Arash's World Podcast

On the Inherent Complexity and Complex Beauty of Cultural Identity with Writer and Book Publicist Hollay Ghadery

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Iranian-Canadian author and book publicist Hollay Ghadery about cultural identity and mental health, her memoir “Fuse,” her collection of poems as well as her “pathological love” for books.

Hollay openly and candidly talks about growing up as a biracial woman and the various challenges and difficulties that took a toll on her health and wellbeing, including disordered eating with anorexia and bulimia, OCD, and addiction.

In her life, she often felt like she did not belong in one space or another but found herself in-between spaces and within mixed cultures as it had become quite complex to define herself not only physically but also psychologically, mentally, and emotionally due to the lack of a cohesive cultural identity.

Yet, throughout her many challenges, she was aided by the arts, humanities, and literature. Hollay spent a lot of her life with books. We discuss how it is also through literature that we come to express our own viewpoints and lived and felt experiences and are better able to understand and connect with others. As she explains, reading can develop and nurture a sense of common humanity as well as foster empathy and compassion for ourselves and others.

As the title of her memoir shows us, it is a type of fusion that creates a new beautiful and authentic whole out of the sum of the different multi-faceted parts leading to moments of “joy pockets” while at the same time embracing and leaning into a healthy and robust sense of humor.

Shamanic Energy Healer Lisa Nezneski on Being Grounded in Chaos, Leaning into Adversity, and Gaining Resilience

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking to Lisa Nezneski, a Shamanic energy healer, a mindfulness teacher, a pharmacist, and author of the book “Grounded in Chaos: Leaning into Adversity, Learning Joy.”

Lisa has been involved in the healing arts for decades now and has had access to her own holistic toolbox that includes a wide range of techniques, methods, and modalities, including pharmacognosy (the study of herbal and natural medicine), meditation, mindfulness, Reiki, and shamanic healing sessions.

Throughout her healing journey where she dealt with various difficulties and hardships regarding health and her personal life, she has learned to be and remain grounded when chaos falls upon us, to accept and embrace change, and to become more resilient in the process.

One of the takeaways is to remind ourselves that we are connected to everything and that we are never alone. We can also take comfort and solace not only in other people but also pets as they can often support us in various ways when things are not going well in our lives.

Moreover, it is important to have a good healthy sense of humor, to feed and cultivate feelings of hope and optimism, to reach out to others, and to explore and find different ways and methods of releasing stuck toxic energies to prevent ill health, health complications, and disease.

The Dark Side of Fame and Success: Jerry Dale on Music, Porn, and Jesus and the Road of Redemption

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak to author, music industry leader, and storyteller Jerry Dale, also known as “JD” about his inspiring memoir “Music, Porn & Jesus: A Journey to Redemption” in which he talks about his personal experiences in the music industry and the dark side of fame.

In the 90s, Jerry worked with a wide range of top tier artists, including Destiny’s Child, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Maxwell, and Snoop Dogg. Being in that position brought him success, money, and fame, but it came also with a cost and a toll to his overall health.

Furthermore, JD was involved with the adult entertainment industry and outlines some of the dangers and challenges within that field and how many young women would start as waitresses and then be tempted to become dancers in a culture that prioritizes money and excess.

However, Jerry’s life story is one of second chances, redemption, and transformation. He was able to break free from the dark side of fame that had captured and trapped him in his young adult life and found himself back on the right and moral path. His book and this podcast are testament to how he has used his experiences not only to grow personally and spiritually but to openly share his experiences with everyone and to demonstrate how hope and redemption are never out of reach.

Walking the Mystical Path: The Sephirot and a 49-Day Omer Counter toward Inner Balance with Rabbi Matthew Ponak

In this episode, I have (once again!) the great pleasure of speaking with Rabbi Matthew Ponak, Teacher of Jewish mysticism, spiritual counselor, and author of “The Path of the Sephirot: A 49-Day Omer Counter for Spiritual Growth and Inner Balance.”

Rabbi Ponak explains how the Kabbalah is a living tradition that helps us understand the journey between the finite and the Infinite where divine emanations flow and interact and how to reveal and manifest them in our lives.

By following “The Path of the Sephirot,” we are tapping into divine qualities that we then wish to embody in our lives with each week being dedicated to specific sacred attributes starting with lovingkindness, followed by boundaries, beauty and harmony, action, yielding, connection, and receiving. On the final day, the Shavuot, all of them are then integrated within each other and themselves.

We discuss various spiritual practices that can help us not only grow but also find inner balance in the process, including the importance of the Sacred No as a form of setting boundaries for ourselves and for others, the overall combination of the Yes and No energy coupled with a balance of action and yielding. All this deep introspection and concrete action would then lead to tikkun, which means transformation or repair, and how by healing ourselves, we can heal the world as it is all interconnected.

Finally, we talk about the importance, relevance, and symbolism of the Tree of Life in the Bible and how psychoanalysis has interesting and intricate links and ties with Jewish mysticism, whether unconsciously through Sigmund Freud or as part of Jung’s interest and study of the Kabbalah. These spiritual insights and practices have the potential of enriching our lives and help us elevate our own vibes and frequencies and gain inner balance.

Psychic Healers Assemble: Lisa Campion on Awakening Psychic Ability and the Art of Reiki

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking to Psychic Counselor and Reiki Master Teacher Lisa Campion, author of Awakening Your Psychic Ability and The Art of Psychic Reiki on spiritual development and the vital role of authenticity and self-compassion.

As Lisa explains, the three gateways that can open our latent psychic ability tend to be Reiki, Yoga, and Meditation. Reiki is a holistic healing modality that is used in many clinics for pain management and during pre- and post-surgery with no side effects. As it relaxes and activates the body’s natural healing capacity, it can be also effective for mental health, including depression and anxiety. In fact, Lisa adds psychic development to her practice of Reiki, which can be conceived of a type of “massage for the soul.”

