Pure Curiosity with Iris McAlpin

In this episode I speak with Amanda E. White, therapist, retired party girl, and author of the new book Not Drinking Tonight about alcohol culture. This is a nuanced conversation about how we collectively relate to alcohol and sobriety, how alcohol misuse and eating disorders are intimately connected, the difference between alcohol addiction and "food addiction" and so much more. Whether you're struggling with your relationship with alcohol, interested in reflecting on your relationship with alcohol, or wanting to support someone in your life who is struggling with substance use, this conversation offers insight as well as practical guidance for navigating these issues. 

About Our Guest:

Amanda E. White is a licensed therapist and the creator of the popular instagram account @therapyforwomen. She is the author of the book “Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating A Sober Life You Love.” She is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Therapy for Women Center, based in Philadelphia serving clients across the country. In her clinical work, she specializes in working with individuals with substance use disorders and eating disorders.

People are drawn to Amanda’s unique expertise, accessible approach to healing and mental health. She has been featured in notable publications such as Forbes, Washington Post, Shape, Women’s Health Magazine, and more.  

Follow Amanda on Instagram.

Purchase Amanda's Book. 
 

In this episode I speak with Dr. Jen Douglas, a licensed psychologist, Stanford professor and mom about all things perfectionism. We talk about how it shows up (in sometimes sneaky ways) across multiple dimensions, including body image, parenting and productivity. Perfectionism also has an intergenerational component to it, and Dr. Jen offers some tangible insight into how we can shift these patterns within our families and raise children who aren't burdened by the weight of perfectionism. We also discuss the importance of pleasure, play and humor in healing, and how learning to laugh at ourselves can help us manage the inevitable messiness of life. Dr. Jen is a delight, and I hope you will enjoy this perfectly imperfect episode! 

About Our Guest:

Jen Douglas, PhD is a licensed psychologist, Stanford clinical assistant professor, executive coach, consultant, partner and mother. Dr. Jen specializes in helping high-achieving individuals overcome their own perfectionism to reach their fullest potential, both in their professional worlds and in their personal relationships. Dr. Jen turns her unique approach to mental health towards women and non-binary individuals at the intersection of identity, professional goals, and parenting. In her academic role, Dr. Jen trains graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and medical residents in empirically-based mental health treatment, and has published in international peer-reviewed psychology journals. Dr. Jen’s clinical interests span the intersection of high-functioning anxiety, emotional regulation, and societal influences on mental health.  

As a mission-driven mental health expert intent on improving access to education about life-changing psychological tools, Dr. Jen facilitates anti-burnout workshops and provides speaking engagements for such companies as Facebook Inc. and Vox Media. The center of Dr. Jen’s passion is marrying academic psychological theory with real-life societal pressures and intersectional identities. It is harder to overcome perfectionism, anxiety, and imposter syndrome when these patterns are rooted in societal expectations and pressures. Dr. Jen brings a holistic approach to overcoming these issues from an empowerment lens.

Dr. Jen’s more than 13 years in the mental health field and academic medicine have given her the tools to help others find that sweet spot in the fusion of self-acceptance, humility, and stepping into power by showing up as our true selves.  

Dr. Jen and her work have been featured across news outlets including Newsweek, NBC News, Glamour, and NPR. She currently lives in the Bay Area with her family, who humor her feeble attempts at being a “cool mom.”

Learn more about Dr. Jen's Online Course.

Follow Dr. Jen on Instagram. 

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with licensed therapist Yolanda Renteria about how our childhood experiences impact our wellbeing as adults, sleep training, child development, trauma-informed parenting, and so much more. Yolanda shares from both her personal experience as a mother and her professional experience as a therapist, and addresses some really delicate and potentially very sensitive issues that come up for parents. As an expecting mother, I was grateful to learn from her, and believe her insights would be helpful for anyone regardless of their parenting status. We've all been children, so we've all been impacted by the cultural norms around parenting in one way or another. 

About Our Guest:

Yolanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Arizona with a certification in trauma and training in somatic approaches. She works in a community setting in an agricultural community serving predominantly Hispanic clients. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Masters degree in Counseling. She is also adjunct faculty Professor for the Social Sciences Department at Northern Arizona University. In her free time she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family.

