Dr. Baron's work has occurred primarily within the field of judgment and decision making, a multi-disciplinary area that applies psychology to problems in economics, law, business, and public policy. This field began by contrasting human decision behavior to individual decision-making and judgment theories such as probability theory and expected utility. Baron's research has extended the focus of judgment and decision making to social problems of resource allocation and ethical decisions. Among the concepts associated with his work are omission bias (the tendency for people to excuse acts of omission more easily than acts of commission) and protected values (principles on which people are unwilling to accept tradeoffs).

Dr. Baron is the author of Thinking and Deciding. The text takes a broad-based, introductory-level view of psychological decision theory, and has seen use as a textbook. He has also authored Morality and Rational Choice, Against Bioethics, and Judgment Misguided. Bio Resource: Dr. Jonathan Baron

To learn more about Dr. Jonathan Baron and his research, check out https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~baron/!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The trends of political polarization and conspiracy thinking.
-The problems of improving everyday decisions as a result of institutional issues.
-Applying general principles of decision analysis.
-The evolution of a person’s social standards.
-Omission bias in politics.
-The cost-benefit analysis of environmental policies.
-The expression of moral and moralistic values regarding the political issues of gay marriage and abortion.
-The role of empathy in the utilitarian point of view.
-The factors that affect moral judgment.

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#21 - Changing the Face of Healthcare with Nutrition Expert, Dr. McDougall

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The Elements of Being Podcast with Michael Moody featuring Dr. McDougall

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

If you are a vegan, vegetarian, or whole food plant-based person, today’s guest won’t really need much introduction. I interview the passionate physician and nutrition expert, Dr. John McDougall. He has been studying, writing, and speaking out about the effects of plant-based nutrition on disease for over 50 years and contributed to the ground-shaking documentary "Forks Over Knives." His program not only promotes a broad range of dramatic and lasting health benefits but, most importantly, can also reverse serious illnesses including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and others….all without the use of drugs.

A graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, Dr. McDougall performed his internship at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and his medical residency at the University of Hawaii. He is certified as an internist by the Board of Internal Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners.  Dr. McDougall is also the author of 13 national best-selling books, including The Starch Solution, Dr. McDougall's Digestive Tune-Up, and The McDougall Program, and hosted the nationally syndicated television show “McDougall, MD” several years ago.

In his quote/unquote retirement, Dr. McDougall is focusing his efforts on legislation, healthcare systems, and research projects (of which we dig into). To be honest, I don’t believe this man ever rests. In his youthful 70’s, he is still an electric advocate of the plant-based approach (and you’ll feel his energy today).

To learn more about Dr. McDougall, check out his nutrition website, or say hello on Twitter or Facebook!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-How a massive stroke and temporary paralysis for 2 weeks at the age of 18 led to a lifetime in the field of medicine.
-Dr. McDougall’s role in protecting breast cancer patient’s rights and the consequences of that fight.
-The struggles of fighting the medical industry and insurance companies.
-The challenges of nutrition-based medical therapy in a profit-driven medical industry.
-The social obstacles patients face as they approach optimal health.
-Treating illnesses and diseases with food-as-medicine.
-The connection between our diet and the immune system.
-The foundation of a starch diet and the long-term environmental and health benefits of this approach.
-The silver lining of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

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#20 - Implicit Biases: The Undercurrent of Social Injustices with Dr. Madva

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Today, I explore the relationship between racism and implicit biases with Dr. Alex Madva, an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the California Center for Ethics & Policy at Cal Poly Pomona. He recently co-edited the volume, An Introduction to Implicit Bias: Knowledge, Justice, and the Social Mind with his colleague Erin Beeghly, and took the time break down systemic racism and the implicit biases that not only pervade the recent cases involving George Floyd and Kyle Rittenhouse but also steer our perception of such matters. Essentially, we are digging into the unconscious and examining how simple labels of racism may not account for the underlying complexity of these situations.

Dr. Madva’s research and teaching explore how developments in social psychology inform the philosophy of mind, philosophy of race and feminism, and applied ethics, especially prejudice and discrimination. He has written on these topics for journals including Ethics, The Journal of Applied Philosophy, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews (WIREs): Cognitive Science, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, Ergo, Mind and Language, and several more. Dr. Madva is currently co-editing another, The Movement for Black Lives: Philosophical Perspectives.

