Wellness in San Diego: Food, Movement, Spirituality + Wellbeing

So you've done the work. You've addressed past traumas, negative thinking patterns + destructive behaviors but there's one big stone left unturned: your family. Torie Baker-Johnson, Reiki Master and energy healer, joins us on the podcast this week to share how Reiki could be a helpful tool to address ancestral trauma, repressed emotions and energetic blocks within an entire family unit, not just f...

Brianna Wilkerson, aka The Beverage Botanist, joins the pod to share tips on how to navigate the social drinking scene this holiday season and how a mindful wellness lifestyle can translate to your drinking choices. Plus, she shares a few holiday cocktail recipes we all can enjoy, centered around quality ingredients and herbaceous botanicals. So pour yourself a glass of a tasty bevvie, press play...

We've heard that emotions + trauma can be stored within the body. But how do we prevent them from being stored there in the first place? Emotion + trauma coach Skylar Sustin shares helpful tips + pearls of wisdom on how to work through our feelings through cultivating an active mindfulness practice. In this episode, Skylar shares: how muscle testing can reveal the hidden blocks + emotions trapped...

As sisters, Meghan + Kirsten Incorvaia were used to doing things together: playing, growing + both pursued in an interest in art. What they didn't expect was that they'd be going through the process of divorce together, too. Now, as the "Divorce Sisters," they channel their shared story + love of art to create a supportive sisterhood to help women transform, heal + breakthrough post-divorce. In th...

Michael Grimes had it all: a life on the beach, a great family and running the revolutionary charter school of his dreams. Then everything came to a crashing halt. Working through this new low, Michael slowly picked up the pieces one by one by cultivating his own wellness practice based on ancient spiritual texts coupled with modern therapeutic techniques. He shares these insights + wisdom in his...

You feel called to heal, to channel, to serve others. But who will heal + protect YOU? On this week's episode, Summer Dowding aka The Hypnopriestess shares the specific grounding techniques she's developed through her work + daily life as an energy healer, hypnotherapist, masseuse, educator, mom, psychic + empath. We discuss: how tarot can be a tool for channeling but also protection using the sen...

You're likely familiar of the magical healing properties of herbal teas, tinctures + balms, but what about the simple energetic magic that plants provide us with? In this week's episode, environmental educator, energy healer + author, Rachael Cohen, shares how simply surrounding yourself with the right plants at home can totally transform your energy + your overall wellbeing. Tune in to hear: how...

Over time + through oppressive systemic change, we lost our innate connection with our ancestral roots of healing, natural movement, nurturing our land + organically feeding our bodies. The mission of The Ascendtials, a San Diego-based nonprofit, is to empower BIPOC communities via their own ancestral wellness practices: Kemetic yoga, organic gardening, financial literacy, community connection + s...

Thriving moms = thriving babies. Allison Tartari + Josie Patricio are licensed midwives with a mission to build a better model of prenatal, birth + postpartum care for our local community + beyond. In this episode, Allison + Josie share: why they founded a birthing + wellness center that supports women + their families AND midwives, too! the disparity of postpartum care in the U.S. vs other nation...

You're likely familiar with the Ayurvedic doshas - vata, pitta, kapha - and how eating certain foods or doing certain activities can help you to lead a better life balance. Learning your dosha is just a very small facet of this ancient practice.  From the Sanskrit words "Ayur" for life, and "Veda" meaning science or knowledge, Ayurveda offers many solutions to help you balance your work life, pers...

We've all heard the saying that "food is medicine." But what if food is also a gateway to a stronger intuition + a more authentic way of living? In this week's episode, we dive in deep into the concept of intuitive eating with holistic health coach, Jody A. Vining. She shares: what it feels like to live in a "healthy body" why whole foods matter exploring a new way of eating listening to your intu...

Ah, anxiety. We've all had a dance or two (or several thousands...) with feelings of stress + anxiety. Instead of pushing it away, however, Denise Alba, licensed therapist / yoga instructor and the founder of Brave Wellness Studio, suggests that we "invite anxiety in" + "become friends with it." Listen in to hear simple anxiety management strategies that you can incorporate into your daily self-ca...