Follow Yolanda's work on Instagram

In this gripping episode I speak with executive coach and leadership consultant Daniel Stover about his near-death experience while traveling abroad. His story is vulnerable, captivating and ultimately very inspiring. We explore what happens when we're pushed to our limits, how we may not react the way we think we're going to in crisis, and the potential for trauma to lead to profound shifts in understanding about what it means to be alive. 

About Our Guest:

Dan grew up in rural Northwest Ohio, where his journey of self discovery began. While volunteering for Suicide Prevention Services in college, Dan found his passion for helping others get unstuck and find hope. It was there he became a coach, advisor, trainer and board member for the first time.

Dan received two degrees from The Ohio State University, and his master’s degree in organizational psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In 2012, Dan began his formal training in leadership psychology with an established midwest leadership development firm. He thrived in the consulting profession and held several board positions in Columbus, Ohio. In 2015, Dan pioneered West to Los Angeles, where he expanded his career and passion for leadership development.

Today, Dan owns and manages Ensight Partners. He has helped hundreds of teams create culture, resolve conflict and lead more effectively across industries, internationally. In 2017, he received the Excellency Award from Geneva Group International.

In his free time, Dan is an avid reader, traveler, nature photographer and hiker. He is a member of The American Psychological Association, The Society of Consulting Psychology, and The Nature Conservancy. Dan is also member of the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative for the Society of Consulting Psychology, The International Coaching Federation and the ICF Foundation Society.

Visit Dan's company website

Follow Dan on Instagram

Healthy boundaries are a critical aspect of mental and relational health, but they're something most people struggle with. Burn out is rampant. Many of us have felt overwhelmed by at least one relationship in our lives. Almost all of us have something we feel challenged to set limits around. This is our guest Nedra Tawwab's area of expertise. She helps people around the world set healthier boundaries with her online content and new book, Set Boundaries Find Peace. In this episode we discuss setting limits around social media use, how to deal with guilt around setting boundaries, why so many of us struggle with boundaries and much more. 

About Our Guest:

Nedra Glover Tawwab is a licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert. She has practiced relationship therapy for 12 years and is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Kaleidoscope Counseling. Every day she helps people create healthy relationships by teaching them how to implement boundaries. Her philosophy is that a lack of boundaries and assertiveness underlie most relationship issues, and her gift is helping people create healthy relationships with themselves and others. 

Follow Nedra on Instagram

Check out Nedra's Book Set Boundaries Find Peace

Visit Nedra's Wesbite

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with speaker, writer and therapist-in-training Mimi Cole about her experience with Orthorexia, a less commonly known eating disorder, as well as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. Orthorexia is an obsession with healthy eating, which ironically gets to a point of being unhealthy and disruptive for people's lives. Unfortunately it is becoming more widespread with the popularity of the "clean eating" movement. Mimi shares her story of recovery from both of these disorders as well discussing the overlap between the two. I know you will find Mimi as likable and delightful as I do!

About Our Guest:

Mimi Cole is a second year graduate student in the Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has worked in the outpatient and residential levels of care as a Resident Patient Associate for individuals with eating disorders. Mimi is the host of The Lovely Becoming podcast and you can find her on Instagram: @the.lovelybecoming. Outside of therapy, Mimi loves to explore new coffee shops, read, and write.

Check out Mimi's Podcast

Follow Mimi on Instagram

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with trauma coach and survivor Nate Postlethwait on his experience with religious trauma, and his recovery from the abuses he experienced in childhood. After disclosing his experiences of sexual abuse, Nate was told he needed to repent and was pushed into conversion therapy, where he was forbidden to discuss important aspects of his trauma and identity for many years. Over time, Nate realized he needed a very different kind of support for his recovery, and eventually found his way to inner child work. This is a very candid and powerful conversation about the traumatic underbelly of religious fundamentalism, and finding healing on your own terms.

About Our Guest:

A few years ago Nate Postlethwait walked away from a highly successful career in real estate in order to give himself a reset and find more understanding in his life. He sold his home and everything with it and traveled throughout the world for several months. During his travels, he began publicly sharing his journey of healing from childhood trauma and the battles with his mental health. Quickly, a community began to form. Other survivors began sharing their stories in the comments section. That community has quickly grown to over 120k and continues to have thousands of new friends join weekly.

