Go Play in the Dirt

022 | Why A Seasonal Reset Is For You with Cat Elumba

Have you been feeling sluggish lately? Brain fog? Imbalanced digestion? Skin issues?

You probably need a reset!

I am thrilled to announce that Cat Elumba & I are hosting a Spring Vitality Seasonal Reset May 8 -12 2023. Join us for a 5-day virtual group coaching program where we implement simple, seasonal, sustainable solutions to manage your health and wellness from the comfort of your own home. Come recharge & refuel your body each season together in community. Our programs are designed to support natural detoxification processes while nourishing your body and will give you insight into sustainable health choices to bring back your energy and clear your mind. We take a whole foods approach that focuses on cooking your own meals along with lifestyle suggestions, Good To The Bone Bone Broth, and authentic support. We now ship the broth so anyone within The United States can join.

Come reset with us!

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

Cat & Lauren’s journey in the world of holistic health
How Cat started hosting reset programs
Benefits of a reset
What you receive in the Spring Vitality 5-Day Group Coaching Program
The importance of seasonal eating
Benefits of Good To The Bone Bone Broth
Benefits of Freshly Rooted Tribe’s Sea Moss
How to sign up for our Spring Vitality program

Go Share These Thoughts:

We integrate traditional medicine practices into our seasonal reset programs. - Lauren Bryson
We forgot there's something special about either cooking a meal or receiving a meal with your friends or your family. - Lauren Bryson
In these group coaching programs, we implement simple, seasonal, sustainable solutions for you to manage your health and wellness from the comfort of your own home. - Lauren Bryson
We incorporate seasonal ingredients so that our bodies are being fueled by mother nature. We want to eat food that is in season because it is more nutrient-dense. - Catherine Elumba

Resources

Connect with Catherine Elumba:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enMarch 16, 2023

021 | Food Freedom with Kiki Athanas

Research shows that 75% of our eating habits are emotionally driven (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).

My guest today is Kiki Athanas, who helps people conquer emotional eating and practice healthy, balanced eating with consistency and ease - even in the face of life’s challenges. She created The Gut Brain Integration method to help people take control of their cravings and hunger, so eating no longer feels like an internal battle. She makes being healthy fun & doable.

Our body craves variety and one way to tap into that is with the concept of intuitive eating. Intuitive eating is honoring the body’s innate boundaries, and there are two keys: hunger and taste. Intuitive eating is always respecting hunger and always respecting taste. Studies have found that intuitive eating has positive outcomes in comparison to restrictive dieting plans.

The body craves variety, a variety of nutrient-dense, whole foods - biodiversity is key. Tune in to learn more about ways to support your body through intuitive eating.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The concept of intuitive eating
How to tap in and listen to your body
How eating and emotions are intertwined
The concept of orthorexia
The importance of honoring your body's innate boundaries
Self-love as a key step in overall health
Mindful eating

Go Share These Thoughts:

Intuitive eating is honoring the body’s innate boundaries, and there are two keys: hunger and taste. Intuitive eating is always respecting hunger and always respecting taste. - Kiki Athanas
Doing nothing doesn’t mean I’m going backwards. Taking time to rest and taking time to literally do nothing is actually making me more productive. - Kiki Athanas

About Kiki Athanas:

Kiki Athanas helps smart women conquer emotional eating and practice healthy, balanced eating with consistency and ease - even in the face of life’s challenges. She created The Gut Brain Integration method to help women take control of their cravings and hunger, so eating no longer feels like an internal battle & they are finally able to manage health.

Resources

Connect with Kiki Athanas:

Connect with Lauren :

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enFebruary 23, 2023

020 | Supporting Thyroid Health with Divya Gupta

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in your neck that is key for supporting every system in the body. It helps to regulate your metabolism, mood, digestion, circadian rhythm, bone maintenance, and body temperature.

My guest today is Divya Gupta who is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition. She shines light on thyroid health and ignites flames of inspiration through sharing her journey in both becoming a Holistic Nutrition practitioner and transitioning to a healthier lifestyle. She shares her experience of navigating a Hashimoto’s diagnosis and how she uses food and lifestyle to manage her condition. Tune in to learn about ways to support the health of your thyroid.

