The Viva Podcast

This week we have an EXTRA special episode featuring exemplary athlete and advocate Chris Mosier. If you haven’t yet had the joy of learning about Chris, here’s a brief rundown of his incredible accomplishments: First trans man to make a men’s US national team 6 time team member of Team USA in triathlon and duathlon Has won two national championships in race walking First trans athlete to compete...

Impeachment hearings. Iowa. Toxic and abusive political rhetoric. It’s a lot, isn’t it?! In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El are diving into politics. This week, the topic is not the policies themselves but how we all can cope and adjust to living in a 24 hour news cycle. Tune in as Rachel and Jor-El talk through their own reactions to politics now, and in the past few years, and offer up some...

Are you struggling with SAD or just dealing with the natural variances in mood during the winter months?  Listen and find out! In our latest episode Jor-El and Rachel talk about one of the most common conditions this time of year, Seasonal Affective Disorder. This depressive condition affects about 10 million US adults. That’s a lot of people! Learn what the signs of SAD are and what steps you can...

We’ve got a special treat for you this week! While a lot of people are thinking more and more about nutrition (especially during the winter months) we thought we would bring in Viva Wellness’ in-house Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Caitie Corradino!   Rachel and Jor-El sat down with Caitie to talk about all things nutrition. In this episode, Caitie clarifies what intuitive eating means and take...

In our latest episode our founders Jor-El and Rachel reflect on the past year, as many of us are doing, and offer up some suggestions on how to move forward in 2020. On that note, we have a new resource available for you on the Viva Wellness Resources page. Vision 2020: My Best Year Yet is a handy worksheet to get you to reflect on the past year and move forward with intention. We hope that you fi...

This week Jor-El and Rachel are joined by Emily Merrell, the founder of Six Degrees Society.  Emily founded Six Degrees Society to create spaces for women entrepreneurs to establish contact with others and learn from one another. Emily left her job working in fashion to help create warm, accessible environments where people could connect and learn from one another with authenticity and ease. And t...

Love it or hate it (we don’t judge!), the holiday season is here! This week, Rachel and Jor-El talk all about the holiday season, the pressures that come with this time of year and some helpful ways to manage your mental health throughout the season. In the episode, our hosts challenge the notion that there is only one right way to do the holidays. They also offer up some concrete tips on how to m...

Do you make it a point to have laughter be a part of your wellness routine?  Maybe you should!  Laughter and humor are things we often feel but don’t talk about and they can be incredibly important and vital to health and wellness. Listen to this week’s episode as Rachel and Jor-El weigh in on the health benefits of laughter and talk about how humor fits in their lives both in an outside of the th...

Do you often struggle to face difficult conversations head on?  Listen in as Rachel and Jor-El delve into their thoughts on dealing with hard conversations and the best ways to move forward even if you're feeling uncomfortable. And why difficult conversations are needed to maintain healthy relationships altogether! And, as always, feel free to tweet or DM us your questions and feedback. You can re...

This week, Rachel and Jor-El sit down with writer and sex positivity advocate Zachary Zane. In this episode,  Zach shares about his personal experience acknowledging his own bisexuality, how he came to write about sexuality and relationships more broadly and the role of of sex positivity in his life. Zach also shares with us how important it is to have queer affirming services in healthcare throug...

Did you know that mental health stigma is highly associated with a lack of engagement in mental health services?  And with 1 in 5 adult Americans experiencing mental illness each year (and only 43% getting treatment), we need to stomp out stigma.   In our latest episode, hosts Rachel and Jor-El talk all about it. They each offer up some everyday examples of how we all may unintentionally contribut...

There’s so much pressure these days to live a life of balance. But, what does that really mean? AND IS IT EVEN ATTAINABLE?! Trying to keep all major areas of your life together can sometimes feel like you’re spinning plates, waiting for them all to crash. The pressure leaves many people feeling overwhelmed and very self-critical. In this episode, Jor-El and Rachel talk all things balance and even...

In this latest episode Rachel and Jor-El talk with mental health advocate and runner Sasha Wolff. Sasha shares with us how she was inspired by her own hospitalization and mental health struggles to create an online community that’s now spreading out into real life.  “Still I Run” was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem Still I Rise, which has long been a beacon for those hoping to thrive despite dif...

