Mindful Moments with Pedro Morante

In this episode of Mindful Moments, we sit down with Robbie Westermann, PMHNP, DNP—clinician, innovator, and entrepreneur—for an honest and deeply human conversation about healing, resilience, and reimagining mental health care. Dr. Robbie opens up about his own journey through addiction and recovery, sharing how lived experience shaped not only who he is as a provider, but why he is so committed...

We open 2026 with this deeply human episode of Mindful Moments, we sit with Celeste Friedman—author, entrepreneur, and film producer—for an honest conversation about what it truly means to heal. Celeste opens up about her journey through depression, seeking support through medication, and navigating the grief and identity shifts that came with divorce. She shares what the cocoon phase of healing r...

What happens when the life you once knew no longer fits—and you’re asked to begin again? In this powerful episode of Mindful Moments, we sit down with Kim Delos Santos, a former Philippine actress who crossed oceans after heartbreak, navigated body image struggles shaped by life in the public eye, and rebuilt her life in the United States. Kim opens up about leaving behind a familiar career, start...

In this powerful Mindful Moments episode, we sit down with Dr. Tracy Hicks — President of Texas Nurse Practitioners, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, Doctor of Nursing Practice, national board leader, and advocate for inclusive, equitable healthcare. Together, we explore why emotional intelligence is not a “soft skill,” but a core part of clinical competence and a crucial f...

In this Mindful Moments episode, Dr. Sonia Luckey helps us understand two powerful practices that anyone can start today: calming the body through simple coherence techniques, and naming our emotions to create clarity and inner safety. We explore why the heart and mind sync when we slow down, why emotional vocabulary is often so limited, and how naming what we feel can shift our entire experience....

In this powerful episode of Mindful Moments, Dr. Peter Morante sits down with Dr. Sheldon D. Fields — Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion at Penn State Nese College of Nursing and President of the National Black Nurses Association — for a raw and timely conversation on equity, leadership, and the mental health realities facing communities of color. Dr. Fields breaks down the mental and emotion...

In this powerful episode of Mindful Moments with Pedro, we sit down with Ranella Ferrer—award-winning singer, FilAm trailblazer, and widely known as The National Anthem Queen. From performing on iconic stages across America to becoming a voice for the voiceless, Ranella opens up about the fortitude behind her journey. She shares raw, honest reflections on: ✨ Growing up Filipina-American in the en...

In this deeply personal episode of Mindful Moments, world-class performer and the Voice Kids Philippines coach Billy Crawford steps out from behind the spotlight and shares a raw, honest look at the battles he once hid from the world. From global fame to silent struggles, Billy opens up about his journey through alcoholism, depression, and hitting rock bottom—and the moment he finally chose to ask...

In this heart-opening episode of Mindful Moments, we sit down with Dr. Janette Moreno—nurse leader, educator, Caritas Coach, and the inspiring Chief Enthusiastic Officer—to explore how kindness, enthusiasm, and mindful leadership can transform the way we heal and care. Dr. Moreno shares the story behind her joyful title, the powerful moments of kindness that shaped her journey, and how compassion...

In this Mindful Moments episode, Pedro Morante talks with Dr. Maria Reila Molina, DNP, ACNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, FAANP — a trailblazing nurse leader, educator, and advocate transforming the way we view nursing beyond the bedside. From her humble beginnings in Laguna, Philippines, to becoming faculty at Rutgers University and Course Director for the 2025 Penn Medicine Transplant Symposium, Dr. Molina’s j...

In this episode of Mindful Moments with Pedro Morante, we sit down with Dr. Stephen A. Ferrara, Immediate Past President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the inaugural Associate Dean of Artificial Intelligence at Columbia University School of Nursing. With over two decades of clinical and policy leadership, Dr. Ferrara has helped shape the landscape of modern nursing — from l...

In this episode of Mindful Moments, we sit down with Tracy Wilson, a dedicated nurse leader, educator, and patient advocate whose work goes far beyond traditional bedside care. Tracy shares her inspiring journey of expanding her impact—bridging communication gaps between healthcare providers and patients, championing equitable access to care, and empowering the next generation of nurses to find pu...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Pedro Morante sits down with physician-turned-actor/screenwriter/producer, and now director Mark Labella to explore how the realities of medicine—trauma, loss, and resilience—shaped his creative journey in film. Mark opens up about transforming pain into purpose, the healing power of storytelling, and how creativity can become a bridge toward understanding and ho...

