Small Changes Big Shifts

"We all have our identity journeys." - Princess Sarah Culberson   During her teenage years, Princess Sarah Culberson began to get curious about her identity, biological history, and even who she looked like. Once embarking on her journey, she learned that her biological mother died when she was 11, and her father lived in a village in Sierra Leone, West Africa. From him, she learned about her roya...

"When you write down what you eat, suddenly you become aware." - Stacy Cahalan   Kids are establishing their school routine again, but students are still struggling to regain some aspects of what they lost during the pandemic. This results in loss of connection, loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Stacy Cahalan to share w...

"Connectivity is so important – no matter what age." - Amy Jewell   A recent study showed that 2 in 5 Americans haven't made a new friend in five years due to shyness or introversion. Even more, another study revealed that the loneliness rate in America has doubled since the 1980s. That number has now reached 40 percent of adults in America, and some experts believe the "real number" may be a lot...

"People are beginning to get comfortable with the idea that it requires just as much planning to transition out of this world as it does to give birth and bring a new soul into this world." - Dr. Tamara MacIntyre   According to a recent study, nearly half of participants (47 percent) admitted they were afraid of death. Some of those factors include fear of pain and suffering, fear of the unknown,...

"Breakdowns are breakthroughs. You go through life with multiple layers, so how can you shed those layers to get to your authentic self?" - Sarah Uchytil   The demand for life coaches has steadily increased over the years as people are seeking more empowerment, connection, and conversation. According to recent statistics, 80% of clients who introduce a life coach feel that it greatly helps align t...

"When money is a problem, it's on your mind all the time – the stress is obvious." - Jeremy Davis According to the Federal Reserve Bank, the average American is $58,604 in debt. Additionally, at least 77 percent of American households are in some sort of debt. Today, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Jeremy Davis from CommunityAmerica Credit Union to offer encouragement to anyone who has financial goals,...

"While in France, we stumbled across this herd of donkeys, fell in love with them, and immediately were drawn to their Zen-like presence." - Kate Barker   When Kate Barker was injured, it derailed her from her ability to compete in the 2011 London Olympics. But little did she know that her life was about to take some major turns over the next five years – ultimately, playing a major role in helpin...

Dr. Michelle Robin invites Frankie Banuelos to share what his experience has been like going through the Big Shifts Foundation Scholarship Program this year. As he's getting ready to wrap-up his six-month curriculum in the program, he reflects on some of the highlights of being part of it and how his perception and understanding of self-care has shifted since he began the journey. He also shares s...

" I had a visceral understanding – people are dealing with some real stuff . If we don't see people as people, we can't make the progress we need to make. " - Dr. Nicole Price In 2011, Dr. Nicole Price received shocking news that her mother had been hit and killed by a drunk driver. Shortlyafter, she also learned that her father wasn't her biological father. As she was navigating her late mother's...

" You get to make a choice that's bigger than this moment ." - Rachel Freiman   Did you know Americans spend a whopping  $33 billion (yes, BILLION!) on diet products every year? Yet most diet programs and products are designed to go against our human nature (to avoid pain and seek pleasure). During today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Rachel Freiman to share her profound journey of going from...

" The source is more complex than the symptoms . '"   - Debra Campbell   A recent  CivicScience poll revealed that the number of U.S. adults who reported taking at least one prescription medication per day now is 70 percent – a 14 percentage-point increase since 2019. Many people often come in to be treated for one thing, but rarely is it a singular issue in the body. During today's show, Dr. Mich...

" There's a part of the person that knows something is wrong, but they live with it for so long that they've learned to adapt around it. '"   - Greg Helsel A National Survey of Children's Health data showed approximately 30 percent of children experience one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) - excluding external factors – and about 14 percent experienced two or more. Another study said that 1 in...

" When people come in and talk about stress, I find that it's actually anxiety they are facing .'"   - Subrena Hicks Did you know that anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the world?  Moreover, other studies say that 1 in 5 adults don't receive therapy services to address their mental health. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites licensed therapist Subrena Hicks to share her...

