The mindbodygreen Podcast

After watching her family members struggle with addiction and depression, and living an intensely stressful life while working for the United States Senate, Kelsey Patel found herself with debilitating back pain and anxiety. Uprooting her life, she moved to Los Angeles and was introduced to Reiki and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). At the time she was skeptical of the healing powers of these modalities, but after seeing Reiki’s positive impact on her back pain and EFT on her anxiety, she took a leap of faith and started her Reiki training.Now a certified Reiki master, yoga instructor, meditation teacher, and expert in EFT, Kelsey is transforming people’s lives helping them to recognize their authentic selves and full potential.Kelsey joined me on the mbgpodcast and explained how growing up in North Dakota she was never exposed to energetic forms of healing and it took a free Reiki session with some relief from her back pain for her to give it a chance. Kelsey started with her Reiki 1 certification where you learn how to do self-Reiki, then continued to level 2 where you learn the symbols and how to heal your past self, and finally to level 3, the master level. She explains how EFT, a practice that includes tapping on acupuncture points was helpful in opening her energy fields.In this episode you’ll hear about:How to use EFT and Reiki for stress and anxietyThe five-minute practice Kelsey recommends for getting in tune with the energy around usThe visualization she does every day to set boundariesWe discuss why she loves using weighted-blankets and yoga nidra to decompress after group sessions and how she found out she needed time to calibrate after doing healing work. With all of the healers out there, she shared her thoughts on how to begin when looking for an energy practitioner and what to look out for when you’re working with someone new.A large part of Kelsey’s work is helping people to get started on their wellness journeys, and as she reminds us, hers was no easy road. Kelsey meets people right where they are and encourages people to change the stuck stories in their heads so they can heal their emotional and physical pain. You can get started on your Reiki and EFT journey with Kelsey's mbg class Reiki Healing 101. Her words will inspire you to open your mind to new possibilities so you can step into the life you’ve envisioned.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jolene Brighten, NMD, is a naturopathic medical doctor, a leading expert in post-birth-control syndrome, the author of the new book Beyond the Pill, and a member of the mbg Collective. After struggling with post-birth-control symptoms like cystic acne and amenorrhea—and hearing her doctor say she was the only person ever to experience it—she decided to make women's health her life's work. Now, she has patients reaching out to her every single day saying "You're the doctor who believes women's birth control stories."This week on the mbg podcast, I sat down with Jolene to talk about how we should be addressing the rarely talked about but long-term side effects of taking hormonal birth control. She explains the science behind what the pill is doing to our health and the implications it could have on future fertility.We also discussed why women are starting to look for other options, beyond just oral contraception. "While 100 million women are using oral contraceptives currently in the world, we are seeing a decline in the number of the new generation that is coming of age," says Jolene. We talk about why we are seeing this trend, and it comes down to people listening to what their bodies are saying.In this episode you'll hear about:The cases for which she believes the pill is necessaryHow our thyroid affects our overall health and the test women should get yearlyThe tests she recommends for those trying to conceive in the next six monthsThe gene mutation to get tested for before going on the pillSo whether you're on hormonal birth control or not, this episode is for you. Jolene is an advocate for women's health and wants you to have the full story—before you make big decisions about your health.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel like you always have to be perfect? Well, for years, Kimberly Snyder, New York Times best-selling author, nutritionist, and the author of the new book Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life, felt that way too.Throughout high school, Kimberly struggled with eating disorders and, ultimately, found yoga as a way to connect with her body and ground herself. Instead of adhering to a strict diet and exercise regimen, Kimberly strives to stay in tune with her body's needs through morning walks on the beach, a plant-based diet, and surrounding herself with people who lift her up.In this episode we talk about:What her difficult pregnancy taught her about perfectionism in the wellness worldWhy her food philosophy is all about digestion and fiber-filled foodsHer unique outlook on the cause of bloating (hint: It doesn't have to do with food) It wasn't until her mother passed away within days of her son turning one that she understood perfection came from within. "Your value is not in what you do; your value is in who you are. Just being you is enough," says Kimberly.Her openness about her challenges with body image and the lessons she's learned along the way will inspire you to find a greater love for who you are and make healthier choices.