The Viva Podcast

Do you have a hard time saying no? If so, this episode is for you! In our latest episode licensed therapists Rachel and Jor-El weigh in on something most people struggle with - saying no! Tune in as they discuss some straightforward strategies to say no and other factors to consider when you’re trying to set a boundary with someone.  We think this episode can be helpful no matter the situation you...

Do you consider yourself a productive or a “lazy” person?  This is a big conversation that’s happening these days, especially as many of us struggle to stay productive during the pandemic.  Well, we can help! Tune in as Rachel and Jor-El use their experiences as licensed therapists to provide support and insight to help you move forward when you’re feeling unmotivated and unproductive. Hint: you’r...

How are you sleeping these days? Is it easy or difficult for you? Many people struggle with sleep issues each year and today we’re diving into one of the most commonly reported issues in mental - how to get better sleep!  Tune in as Viva Wellness licensed therapists Rachel Gersten and Jor-El Caraballo talk through sleep hygiene basics and finding your own path to better sleep. Join the conversatio...

Whatever happened this year for you, take it with a grain of salt. Tune in to the latest episode as Rachel and Jor-El talk through some suggestions on how to process and reflect on 2020 and what that means for the upcoming year. How are you reflecting on this year? Join the conversation with us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc and feel free to leave a rating and review on iTunes and Spoti...

Self-confidence, self-esteem, self-love...these are all REALLY loaded terms. There’s an expectation that we unabashedly love ourselves, but is that actually even possible? Listen as licensed therapists Rachel and Jor-El weigh in on these ideas and share some personal stories of self-acceptance too. Join the conversation with us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc and feel free to leave a rat...

Are you struggling to manage your mental health this holiday season? Us too! Tune in as licensed therapists Rachel Gersten and Jor-El Caraballo talk about the realities of making it through the holiday season during a pandemic. Learn some suggestions on how to manage your mental health and manage your perspective as you navigate the holidays safely. Please share your thoughts with us on Instagram...

We have a new president-elect! 2020 has been rough and certainly election week has been a tough one for all of us. Tune in as licensed therapists Rachel and Jor-El reflect on the presidential election and how politics affects mental health.  Please share your thoughts with us on Instagram and Twitter @vivawellnessnyc and feel free to leave a rating and review on iTunes and Spotify. Take care!

Do you struggle with accepting, or appreciating, your body? You're probably dealing with the effects of diet culture! Join the conversation as therapists Rachel and Jor-El explore the problems with diet culture. They talk about the insidious nature of diet culture and how that's even impacting us during the pandemic.  We hope you find this conversation helpful. Please share your thoughts with us o...

How is your relationship with social media these days? Probably worth talking about, right? Have no fear as Rachel and Jor-El talk about managing social media and mental health generally and through the dumpster fire that is 2020. In this episode you’ll get some practical tips and things to consider as you work in creating a healthier relationship with social media (pro tip: avoid doomscrolling!)....

In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El are talking all about women in sport! We’re honoring National Women’s Health and Fitness Day by talking about some prevalent issues related to women athletes and spectators as well as highlighting some (but not all!) inspirational women in sport. We hope that you enjoy this episode and take a moment so share it with a woman in sport you find inspirational.  ...

We’re all for positive thinking around here, but that doesn’t mean lying to ourselves either! Tune in as Rachel and Jor-El talk about using the power of positive thinking to help find refuge, even in difficult circumstances.  They also share some good news and examples in their own lives to help illustrate the simple practice of paying attention to the good.   John Sterling Calls (on Twitter)  Stu...

Losing someone you love is an incredibly painful process. It’s something we all experience at one point or another, but we often don’t talk openly about the messy process of grief. That is unless you're Rebecca Soffer. This week, Rachel and Jor-El are joined by Rebecca Soffer, the co-founder of Modern Loss. Modern Loss is a community of people living with grief (basically everyone in the world) th...

