Open To Happiness: Recent Episodes
Nicoleta Porojanu
Dedicated to you happiness seekers navigating painful transitions in life to help you embrace awareness, reach understanding and open to happiness. A podcast filled with real life stories to empower, educate and entertain you whilst you navigate your journey of self-discovery, healing and personal growth.
In this episode Nicoleta explores spirituality and happiness with Mark Mezadourian, Intuitive from Oregan, USA.
Starting the day with gratitude and intention
How spirituality can help with nervous system (dys)regulation
From judgement to wholeness
Happiness is the freedom found in the present moment
The power of prayer and relaxation
Order and chaos in the universe
When you think happy people are crazy
Genocide, despair and the transgenerational trauma
Parental separation and hypervigilance
Family constellation therapy and EDMR for healing
Everyone wants peace and love
How to create a world of tolerance and kindness
Generations of children that are not traumatised
Spaces where people can regulate the nervous system
How an anxiety attack led to spirituality and insight
Recovering from cynicism and talking to angels
Family trauma and constellation therapy
Ending cruelty and creating generations of healthy children
Understanding unconditional love
Why we are all hard wired for intuition
Intuition as a conversation with the universe
How to ask for help from the divine
Feeling open to receiving guidance
When musicians and writers are our guides
How intuition and spirituality make the world bigger
Spirituality is not random
What if it’s no longer ok to be unconscious?
How would a world without arms look like?
The adolescent mindset of dismissive others
Acknowledgement is a huge healer
When angels want us to learn love
Raise your vibration to conscious adult self
You matter, you are powerful and you have a lot of support
Intuition as an experience not a concept
Connect with Mark here: https://www.markmezadourian.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores trauma and happiness with Dr Agnieszka Piotrowska, academic, TEDx speaker, life coach and author from London.
When trauma is channelled in the creative work
Married with the Eifel Tower, the award winning documentary
Can pain be sublimated completely?
The fear behind procrastination
Structural trauma living in communism
Granddaughter of Auschwitz survivor and transgenerational trauma
The abuse in asymmetrical power relationships
Understanding the betrayal of trauma
Healing through meditation, writing and sharing suffering
Psychoanalysis, transference, movies and AI
Turning to AI in the absence of a trusted person
How machine learning language “perform” empathy
Trauma, therapy and the machine learning
Live chat with an AI agent about future of humanity
The AI coaching and the dangers involved
Wellbeing through movement, community and learning
Connect with Agnieszka: https://agnieszkapiotrowska.co.uk/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about love and happiness with Dr Keith Witt, clinical psychologist, author and teacher from California, USA.
A happy baby uncomfortable living in the 60s
Alcohol consumption and personality disorders in the family
Going through a depressive psychotic episode at 14
Death and rebirth through 23 electroconvulsive treatments
The magic of psychotherapy for the entire family system
Finding solace and discipline in martial arts
Grateful for the lived hardship and for own incarnation
How the “archetype of healer” inspired a career in serving others
The practice of psychotherapy in the 70s
Doing contemplative practices for 60 years
The development of own cosmology through writing 14 books
Fascinated by the concept of happiness
Happiness in the channel of being connected with spirit
When you start observing the evolution of your consciousness
The happy guy that had ups and downs
Why everything in life is about relationships
When improving relationships is essential to personal development
How to be at one with everyone and everything
Why love is compassion, unity and oneness
The learnings from 75.000 therapy sessions
How the School of Love was born
Learning to love completely
How to move through conflict and repair relationships
Why people with personality disorders struggle to love
Positive impact of sexual education in relationships
Stop relying on hormones and start having a more intentional relationship
Secret affairs are shortcuts to temporary happiness
The selfishness of seeking self-gratification
How affairs slip into the slightest loophole in monogamy
When monogamy turns into forced celibacy
Life of the third person in a relationship
Why couple therapy is cheaper than having an affair
The truth of modern psychology and psychotherapy
Attunement as the gate towards consciousness
Radical acceptance, gratitude and productive self-awareness
Connect with Keith: https://drkeithwitt.com/
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about healing and happiness with Lynda Samphire, intuitive and transformational guide from Seatle, USA.
The loss of mother at the age of 2
The confusion around a step mother
When grief is wired in your nervous system
Growing up feeling on guard all the time
Intuitive and sensitive as a little girl
The unsafetiness that develops unhealthy patterns
How to work with the dreams and the inner experiences
Why dreams can bring both nightmares and healing
Using night time as a therapeutic sanctuary
Open to receive messages from the symbols in the dreams
Why it is important to remember your dreams
Connection with the higher self
How to feel safe into your own body
The gift of the human experience
Listen to the night time wisdom
How to reconnect with our whole self
Why happiness runs through the sadness
Please the self and learn to feel
Stop outsourcing your inner truth
Start turning inwards and trust your intuition
Be guided by yourself not others
Connect with Lynda: https://www.lwsamphire.com/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about spirituality and happiness with Karen Docherty, Psychic and Medium from Scotland
Parental divorce and sibling separation at 13
When you feel like living by yourself
The connection with the spirit
What is a medium and psychic
The psychic link and connection with the Self
Reading mediumship books at 10
When you embrace what life brings you
The deep feeling of the awakened one
Scholarship at the College of Psychic Studies
From 9 to 5 to full time psychic work
How mediumship uplifts people
Why many would be sceptical of talking to spirits
Is mediumship fraudulent and witchcraft?
When people look beyond the religion
The source of spirit and the higher power
The healing through talking to a medium
How meditation helps us center ourselves
Remember to have peace and balance
Connect with Karen here: https://www.karendocherty.com/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about nutrition and happiness with Lea Dombrowski, Holistic Health Coach and Nutritionist from California, USA
Insight into trauma and chronic illness
Young and struggling with gut health
Diagnosed with autoimmune disease
Why conventional medicine cannot help sometimes
How functional medicine works holistically
The root cause of our symptoms
Why listen to your body and its illness
How to create a sustainable wellbeing plan
From processed to whole nutrients dense foods
Fitness and core strength training
Nourish your body, move and be present
Connect with Lea here: https://www.livingwithstrength.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores trauma and happiness with Alsu Kashapova, holistic transformational coach from Barcelona
Trauma as the suppression of own self
Impact of growing up with addictive parents
From tech to the healing world
Touched by self-awareness, meditation and yoga
The return back to wholeness
Between personality and the true self
Consciousness vs unconsciousness
Ordinary and non-ordinary states of consciousness
The inner intelligence and our healing
Restoration of core beliefs for healing
The role of compassion in self-work
Appreciate the gift of life
Trust yourself and feel confident
Be present and curious
Connect with Alsu here: https://alsukashapova.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores the link between inter-racial struggles and happiness with Urmi Hossain, finance professional, blogger and author from Montreal, Canada.
Happiness in the peace within you
The impermanent nature of happiness
Finding joy in the little actions
Happiness in high school and university
Identity trapped in between cultures
When you belong to two different nationalities
Displacement through migration and struggling to fit in
Attuned to the diversity of an adoptive country
How blogging helps you build a community
The power of sharing with others
Open to inter-racial dialogues
Frustrated by the racial prejudice
Learn, explore, socialize and be yourself
Connect with Urmi here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/
In this episode Nicoleta explores trauma and happiness with Matt O’Neil, Happiness Coach and Best-Selling Author from South Carolina, USA.
Growing up with a tyrant father
The impact of parental abandonment
In therapy at 6 year old
Life in poverty and struggle
Finding joy in family connection
Between success and addiction
Resilience that follows trauma
Why hardship happen for us
The eternal soul as the essence of happiness
You choose how much you like the reality
How to heal the 8 bad moods and wounds
Why the truth is reality and love
Insight into the good mood revolution
The path of conscious happiness
How unresolved emotions affect our wellbeing
Healing in alignment with your soul
Happiness when you love reality the way it is
The awful existence of our abusers
Prioritise authentic loving relationships
Be grateful and appreciate the abundance around
Movement as antidepressant
Connect with Matt here: https://mattoneill.com/the-book/
In this episode Nicoleta explores yoga and happiness with Chloe Markham, award winning yoga teacher, writer and joyful living coach from York, England.
When life challenges wire our brain
Feeling life is short in childhood
When the parent goes through stroke rehabilitation
The joy following loss and trauma
From practicing to teaching yoga
Living more joyfully through you yoga
About the toll and magic of yoga
Yoga as the reminder of our aliveness
How to engage with stress more positively
Interoception and the connection with own body
Growing through therapy and self-work
Learn to navigate your nervous system
Accept boredom and stillness
Be present and mindful
Connect with Chloe here: https://www.chloemarkham.co.uk/
In this episode Nicoleta explores trauma and happiness with Wendy Alexander, mid-life career coach, author and entrepreneur from Melbourne, Australia.
Life as a mixed race in the segregated South Africa
Trapped in protests and social unrest
Laughter and connection in the family home
The experience of migration to Australia
Domestic abuse throughout pregnancy
Losing the house after divorce
Embraced by the multicultural Melbourne
Growing resilience and cultivating gratitude
Inspired by the experience of motherhood
Fighting to pay off debts as a single mother
Mid-life career change in the corporate world
Coaching others to change their path
Seek help and take it one step at a time
Connect with Wendy here: https://happycareerhub.com/
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about trauma and happiness with Akilah Riley-Richardson, clinical trauma therapist from Trinidad and Tobaggo.
Happiness in living aligned with own values
Trauma and the relationship with happiness
Understanding own value in the world
How to erect proper psychological boundaries
Moving through rough patches in life
From true pain to authenticity
Receiving validation for our internal experiences
The relationships we choose and choose not
When trauma and pain make you a better friend
Why we are all on the same path
The calling for a particular profession
Sitting with people that feel deep trauma
Why you are worth being here
The systemic trauma of marginalised people
Grief and self-compassion are immensely important
About your relational privilege
Various tools in healing trauma
The challenge of living in the now
Connect with Akilah here:
https://akilahrileyrichardson.com/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about healing and happiness with Marie Young, Stress Management Coach from Texas, USA.
From childhood neglect to depression
The impact of the absent parents
Coming from divorced families
Lacking role modelling and support
Between the compare and despair modes
About the hardening of the heart
Starting healing in the 20s
The emergence of the post-traumatic growth
Takings from the corporate world
Happiness in human connection
Wisdom of the divine masculine
The unconditional love of the divine feminine
Using the technology of yoga to return back home
How we can yoke ourselves to the divine
When yoga can be learned by everyone
How discovering yoga helps you surrender
Contentment and bliss in mixing yoga and meditation
The space of balance we can return to
Connection with the self and your intuition
Consciousness as the sum of awareness and love
Connect with Marie here:
www.bodyinformedresiliency.com
www.mariebyoung.com
In this episode Nicoleta talks about PTSD and happiness with Garret Biss, retired marine pilot, addiction recovery coach, and TEDx Speaker from North Carolina, USA.
Happiness as the peace in your heart
Joining the Marines in search for connection
Travelling around the world and learning about the human condition
In touch with the pain and suffering of people
Between hedonic happiness and eudaimonic happiness
The profile of a Marines pilot and the need for compartmentalisation
PTSD for military that transition to civil life
Finding safety in belonging and purpose in life
Coping behaviours after military trauma
Why military do not share their inner experience
Overcoming alcohol addiction through filling the internal void
Recovery and positive psychology, coaching and mentoring
How to create a life you don’t want to escape from
The journey of reconnection with the self
Intentionally bringing joyfulness back into your life
Pot-traumatic growth following trauma
Follow joy, seek connection, search for meaning
Connect with Garret here:
https://valiantpath.vet/
https://garretbiss.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores emotions and happiness with Andy Brown, author and leadership coach from England.
Happiness in balance and equity
Jumping with joy growing up in Brighton
Curiosity is key to create happiness
Attending the inner child
Feeling chosen as an adopted child
Living with a strong desire to serve
About the emotional overdraft
Investing in work at the cost of your mental health
The factors that create emotional overdraft
Why your thinking created your emotions
How your emotions create your behaviour
When your behaviours lead to certain outcomes
Changing habits to rewire the brain
Expanding our emotional vocabulary
Happiness is infinite and has no limits
Do not hold the happiness, spend it without fear
Connect with Andy here: https://emotionaloverdraft.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores healing and happiness with Holly Copeland, scientist, coach and healing practitioner from California, USA
The youth and the false idea of happiness
Missing the feeling of wholeness within
Happiness as the inside out job
Aligning with the love within
When you naturally connect with the joy in life
Life near a sibling with mental health struggles
From conservation work to Buddhist teachings
Finding purpose and helping others
When you stop expecting the world to change
Embracing kinship in our shared humanity
The bridge between science and spirituality
Meditation and the life beyond the mind
How the nature of our mind is pristine
Working with the energy of our universe
Sound healing and tuning forks to let energy flow
The power of frequency healing devices
Freeing from programming and indoctrination
Ancient teachings for chronic illness and inflammation
The importance of readiness for healing
Honour the breath for peace and wellbeing
Great each day intentionally
Allow yourself to feel the truth into your heart
Connect with Holly here: https://www.hollycopeland.co/
In this episode Nicoleta explores health and happiness with Mark L Fox, entrepreneur, scientist, and former Space Shuttle Chief Engineer, from Coco Beach, USA.
