Sparking Wholeness

The Opioid Epidemic and Rise of Substance Abuse

Episode 113: The Opioid Epidemic and Rise of Substance Abuse with Scott H. Silverman

Scott H. Silverman is a substance abuse expert, crisis coach (and former addict) with over with over 35 years of experience working with individuals and families dealing with addiction. Silverman is the CEO and President of Confidential Recovery and Safe Homes Coalition, and the author of several books including his latest, "The Opioid Epidemic: What You Don’t Know Will Destroy Your Family and your Life." Key Topics: - What can we do about holiday substance abuse - The opioid crisis and how ...

Healing Trauma: When It's Not Safe to Feel Safe, Even When You're Safe

Episode 112: Healing Trauma: When It's Not Safe to Feel Safe, Even When You're Safe with Therapist Heather Hall

It is well-established science that "the body keeps the score." Trauma therapy is no small task, and sometimes traditional talk therapy doesn't take people to the depths of healing they need. In this episode, licensed professional counselor and EMDRIA certified EMDR therapist Heather Hall unpacks the phases of healing from trauma, and why it is important to take a whole body approach. Key Topics: - Why we need tools beyond traditional talk therapy - Somatic/attachment therapy - Polyvagal th...

The Keys to Healthy Communication and Conflict in Marriage

Episode 111: The Keys to Healthy Communication and Conflict in Marriage with Dr. Duana Welch

Back by popular demand, in this episode Dr. Duana Welch answers listeners top questions about healthy relationships and marriage! Dr. Duana Welch is the original "Love Factually" author and coach known for using social science to solve real-life relationship issues. She was a professor at universities in Florida, California, and Texas across 20 years, and has contributed to NPR, PBS, Psychology Today, and numerous other outlets, podcasts and videos. Her first book, "Love Factually: 10 Proven...

Episode 110: ADHD in Children: How to Slow Down to Speed Up with Trish Wilkinson

Trish Wilkinson is a mom, parent coach, brain stages expert, and co-author of the best-selling Brain Stages book. She came back to the show for a second time to expand our conversation on ADHD and discuss what to do, as it seems more and more children are being diagnosed with ADHD. Key Topics: - ADHD family history - more than 70% of kids with ADHD have parents with focus issues - Kids with ADHD are not deficient or disordered, but we may be overdiagnosing - A brain that works differently is...

ADHD in Children: How to Slow Down to Speed Up

How to Banish Burnout and Start Thriving

Episode 109: How to Banish Burnout and Start Thriving with Dr. Michelle Pokorny

Most everyone will cope with burnout at some point in their lives. Those in a helping role may be more prone to burnout than others. Instead of dealing with burnout as it arises, there are practical tools and strategies to employ BEFORE burnout hits. Dr. Michelle Pokorny is an adjunct professor at Dallas Theological Seminary whose doctoral work focused on burnout and soul-care among leaders. Her passion is to help men and women thrive, rather than survive, in their daily lives as well as wor...

Getting to the Root of Thyroid Issues and Autoimmunity

Episode 108: Getting to the Root of Thyroid Issues and Autoimmunity with Dr. Nicole Fujiyama

As hypothyroidism seems to become more prevalent, and those suffering face a myriad of symptoms, it’s important to ask the question: what more can we do to support thyroid health? Dr. Nicole Fujiyama is a naturopathic doctor who helps adults navigate and find natural solutions for autoimmune diseases in order to transform their health and get back to living their best life. Key Topics: - What is autoimmune disease vs autoimmunity - The growing prevalence of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s - ...

Benefits of Eating Seasonally for Your Immune Health

Episode 107: Benefits of Eating Seasonally for Your Immune Health with Chelsea Blackbird

Did you know your microbiome changes along with the seasons? In this conversation with Chelsea Blackbird, we discuss how to optimize eating seasonally in order to improve overall health. Chelsea Blackbird is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who works with women to optimize metabolism and food peace. She uses Biblical guidance and simple strategies to keep busy women focused on more God and better health.  Key Topics: - Fall foods and the historic aspect of eating seasonally - How the gut ...

Episode 106: Yoga for Mental Health and Stress Resilience with Luci Davis

Yoga isn't just a "fitness trend." There is so much data to support yoga as treatment for mental illness, trauma, and stress management. In this episode, yoga instructor Luci Davis shares her love of yoga in a practical, helpful way! Luci is the founder of "Pajama Yoga with Luci." She began practicing yoga in 2006 following surgery and treatment for thyroid cancer. She believes yoga was integral to her recovery physically, mentally, and emotionally. Her motto is "practice with the body you h...