In our latest episode our hosts Jor-El and Rachel talk about mental health issues in pop culture. From public meltdowns (think Kanye and Britney circa 2007) all the way to Yankees Ace CC Sabathia (we love you CC!) Demi Lovato and Amanda Bynes, they weigh in on how public conversations about mental health impact our collective mental health and often reinforce stigma. Please share your thoughts on...

How do you stay grateful when times are tough? In our latest episode hosts and licensed therapists Jor-El Caraballo and Rachel Gersten talk how to practice gratitude during tough times. Obviously, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us and during tough times it can be hard to acknowledge the positives in our lives. Sometimes it can even feel disingenuous. Listen in as Rachel and Jor-El tal...

Mainstream wellness tends to look a certain way; white, thin, mostly blonde women fill our feeds with tips on living healthier. But, why aren’t more people of color featured? This is exactly what Carolyn Su sought to change with Diverse We Run (@diversewerun).  Join Rachel and Jor-El as they talk with Carolyn Su (Instagram: @irunfortheglory) about diversity in wellness and why representation is so...

This week our hosts Rachel and Jor-El talk with runner, host and health advocate Jonathan Levitt. Jonathan works for a company called Inside Tracker which offers personalized health and nutrition recommendations based on blood biomarkers (that you typically won’t get from your doctor!). As Jonathan puts it “we remove the opinion” on nutrition and lifestyle and rely on science. What a concept!  Thi...

It’s hard to know when to step in when the people you love and care about might be going through a rough time. When is the right time to be seriously concerned about their mental health? And when is it just a slump?   In our latest episode our hosts and licensed therapists Rachel and Jor-El answer these questions, and give some tangible examples on how you might respond when you want to offer your...

In light of recent events around racism going more mainstream, Rachel and Jor-El wanted to offer some therapist-led insight to help you become a better white ally in the fight for equality. In this latest episode, Rachel and Jor-El speak from their lived experiences as people, and as therapists, and model ways that you can move forward in allyship and be a part of progressive change. In this episo...

Content advisory: Please note this episode includes discussion of depression and suicide. Please be advised. In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El have a sit down with writer, social media manager, and mental health advocate Theodora Blanchfield. In this episode Theodora shares about her experiences with depression, grief and suicide. She offers up a story of resilience detailing her experiences...

Have you ever experienced a song or movie that changed your life?  We definitely have! In our most recent episode, hosts Jor-El and Rachel talk about some of the most meaningful media they’ve experienced in their lives (+ some listener submissions!).  We hope that you enjoy this fun episode as we share some of our favorites and explore the utility of media in our lives, especially when times are t...

Have you been curious about how to get started in therapy, but felt unsure about how to do it? Have no fear - we’re here to answer your questions! In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El take on this listener submitted question on how to get started in therapy. They cover everything from how to search for a therapist and how to know if you’ve got the right fit for you.  Therapy is confusing and ca...

There have been some many (generally helpful) think pieces about how to adjust our lives during COVID-19.  In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El talk more about how they’ve been adjusting and how it’s so important to extend ourselves grace during these times. They also talk about the necessity of holding multiple emotions at the same time  (like feeling grateful and pissed!) during the pandemic....

In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El talk about the importance of information in the digital age. They tackle the dangers of getting incorrect information and how to make sure that you’re being a critical consumer, especially in the age of COVID-19. Join us and share your thoughts with us! Please send feedback to us directly @vivawellnessnyc, @rachelgersten and @jorelcaraballo on Twitter and In...

In our latest episode Jor-El and Rachel sit down to talk through what is likely on most people’s minds right now - coronavirus!   Rachel and Jor-El offer up some therapist-approved strategies to help cope with the pandemic as it seems likely we’ll be dealing with the fallout of this for some time. They discuss practicing acceptance & using humor and the benefit of laughter! They also share the...

This week Rachel and Jor-El sit down with business woman and photographer Diana Davis. If you follow us on Instagram, you definitely would have seen Diana’s handiwork as she’s been responsible for many of the imagery you’ve seen for Viva Wellness. In this episode we talk with Diana about her journey into owning her own business and the power of following your intuition and using positive thinking....