Looking forward to waking up in the morning
Happiness in helping others
When you see the half full glass
From love of chemistry to rocket science
Why NASA is not progressive in its production
16 years in the space shuttle industry
What inspired the interest in energy work
How everything in the universe involves an energy exchange
Energy in the magnetic field, electrical current, sound, vibration and light
The science of DNA and the energy of human cells
Modern technological energy devices that promote health
Balancing the energy source in the body for healing
Frequencies for illness and frequencies for wellbeing
The VIBE device with protocols that send therapeutic vibrations
How an MP3 player can send healing energy through vibration
Helping with toxicity, inflammation, PTSD, anxiety, sleep, blood sugar regulation
How to switch between different brain waves
High success rate in the medical clinical trials
The miracle of human body healing
Harmonising the brain with meditation and the energy work
How different frequencies stimulate the vagus nerve
Healing through other devices like watches, chairs and grounding matts
A future where various frequencies can be accessed through the lighting system
Connect with Mark here: https://resona.health/
In this episode Nicoleta explores relationships and happiness with Corey Lyon Folsom, relationship coach from Venice Beach, USA.
Happiness in improving the self
Joyfulness in helping others
Childhood contentment exploring forest and wildlife
Joy in the connection with the self
Three divorces revealed the need for personal development
Increasing awareness for relational attunement
Sibling relational trauma
Coaching women and couples
Slowing down to dissolve conflict
Anchoring and kind communication
How to argue without wounding
Focus on your feelings and needs and not on the “why”
Your answers are at the core of you
Connect with your soul statements
Why today is the best day of your life
Connect with Corey here: https://corerelationship.com/author/corefolsom/
In this episode Nicoleta explores relationships and happiness with Jessica Fern, psychotherapist from North Carolina, USA.
How we grow up with the unconscious expectations of fun, pleasure and excitement
When the happiness is more the byproduct than the goal itself
Presence, contentment and gratitude as the source of happiness
The neglect surrounding an “easy child” perceived as not-needy
Understanding transgenerational trauma
Why our nervous system is key in happiness
Connected with people and feeling alive supporting others
From psychology to somatic healing and international conflict resolution
How education and mentoring shapes our choices and actions in life
Are there many ways to do love and relationships?
The romantic ideal as the fairy tale happiness
Why statistically 25% to 50% of people pretend to be monogamous
The experience of consensual non-monogamy
Monogamy between default programming and the conscious choice
Deconstructing the social construct of monogamy
We are in the early stages of accepting polyamory
When states and cities see polyamory as a protected characteristic
How to cultivate secure attachment and feel polysecure?
Polyamory as an expression of who you are
The stress of opening relationship in the paradigm of love
How to deal with a reluctant partner to open a relationship
When you feel “I love you, but that does not mean we are compatible”
More love, more diversity, more sexual experiences and more resources in polyamory
Using polyamory as a path to awakening
Alternative sexuality and the move towards the non-binary
Healing trauma in the LGBTQ and polyamorous communities
Reembody, connect with the earth, and be grateful
Connect with Jessica here: https://www.jessicafern.com
In this episode Nicoleta talks about wellness and happiness with Heather Heynen, counsellor and weight loss coach from South Dakota, USA.
Love for rock climbing and psychology
The impact of divorce on teenagers
Insight into binge eating and exercise addiction
Sitting with emotions and self-regulating
Inspired to heal by our own children
The power of mindfulness in healing
Integrating therapeutic tools and interventions
Spirituality and the connection with the outside world
Psycho-education and awareness
Find more about Heather here:
https://www.heatherheynen.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores culture and happiness with Philosopher and Professor Jason Lee from Leicester, UK
Is it good to define happiness?
Is happiness the opposite of unhappiness?
Seeing happiness as a mental illness
Drawing joy and happiness from creativity and relationships
Going into teaching to share knowledge and help others
How is culture promoting both madness and wellbeing
Group collective madness and modern social trends
How doubt can make you a better thinker and leader
Modern man prioritising thinking over feeling
Programmed from birth to believe in the capitalist scenario
Transcending time on social media
AI as the hopeful tool for our future collective happiness
How the unconscious mind is ahead of the conscious
Buddhism as the path to personal freedom and happiness
Finding happiness in the present moment, in friendships and spirituality
Connect with Professor Jason Lee here: https://cjplee.com/
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about gender and happiness with Ann Pellegrini, psychoanalysts, author and Professor at New York University.
How happiness is shaped by the social and cultural norms
Personal questioning around struggle and flourishing
When early life experiences drive our career choices
Happiness despite sexism, misogyny and homophobia
How a tomboy learns to live in gender
Why all gender arises out of a relationship with normative trauma
Trauma and its impact on happiness
Why trauma is constitutive to what it means to be human
How our sense of self and identity develops
Insight into gender internalisation
Why everyone is gender nonconforming
Societal discrimination and prejudice around gender fluidity
Healing trauma through gender affirmative care
Solidarity and common cause for support, catharsis and healing
Connect with Ann here: https://annpellegrini.com/
Order the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Gender-Without-Identity-Avgi-Saketopoulou/dp/1942254199
In this episode Nicoleta explores dating and happiness with Mat Boggs, dating expert, speaker, best-selling author, from California USA
Happiness as the differential between your expectation and reality
Joy in what is happening in the present moment
Peacefulness when you give up the resistance to what is
Living in an infinite field of goodness
Challenge as the seed of an equal and greater opportunity
Helping thousands of women manifest their love
The greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity
A romantic at heart dreaming about finding the love of his life
From heartbreak to awakening
Our results in life are the result of our level of awareness
The secret of grandparents married for 63 years
Grow a love abundance mindset and feel worthy of love
Use imagination to create a vision for your love and happiness
Self-love and self-compassion and a healthy attachment style
Grow a love abundance skillset for happy relationships
Managing healthy masculine and feminine energy
When the content of our life is the curriculum of our evolution
Collective openness towards healthy relationships
Online dating between the opportunity and the choice bias
Love as the most rewarding business
When discouragement kills your love dreams
Give yourself the permission to get the support you need
Every relationship moves you into the direction of your love story
It only takes one and what if it’s easy?
Connect with Mat here: https://www.bti.com and https://www.bravethininginstitute.com
In this episode Nicoleta talks about mindset and happiness with Juan Campoo, mindset & behavior expert, author, TEDx speaker from Argentina, living in Netherlands.
Happiness, as contentment and wellbeing
When health struggles lead to coaching training
Doctors prescribing yoga for life
Using intuition to work with people for people
Happiness has nothing to do with circumstances
The impact of epigenetics in happiness
Trauma coming to the surface at 40
Autoimmune disease healed through mindset
Insight into the compassionate leadership
How mindset influences our emotions and behaviour
Make the unconscious conscious to drive your life not be driven
The coach as a mirror for clients
Self-empowerment as a way to free yourself from limitations
How would I see today in 20 years from now?
The power of personal leadership
Shifting from victim to the creator
Life as the sum of the present moments
Happy life as the sum of happy moments
Connect with Juan here: https://juancampoo.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores relationship and happiness with Lisa Tahir, licensed therapist from New Orleans, USA.
When we measure happiness in units of hertz
From peace and joy to happiness in the little things of life
The old and the new therapy and compassion fatigue
When we integrate spirituality in our therapy practice
20 years in therapy focused on the past
Hope as a precursor to change
Empathy and self-forgiveness key in healing
Follow your intuition, open to the divine and ask for more
Connect with Lisa here: https://www.nolatherapy.com/author/ltahir504/
In this episode Nicoleta explores sex, intimacy and happiness with Dominique D’Vita, Registered Nurse and Trauma-Informed Master Coach form Texas, USA.
Childhood trauma around alcoholic parents
Happiness in peace and in moments of joyful human connection
Survivor of trauma afraid to go to therapy
Searching for a career to bring purpose and meaning
When you immerse yourself into work rather than healing
Discovering the path of tantra after three decades of nursing
Healing through making love to someone’s soul
Expand consciousness and raise energy through tantra
Love making as a bypass of tantra
The three tenets of tantra: breath, sound and movement
Between the white, red and black tantra
From surviving to thriving and self-regulation
The fear based non-education around sexuality
Tantra and the soulgasms of 5 hours
Honouring the divine in your lover in sacred sexuality
Connect with Dominique here: https://yestantra.com/
In his episode Nicoleta talks about relationships and happiness with Mateusz Bajerski, fellow psychotherapist, from London.
Life through the eyes of a millenial therapist
When happiness is a choice and internal discipline
The jurney of self-love and self-acceptance
From cognitive science to Reiki
Awakening to spirituality through an Ayuhasca ceremony
Insight into the human consciousness
When awakened people are perceived as black sheeps
The forgiveness and appreciation of self
Hardship happens for you not to you
Connect with Mateusz here: https://mateuszbajerski.co.uk/online-hypnotherapy/
In this episode Nicoleta explores sexuality and happiness with the author of EXODAI Elizabeth Hendrick, British national living in Tokyo.
Happiness as the 100% contentment with who you are
Starting life in a happy loving family
Discovering interest in girls at puberty
Fantasies of bondage at the age of 10
Identified as a lesbian at 13
Discomfort within due ingrained religious conditioning
Feeling miserable with own sexuality
Unconsciously attracting dysfunctional relationship
Hitting the rock bottom at 35
7 years of seeking and self-discovery
How religion and politics shapes our perception of sexual fluidity
The myth that being gay is an abomination before God
Why is BDSM still stigmatised and misunderstood?
How 50 Shades of Grey is not a real representation of BDSM
Theories linking birthing process and BDSM
BDSM as an innate experience
The euphoria in the addiction to torture
Pain as a strong source of arousal in sadomasochism
Sexual (dis)harmony between a BDSM and not non BDSM partners
Fulfilling unmet needs outside of the relationship
The codependency in bending to please the BDSM partner
In love and tortured by a sadistic Japanese dominatrix
Hardcore BDSM torture to bruises and cuts
The delusion of saving the dominatrix from her demons
The unconscious guilt and shame fuelling self-loathing
When BDSM becomes a vehicle to therapy and healing
Self-awareness that the disconnect over the sexuality led to self-punishment
The symbolism and hidden message of dreaming
Past live regression as a channel to relieve burdening emotions
Coming out from darkness into self-love, gratitude and mindfulness
Sharing the experience in the memoir book EXODAI
Find out more about Elizabeth here: https://exodai.co.uk/
Order the EXODAI book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJDKPZMT
In this episode Nicoleta talks about dating and happiness with Ruth Schwartz, the founder of the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, from California USA.
Exploring the many flavours of happiness
Happiness as joy and satisfaction
Happiness as a feeling of aliveness
Happiness in living your purpose
Happiness in sharing the message with the world
Childhood happiness in the relationship with the universe
Drawing happiness in adolescence from romantic relationships
When as an adult you remain a student of the mysteries of life
The longing for romantic connection
Between romantic attraction and sustainable love
Infatuation, limerance and delusion in dating
Abusive relationships and shattering breakups
Insight into the particularities of lesbian dating
Rapid bonding and premature commitment in lesbian dating
Healing childhood trauma to create conscious relationships
Homophobia and claiming the gay identity
The need for a conscious girlfriend school
Retraumatization and relational trauma in romantic relationships
Healing through compassion, awareness and tolerance
Healing through non-violent communication
Healing through the openness to learn and grow
The levels of compatibility: commonalities, chemistry and vision
Find more about Ruth here: https://www.consciousgirlfriendacademy.com/about
In this episode Nicoleta talks about hardship and happiness with Elaine Glass, intuitive coach, speaker and author from Arizona USA.
When happiness is living your soul’s person.
The gift of a blessed happy childhood.
Moving through hardship in the 20s.
Surviving as a single mom with 2 children.
Offering emotional support to patients as a hygienist.
Training in coaching and coming back “home”.
When the quietness is not silence.
Overcoming a stress related autoimmune disease.
From re-embodiment to cleaning the environment.
Mental landscaping and embracing resting and receiving.
Healing the relationship with ourselves.
The power of surrendering.
Remember your beginnings.
Trust that you are not alone.
Playfulness is your true nature.
Connect with Elaine here:
https://dankuschell.clickfunnels.com/eg-home
In this episode Nicoleta talks about relationship and happiness with the founders of The Hendricks Institute, Katie and Gay Hendricks from California, USA.
Celebrating 44 years of marriage and over 40 books.
The relationship is about two people telling the truth to each other.
Adversities are our best teacher.
Creating a healthy relationship out of tiny choices.
Take responsibility and understand how you contribute to conflict.
When you eliminate blame and criticise.
