🌿 Welcome to the latest episode of Health Raisers!

🌿 Our guest is Wise Woman Elaine Fletcher-Janzen, a self-proclaimed "Herbie." In this episode, Elaine shares her inspiring journey from childhood herb-picking in England to becoming a passionate advocate for holistic health. She emphasizes the profound impact of herbs on our emotional, physical, and social well-being. Through her wisdom, we learn how important it is to combine scientifically proven traditional and modern healthcare practices. She encourages us to appreciate the value of individual empowerment and the wisdom of nature.

🌿 Learn how the simple act, like rubbing your hands on a rosemary bush, can connect you to centuries of healing traditions and enhance your overall well-being. This enlightening conversation celebrates curiosity, cultural heritage, women’s profound impacts on health, and the vibrant world of herbs!

🌿 About Elaine - she is the Chairperson for the Herb Society of America, Michiana Unit, which maintains the Herb and Sensory Garden at Fernwood Botanical Gardens in Niles, Michigan. The Unit is part of the National Herb Society of America, a national organization that supports herbs' knowledge, use, and delight through education, research, member interactions, and partnerships with the community. The unit provides continuing education on cosmetic, dye, economic, medicinal, and culinary uses of herbs. When not being an “Herbie," Elaine is a consultant in pediatric neuropsychology and is writing a book on emotional wellness for educational professionals and students.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

☕️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters.

💙 Last month, we celebrated the late Dr. Wallace Nichols and his amazing work on the health benefits of water by re-releasing my conversation with him on the YOGI MD podcast. I am so lucky that I got to spend time with him and to share it with you my audience. If you missed that episode, I highly encourage you to check out his inspiring discussion on the transformative power of water.

💙 And I am thrilled to continue this engaging theme with another special re-release featuring Aqua Yoga therapist, Ayurvedic health educator, author and home funeral guide Camella Nair. I had the privilege and the joy of learning how to teach Aqua Yoga from Camella many years ago. And I would not be the teacher that I am, celebrating yoga in the water with my beloved students today if it weren't for her.

💙 Enjoy as we explore this wonderful theme, highlighting the myriad benefits of practicing yoga in the water.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

☕️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters.

In 2020, I read an article in my husband's boating magazine by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist and the author of "Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do." The piece described the incredible benefits of being on the water for one's health and well-being.

Intrigued by the article, I reached out to Dr. Nichols for an interview on my podcast, and to my delight, he gracefully accepted. Our conversation took place over Zoom during the lockdown, leaving quite an impact on me. Dr. Nichols' profound warmth, humility, and dedication to caring for the planet's waterways not only emphasized the incredible connection between water and our well-being, but also personally enriched my understanding of it.

Following our chat, Dr. Nichols remained generous with his time, always willing to lend his expertise whenever I reached out.

So it was with a heavy heart that I learned that we lost this extraordinary human. This special episode is a tribute to the late Dr. Wallace J. Nichols and originally aired on The Yogi MD Podcast in July 2020.

His remarkable legacy continues to reverberate around the globe, and I feel truly grateful to have crossed paths with him. And now, here's our heartfelt conversation...

Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters.

Ladies, we are the CEOs of our loved ones’ healthcare. In this vital role, there is much information to navigate, decisions to make, and day-to-day caregiving to do. Unfortunately, our contributions often go unrecognized, and we may struggle with feeling overwhelmed, unsupported, and isolated.

In this episode, Dr. Sadarangani shares practical tools and resources to empower yourself with the knowledge to provide optimal care for your loved ones while prioritizing your well-being. Join us in the movement to normalize asking for help and create a community-based approach to caregiving.

Dr. Tina Sadarangani, a leading Ph.D.-prepared NYU professor and board-certified adult and geriatric nurse practitioner in New York, NY as a guest on your podcast, Health Raisers. Dr. Sadarangani’s expertise includes healthy aging, age-tech, cognitive health, long-term care, and sandwich-generation caregiving.

Dr. Sadarangani is an NIH-funded scientist focused on aging, a clinician, and a tech-innovator; she is also a “sandwich generation” caregiver with aging parents and school-age children. She is passionate about helping families navigate the broken healthcare system – ensuring that everyone gets optimal, not usual, care. She believes that we all need to be more effective advocates for our health and the health of our families. She is a proponent of health equity and has published extensively in this area in peer-reviewed academic journals, including the American Journal of Public Health. She has been recognized as a Woman of Distinction/Rising Star in Long-Term Care. She attended Georgetown University, from which she graduated Summa Cum Laude, completed her Master’s at the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her doctoral and post-doctoral training at New York University, where she graduated in the highest bracket of academic preferment.