Plant medicines like ayahuasca, psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms) + bufo are more than just psychedelics. In fact, early clinical research has shown that these potent plant medicines may help ease depression, anxiety and addiction . This week's guests, Jay Jimenez + Cinderella de Groot dive deep into all things plant medicine, including: how trauma + life experiences each led them to plant medicine...

Physical strength is just one measure of resilience. But what about our emotional, mental + spiritual levels of strength? Today's guests Dr Dave Paczkowski, PT + Dr Lindsey Paczkowski, PT share their mission of building strong families and generational health through resiliency and authenticity, plus some healthy living tips to incorporate into our everyday lives. Website: www.iostrengthperformanc...

Did you know that 1 in 3 San Diegans struggle with hunger while over 40% of all food currently goes to waste? Produce Good, a local nonprofit, helps to solve that very problem by collecting the excess produce directly from the growers and delivering it to nearby food banks to meet the community's need for food. Produce Good's co-founder and co-executive director, Nita Kurmins Gilson, joins us on t...

You've stocked up on the school supplies, purchased new outfits and packed their lunches, but how do you prepare your kid(s) for the mental, social + emotional changes that come with a new school year? In this week's episode, Marisa Bruyneel, the founder + executive director of Integra Education in Encinitas, sheds light on the importance of Whole Person Development - mental, physical, social, emo...

We all want to be a little more organized, but have you ever thought about WHY you want to get organized and what being more organized might bring into your life? Today's guest, Theresa Russell of Homegirl, shares how she partners with clients to set an intention to transform not only their closets but their lives. Website: homegirl.space Instagram: homegirl.space Episode links: Vegan + Holistic F...

Expand your understanding of traditional healing modalities with this week's podcast on Hilot or Traditional Filipino Medicine. Dr. Catherine Luib, a dually licensed Chiropractor and Acupuncture Physician and  founder of the Luib Health Center in Clairemont, joins us to discuss the ancestral shamanic roots of Hilot and how we can reclaim our own power in our healing journey. About Dr. Catherine Sy...

Want to reduce your environmental impact but not sure where to start? This week on the podcast, environmental writer and zero waste advocate, Fredrika Syren of Zero Waste Family shares her tips on how to reduce your plastic use, save money, change your mindset, and enjoy a more eco-friendly life! About Fredrika: Fredrika Syren is an environmental activist and writer. In 2016, she founded the websi...

What makes someone WHOLE? How can we support each level of a person's being and expression? These questions are what led Letha Sandison to co-found the Four Moons Spa, a healing and gathering space located in the heart of Encinitas. In this week's conversation, Letha dives deep into this concept of Wholeness, the importance of building a highly attuned group of healers, and she shares what's next...

Imagine getting a full body workout and achieving major results in just one hour a week . That's the brand promise of The Smart Fit Method, a new science-based fitness workout concept. Connor Darnbrough, co-founder of The Smart Fit Method, shares how he and his father both suffered severe health issues and how research into the latest science led them to develop an innovative, AI-based fitness met...

Protect your energy. We hear that phrase a lot but what does it actually mean and what do you really need to do to keep your energy levels high and be spiritually protected? Today's guests, Lyndsey + Kristen from The Soul Sync Co., share their top tips of how to ground, heal and protect your energy. About The Soul Sync Co.: The Soul Sync Co. is led by two dynamic energy healers. Kristen, the cosmi...

Chocolate. We all love it and crave it. But do you know where your cacao comes from? What about its many health benefits? Today's conversation with chocolatier Kathryn Rogers covers all facets of cacao plus the latest happenings at Maya Moon Collective, Rogers' San Diego-based cacao cafe. About Maya Moon Collective: Located in the heart of historic Normal Heights, Maya Moon Collective is San Diego...

When we hear the word wellness, we often think: mind, body + spirit. But what about community and connection with like-minded souls? Today's guests, Alyssa + Toni Junious of the Soultry Sisters discuss how valuable it is to find support in community when working towards one's wellness goals. Don't miss their upcoming Summer Soulstice Arts + Wellness Festival on June 24-26 in Carlsbad! About the So...

Over 70% of Americans had experienced a traumatic event before the pandemic. Now that we've all experienced collective trauma, how can we begin to heal? Joann Jaffe, founder of OG Yoga in Normal Heights, shares how trauma-informed yoga can help us return to ourselves and discusses the impact OG Yoga has had in healing the most underserved populations in our community. Plus, Joann takes us through...