Conversations with Joan

Most everyone dreams of having a successful career that they enjoy and that provides them with the life they desire. But more often than not, many end up settling for less and living day by day unfulfilled. The good news is that having a successful career may be more in your control than you believe . According to Erika Ayers Badan, you’re not perfect, work isn’t perfect, but you can both be great...

Are emotional wounds from your past keeping you from the life you desire? According to Tamala Floyd, no matter what you’ve experienced, healing, growth and transformation are possible. She explains how concepts of Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) can be interwoven with the power of ancestor wisdom to support people on their healing journey. Tamala is a psychotherapist, IFS lead trainer, consu...

With constant demands on your time and attention it’s easy to neglect your romantic relationship. The spark may be gone and you may feel disconnected from each other. Carolyn Sharp offers a solution for relationships that are struggling, feeling stale, or just in need of a little extra care.  Carolyn is a couples therapist who helps people build vital, vibrant, and secure functioning relationships...

Despite having more comfort and knowledge than ever before, many people struggle with mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Dr. Anders Hansen contends that understanding our brain’s design, which is built for survival and not constant happiness, is key to addressing today’s mental health challenges. Dr. Hansen talks about the brain and offers actionable strategies to cultivate g...

Dr. Bernie Siegel is a leading teacher of the mind-body connection. He broke new ground with his monumental book Love, Medicine and Miracles, and he continues to impart wisdom about the true nature of life, love, and well-being. A retired pediatric/general surgeon, Bernie is a New York Times bestselling author, lecturer, and founder of ECaP (Exceptional Cancer Patients). He has been named one of t...

Anyone who has watched the Holiday Classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, can fondly recall Clarence, the guardian angel sent to earth to aid George Bailey in his time of need. Clarence helped George see the value in his life, and George helped Clarence earn his wings. This touching story has led many to wonder if there really are angels by our side and what their role may be in our lives. Lorna Byrne ha...

Dimitri Moraitis says that everything you think, feel, and do radiates a spiritual energy that comes through in various colors and hues, which is your aura. He contends that by changing the quality of your aura, you can automatically change the quality of your life. Dimitri discusses the intricate anatomy of the auric field and how it impacts the way you live. Dimitri is co-founder and co-spiritua...

Changes to your body and brain are normal as you age. And while it may feel like it’s out of your control, research shows that there are things you can do to maintain brain health and slow or reduce the effects of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Partha Nandi discusses the gut-brain connection and how that connection shapes emotions, cognitive abilities, and overall mental health. Dr. Nandi is Amer...

At 41 years old, Katie Kaiser Smith was diagnosed with inoperable, terminal brain cancer. More than a decade later, Katie is here to share her story. After her diagnosis Katie started writing a daily diary to inform her friends and family of her health and ongoing treatment. That daily blog was so therapeutic for her that she continued writing it for four years, chronicling everything from her dia...

Whatever your dream may be, the idea of actually following that dream can be terrifying. Instead of doing what you really want, you may strive to meet the expectations of others because you fear what they may think. Following what you desire is worth it. Studies show that living as your authentic self can help you find more meaning in life, among other benefits. In addition, research as shown that...

Holistic psychiatry is an emerging approach to mental healthcare that focuses on the biological, psychological, spiritual, and social factors that contribute to mental health issues. Dr. Judy Tsafrir shifted from a conventional practice of psychiatry to one that treats the whole person. She discusses the limitations of conventional psychiatry and why it’s important to integrate the spiritual, emot...

Dr. Laura Copley believes that at the core of most toxic relationships is a painful trauma wound desperate to be healed. She contends that trauma survivors try to navigate romantic relationships in the only way they know how – fearfully and painfully. She discusses how to untangle trauma bonds and transmute toxic patterns into healing opportunities for intimacy and connection. Dr. Copley is a lice...

