Thursday Tea with Sami

Send us Fan Mail Did you know your home could be quietly working against your mental health, sleep, and daily habits — without you even realizing it? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Rebecca West, author of Happy Starts at Home and design psychology specialist, to explore how our living spaces shape everything from how we cope with stress to how well we s...

Send us Fan Mail What if the anxiety, brain fog, or depression you've been struggling with isn't just in your head — but in your airway? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with Dr. Max Kerr, a dentist and sleep health expert, for a conversation that just might change the way you think about sleep forever. Dr. Kerr shares the deeply personal story of how...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Dr. Candice Seti — licensed clinical psychologist and founder of The Weight Loss Therapist — for an eye-opening conversation about why dieting is failing us and what to do instead. Did you know that 98% of diets fail? If you've ever felt stuck in the cycle of losing weight and gaining it b...

Send us Fan Mail Posture, chronic pain, stress, sleep, and movement are more connected than most people realize. In this episode, Dr. Sami Estrada talks with Ellie Dalton (Posture Ellie) about why posture is not just about “sitting up straight,” but about improving the way the whole body moves. Ellie shares how posture therapy can help reduce pain, improve breathing, support better sleep, and infl...

Send us Fan Mail Can food affect your mental health, mood, or unexplained symptoms? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Kathlena “The Allergy Chef”, a food allergy expert who has lived with over 200 food allergies and intolerances. After spending more than 20 years searching for answers, Kathlena discovered that food can trigger symptoms far beyond the commo...

Send us Fan Mail What’s the difference between belonging and fitting in —and why do so many people feel like they don’t fully belong anywhere? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with clinical psychologist Kailyn Bobb, PsyD to explore the psychology of acculturation, identity, and the human need for belonging . Together, they unpack why people often feel caught b...

Send us Fan Mail What if your fatigue, brain fog, skin flare-ups, or mood swings had something to do with your gut? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Samia Estrada welcomes Alicia Galvin, MEd, RD, IFNCP , Head of Scientific Affairs at Microbiome Labs , for a deep-yet-accessible conversation about microbiome health and why it matters for everyday life. Together, we cover: What the mic...

Send us Fan Mail What if strengthening your relationship could improve your sleep, lower stress, and support your overall health? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Michelle Garraway , Registered Social Worker and founder of The Relationship Agency (Ajax & Oshawa, Ontario), to explore why human connection is one...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Nita Talwar , founder of Uppy! , to talk about one of the most overlooked foundations of wellness: hydration . Nita shares why many people are mildly dehydrated without realizing it , the early signs of dehydration (like headaches, low energy, poor focus, sleep issu...

Send us Fan Mail What if stress isn’t only something you “manage” with willpower—but something your body can learn to regulate more effectively? In today’s episode, Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with Kristin Derus Dore , a biofeedback practitioner whose work focuses on FDA-approved biofeedback for stress reduction and pain management . Kristin breaks down what biofeedback is (in normal-people languag...

Send us Fan Mail What if the “weeds” in your backyard are actually part of your wellness toolkit? In this inspiring episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada, Psy. D., DipABLM sits down with Michelle McAninch , founder of Tamarac Garden , to explore the heart of herbalism and how everyday plants can support natural wellness and self-care . Michel...

Send us Fan Mail What if renewal didn’t require a major life overhaul—but simply a shift in awareness? In this deeply grounding episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with Sandeep Nath , creator of the Renewalism Movement, to explore how energy, consciousness, and simple daily habits can help prevent burnout and restore clarity—both personally and professionally. Sandeep s...

Send us Fan Mail What if “getting healthy” wasn’t about dieting or chasing a number on the scale—but about building strength, consistency, and confidence in your body? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , Dr. Samia Estrada (clinical psychologist and lifestyle medicine specialist) sits down with Fjorino Musaku , a wellness professional with a powerful...

Send us Fan Mail What if balance isn’t something you “achieve”… but something you practice—over and over again? In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with Dr. Haley Parker , integrative medicine leader and educator, to explore East Asian Medicine and how acupuncture, herbs, breathwork, and movement can support real-life wellness—especially for stress, burnout, pain...

Send us Fan Mail What does “healthy” look like when you’re living in the real world—busy schedules, stress, travel, cravings, and all? In this warm, honest conversation, Dr. Sami Estrada sits down with Barry Abrams , a voice artist who used the pandemic as a turning point to create sustainable lifestyle changes alongside his wife. Barry shares how his mindset shifted from dieting to wellness , why...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s powerful episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , I’m joined by the remarkable Vera Ventura — life coach, yoga instructor, founder of Breast Cancer Goddess , and four-time cancer survivor whose story defies all odds. Diagnosed with stage IV cancer and given only months to live, Vera chose a radically integrative path: combining Western medicine with fasting, mindset work, me...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Thursday Tea with Sami , we’re exploring the hormonal changes of midlife—for both women and men—and the powerful ways these shifts affect our health, emotions, identity, and relationships. My guest, Adrienne Irizarry, HWH , is an East Asian medicine practitioner specializing in hormonal balance and trauma-informed wellness. Together, we unpack how perimenopause, menop...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or like life has been moving just a little too fast? You’re not alone — and that’s exactly why The Lock-In became one of the biggest wellness trends this year. But here’s the part most people don’t realize: you don’t need to start in September. You can begin your lock-in today. In this cozy, grounding episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , Dr. Sam...

Send us Fan Mail We all avoid them… and we all need them. Today we’re unpacking difficult conversations —at work, at home, and in our closest relationships. Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Kailyn Bobb (Inner Peace Psych, Schaumburg, IL) joins Dr. Sami to share compassionate, practical strategies for talking about the tough stuff with more clarity, kindness, and courage. In this episode: Why our...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , psychologist Samia Estrada sits down with mind–body practitioner Mel Abbott to explore the reality of living with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and the path to recovery. Mel shares her powerful story of battling chronic illness for over a decade, the importance of acknowledgment in the healing process, and h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert Dr. Michael Yapko joins me to demystify hypnosis and share practical, evidence-based ways people can reduce depression and anxiety. We explore what hypnosis really is (hint: focused attention you already know how to do), why skill-building beats “quick fixes,” and how everyday c...

Send us Fan Mail The Power of Small Shifts: Embracing Wellness Through Life’s Chaos with Sami-Jo Emsley In this inspiring episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , host Dr. Samia Estrada sits down with wellness advocate and author Sami-Jo Emsley —a fellow Sami with a powerful story of transformation. After navigating stress, weight gain, and the challenges of parenting a child with autism, Sami-Jo began...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami, Dr. Xiaolong Li discusses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and its application in various aspects of life, including anxiety management, parenting, and the importance of focusing on values over achievements. The conversation highlights the differences between ACT and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the challenges faced by young...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami , I sit down with Dr. Heather Martarella, a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep and gratitude. We explore what really happens in your brain and body during sleep, how modern life interferes with rest, and the powerful connection between gratitude practices and better sleep. Dr. Martarella shares insights from her clinical work, pra...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Description: In this episode of Thursday Tea with Sami: Your Sip of Wellness and Mental Health , we dive into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome—and why the growing buzz around eating 30 different plant foods a week might actually be worth your attention. I’m not here to push a trend but to explore the science with you, helping you understand how your gut influenc...