From the Boston Marathon medical tents to Columbia University’s classrooms, Dr. Ian West’s journey redefines what it means to lead as a modern nurse practitioner. In this episode of Mindful Moments, Dr. Ian shares how his roots in mental health shaped his leadership lens—and how today’s NPs can lead beyond the bedside. Together, we explore the intersection of policy, biotech, telehealth, and AI, a...

What happens when childhood bullying leaves marks that no one else can see? In this special episode of Mindful Moments, we open October Mental Health Month with soul artist Luke Mejares, who shares his deeply personal journey of growing up mixed-race, being bullied for the color of his skin, and navigating the pain of rejection — including the moment he finally met his biological father but wasn’t...

In this episode of Mindful Moments, we sit down with Dr. Josh Hamilton — NEI Master Psychopharmacologist, two-time America’s Top Psychiatric NP, and nationally recognized expert in telepsychiatry, neurobiology, and psychopharmacology. Together, we explore a challenge nearly everyone faces today: mental overstimulation in a world that never slows down. From constant notifications to emotional overl...

Turning a dream into a thriving mental health practice takes more than passion — it takes grit, growth, and a whole lot of heart. 💛 In this episode of Mindful Moments, Alysha Woods, PMHNP, pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to build a private practice from the ground up. From the fears and failures to the breakthroughs and wins, she shares the unfiltered journey of launching and lead...

“What if mastering clinical practice meant thinking less like a textbook… and more like a trailblazer?” 🎙️ Episode 7: From Bootcamp to Boardroom — PMHNP Clinical Mastery with Lindsay Hill This week, Pedro Morante sits down with the brilliant Dr. Lindsay Hill, PMHNP, DNP, (@PsychNPCEO) for a refreshing and real conversation about what it truly takes to thrive as a PMHNP — beyond the textbooks and t...

🌈 Mindful Moments Episode 6: Pride & Peace 🌿 True peace often begins when we are fully seen. In this episode, Dr. Pedro Morante welcomes Dr. Travis Brown, PMHNP, DNP, to reflect on the realities of LGBTQIA+ mental health—from the hidden burdens many carry, to the quiet resilience that fuels their journeys. Their conversation invites us to pause and consider: how do identity, belonging, and c...

In this powerful conversation, we welcome Aiza Marquez—a former young actress in the Philippines and now a devoted mother—who opens up about her journey of self-validation, motherhood, and self-love. Aiza shares how she refused to let herself be consumed by postpartum depression. Instead, she chose courage, faith, and the mindful decision to prioritize her mental health. Through honesty and reflec...

On this fourth episode of Mindful Moments with Pedro Morante, we sit down with global sensation 4th Impact—four sisters (Almira, Irene, Mylene, and Celina Cercado) whose voices have wowed the world, from humble beginnings to the world’s biggest stages. They open up about: 💞 The unshakable bond of sisterhood through life’s highs and lows 🌍 The whirlwind of fame after The X Factor UK 💔 The unseen...

This week, Pedro Morante sits down with Dr. Jonathan V. Llamas, a fellow Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to talk about a reality that’s often ignored — the mental health challenges facing minority communities. From underdiagnosis and stigma to the silent rise of related health issues, they explore why too often help only comes after a crisis… and what can be done to change that. As nu...

In the second episode of Mindful Moments, we sit down with Dr. Sasha Rarang, Dean of Nursing, PhD, CCM, APRN, PMHNP-BC, nurse of over 30 years, and a fierce advocate for LGBTQIA+ mental health. She’s joined by Anthony Villa, a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and fellow LGBTQIA+ advocate whose work champions inclusivity in health care. Together, they reflect on the personal battles, systemic ga...

Welcome to the very first episode of Mindful Moments. To kick things off, Pedro Morante sits down with the compassionate and inspiring Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga, a transformational nurse educator and professional development leader whose heart for helping internationally educated nurses (IENs) goes far beyond the classroom. In this intimate conversation, they explore how nurse educators can be pillar...

2 Visionaries. 1 Mission. Dr. Pedro Morante x Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga We’re kicking off strong with two visionary nurse leaders who are reshaping the future of nursing. Join Dr. Peter Morante in a powerful conversation with Dr. Arnold Tariga — an award-winning advocate, educator, and champion for internationally educated nurses. 🌍 Together, they talk leadership, innovation, navigating grief, the p...