The Creation of Illness: Exploring the Body's Wisdom and Cosmic Healing with Darlene Van de Grift

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty welcomes Betsy Pepine, the founder and CEO of Pepine Realty, one of the top real estate firms in the country. Betsy is also the author of the empowering book Breaking Boxes, which encourages readers to break free from societal expectations and live more authentically. Betsy shares her inspiring journey, from her rise in real estate to the creation of her nonprofit foundation, Pepine Gives. She opens up about feeling unfulfilled despite ticking off the boxes of success, and how breaking through limiting societal expectations helped her rediscover joy and purpose. The conversation delves into the challenges she faced while growing her business, including the turning point where she recognized the need for structure, vision, and mentorship. Betsy’s story offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to escape limiting beliefs, follow their passion, and redefine success on their terms. About the Guest: Betsy Pepine is the founder and CEO of Pepine Realty, an author, and a social advocate through her nonprofit, Pepine Gives. She has built a successful real estate empire while promoting positive change and empowerment. Her book, Breaking Boxes, explores how societal expectations can limit personal growth and encourages breaking free from these metaphorical constraints to live an authentic life. Key Takeaways: Breaking Free from Societal Boxes: Betsy discusses how societal and personal expectations can confine us, and why it's crucial to challenge these limitations in order to find our true selves. Importance of Vision and Mentorship: Betsy shares how lacking a clear vision initially held her back, and how hiring a coach transformed her business and mindset. Navigating Personal Growth: She opens up about her midlife journey, where, despite success, she felt unfulfilled. Through therapy, journaling, and self-reflection, Betsy redefined what success meant for her. Building a Business from Scratch: Learn how Betsy grew Pepine Realty from her home office, navigated challenges, and scaled her company by embracing structure and long-term planning. Empowering Others: Through her book and nonprofit, Betsy aims to help others identify and overcome the boxes society places on them, fostering empowerment and personal growth.

7 Sep 202423min

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty is joined by fitness and nutrition expert Jason Yun to explore the critical role of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in brain health and overall well-being. Jason shares his inspiring journey from fitness coaching to becoming an advocate for circadian biology and mitochondrial health. Through personal challenges with mental health and hormone imbalances, Jason discovered the importance of aligning lifestyle choices with our natural circadian rhythms. He emphasizes how DHA, often misunderstood or misrepresented in mainstream health advice, is essential for optimizing brain function, particularly in our increasingly tech-driven lives. About the Guest: Jason Yun is a fitness and nutrition expert turned circadian health advocate. After building a successful fitness business, Jason experienced significant health challenges that led him to explore deeper insights into mitochondrial and circadian biology. Now, Jason helps others understand the importance of aligning their health habits with their biological clocks to achieve optimal well-being. Key Takeaways: The Role of DHA: DHA is a vital nutrient for brain health, but often misunderstood in mainstream nutrition advice. Circadian Health: Aligning your lifestyle with natural circadian rhythms can profoundly impact your physical and mental well-being. Overcoming Health Challenges: Jason shares his personal battle with depression, anxiety, and hormone imbalances, showing how holistic health approaches can provide lasting solutions. The Importance of Sunlight and Grounding: Embracing natural light and grounding practices are crucial for circadian alignment and overall health. Reevaluating Fish Oil: Not all DHA sources are equal. Jason explains why fish oil might not be the best option for everyone. Tune in for a deep dive into the lesser-known, yet essential, aspects of health that can transform your mind and body!

7 Sep 202421min

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty welcomes the inspiring Naeemah Elias, who shares her remarkable journey of transformation. Growing up in poverty on the south side of Chicago, Naeemah Elias rose to earn a degree from Harvard, pursued acting, built a corporate career, and successfully raised three children as a single mom. Over the past two years, Naeemah Elias faced burnout and anger from constantly overextending herself in corporate life. Through therapy, meditation, and a holistic wellness journey, Naeemah Elias found healing and purpose, ultimately launching her own coaching practice. Tune in to discover how she transitioned from corporate life to living with fulfillment, joy, and intention. About the Guest: Naeemah Elias is the founder of Presence Ventures, a coaching and leadership development practice focused on helping people overcome cultural barriers, excel in public speaking, and thrive in professional spaces. After earning her degree from Harvard and spending over a decade in the corporate world, Naeemah Elias own journey through burnout, self-discovery, and mindfulness transformed her life. Today, she empowers others to unlock their potential and lead with purpose. Key Takeaways: Overcoming Burnout: Naeemah Elias shares the importance of recognizing burnout and taking active steps to address emotional and physical exhaustion. The Power of Meditation: Meditation helped Naeemah Elias regain emotional balance and clarity, allowing her to reconnect with herself and her purpose. Healing Through Nutrition: By addressing her food addictions and embarking on a wellness journey, Naeemah Elias improved her physical health and well-being. Finding Purpose: Naeemah Elias realized she was already living her passion for coaching and helping others—she just needed to start doing it intentionally. Embracing Transformation: Through therapy, mindfulness, and conscious living, Naima completely transformed her life, creating space for fulfillment and purpose. This episode provides a powerful reminder of how intentional change and self-care can lead to profound personal and professional transformation.   Reach out to Naeemah Elias https://www.linkedin.com/in/naeemahelias/ https://www.eliaspresence.com/lets-connect https://www.youtube.com/@luckeymommey

