We know that the mind and body are connected, but how do we use that knowledge to create our best life? This week, host Paula Felps is talking with Dr Greg Hammer, a Stanford University School of Medicine professor, physician, and a mindfulness expert who developed the four-step GAIN method of mindfulness. As he explains in his book, GAIN without Pain, this is an acronym for Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention and Nonjudgement. He teaches this method to reduce stress and increase well-being, and in this episode he talks about how we can learn to live with intention.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What it means to live an intentional life.
• How intentional living can change your brain—and your life.
• The connection between your physical and mental health. 

We know that listening to music can help heal our hearts, but what can it do for the songwriter? In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Morgan James, a singer and songwriter who has appeared on Broadway stages and with symphony orchestras in addition to writing and recording her own music. While working on her latest album, she and Doug Wamble — her husband and cowriter —were grappling with the devastating illnesses of dear friends. Morgan explains how they put the tangled emotions of uncertainty, grief and loss into a song called I’ll Be Holding On, which also has become the album’s video centerpiece.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How songwriting helps her process difficult emotions.
• Why it was so important to write about the grief she was experiencing.
• How performing songs helps her work through challenging situations.

As commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Brett Crozier made a choice during the pandemic to take a stand to protect his crew. His actions quickly led to his dismissal, but also were effective in providing the protection he was looking for. In this episode, he talks about his new book, Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain, and shares some of the life and leadership lessons he has learned along the way.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why it’s imperative to choose your conscience over your career.
• The power of kindness as a leadership principle.
• The importance of creating a life/work balance.

June is filled with holidays encouraging us to celebrate our pets. In addition to being Adopt a Cat Month and National Microchip Month, it is National Foster a Pet Month. To learn more about how fostering pets can improve your physical and mental well-being, host Paula Felps sits down with Brittany Derrenbacher, a clinical mental health counselor and founder of Luna Bells Moonbows Special Needs Rescue in Louisville, Kentucky. Brittany explains the many benefits of pet fostering for the entire family and offers tips on how to get started. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How fostering pets can improve mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression.
• Creative alternatives to full-time pet fostering.
• How fostering pets can teach children important emotional skills. 

It’s National Garden Week, so it is the perfect time to talk about what plants and digging in the dirt can do for you. This week’s guest is Joeleen David, a master gardener and owner of Wine Cottage Gardens near Nashville, and she’s here to talk about how gardening is much more than growing food or flowers; it’s also a natural way to improve mental health.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How gardening can help with mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
• Why gardening is a fun way to build exercise into your life.
• How she is using Wine Cottage Gardens to give back to others — and you can too.