"This is something that connected our region like never before.'"   - Eileen Weir   There's a famous saying that goes, "It only takes one tree to start a forest, one smile to begin a friendship... one thought to change the world" and that's exactly what happened in the Kansas City community through the Parade of Hearts that began from one drawing on a napkin. During its last auction in 2022, it ra...

"When I started taking the cofactors to get vitamin D into my body, immediately my brain chemistry turned on and I thought, 'This is what happy feels like.'"   - Dr. J Dunn   This month, Dr. Michelle Robin has invited a series of guests on the show to speak about the mental health crisis happening - something that has been a problem long before the pandemic hit. To kick off the series, she's invit...

" We need the skills of people on the spectrum ."   - Dr. Temple Grandin     We are bringing you a very special episode this week as it marks the end of our series on Autism Acceptance Month. In today's show, Dr. Michelle Robin welcomes Dr. Temple Grandin to share the significant impact that early intervention had on her future and how it elevated the quality of life that she lives today. She tell...

"Th ere's something about these kids just getting on the field or court because it's their turn to try ."   - R ae gan Shurr Research shows that early intervention for kids with autism spectrum disorder can significantly improve their quality of life as they grow older. In today's episode, Dr. Michelle Robin invites Raegan Schurr to share how the YMCA of Greater Kansas City has built something cal...

"This experience awoken a grace in me towards other parents." - Diana Toman Parenting can open new doors to community. While kids may be different from one another, parents are still able to speak the same language and navigate similar things happening in their lives. However, raising a child with autism spectrum disorder or other special needs can be a different experience for a parent – one that...

"It's the small choices we make that determine the rest of our lives." - Robyn Rosenberger   Each year, more than three million children are hospitalized – either for procedures or ongoing treatment for chronic or terminal illness. Additionally, one in six children have a disability in the U.S. such as autism, ADHD, Aspergers, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, to name a few. During today's show, Dr. Miche...

"The families we serve can feel isolated – even scared at times. We want to provide a tangible first step that brings comfort and creates a path." - Heath Burch   The latest research shows 1 in 44 children are on the autism spectrum – a major change from the early 2000s when those numbers were 1 in 150. While environmental factors are something to consider, researchers say we have made advances ov...

Today's show is a special treat as Dr. Michelle Robin is celebrating her 57 th birthday this weekend. During her solo episode today, she spends some moments reflecting on the things that she and our listeners have learned from all of our guests on the show in the last few months. She'll also tee up what's to come on the podcast in the next few months and they are some near and dear topics to her h...

" Counseling helped me befriend my nervous system . " - Brooke Seiz Did you know we only need one teaspoon of sugar in our body at a time? During today's episode, Dr. Robin invites Brooke Seiz to unpack why sugar can oftentimes be a culprit for anxiety. Brooke shares what inspired her to become a counselor and functional medicine practitioner for others, including her own bout with anxiety, an eat...

"Overseeing your own health is so valuable – and we're at the cusp of it in America. We are giving people the information that can finally help themselves in a unique way." - Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer   Did you know trillions of dollars are being poured into chronic conditions in America – and many of them are unknowingly rooted in glucose challenges or mismanagement? During today's show, Dr. Michel...

" B lood sugar is like comparing water to Kool-Aid – while water flow s through our body, Kool-Aid can't flow as well because it's stickier . When we have too much sugar in our bloodstream, our body has a harder time carrying out the processes it needs to. " - Dr. Georgia Nab     About 1 in 5 people in the United States have diabetes but don't know it, according to the CDC. While people generally...

"Our CEO was very passionate about making a positive impact in our community, and what better way to do that than to give people a direct connection to the resources that they need, all in one single place." – Amy Grothaus   Many people don't know where to turn when they have a goal in life, especially when it's a financial one. CommunityAmerica Credit Union is an advocate for changing that, and t...