Nate has lead sold out webinars on inner child work and most recently, written a four week course on this work and offers multiple weekly q & a's that help share stories from within this survivor community. On the weekends, he posts the funniest memes sent in from those who follow along and does a segment on "My worst possible advice" where others write in what they want advice on. He describes himself as a loud introvert, but also incredibly tender hearted to those who are hurting and need help. His life mission is to help those who need trauma informed therapy find it in a way that is accessible and affordable. He is an avid traveler, but proudly calls Denver, CO home.

Visit Nate's Website

Follow Nate on Instagram

In this episode of Pure Curiosity I speak with Steven Kessler, a licensed therapist of over 30 years, and author of the bestselling book The 5 Personality Patterns. I first picked up his book in 2019, and found it to be one of the most accessible book on character analysis/personality formation I've found. This is a topic that is often reserved for dense clinical literature, and Steven does a wonderful job translating it for a broader audience. His book breaks down universal patterns of behavior that we adopt in order to feel safe in our early lives. These patterns become woven into the fabric of our identities, and shape much of what we consider to be our personalities. In this conversation we discuss these patterns, and how they relate to sensitivity, narcissism, attraction, and much more. 

About Our Guest:

Steven Kessler has been a psychotherapist in the San Francisco Bay Area for almost 30 years, teaching both locally and internationally. He is a certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Expert and Trainer, and is the bestselling author of The 5 Personality Patterns, a simple, clear, true-to-life map of personality that gives you the key to understanding people and communicating with them effectively. More information and descriptions of the patterns are available at www.The5PersonalityPatterns.com. Steven loves teaching and helping people grow. He can be reached at Steven@The5PersonalityPatterns.com.

In this episode of Pure Curiosity, I speak with James Onwuachi, a modern day philosopher, theologian and upper school dean. When James and I met in Houston 10 years ago we immediately had a good rapport, and managed to stay in touch despite multiple major moves around the country. Earlier this year, he reached out and shared an article he had written in Newsweek about the cancelling of Dr. Seuss, and I immediately asked him to join me on the podcast. This is a conversation about what sacredness means beyond the confines of traditional religion, and the role it plays in Cancel Culture. I really appreciated the thoughtfulness and depth James brings to these topics. I left our conversation feeling touched and inspired, and I have a feeling you will too.

About Our Guest:

After getting his masters in divinity at Vanderbilt University (where he's currently pursuing a doctorate) James Onwuachi went into academia. He is the Upper School Dean at Kinkaid Preparatory School in Houston Texas, and is the former Associate Dean at Vanderbilt University, Oberlin College, Grinnell College, and University of California-Santa Cruz. James is also an op-ed columnist for Newsweek magazine, where he discusses culture, race and theology.

James' Newsweek Articles:

As a Black Child in Houston, my Dr. Seuss Moment Was About Thomas Jefferson

Black Men Are a Rorschach Test That America Keeps Failing

The Real Source of Cancel Culture: We're Seeking Justice for Old Wounds 

In this episode of Pure Curiosity, Neuroscientist Dr. Don Vaughn weighs in on The Social Dilemma, and answers a very important question: can technology help us overcome tech addiction? It might sound counterintuitive, but he offers a very compelling argument. We also discuss his research on empathy, and address the age old question of free will. Lastly we review the findings of his latest polling technology, which predicted a much closer race than any other national poll. Dr. Vaughn is, in my opinion, one of the brightest minds out there. I'm always interested in and impressed by his analysis of complex issues, and I believe you will be as well. 

About Our Guest:
Dr. Don Vaughn is a neuroscientist, futurist, and international public speaker. His foci include human perception, augmented performance, empathic bias, and machine learning. Since graduating from Stanford, Dr. Vaughn’s research has been featured on ABC, ESPN, TIME magazine, and the X-Games. Over a million people have viewed his TEDx talk “neurohacking: rewiring your brain”. He has been an opinion leader for a range of news outlets including The Wall Street Journal and NBC News.

To learn more about his company and research on the election, visit https://www.invisibly.com/research.

Dr. Alex Abramovich and I were brought together in honor of Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's campaign "Not Suicide. Not Today." to discuss one of the most vulnerable populations: LGBTQ+ youth. LGBTQ+ youth, and in particular trans youth of color, are at a disproportionately high risk of homelessness, discrimination and suicide. Dr. Abramovich is working on the front lines with shelters, and conducting research to support both the mental and physical wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth. In this interview we discuss the role families play in homelessness, as well as transphobia, coming out, and the joys of living authentically. It was such a pleasure to speak with Alex and learn about his personal journey and work, and I know you'll enjoy it as well!   