Dr. Madva has taught numerous classes on Race and Racism, Social and Political Philosophy, Cognitive Science, Feminist Philosophy of Science, Contemporary Moral Problems, Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, and upper-division undergraduate and graduate seminars on social psychology and philosophy, including a new course he developed at CPP, The Philosophy & Science of Implicit Bias.

Dr. Madva is also actively engaged in collaborative empirical research. One ongoing project, funded by the NSF, is testing interventions to reduce achievement gaps and increase belonging for underrepresented groups at Cal Poly Pomona, in disciplines such as physics, economics, mathematics, biology, and philosophy. His published empirical research has appeared in journals, including Ratio and the International Journal of STEM Education. He is also collaborating with computer scientists, engineers, and social scientists to study the spread of misinformation and prejudice across social media, ultimately to counteract these trends. Folks, Dr. Madva, has literally written the textbook on implicit bias.

To learn more about Dr. Alex Madva and implicit biases, visit http://www.alexmadva.com/.

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The intersection of Dr. Madva’s philosophy, psychology, and sociology studies and the evolution of his interest in implicit biases.
-Epistemic humility and the connection to the recent cases regarding police officers in the media.
-The evolutionary function of implicit biases.
-The reasons why unconscious prejudices still exist despite conscious commitments to be fair and unprejudiced.
-How to determine when implicit biases are serving our personal needs and honoring individuals outside of us appropriately.
-How to test our hidden biases.
-How to use debiasing tools, like “If-Then” Plans and the “Common-Ground Mindsets” Tool, to bridge the gap between intention and action.
-The relationship between “trusting our gut” and implicit biases.
-How ingroup-outgroup distinctions and status preferences contribute to our sets of unconscious beliefs.
-How to create structural reform with a cross-experiential approach.

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#19 - Discussing the Drawdown Framework for Climate Solutions with Crystal Chissell

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Today’s focus is global warming and the consequences on our health and communities. I interview the Vice President of Operations & Engagement at Project Drawdown, Crystal Chissell. She draws on her deep experience and interdisciplinary background in local and state government, law, business, and social equity to build effective systems and operating infrastructure. Crystal also leads the cultivation of strategic partnerships and networks the foster public engagement to move the world toward climate solutions. She speaks publicly about climate solutions and serves as an expert resource for news media, interest groups, and advocacy organizations.

Prior to Project Drawdown, Crystal was a practicing attorney, advising the City of Baltimore and the Maryland Environmental Service. She served as Mayor of the Town of Highland Beach, Maryland. Crystal holds a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, an M.S. in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University, an M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco, and a B.A. in Journalism from Howard University.

To learn more about Crystal Chissell, visit https://drawdown.org/ or their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. To find climate solution resources, also visit https://drawdown.org/drawdown-review.

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The initiatives of Project Drawdown.
-How Project Drawdown fairly evaluates scientific research to determine whether or not findings are significant signals.
-The relationship between global warming and climate change.
-The contributing factors to the rise in greenhouse gases and global warming.
-How local, state, and federal governments can have a sustainable environmental impact.
-The long-term effects of global warming and the short-term costs of aggressive environmental initiatives.
-How the standard American diet contributes to global warming.
-How communities can collaborate to steer a refreshed social and cultural ecological consciousness.  

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#18 - REGENERATIVE FARMING AND FOOD AS MEDICINE WITH DR. RON WEISS

IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

In today’s episode, I dive into the world of regenerative organic farming with Dr. Ron Weiss. He is dual board-certified in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine. As a primary care  physician in New Jersey, Dr. Weiss serves as the executive director of Ethos Primary Care and as Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is not only a physician but also a botanist and farmer, and he offers an evidence-based,  food-as-medicine  approach to healing chronic illness and optimizing wellness. Dr. Weiss has been featured in top media, including The New York Times, The New York Post, The Today Show, New Jersey Monthly, and the feature-length documentary, "Eating You Alive."

A vegan-friendly plant-based doctor in New Jersey, Dr. Weiss prescribes the Ethos Diet – an all-organic, ecologically-sustainable, and Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB)  diet – as the cornerstone of his work with patients. He is not your typical doctor.  His primary care practice resides on 342 acres of farm in Long Valley, New Jersey, where he grows "beyond organic" produce for his patients. 