Dr. Sadarangani’s experience taking care of her father inspired her to create an award-winning mobile application – CareMobiTM - out of her NYU lab that helps families, particularly those with dementia, communicate about the day-to-day care and keep track of their loved one’s health by engaging every member of the family care team to support better health.

But Tina also knows that families don’t just need an app; they need support and information to be knowledgeable, empowered, and advocates for those they love. She has also created The Enlightened Caregiver - to give families the information they need to get optimal - not usual - care from their doctors. Tina now focuses on caregiving, nutrition, and fitness to support healthy aging, adult day programs, non-pharmacological approaches to managing Alzheimer’s Disease, chronic illness management, and long-term care.

Show Links:

https://www.instagram.com/enlightenedcaregiver/

https://www.sidekickconcierge.com/

https://athomeonthesound.org/

Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals); Produced by Tim Buell

Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters.

In this enlightening episode of our podcast, we welcome Sara Stewart, a registered nurse with a Master of Science in nursing and the visionary executive director of Unity Gardens in South Bend, Indiana, to our virtual living room. Sara's journey into creating Unity Gardens, where she orchestrates open free-pick gardens, no-cost classes, and summer programs for kids, is a testament to the power of community and connection. From her humble beginnings to the remarkable growth of Unity Gardens, Sara shares insights into how nurturing gratitude, kindness, and connectedness can cultivate physical health and intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual wellness (read more here). Join us as we explore the transformative impact of Sara's approach and learn how small acts of generosity and inclusion can blossom into opportunities for all.

Original podcast music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and produced by Tim Buell.

Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters.

In today's episode, we have a special guest, Anne Roche, who shares her insights on how to discover your inner fire to attain your goals with passion! Anne is a former defense attorney for the poor turned life leadership coach. She uses her fire and light to help clients lead themselves into a life filled with purpose, energy, and intention. You can find links to her blog, podcast, and leadership videos on her site annerochecoaching.com.

Anne emphasizes the significance of internal motivation and talks about her personal journey of unexpected transformation, leading to profound life changes beyond her expectations. She also stresses the need to replace self-judgment with curiosity and self-awareness to better understand your desires and values.

While internal motivation fuels action, it is essential to maintain accountability and support systems for sustained progress. Anne emphasizes the importance of community and personal connections in reinforcing motivation and achieving fulfillment.

Join us on a journey of self-discovery where we'll dive into what matters to us, by exploring new ideas, nurturing our emotions, and forming deep connections! The path to a healthy body stems from living life from within, feeding our minds, understanding our feelings, and fostering friendships.

Original podcast music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and produced by Tim Buell.

Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters.

Are you wondering how to rethink fitness goals as we get older?

Or how to make choices that keep us strong but also acknowledge how our bodies, muscles, and joints will change with age?

Or how to develop an ongoing and healthy relationship with food?

Then you will want to tune in to this episode featuring Val Schonberg.

Val Schonberg is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics, a Certified Menopause Practitioner with The Menopause Society, and a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Val owns a private practice in Atlanta, where she specializes in midlife health and menopause, recreational and professional sports nutrition, all types of eating disorders, and helping individuals break free from dieting and disordered eating.

Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Produced by Tim Buell.

Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters.

Are you struggling to come to terms with the limitations that come with aging? Do you feel like your emotional well-being is taking a hit as you face new challenges? You're not alone - many of us experience these same feelings as we grow older.

Here to discuss this crucial topic is Karen Nielsen. Karen is a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She has been practicing yoga for some 50 years and teaching yoga and meditation for many of those years. She has taught throughout the southern suburbs of Chicago. Karen delights in sharing yoga as a way of being in life and assisting others to integrate yoga into their lives as a spiritual science.

Karen believes that our culture places too much emphasis on the physical and intellectual aspects of life. However, yoga can help us cultivate a relationship with spirit, which is crucial for emotional well-being. She understands how difficult it can be to accept new limitations as we age, but she has some valuable insights that can help us navigate these changes with grace and ease.

So if you're struggling with accepting new limitations as you age, tune in to this episode and let Karen's wisdom guide you. Don't miss this opportunity to take control of your emotional well-being and learn from an experienced teacher like Karen Nielsen.

Original Podcast music by Nadine Kelly and Produced by Tim Buell.

Sponsored by Infusco Coffee.