Reclaim your ability to interact consciously.
Being who you are in the relationship.
Solve the problems with the incredible power of commitment.
Why fear stops us from creating healthy relationships.
Guy’s incredible story of weight loss.
When Gay learned to love himself.
Katie is sharing her traumatic past.
How Katie used dance and movement in therapy.
The power of sharing our immediate internal experience.
When happiness is openness to live and internal peace.
There is hurt in the betrayal and the emotional divorce.
3 types of relationships: learning, celebratory and toxic.
We repeat our traumas in our relationships.
Wounded relationships can be saved through commitment.
How to nurture a conscious loving attitude.
Attend yourself, speak the truth and be committed to your creative genius.
Be authentic, responsible and appreciate life.
Connect with Katie and Gay here: https://hendricks.com/.
In this episode Nicoleta explores parenting and happiness with Kara Hoppe, psychotherapist from California USA
The impact of a baby on marriage.
When the couple relationships gets stuck.
When childhood trauma robs us from happiness.
About the capacity for joy and sadness.
When leaning into sorrow opens the door for happiness.
The joy in the small moments of life.
Joy is connection, suffering is isolation.
Trauma in adolescence during the parents’ divorce.
The markers of relational trauma.
How having children shifts the intimacy in the couple.
Principles for parents to centre the couple relationship.
Handling conflict, communication and connection.
How to deal with the betrayal of trust.
Understanding the attachment wounds and our nervous system.
Naming the relational trauma in order to heal it.
Growing together through the birth of a child.
Show up, live in the now and stay connected.
Connect with Kara here:
https://www.karahoppe.com/
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about labels, social identity and happiness with Jaï Bristow, an international diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) coach and consultant.
Humans as complex multidimensional beings.
Life growing up in a meditation centre.
Depression and anxiety from the age of 10.
Living with chronic health conditions and disability.
Coming out as trans and non-binary.
When gender becomes a limitation of freedom.
Happiness as the feeling of joyful freedom.
Insight into social justice and its healing power.
The importance of internal and external healing.
When we go “beyond boxes”.
Labels, intersectionality, mirrors and windows.
How the concept of diversity is misused these days.
The importance of equitable equality and inclusion.
Understanding power, privilege and prejudice.
Authenticity, acceptance and curiosity to live a happy life.
Jaï Bristow
Jaï Bristow is a multiethnic queer disabled content creator, group facilitator and public speaker. They are a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) coach & consultant and offer in person and online workshops on power, privilege and prejudice, with the objective of raising awareness of and finding freedom from oppressive outer and inner structures. They host a number of online summits and are the creator of Beyond Boxes with Jaï Bristow, a podcast and youtube channel exploring labels and identity.
Jaï has been working in events and media production since 2010 and hosting groups around social identity since 2016, focusing on gender, race, sexuality, class and disability. Their work is inspired by their own life experiences as well as mindfulness, inquiry and NVC tools. They have been practicing meditation since childhood, been a student of the Diamond Approach since 2016, which brings together ancient spiritual practices with modern psychology and inquiry methods, and been training in nonviolent communication (NVC) since 2018.
Connect with Jaï here:
jaibristow.com
Instagram @beyond_boxes
In this episode Nicoleta chats about mental health and happiness with Matt Hussey, Journalist, Therapist and Educator from London.
When happiness feels like a Hollywood story.
From the pursuit of happiness to our agency to tap into joy.
The happiness as an internal dialogue.
Watching divorcing parents fight in the court.
From failed therapy sessions to training as a therapist.
The journey of becoming a therapist.
About the messiness of relationships.
Insight into human suffering and modern mental health.
When suffering provides meaning in life.
The source of our mental health challenges.
When relational trauma knocks on the door.
Why therapy is still a luxury for many.
Healing our wounds in the therapeutic relationship.
When acceptance invites this “visitor” called happiness.
Why we need to look to the darkness within us.
Invest in quality personal relationships.
The route to a better world is through each other.
Find more about Matt here: https://www.thebrink.me/about/
In this episode Nicoleta explores relational trauma and happiness with Jacquie Burgwin-Turner, psychotherapist from England.
From clinical and forensic social worker to psychotherapy.
Insights after 32 years in the service of others.
Life as a mother of seven children.
Life as a foster mom for 44 children.
The pain of living with a cruel mother.
Leaving home at adolescence.
From loneliness and confusion to clarity and connection.
Happy despite adversity and pain.
When happiness arise from healing people.
You control your feelings.
Mid-life crisis and walking out from the job.
Searching within to find the true self.
From self-love to healing trauma.
Seek support, find meaning and embrace gratitude.
Connect with Jacquie here: https://www.aubreysangelstransforminglives.com/.
In this episode Nicoleta explores relational trauma and happiness with Trevor Rocca, Polyvagal and Trauma Informed Coach from Gibraltar.
Inside the mind and life of a Gibraltarian.
When personal training becomes thea path for self-soothing.
How understanding dissolves the self-blame and shaming.
The lack of parental affection and trauma injuries.
Insight into relational trauma.
Why each relationship carries relational trauma.
How the polyvagal theory helps healing trauma.
The power of compassion in trauma work.
Learning to self-regulating the nervous system.
Meditation, yoga and other mindful practises in trauma healing.
The importance of co-regulation.
Replacing the concept of “stress” with “dysregulation”.
The act of gentle reflection.
Take action to boost your confidence.
And never forget you are a human being.
Connect with Trevor Rocca here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-rocca-016216173/
In this episode Nicoleta explores relational trauma and happiness with Mieke Vander Heyden psychotherapist and coach from Brussels, Belgium.
Happiness in the contentment and acceptance of where we are in life.
From angry child to adult travelling freedom.
We have the choice and we are in charge of our happiness.
How our relationship with our parents shape our relational style.
Insight into the fascinating journey of healing.
How relational trauma shows up in the therapy practice.
The impact of past on our present being.
Our expectations are the source of relational trauma.
Awareness and consciousness can prevent relational trauma.
The importance of self-reflection in our relational life.
Between the longing to heal and the fear of going inside.
The power of healing in the community of a group.
Change perspective, take responsibility, remain curious.
Connect with Mieke here: https://movingheartstherapy.com/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about relational trauma and happiness with Dr. Maureen Petersen from North Carolina, USA.
Happiness is embracing the successes and failures in life.
Why life is a teacher.
When you become a doctor out of love for people and love for science.
How a paediatric doctor has dealt with her child’s cancer and type 1 diabetes.
The importance of gratitude when faced with hardship.
Why sitting with discomfort helps us grow.
How adversities lead to relational trauma.
Support for parents of chronically ill children.
Why to prioritise self-care.
The essential role of a community.
Connect with Maureen here: https://maureenmichelemd.com/
In this episode Nicoleta chats about relationships and happiness with Tripp Lanier, professional coach and author from North Carolina, USA
Why we should not chase or pursue happiness.
Happiness in laughing with friends and writing music.
When your mother takes her life at 13.
Expressing anger and finding relief in music.
How using the voice leads to healing.
When humour helps us move through hardship.
Why coaching is an extension of art.
Getting out of the high achiever/competitive mindset.
Never forget you are mortal.
The need for playfulness in life.
When you are in touch with your inner experience.
Who is the new man (podcast)?
The gift of being imperfect.
Why we cannot escape pain and uncertainty.
Don’t take yourself so seriously.
Connect with Tripp here: https://www.tripplanier.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores what lying is, why do we lie, what is the impact of lying and what can we do about it?
There’s nothing good coming out of lying, only pain and destruction.
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores life when partners are on different levels of consciousness.
What can you do when your realise you are awakening and your partner is still stuck in their tunnel mind?
Can the relationship survive?
In this solo episode Nicoleta explored "the best version of yourself".
Do you feel good enough or you feel rather inadequate and insufficient?
Is there a best version of yourself and if there is how do you find it?
Let's explore how the humanistic psychology inspired the empowerment culture and changed the way we think about ourselves as human beings.
Most inportantly, let's guide you find your best version of self.
In this episode Nicoleta talks aboutrelational trauma and happinesswith Stephenie Zamora, coach and author of Unravel, from New Mexico, USA.
When depression is your companion through life.
Struggling to feel you belong.
Navigating manipulative relationships.
When your ex commits suicide after breakup.
How you can lose your business and direction in life overnight.
When bereavement leads to PTSD.
In relationship with a drug addict.
How childhood trauma shapes us in life.
From neglect to low self-worth and bad choices in life.
How do you turn your life and start healing.
Leanings from the dark night of the soul.
Why sharing stories is part of the healing journey.
What is at the core of the book Unravel.
Find more about Stephenie here: https://www.stepheniezamora.com/.
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the Self-discovery series and is helping you to integrate your learnings in life and open the door to inner transformation.
In this episode Nicoleta explores relationships and happiness with John Gray, the author of the best seller book Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.
Learning about life from Maharishi.
From meditation teacher to author and relationship counsellor.
How misinterpreting reality creates relational struggles.
The role of biology in the dynamic between men and women.
Exploring masculinity and femininity.
Why men need a cave and impersonal time.
How men get feminised.
Why gender equality does not mean sameness.
Why woman love to talk and release tension at the time.
How you can make a woman happy.
The impact of the absent mother and father.
What your mother could not tell you.
What your father did not know.
How do women provoke violence in men.
How men provoke rejection and negative in women.
The good and dark side of feminism.
How to have great sex at any age.
What is beyond Mars and Venus.
Learn more about John and his book and teachings here: https://www.marsvenus.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the Self-discovery series and is guiding you to explore your gifts, telents and purpose in life.
In this episode Nicoleta talks about monogamy and happinesswith Kevin Patterson, educator and author of the award winning book “Love's Not Colour Blind”, from Philadelphia USA.
Why is the world favouring monogamous relationships?
Starting dating in monogamous relationships
When you feel that something is missing in a relationship.
Why some are unhappy in monogamy?
Is exclusivity important?
How you open up a relationship.
Open relationships in marriage.
What is different in an open relationship.
Honesty, respect, communication, emotional literacy in polyamory.
What is ethical non-monogamy.
Talking about jealousy and possessiveness.
Managing calendars with multiple partners.
Insecurity in polyamory.
The rules in the polyamory communities.
Parenting in polyamorous relationships.
Children’s questions for polyamorous parents.
Is there a link between polyamory and childhood trauma?
Explore cheating and betrayal in monogamous relationships.
The relationship between polyamory and happiness.
Find out more about Kevin and his work here: https://www.kevinapatterson.com/.
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the Self-discovery series and is guiding you to do a work and career review and explore your relationship with money and abundance.
In this episode Nicoleta talks about trauma and happiness with Andrea Nakayama, Functional Medicine Nutritionist from Oregon, USA.
About navigating life adversities with grace
Pregnant with husband in a terminal illness
How to healthily move through anticipated grief
Learn about the power of holistic healing
The difference between stress and trauma
Why trauma lives in the body
Insight into the field of epigenetics
Understanding the ancestral trauma
When you hold space for healing
How post-traumatic growth unfolds
When personal hardship leads to your true calling
What is functional nutrition and what it does
The link between functional nutrition and trauma
Find more about Andrea and her work here: https://www.andreanakayama.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the Self-discovery series drawing a line on the previous 7 episodes and setting the scene for the following ones.
The focus today is on self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth and the spiral of awareness that follows the 7 step framework at the core of the Trauma Healing Model.
In this episode Nicoleta talks about detoxification and happiness with Wendy Meyers, naturopathic doctor, functional diagnostic nutritionist and detox expert from Los Angeles, USA.
Inspired by own health challenges at 37
The truth about air, food, water and heavy metals intake
How detoxification can help chronic fatigue and other ailments
The 5 detox foods
Binders, minerals and saunas
About the bioenergy field around the body
How to deal with the energetic blocks
Emotional trauma stored in the energy field
Healing early life adversity to manifest physical health
Find more about Wendy here: https://myersdetox.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the Self-discovery series and guides you explorethe relationship between your personality and your happiness.
To grow in the containing space of a community join the Happiness Seekers Club here: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the series on Self-discovery and guides you explore the link between your relationships and your happiness.
Elevate your experience by joining the Happiness Seekers Club: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the series on Self-discovery and guides you to explore the impact of the culturalization process on your happiness.
Expand your awareness by joining the Happiness Seekers Club: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the series on Self-discovery and guides you explore why the suffering and healing have the same source and how can you start mending your wounds.
Ready to join our community? Sign up for the Happiness Seekers Club: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the series on Self-discovery and guides you explore how religion and science have shapped your life and happiness.
Want to expand this further? Join the Happiness Seekers Club here: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues the series on self-discovery and guides you explore the impact of the history of humanity on your life and happiness.
Deepen your experience by joining the Happiness Seekers Club: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores where are we coming from and how connected we are with each other, with the Earth and the Universe surrounding us.