Hearing the words, you have cancer, is a major fear for most people. A cancer diagnosis is shocking and scary – it can change your life and the lives of your loved ones in an instant. With so many questions and with a frightening road ahead, it’s often difficult to know what to do. Dr. Chadi Nabhan has decades of experience treating oncology patients.  He discusses this complex disease and offers...

Today, more than ever, it seems like people are emotionally charged – on edge ready for conflict. It is so easy to get caught up in that energy. According to Dr. Christian Conte, anger is natural and we’re not wrong or bad for feeling it, but it can lead to acting impulsively, with regrettable consequences. Dr. Conte discusses how we can deal with anger and inflamed emotions. Dr. Conte is a licens...

It’s not easy raising children. Just when you think everything is on track, the unpredictable will happen. Whether it’s a child facing an illness, bullying, or academic struggles, how can parents navigate challenges when life doesn’t go as planned? Allison Carmen offers parents a powerful and uplifting tool called the "maybe mindset" to help them navigate the unknown with greater ease and renewed...

Many people believe that there is more to life than what they’re experiencing, but they don’t know how to attain what they want because they’re caught up in a loop of limiting beliefs, or stuck as the result of past wounds. Sylvester McNutt believes that we can achieve whatever we want by letting go of what no longer serves us. He discusses ways to heal wounds, break free from limiting beliefs, an...

ADHD often goes undiagnosed in older adults and very few resources focus on age 55 plus. According to Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, there are steps adults with ADHD can take to reclaim control and lead calmer, happier, more productive lives. She discusses how we can create a more ADHD friendly lifestyle. Dr. Nadeau is founder and clinical director of the largest private ADHD specialty clinic in the United...

Deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits due to medication or drug overdose, have become a growing public health concern. Getting sober and staying in recovery is a challenge for many. William Cope Moyers understands both sides of the problem. William was an addict and alcoholic who turned his life around and has now worked for over 28 years at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. He dis...

Every day it feels like we are becoming more and more divided. Many people spend time picking fights rather than communicating or solving problems. In a world that’s becoming exhausting and exasperating, how can we learn to come together? Diana McLain Smith believes that we must not give up on each other or give in to forces that tear us apart. She talks about how we can deepen our relationships ,...

The gut microbiome plays a key role in our overall health and well-being. Researchers are now beginning to understand just how massive a part it plays. One such researcher is Dr. Sabine Hazan. a gastroenterologist and microbiome expert whose work has shown the connection between gut health and disease. She discusses the complexities of gut health and what we can do to manage and optimize health. D...

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you know how challenging it can be. We are constantly looking for easy, effective ways to take off the pounds and keep them off. According to Dr. Neal Barnard , certain foods actually cause weight loss, like a weight-loss medication without a prescription. He discusses the power foods diet, which he contends results in easy weight loss , with no calorie countin...

After a traumatic past, which includes kidnapping and physical, emotional and sexual abuse, Doug Dane beat the odds stacked against him to find happiness and success in his own life. Doug’s work is inspired by the steps he took to overcome the typical trajectory for someone in his shoes. He discusses ways to help us break into a new life, no matter what we may have experienced. Doug is a mindset m...

Millennials are opting for prenups in record numbers compared to previous generations. They are also more likely to simultaneously plan for divorce while preparing for their wedding, essentially assuming that it won’t last. But what if you could take preemptive action to have one of the marriages that does last? Dr. Frieda Birnbaum says that an emotional prenup, the often-unnoticed emotional inves...

Despite our changing world, the majority of leaders still utilize a command and control style of leadership. But according to Stephen M. R. Covey, the old “command and control” model is no longer conducive to organizational success.  He discusses a leadership style that he contends will allow for increased productivity and improved company culture. Stephen is the New York Times and #1 Wall Street...

Joy is one of our basic needs, and yet it eludes many. When we experience life’s challenges and turmoil it may difficult to live in joy. Grace Harry learned how to see her pain as a gift that created a pathway for joy . She discusses how we find joy, re-discover it, and incorporate it into our daily lives. Grace worked for 30 years as a music industry executive at Island Def Jam and Jive Records....