Ever feel like the city is suffocating you? Like your stress levels are always high, sleep isn’t restful, and like you can’t come up with new ideas? In this episode, we’re uncovering the hidden truths about why you need nature to stay sane—biologically, neurologically, and emotionally. From lowering blood pressure and stress hormones to boosting creativity and happiness, nature does more than just look pretty—it’s crucial for your health. I’ll walk you through the science behind it and share why...
Oct 08, 2024•24 min
Is the U.S. Government Poisoning Us? It might sound shocking, but in this episode, we take a deep dive into how government subsidies, big agriculture, and ultra-processed foods are contributing to America's rising chronic disease rates. From diabetes and heart disease to autoimmune disorders, we'll uncover the policies behind the problem and explore the hidden chemicals in our food supply. Join me as I break down the facts, share the data, and offer practical tips on how you can navigate a food ...
Sep 28, 2024•29 min
This episode is about Guy Debord's idea of the spectacle: a social system where life is mediated by images and appearances. It’s not just about watching TV or scrolling through social media—though those are clear examples—but about how everything in society becomes a performance, a show. The spectacle turns real, lived experiences into representations, where appearances matter more than substance. It’s a world where being has turned into appearing , and we are constantly performing, not living. ...
Sep 22, 2024•35 min
In this episode, we’re going to discuss the American Dream—the myth, the hustle, and the crisis it has driven us into. In this, we will learn about the “achievement society” as dubbed by Byung-Chul Han, the myth of self-improvement, and how we exploit ourselves to the point of burnout. My TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@knowthingss?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc References: The Burnout Society by Byung-Chul Han The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt...
Sep 09, 2024•29 min
Lora Marie has been creating (hilarious) educational content surrounding the experiences of living with an autoimmune disorder. She is an RA Warrior who has used her experiences, trials, and errors to inspire fellow autoimmune warriors with positivity, light, and connection. In this episode, we talk a little about a lot- including AIP diets, remaining hopeful and resilient through the hardships of autoimmunity, and more. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Find Lora @exploringaut...
Jun 13, 2023•56 min
Autoimmune disorders are on the rise: both in prevalence and in variation. Here's a little bit of background knowledge about what we know and what we don't know about autoimmunity. As promised, see links below for more information: Instagram: @_raniaasalah Role of Diet and Lifestyle: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11882-013-0404-6 Factors involved in the etiology of SLE: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2015.00608/full Diet, Microbiota, and Autoimmunity: https://jou...
May 20, 2023•38 min
This is a heavy one! One factor contributing to racial health inequities is implicit bias- or rather the consequences of unchecked biases in healthcare settings. Implicit or explicit negative attitudes toward patients may adversely impact quality of healthcare and perpetuate health disparities. Stigmatizing language written in a patient’s medical record contributes to attitudes and implicit bias, ergo influencing physician decision-making and treatment. Although medical records are an integral m...
Mar 11, 2023•34 min
Language is our portal to meaning making, and without the right language to describe and articulate our emotions, we may struggle to find healing. We may find that emotions begin to consume us, chip away at our physical and mental well-being, and manifest as destructive behaviors. When we lack the right vocabulary, connection becomes all the more difficult. When our emotional language is limited, we we feel disembodied or disconnected from ourselves and others. Language is pivotal to allowing em...
Jan 06, 2023•36 min
Mindfulness is so much more than the image the word provokes: a formal meditation, silence, and deep breaths. It's everything from listening, pausing, to practicing non-judgement and acceptance. Mindfulness practices can and should be a part of your everyday life- science says so! So if you want to come along my journey of trying to live more mindfully, stay tuned for this series where we explore practices together. Let's learn how to make moments meaningful, life more joyful, and actions more p...
Dec 27, 2022•30 min
What keeps us happy and healthy in life? What's the secret to feeling satisfied despite changes in circumstance? How can we age whilst maintaining the best possible physical and mental health? Well, we're going to draw upon and abundance of research that points to one answer: good relationships. This episode is endlessly important for our generation- a generation suffering from a loneliness epidemic, mental illness epidemic, and an epidemic of smartphone and materialistic 'addiction.' I hope you...
Aug 07, 2022•43 min
In this episode, Rand H. joins me to discuss the book: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Treatment of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. He is a psychiatrist, author, researcher and educator who delved deep into the physical responses, symptoms, and treatment of childhood trauma. Himself and a group of scientists came together, with their patients, to integrate neuroscience, attachment, and body awareness into treatment for people who have suffered trauma. Some of the overarchin...
Jul 30, 2022•58 min
Our memories are fallible, our story-telling skills are questionable, and we are all non-credible sources in some way. This is not because we are consciously trying to mislead or manipulate reality, but because we are simply human- prone to human error. But what can we do to mitigate the consequences of false narratives? How can we break free from the imprisonment of comfortable, old narratives? And why is it important to compare stories from every characters' point of view? This is a short epis...