Do you have a community that helps you grow and develop each day? If not join the Happiness Seekers Club membership here: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this episode Nicoleta explores relational trauma and happiness with Jana Wilson, the author of Wise Little one: Learning to Love and Listen to My Inner Child.
The sad story of complex childhood trauma.
How a child survives complex post-traumatic stress.
Living with an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother.
When your mother puts the gun on your heat at 8.
The gift of a mystical experience at 12.
Sexualised and molested as a child.
Promiscuity, rape, abortions, guilt and shame.
From suicidal ideation to spiritual awakening.
When healing starts through reconnection with the mother.
About the gifts of the darkness pushing us through the light.
When the Universe takes care of you.
Feeling grateful for past trauma and the post-traumatic growth.
Finding happiness in the nature and in the connection with the self.
How to reparent your hurt inner child.
Consciousness, openness and self-love.
Find out more about Jana and order the book here: https://www.janawilson.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores how to integrate your body, mind, soul and social persona into your whole being.
Further guidance around this inside of the Happiness Seekers Club: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this episode Nicoleta explores relational trauma and happiness with Heather Mason, yoga therapist and the founder of The Minded Institute.
Story of an ex gymnast growing up in Manhattan.
From developmental trauma to studying anthropology abroad.
The return to New York, back into trauma.
Life in Buddhist monasteries in Asia.
The practice of yoga and Buddhist meditation.
Becoming a psychotherapist instead of a Buddhist nun.
How to use breath and movement to help you heal trauma.
Trained in yoga for trauma with Boston Trauma Centre.
The realisation of a life long suffering with PTSD.
Creation of The Minded Institute.
Feeling miserable before discovering Buddhism.
We are the creators of our happiness and misery.
How to cultivate our ability to self-regulate.
Change your parasympathetic nervous autonomic system functioning through breathing.
Yoga and mindfulness can activate the vagal network.
Mindfulness and loving kindness reduce inflammation,
Why relational trauma healing is an ongoing process.
Find more about Heather here: https://themindedinstitute.com/team/heather-mason/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the connection with the soul and how you can integrate your spiritual wellbeing in your self-care practice.
Deepen your understanding of self by joining your community: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this episode Nicoleta explores relational trauma and happiness with Crystle Lampitt, psychotherapist from Kansan, USA.
Life as a model, journalist, teacher and psychotherapist.
Born in Egypt, brought up in Indonesia and living in America.
Not talking about feelings in an Asian-American family.
About our capacity to feeling happiness.
When you feel lost and confused growing up.
The nature of happiness and the truth about suffering
The impact of trauma on our bodies, minds and souls
Nature and nurture in the development and evolution of trauma
Genetics and culture in trangenerational trauma
Social support in the prevention of PTSD
Somatic experiencing and other techniques in trauma healing
Connection, expression and purpose in the recovery of trauma
Find more about Crystle here: https://www.clwellnesskc.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores relational trauma and happiness with Crystle Lampitt, psychotherapist from Kansan, USA.
Life as a model, journalist, teacher and psychotherapist.
Born in Egypt, brought up in Indonesia and living in America.
Not talking about feelings in an Asian-American family.
About our capacity to feeling happiness.
When you feel lost and confused growing up.
The nature of happiness and the truth about suffering
The impact of trauma on our bodies, minds and souls
Nature and nurture in the development and evolution of trauma
Genetics and culture in trangenerational trauma
Social support in the prevention of PTSD
Somatic experiencing and other techniques in trauma healing
Connection, expression and purpose in the recovery of trauma
Find more about Crystle here: https://www.clwellnesskc.com/
In this episode Nicoleta chats about trauma and happiness with Britt Frank, psychotherapist based in New York, USA and author of the book "The Science of Stuck".
What does it mean to be stuck?
The difference between stuckness and oppression.
Intention/action gap and its meaning.
When stuckness is a form of trauma.
Why mental health world is confused around trauma.
The science of stuck and our habits, change and motivation.
Why mental health and motivation are not mindset issues.
The physiology of trauma as an injury to our nervous system.
What does it mean to be trauma informed?
The impact of trauma on us all.
Anxiety, depression and other mental disorders in trauma.
A new perspective on healing.
Healing as an increased capacity to tolerate ambivalence.
What makes joy difficult or even impossible?
The power of human connection in healing.
When happiness is surrendering to what is.
The realist stance between positivity and negativity.
Why the lack of gratitude makes us stuck.
Find out more about Britt Frank here: https://www.scienceofstuck.com/
In this episode Nicoleta continues the Trauma Healing series and explores relational trauma.
What is relational trauma?
What is it’s impact on us?
And how can we heal our relational wounds?
Find support around your relational struggles in a private and safe community: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this episode Nicoleta continues the Trauma Healing series and explores family and transgenerational trauma.
What is family trauma?
What is transgenerational trauma?
And how do we heal from them?
Get more info and support around this here: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues her Trauma Healing series and explores the impact of cultural and social trauma.
Cultural trauma is created and allowed by the local cultures, is rooted in religious and scientific fiction and maintained by our societies which are led by the systems and institutions of each era.
Cultural trauma has brought and still brings a lot of suffering and has historically affected some particular cultural groups
Social trauma is the result of the social disparity, inequality, discrimination and prejudice that are affecting so many of us even to this day.
Furter support to heal your cultural and social trauma here: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode Nicoleta continues her Trauma Healing series and explores how to heal colelctive trauma.
Explore where you’re coming from, reconnect with the universe, the Earth, the nature and the ecosystem as one of 100 zillion organisms.
Discover the impact of the 2.5 mil years of human history and understand evolutionary, genetic and karmic memory.
Find how your ancestry continues to live through you.
See how the pain and the hurt of the humanity live inside of you and how they affect your life.
Then learn how to heal the collective and ancestral trauma.
Find out more around happiness and healing here: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this episode Nicoleta talks about trauma and happiness with dr. Aimee Apigian from California, USA.
When own health struggles inspires a medical physician to look beyond conventional medicine.
What is functional medicine?
Looking underneath the symptoms into the cause of illness.
Why is preventative medicine important?
A holistic and integrative view on trauma.
The impact of trauma on our body.
What we learn from addiction medicine.
When the nervous system is wired for trauma responses.
How to properly self-regulate our internal life.
When brain inflammation is a sign of trauma response.
How unresolved trauma gets passed onto the next generations.
Why trauma impacts our capacity for happiness.
The grief work open the door to happiness.
How somatic exercises bring safety into the body and mind.
When your deepest desire is your greatest fear.
How our health issues are linked to adverse childhood experiences.
How healing trauma improves the physiological functioning.
Why the healing potential is limitless.
Download your gift from Dr. Aimie Arpigian here:
https://traumahealingaccelerated.mykajabi.com/steps-to-identify-and-heal-trauma-a-roadmap-for-healing-podcast-aff
Find out more about dr. Aimie here: https://www.traumahealingaccelerated.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the impact of trauma on our soul and heart and how can we heal our inner wounds.
What is the soul?
How can the soul get hurt?
What is the impact of trauma on our soul?
Is healing possible?
The power of presence and awareness.
Steps towards spiritual wellbeing.
When transformation happens.
Want to learn more about trauma healing? Join our community:
https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this interview Nicoleta talks about trauma and happiness with dr. Ava Pommerenk, trauma recovery specialist from Mexico.
Life in isolation on an organic farm in Hawaii.
Growing up in a dysfunctional family environment.
From trauma to seeking a deep sense of connection.
When the overachiever opens up to spirituality.
Being guided to a Buddhist psychology school.
When the soul searching journey begins.
How transpersonal psychology opens the door to holistic healing.
On the quest to true happiness.
Why absence of suffering does not equal happiness.
How happiness can arise from the acceptance of what is.
Happiness in the good-enoughness of the current moment.
When happiness is more than a feeling or emotion.
The art of holding love and kindness in times of hardship.
Happiness through self-regulation and inner balance.
What is trauma and transgenerational trauma.
Why trauma makes it difficult to be present.
The pain of the disconnection from self and others.
Nervous system regulation in trauma healing.
Why it’s important to express feelings and exit dissociation.
Clarity, authenticity and accountability in trauma healing.
Why self-love and self-acceptance are essential to healing trauma.
When shame, fear and perfectionisms blocks your trauma healing.
How to heal and be well adjusted in our modern world.
Find more about dr. Ava Pommerenk here: https://www.avapommerenkphd.com/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about trauma and happiness with dr. Aimee Apigian, medical physician specialized in Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine from California, USA.
When own health struggles inspires a medical physician to look beyond conventional medicine.
What is functional medicine?
Looking underneath the symptoms into the cause of illness.
Why is preventative medicine important?
A holistic and integrative view on trauma.
The impact of trauma on our body.
What we learn from addiction medicine.
When the nervous system is wired for trauma responses.
How to properly self-regulate our internal life.
When brain inflammation is a sign of trauma response.
How unresolved trauma gets passed onto the next generations.
Why trauma impacts our capacity for happiness.
The grief work open the door to happiness.
How somatic exercises bring safety into the body and mind.
When your deepest desire is your greatest fear.
How our health issues are linked to adverse childhood experiences.
How healing trauma improves the physiological functioning.
When the healing potential is limitless.
Download your gift from Dr. Aimie Arpigian here:
https://traumahealingaccelerated.mykajabi.com/steps-to-identify-and-heal-trauma-a-roadmap-for-healing-podcast-aff
Find out more about dr. Aimie here: https://www.traumahealingaccelerated.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explore the impact of trauma on our minds and how this impacts our access to joy, happiness and fulfillment.
What is the mind?
How it develops?
What does it do?
What’s the impact of trauma on the mind?
And how can you regain your mental health after trauma?
To deepen your understanding of trauma and healing join the Happiness Seekers Club: https://learn.nicoletaporojanu.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this episode Nicoleta chats about relationships and happiness with David Cooley, restorative relationship process facilitator from North Carolina, USA.
Life growing up surrounded by racial violence in the US.
The impact of social injustice and cultural oppression.
Shifting from the justice system to intimate relationships.
What is the restorative relationship conversations model.
What it means to be a man in our modern world.
Reflection on happiness and inner peacefulness.
Finding wellbeing through self-care and self-discovery.
The toxicity of the inherited cultural trauma.
How transgenerational trauma affects us all.
When conflict blocks our happiness.
How to heal the harm and repair relationships.
The role of our needs and wants in happiness.
When suffering comes from conflict with dear people.
From adversarial to restorative communication.
Find more about David here: https://www.restorativerelationship.com/
In this episode Nicoleta explores transgenerational trauma and happiness with dr. Pilar Jennings, psychoanalyst from New York, USA.
From medical anthropology to psychoanalysis.
Insights from a long term student and teacher of Buddhist Psychology.
How our ancestry impacts our work.
The source of human suffering.
Why suffering is powerful.
How self-attack leads to suffering.
When personal suffering helps you attune to the suffering of others.
How we carry transgenerational trauma.
When karmic memory brings suffering.
The importance of the relationship with the self.
Why real compassion is essential to healing trauma.
When we search for happiness outside.
Be authentic to be happy.
The link between love and happiness.
Why curiosity and self-inquiry are necessary to heal trauma.
Buddhist wisdom for modern times.
Find more about dr Pilar Jennings here:
https://drpilarjennings.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the impact of trauma on our physical body and how to heal the body from the hurts of the past.
More help around this right here:
https://nicoletaporojanu.mykajabi.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this episode Nicoleta is chatting about lifestyle, mental health and happiness with James Hart, the CEO of Lukah, a startup focussed on employee wellbeing.
Dark times throughout the university years.
Mental health struggles in the job market.
The toxic society that makes us feel helpless.
Why happiness is not a destination.
Main challenges for Millennials today.
How FOMO impact us all.
Are younger generations less grateful?
When hardship is leading to post-traumatic growth.
The importance of human connection in wellbeing.
When the pain inspires you to serve others.
How lifestyle impacts your mental health.
Making incremental changes to improve your life.
Live an intentional life to be happy.
More about James and his work here: https://www.lukah.co.uk/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about [transgenerational] trauma and happiness with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Founding Dean of The Meaningful Life Center from New York, USA.
Insights from a baby boomer brought out in New York.
Discovering spirituality through studying esoteric teachings.
Finding a mission in life at a young age.
How to connect with the “song” of your soul.
The temporary happiness in the instant gratification.
How to navigate pain and adversity.
When you don’t take your blessings as granted.
The power of empathy in serving others.
Towards higher states of consciousness.
Connecting with your soul to go beyond abuse.
About the path of least resistance.
Moving through love and compassion.
How to free yourself from transgenerational trauma.
Why you need to search for meaning in life.
Three essential teachings from Torah.
Connect with Rabbi Simon Jacobson here:
https://www.meaningfullife.com/rabbi-simon-jacobson
In this episode Nicoleta is charting about resilience and happiness with Karey Spransy, resilience coach from Utah, USA.
Starting life in the Mormon community.
When you lose 2 lovers to suicide.
Life of a single mom.
Battling stage 4 colon cancer.