Otherwise known as the farm doctor, Dr. Weiss believes that food-is-medicine and in a Farm-Based Health Care System. He additionally holds a dual baccalaureate degree in botany and music from Rutgers University….which we explore in great depths.

To learn more about Dr. Ron Weiss, visit https://www.myethoshealth.com or his Facebook and Instagram pages.

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-How Dr. Weiss’ passions have intersected.
-Dr. Weiss’ lifelong connection to botany and agriculture.
-The evolution of his medical practice to a regenerative organic farm.
-The effects of chemicals and current farming practices on the soil and the environment.
-The distinction between "beyond organic" and typical organic certifications.
-The foundation of regenerative organic farming and the Farm Ethos Project.
-The debate about the best regenerative practices.
-The recommendations for those farmers with the same connection to the history and cultivation of the land but who haven't pivoted to sustainable, environmentally-mindful practices.
-How we can connect our kids to agriculture in urban settings with a new sustainable organic perspective and the guidance they need to become stewards of the environment.
-The Rockefeller Food System Vision 2050 and Young Farmers Incubator Program.

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#17 - What Being a Parent Taught Me About Managing Stress

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of psychologists, filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we learn what makes them flip the switch to achieve great feats, goals, and milestones…and a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior.

So, what is this podcast specifically about? I examine the mental and emotional narratives and processes that have steered writers, filmmakers, psychologists, and industry icons down their paths in life. Each episode is also a glimpse into the trends and patterns of human behavior and the underlying influences that navigate us into different directions. Whether we primarily focus on nutrition or the unconscious, guests share insights, thought-provoking lessons, the nuances of creativity, and the elements of being….us.

Being a father now, it’s amazing what you can learn from your child. My 3-year-old son, Preston, has taught me how to manage stress more effectively without knowing it! What a smart little man!

The ego of a typical adult human may exclaim: Babies teach us nothing! They are little animals trying to survive in nature. What do they know!!!

But the truth is that giving birth to a child will change your life forever…and their lessons are endless. As a parent, you’ll always need to think about others, be mindful of your risk-taking behavior, plan ahead, focus on meaningful interaction, and show empathy and sympathy. Just sharing this list, reminds me that we should be doing this anyway (with or without a child)!

In all honesty, my wife, Sammy, and I haven’t felt the drastic change in life that most people claim. The responsibilities and day-to-day specific approach may have been reshaped but the principles are the same. Although this is true, Preston has inspired new approaches to managing stress. He unknowingly prepared a Stress 101 curriculum for me, his dad: A model of human instinctual behavior. Without a doubt, it made me rethink my needs and how I structured my life to minimize stress.

To learn more about Michael Moody, check out his book "Redefine Yourself” or say hello on Instagram (@wholeplantpersonaltrainer)!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-Recognizing our primary survival needs before pursuing any secondary tasks/projects (and how we cognitively overrule our survival nudges).
-Establishing consistent eating and sleeping routines (and why the human body depends on it).
-Maintaining a consistent reading habit (and the benefits we usually ignore).

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#16 - The Examination of Personal and Collective Trauma with Dr. Bakalar

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Considering our current COVID-19 pandemic, I felt it was an appropriate time to explore the individual and collective experiences of trauma with psychologist Dr. Jennifer Bakalar. In my lifetime, the horrific events of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States left an incredible imprint. No doubt, it was a traumatic experience for the many friends, families, and colleagues who were personally connected to the lives lost. Nearly 20 years later, we are now experiencing another collective experience as a society.

Dr. Bakalar is a licensed psychologist in Washington, DC, where she provides psychotherapy to adults. Her clinical focus centers on the impact of stress, trauma, transition, and loss on psychological and physical health. She uses an integrative approach, which is grounded in contemporary relational, interpersonal, and psychodynamic theories. Dr. Bakalar’s passion for this work stems from her belief in the transformative potential of relationships along with the meaning she finds in supporting her clients to understand themselves more deeply and enrich their connections with others.

To learn more about Dr. Bakalar, visit https://www.dchealthpsychology.com/our-team or her professional page, https://www.jenniferbakalarphd.com/.

