Arash's World Podcast

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.

Sing Your Song with the Inner Music of Your Soul: Rabbi Daniel Cohen on Elijah Moments and Spreading Light and Positivity

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to talk to Rabbi Daniel Cohen, a mentor, guide, motivator, and the author of the book “What Will They Say About You When You Are Gone: Creating a Life of Legacy”. The Rabbi talks about the uniqueness and beauty of each person and moment, how no day should be wasted or squandered, and how we can bring and shine our light wherever we are and wherever we go.

In fact, the power of positivity and kindness can lift us all up, and he gives anecdotes and examples of "Elijah Moments", which would entail engaging in small acts and words of kindness that others would then pick up on and pay forward, hence starting a chain of positive reactions and events. Words have power over us, and it would help and benefit the world around us to spread positive messages and refrain from making negative comments and judgments.

Moreover, Rabbi Daniel Cohen explains the importance of blocking out noise, worries, and distractions and putting away our phones and gadgets to tap into and listen deeply to the inner voice and music within us. Not only do we have the opportunity to unlock our special and unique gifts, and find our path and vocation, but more importantly, we can live life at the highest frequency with a sense of calling every day.

Magic Mushroom Mystical Journeys: How Psychedelic Plant Medicine Can Lift Up and Ground Our Visionary Realities with Gary Logan & Rob Grover

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak with spiritual advisors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries Gary Logan and Rob Grover on how psychedelic plant medicine with proper guidance, support, and the right setting can serve as a tool for not only empowerment but also spiritual understanding, insight, and awakening.

Gary and Rob are founders of the “Journeymen Collective” that they describe as a personal development program for developing spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional levels of being with the use and aid of psilocybin aka “magic mushrooms”. Each of them describes their own personal journeys of spiritual growth and transcendence and how they can help and assist others with metaphysical and spiritual healing.

We also touch upon the qualities of using psychedelics responsibly and for spiritual enhancement, how current research shows promises in the fields of psychotherapy for dealing with anxiety and trauma, and how they can be used and utilized to not only unblock energies and stagnation in the mind and the body but also to lead to a path of exploration of the self.

These guided sessions are specifically curated for the people they work with, helping to synthesize and process the new insights, experiences, and information to funnel and channel them into one’s life, relationships, and business. I also ask each of them to explain their respective mantras and how it pertains to their spiritual beliefs and identities.

Slow Down and Find Your Inner Balance Instead of Shortcuts and Escapes Within a Fast-Paced Environment with Kamilah Stevenson

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak with health coach and healthy lifestyle expert Kamilah Stevenson about how there are many sides and facets when it comes to individual health, personal wellness & well-being and that there are different ways of healing our bodies and our nervous system.

By looking at all the angles, we come to see and understand that our bodies communicate with us, whereas pain tells us that something is wrong. Instead of treating the symptoms with medication, it is essential and vital to explore and dig into life experiences and trauma to get to the root of the issues, a type of “psychological acupuncture” to release the stress and the build-up of energy.

Kamilah explains how we can get caught up in a loop and that change is hard but that we can create a new personality by facing trauma and increasing self-awareness, self-regulating our stress levels, and building new and healthier habits and mindsets. As such, we can start detoxing our bodies and minds by resolving and dissolving negative subconscious behavior patterns.

Finally, we are often rushed and driven by work, daily pressures, and chronic stress. We are used to running around and want to get quick results by taking shortcuts but without taking the time to rest and enjoy life and just be grateful for what we have. A case in point is the regular use of fast food instead of slowing down, relishing our meals, and connecting with our loved ones while sharing bonds and quality time with each other.