In this Episode, You Will Discover:

Divya Gupta’s journey navigating a Hashimoto’s diagnosis to becoming Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition
The thyroid and its roles in the human body
The effects of cleansing on the body and importance of detoxification
Specific nutrients that are critical for thyroid health
How leaky gut is tied to thyroid health
Difference between a gluten allergy and gluten sensitivity
Benefits of a gluten-free lifestyle
Divya’s journey in switching from a corporate tech job to being an entrepreneur

Go Share These Thoughts:

Making an impact, whether it be big or small, is one of the most rewarding feelings out there.-Lauren Bryson
You learn so much about yourself when you meet someone who is not like you.-Divya Gupta
It’s worth a try to go gluten-free because if it does not benefit you, it won’t do any harm. It is a simple experiment everyone can try.-Divya Gupta

About Divya Gupta:

Divya is a board-certified holistic nutrition coach based in San Jose. She is trained to help people use the power of nutrition and lifestyle changes to break free from issues and start living the life they want. Divya’s approach is personalized to each of her clients. She takes the time to get to know them, their likes and dislikes, and their motivation to really help them make the modifications that get them the results they're looking for. Divya helps her clients reach each milestone one step at a time and empowers them along the way.

*Divya is hosting a 5-Day Spring Detox Program, March 21-25, 2023.
Email DivyaGuptaNC@gmail.com to sign up & take advantage of early bird pricing!

Connect with Divya:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enFebruary 16, 2023

019 | Digestive Wellness with Morgan Lewis

Gut health is foundational to our overall health. You are not what you eat, you are what you digest.

My guest today is Morgan Lewis, a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Yoga Teacher, and believer in wellness. She utilizes holistic nutrition and lifestyle support for women experiencing IBS and digestive issues. Morgan shares how she navigated chronic gut issues, bloating, an IBS diagnosis, and a recent Lyme diagnosis. Morgan shares her expertise on digestive wellness so we can understand how our body works from north to south. Morgan & I have very similar journeys in navigating chronic gut issues, getting to the root cause and how we both used diet and lifestyle to support our gut back to health.

Tune in to learn how to support your gut and reclaim your health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The importance of counting colors, not calories
Significance of getting tested and knowing the right diagnosis (step 1 of your healing journey)
Getting to the root cause of your health issues
Common causes & symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
What causes the reduction of stomach acid
How to support your stomach acid
Why chewing is key for optimal digestion
You can’t out-supplement a bad diet
What being a solo entrepreneur is really like

Go Share These Thoughts:

When we get into that parasympathetic mode, that's where the magic happens. You can properly digest your food. Your body can actually use the vitamins and minerals effectively. You can have better bowel movements, you can feel more rested so chewing is a gateway for those. - Morgan Lewis
People think too much stomach acid is a negative thing, which it can be. However the actual issue, especially with GERD and IBS, it's not enough stomach acid. - Lauren Bryson
We can get back to being healthy without it feeling like a burden financially and time-wise as well. But it's all about getting creative and going back to the basics. - Morgan Lewis

About Morgan Lewis:

Morgan Lewis utilizes holistic nutrition and lifestyle support for women experiencing IBS and digestive issues. She utilizes root cause healing to assist her clients on their healing journey. She believes every woman deserves to feel healthy, vibrant, and symptom-free.

Resources:

Connect with Morgan Lewis:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enFebruary 09, 2023

018 | Metabolism 101 with David Bennett

A recent study showed that only 6.8% of Americans are metabolically healthy (Ohern et al., 2022). The latest statistics from the CDC report that 70% of Americans are overweight and 40% are obese. 1 in 3 has prediabetes.

What is the commonality between all of these issues? Poor metabolic health. Your metabolism is the process by which your body takes the food and beverages we put in and converts it to energy for fuel. Poor metabolic health is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia and stroke.

David Bennett’s story is the epitome of “paying it forward”. He shares his incredible journey of dealing with a health emergency and how he took a functional medicine approach to balancing his metabolism by using diet and lifestyle. David specializes in helping people overcome and reverse Metabolic Syndrome (weight gain, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar & excess body fat) by using foundational metabolic skills that allow fast and effective weight loss - the same methods and skills he used to overcome his own weight and health issues, and achieve metabolic freedom.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The importance of eating the rainbow
Five common symptoms of metabolic syndrome
How sugar affects the body
Step 1 in balancing your metabolism
Ways to support your metabolic health using diet and lifestyle
Weight management support
The “8-16” method of intermittent fasting

Go Share These Thoughts:

I had to look outside the box by looking at what I was doing, whether sleep or food you're putting in. That's one of the key principles. You're not just eating to eat, you're eating to fuel. - David Bennett
Metabolic syndrome increases your risk of a lot of other diseases like stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. What your body is doing, your weight specifically, is causing a lot of inflammation with increased weight, and that leads you down the road to developing a lot of chronic diseases. - David Bennett
I like to balance my blood sugar by combining clean protein and healthy fat. - Lauren Bryson

Resources:

Connect with David Bennett:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enFebruary 02, 2023

017 | Loyal to My Soil

This podcast is called Go Play in the Dirt, but it should be called Go Play in the Soil. The health of our soil, the health of humans and the health of the planet are all intricately connected. Do you know how critical soil is to our very existence on earth?

