Archive for October, 2008

Podcast 60: Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression with Dr. James Gordon

I was introduced to Dr. James Gordon through my good friend Dr. Joan Borysenko.  Both Jim and Joan are highly respected physicians who have devoted their lives to helping individuals help heal through integrating the practices of conventional medicine, and alternative practices.  These alternative practices can be anything from meditation to Chinese movement exercises.  Over the years it has proven that the combination of integrating the western and eastern practices is quite effective in treating everything from depression to heart disease and cancer.

When Dr. Gordon is not in Washington D.C attending to patients and overseeing the Mind Body Institute, he is traveling training others in the art and delivery of integrative medicine practice.  Twice per year he put on a Mind Body Medicine Professional Training program that attracts physicians, clinicians and social workers from all over the world.

In my interview we discuss his new book entitled “Unstuck-Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression.“  Dr. Gordon states that “Depression is not a disease.”  He challenges the perceived wisdom on how depression is viewed and treated. He goes on to explain that depression can be treated without the use of antidepressants and outlines the practical steps we can take to exert control over our own lives.

It is obvious that antidepressants are the first choice of treatment for depression in the country and hugely profitable business. Each year, American doctors write 189 million prescriptions for people suffering from depression, as well as others who are inhibited, shy, anxious or unhappy.

Dr. Gordon argues that there is surprisingly little evidence that they are more effective than a variety of other approaches.  In our interview we explore Dr. Gordon’s seven-stage journey out of depression.

In Unstuck, Dr. Gordon has taken forty years of experience treating patients suffering from depression and distilled it down to an easy to follow guide to understanding the causes of depression and the ways to address theses causes, as well as helpful suggestions for relieving depression’s symptoms.  In the seven-stage program, Dr. Gordon explains the useful, mood-healing benefits of: food and nutritional supplements; movement, exercise, and dance; psychotherapy, meditation and guided imagery; spiritual practice and prayer.  Each chapter concludes with a carefully designed Prescription for Self-Care.

I know you will enjoy my interview with Dr. Gordon.  If you are experience a little depression as a result of our world economic crisis or just daily living, then this interview and Dr. Gordon’s book are a must read.

Dr. James GordonIf you would like to learn more about the Mind Body Institute and Dr. James Gordon, just click here.  You can also obtain his book by clicking on the book cover in this post.  Happy listening, and enjoy the podcast.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 59: Pink Lemonade-Freshly Squeezed Insights to Stir Your Faith by Gayle Zinda

I had the pleasure of making a connection with Gayle Zinda through one of our supporting charity affiliates called Lung Cancer Alliance.  Gayle has a fascinating story of triumph over adversity for she is a survivor of lung cancer herself, and she beat the odds.

Gayle’s journey in the cancer community started long before she received her diagnosis of lung cancer. You see Gayle was an OBGYN nurse, and through a chance encounter met a woman who came into her office providing her with information about prosthetic devices for women who had undergone mastectomies.  This encounter lead to the woman giving her information about a lady by the name of Rita in Cincinnati, Ohio who owned a shop called “The Lemonade Stand-A Place to Come and Be Refreshed” which catered to women who were undergoing cancer treatments and need to get wigs, prosthetic devices, and just come to a safe place for renewal.

When Gayle met Rita, she knew something was wrong. This beautiful woman who was not to old, was walking with a cane and did not look to be in good health.  As a matter of fact when Gayle entered the door Rita said” I’ve been waiting for you. God said that if I held on long enough that my replacement would show up, and here you are.”  Well Gayle kind of thought that Rita was a little crazy.  But this encounter ended up changing Gayle’s life forever.

Gayle is now a two year survivor of the deadliest cancer! She began to travel and talk about her experiences, realizing that she had a lot to offer those whose lives have been touched by cancer. In November 2007 Gayle was asked by the Lung Cancer Alliance out of Washington D.C. to redesign her RV and do a 10 city tour on their behalf. Gayle travelled the country with her son Adam telling her story as a means of inspiring cancer patients everywhere. Gayle and Adam traveled over 5,000 miles in 30 days to bring awareness to Lung Cancer.

Today Gayle travels the country with her oldest son Adam in a 31′ Pink RV called the “Motorvator”, raising cancer awareness and “refreshing” groups around the country.

In 2008 Gayle received the Professional Business Woman of the Year Award in Madison, WI.

When she is not traveling Gayle, lives on a sparkling lake in Wisconsin with her husband, Dr. Michael Zinda, who is a Radiation Oncologist and the Medical Director of a cancer center. Dr. Zinda provides yet another perspective to add to Gayle’s arsenal on cancer.