Yoga for Mental Health and Stress Resilience

Supporting Your Brain Health After Traumatic Brain Injury

Episode 105: Supporting Your Brain Health After Traumatic Brain Injury with Leigh Richardson and Sandra Beck

Each year, an estimated 2.8 million people encounter a traumatic brain injury, commonly referred to as concussions. This bonus episode is a roundtable discussion between Leigh Richardson, brain health coach and therapist, host of In Your Head podcast and owner of The Brain Performance Center in Dallas, Sandra Beck, business coach, radio host, and owner of Beck Multimedia, as well as Erin Kerry, mental health nutrition coach and owner of Sparking Wholeness. Key Topics: - Leigh's personal sto...

Wired but Tired: Adrenal Burnout and What to Do to Restore Your Body

Episode 104: Wired but Tired: Adrenal Burnout and What to Do to Restore Your Body with Kelsey Jack, FNTP

What many women consider normal for their health is nowhere near optimal. Feeling exhausted, worn down, moody, and imbalanced is a sign your body needs help. In this episode, Kelsey Jack, a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, shares the serious affects of stressed adrenals and the interplay in female health. Key Topics: - Kelsey’s story of hitting rock bottom and finding solutions to tackle the root - The book that changed the trajectory of her health - The role adrenals and cortis...

Caring for the Mental Health of Aging Family Members

Episode 103: Caring for the Mental Health of Aging Family Members with Amanda Lambert and Leslie Eckford

Amanda Lambert and Leslie Eckford are co-authors of “Choose Your Place: Rethinking Home as You Age,” “Aging with Care: Your Guide to Hiring and Managing Caregivers at Home” and “Beating the Senior Blues: How to Feel Better and Enjoy Life Again.” Key Topics: - Amanda and Leslie’s background in elder care - The stigma of mental health and aging - Symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults and why it manifests differently - How to advocate for parents as they age - Adapting to the role...

What’s Really Behind Your Hunger?

Episode 102: What’s Really Behind Your Hunger? with Dr. Adrienne Youdim

Weight loss and hunger are about so much more than calories consumed or “burned.” When looking to make changes to our habits, it’s important to take a deeper look into our relationship with food, body image, and ourselves. Adrienne Youdim, MD, FACP, is an internist who specializes in medical weight loss and nutrition. Her mission is to transform the weight loss narrative to one that is both empowering and compassionate, inspiring people to live more physically and emotionally fulfilling live...

More Habits of a Healthy, Regulated Brain

Episode 101: More Habits of a Healthy, Regulated Brain with Leigh Richardson

Leigh Richardson is the Founder and Clinical Director of The Brain Performance Center in Dallas, Texas. She is the author of the book “Turn Your Brain On to Get Your Game On,” and host of the podcast “In Your Head with Leigh Richardson.” She is a licensed professional counselor who is board certified in neurofreedback and biofeedback. In this simulcast episode, we both share tools and strategies that we have found to be effective personally and professionally. Topics include food for mood he...

Practical Tools for Healthy Emotional Regulation During Transition

Episode 100: Practical Tools for Healthy Emotional Regulation During Transition with Sandra Beck and Erin Kerry

During times of transition and stress, it is difficult to regulate emotions so they aren’t spilling out onto everyone else. However, the daily habits you take part in during stable times can impact your reactions during the chaotic times. Sandra Beck is an author, coach, speaker, radio host, entrepreneur and philanthropist. On this simulcast episode, airing on more than one podcast, we share how we regulate our emotions in healthy ways.

Episode 99: Easy Ways to Boost Kids’ Brain Power for the Best School Year Yet with Trish Wilkinson

Kids are going back to school and facing loads of uncertainty and stress - more than ever before. How can we boost kids’ brain power so they can optimize their learning potential and thrive? Patricia Wilkinson is a parent coach, mom of two, veteran teacher, and coauthor of Brain Stages: How to Raise Smart, Confident Kids and Have Fun Doing It. Key Topics: - The stress and anxiety kids are facing right now and why Trish is hopeful - The magical combo of hydration and movement for brain healt...

Easy Ways to Boost Kids’ Brain Power for the Best School Year Yet

How to Individualize Your Diet for Your Unique Body

Episode 98: How to Individualize Your Diet for Your Unique Body with Tracy Cromwell

Tracy Cromwell is a certified health coach and personal trainer who changed the trajectory of her health after she was told she was pre-diabetic in 2006. Today, she helps women stop yo-yo dieting and learn to create a completely personalized “roadmap to health” that suits their unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals. In this episode we discuss how important bio individuality is for health, how to get off the yo-yo dieting train, and Tracy’s book, Your Personal Journey with Food. Ke...

How to Strengthen Your Relationship by Connecting More Securely

Episode 97: How to Strengthen Your Relationship by Connecting More Securely with Dr. Duana Welch

Dr. Duana Welch is the original Love Factually author and coach, known for using social science to solve real-life relationship issues. In this episode, Dr. Welch dives into some of the top issues couples struggle with and how her science-backed research helps individuals connect more securely in their relationships, whether they are already in a relationship or looking for a healthy one. Key Topics: - How family of origin impacts adult relationships - What attachment style is and why it’s ...