A study published in Earth’s Future shows that since farmers began tilling the land in the Midwest 160 years ago, 57.6 billion metric tons of topsoil have eroded. This is the result of soil degradation which is caused by pollution and conventional agriculture practices such as tilling the land and the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. If we do not protect the health of our topsoil we will not be able to grow food. Healthy soil is key for life on earth and the key to healthy soil is biodiversity.

In today’s episode, I focus on educating listeners on the simple ways we can contribute to our soil regeneration. We need to work with nature, not against it. In order to save our soil, and life on earth, we must take responsibility for the health of our soil.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The difference between soil and dirt
Soil microbiome is vital for the overall ecosystem, food security & life on earth
The role that soil plays in regulating the world's climate
Issues with the degradation of topsoil
The negative effects of glyphosate
The principles of regenerative agriculture
Sustainable practices that support our soil

Go Share These Thoughts:

Soil is key for food security as crops cannot grow on dead ground. Healthy soil is key for life on earth. - Lauren Bryson
According to a study published recently in Earth's future, since farmers began tilling the land in the Midwest 160 years ago, 57.6 billion metric tons of topsoil have eroded; a rough calculation of current rates of soil degradation suggests we have about 60 years of topsoil. - Lauren Bryson
The principle of regenerative agriculture is key. We need to work with nature, not against it. - Lauren Bryson

Resources:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

Go Play in the Dirt

enJanuary 26, 2023

soil health

biodiversity

regenerative agriculture

topsoil

go play in the dirt podcast

016 | Movement and Hydration with Michele Riechman

Movement & hydration are two major components of overall health that you can begin to incorporate into your daily routine today.

My guest today is Michele Riechman, a certified personal trainer, yoga teacher, and health coach with a doctorate in physical therapy. She helps women who have put themself on the back burner finally get in shape, fit back into their clothes, and optimize their metabolism without dieting, so they can increase their energy & feel confident in their bodies.

Tune in as we exchange stories and tips on starting your own exercise routine that fits your needs, the difference between movement and exercise, the benefits of resistance strength training, and why hydration remains essential in maintaining one’s overall health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

Ways to balance metabolism to support healthy aging
The importance of advocating for your health
The supplementary advantage of hiring a health coach
The difference between movement and exercise
Various exercises you can incorporate into your daily routine today
The benefits of a commitment to consistency
Ways to properly hydrate and the many benefits to your overall health
Hydrating foods

Go Share These Thoughts:

Overall health is based on food, movement, lifestyle, sleep, and stress management, as well as community and connection. – Lauren Bryson
Exercise also helps us with our mental health and our stress relief. - Michele Riechman
As a mom of four, I try to keep workouts short, quick, and effective - Michele Riechman
I view movement and exercise as an absolute privilege - Lauren Bryson
Exercise can support gut health, metabolism, healthy aging, and mental wellness. - Lauren Bryson

About Michele Riechman:

Michele Riechman is an expert personal trainer and health coach with a doctorate in physical therapy. She helps women who have put themself on the back burner finally get in shape, fit back into their clothes, & optimize their metabolism without dieting, so they can increase their energy & feel confident in their bodies.

Resources:

Free Workout Challenge & Healthy Aging Tips
Melissa Wood Health (Free 7 Day Trial)

Connect with Michele Riechman:

Website
Instagram
Personal Training (Use the code DIRT20 to save 20% of on-demand personal training for 3 months)

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enJanuary 19, 2023

015 | Nourishing Your Hormones with Anastasiia De La Cruz

Brain fog? Missed periods? Fatigue? Feeling tired and wired? These can all be symptoms of hormone imbalance.

Hormones are a hot topic. These little chemical messengers are involved in almost every bodily process and are a crucial piece of overall health. Reestablishing healthy hormone levels in the body is key.