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-If some personalities or mindsets are more susceptible to experiencing trauma.
-Whether or not there is an evolutionary benefit to remembering trauma.
-The foundation of trauma-focused treatment within a stage-based model.
-How a person processes traumatic memory and integrates it into their, his, or her broader life story.
-The foundation of collective trauma, and historical examples outside of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
-The point that a crisis evolves into collective memory.
-The difference between the collective and individual memory of trauma.
-The reasons to keep trauma alive in the collective consciousness.
-The often-need to construct the meaning of a crisis collectively.
-The typical long-term consequences of different forms of collective victimization.
-The variables of collective trauma that affect one's experience.
-How collective trauma can serve as a sense of continuity between past, present, and future members of a group and how to be sure it doesn't contribute to a more significant social dysfunction.

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#15 - The Evolution of a Personal Trainer's Diet (My Story)

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of psychologists, filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we learn what makes them flip the switch to achieve great feats, goals, and milestones…and a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior.

So, what is this podcast specifically about? I examine the mental and emotional narratives and processes that have steered writers, filmmakers, psychologists, and industry icons down their paths in life. Each episode is also a glimpse into the trends and patterns of human behavior and the underlying influences that navigate us into different directions. Whether we primarily focus on nutrition or the unconscious, guests share insights, thought-provoking lessons, the nuances of creativity, and the elements of being….us.

In today’s episode, I share the evolution of my diet. I often think of the first twenty years of my life as a biased introduction of the world curated by the family, friends, culture, and influences of that period. Despite my passionate connection to psychology today, I never examined my role in that world nor how I interacted with it until later in life. Most importantly, I never examined the self-my self-during such a pivotal span of my development. Although a high school psychology course triggered my interest in mental health, I was more enamored with the study of the underlying influences of OTHER people's human behavior (not my own). I never fully examined my body’s relationship with food either.

Fast forward to the present…my diet system has helped me (as well as my personal training clients) build the most optimal "self" while satisfying the mental, craving "self" at times. While it hasn't been a perfect journey, I couldn't be more thankful for the cues and signals that pointed me in this direction.

To learn more about Michael Moody, check out his book "Redefine Yourself” or say hello on Instagram (@wholeplantpersonaltrainer)!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The lack of physical self-awareness at an early age
-The challenges of trying to attain the ideal self-image
-The depth needed to finally eat with intent
-The internal conflict of choosing a lifestyle outside of the mainstream
-The foundation of a whole food plant-based diet
-The setting of dietary boundaries

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#14 - Living with Intent Featuring Author and Vegan Hot for Food Host Lauren Toyota

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

I’m excited to share today’s episode with you. From YouTube to Twitter to Instagram, Lauren Toyota has hundreds of thousands of combined followers, fans, and subscribers. She seamlessly transitioned from close to 10 years as a television host and producer to an independent, self-made content producer.

Every Wednesday, you can find Lauren sharing gourmet vegan comfort food recipes on the “hot for food” YouTube channel that now boasts nearly 473,000 subscribers and over 36 million channel views since launching in February of 2015. Her debut cookbook, Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes To Feed Your Face (Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House) became a best seller and is available now wherever books are sold. Her second cookbook is set for release in February 2021. Among other accolades, Lauren Toyota was also named Canada's Most Influential Vegan by IMPACT magazine in 2017 and one of the Powerhouse Canadian Women Killing it in 2018 by Refinery29. In our interview, we covered everything from the mindset of a host to living with intent.

To learn more about Lauren Toyota, visit https://www.hotforfoodblog.com. You may also subscribe to her “Lauren in Real Life” and “Hot for Food” YouTube channels as well as Instagram (@hotforfood), Facebook (hot for food), and Twitter (@hotforfood). You can find her cookbook, Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes To Feed Your Face wherever fine books are sold!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The evolution of Lauren’s vegan philosophy, her cookbook, and “Hot for Food” YouTube channel
-Managing personal and professional criticisms
-How Lauren maintains her genuine connection with the art and science of cooking while serving the professional need to produce weekly
-The challenges of managing the line between being genuine and sharing too much of your personal self
-Being mindful of a growing audience without succumbing to the pressures of "It's never big enough”
-Rising above failure
-Checking in with your intuition and living with intent

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#13 - Simply Mindful with Author and Psychotherapist Donald Altman

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

I'd like to introduce today's guest, Donald Altman. He is a psychotherapist, international mindfulness expert, and award-winning author of over 15 books translated worldwide. In addition to being a featured expert in The Mindfulness Movie, Donald is profiled in the Living Spiritual Teachers Project and writes the Practical Mindfulness blog on the Psychology Today website.