The choice of gratitude.
Impact of trauma explored.
The power of awareness.
Healing trauma and growing stronger.
Best learnings from adversity.
From hardship to resilience coaching.
Find more about Karey here: https://www.kareyoncoaching.com.
In this episode Nicoleta is chatting about trauma and happiness with Laura Martin, trauma specialist from Texas USA.
How childhood trauma informs the work we do.
From suicidal ideation, eating disorder, drugs and alcohol misuse to domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Losing the mother to addiction.
The experience of awakening at 24.
The important relationship with ourselves.
Why you can’t be at war with your body and win.
There hidden purpose in your pain.
When trauma travels through generations.
The power of choice despite inheritance and tendencies.
How to regain your playfulness and reconnect with the true self.
How to heal your ancestral trauma and pain.
In this solo episode I am inviting you into a very special place, into a sanctuary of peace, kindness and joy.
It’s the Happiness Seekers Club I launch today 1st Feb 2023, a monthly membership for happiness seekers that have survived transgenerational trauma and pain and are now ready to heal and open to happiness.
What is this about? I am making you an invitation: get ready to heal within a supportive community.
Find out more here: https://nicoletaporojanu.mykajabi.com/happiness-seekers-club
In this solo episode nicoleta celebrates 2 years of podcasting and episode 100!
What are her learnings?
And what happens next?
In this episode Nicoleta is chatting about holistic healing and happiness with Zeeba Khan, Ayuverdic clinician and meditation teacher from Singapore.
Moving through various careers from modelling, to journalism and professor of intercultural communication.
Returning back to the roots and training in Ayurveda.
When happiness is sought in the external validation.
About the condition of the modern woman.
How women have been conditioned to please men throughout the history.
The freedom from patriarchy and the status quo.
Becoming authentic and embracing liberation.
How awakening affects our close relationships.
The happiness in accepting what is.
About the power of acceptance.
Insights from the 5,000 years old Ayurveda practice.
How Ayurveda helps you prevent illness and heal in your wholeness.
The yogic balance in our doshas.
How stress counts to 80 to 90% of our illness.
The impact of loss and trauma on our wellbeing.
When a sense of purpose is essential for healing.
Different types of meditation for different doshas.
Why prayer is our talk to a higher power.
How to open our third eye and connect with our intuition.
Find out more about Zeeba here: https://zeebahealing.com/.
In this episode Nicoleta talks about trauma, healing and happiness with Rivka Malka, transformation coach from Baltimore, USA
What counts as trauma really?
The impact of molestation as a girl.
How teachers can shut you down.
When childhood trauma make us comfortable in abusive relationships.
Key lessons about relationships.
Why trauma gets covered by the labels we identify with.
How to confront our old wounds.
Ways of healing the past hurt.
The power of self-compassion.
The link between love, connection and consciousness.
From hardship to inner peace.
When you start the journey within.
Be present, stay involved and learn to receive.
Find more about Rivka here: https://rivkamalka.com/
In this episode Nicoleta chats about healing and spirituality with renowned American surgeon and author Bernie Siegel.
What's inside:
Reflections from a mystical life.
The journey from a medical doctor to spirituality.
Holistic healing beyond the conventional medicine.
About the burden of children growing up without love.
Insight from Bernie’s parents.
How transgenerational trauma leads to illness.
How to connect with your inner wisdom.
About consciousness and conscious parenting.
The power of energy and how to manage it well.
About intuition and inner guidance.
Love yourself to heal your body.
The story of a 64 years marriage.
Truths about happiness and joy.
And what is the future of medicine?
Learn more about Bernie Siegel here: https://berniesiegelmd.com/.
In this episode Nicoleta chats about pain and happiness with Rabbi Amichai Cohen from Tzfat, Israel.
From growing up in New York to being a sheppard in Galilee.
How one copes with moving and displacement.
When a mental breakdown leads to spiritual awakening.
How Kabbalah can teach us to embrace joy and happiness.
Why we live in internal conflict.
How mental rigidity brings suffering.
What Kabbalah teaches us about our true self.
How living in the present can enhance our lives.
About the power of choice.
What is transgenerational trauma and what is its impact on us.
How can we heal transgenerational trauma.
3 essential Kabbalah teachings for a happy life.
More about Rabbi Amichai Cohen here: https://www.livekabbalah.com/
What fires you up?
Wwhat makes you wake up in the morning?
What are you looking for each day?
What would you do with your life if the circumstances would be different?
How much work would you do and what else would you do if you had more time and more freedom?
It is important to get clarity around what brings you pleasure in all aspects of life.
Let's explore how to live on purpose in 2023.
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the depths of human mind.
What is your mind?
How it develops.
And what does it do?
Also how can you be well in your mind, in other words, how can you preserve or regain your mental health?
Your helpful pdf guide: https://the3entangledmindsblueprint.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores if happiness is a choice.
If happiness is a choice why would you choose to be unhappy?
Where is happiness taking place?
Is happiness created by your or others?
How can you get back in charge of your happiness?
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores relationships and happiness from a fresh perspective:
Are relationships complicated or we make them this way?
What are the 3 rules we break in relationships?
How do we resolve conflicts in relationships?
Can relationships be repaired?
Why awareness is key to happy and fulfilling relationships.
Get your pdf guides to aid you in building mutually satisfying relationships here:
https://therelationshiproadmap.nicoletaporojanu.com
https://therelationshipagreement.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this short solo episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between FOMO and happiness.
What is FOMO, the fear of missing out, what is underneath this fear, what is its impact and what can we do about it?
Fear of missing out is real and is affecting many of us, but we can heal from this, we can liberate ourselves from conditioning and we can regain a sense of aliveness and vitality.
To take this exploration further, here's a pdf guide that helps yoiu udnerstand the human mind:
https://the3entangledmindsblueprint.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episode Nicoleta talks about parental alienation and happiness with Dr. Marni Hill Foderaro, teacher and author from Chicago USA.
How awareness brings light on a deceitful 27 years marriage.
When your spouse throws at you gaslighting, financial abuse and a smear campaign.
Feeling discounted and undermined and still ignoring red flags.
When the physical assault and threat brings awakening and change.
How a university professor lost her home, money and the entire support system.
The traumatic experience of losing 2 adult children to parental alienation.
When spouses hold different values and disagree around the education of their children.
An wounded parent saved from despair by education and knowledge.
When beneath the abusive marriage lays our own transgenerational trauma.
The link between childhood trauma to domestic abuse and parental alienation.
we have the choice to keep or leave the victim mentality.
What is parental alienation really?
Life when your spouse is on a mission to denigrate and destroy you and sends lies and brainwashing to the children.
How to remain open to happiness through hardship and parental alienation.
Find out more about and connect with Marni here:
https://godcametomygaragesale.com/
https://www.amazon.com/God-Came-My-Garage-Sale/dp/198223475X
In this episode Nicoleta is exploring happiness with the author of The Breakthrough Code Tom McCharthy from California, USA.
Why happiness is the choice to fulfil your life purpose.
When suffering stems from our comparison to the others.
Post-traumatic growth following the loss of a parent early in life.
How trauma blocks your happiness.
When you are stuck and how to let go of pain and suffering .
How to extract meaning from your pain.
The connection between body, mind and soul.
How you are contributing to creating your struggles and pain.
Working on the mindset to live a life without limits.
From the identification with the body and mind to the spiritual dimension.
How trauma is connected with the energy surrounding us.
Ways to release our trauma and the transgenerational trauma.
How the breakthrough code can help you change your life.
Find more about Tom McCharthy and his work: https://tommccarthy.com/index.html
Order his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Code-Living-Without-Limits-ebook/dp/B09LG8F9N7
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores with you that part of you that is blocking your happiness?
It is your programmed mind, that software installed on your pure brain that lives in the darkness of your mentors.
Luckily, you have an immense opportunity to tap into joy when you transcend your tunnel mind.
Learn to use your power, the power of choice and stay present.
Get your guide to get back the control over your minds:
https://the3entangledmindsblueprint.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episode Nicoleta talks about consciousness, genetics and happiness with dr. Bruce Lipton, stem cell biologist, best-selling author and internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit.
Bruce and Nicoleta unpack the biology of belief and empower people with their lived experience.
What is the connection between consciousness, matter and miracles?
The shift from the classical Newtonian physics to the new quantum physics.
Why matter is in fact energy.
Learning from Max Planck who laid the foundation of quantum theory and won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1918.
Quantum Physics reveals that consciousness is energy and our thoughts are creating our life experiences.
The science of our new biology Epigenetics reveals that consciousness is controlling your genes.
What we learn from “The Matrix” documentary.
Why the brain is a computer and the mind is the "matrix of all matter".
Between the conscious creative mind and the subconscious programmed thinking.
The programme learned by the subconscious mind that works on automatic pilot.
How we sabotage our lives with our 95% repetitive thinking and self-diminishing tendencies.
Why genes control only 1% of diseases, and the remaining are due to environment, lifestyle and consciousness.
When life strives to be happy, in harmony and ease, and the mind activates genes that create illness.
Why a mental “mis-programming” leads to misfunction and internal disharmony and can cause disease.
When new ideas bring new energies in the brain.
Where the energy psychology is driving the world.
Find out more about Dr. Bruce Lipton's work here:
https://www.brucelipton.com/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biology-Belief-Unleashing-Consciousness-Miracles/dp/1781805474/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1665693945&sr=8-3
In this solo epidosde Nicoleta explores why we struggle to heal our trauma.
You cannot heal your trauma in your conceptual mind.
Trauma fragmented your soul, hurt your heart, your feelings, your emotions, and this is where healing needs to happen.
Learn why your suffering is self-inflicted and how to properly heal.
And download this helpful resource to get you strated:
https://the7stepsofrealtransformation.nicoletaporojanu.com/
When happiness is our true state.
The check list of happiness as social conditioning.
A near death experience at the young age of 3.
Trauma as a gateway for compassion and empathy.
Are you defined by your story or you define your story?
What is the true nature of reality?
Consciousness is infinite love.
Disempowerment as a blockage to joy.
The pain of the identification with the physical body.
What’s more beyond trauma and pain?
Tips and tools to heal trauma.
Find more about Jacob and his work:
https://jacoblcooper.com/life-after-breath/
Order Jacob’s book Life after Breath How a Brush with Fatality Gave Me a Glimpse of Immortality
https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Breath-Fatality-Immortality/dp/1951805283
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores attachment as the main reason relationships struggle.
When one partner says “you are controlling and needy” and the other partner answers “you are dismissive and distant” conflicts ignite and partners fall back into their painful and dysfunctional pattern of arguments, disengagement and rumination.
The stress associated with the attachment issues in relationships is poisoning not just the partners, but also the entire family, their work environment and their friendship circles.
Listen to this episode and find ouy what you can do about it!
Get also your pdf Relationship Agreement: https://therelationshipagreement.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episode Nicoleta chats about success and happiness with Derek Moore, the CEO from Coffee & TV.
The journey from a humble start in life to a successful career.
Merging creative work with business acumen.
Between the illusion and the transient nature of success.
The many layers of success.
Lessons and wisdom from a rich life journey.
The link between success and happiness.
How mindset impacts both success and happiness.
Awareness and consciousness as key to success and happiness.
Find out more about Derrek’s and his work projects:
https://coffeeand.tv/
Connect with Derek here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dereksmoore/
Suffering is part of our life and no one can go through life untouched.
How did you feel today throughout the 86,400 second you lived?
How many of these seconds you felt aware, joyful and alive?
Have you got lost again into worries, “to do lists”, endless comparison, feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, low self-worth and unhappiness?
This is why you need self-therapy and healing.
In this 19 min podcast episode I am exploring what is self-therapy and sharing a few simple tools you can use by yourself.
And a quick pdf guide to help you make the changes you crave in life:
https://the7stepsofrealtransformation.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episode Nicoleta talks about happiness with retired cosmetic surgeon, speaker, coach, mentor and bestselling author Dr. Allen Lycka from Edmonton, Canada.
When a doctor gets misdiagnosed with ALS.
Living with an undiagnosed chronic illness.
How a doctor handles depression and suicidal ideation?
The importance of resilience and purpose in life.
When the right thoughts attract the desired outcome.
The link betweenphysical appearance and happiness.
What is Botox doing to us?
When cosmetic surgery is used to enhance happiness.
About body dysmorphia and cosmetic surgery dependency.
Why the cosmetic surgeons say “no” to their patients.
What is happiness really?
And how to live a fantastic life.
Find out more about Dr. Lycka here:
https://drallenlycka.com/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about trauma and happiness with counsellor and psychotherapist Tatjana Simakova from Ireland.
Why do we get traumatised?
What causes trauma in the first place?
What is transgenerational trauma and how it gets passed through generations?
What’s the impact of emotionally unavailable parents on adolescents?
How can parents help children to manage their emotional turmoil?
What can parents do to manage their own traumatic past?