Anastasiia De La Cruz, certified holistic nutritionist & infertility survivor, joins me in this episode to discuss hormones, their many functions, and simple ways to nourish and balance hormones using diet and lifestyle practices. Anastasiia shares her journey of struggling with infertility to how she became a mother of two healthy girls. We also discuss ways to move from tired & wired to nourished & relaxed by using food, movement, and lifestyle practices to support hormone health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The importance of hormones and how to properly nourish them
Connection between gut health and hormone health
How to move from “tired & wired” to nourished & relaxed
How brain fog is connected to hormone health
Eating breakfast in the morning can help balance your blood sugar
How having a period is a vital indicator of a women’s health
Lauren’s journey of losing her period and how she regained it back
How Anastasiia moved through infertility and is now a mother of two healthy girls
Finding the exercise routine that is the right fit for you

Go Share These Thoughts:

Food can be about having fun, but can also be used to heal a person. - Anastasiia De La Cruz
If you want to relax, concentrate, feel at ease, have beautiful skin, and have energy, we have to respect our physiology. - Anastasiia De La Cruz
If you're not sleeping, your overall health is going to suffer. – Lauren Bryson
A key to balancing hormones is to eat breakfast within the first hour of waking up to balance your cortisol levels. - Anastasiia De La Cruz

About Anastasiia De La Cruz:

Anastasiia De La Cruz, certified Holistic Nutritionist, mom, and infertility survivor helps women (especially those who are struggling to start a family) deal with irregular or missing periods, create hormonal balance and optimize their nutrient intake without stress. Her goal is to show that proper health is not about counting calories, obsessing about a perfect diet, depriving yourself, or having a "perfect exercise routine." She wants to help her clients to heal mentally and physically and lead healthier and well-balanced lives without straining themselves.

Connect with Anastasiia De La Cruz:

Connect with Lauren :

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enJanuary 12, 2023

014 | Balancing Your Microbiome

What’s my favorite word? MICROBIOME!

Your microbiome is one of the most complex ecosystems on earth made up of different bacteria, fungi and viruses. The microbiome is all about balance #balancingyourbiome and a healthy microbiome is foundational to your overall health. As Aristotle said, "temperance or balance is a virtue," we should constantly take the center course.

In this episode, Ellen Roufs joins me for a deep dive into gut health. We chat about simple ways to balance the microbiome and focus on empowering you to understand the beautiful relationship between your body and food.

In this Episode You’ll Discover:

The many functions of the gut
Your microbiome is one of the most complex ecosystems found in the human body (& world)
The connection between the microbiome and the immune system
The importance of being exposed to soil and the many benefits to the microbiome
The hygiene hypothesis and what it actually means
Examples of probiotic and prebiotic foods
Simple and tangible tips to support your microbiome today

Go Share These Thoughts:

Digestion starts in the brain, since when one thinks or smells food, the brain can kick off your enzymes to help start digestion. - Ellen Roufs
The hygiene hypothesis is this idea that if we make everything too hygienic or too sterile, our immune system won’t actually know how to properly respond to different pathogens or foreign antigens. – Ellen Roufs
Digestive bitters have been used medicinally for thousands of years. There's wisdom in traditional medicine. If something's been used for thousands of years, there's probably a reason why. – Lauren Bryson

About Ellen Roufs:

Ellen is formally educated as a scientist but is an artist at heart. She combines her passions for science, education, and design to create template content for nutrition professionals to use with their clients. Her goal is to empower others to understand the beautiful relationships between their body and food so they can experience healing and wholeness.

Resources:

Free Template with Made Whole Nutrition (use the code FIRSTFREE)
Blog: 7 Ways To Support A Healthy Gut
Blog: Gut Health & Weight Management

Connect with Ellen Roufs:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enJanuary 05, 2023

013 | New Year's Intentions

I am here to tell you to forget your New Year's Resolutions. What are your New Year's Intentions? A resolution ties you to the future with no clear path forward while an intention grounds you in the present. Intention is something we aim to do. It supports grace, forgiveness, and time. If you want to reclaim your power, start by being intentional.

My New Year's Intention is to call in powerful collaborations. In this episode I reflect on the year that is about to end and also announce a major collaboration to begin the new year with a reset and a whole new list of intentions.

I am thrilled to announce a collaboration with Cat Elumba from The Catalyst Wellness. Cat & I will be hosting a 5-Day New Year's Reset Group Program that will focus on immune health and weight management.

2023 NEW YEARS RESET
Feb 6-10, 2023

Start your year off right with a 5-day virtual group coaching program to support immune health & weight management. We will implement simple, sustainable solutions to manage our health and wellness.