May 29, 2022•21 min
I am joined by Isabella Brooke to discuss everything ranging from fatphobia to the evolution of the body positivity/neutrality movements. Isabella is the president of REbeL at American University, and is all about creating a safe space to talk about these issues. She is a huge proponent of body neutrality and attention to language, as they have played a pivotal role in her own recovery. In this episode, we explore how the concepts of intuitive eating and body positivity have been misconstrued an...
Apr 29, 2022•58 min
In this episode, my research partner, Callen Wallace, and I discuss explore the issue of medical mistrust— the roots, implications, and impact on BIPOC women's health outcomes. We argue that medical mistrust plays a pivotal role in perpetuating disparate negative health outcomes, and is a result of both historical mistreatment and implicit bias in medicine that has long plagued those who have the intersectional identities of women belonging to a minority race/ethnicity. Some of the key concepts ...
Apr 27, 2022•58 min
In this episode, we discuss, the impact of fitness-related media consumption, eating disorders, the responsibilities of fitness influencers, and more. If you've ever found yourself comparing your body to images on instagram, you're not alone. If you've ever found yourself struggling with food, body image, and shame, you're not alone. My guests are here to to openly discuss some of these stigmatized topics, as they believe there needs to be more conversation surrounding the reality of people who ...
Apr 17, 2022•54 min
Research suggests that when a child is raised in a home with a parent who exhibits narcissistic tendencies, or has narcissistic personality disorder, they are likely to experience a range of detrimental psychological effects that often carry on into adulthood. This can also be applied to long-term relationships with a narcissist such as marriages, sibling relations, and even close family members. That being said, parents may have the greatest impact given our dependence on them as children, and ...
Dec 10, 2021•30 min
This episode surrounds the four main attachment styles, where they may be rooted in, and how they can help us understand our own behavior as well as others' behaviors- especially in relational conflicts. I am not a psychiatrist or mental health professional, this is simply my understanding of the theory developed by John Bowlby, and later expanded upon by Mary Ainsworth. The information discussed in this episode may help you gain insight on your attachment style, but please take it with a grain ...
Nov 15, 2021•38 min
This episode, as always, is a casual conversation surrounding the main contributing factors of addiction, my personal experience, and how our nation can better approach addicts. If you've ever wondered about why addicts are so attached to their drug of choice, why our current system is failing at decreasing drug use and business, or what actually works in treating addiction, this episode may offer some insight. I draw upon some established authors and scientists including Karl Heart (in his memo...
Jul 10, 2021•40 min
In this episode, I offer 5 scientifically-proven steps to break any habit and build new ones. I draw from James Clear's Book on habits to offer you some tangible ways to recognize, interrupt, and require your habit loops. I also give you 3 tips on how to set goals effectively, and actually go through with them even when faced with challenges. Excusing the tangents and failed examples, I hope you enjoy the content!
Mar 01, 2021•32 min
In this very special episode, I get the chance to speak with youth mentor Mohammed Kibriya about how important it is to practice gratitude, find mentors, and belong to a community. He sheds light on how significant of a role mentors can play in guidance, and how that goes hand in hand with self-awareness and reflection. Kibriya urges us to develop habits like journaling about things you are grateful for, getting others' insight on your strengths and weaknesses, and being vulnerable with trusted ...
Feb 11, 2021•41 min
In this episode, I discuss the roots and impact of medical mistrust that exists within the African American community. From the transatlantic slave trade, to the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments, and the modern-day implicit biases that impact health outcomes, African Americans are continuously given reasons to be weary of medical professionals. This ultimately perpetuates health disparities, reinforces systems of oppression, and leads to worsening health inequities that entail higher morbidity, mor...
Feb 04, 2021•28 min
In this episode I discuss the the physiological and psychological of malnutrition. I draw upon The Minnesota Starvation Experiment and my own experiences with an eating disorder to demonstrate how your body reacts a prolonged period of energy deficit. Grab a snack, your bodily functions are expensive and needs tons of energy to function optimally and keep you happy and healthy.
Jan 25, 2021•31 min
In this episode I draw upon recent research that describes restrictive eating disorders as evolutionary responses to famine. When a person who is predisposed to anorexia enters energy deficit, the genes are triggered or activated, and the illness manifests. This is not to say there aren't psychological roots to eating disorders, as they serve as coping mechanisms and have a deep rooting in mental health issues. This is just an alternate theory and brief explanation of the biology that many fail ...
Jan 23, 2021•26 min
As impressionable youth, we learn that how we look is a direct reflection of who we are as people: how worthy, desirable, and successful we are. These ideas only serve the fitness industry, a multi-billion dollar industry that has consumed American culture for decades. In this episode, I discuss how psychologists and marketers in the industry have influenced our thoughts and behaviors, preyed upon insecurities they have promoted, and normalized disordered eating habits for their own profit. Diet...
Jan 18, 2021•30 min