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here!Visit solaraymycrobiome.com to find a probiotic supplement that’s scientifically designed for your lifestyle and needs, and get 10% off with code MG10OFF.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How often do you really think about your hydration? Is it just after a hot summer day? According to Kevin Rutherford, triathlete and CEO at Nuun Hydration, that's not nearly enough—and focusing more on it may be the key to optimal health. Kevin joined me on the mbgpodcast to discuss the myths of hydration (hint: gulping down water is not the most effective strategy), and why people aren’t eating enough water-based foods. He unpacks how much water you should really drink every day and shares the five hydrating fruits and veggies he loves.“More and more people are realizing that to 'take care of myself I need to do more preventative versus reactive medicine,'" says Kevin.Nuun started out with a product for the sweaty athlete and while they continue to cater to those with an active lifestyle they are also developing products like the Immunity line for people who just want to be healthier and stay healthy.In this episode you’ll hear aboutKevin’s No.1 tip for staying hydrated on a planeWhy the future is female when it comes to sports nutritionThe most effective method for upping your water intake throughout the dayKevin’s words will inspire you to think differently about how hydration affects your health, and you’ll be left with some new and creative ideas about how to increase your fluids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of you may know Lo Bosworth from MTV's Laguna Beach or The Hills, but that's so early aughts. Since her time in the reality television spotlight, Lo has taken the wellness world by storm. Inspired by her own personal struggle with anxiety, she found solace in mindfulness practices and naturopathic care that helped fill the gaps traditional medicine couldn't. She now runs Love Wellness, a female-first wellness company that aims to create a more open and honest self-care culture.She's a graduate from the French Culinary Institute, where she deepened her passion for nutrition and learned how to master the best cooking techniques in the world. We dish on how holistic self-care, from her favorite hot yoga classes to her daily skin care routine, has changed her life for the better.In this episode, you'll hear about:Lo's best tips and tricks to calm a racing mindWhat she eats in a day, including her staple breakfast that powers her through her morningsLo's honest opinion on social media, and whether or not she actually uses it"Personally, I was struggling in the category of women's personal care," she tells us. "I saw so many different doctors, and it was finally when my doctor started recommending more natural or homeopathic approaches to healing my body that I started to get better."Lo's self-care journey will inspire you to take the next step in your health no matter where you are.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hannah Bronfman is the founder of HBFIT, a DJ, and the author of the new book Do What Feels Good. Growing up with a mother who was a reiki healer and lover of crystals, Hannah was introduced to wellness at a young age. We talk about the career changes, illnesses, and lessons that shaped her wellness journey and led to her philosophy “do what feels good”.She joined me on the mbgpodcast to talk about what we can do to bring more diversity into wellness and the simple yet impactful actions we can take today. She also shares her struggle with leaky gut and why she believes colon hydrotherapy is critical to gut health. In this episode you’ll hear about:The gut-healing reason she doesn’t drink water during mealsHer three tips for staying well while travelingHannah’s go-to breathing exercise to use in intense moments“Wellness to me is not about eating organic food and going to boutique workout classes, wellness to me is really about those in-between moments—how you’re talking to yourself.” Hannah’s words will inspire you to push the boundaries of what society expects from you and define “healthy” for yourself.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wim Hof holds the Guinness World Record for the longest ice bath, he’s run a marathon in the desert without drinking and regulated his own body temperature and has held his breath for six minutes. It sounds crazy, but for the “Iceman” extreme cold and breath are the keys to his connection to himself.In this episode of the mbg podcast, Wim draws us into the icy depths of the sea sharing the moment 42 years ago when he first submerged under the ice and felt the power of himself “being unconditionally there." That feeling became his life-long catharsis, especially critical after his wife took her own life in 1995: "I had to survive, I went into the cold and it healed me."From there he discovered that through specific breathing techniques he could withstand any amount of cold to the point where he did not feel the low temperatures. He since has developed the famous Wim Hof method, which he says is “extraordinarily simple but also extraordinarily effective—and it is backed up by science.” Here’s what to get excited about in this podcast:How long your cold showers need to be for inflammatory suppressing benefitsThe breathing exercises you can do to master your biochemical processesThe most important life value we’re missingThrough his method, he tests what is humanly possible and has proven to suppress the inflammatory response, but, he says you don’t have to go to extremes to get benefits. Wim tells us that with the breath we can actually control our externals—relationships, stress, and biological stress.He is no doubt a professional biohacker, pushing the boundaries of what science tells us is not possible. While you may not be climbing a mountain in minus 27-degree temperatures, Wim’s unwavering belief (and proof) that the cold and breath is the source of wellbeing may inspire you to try it out.