You Will Receive:

5 Day Meal Plan with Custom Seasonal Recipes
Homemade Bone Broth
Lifestyle Suggestions
Live Cooking Class
Movement Video
Nutrition & Lifestyle Education
Create Your Own Immune Supportive Tonic (Fire Cider)
In-Person Group Meet Up (optional)
Community & Connection

To Sign Up:

Email Cat (catelumba@pivotacu.com) or Lauren (laurenemersonwellness@gmail.com) for more information

If you mention the Go Play in the Dirt Podcast you will receive 10% off our New Year's Reset Group Program.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The difference between New Year's Resolutions and New Year’s Intentions
How to set your New Year’s Intention
The advantage of having an accountability buddy
Introduction to Cat Elumba and her work with The Catalyst Wellness
Five-day group coaching program, a collaboration of wellness activities between Lauren Emerson Wellness and The Catalyst Wellness

Go Share These Thoughts:

Small simple commitments lead to lifelong healthy habits. - Lauren Bryson
Surrender can push you to your limits, but it can also be the catalyst for profound change. - Lauren Bryson
Set intentions and be specific. Set yourself up for success. Take small yet actionable steps daily. - Lauren Bryson

Connect With Cat

Follow Go Play in the Dirt:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enDecember 29, 2022

012 | Financial Fitness with Anna Bryson

We’ve talked about many facets of holistic wellness on Go Play in the Dirt. But one thing we haven’t discussed yet—which is an aspect as important as the others—is our financial health. How do we maintain our physical and mental health if we are not prioritizing building our financial health, too?

Like it or not, one of life’s biggest stressors is money. Financial stress affects everyone.

In this episode I brought on one of my favorite people to talk about financial fitness, Chief Financial Officer Anna Bryson. In this episode Anna gives us simple, tangible, sustainable tips on ways to be financially well. What I discovered is that financial health is very similar to holistic health: start with simple commitments which can lead to to lifelong healthy [financial] habits. Start small and stay consistent.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

Anna Bryson’s journey in the financial world
How she fulfills her mission working for the healthcare ecosystem
The importance of not putting all your eggs in one basket
The power of (bio)diversity for your overall financial health
Debit or credit card—which one should you use?
The first steps in taking the leap into investing
Sustainable investing, ESGs and why it is becoming a trend
How to prepare for retirement when you are an entrepreneur
The type of mindset to have when you’re working on your financial health
Three simple financial tips we can use to support ourselves and our loved ones

Go Share These Thoughts:

Diversifying is one of the most important things you can do from a financial wellness perspective. It's also one of the most important things you can do from a stress perspective. - Anna Bryson
ESG's are all about sustainable investing. You're investing in companies that are focusing on things like health equity, diversity, or carbon-neutral emissions. But what that also means is it allows individuals like us to invest in what we're passionate about. - Anna Bryson
Financial stress affects everyone. Health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, insomnia, and gut-related issues—a fair amount of them I'm sure stem from financial stress. - Lauren Bryson

About Anna Bryson:

Anna Bryson is the Chief Financial Officer of Doximity, the leading digital platform for doctors. Prior to joining Doximity, Anna was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ACB Capital, an investment advisory firm. She holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford in England.

Resources:

Doximity

Connect with Anna Bryson:

LinkedIn

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, professional financial advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enDecember 22, 2022

011 | Elevating Diverse Voices with Shalonda Ingram

Biodiversity is a word used to describe the vast variety of life on earth. This podcast celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion and is a safe space to elevate diverse voices. These conversations can support developing biodiversity in our own hearts to see each other as humans and encourage ways we can listen to, relate to and support one another.

True to the podcast’s mission, we chat with Shalonda Ingram, a placemaker, strategist, and producer, who will walk us through the depths of grassroots activism and how acknowledging one another's heritage, experience and diversity becomes a holding space for collective healing to occur.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

Shalonda Ingram’s mission of elevating consciousness and empowering collective liberation
The importance of awareness, accountability and creating harmonious environments
Biodiversity of ancient wisdom, evolution, leveraging resources, taking risks, and learning from each other
Why land acknowledgement is important
Community conversation of health and wellness for the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities
Allowing each other to live a biodiverse life

Go Share These Thoughts:

Biodiversity represents the ancient wisdom and practices of my relations. - Shalonda Ingram
A land acknowledgment is a simple way to tell the truth - Shalonda Ingram
It's very powerful to be on an island with these sisters and to share our art with each other without the oppression of anti-blackness in America and without the distractions of whether or not this is gonna make sense. - Shalonda Ingram

About Shalonda Ingram:

Born and raised in St. Louis Missouri, Shalonda is committed to elevating consciousness and empowering collective liberation. Shalonda has deployed worldwide for the transformation of people, principles, practices, and systems. Native to grassroots activism, Shalonda works with social justice, spiritual, and corporate organizations to explore network effects and elevate opportunities for resource sharing while scaling.