About Our Guest

​​
 Dr. Alex Abramovitch is an Independent Scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research: Transgender individuals face higher rates of mental health issues than the general population, including suicide, depression, and substance use– yet trans health continues to be understudied. In the first study of its kind, Dr. Alex Abramovich, an Independent Scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, is collecting health care data from up to eight clinics across Ontario in hopes of better understanding how transgender people are accessing mental health care. It’s hoped the study will lead to a greater understanding of how best to intervene to improve mental health outcomes in this population, which still faces significant stigma, discrimination and structural violence.

For additional resources:

1. Families in Transition - a very helpful guide for parents and families of trans youth: https://ctys.org/wp-content/uploads/CTYS-FIT-Families-in-Transition-Guide-2nd-edition.pdf 

2. Family Acceptance Project Resources, San Francisco State University: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/resources

3. Trans Inclusion in Mental Health and Addictions Services: https://amho.ca/wp-content/uploads/Trans-Inclusion-Snapshot_FINAL.pdf 

4. The Trevor Project, Resources for supporting LGBTQ2S youth: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/ 

5. GLAAD Resources for supporting LGBTQ2S populations: https://www.glaad.org/resourcelist 

Also, this is a CBC documentary called Transforming Gender from 2016, which features a group of trans folks and families and provides an inside view. Dr. Abramovich is one of the people featured in this film. It's really well done and educational. Here is the link: https://www.cbc.ca/doczone/episodes/transforming-gender 

A few months ago I read an article titled An Invitation to White Therapists by Hayden Dawes, and immediately wanted to invite him onto my podcast. In the article (which I highly recommend reading) he unequivocally calls out problematic behavior and attitudes he's observed in the White mental health community, but in a way that shows his commitment to communal healing and grace. In all of our interactions I've been struck by his humility, dedication to living authentically, and his playfulness. These are qualities I think our world could use more of, so I'm very excited to share this conversation with you! As usual we cover a wide range of topics, from coming out in the Catholic Church to embracing the free fall of uncertainty. I hope you'll listen all the way to the end for some gems on the vulnerability of anger and it's value for transformation. 

About Our Guest:

​
Hayden earned his masters of social work degree from North Carolina State University in 2014. Following graduation, he provided mental health treatment and case management to diverse populations in various settings including inpatient, outpatient, and the community.  His practice experience includes hospital social work, mental health and addiction treatment, in addition to people involved in the legal system. 

In service to the profession, he has served as communications chair of the board of directors and vice-president to the North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work. He currently maintains professional membership with the Society for Social Work and Research, the North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work, National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the American Academy of Psychotherapy (AAP). He is currently in private practice at the AHB Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness in Durham, NC, where he provides mental health treatment to primarily people of color and LGBTQIA+ identified adults.

In August 2019, he began pursuing his Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to further his research in examining the psychosocial challenges impacting people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals, while seeking advanced methods to intervene on provider implicit and explicit biases.

Learn more: www.hcdawes.com

Twitter | Instagram

In this episode I am joined by clinical psychologist Wangui Wanjiru and we cover a LOT of ground, from "pretty privilege," to the narcissistic abuse inflicted upon Black people in societies all over the world. I originally reached out to her to discuss emotional colonization and her work in mental health in Kenya, but with the protests unfolding in the US, we ended up primarily discussing what's happening here. I hope you'll listen to this longer episode in its entirety, and that you'll appreciate learning from Wangui as much as I did. There is much to learn. 

About Our Guest:

I am Wangui Wanjiru. I’m a mental health and behavioral medicine Counselor - I practice in the fields of clinical psychology with interest in complex and shock trauma. I am currently working as a psychosocial counselor with torture survivors, developing a treatment program for survivors of sexual trauma and will soon be leading the complex trauma division at the Traumatic Stress Society of Kenya. I enjoy reading, music - roots reggae, spicy food, deep conversations, a good work out and travel by road.

Currently, I am interested the subject of shame and inspired by love and compassion.

To listen to Wangui on the NARM podcast, Transforming Trauma, click here.