This week on the podcast Rachel and Jor-El talk with Henry Calantog, more commonly referred to as Mr. C, Rachel’s past martial arts teacher!  Mr. C talks with us about life as a first generation Filipino, his journey towards reluctant entrepreneurship and how creating your own path and listening to yourself can be powerful keys to success and life satisfaction. Mr. C was so gracious in sharing so...

Hosts Jor-El and Rachel chat with Ali Feller: runner, mother, writer and host of the Ali on the Run Show Podcast. In this episode we talk with Ali about her life, the challenges (and benefits) of vulnerability and her fierce advocacy for those living with Crohn's Disease. Ali shares with us the connection between stress and Crohn’s as well as the importance of embracing empathy and compassion in c...

In our latest episode of Well, well… Rachel and Jor-El talk all things healthy eating! Have you ever been scrolling on Instagram and seen these perfectly curated smoothie bowls or sophisticated meal prep options? Yes, us too! But guess what, most people don’t eat like that regularly, not even those influencers themselves. Tune into this episode to listen to what works for Rachel and Jor-El, two pe...

In our latest episode, Rachel and Jor-El talk about some of the most common mental health conditions that people experience and share about: anxiety and depression. Do you know the difference between feeling depressed and clinical depression? What about feeling anxious and experiencing generalized anxiety?  We break down the lines between all of these, providing you the tools to understand these t...

In this latest episode we are joined by super special guest Kathleen Archambeau, author of Pride & Joy LGBTQ Artists, Icons and Everyday Heroes. We talk to Kathleen about how she first came to writing and how it started off as a safe space for her. We also talk about how to be allies for LGBTQ folks, the current state of LGBTQ issues in contemporary society, and Kathleen even shares her advice...

It started with a couple of tweets from Brad Stulberg about how the CEO of Twitter only eats one meal a day (for any human who loves food, this is appalling) and the term “broscience,” or non-science backed “knowledge” that’s passed around men. You’ve probably seen it:  health claims made usually by someone without any sort of formal health background. Obviously, we're not huge fans of that. Today...

In this week’s episode, Rachel and Jor-El sit down with Jor-El’s friend Bryan. They talk about Bryan’s journey with mental health and how that intersects with being a Black man as the definition of masculinity changes in our current times. Bryan is kind enough to share his experiences in mental health and how men can deepen their understanding of themselves and their relationships by engaging in t...

Have you been bitten by the entrepreneur bug? If so, then you’ll appreciate our latest podcast episode. This week Rachel and Jor-El talk about their one year anniversary as business owners. They discuss the ups and downs of owning your own business and how it impacts your life and mental wellness.   Do you own your own business? Do you share some of the same experiences as Rachel and Jor-El? Feel...

To wrap up African American Women’s Fitness Month Jor-El and Rachel sat down with life coach and multi-hyphenate wellness professional Shanna Tyler. Shanna (@shannatyler_) shares with us how challenges with major depression led her to embracing her deepest desires to help other women by creating community with Self Soul Sport. Shanna also coaches women entrepreneurs on how to best build and mainta...

In our latest episode Rachel and Jor-El talk through some of the most common myths that people have when it comes to therapy.  Just call us therapy myth-busters! You’ll hear why therapy is not like having a paid friend and how therapy can be a powerful tool for a wide range of people.  We hope you learn a lot in this one! Please tweet or DM us your questions and feedback. You can reach us at @viva...

We love having guests! This week Jor-El and Rachel are joined by private chef and health coach Julia Chebotar (@healthchefjulia). In this episode we take on meal prepping, common myths about nutrition and the benefits of eating for your individual needs. Also, our mukbang (not sure what this is? You’ll find out on the podcast!) is TBD. We had a lot of fun on this one so we hope you enjoy it. Sign...

In our latest episode, Rachel and Jor-El talk all things mindfulness! We talk about the problem with mindfulness being a “trend” and the benefits beyond health and wellness. And for those of you wanting to incorporate mindfulness into your day in an easy way, Rachel issues the challenge to try and practice mindfulness once a day for the next seven days. Let us know how it goes! Related reading: Wh...