Resources:

Connect with Shalonda Ingram:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enDecember 15, 2022

010 | The 12 Days of Kids Cooking

Let’s get more junior chefs in the kitchen! In this episode we discover how the quality of a child's diet impacts their overall health and some simple ways to get kiddos involved in the cooking process.

This episode is a fun one. I worked with my brother and we created a remix of the holiday classic The 12 Days of Christmas - I present to you, for the holiday season of 2022, The 12 Days of Kids Cooking. ‘Tis the season for some big kid energy.

“On the first day of kids cooking, a junior chef said to me…”

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The CDC reports that 40% of school aged children and adolescents have a chronic health condition
The power of education at a young age
How to help kids cope with an increasingly stressful world
The importance of including junior chefs in the kitchen
Studies show that children who are involved in the cooking process can develop lifelong healthy eating habits
The 12 Days of Kids Cooking—a fun rendition of the famous holiday song

Go Share These Thoughts:

I believe deeply in the power of education at a young age. - Lauren Bryson
Establishing healthy behaviors at a young age can help set our children up for success. - Lauren Bryson
Community creates resilience and kids' cooking creates community. - Lauren Bryson
Always remember to keep organic. - Will Bryson

Resources:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enDecember 08, 2022

009 | The Wand Chooses the Wizard with Lauren Bryson

“The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter.”

Remember this line from our all-time favorite Harry Potter? There are many lores about the wand to explore; for one, the wand picking its person is a combination of the wood and core and the personality of its holder—meaning, the wand is not a one-size-fits-all kind of instrument. It’s personalized—distinct to every wizard.

Similarly, our body functions the same way. How our body heals and maintains our health is different for each person - the concept of bio-individuality and biodiversity.

Heads up: You don’t need to box yourself in that same old method! There are multimodal approaches to health and healing that are available. All that awaits is for you to seek it out and try it. After all, the wand chooses the wizard.

In this episode, my friend KJ dropped by the pod to hang out with me and ask questions about my journey in the holistic health space, thoughts on biodiversity and the inspiration behind Go Play in the Dirt.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The balance between being in the “clouds” and going back to the “ground” and playing in the dirt
Lauren's personal health journey & how she currently manages her autoimmune disease with diet and lifestyle
The concept of using biodiversity to heal the body
Resistance to feeling good vs. permission to feeling good
Writing yourself a "Permission Slip"
Lauren's top three priorities to staying healthy: movement, healthy eating, and meditation
Examples of small, simple acts of self care
The inspo behind Go Play in the Dirt

Go Share These Thoughts:

The symptoms that your body shows you are clues… It's your body showing you something is off, and getting to the root cause of the issue is the goal. - Lauren Bryson
That's when you notice that easy, magical flowing things happen—when you're locked into that stream of being fully present. - KJ Nasrul
My whole identity doesn't have to be being someone with a chronic illness. There are moments of joy, and giving myself permission to feel good was real hard but it's possible. - Lauren Bryson
We've talked about permission, and sometimes if we just give it new light, we might know more. So [permission] is this allowance, this acceptance of feeling good… It's all about perspective. And in some ways, labels and language around it, and changing the way that we assign evaluation around it. - KJ Nasrul
I really like to emphasize small forms of self-care—small daily habits which can turn into life-long patterns. - Lauren Bryson
Diversity is the way forward, and our society is not moving in that direction right now. - Lauren Bryson

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enDecember 01, 2022

008 | Life After Sugar with Netta Gorman

Recent statistics show that the average American consumes about 70 pounds of added sugar a year. Sugar is everywhere! Sugar can be seen as a comfort food. Some of these foods even take us back to our core memory of childhood: moments of freedom and happiness.

But while sugar is a huge part of our society today, it can also jeopardize our health in a multitude of ways. In this episode, Netta Gorman, a self-confessed sweet tooth and dessert queen, recounts how she finally realized that the root cause of her long list of health problems is because of sugar. Tune in as she narrates how she found a healthier relationship with food and herself.