But psychic abilities can be further uncovered, discovered, and expanded by keeping a Psychic Journal. This can heighten our abilities by paying attention and connecting with our higher self through our intuition instead of listening to or acting upon the ego or personal self.

We discuss how listening to our intuition can lead to a more soulful life and the importance of unplugging and finding calm and quiet to encounter ourselves and to check in spiritually. We also talk about the difference between self care and self-compassion and how to distinguish reactive feelings from soul feelings where the authentic self would come into play.

 

Psychoanalysis of the Soul: Exploring Depth Psychology, Narcissism, and Authenticity with Professor and Psychotherapist Donald Carveth

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with psychoanalyst, professor, and scholar Donald Carveth on his findings and insights on psychoanalysis, authenticity, and personal growth. We also explored various philosophical, existential, and psychological concepts, including narcissism, faith and doubt, instinct and intuition, and the importance of self-awareness and gratitude in life.

Moreover, we discussed the evolution of psychoanalytic thinking and its impact on the mental health field. Psychoanalysis is a great revolutionary tool for personal transcendence and transformation, which can be enhanced by reframing New Testament concepts and re-evaluating Christianity as a metaphor for deep ethics, conscience, and personality change.

This new approach can help us evolve by making us more autonomous and self-aware and guide us towards becoming ourselves on the deepest level as we continue aiming towards the true self as opposed to being grounded and trapped in the false self.

Hope is a Good Thing: From Tarot Cards, Signposts, and Spirituality to Guidance from the Universe with Jill Amy Sager

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Jill Amy Sager, Tarot Reader, channeler, and author of “Guidance from the Universe: Hopeful Messages for Everyday Challenges” about reading Tarot, channeling and receiving messages from the universe and the importance of intuition and hope in our everyday lives.

Jill has been a life-long Tarot card reader, and she has seen the effects of the oracle not only in her own personal life but also how it has helped many of her clients deal with difficult situations and decisions. That has also strengthened her relationship with the universe and being able to channel, perceive and recognize signs and signposts in nature and our surroundings.

Being open, aware, and mindful of ourselves and our surroundings has been helpful, but it has also been a source of hope while also building resilience within. Despite various limitations and obstacles in her life, she has not only managed to overcome them but also thrive. With her work and her book, she is sharing her personal insights and experiences without being academic or having a religious dogma or agenda attached to them but as a means of connecting to our own guidance available to each one of us.

 

Seeking Spirit and Personal Identity: The Interconnectedness between Spirituality, Writing, and a Fulfilling Life with Linda Trinh

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Linda Trinh, Vietnamese Canadian author of “Seeking Spirit: A Vietnamese (Non) Buddhist Memoir” on the role and influence of spirituality in her personal life. Linda discusses some of the difficulties and challenges of forging her own identity while juggling her Vietnamese culture with its rituals and traditions and the Canadian culture of her upbringing in addition to her global travels and her own unique beliefs, thoughts, and impressions. 

When faced with trauma, Linda finds both recourse and solace in her spiritual beliefs and the belief in an afterlife. We also talk about how it is important to accept life and suffering and that many of us experience a lack in our lives that could be filled with beliefs in the spirit and the continuous practice of spirituality.

Feel, Process, and Cleanse: Just Ask Spirit and Feeling Emotions, Enhancing Intuition, and Finding Purpose with Sherianna Boyle

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Sherianna Boyle, founder of Emotional Detox Coaching and author of Just Ask Spirit: Free your Emotions to Energize Intuition and Discover Purpose on the intimate links and connections between emotions, intuition, and spirituality.

We discuss how emotions are important and vital to our existence and that we should not evade, numb or disregard them but rather to feel them first so that we can process them later; this can help us find balance and spiritual alignment. While following the seven-step mindful process of Sherianna’s Cleanse Method, we can both process our emotions and connect with Spirit.

Moreover, Sherianna explains how we can manifest by asking and by raising our frequency and vibration. The signs and signals are out there and when we are mindful and raise our awareness, we can perceive them and find help, guidance, and support along the way. By aligning ourselves spiritually, we gain access to this spiritual force, and in the process, we enhance our intuition, grow spiritually, attain the innate wisdom of our soul, and discover and find our true purpose and calling in life.

 

Love as the Ultimate Cure: Sigourney Award Recipient Dr. Merav Roth on How Psychoanalysis and Literature Can Help Deal with Trauma and Bereavement

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Dr. Merav Roth, a recent Sigourney Award Recipient for her work as a psychoanalyst and cultural researcher aiding and supporting trauma survivors and bereaved families while also contributing to the field of literature by examining it through a fascinating and insightful psychoanalytic lens.

We discuss both conscious and unconscious processes that occur when facing and responding to severe trauma, suffering, and extreme loss as has been the tragic and heartbreaking reality after the October 7^th massacre, the taking of hostages, and the Gaza War. Dr. Roth provides various examples from her own work and experience dealing with such horrendous and devastating cases and situations.

Moreover, we discuss how the arts, poetry, and literature have the potential and the power to inspire and transform us in different ways; at the same time, psychoanalysis is more than a tool and a technique to uncover and bring up hidden thoughts and unwanted emotions as it can pave the way for self-discovery, growth, and healing.

When reading a book, both the conscious and the unconscious mind of the reader is engaging and interacting with both conscious and unconscious processes and aspects of the writer resulting in a type of meeting of unconscious minds.  

As a result, the arts can change and transform us, can give us hope and help us reconnect with the beauty of the world, but ultimately, it is love that is the ultimate cure to help us process and deal with the pain, loss, and suffering that we face and encounter in life.