Health Gig

In this episode, we’re talking to Dan Seigel, who is so impressive. He is a psychiatrist, a speaker, the author of numerous books, the Director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA, and Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute. He’s actually with us now because we heard him speak, and said “oh my gosh, we need him on our podcast.” So we waited after his talk and ambushed him to ask. We can’t wait for you to hear his description of the mind, mindfulness, and meditation as “mind training,” particularly his practice of “the wheel.” Don’t worry, you’ll learn what that means. But the idea that the mind is a verb, not a noun, is so astonishing, and opens up so avenues for discussion and understanding that I know you’ll walk away from this episode completely blown away. This podcast was sponsored by Aetna. Learn how Aetna is working to build a healthier world by visiting www.aetnastory.com

This week we’re talking to Chuck Lief, the president of Naropa University, and we absolutely love him. He’s a great friend and a big supporter of our work, spoken at our Achieving Optimal Health Conference. We’re really so grateful. He was president of the Greystone Foundation, chairman of the Board for the Social Enterprise Alliance and Shambhala International. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Chuck Lief.

This week we’re talking to Kirk Cousins, Professional QB for the Minnesota Vikings. We were so humbled and amazed to chat with such a mindful and focused individual. In our conversation you'll hear how Kirk manages mind, body, and spirit in one of the most stressful professions there is. It was such a treasure to speak with such a talented and driven human being. This podcast was sponsored by Aetna. Learn how Aetna is working to build a healthier world by visiting www.aetnastory.com

This week we’re talking to AJ Jacobs, who has written four best-selling books, including The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. He is so funny. Really hilarious. The thing about him, though, is that he leaves you with really useful messages! Yes, his books are so well-researched. He’s a dear friend, and he also came to our Achieving Optimal Health Conference to talk about his book Drop Dead Healthy. We’re so happy to share his views on living from your heart, his quest for radical self-improvement (his term) and the three words he thinks of when he starts feeling down. Ooooh, those would me make feel better too! His message of positivity and gratefulness is so wonderful, and we think you’re going to enjoy our conversation. We’ll check back in with you at the end of the program. This podcast was sponsored by Aetna. Learn how Aetna is working to build a healthier world by visiting https://www.aetnastory.com

Our guest this week is Rebecca Katz, who is an award-winning author, teacher, and what she calls a “culinary translator.” Great name, right? That means that she translates the science of food into what you should put on your plate. We're so excited about this conversation because Rebecca is one of our greatest teachers. She also has a special place in our hearts because we came across her work when we needed it the most. We can’t wait for you to hear about her journey from the corporate world to chef to making her life’s work healing people through food. She’s also going to share what she calls the “Four Pillars” of a cancer-fighting diet. It’s something everyone should know.

Siri Lindley is a Triathlon World Champion and member of the inaugural class of the Triathlon Hall of Fame who coaches Olympic athletes and Ironman champions. And if that wasn’t amazing enough, she just recently founded Believe Ranch and Rescue, a nonprofit that rescues dogs and horses from terrible circumstances. Doro knew Siri as a child when they both played on the beach in Maine, but they lost touch as they grew up. But her brother Marvin recently saw an article about Siri and reached out to her, so she’s back in their lives and they get to talk with her about her motivation, the power of determination and what changed when she decided to live from love, not from fear. This podcast was sponsored by Aetna. Learn how Aetna is working to build a healthier world by visiting www.aetnastory.com

Today is a dream come true for us – we’re talking to Reba McEntire, singer, actress and producer who’s been known as “The Queen of Country.” She is one of the best-selling artists of all time. This is a very special interview for us, because Reba means a lot to both of our families. Doro's father loved country music, and Reba is a dear family friend. Tricia's brother, who was a country singer with special needs, adored Reba, so being able to speak with her today is really a treat. We can’t wait for you to hear her thoughts on the healing power of music – did you know there was a study that showed music improves your immune function? I did not! She’s going to tell us how music got her through some tough times, and how she stays positive through her work and life. This podcast was sponsored by Aetna. Learn how Aetna is working to build a healthier world by visiting www.aetnastory.com More from Reba: Reba.com Twitter: @reba Instagram: @reba

This week we’re welcoming Denise Austin and her daughter Katie Austin to the show.. Denise is a pioneer in the fitness industry, she’s a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and she’s had exercise shows on the Today Show, ESPN, and Lifetime. Katie is a fitness model and social influencer bringing positivity in health and wellness to her thousands of followers. Denise is also a lifelong friend and one of the first speakers at our Achieving Optimal Health Conference seven years ago. In our conversation today, Denise & Katie share their tips on how to improve your daily fitness and what we can all do to maintain our physical health at any age. This podcast was sponsored by Aetna. Learn how Aetna is working to build a healthier world by visiting www.aetnastory.com

This week we talk to Rich Fernandez, the CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute and the co-founder of Wisdom Labs. He’s awesome, and we can’t wait for you to hear his description of what it means to live a life of mindfulness in this present moment and to watch and witness what unfolds. The Search Inside Yourself program actually partners with us at the Achieving Optimal Health Conference. It’s a great program that started at Google, and it deals with combating stress in the workplace. Rich's perspective on teaching Search Inside Yourself is really mind-blowing. The idea that you can actually unhinge stress, the idea that maybe stress isn’t really there, that it might be a story you tell yourself is something that I thought was really interesting. This podcast was sponsored by Aetna. Learn how Aetna is working to build a healthier world by visiting www.aetnastory.com We hope you enjoy our conversation with Rich Fernandez. To learn more about Rich Fernandez: Search Inside Yourself Institute (https://siyli.org/) Wisdom Labs (https://wisdomlabs.com/) Twitter: @_richfernandez To learn more about BB&R: BBRconsulting.us