6 Sep 202422min

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Brian Smith, founder of Strategy Ladders and a world-class leadership coach. Brian shares his entrepreneurial journey, from outdoor survivalist and wilderness EMT to building a $3 million company in just two and a half years. He provides invaluable insights into scaling businesses, overcoming setbacks, and maintaining personal resilience. Listeners will learn how to avoid common operational pitfalls and the mindset shifts necessary for sustainable business growth. About the Guest: Brian Smith is a serial entrepreneur, leadership coach, and founder of Strategy Ladders. With over 17 years of entrepreneurial experience, Brian has coached over 1,000 entrepreneurs and led multi-million-dollar projects. His background in outdoor survival taught him critical lessons in resilience, which he has carried into the business world. After losing everything and starting again, Brian now helps B2B and agency owners escape daily operational grind and thrive as visionary leaders. Key Takeaways: Personal Growth Fuels Business Success: Brian emphasizes that business challenges reflect personal growth stages. Entrepreneurs must develop personally to unlock the next level of business success. Common Pitfalls in Scaling Businesses: Many agency owners mistake operational issues for offer-related problems. Brian introduces the "pain point fallacy" and explains the importance of simplifying offers to scale effectively. The Role of Management in Growth: Founders are natural leaders, but scaling requires learning to manage. Brian discusses the "Rule of 20," where companies plateau unless founders develop management skills. Resilience Through Personal Development: Business is a personal development journey. To stay resilient, entrepreneurs should focus on who they need to become to move their business forward. Strategic Focus for B2B Agencies: Brian shares his approach to helping B2B and service agencies focus on high-leverage areas for growth, ensuring scalable and sustainable success.

6 Sep 202421min

In this insightful episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Ben Cena, co-founder of High Value Author. Together, they explore the journey from idea to publication, offering valuable insights for health professionals, thought leaders, and anyone looking to turn their expertise into a bestselling book. Ben shares his experience helping professionals in the health and wellness space, providing a roadmap to becoming a successful author, while emphasizing the importance of having a clear goal and crafting a compelling message before diving into writing. About the Guest: Ben Cena is the visionary co-founder of High Value Author, where he helps professionals turn their expertise into bestselling books. With a background in personal training and publishing, Ben has a deep understanding of how to craft narratives that not only captivate readers but also establish credibility and authority. His unique approach focuses on using books as tools to elevate professional profiles and connect with target audiences effectively. Key Takeaways: Begin with a Clear Goal: Before writing, clarify why you want to publish a book. Are you aiming to build credibility, attract clients, or specialize in a niche area? Don’t Rush the Writing: Writing should be the final step after solidifying your goals and understanding the message you want to convey. Craft a Powerful Message: A book's success often hinges on the clarity and appeal of its title, cover, and overall messaging—before content even matters to potential readers. Challenges in Writing: Many health professionals struggle with crafting a focused message and understanding the marketing aspect of publishing. It's crucial to keep the audience's perspective in mind. The Book as a Tool: A well-crafted book can serve as a powerful tool to establish expertise, credibility, and build a lasting legacy in your field.

6 Sep 202421min

In this enlightening episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, Avik welcomes Tara Mae Temple, an author and advocate for women’s well-being, to share her personal journey of overcoming anxiety. Tara opens up about how the pressures of city life, career, and family led her to severe anxiety and a health scare that forced her to rethink her lifestyle. She describes the turning points that motivated her to step back, make life-altering changes, and rediscover her inner peace through mindfulness and nature. Tara also discusses coping techniques from her book Harmony Hacks, offering listeners practical strategies to combat anxiety and restore balance. About the Guest: Tara Mae Temple is an author, speaker, and advocate for women’s issues who has turned her own battle with anxiety into a mission to help others. With a background in both academic research and personal experience, Tara offers evidence-based strategies to transform lives. Her book, Harmony Hacks, provides practical techniques to manage anxiety and promote mental and emotional well-being, especially for women juggling careers and family life. Key Takeaways: The Importance of Recognizing Stress: Tara shares how chronic stress and anxiety manifested in her life and eventually led to a health crisis. Recognizing the signs of burnout was the first step in her healing journey. Making Life-Altering Changes: Realizing that she needed to prioritize her health, Tara made the difficult decision to step back from her high-pressure career and move out of the city for a slower, more peaceful life surrounded by nature. Mindfulness and Meditation: Meditation played a crucial role in helping Tara regain mental clarity, focus, and inner peace. She recommends starting with small, daily meditation practices, gradually building up to longer sessions. The Power of Nature: Tara emphasizes the healing effects of nature and references the “25-3 Nature Rule,” which suggests spending at least 20 minutes in nature, three times a week, as a simple but powerful way to reduce anxiety and promote well-being. Small Steps Toward Big Changes: For those unable to make major lifestyle changes, Tara encourages starting small—such as incorporating nature walks or brief moments of mindfulness into daily routines.