And no, hers was not a bittersweet story.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

How Netta Gorman discovered the world of health and wellness
The reason why the self-identified dessert queen cut out sugar from her life
How adding in fermented foods was key for healing her gut and overall health
Step 1 in beginning the process of removing sugar from your diet
How to move through sugar cravings
The importance of building your own reality
How our taste buds change over time depending on the food that we eat
Netta’s testament to living a sugar-free lifestyle

Go Share These Thoughts:

We all know intellectually that sugar's not good for you. But why is it such a huge struggle for so many people to even entertain the possibility of cutting sugar? It's because we have this deep emotional connection with sugary foods. - Netta Gorman
The body's ability to heal is really incredible. And we don't give it enough credit. I think if we give it the right tools—I always like to say food is information for your body, so if you give your body the right information, then it has the supplies to heal. - Lauren Bryson
What I help people with is to go through the reasons why they're so connected to sugar, and to start letting go of that, which is no small feat. - Netta Gorman
It really takes courage to make changes in your life that seem scary. - Lauren Bryson

Resources:

Connect with Netta:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enNovember 24, 2022

007 | Seven Foods To Support Your Mood

Have you ever had a gut feeling? Butterflies in your stomach? An immediate instinct? The way our bodies give us clues is truly a work of art.

The gut-brain connection explains where your gut feelings come from. The gut and the brain are in constant communication with each other and the gut is home to the enteric nervous system aka “the second brain.” Our brain sends signals to every part of our body and where it is usually physically manifested is in your gut. This is why when we’re emotionally distressed, anxious, or depressed, we generally get discomfort in our stomachs.

Prioritizing your mental health is key for your overall health. Remember, do whatever it takes to take care of you! Whether it be movement, mindfulness, medication, therapy, group support or by using food as medicine. We often forget the brain is an organ that needs specific nutrients to thrive.

In this episode, I dive into the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry and outline seven specific foods to help support your mood.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

The emerging field of nutritional psychiatry
The importance of prioritizing one’s mental health
The gut-brain connection
How to use food as medicine
Seven foods to help support your mood
- Turmeric
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Sauerkraut
- Berries
- Cold Water Fish
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Dark Chocolate

Go Share These Thoughts:

The more we share our truth as messy and imperfect as it is, the more we grow, evolve, and connect. - Lauren Bryson
When I began to prioritize my mental health, it was key for supporting my overall health. - Lauren Bryson
Remember, do whatever it takes to take care of you—whether that be therapy, group support, medication, mindfulness, or movement. - Lauren Bryson
One way to support your mental health is through food. It is theorized that if you treat inflammation in the body and support your microbiome, you can treat inflammation in the brain. - Lauren Bryson
Listen to your gut. Trust your gut. - Lauren Bryson

Resources:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enNovember 17, 2022

006 | Beauty Foods with Jessica Rose

The world has put such pressure on women regarding the way we look, we walk, we talk, we dress, we act, and carry ourselves. The standards of beauty are skewed and society pushes many products on people (botox, fillers, serums) that actually contain toxins, accelerate the aging process and can negatively affect your overall health.

Jessica Rose, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Licensed Cosmetologist, and Beauty Expert, educates us on ways to get glowing, vibrant skin from within by using food and lifestyle methods. She breaks down simple, tangible tips for us to understand that what we eat will not only make us look good but also feel good within. This is an empowering episode that encourages you to get back to the basics and take your health and skin into your own hands and out of the toxic products that are pushed on consumers today.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

How connecting with the earth as a morning practice can help shift mood and set the day off right
How to use food to support mood
How to use food and lifestyle practices to support skin, hair, and nails
The importance of hydration
Foods to eat that can support glowing skin from within
The importance of collagen
Toxins in our cookware and some non-toxic alternatives

Go Share These Thoughts:

I try to keep it diverse in my friendships, too. I associate with a wide range of people whom I feel are really supportive of my mental health. I spend time with good people, have good conversations, and [create] genuine connections. - Jessica Rose
People are starting to realize that what you cook your food in is almost equally important as the food that you're cooking. - Jessica Rose
I strive to be as clean and as healthy as I can. But it can be overwhelming at times. So meeting yourself where you're at is a really key point. - Lauren Bryson

Resources:

Connect with Jessica Rose:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enNovember 10, 2022

005 | Ways to Be Well with Dr. Ed Bauman

Dr. Ed Bauman has been at the forefront of the holistic health and nutrition renaissance for the past 50 years.

Dr. B literally learned nutrition from the ground up by starting in the soil as an organic farmer.