Episode 96: How to Train Your Brain to Beat Depression, Anxiety, and Toxic Thoughts with Dr. Caroline Leaf

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist with a Masters and PhD in Communication Pathology and a BSc Logopaedics, specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. She is the bestselling author of Switch on Your Brain, Think Learn Succeed, Think and Eat Yourself Smart, and many more, including her latest book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. Dr. Leaf is currently conducting clinical trials using the 5-step program she developed while in private p...

How to Train Your Brain to Beat Depression, Anxiety, and Toxic Thoughts with Dr. Caroline Leaf

Episode 95: A Functional Medicine Approach to Making Changes that Stick, Without Dieting with Jennifer Pickett

Jennifer Pickett is a Dietitian turned Functional Wellness Coach. She helps spiraling moms overcome the overwhelm through Functional Wellness coaching for the body, mind and soul so they can transform their health and live a deeply fulfilled life of freedom and harmony. She believes that to make the shift from “knowing” to “doing” you must apply mindfulness, address what is driving the behavior, be intentional and practice self compassion. Key Topics: - How a functional medicine health coach...

A Functional Medicine Approach to Making Changes that Stick, Without Dieting

Episode 94: Parents, It’s Gonna Be OK: Safe, Evidence-Based Tools for Kids’ Mental Health with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a mental health trailblazer, founder of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and Dr. Roseann & Associates, who FORBES magazine called, “A thought leader in children’s mental health”. Her new book, “It’s Gonna Be Ok: Proven Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health” is available now. In this episode we discuss her book and why her information and methods have been helpful and life-changing for so many parents and children. Key Topics: - Symptom re...

Parents, It’s Gonna Be OK: Safe, Evidence-Based Tools for Kids’ Mental Health

How to Regulate Your Endocannabinoid System with CBD

Episode 93: How to Regulate Your Endocannabinoid System with CBD with Sean Gale, the CBD Pharmacist

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a recent scientific discovery that has many researchers digging in on new ways to find homeostasis in the body and restore balance. This episode covers all the way CBD can benefit the body and the current research on the topic. Sean Gale is known as The CBD Pharmacist. He is an American board-certified pharmacist, author, speaker, and online course creator. Sean began studying CBD over 2 years ago when he started selling it in his pharmacy. By using a com...

How to Make Childbirth Less Painful and Have the Best Birth You Can Have

Episode 92: How to Make Childbirth Less Painful and Have the Best Birth You Can Have with Hypnobabies Founder Kerry Tuschhoff

Medical grade, somnambulistic hypnosis is a way to make childbirth less painful, more comfortable, shorter, and empowers women to have the kind of birth they want to have. This interview with Kerry Tuschhoff, Founder of Hypnobabies and renowned speaker and writer covers how Hypnobabies is on a mission to make childbirth less traumatic. Hypnobabies allows moms to have a less painful, more joyful experience by learning techniques through its natural childbirth education course. Key Topics: -...

You're Not Fat, You're Inflamed - The Latest Science on Losing Weight

Episode 91: You're Not Fat, You're Inflamed - The Latest Science on Losing Weight with Dr. Tracey Stroup

Fat cells are really amazing protective organs, and contrary to what you’ve been told - you can’t burn them. New research changes the way we approach weight loss and addressing inflammatory fat cells. Dr. Tracey Stroup is a naturopathic doctor who has been in the health and wellness industry for over 25 years. She joins the show for a second time in order to break down common weight loss and exercise myths. Key Topics: - Weight loss myths (including calorie counting and the phrase “burning ...

How to Boost Your Fertility Through a Natural and Holistic Approach

Episode 90: How to Boost Your Fertility Through a Natural and Holistic Approach with Sarah Clark

Sarah Clark is the author of “Fabulously Fertile – Supercharge your Fertility Naturally,” “Fabulously Fertile Cookbook” and creator of the Fertility Preparation Program. In this episode, she shares how she uses a functional medicine coaching approach and natural fertility solutions in an effort to reverse infertility through natural, holistic methods! Key Topics: - Dropping fertility rates - What does it mean to be diagnosed with infertility? - The connection between gut health and fertili...

Episode 89: How Social Media Affects Our Mental Health with Reena B. Patel

How can we manage our minds during the social media age? How can we best support our children and monitor their time on screens? How does “influencer culture” affect our kids’ mental health? Reena B. Patel is a renowned parenting expert, licensed educational psychologist, board-certified behavior analyst, and author of Winnie & Her Worries. For more than 20 years, Patel has had the privilege of working with families and children, supporting all aspects of education, mental health and positi...

How Social Media Affects Our Mental Health