I invite you to listen to my interview with Gayle and learn of the spiritual journey she has taken, and the adversity she has overcome.  She is funny, witty and truly a joyful person who has an inspiring story.

Gayle ZindaI hope you enjoy my interview with Gayle, and if you want to find out more about her appearances or purchase her book please click here. Gayle Zinda Home Page

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 58: Discovering Your Quintessential Self - Eradicating Your Thought Viruses with Stuart Goodship

I first met Stuart Goodship during a three day workshop in Florida that Larry Wilson was hosting.   Stuart had come over from London England to attend the event for he had been trained by Larry Wilson to deliver his Great Game of Life training series.

I was immediately drawn to this gentleman because of his warmth, friendly smile and just an amazing outgoing personality.  That evening we broke bread together, and that was the start of a very long friendship.

Last summer I took a trip to Europe for a wedding for one of my oldest and dearest friends, and I decided to spend some quality time with Stuart in his hometown near London on my way to the wedding in Goteborg Sweden.

What I learned quickly was that Stuart has an amazing background in training, but that this was not his original vocation. He had started out as an engineer, then went on to work in IT sales. He then spent three years in the development of leaders and sales people with such companies as Advanced Training, Integrated Training and Career Track.

From these early experiences with traditional change techniques, Stuart had already realized that nearly all conventional training and personal development fails. This is because the root of all of our problems associated with lack of achievement and fulfillment is skillfully avoided, ignored or denied, which is the wrong functioning of thought.

Stuart spent years reading and studying the wonderful author David Bohm.  Some of Bohm’s works helped Stuart to formulate the principals he now teaches in “Discovering your Quintessential Self - Eradicating Your Thought Viruses.”

I had a wonderful time interviewing this thoroughly fascinating man and learning about the trappings of our personal thought viruses.  During this interview you will learn about the barriers that are preventing you from discovering your quintessential self as Stuart states.

If you want to achieve personal mastery and improve your performance please play close attention to what Stuart has to say, he has really done his research.

Thought Viruses are units of information (like computer viruses). The information they contain is destructive because we assume the thoughts represent accurately what’s going on in the outside world. They prevent you from engaging in thinking, causing you to act inappropriately.

I encourage you to download Stuart’s e-book from his website and learn more about discovering your quintessential self and eradicating thought viruses.

Stuart GoodshipYou can learn more about Stuart Goodship by clicking here, and if you are interested in purchasing his e-book just click here. I hope you enjoy this enriching and enlightening interview with Stuart.

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 57: Running Home - 35 Moving Meditations for Runners with Toby Estler

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know Toby Estler as a result of our mutual connection through the University of Santa Monica.  Toby was one of the assistants at the University during my second year.  I always knew that he possessed a special energy, and was a very loving and gentle soul from the first day I met him.

I received a call from Toby about two years after my graduation as a result of our connection to Team in Training an organization affiliated with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that helps budding athletes get prepared for a 100 mile bike rides or a 26.2 mile marathons.  Toby had learned about Compassionate Communications, (a patient outreach program I founded), through some mutual friends and wanted to find out how he could help. He did help by becoming one of our initial “compassionate communicators” in our pilot program.  Toby has since gone on to become my personal coach and a very good friend.  He does writing for our organization, and is also involved in helping design and deliver an upcoming workshop that we are facilitating called “Facing Change: From Breakdown to Breakthrough.

I don’t know how many of you are runners, but Toby’s love for running and his 35 moving meditations for runners is the topic of this podcast. I use to be an avid runner some years ago, but due to an injury, I shifted to cycling.  I remember the long hours pounding the pavement, and just how meditative running can be.  Toby’s book entitled, “Running Home,” is more than a how to manual or motivational on sports and fitness. It is a book about focus. The book is made up of thirty-five meditations based on character qualities, core values, and affirmations. These stories are captivating and grab the reader’s attention. They are designed to encourage runners to carry the satisfying experience of running into an enriching and deepening growth in their personal and professional life. These short inspirational chapters are equally appropriate for any chosen sport. Toby writes from his heart with a rare combination of the sportscaster, a poet, and a spiritual sports chaplain. Toby relates the joy of running to accessing the inner essence of man’s spirit.

Toby Estler is a remarkable communicator. He masterfully articulates how running has transformed his life, empowering him to overcome his past. As he shares these experiences and his new freedom, it is his hope that others will turn their lives around and move toward bigger goals and more rewarding behavior.

Toby EstlerI encourage anyone who is into running to read, “Running Home“. It is a powerfully transforming and you will never look at running the same once you have implemented some of Toby’s meditative practices.  You can also visit his personal website by clicking here. Enjoy this great podcast!!!!

Download the podcast (MP3).

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.