Arash's World Podcast

Me versus Us: Individualistic and Communitarian Value Systems, Family Life, Parenting and Learning Across Different Cultures with Dr. Cornelius N. Grove

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak with ethnologist and author Dr. Cornelius N. Grove about his fascinating book “How Other Children Learn: What Five Traditional Societies Tell Us about Parenting and Children’s Learning” which examines the parenting styles and learning of those communitarian cultures and compares and contrasts them with the North American individualistic setting and context.

One of the main differences is the effects of their environment and living conditions on their relationship with and rationale for having children. This comes with different worldviews where in North America we tend to foster individuality and focus on the needs of the individual child while in traditional communitarian societies, everything is geared towards what is best for the extended family and their group and community needs.

This is exemplified in child-rearing and parenting styles around doing chores. The North American parent tries to persuade their children to do chores and praise and reward them for it as if it were a favor, whereas, in traditional and indigenous societies, this is the expected outcome and norm and starts from a very early age. Children in North America receive parental care and attention, and we strive to satisfy and fulfill their needs and desires, while in communitarian (collectivist) societies, the children are expected to give and provide labor and care to the other members of the family and group.

Finally, we discuss the potential takeaways, how being and feeling useful to one’s society and community can help counteract feelings of loneliness and isolation and foster belonging and feelings of self-worth. Moreover, we debate the influence and effects of education as well as the lack thereof and how we can better understand and appreciate the many differences across nations and cultures.

Planting Seeds and Finding Guidance and Healing with the Sacred Feminine Wisdom Cards with Andrea Menard

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with actor, singer, writer, speaker, and indigenous facilitator of the Rise of the Sacred Feminine, Andrea Menard about her book and deck of cards “Seeds from the Sacred Feminine Wisdom Cards” painted and illustrated by Métis painter Leah Marie Dorion.

Andrea explains the importance of planting seeds, the earth, the “womb of creation” and Mother Earth as well as acknowledging, recognizing, and identifying with the mystery and the sacred feminine. Although the masculine-driven and action-based aspect can beautifully piece things together, Western culture and civilization have been predominantly marked and shaped by strict adherence to logic at the expense of feelings, receptivity, and nurturing connections between fellow human beings and nature.

But as Andrea explains, feelings can be wisdom-keepers and when we follow them, they can lead us to truth. But at the same time, we need to face, acknowledge, and release feelings of pain and trauma and not give in to victimization or victimizing others. Since trauma often begets trauma, it is best to become clean and pure like newborns as they let feelings pass, travel, and flow through them without leaving behind substantial traces or lodged and stuck emotions. Finally, with a prayer of gratitude, we can move into a sacred way of being and choose to focus on the beauty of the natural world around us.

Vibrantly Alive: Elevating Your Vibes to Manifest Joy and Sustainable Happiness in Your Daily Life with Lisa McCourt

In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of talking to the founder of Joy School and author of the inspiring and inspirational book “Free Your Joy: The 12 Keys to Sustainable Happiness” Lisa McCourt! Lisa is a teacher and curator of psychological and spiritual wisdom, and she explains how joy is and ought to be the core of our essence and existence.

However, we often get stuck and trapped in our horizontal self but to free our joy, we need to reposition ourselves by connecting and reconnecting with our vertical self. This can be done in a variety of ways and manners, but it involves removing the blinders that we have accumulated and created with different belief systems, allowing ourselves to feel our feelings and to heal, and also by accepting and loving ourselves.

As Lisa beautifully puts it, it's all an inside job as the internal landscape is creating the external landscape and we can switch from a run-from to a run-to stance when it comes to joy and happiness in our lives. At the same, we can take advantage of everything that life has to offer, especially its difficult and hard lessons, which represent a golden opportunity to release and heal stuck trauma and to free our joy, awe, and wonder for this beautiful life we have been blessed with!

Own Your Opportunities: Planting and Cultivating the Seeds of Your Vision and Dreams Toward Self-Maximization with Juliet Hall

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak with the author of “Own Your Opportunities: A Story of Self-Discovery and Self-Determination” and leadership advisor Juliet Hall about the importance of owning your opportunities and manifesting your dreams and deep desires. We talk about how self-discovery and staying true to yourself are integral parts of success, while authenticity has no competition.

Juliet explains that money adds to happiness, but that true happiness is internal. By tapping into your dreams and natural gifts, often revealed during childhood, you can grow inwardly, which then manifests outwardly. This comes by having a blueprint, a trusted and tested vision as well through planting seeds and nourishing and cultivating them. By working hard and trusting the process, you can manifest and realize your most cherished dreams.

The American Experiment: From Jefferson, Medical Sciences & Health Care Systems to a More Perfect Union & Greater Equality with Congressman Adam Smith

In this episode, I have the great pleasure and honor to (once again!) speak with Congressman Adam Smith about the founding father Thomas Jefferson, the American experiment, and the desire and quest for attaining a more perfect union with greater equality and diverse viewpoints and opinions.

We also talk about his wonderful and candid book "Lost and Broken: My Journey Back from Chronic Pain and Crippling Anxiety" and how and where the medical healthcare system needs betterment and improvement as well as the importance of the medical and scientific community to be less driven by financial incentives and motivation while being more open to a number of different treatment options that have shown improvement and positive results, such as muscle activation therapy and intermittent fasting.

Finally, the Congressman stresses the importance of mental health care and how psychosomatic conditions are not "just in your head". The pain is very real and not imagined but it may have stress and anxiety as its principal cause, which need to be addressed and treated. As a result, it is necessary to overcome stigma and also have a more expansive and holistic view regarding medicine, science, and the nation itself.