Check out her recommended books:

Shame and Pride

Behave: The Biology of Humans at our Best and Worst

Ten Types of Human

Affluenza

The Wretched of the Earth

Feelings of helplessness, uncertainty and anxiety are being felt globally right now, and for good reason. We're experiencing a collective trauma. Most of us have never faced something quite like COVID-19 before, and it's only natural to be feeling unsettled. Thankfully there is also a possibility of using this experience to build greater resilience both individually and collectively. In this episode, NARM Master Therapist Brad Kammer joins us to help guide us through these uncharted waters. He serves up some important doses of reality along with a message of compassion, hope and healing.  I truly hope this will be of service to you. 

About Our Guest:

Brad Kammer, LMFT, LPCC is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor. Brad is a NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Master Therapist, Consultant, and Faculty Trainer, teaching and working with complex trauma internationally. Brad is also a Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner, Consultant and Faculty Trainer, and has been involved in bringing SE to various communities around the world. Brad began his career as a Humanitarian Aid Worker in Asia which introduced him to personal and collective trauma. He became passionate about supporting individuals and communities in the transformation of trauma. Brad has since focused his work on the integration of Somatic Psychology, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and wisdom from Spiritual Traditions and Traditional Cultures. Brad lives in a small town in Northern California with his family where he is a Somatic Psychotherapist, College Professor, Trauma Consultant, and Community Educator on Body-Mind approaches to Stress, Trauma & Self-Care.

To contact brad please visit http://body-mindtherapy.com or email him at bradkammer@narmtraining.com

In this episode, Victoria Welsby (a.k.a. Fierce Fatty) and I dive deep into body politics, eating disorder recovery, and the critical importance of fat activism in our society. Fat people are discriminated against in almost every area. They don't make as much money in the workplace, they are blamed for their own health issues by medical professionals, and they're frequently denied treatment for eating disorders. This bias is based on extremely flawed ideas about what makes a person fat (e.g. lack of willpower, etc.), and outdated, lazy science about dieting, health and weight. Victoria is incredibly insightful, and she brings a wonderful sense of humor and levity to these otherwise challenging topics. 

About Our Guest:
​​
 Victoria Welsby is a world-leading expert on body image and confidence, TEDx speaker and best-selling author. She went from being homeless, abused with self-esteem that was achingly low into the courageous fat activist and change maker she is today. Victoria helps people fall in love with themselves and is dedicated to shifting the way society views fat bodies.

Check out Her Free Training: The 4 Simple Steps to Feel Confident in Your Body and Around Food ... Even If You Believe It's Not Possible! https://event.webinarjam.com/register/5v6o1fn

Learn More About Victoria: http://fiercefatty.com/

A lot of my content focuses women's issues because it's what I can speak to best, but I'm really passionate about the mental health of all genders. Speaking with Preston about the male experience of relationships, trauma, health and emotion was a real treat for me. He brings so much energy and authenticity to his work, and I appreciate his no filter style. We definitely get into some potentially triggering and controversial topics here, but I hope anyone in a relationship with a man, either as a friend, parent, or partner will listen to this with an open mind.        

About Our Guest:

With the success of his books LOVE LOUDER, 33 ways to amplify your life and the bestseller NOW OR NEVER your epic life in 5 steps, Preston is breaking all the rules, and carving out his own path as a Next Generation Thought Leader.  

Preston Smiles is a LOVE force to be reckoned with.  A self proclaimed Swiss army man for love, Preston has generated millions of views with his message of LOVE, and personal freedom. Making a deep impact through writing, speaking, and inspirational videos, using his unique gift to make complex ideas simple and relatable.

He's been featured in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, Origin Magazine and many others. He's also a contributor to Huffington Post, The Daily Love, Good Guy Swag, and has appeared on top podcasts such as Lewis Howes’s The School of Greatness and Addicted2Success. 

All in all Preston Smiles is regular guy doing extraordinary things because he truly cares. 

Visit prestonsmiles.com to learn more!

This podcast was difficult to title, because it covers so much ground. Brad Kammer talks to us about connection, community, shame, fear, love, sexuality...he basically covers the range of human experience from both a clinical and personal perspective. His extensive work in the field of trauma, and the depth of understanding he possess around the healing process, make this episode feel especially important. Brad is my teacher in the certification program for the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), and from day one I knew I wanted to have him on the podcast. He is insightful and heartfelt, and I believe this podcast will leave you with a sense of hope for our collective healing. 