How are the coping mechanisms changing is the modern world?
Can we traumatise others without knowing?
What is the impact of trauma in our lives?
Does the body really keeps the score of trauma and pain?
How can trauma survivors heal their past?
Learn some creative tools to heal trauma.
Find out more about Tatjana here: https://salvustherapy.ie/
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about trauma and happiness with Stephen Travers, director of UK & International Havening from Dublin, Ireland.
Join us in our quest to answer some very important questions:
Why aren’t you happy?
Can we be happy all the time?
Should we be pursuing happiness?
Is happiness the goal in life?
What’s the purpose of life and the meaning of this existence?
Why doing what you love and loving what you do is essential for your mental health.
Can we remain open to happiness throughout hardship and stress?
Understanding the neurobiology of trauma.
When anxiety is caused by past unresolved trauma.
Prepare to change your brain landscape and learn to regulate your internal life from within.
How the psychosensory treatment Havening Technique helps healing trauma.
Find out more about Stephen here:
https://stravershypnosis.com/havening-sessions/
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about gender equalityand happiness with Gill Whitty-Collins, former vice-president at Procter & Gamble and author of "Why Men Win At Work ... and how can we make inequality history".
From a 51% women population to over 90% men leadership.
Why only 7% CEOs and 25% members of governments are women?
When gender equality means 50% representation of women.
How will the world look with a 50% representation of women?
Life as a female senior vice-president in a male dominant culture.
Why men win at work and can we make inequality history?
Is the man a better performer?
How men are losing too from gender inequality.
Mental health of intelligent and capable women not valued and rewarded at work.
What is the future holding for gender equality?
Find more about Gill here www.gillwhittycollins.com.
Order Gill’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Men-Win-at-Work/dp/1913025624.
In this episode Nicoleta talks about business and happiness with Sharon Valenti a British business coach based in Georgia USA.
From alcoholic parents to distorted beliefs about the self.
Childhood trauma and abusive relationships in adult life.
About “not-enoughness” and the path of self-help and personal development.
Insight into mental programing and the illusion of fear.
The power of awareness and our self-made diminishing life.
Acceptance of self as essential to life success and happiness.
Mindset as the greatest challenge for entrepreneurs and business executives.
Coaching between “your business”, “others’ business” and the “divine business”.
Finding the “why” and the search for meaning and purpose.
The real and false happiness in the business world.
Self-discovery as the vehicle to living a happy life.
Taking the journey beyond material into spiritual satisfaction.
Find more about Sharon here:
https://isittrue.com/
https://www.sharons.club/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the trend of personal development bypass, where many of us follow others and search for information in the outside world hoping to grow within.
Find why reading books and acquiring information does not necessary lead to personal development.
And discover what can actually help you grow and develop into the person you really wish to be.
Here's a quick pdf guide to help you in your inner transformation:
https://the7stepsofrealtransformation.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episode Nicoleta talks about radical acceptance and happiness with Dr. Farah El Miligui, Counselling psychologist from London.
From a happy home to curiosity about human condition and a degree in psychology.
Mental health when the brain goes off track.
Insight into humility and the meaning of life.
When happiness requires to be ok with your inner darkness.
The impact of the past and the need for awareness.
About human suffering and some ways of healing.
Self-therapy and the soothing of the inner child.
What is radical acceptance and what are its benefits?
How to find safety in presence.
Connect with Farah here:
https://www.instagram.com/therapywithfarah/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the experience of awakening.
Why do we awaken through suffering?
Why can’t we just take a pill and awaken
Or make a spell and awaken straight away?
What protects us from awakening?
Can awakening come free of pain and suffering?
How do you prepare for awakening?
The real magic of wakening.
Read more: https://the3entangledmindsblueprint.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episode Nicoleta explores happiness in captivity with Clinical and Forensic psychologist Naomi Murphy from Peterborough, England.
Alongside her clinical director role in a residential secure unit, Naomi is a Honorary Professor of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University and the co-host of the Locked Up Living podcast.
When moving places in childhood leads to seeking stability in adult life.
Looking for the humanity in people in the criminal justice system.
Happiness equals safety, belonging, passion, excitement and a pinch of “unknown”.
Stories from working for 17 years in secure prison units.
Eye-opening insights from the captivity behind bars.
The link between transgenerational trauma and criminal offences.
Burried pain of the children trapped inside the adult offenders.
Treating the “untreatable” in residential secure units.
In therapy with inmates convicted of rape and murder.
Fear, hostility and distrust – the experience of prisoners engaged in their self-discovery.
The growth in inmates after 5 years of group therapy.
What is a trauma-informed prison service environment?
Finding the balance between punishment and safety in prison.
Is the restorative justice really working?
The level of happiness behind bars.
How to remain open to happiness whilst in captivity.
When freedom is the choice to take control of your own life.
The joy of hosting the “Locked Up Living” podcast.
Find out more about Naomi here: https://www.octopuspsychology.com/Home/Team.
Link to the “Locked Up Living” podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-locked-up-living-podcast/id1557490144.
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between overthinking and happiness.
What is thinking and why do we overthink?
Studies show us that 95% of our thoughts are repetitive anfd 80% are negative.
When does thinking turn into overthinking?
Do you ruminate about the past or worry about the future?
What is the impact of overthinking on our wellbeing?
Can we learn to control our thinking?
What si the solution for overthinking?
Get your free pdf and learn more about the human mind:
https://the3entangledmindsblueprint.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episode Nicoleta explores dating and happiness with counselling psychologist Dr. Rina Bajaj from London.
From substance misuse, domestic abuse, children and forensic services to dating consultancy.
Insights from the business of love industry.
When 323 million people worldwide are using 1500 dating apps.
Is dating about love or more about loneliness and connection?
Has the corona pandemic changed how we seek a partner?
The most common misconceptions about online dating.
How to set realistic expectations in dating.
Learning to walk the path betweek flexibility and compromise.
The deceit behind the dating apps profiles.
Navigating from the honeymoon phase to the reality.
Are the dating apps safe?
The crucial importance of personal responsibility when dating online.
Tips to remain physically safe when dating.
How to grow emotional safety in dating.
Why self-discovery helps the dating process.
How to approach relationships from an empowered place.
Specific challenges for millionaires and billionaires in dating.
How societies influence our approach to dating.
The level of happiness in the dating journey.
3 best tips to have a great dating experience.
Why many people are returning to matchmaking agencies.
Find out more about Rina and connect with Rina here:
https://rinabajaj.com/
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about mortality and happiness with Cassandra Geisel, a Canadian born mental health advocate and death educator living in London.
From studying criminology, religion and spirituality to suicide prevention and training in psychotherapy.
Gaining insight from the research on serial homicide.
When people are treated unequally in life and death.
Learnings from working in a funeral home.
The link between suicidal ideation, self-harm and addiction and the fear of death.
How to reacquaint ourselves with death and dying.
Can accepting our mortality allow room for happiness?
About death awareness and death inspired meditation.
And much more...
Find out more about Cassandra here: https://www.lightindeath.com/
Connect with Cassandra here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-geisel-226115a9/?originalSubdomain=ca
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about physical health and happiness with Deanna Hansen, the founder of Block Therapy and Fluid Isometrics from Winnipeg, Canada.
When the struggles allow us to transform our lives.
The story of an athletic therapist struggling with health problems.
How an anxiety attack led intuitively to soothing physical touch.
What is fascia system and how can we keep it healthy?
What to do when the scar tissue is blocking the oxygen and blood flow.
Why pain signals adhesions in the fascia.
How to keep our cells correctly fed and cleaned through correct posture alignment.
Why using a wooden block helps restoring physical health.
How lying on a wooden block can melt fascia adhesions.
When diaphragmatic breathing improves oxygen absorption by 600%.
Why the “block therapy” is an alternative to yoga or strenuous physical exercise and other complementary medicine treatments.
How “block therapy” helps with chronic pain, scoliosis, HBP, digestive issues, trauma and anti-ageing.
When studies show that 84% weight loss comes through proper exhalation.
How to thrive not just survive through the practice of “blocking".
In this episode Nicoleta is doing a solo exploring how to open to happiness despite the life challenges.
Find what challenges Nicoleta faced in the past and how she managed to surrender to the present moment, transcend the pain and connect with the infinite source of inner peace.
A good guide to help you create transformation in your life is the 7 Steps of Real Transformation framework. Get your free copy here: https://the7stepsofrealtransformation.nicoletaporojanu.com
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about success and happiness with Michael Biarness, neuroscientist and author from Philadelphia, USA.
How losing his father inspired Michael to write “Redefining success. Stories, science and strategies to prioritise happiness and overcome life’s “Oh Shit” moments.
Life through the lenses of a neuroscientist focused on improving patient’s outcomes.
Interviewing dozens of people already perceived as “successful”.
Why at every 18 months we face a disruptor in life.
How we each go through 3 to 5 life quakes.
Why it takes 4 to 5 years to overcome life quakes.
Can we prepare for hardship in life?
When the happiness equation is 50% genetics, 40% mindset and 10% circumstances.
The power of vulnerability and its impact on real life success.
Why close relationships are the best indicator for a long and happy life.
Find more about Michael here:
michaelbiarness.com
https://www.amazon.com/Redefining-Success-Strategies-Prioritize-Happiness/dp/163730806X
And link to the researches around life disruptions referenced in the podcast:
https://www.brucefeiler.com/books-articles/life-is-in-the-transitions/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about conscious parenting and happiness with Sue DeCaro, coach and educator from South Carolina, USA.
What is conscious parenting?
What does it mean to be a good parent?
How cultural conditioning impacts our parenting.
Why we think we need to “fix” the children instead of fixing ourselves.
When transgenerational trauma gets passed through generations.
How to you connect with yourself and heal your wounds?
The result of the academic pressure on our children.
How comparison and social media shape our children’s inner worlds.
What is punishment doing to our children?
When we mistakenly see parenting as our fulfilment in life.
How to find your way back to joy and happiness as parents.
From happy parents to happy children.
In this episode Nicoleta talks about justice and happiness with Frank Ramos, lawyer from Miami, Florida, USA.
When parents inspire you to become a white collar professional.
How hitting the rock bottom awakens you to take action and escape the darkness of depression.
When happiness is about helping others.
Following the inner calling and being of service to others beyond your job.
The joy of mentoring young lawyers and professionals around life and career.
Answering the important question: is there justice on Earth?
What is the impact of injustice on our mental health?
How social inequality teaches us endurance and resilience.
About the disparity between the wealthy elite and the rest of the people?
Why it is not about what is happening but how we deal with it.
How having clarity around your talents and dreams can lead you to a purposeful life.
Where to find happiness in these modern times.
Find out more about Frank here:
https://www.miamimentor.com/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about the absent father and happiness with Jungian analist Susan Schwartz from Arizona, USA.
There is little literature around father’s relationship with the children.
How the absent father archetype gets passed through transgenerational trauma.
When culture shapes the relationship between daughters and fathers.
Unpacking the unconscious father/daughter relationship.
Why most women haven’t had a “present” father.
The crucial influence of father’s presence on woman’s development.
How absent fathers affect women’s physical, intellectual and spiritual development.
Fathers’ presence and women’s self-esteem.
When a woman replicates the internalised father absence in her relationships.
Can the woman act like the absent father towards herself or the others?
When the woman’s partner reenacts the absent father, too.
Why the longing, mourning and loss of a father cannot be filled from the outside.
How dreams can guide us through our losses and pain.
When therapy helps us heal and fill the space of the absent father.
Find out more about Susan here:
https://susanschwartzphd.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Absent-Father-Effect-Daughters/dp/0367360853/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+absent+father&qid=1649275862&sr=8-1
In this episode Nicoleta talks about faith and happiness with pastor and podcaster Ken Primus, the author of “Threads of Enlightenment” and "The Blueprint of Faith".
We are programmed by people that come from a place of trauma.
Walking on the path of enlightenment in the search for meaning of life.
Getting close to burnout within the “prison” of the Christian church.
How a divorce made a pastor to leave the church.
A pastor’s inner turmoil and the innate need for truth and freedom.
From the dogma and judgement in the Western Christianity to the meditation in the Eastern Christianity.
Can you love others if you are not in love with yourself?
Why it can take you a life time to know yourself.
When we forget that we are creators and we are designed to create.
Why principles of life are beyond religion.
How religion is a tool used by society to separate the human spirit.
The power of choice is in the space of awareness between the breaths.
When faith is the force by which this universe was created.
Find your statement your faith and let it guide you in life.
When “happiness is a beautiful expression of your relationship with your God”.
Find out more about Ken here:
https://www.amazon.com/Ken-Primus/e/B00IZXEI9S%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/threads-of-enlightenment/id1533579088
In this episode Nicoleta talks about war and happiness with Brooke Siem, author and award winning chef, also passionate mental health writer and creator of the newsletter “Happiness is a skill”, from Reno, Nevada, USA.
Why are we humans dragged into conflict and war?
Is conflict innate in us people?