Donald's best-selling book The Mindfulness Toolbox was the winner of two national publishing IPBA Ben Franklin awards as best book in both the Psychology and Body-Mind-Spirit categories. Two other books, Clearing Emotional Clutter and The Mindfulness Code, were both chosen as “One of the Best Spiritual Books of the Year” by Spirituality & Practice. Another of Donald’s books, Living Kindness, has been used as a meditation guide for staff and delegates at the United Nations.

For several years, Donald served on the faculty of both Portland State University and Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling. He is also Past Vice-President for The Center for Mindful Eating--an international non-profit organization dedicated to sharing concepts about mindful eating.

With a passion for bringing ancient, timeless values and practices into modern life, Donald has taught thousands of health care and business professionals how to apply mindfulness for self-growth in relationships and in the workplace. He worked for several years as a senior mental health therapist at an eating disorder and general psychiatric clinic before founding his own clinic.

To learn more about Donald Altman or to subscribe to the Mindful Living Newsletter, visit www.mindfulpractices.com. You may also visit Donald's facebook page, facebook.com/MndfulPractices (no "i" in Mndfulpractices).

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The key practices of basic mindfulness and how to practice it under the constant pressure and force of negative energy
-How to become more compassionate with yourself and lessen self-judgment  
-The beauty of impermanence
-The most common obstacles when opening the mind to a new awareness of the self and the world around us
-The role of conscious intention in our day-to-day lives
-The value of gravity-free awareness and how it differs from the chaotic floating of random thoughts
-The “Power of Pause” and how to integrate it into a sacred space in your home

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#12 - “SHOULD WE EVER RETURN TO A STATE OF NORMALCY?” WITH AUTHOR MICHAEL MOODY

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

In this episode, Michael dissects the idea of a "return to normalcy" as we develop our next social and economic strategies during this crisis as well as the impact of returning to pre-COVID conditions.

To learn more about Michael, check out his book "Redefine Yourself” or say hello on Instagram!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-The benefits of the old routine and the stimulation of the new
-The separation of routine from normalcy
-The comfort of habit and the discomfort of the physical, social, and global normalcy we experienced before the pandemic
-The return to patterns of debilitating and inflammatory physical health
-The ways we can leave a sustainable impact on our healthcare system, frontline health workers, and personal health
-The needed change in approach with social and environmental policies as well as leadership from both parties
-The possible long term effects of merely returning to a prior state without adaptation
-The opportunity of a "new normal"

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#11 - LOOKING BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH HOLLYWOOD LOCATION MANAGER STUART BERBERICH

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IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE

Today is meant for my fellow film geeks. If you have ever watched an incredible scene during your favorite movie and TV show and wondered, "how do they pull that off or how do they get access to a place like that?”, we shed a little light on the process during my interview with Stuart Berberich, a Hollywood Location Manager and Scout. We typically see the movie creation experience from the perspective of actors, actresses, and directors….my interview with Stuart brought a unique behind-the-scenes look and a different perspective into the on-screen entertainment that I admire and enjoy so much.

Most likely, you’ve seen Stuart’s professional contributions if you’ve seen the blockbuster movies Transformers 3 and Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight, as well as the shows, Sense 8 and the Patriot…especially the Patriot on Amazon…season one is brilliantly written and filmed. 

To learn more about Hollywood location manager Stuart Berberich, check out his website or say hello on Instagram!

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PODCAST DISCUSSION

-How COVID-19 affects the present and future of Hollywood
-The true impact of Hollywood on the economy
-The path and day-to-day of a location scout and manager for film and television
-The process of aligning locations with the vision of the writers and director
-The challenges of finding and securing the locations you see on screen
-The evolution of Hollywood films from permanent sets to unique locations
-The current trends in Hollywood
-And much, much more!

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