About Our Guest:

Brad Kammer, LMFT, LPCC is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor. Brad is a NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Master Therapist, Consultant, and Faculty Trainer, teaching and working with complex trauma internationally. Brad is also a Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner, Consultant and Faculty Trainer, and has been involved in bringing SE to various communities around the world. Brad began his career as a Humanitarian Aid Worker in Asia which introduced him to personal and collective trauma. He became passionate about supporting individuals and communities in the transformation of trauma. Brad has since focused his work on the integration of Somatic Psychology, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and wisdom from Spiritual Traditions and Traditional Cultures. Brad lives in a small town in Northern California with his family where he is a Somatic Psychotherapist, College Professor, Trauma Consultant, and Community Educator on Body-Mind approaches to Stress, Trauma & Self-Care.

Please Visit: body-mindtherapy.com

Email: bradkammer@narmtraining.com

If you're anything like me, growing concerns about carbon emissions and news about the state of our planet are leaving you feeling alarmed. In the murky waters of fake news and misinformation, it can be difficult to parse out what concerned citizens and consumers need to be doing about it. Enter Dr. Daniel Howard, energy and environmental engineer. He has generously gifted us an hour of science-backed information, practical steps we can all take, and a heartfelt perspective on this planet we call home. In many ways I think this is the most important issue facing humanity today, and I hope you will take his words to heart. 

About Our Guest:
​
Daniel Howard is a visionary energy researcher and cleantech entrepreneur.  His current company is focused on guiding countries on how to minimize the economic, environmental and health costs of their national energy systems.   Daniel brings together a PhD in energy and environmental engineering with a passion for the environment, startups and social change. 

He has been a research fellow for the National Science Foundation, United States Agency for International Development and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  His personal life includes travel, yoga, surfing, investing in relationships, personal growth practices, a loving family and a love for life. 

Relevant Links:
Best Way to Buy Solar Panels: https://pickmysolar.com/
Switch your utility to clean energy in California: https://cleanpowerexchange.org/california-community-choice/
Clean Energy Options in Texas: https://www.choosetexaspower.org/renewable-power.html
Clean Energy Info for Other States: https://cleanchoiceenergy.com/
Climate change info: https://climate.nasa.gov/

In this episode of Pure Curiosity, Shawn Nemeth, a coach, speaker, and founder of the Chester Street Foundation, discusses his triumph over a traumatic and abusive childhood. We discuss the importance of taking responsibility for our recovery, the magic of forgiveness, and the healing power of sharing our stories. Shawn generously shares with us important scientific research as well as his heartfelt personal testimony.

About our Guest: 

​​Shawn Alex Nemeth, a born visionary, has invented and reinvented himself many times over: accomplished singer, ordained pastor, worship leader, international traveling music group director, college instructor, fitness professional, life coach, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, author, and founder of a charitable foundation.

In addition to being President and CEO of the Chester Street Foundation, he is author of the book Thorns of Chester Street, which chronicles his own personal story of abuse, neglect, recovery, and transformation. Proceeds from its sales benefit Chester Street Foundation.

Learn more about Chester Street Foundation here. 

Purchase his book on Amazon. 

Several years ago I read an article in the New York Times by Dr. Sandra Aamodt that made me feel like it was Christmas morning. It was the first time I had seen a legitimate scientist say authoritatively that dieting is completely counterproductive, and in many cases damaging. This was something I knew already, after years of bulimia and yo-yo dieting, but no one had ever articulated the principles I discovered in my own path to healing so well.  When her book Why Diets Make us Fat came out, I rushed to buy it, and I think it is a truly groundbreaking book. I couldn't recommend it more highly, and I was thrilled that Dr. Aamodt was willing to join me for this podcast! I am a huge fan of hers, and can't wait to see what she creates in the future!

About Our Guest

Sandra Aamodt, Ph.D., is the author of Why Diets Make Us Fat: The Unintended Consequences of Our Obsession with Weight Loss (2016). She also coauthored two popular neuroscience books with Sam Wang. Welcome to Your Brain (2008) was named Young Adult Science Book of the Year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has been translated into twenty languages. Welcome to Your Child's Brain (2011) was published in twelve languages. She received her undergraduate degree in biophysics from Johns Hopkins University and her doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Rochester. After four years of research at Yale University, she joined Nature Neuroscience, a leading scientific journal in the field of brain research, at its founding in 1998 and was editor in chief from 2003-2008. She lives in Northern California.

The book she mentions in this podcast by Hanne Blank can be found by clicking here.

Buy her book on Amazon.

Listen to her book on Audible. 

Watch her TED talk.