How Healing is More than Possible: Rebeccah Silence on Overcoming Trauma with a Mental Health Roadmap in Mind

In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure to speak with Emotional Healing and Relationship Coach Rebeccah Silence who is also the author of the inspiring & inspirational book "Coming Back to Life: A Roadmap to Healing from Pain to Create the Life You Want"!

Rebeccah is no stranger to extreme forms of trauma, but she has not only overcome and recovered from it all but she has attained emotional healing in the process. Now she is sharing her uplifting and hopeful message that healing is indeed possible for each and every one of us. It is simple but not easy and takes effort as well as dedication toward the healing process.

Though every person's road and journey will be different, the result turns out to be very similar, a life in which we are not afraid but live in profound joy moment by moment and where we grow and thrive with each passing day. Though faith can help us on the road to recovery, it's best to become an active participant and creator in and of one's own life's story as we come to realize that we have the power to create the life we really want.

 

Mindfulness versus Soulful Living: Being in Communion with Our Divinity and the Goddess Inside with Elaine Hoem

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak with Elaine Hoem, Psychotherapist, Meditation Teacher, Life Coach, and author of the magnificent book “Everyday Soul Dances: A Guide to Soulful Living in the Midst of Uncertain Times”.

Elaine explains the difference between mindful and soulful living and how the former is about taming the mind and focusing on the present, while the soul is more comprehensive and includes our whole multidimensional being with background and karma, past lives and spiritual aspects, qualities, and realms.

Furthermore, Elaine explains how we are here to learn to love better and to release negative karma/energy that binds us or holds us back from fulfilling our dharma and consecration, our spiritual duty and dedication that help us merge with and into the light.

As both the Buddha and Jesus have stated, the light, enlightenment, and the kingdom of God are within us, and with psychological and spiritual practices and qualities of constancy, contemplation, and consecration, we can come into touch with the divinity and goddess within us and attain spiritual alignment and wholeness.

Congressman Adam Smith on His Book Lost and Broken and Overcoming Anxiety, Depression, and Chronic Pain

In this episode, I have the great honor and pleasure to speak with Congressman Adam Smith, author of “Lost and Broken: My Journey Back from Chronic Pain and Crippling Anxiety” about his personal struggles and difficulties with mental health issues and various methods and approaches of dealing with them.

Member of U.S. Congress Adam Smith went through longstanding struggles with chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, and he talks openly and candidly about how he felt and what he went through as well as how he eventually got better. There are different pathways for each and everyone to get better but at the same time, it is important to overcome obstacles including stigma and fears, one’s own and those of others.

In fact, although medication can provide temporary relief of symptoms, it is often not a long-term solution as it does not address the core issues. This can be done via different forms of psychotherapy, which help you examine your life and the things that might be causing your anxiety or depression. Although we all suffer from stress and anxiety, it would help to shed light on why it is we feel so anxious by not only managing our feelings but also uncovering underlying issues including trauma, negative experiences, and guilt, which we tend to bury and ignore in our lives.

Finally, we also discuss how anyone can benefit from being more honest with themselves, reducing feelings of guilt and shame alongside anger and constant worrying, and uncovering and processing the pain, fear, and grief we experience in our lives and that we should remind ourselves that we are all worthy of love and that we are not stuck and can indeed get better.

Working with Your Own Crazy & Trauma Towards Self-Acceptance, Self-Compassion, Love, and Appreciation for All with Dr. Grant H. Brenner

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak with Physician-Psychiatrist Dr. Grant H. Brenner co-author of “Making Your Crazy Work For You: From Trauma And Isolation To Self-Acceptance And Love” with Mark B. Borg, and Daniel Berry about not only individual and collective trauma and the path to posttraumatic growth, meaning, and wisdom but also the importance of being open to new experiences, learning, and finding, discovering and/or rediscovering one's own unique voice along the path.

We cover a whole range of themes and topics, including the drive and restlessness of Generation X, the strive for perfection and one’s attachment style to the workplace, and the continuous quest for work-life balance amidst shifting identities and doing what one loves and enjoys. We also discuss the importance of give-and-take dynamics and how open-mindedness should not be marked by rigidity but rather needs to include, embrace, and foster flexibility.

Finally, we look at being quirky and the positive and creative sides of being “crazy” in the sense of pursuing passions and “weird” in the sense of being innovative and doing one's own thing. Creativity has been a staple in both of your lives and has often come from experiencing previous suffering and hardship, which pushes one to overcome negativity, seek meaning, wisdom, compassion, and positivity, and help and support those less fortunate than oneself.

Ways of Minding the Body with the Mind-Body Way: How Embodiment Helps Leaders Align Themselves with Dr. Julie Beaulac & Casey Berglund

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to talk with Dr. Julie Beaulac and Casey Berglund, two of the authors of the inspiring and inspirational book "The Mind-Body Way: The Embodied Leader's Path to Resilience, Connection, and Purpose."

We embark upon the question of what makes a good leader and how a company can become more effective and successful if they use and take advantage of embodiment practices by providing a safe psychological space to express and share different viewpoints and opinions.

However, the tips and advice given here can help anyone align themselves more within their personal as well as professional lives. Taking this mind-body approach means tuning in to your body and inner experiences, which can be scary and daunting at first but it will enrich lives and lead to a sense of agency, empowerment, risk-taking, and even personal fulfillment.

It can start with simple micro-shits in thought and behavior by asking yourself whether you want to have chocolate or strawberry ice cream (for the more health-conscious out there, replace with broccoli versus asparagus or your favorite health food) and to find ways and opportunities to enhance and strengthen the intuition or "Spidey sense" that we often ignore or disregard in our lives and to align ourselves with our authentic self and being.