How our programming leads to war and conflict.
What is conflict and war doing to our mental health?
How social media contributes to enhancing our anxieties and fears.
Is it good to follow the news and absorb what’s going on in the world?
Can we recover from this much hurt?
How can we all contribute to changing conflict and war into compassion?
What is happening with the war inside of us?
Connect with Brooke here:
https://www.brookesiem.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brookesiem/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about OCD and happiness with Mike Vatter, podcast host from Jacksonville, USA.
When you get adopted and reconnect with your biological family following a DNA testing.
Does OCD run in the family?
The relationship between adoption and OCD.
The “learned” and “inherited” components of OCD.
How OCD impacts our happiness.
Coping with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
The importance of mindset in OCD.
Best tips from an OCD sufferer.
Find more about Mike here:
https://ocdjacksonville.com/
https://www.stitcher.com/show/ocd-sharing-our-stories
https://www.tiktok.com/@mikevatter
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between neurotechnology and happiness with Toby Pasman, neurophysiology researcher and entrepreneur from Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Living in a small town and growing with an incessant curiosity to discover the world.
From reading to developing passion for psychology and neuroscience.
How applied neuroscience plans to bring “neuromodulation” to the masses.
What kind of technology is neuro-modulation, neurofeedback and neurostimulation?
Why after a century EEG is being used outside of the doctor’s cabinet to check if you produce healthy brain waves?
What are the benefits of neurotraining to our physiological and psychological functioning?
How Artificial Intelligence is used to modulate electrical and chemical activities in the brain and improve wellbeing.
Are we relying on machines to help us shift from low frequency alfa brain waves to the higher calming beta or gamma brain waves?
Can you envisage a future where masses will access brain gyms and brain neuro labs during the lunch break?
Does neurostimulation really work? Can neurostimulation boost the level of dopamine, serotonine and norepinephrine?
Can neurofeedback resolve the cause of our problems or only offer a short term alleviation of symptoms?
Will people become dependent on neuro-modulation technology?
Are we creating happiness machines?
Shall we fear that AI will make us humans its slaves? Will AI upload our consciousness to the "cloud"?
How psychology, spirituality and neuromodulation tolls seem to achieve the same result.
Find more about Toby’s work here: https://roscoeswetsuitneuro.com
Try neurofeedback with a 15% discount today:
roscoeswetsuitneuro.com/opentohappiness
In this episode Nicoleta talks about men’s mental health and happiness with Joe-y Busuttil, psychotherapists, coach and podcaster from Melbourne, Australia.
When 3 of your closest friends commit suicide the same week.
How disability allows you to detach from a specific outcome.
When personal challenges trigger the desire to become a psychotherapist.
How coronavirus changed the way we live and connect.
About awakening at a collective level.
Why understanding and compassion are necessary in dealing with others.
How are men experiencing their mental health?
Why you have to break before you raise.
Men feel shame for their mental health suffering.
When men do not understand women.
Are men and women that different?
Why men are stuck in their ways and struggle to embrace self-reflection.
When men get bored easily and seek gratification through sex.
Why men put each other down.
When happiness is here, right now.
Find more about Joe-y here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-mens-business-podcast-smb/id1529209559
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-eudaimonia-connection-podcast/id1579488435
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about healthy anger and happiness with Marty Wolner, brain strength coach from Philadelphia USA.
The stress of adolescence and its impact of physical health.
When own challenges inform our choices and career in life.
How a brain strength coach sees the world.
What can you do to take charge of your brain.
What brain research tell us about what is going on inside our brain.
How to train our brain through neuroplasticity to function the way you want it.
Learn to emotionally self-regulate and stay open to happiness.
What is anger doing to our brain and bodies.
What chemicals are released when we are angry and what are they doing to us.
How emotional trauma shows up in our anger.
Why it is important to express our anger (in a healthy way).
What is healthy anger and how can you train yourself to respond this way
Why changing our thinking is essential to responding to anger in a healthy way.
How to shift from anger to happiness and why setting the intention is vital to achieving this.
When happiness is self-attunement, self-compassion and self-care.
Find more about Marty’s work here: https://www.mybrain.tools/.
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about entertainment and happiness with Wize El Jefe, host of the “Stuck in My Mind” podcast, entertainment expert and podcaster, from Pennsylvania USA.
How do you entertain after years of tragedies?
The pain of becoming a widower at 31.
When your father dies next day after you reconnected after 25 years.
How do you move from anger back into joy?
Secrets from the world of the casino entertainment.
Life when you get paid to play games.
Get inside of the head of a table game dealer.
Why do we gamble? What are we after? Why some of us can’t stop?
Finding passion in podcasting and empowering others.
Why are you stuck in your mind?
How can you escape the conditioning and rewire your brain?
Also about liberation and personal freedom, and much more.
Finf more about Wize here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stuck-in-my-mind-podcast/id1507494426
In this episode Nicoleta is chatting about purpose in life and happiness with Janice Hooker Fortman (Dr. Jan), Relationship coach, author, speaker and host of Relationship Matters TV from Chicago USA.
Meet an inspirational octogenarian podcaster.
Learn about the passion for teaching others.
Find purpose in inspiring and motivating people.
Why your purpose is linked to what makes you happy.
How being of service brings meaning and purpose in life.
When the challenging relationship with your mom prompts you to write a book and find your purpose.
How to find your purpose within.
What to do when you fall out of purpose and face challenges.
Why outside help is crucial to overcome hardship.
How to find happiness through finding your life purpose.
Find out more about Dr. Jan here:
www.drjanicespeaks.com
https://www.facebook.com/janice.hooker
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-FrDSfOb4j-dXDst5297aQ
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about child development and happiness with Karen Strallard, integrative art therapist from London, UK.
From the role of female minister in the Christian Church to the role of psychotherapist.
What is it like to grow up surrounded by mental health problems.
How faith and music soothes our sadness.
Why the secure attachment is essential for good mental health.
When trauma creates physical injuries into our brains. And how to rewire the brain and heal.
How teachers and educators repair early attachment deficits.
Polyvagal theory explained in simple words to help us regulate our internal life.
How to use art for expression and therapeutic benefits.
The role of playfulness in mental health and how therapists can use that in the room.
How play is essential in children’s development and happiness in life.
Why playing can be the calming environment within a tense home.
What can conscious parents and educators do to foster a healthy child development.
How the school and the community can create opportunities for play and healing.
Why being out in the nature is helping our physical, mental and spiritual health.
And finally what is the recipe for happiness in our postmodern world.
Find out more about Karen Stallard's work here:
https://feelingfound.com/counsellor-psychotherapist-highbury-islington-london/
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores with you what makes change so difficult.
Learn a 7 steps of real transformation framework that has been tested over and over again and has never failed.
Use this system to transform your life for good, so you can move into the direction of your realistic dreams.
You are only 7 steps away!
Get your pdf guide here: https://crafty-originator-2530.ck.page/7c7cfc01e7
In this episode Nicoleta is chatting about lifestyle and happiness with The Holistic GP, Dr. Ashwini Gana Baskaran, from Perth, Australia,
Learn about the shift from growing in Malaysia to relocating to Australia.
Are you for conventional or holistic medicine?
What is root cause medicine?
Why childhood and parenting style are the most important in our health and wellness.
When quick traditional medicine can burn out the GP.
What to do when you missed a loving and stable environment at home?
Why repairing your relationships can boost your wellbeing.
The main root causes of our ailments today: stress, sleep, food, exercise, lack of spiritual connection.
The link between lifestyle and happiness.
What’s the recipe for happiness in our fast changing world?
Find more about DR Ashwini, The Holistic GP here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holistic-gp/id1553267173
https://sanctuarywellnessandmedical.com.au/meet-the-team/
In this solo episode Nicoleta is exploring with you the truth and lies about psychotherapy from the inside out.
Is therapy really working?
Can therapy harm you?
What is psychotherapy anyway?
Is psychotherapy and counselling the same or different?
Why after more than 130 years since its birth in the modern world people still distrust therapy?
Are there good and bad therapists?
Who is the therapy generation?
Is psychotherapy science or art?
How many therapeutic modalities there are?
Is there a therapy better than others?
Why is psychology and psychotherapy not enough?
In this episode Nicoleta chats about pleasure and happiness with Adriana Borja Henriquez, a clinical psychologist and writer originally from Ecuador.
Get inside the life of a queer activist dealing with hate crime and conversion therapy in South America.
Explore the intimate work with refugees and LGTBQIA survivors of sexual abuse and torture from Colombia and Venezuela.
Find if there is room for joy and erotism after sexual abuse and torture.
Abut us modern humans and our relationship with pleasure.
Power between patriarchy and feminism.
How we mess up gender roles in our civilised society.
South American rehabs still attempt to treat “homosexuality”.
When queerness is a celebration of being different.
Our sexuality between suppression and expression.
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores the values that make our relationships thrive (and survive).
Titles and achievements mean nothing in the long run if your values are not clear and strong.
Values are crucial to living a life of meaning and purpose.
Get your pdf copy of the Essential Values Staircase here:
https://crafty-originator-2530.ck.page/1cc74883ef
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about suicide and happiness with Mark Henick, TED Talk speaker,author and mental health advocate from Torronto, Canada.
When early trauma shows up in adolescence.
Are parents aware of our pain?
It is hard for children to make sense of their depression and anxiety.
How does it feel to be suicidal at 12 and feel like that is the only choice?
When you spend your adolescence in hospitals.
The despair that leads to numerous suicide attempts.
When a stranger pulls you off the edge of a bridge one night.
How you realise you need to build the life that you want and not discover the life that you don’t have.
When you understand that trauma is not your fault, but your recovery is your responsibility.
How do you conceptualise your suicide attempt from a psychological-philosophical perspective?
Turning your pain into meaning and purpose in life.
Exploring the “so called normal” through the eyes of the fake world around us.
And connecting with happiness right within.
Ultimately, how we make sense of our trauma and use it to shape our lives the way we want.
Find more about Mark here:
Mark’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1QoyTmeAYw
Mark’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/So-Called-Normal-Memoir-Depression-Resilience/dp/1443455032/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mark+henick&qid=1607959517&sr=8-1
Mark’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-called-normal/id1450391477
Mark’s website: https://markhenick.com/
In this solo episode Nicoleta starts exploring the transgenerational truama cycle of pain.
This is a difficult converastion that we as a sociaty seem to avoid or postpone, but until when?
Our ancestors' trauma shows up uninvited in our lives through our childhood trauma, and if we do not raise conscious awareness around this reality of our lives this will continue to hurt the next generations.
In every family someone is born with this purpose: to awaken and to start healing the family's trauma. Let that person be you!
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about commitment and happiness with Samuel Morgan, business manager and first time authorfrom Brighton, UK.
From sustainability to psychology and personal development.
When a book stays unpublished for 8 years.
How sharing through writing is therapeutic and helps in the relationship repair process.
Why do men struggle to commit?
Are our attitudes towards relationships being shaped by our early years of life?
When we fear to trust the other.
What is love and why are we afraid of it?
When we push away or reject others that love us.
Why do British men have the tendency to bottle things up inside?
How to learn to engage with commitment and relationships in a healthy way.
Find Samuel’s book here:
https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Samuel-Morgan-ebook/dp/B093N919KG
In this solo episode Nicoleta explores The 3 Entangled Minds Blueprint, the ultimate guide to understanding your mind(s).
Are you in charge of your mind or it's your mind running your life?
Is there one mind or more than one mind?
What are your 3 minds?
How do your 3 minds work together?
Why consciousness is not in the mind.
How can you expand your brain?
Download your own pdf blueprint here:
https://crafty-originator-2530.ck.page/920a79c5ec
Check out the 8 weeks one to one programe Escape the Prison of your Mind here:
https://nicoletaporojanu.com/escape-the-prison-of-your-mind/
In this episode Nicoleta talks about parenting and happiness with Melissa Vera, a teacher turned full time blogger from North Carolina, USA.
Seeing the world falling apart when your child is diagnosed with epilepsy, your father is put in a hospice and you have a car accident.
When we turn our trauma and early experiences in positive parenting for our children.
How do we raise children that are strong and in touch with their feelings?
Is parenting easier or harder when you are a professional teacher?
How do you grow a relationship with your children where you communicate freely?
When secrets have the potential to destroy the family unity.
Why it is important to allow our grown up children to become adults and figure things out for themselves.
Coping when your children go through mental health challenges and why you should love them as they are despite their issues.
When we learn from our children.
What is parental guilt and how we make sense of it.
Why parents need to understand the multidimensional cause of suffering.
Best 3 learnings from being a parent.
What you risk when you compare your children.
How do you balance your internal and external life as a parent?
When you ask your children what they learned from you in life.
Why parenting is the hardest job we will ever have, yet the most rewarding.
Fell the happiness when your children become your greatest achievement in life.
And learn about The 4 Relationship Circles Roadmap – get your free pdf guide (https://crafty-originator-2530.ck.page/7edde86acd).
