Mindful Matters Podcast host, Elaine Clark, speaks with Dr. Christopher Willard, (Psy. D.) a clinical psychologist, author and consultant based in Massachusetts. He has spoken in thirty countries, and has presented at two TEDx events. He is the author of over 18 books, including Alphabreaths (2019), Growing Up Mindful (2016) and How we Grow Through What We Go Through. (2022). His thoughts on mental health have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, cnn.com, and elsewhere. In this episode, he speaks to us about his latest book and the connection between self-compassion and personal transformation. 

Episode Highlights:

- His new book "How We Grow Through What We Go Through"
- Post-Traumatic Growth vs Post-Traumatic Stress
- The power of posture
- How our physiology influences our psychology
- "Name it to tame it"
- The science behind physical touch 
- The importance of self-compassion
- The language of addiction
- Examples of self-compassion practices  

For more information about Christopher Willard please visit
https://www.drchristopherwillard.com/

To purchase "How We Grow Through What We Go Through"
https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Through-What-Self-Compassion-Post-Traumatic/dp/1683648900 

Mindful Matters Podcast host, Elaine Clark, speaks with Veronica Foster, Marriage and Family Therapist with over 14 years of clinical experience providing individual, family, couples and group therapy. In this episode, Veronica speaks to us about safe and empowered relationships and her personal/professional experience of Marriage and Family Therapy. 

 
Episode Highlights:
- Veronica's personal journey towards Marriage and Family Therapy 
- Her personal experience of marriage and relational conflict
- Mindfulness practices to stay grounded in conflict
- Establishing healthy relational boundaries 
- How to find the right Marriage and Family Therapist
- 3 important lessons to get the relationship you want 
- The art of listening 

Email: veronicafostermft@gmail.com
Website: https://theseawithin.me/
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/veronica-foster-mft-santa-cruz-ca/360769
Harm Reduction: https://www.harmreductiontherapy.com/

Veronica's Book Recommendations

- Growing Yourself Up: How to bring your best to all of life's relationships
- The Truth About Love: The Highs, the Lows, and How You Can Make It Last Forever
- Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
- Rock the Boat: How to Use Conflict to Heal and Deepen Your Relationship
- Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems
- Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help YouFind - and Keep - Love

Mindful Matters Podcast host, Elaine Clark, speaks with Menaka Raman-Wilms, writer and journalist based in Toronto. Menaka is the host of The Decibel, the daily news podcast from The Globe and Mail and she is the author of "The Rooftop Garden". In this episode, Menaka shares insights into the process of creating her novel. 

Episode Highlights:
- Menaka's creative writing journey  
 How creative projects build us at a deep level 
- The creative process 
- Starting & finishing creative projects 
- Perfectionism and procrastination 
- Insights from her book "The Rooftop Garden"
- Loneliness as a theme in the book 
- A major take away from her book 

To purchase "The Rooftop Garden" by Menaka Raman-Wilms
https://harbourpublishing.com/products/9780889714380

The Decibel Podcast - The Globe and Mail
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/podcasts/the-decibel/

Menaka Raman-Wilms
Twitter: @menakarw