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Sheeva Talebian is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist. After graduating top of her class from Colombia University, she went on to get her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and continued her training at New York University where she did her residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Sheeva joined me on the mbgpodcast to talk about what inspired her to become a fertility specialist and why the future of fertility testing excites her. She tells about recent successes with her patients after starting to blend her traditional Western medical background with more Eastern-influenced practices such as a Traditional Chinese Medicine diet, acupuncture, and anti-inflammatory supplements. In this podcast you’ll hear about:The main reasons most couples are not getting pregnant (and the myths debunked)The less-talked about role that men’s sperm has in infertility and the conversation you need to haveThe key factors to consider when considering fertility testing and the age she recommends women start.We also discuss the role of environmental toxins and genetics in fertility and Sheeva says, “the two can collide and make it the perfect storm.” She lets us in on the first step to take when wondering about your fertility and where to go from there. For women looking to get pregnant, new mothers, or those eager to understand more, Sheeva’s wealth of knowledge surrounding the science of fertility as well as what you can do to find success in the process, is empowering and will help you captain your own ship.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marco Borges is the founder of 22 Days Nutrition, a New York Times bestselling author, and author of his new book The Greenprint.Marco joined us back in 2017 on the mbgpodcast to discuss what led him to create 22 Days Nutrition and why he’s inspired to share his passion for plant-based eating with the world. A self-proclaimed eternal optimist (and it’s true), an advocate for sustainable living, and a believer that change begins with us, Marco is one of my favorite people, and I’m so excited to have him back on the podcast.His new book The Greenprint, is a plant-based holistic lifestyle plan featuring 22 laws to help you achieve your healthiest life and more than 60 recipes you can make at home. He calls it “plant-based living defined by you,” and shares why the laws give you more freedom in your life. He approaches diet as he does all aspects of life—with a non-judgmental perspective.In this podcast you’ll hear about:Why 22 is the golden number for making sustainable change in your lifeHow to live by one of his favorite laws: Eat more, weigh lessWhy Marco believes an inclusive approach to diet is the future of wellnessFor Marco, You. We. All. could not be more integral to his outlook on living well. “What you practice you become,” he says, and this mindset ripples out to others. This podcast will inspire you to make choices that will help you to become the best version of yourself and share this light with your community and the planet.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Brown is a former pro-soccer player, a New Zealander, and the co-founder of the billion-dollar brand Allbirds. He never imagined the success of a shoe back in 2009 when it was just an idea but looking back understands why people fell in love with the product. Tim joined Jason on the mbgpodcast to talk about the journey of Allbirds, which began after he realized “the world didn't need lots more shoes, it needed one that was very, very simple.” It started as a passion project and then launched as Allbirds in 2016 after he met his co-founder Joe Zwillinger.He explains how the three pillars of Allbirds—simple design, sustainability, and comfort—came to be and why they remain at the forefront of every business decision.In this podcast you’ll hear about:Why Tim and Joe chose to make Allbirds with wool, eucalyptus fiber, and SweetFoam, a new material that replaces the petrol in EVA, which is commonly used to create the cushy foam on the bottom of your shoes, with sustainably processed sugarcaneThe three pieces of advice you need when starting a businessThe exercise he calls his meditationAllbirds is revolutionizing the sustainable retail space as they “think of sustainability not as a nice to have but a non-negotiable.” And he tells us this imperative in the fashion industry right now as they are the largest contributor of carbon emissions, making around 20 billion pairs of shoes a year on average.Whether you’re interested in starting a business, excited to hear the story behind a great brand, or are into living sustainably, Tim’s words will inspire to you to keep the planet in mind whatever your next step may be.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices