Functional medicine, sometimes called holistic healing, bridges of the gaps between physical and mental health care. But that's a really poor definition coming from someone who only just learned about functional medicine a couple weeks ago. So instead, I'm going to let Dr. Jenna Montana explain what functional medicine is; how it helps treat all kinds of ailments including anxiety, depression, stress and other mental health issues; the ancient Chinese history and modern benefits of acupuncture; and how we have the power within our minds and bodies to create meaningful healing in our lives through simple changes in sleep, nutrition and movement.  You're going to love Jenna's expertise, her vulnerability in sharing her own mental health struggles, and her sense of humor so much that you're going to instantly want to follow her on Instagram @dr.jennamontana and maybe even book an appointment with her through www.cultivatewellnessva.com. 

Have you seen the new Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry mental health documentary on Apple TV+, The Me You Can't See? Well I watched it a couple weeks ago and thought it was so good that I wanted to do an entire episode just sharing what I loved about the documentary and what some of the key takeaways were for me. I really hope that this podcast episode A) it encourages you to check out the documentary for yourself (there's only five episodes so totally doable) or B) does exactly what the documentary hopes to do and that is simply to remind you that you are not alone in whatever pain you are experiencing.  For all the great research that was done for this documentary and to learn more about the resources out there to help you with your own struggles, check out their website, themeyoucantsee.info. 

Gracia is an OG on NBC's The Voice. She was on Team Blake during season three back in 2012! And since then her life has been full of twists and turns and yes, even trauma.  This candid interview will make you feel like you've known her your whole life as she welcomes you behind the scenes of the hit TV show, shares what happened after The Voice, and explains how her mental health took a turn for the worse - even to the point where she gave up music for a period of time.  But if anyone can give you hope, it's Gracia because she didn't stay in her depression but found help! Now she's back living a life she loves, creating music again.  In fact... her new single, "Hey," just dropped this week and there will soon be a music video to go with it so check it out on Spotify or wherever you listen to music.  And after you listen to this episode and fall in love with Gracia as much as I have, you can connect with her on social media. Instagram: @thelifeofgracia and Facebook. You can also follow her music and keep up with all the latest releases on her website: www.iamgracia.com 

Everyone has experienced trauma, big or small, at some point in their life. However, as a community, many of us are woefully ill-informed on how to comfort and aid people when their traumas are triggered.  Whether it's someone who enters your business or it's a child in your neighborhood, becoming trauma-informed can help you help people when they need it the most it. And it can be as simple as changing what you ask people from "what's wrong with you?" to "what happened to you?" Today's guest is clinical social worker, Andi Golusky. She has over a decade of experience helping kids and families who have mental, behavioral and emotional issues in Southwest Virginia. She's now working on the preventative side of trauma as the chair of the New River Valley Resiliency Network and the executive director of NRV Cares.  She can be reached via email: [email protected].  Thanks for listening! 

Everyone is creative in one way or another. Some people happen to be creative in the artistic sense just like my friend and today's guest, Hannah Serapiglia!    When I first met her in college she was studying music and I knew she also had a background in musical theater. But since then she's found other mediums to express herself and let her creativity shine. Now she's the founder of Willow and Vessel, a homemade pottery business that just launched within the last couple of weeks!    For Hannah, art is more than a source of income or even just a fun hobby. It's also a way she expresses her feelings and deals with mental health issues like anxiety, depression and ADHD.    You're going to love the insight she shares from her own experiences and also what she's learned about mental health and people through pottery itself.    To connect with Hannah, follow her on Instagram! @hannie_jane07 and @willowandvessel 

This episode is a re-recording of a talk I had the opportunity to give last week at a women's business luncheon in my hometown. I knew I was talking to women who were very successful in their respective fields, but I had a feeling they still struggled with feeling 100% ready whenever the next opportunity or challenge came their way. The basis of this hypothesis was simply that even I didn't feel ready to even give a talk to a dozen women which by a lot of people's standards would probably be considered easy!  We do things all the time without feeling 100% ready, but somewhere someone told us that mental health was the exception. I know there was a time when I felt like I couldn't create a life I loved because I had anxiety and depression. I thought that my best life could only come after I'd cured my illness. But then what if this disease never went away? Did that mean my life would never be worth living? Absolutely not! And that's the message I wanted to share with you all today. 

Steve Einhaus is the epitome of what this platform is all about: having a mental illness and not letting it stop you from creating a life you love.  He has schizophrenia, but he's managed to overcome most of his struggles and live a productive and incredibly meaningful life helping others just like him. His story includes a lot of hardships, near death experiences and family trauma. Even though this disease will never go away, he's been able to control many of the symptoms and side effects through medication, therapy, support and faith.  His message is simple but powerful. He was able to overcome his mental illness and you can too. 

One of my favorite past times is eating. I pretty much organize my days around what and when I'm going to eat. Going on a vacation? My to-do list is entirely made up of the restaurants I want to visit and the meals I want my mom to make! Sharing my love for food is the guest on today's episode, Chris Mendonca. But whereas my talents are best suited for the dining room, Chris is a wizard in the kitchen. He was a head chef in Boston for years and now is the executive sous chef at Crossbar in Havertown, Pennsylvania.  But that's not all. He’s also a former contest on Hell’s Kitchen! What's his real opinion of legendary chef, Gordan Ramsey? You'll have to listen to find out! Chris is using his recognition from the show and his talents in the kitchen to share his experience with mental health in order to help others on their own healing journeys. He'd love to connect with you on Facebook: @Chris.Mendonca.9 and on Instagram: @pocketchef9126. 

F.E.A.R. : F*ck Everything And Run. But what if there was a different way we could approach fear? In today's episode, I give you three ways you to reprogram your relationship with fear: Preparation, practice, and persistency.  It's how we change F.E.A.R. to Face Everything and Rise.  PS: Thank you Marie Forleo for your amazing, inspiring book Everything is Figureoutable. 

Anticipatory Anxiety. I thought this was a term I'd come up with on my own to describe why I'm more anxious thinking about doing something than when I'm actually doing the thing I was anxious about in the first place. Though honest to God, I'd never heard this term in my life, it's not a term I came up. Which is really good news because that means there is a lot of research out there to help us understand this particular symptom of anxiety.  Research presented in this episode is from Very Well Mind, TalkSpace and Psychology Today.