In our conversation, Dr. B discusses how compromised our food systems have become and why there is such a great need to go back and play in the dirt, produce and eat local, community-based food. We dive deep into ways to be well by using the 5 Wellness Practices: Eating for Health, Joyful Movement, Mindfulness, Healing Relationships and Soulful Service. Dr. B outlines how intricately connected the gut and immune system are and goes over specific foods and herbs to support your immune health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

From law school to becoming a doctor: How Dr. B discovered the world of holistic health and nutrition
Eating for your SOUL: Seasonal, Organic, Unprocessed & Local
The importance of establishing community-based food buying clubs
The concept of Affordable Nutrition and ways to eat healthy on a budget
How the gut and the immune system are connected
Ways to support your immune system using food and herbs

Go Share These Thoughts:

All the foods are powerful and nourishing—animal foods, vegetable foods, dairy food. They've just been compromised. Unfortunately, the industry for over a hundred years now has been dumping poison on the fields that have really screwed up the food system, which is a big contributor to disease patterns. - Dr. Ed Bauman
I'm usually not playing on the fear theme, but playing on the we-can-do-it theme. We are part of a community. We are part of nature. We are part of our surroundings. - Dr. Ed Bauman
The most important thing is to build strength and to build hardiness and to eat strengthening foods. - Dr. Ed Bauman

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Ed Bauman:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enNovember 03, 2022

004 | Reasons to Eat with the Seasons

Numbers do not lie. According to the CDC prior to the pandemic, 51.8% of all US adults have at least 1 pre-existing chronic disease. 30% of all us adults have 2 or more chronic diseases. Today, one out of three Americans is clinically obese which is twice as many as three decades ago.

Quite alarming, isn’t it? And this is due to the fact that our modern lives now equate to an unhealthy lifestyle. Processed food. Poor lifestyle habits. There are so many things that we enjoy but don’t necessarily help our body to function properly.

In this episode I share my #1 tip for optimal health: eat seasonally. Choosing in-season produce has numerous health benefits and supports your local community, environment, and economy.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover

The state of the overall health of Americans
Eating for your SOUL: choosing seasonal, organic, unprocessed and local food
How to go back to the basics with the concept of Ayurveda and Ritucharya
Five reasons to eat with the seasons:
- Affordability
- Nutrient density
- Taste and quality
- Connection and community
- Supporting the environment

Go Share These Thoughts:

Choosing in season produce has numerous health benefits and supports your local economy, environment, and community.
Our modern lifestyle has caused us to lose connection with the soil and what's currently in season.
Supporting your local farmers and economy is a huge bonus, but also creates a sense of community and connection that we, humans, so deeply crave.
Eating seasonally will benefit your wallet. It will benefit your overall health. It will benefit your local community and economy, and it will also benefit the environment.
Eating seasonally is a very tangible tip that the majority of people can add to their daily lives.

Resources:

What's in Season in Fall? 10 Healthiest Fruits & Vegetables

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enOctober 27, 2022

003 | Mental Wealth with KJ Nasrul

Storyteller, podcaster, and psychotherapist Kimberly Jane Nasrul, or KJ as her friends and family call her, is a believer of the arts and creativity as means to maintain mental wellness.

This incorporation of the arts to explore mental health is exactly how I view biodiversity—the understanding that we all co-exist and everything is interconnected. Every choice we make is felt in our bodies, our lives, and our surroundings.

As a holistic nutritionist, I believe in the need to also prioritize mental wellness, especially in our time when the disconnection from community and nature has evolved into many of the issues we face today. There is deep wisdom in traditional medicine.

Here, KJ and I talk about the need to go play in the dirt and why it is essential to allow ourselves to slow down and pause to support our mental health.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover:

The power of storytelling: KJ Nasrul’s journey
How playing in the dirt can be a way to reconnect with the wisdom of nature
Incorporation of expressive arts to achieve biodiversity and mental wellness
How to attain small moments of joy despite the chaos
The 30-second permission rule and how it gives clarity
Full circle moment: How KJ and Lauren have been instrumental in each other’s lives

Go Share These Thoughts:

Everything is influencing and informing each other. What I'm putting into my body, what I'm literally eating and ingesting has a direct correlation and impact on my mood, my mental health, my physical flexibility, and my energy levels. - KJ Nasrul
Anything that doesn't actually require words— all these are other forms of language that we're speaking about. We're not limited to just words or labels. We actually have the space for interpretation. There are other ways to use language. There are other ways to communicate. - KJ Nasrul

About KJ Nasrul:

Kimberly Jane "KJ" Nasrul is a licensed trauma-focused psychotherapist, artist, and speaker. She has an obsession with words and a knack for making grilled cheese sandwiches. She helps Essential Frontline workers, healthcare providers, and educators recover their resiliency via expressive arts, EMDR Therapy, and methods of Compassionate questioning to prevent burnout so that they can continue to heal their communities.

Resources:

Free Guide: Four Steps To Connect to Calm

Connect with KJ:

Connect with Lauren:

The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. The Go Play in the Dirt Podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of disease. If you have questions about a medical condition, please see your physician or other qualified health provider.

enOctober 20, 2022