6 Sep 202425min

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sana welcomes Karen Statner, a Clinical Somatic Educator and founder of Somatic Habit. Karen delves into the powerful and transformative world of Clinical Somatics, a method focused on relieving chronic muscular pain and restoring comfortable movement through gentle, intentional practices. Listeners will learn about the roots of Clinical Somatics, how it differs from traditional approaches to pain relief, and how this method offers long-term solutions by addressing the underlying causes of discomfort. Karen also shares her personal journey from injury and chronic pain to healing and empowerment through somatic movement. About the Guest: Karen Statner is a Clinical Somatic Educator and the founder of Somatic Habit, where she helps individuals release chronic muscular pain and rediscover ease of movement. She offers weekly classes, workshops, one-on-one sessions, and online memberships, empowering clients to heal themselves. Karen is also a trainer and mentor at Essential Somatics, which provides global in-person training programs. She is the author of Somatic Movement: Restoring Functional, Pain-Free Movement, where she emphasizes the connection between body and mind through somatic practices. Key Takeaways: What is Clinical Somatics? Clinical Somatics, developed by Dr. Thomas Hanna, is a body-centered approach focusing on internal sensations through intentional, gentle movement to relieve muscular pain and restore movement. Difference from Traditional Pain Relief: Unlike massages or chiropractic care, which offer temporary relief, Clinical Somatics addresses the root cause of pain, leading to long-term relief. Self-Empowerment: The practice teaches individuals how to relieve their own pain and discomfort, creating a sustainable path to healing. Karen’s Journey: Karen's personal experience with chronic pain after a riding accident led her to discover Clinical Somatics, transforming her recovery and inspiring her career shift into somatic education.

6 Sep 202433min

In this eye-opening episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Kellee Kortas, an integrative health practitioner specialising in nutritional therapy, quantum biology, and functional blood chemistry. Kellee shares her personal journey through health challenges, including misdiagnoses and her battle with mold exposure, which shaped her holistic approach to wellness. Together, they explore the importance of finding the right holistic health practitioner, the overlooked dangers of mold exposure, and foundational practices for long-lasting health. Kellee also provides insights into how our healthcare system sometimes falls short in promoting true wellness.   About the Guest: Kellee Kortas is an integrative health practitioner dedicated to helping individuals uncover the root causes of illness. With her background in nutritional therapy, quantum biology, and functional blood chemistry, she offers a comprehensive approach to holistic health. After dealing with her own health issues, including undiagnosed mold exposure, and losing her father to medical mismanagement, Kellee turned to alternative therapies. She now advocates for a balanced, patient-centered approach to healing that integrates both conventional and holistic practices.   Key Takeaways: Personal Health Journey: Kellee’s experiences with undiagnosed health issues and mismanagement by conventional medicine led her to explore alternative health practices like Yoga, nutritional therapy, and functional medicine. The importance of advocating for your own health and seeking out practitioners who treat the individual, not just the symptoms. Challenges with the Healthcare System: Kellee discusses how the current healthcare system often prioritizes symptom management over long-term wellness and prevention, and how nutritional guidance in hospitals can be inadequate. Insights into the pitfalls of allopathic medicine and the need for more holistic and individualized care approaches. Dangers of Mold Exposure: Mold is a "hidden epidemic" that can go undiagnosed for years, leading to chronic health issues. The effects of mold exposure range from respiratory problems to autoimmune issues and even mental health challenges. Finding the Right Holistic Practitioner: When searching for a holistic health practitioner, consider their background, treatment philosophy, and how they approach individual care. Avoid practitioners who apply one-size-fits-all solutions, and instead look for those who tailor their approach to your specific needs. Foundational Health Practices: Simple practices like proper nutrition, stress management, and environmental awareness can lead to long-lasting health improvements. It’s crucial to be proactive in maintaining wellness by addressing root causes of illness rather than only treating symptoms.

6 Sep 202423min