Take What Serves. Leave the Rest.

How do we carve out space to nurture our health in the world we find ourselves in every day? That’s a question that Pilar Gerasimo has devoted this stage of her career to exploring. In this week's episode, Pilar joins Bryan to talk about the "unhealthy default reality", what it means to be a "healthy deviant", developing survival skills for the new era, and much more. Pilar is a health journalist...

Dr. Courtney Burnett says getting diagnosed with brain cancer has radically shifted how she lives her life, and had a profound impact on her mental and emotional health.  In this podcast, Bryan talks to Dr. Burnett about getting diagnosed with a brain tumor in Thailand at the age of 29, and how the diagnosis has taught her how to live more in the present moment.  Dr. Burnett is a practicing physic...

In 2021, Evan Hansen set out on a journey to raise awareness about suicide prevention. He ended up carrying a canoe over 300 miles across the state of Minnesota. He went on to write the book, "Into the Wind" . In this episode, Bryan talks to Evan about why he decided to make this journey, his own mental health story, opening up to taking medication for his mental health as a man of faith, and much...

Wanting reassurance is a natural part of being a human being.  In this episode Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about our relationship with it. They talk about how sometimes reassurance can be used to avoid what we're feeling in the moment, ways it can fuel anxiety, when reassurance can be especially healing, and much more.  Dr. Ristau is a licensed psychologist, and the Director of Psychothera...

In this episode, Bryan talks to Anna Ransbotham-Cole about her journey of getting an ileostomy surgery after living with ulcerative colitis.  Anna shares the depths that she reached when ulcerative colitis was at its worst, and how she says her ileostomy surgery gave her her life back. She shares more about what an ileostomy surgery is, what this journey has taught her about life, and much more. ...

In a world where there is constant pressure to grow, evolve, do our best, strive, and achieve - perhaps some of the best medicine we can give ourselves is the permission to "be average".  I know - encouraging someone to "be average" is almost like saying a bad word in the society we all live in today. But, hear us out.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about how "being average"...

Lyndsay Guentzel was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago in her mid 30's. Then, recently was diagnosed with a rare, incurable muscle disease called Myositis.  In this week's episode, Bryan talks to Lindsay about her journey. She shares what it's teaching her about life, what helps her maneuver the day-to-day, and much more.  Lyndsay is an award-winning radio journalist and producer - working at WC...

Conflict can be deeply uncomfortable and something many of us often avoid.  It is, however, an inevitable and natural part of being in all sorts of relationships.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about how conflict can actually deepen our relationships and draw us closer to the people in our lives.  They discuss ways to maneuver those tough conversations we may find ourselves...

In this week's episode, Bryan hops on a boat in Minnesota's lakes country and has a conversation with his younger brother Eric.  Eric shares his recent journey of traveling the world, and getting accepted into medical school. Eric shares what the process has taught him about what is most important to him, and coming into contact with the present moment.  As always, take what serves you - and leave...

In this week's episode of the podcast, Bryan checks in from the edge of his dock in lakes country.  If things feel hard right now with your mental health, this episode is an invitation to be gentle with you.  One moment at a time.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licens...

In this week's episode of the podcast Bryan talks to Jonny Say , who's a counselor and compassion & mindfulness-based therapist in the UK.  Jonny shares his own mental health story, which includes symptoms of OCD, depersonalization and panic.  Jonny shares how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been instrumental in his healing, and how he now uses it with his clients. Jonny also shares how he c...

In this week's episode, Bryan offers a meditation for you to help ground in moments of overwhelm.  This guided meditation is meant to help you gently come back to your heart, and your body, when the noise of your mind feels particularly intense.  As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.  (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach...

In a world that seems to be constantly driving us all more and more up into our minds, sometimes what we need most is for our bodies to express in a way that feels good.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about the power of play, movement, and expressing our bodies.  Dr. Ristau and Bryan discuss how movement can help us maneuver our minds when they are particularly active, and t...

We all have things that help guide us with our mental health. Here are four things that I come back to often as I maneuver the noise of my mind on a daily basis.  My hope is that this episode can offer a soft place for you to land, no matter what it is that you're experiencing. As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest. (This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need...

Truly feeling the emotions that are present within our body can feel deeply scary at times. It can feel like we are "losing it" and out of control.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Kelly Grosklags about the process of "getting in touch" with our pain. Meeting ourselves gently as we lean into what we're feeling.  Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Conversations with Kelly...

Our minds love to jump into the future and try to figure out what things are going to be like there. Often creating really scary stories about what might be ahead of us. Instead of trying to figure out what the future is going to feel like, what if we give the present moment an opportunity to surprise us?  That's the topic of this week's episode. Bryan is joined by Kelly Grosklags for a conversati...

For all of you parents out there doing your best to support a child who's struggling with their mental health, this one's for you.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau about what can be helpful when maneuvering mental health challenges within your family.  She discusses the process of holding space for your child, validating their experience, maneuvering shame that may arise for p...

Sometimes we expect life to be simple. For things to just work out. We look around, and everything appears so simple for everyone else. Why does it feel so hard for me?  In this week's episode, Dr. Anastasia Ristau pushes back on this idea a bit and talks about how life isn't always instant oatmeal. Perhaps it's more like a pot of stovetop oats that we have to tend to, season, and nurture. A much...

Living with OCD is anything but funny. And yet, learning to find moments of humor has been part of the healing journey for Peter Scobas.  In this episode, Bryan talks to Peter about the newsletter he's launched called Psychology Onions . The newsletter is aimed at using humor to help take some of OCD's power away.  Peter shares what his experience with OCD has looked like, what has helped him live...

We all have parts of ourselves that no one sees. Things we experience internally that go "unseen". In this episode, Bryan talks to members of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus about their upcoming concert, which is focused on neurodiversity and mental health. The concert is called "Unseen" and is being held March 17th and 18th at Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park. Click here to learn more...

There is sacred wisdom through the lens of someone at the end of their life. In this episode, Kelly Grosklags talks about how the dying teach us how to live. How they teach us to be more present for our lives right now, and notice what matters most. For the second week, the "Take What Serves. Leave the Rest" podcast is joining hands with Kelly's podcast titled, "See My Grief" . Kelly a licensed cl...

Learning to nurture that inner child that lives inside of you is deeply sacred work.  In this episode, the "Take What Serves. Leave the Rest" podcasts joins hands with the "See My Grief" podcast to talk about talking to your inner child.  The "See My Grief" podcast is hosted by Kelly Grosklags , who's a licensed clinical social worker who’s worked for over 25 years in the field of oncology, pallia...

Matt Entz just wrapped up his 4th season as head coach of the North Dakota State University football team.  He joins Bryan this week to talk about how he maneuvers the pressure that comes along with leading the program. He talks about what he does when self doubt grows strong, the team's "Right Now Means Everything" motto, and how he addresses mental health with his players.  As always - take what...

We experience a wide array of emotions as human beings and, in this episode, we talk about creating space for it all to exist within us.  Bryan talks to Dr. Anastasia Ristau, who is a Psychologist and Director of Psychotherapeutics at PrairieCare . Dr. Ristau joined us previously on the podcast to talk about the basics of therapy. You can listen to that episode here .  As always, take what serves...

Kindness. It's at the core of the way Katie Steller is showing up in the world. She founded the Steller Kindness Project and the Red Chair Project, where she travels around Minneapolis giving free haircuts to people in need.  In this week's episode, we talk about the mental health challenges Katie has maneuvered in her life and the ways she has learned to show up. She also shares her experience wi...