Find more about Melissa’s work here:
adventuresfrugalmoms.com
And her podcast: “Chat From the Blog Cabin”, on all podcast directories.
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about life passion and happiness with Paul Harvey, podcaster and mid-life coach,from Highlands, Scotland.
Do you follow your life passion?
What triggers a mid-life crisis?
Why would someone change their career after 3 decades.
How to get out of a career that you don’t love.
The transition from marketing to podcasting.
How the pandemic benefited our lives.
About the pursuit for happiness.
When happiness can be found within.
Happiness and the conscious awareness.
What makes the difference between someone that is awakening and someone that doesn’t?
Living aligned with your own values.
Quick 7 day habit reset to discover your life passion.
Find more about Paul Harvey’s work here:
https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/life-passion-and-business/id1338518936
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about human brain and happiness with Dawson Church, an award-winning science writer and researcher from California, USA.
What is the connection between consciousness, emotion, and gene expression?
How deep meditation release bliss neurochemicals in our brains.
Enter a state of awareness and change your brain functioning by paying attention, relaxation and meditation.
Why positive emotions such as altruism and compassion lead to happiness.
Understand neural plasticity, how the brain is capable of rewiring itself.
Remodel your brain by mediating 12 minutes a day for eight weeks.
How meditation boosts serotonin and dopamine hormones.
There is potential in each of us to rewire our brains for happiness.
Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/bvD5TztPzAI
Get your copy of The 3 Entangled Minds Blueprint
Find out more about Dawson Church here:
blissbrain.com
tappinggift.com
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between our modern society and happiness with Dr Pamela Gurley, retired USA Federal Government veteran, these days professional speaker, author and social activist from Washington DC, USA.
Meet a woman of many talents, a foodie that loves wine and has many hobbies, who is self-thought in many things, and loves to step out of her comfort zone.
Find how a woman military moves through all 15 ranks in the US government in 14 years.
When life is happy on the surface.
How do you remove the blinders from your eyes?
The internal story of a woman of colour in today’s America.
How do you get to know yourself and love each part of you?
Why you should never be afraid to be yourself.
How uncommunicated expectations block your happiness.
When there is not enough support for business women of colour.
How inequality and lack of equity is experienced in 2021.
Why diversity in the absence of equitable opportunity values nothing.
What makes social justice such a slow process.
Why laws that should protect people from discrimination and inequality are not being passed.
What keeps the misogynistic culture alive.
How people form marginalised communities are failed by their local governments.
Why youngsters go to the military as a way out of poverty.
How is the society going to look like in 2050.
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between digital technology and happiness with Sug Sahadevan, entrepreneur and CEO at Testhouse, London.
What does an electronic engineer and past employee at the UK government communication headquarters thinks about technology?
How can a software developer for national gas suppliers and international banks start his own tech business and build it to the level of a global organisation of over 500 employees, present not just in Europe, but also in the Middle East and America.
What are the pro and cons of digital technology?
Why has it taken the mankind so long to develop technology and why is it advancing so quickly?
When greed is at the core of our economy and money drive the tech industry led by Google, Amazon and Facebook.
Have we lost control of how the information circulates?
Is our privacy being taken away?
When we are only consumers for the new business leaders.
Is the technology making us happier?
Why the attitude of wanting more makes you unhappy.
Meet a very successful tech entrepreneur who thinks he has enough and does not need any more. Furthermore, find out why a successful entrepreneur feels that having more wealth and power could ruin him as a human.
Why contentment in what you have is happiness.
Where is the digital technology heading to?
Can matrix become a reality?
Can we stop the artificial intelligence?
Why it is important to be choosy with the digital technology.
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between fitness and happiness with Zack Rutledge, personal trainer and nutrition specialist from New Jersey, USA.
When you find it hard to go through breakups in adolescence.
The experience of having your best friend killed at 18.
Why moving and fitness helps with low mood and depression.
How depression can be healed through forgiveness.
When a man’s relationship with his father leads to self-imposed pressure on performance, to chasing titles and validation from the outside world.
Why we resist therapy and how important it is to keep searching until you find the right therapist for you.
What happens when you integrate the gifts of Eastern tradition like yoga, martial arts and meditation with the western gifts of psychology and medication.
Why openness is essential for personal growth and development.
How the progressive psychotherapy is moving out of the conventional paradigms and involves now fitness, dance and moving therapy interventions.
How to create a real life transformation.
Check out Zack's book here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08K3R6ZV5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
In this episode Nicoleta talks about adolescence and happiness with Aayushi Kulsunge from Mumbai India, the Founder and CEO of Teen Mental Health Society.
How does it feel to be diagnosed with clinical depression at 15?
The world of a teenage girl fighting eating disorders.
What makes an adolescent unhappy.
Our subjective expectation around happiness.
What are the main challenges at adolescence in this new world?
The pressure of social media on teenagers.
Why youngsters starve themselves to maintain a certain look.
The real impact of the fake virtual world on teens.
How peer groups start influencing us since adolescence.
The importance of choosing the right friends and crowds.
Why mindful parenting is essential for teens’ mental health.
How to show your teenagers that you really love them.
When you know you did a good job as a parent.
How can adolescents understand their parents’ world?
Best tips to nurture a wonderful parent-teen relationship.
In this episode Nicoleta talks about the relationship between success and happiness with Michael Biarnes, a scientist form Washington DC, USA.
How does a scientist in oncology, diagnostic, neuroscience and cardiovascular disease ends up writing about redefining success?
Why would someone replace the aspiration of owning a biotech company or a big pharma with becoming a wellbeing advocate?
How the loss of your parent makes you rearrange your priorities in life.
What is the definition of success?
What shapes our definition of success?
How the pandemic has changed our views on success.
Why are we still stuck in the “money-power-fame” paradigm?
How do we generate greater happiness, fulfilment and alignment in our lives?
Why success can be more related to quality relationships than wealth.
About the research carried out at Harvard University that found that the best predictor for our health at 80 is how happy we are in our relationships at 50.
How is the virtual world shaping our views on success these days?
What can we do to achive success in the way that is meaningful to us.
Find out more about Michael here: https://www.michaelbiarnes.com/
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about millennial entrepreneurship and happiness with James Mulvany, aserial entrepreneurfrom Manchester, UK.
What makes the difference between an entrepreneurial mindset and a 9 to 5 corporate aspiration?
How is life when you start your own business at 16?
What does a millennial learn from setting up start-ups?
What are the secrets in succeeding in business these days?
Why some businesses work and others don’t despite the significant investment?
What sacrifices come along with being a driven millennial entrepreneur?
Why is it important to follow your passion in life?
What makes a millennial entrepreneur happy?
Why is the Z generation keen on becoming famous on the internet?
About the new entrepreneurs called influencers.
How is the economy changing and the job market adjusting to it?
Find more about James’s businesses here:
https://www.podcast.co/
https://radio.co/
MatchMaker.fm - Connecting podcasters with great guests
millennial #entrepreneur #happiness #mindset # 9to5 #corporate #startup #passion #generationz
Why do men seek intimacy with a sex worker?
Do men go to an escortto avoid an affair?
Are they seeking excitement or A different type of connection?
Why men share with an escort what they fear to share with their wives?
How an escort provides sex for 10 min and chatting for the remaining 50 min.
Is the affair, the fling or paying a sex worker just a symptom of a relationship issue?
Do people have a love and sex addiction when they go to sex workers?
Can women/males stop their partners seek paid sex?
Are we responsible for our partners’ use of escorts?
Does the use of a sex worker mark the end of a relationship/marriage?
How the escort experience can offer a different perspective on relationships.
How does an escort deal with an abusing client?
When the sex industry inspire you to study psychology at the Open University.
Leaving the sex industry and becoming a relationship coach.
The reconnection with the self.
Using personal experience in coaching others.
How do you learn to be in an unconditionally loving relationship?
In this episode Nicoleta is chatting about relationships and happiness with Deb Morgan, relationship coach from Summerset, England.
Why would a groom beat the bride on their wedding night?
What is it like to live in multiple abusive relationships?
How important is our family dynamic in the development of a relationship roadmap?
Why do we get comfortable and know “our place” in an abusive relationship?
What makes women keep the domestic abuse secret?
How does it feel to you lose everything and file bankruptcy?
What makes a marriage so unbearable for a mother to leave her only child behind?
What stops you take your own life when you find yourself drifting, with no direction in life?
How do you cope with a 10 year legal battle to become your son’s primary carer?
What might bring a women to the decision to become an escort?
What does an escort learn about the men's psyche?
Do men show more respect to their escorts than to their wives and partners?
Do men want sex when they pay an escort?
Can working as an escort be an empowering experience?
Are the majority of sex workers into this industry by choice?
Is the sex industry safe?
Who holds the power between the escort and the client?
What are some of the myths surrounding the sex industry?
How do the sex industry learnings can be applied in a coaching programme?
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between antidepressants and happiness with Brooke Siem, an award winning chef and mental health writer from Nevada, USA.
Why do we put children on antidepressants when they lose their father at 15?
How is life when you live on antidepressants from 15 to 30 and you are still depressed and suicidal?
Can you be so depressed to feel relieved at the thought that one day you’ll die and everything will be over?
Are there any benefits to being medicated with antidepressants?
What is it like to take 30,000 drugs in 15 years?
Can you actually come off antidepressant drugs?
What is it like to experience the withdrawal symptoms?
Why psychotropic drugs block your personal development?
How is life after 5 years from quitting antidepressant medication?
What happens within you when you are a talented ballet dancer and you have to quit because you break both of your legs?
What is like to train in cookery, open your own bakery in your 20s in New York and become an award winning chef?
Why you need to choose between antidepressants and happiness.
Plus many more in this eye-opening chat.
Find out more about Brooke’s work and newsletter “Happiness is a skill” at www.brookesiem.com.
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between economy and happiness with Michael Kelly, financial business consultant and founder of Investment Science from New York, USA.
How does an economist look at happiness?
Can an investor grasp happiness in between 2 deals?
Do large corporations grow at the expense of everyone around us?
Are the money raised by companies in Sillicon Valley spent properly?
Is there happiness behind technological automation?
How can we compete with the digital employees?
Will the Artificial Intelligence take over our lives and the world?
How will the humanity cope with the automation and the loss of jobs?
Why do we need bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies?
How do the massive changes in economy affect people’s happiness?
Is the world in economic crisis? And how different is this to 2008 crisis?
Can you be happy when the wages are too little comparing to the house prices?
Does job satisfaction lead to happiness?
Is our happiness correlated with how the wealth is distributed in the world?
Can we find happiness in profit or in humanity?
And finally what are the 5 best tips to become wealthy?
In this episode Nicoleta chats about alcohol addiction with Gypsy Wonders a motivational speaker from Minnesota USA.
Why is alcohol consumption keeping you in a state of disconnection from your real self?
How do you stop drinking to find who you really are beyond your addiction?
Can you find love, happiness and joy when you stop drinking?
How do you wake up to a life you love?
Why an unfulfilled life leads to alcohol addiction?
Do people drink to escape reality?
How is it like to lose everything, house, belongings, money and your child?
What is addiction doing to your relationships?
How do you cope with the pain of the damage created by drinking?
Why addiction can be a journey of self-discovery and personal development?
What can betrayal can teach you about yourself and your attachment style?
Can you connect with your higher self and feel you deserve more from life?
Why self-discovery and healing are so important in your recovery journey?
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between resilience and happiness with Terry Tucker an author, motivational speaker and cancer survivor from Denver, USA.
How is life for a college basketball player turned police investigator and SWAT hostage negotiator?
Why you should always go and do the things that scare you…
What are the limits of human resilience?
How learning from your mistakes makes you resilient…
Is there something else out there that is bigger than us?
And why your life should be about finding your purpose?
When pain is inevitable but suffering is optional…
How you choose your mental state?
Why love is more important than money, power, prestige and status?
How can the 3 Fs (faith, family and friends) save you from hardship?
How do you cope with the news that a little cyst on your foot is a very rare melanoma?
What might the feeling be when you are going for cancer surgery on your own during Covid pandemic?
Can you maintain a positive attitude to life after you lose a limb?
How do you connect with love and happiness after you’ve been through hell?
When you are so much more than the sum of your parts…
And what are the greatest lessons cancer can teach us…
Why is unhelpful to base happiness solely on health?
Do you embrace life and death with no fear?
How do you show support to someone fighting cancer?
Why the most important things in life through hardship are your attitude and the effort you put in…
Terry's book: Sustainable Excellence: Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon And Extraordinary Life.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GLGVTVS
Terry's blog: Motivational check: Inspiring people to live uncommon lives.
https://www.motivationalcheck.com
In this episode Nicoleta chats about the relationship between gratitude and happiness with Deborah Hawkins, an author and blogger from Chicago, USA.
Can you embrace gratitude after an unsured driver hits you and leaves you unable to walk?
What helps you to navigate depression in your 50s?
How do you develop a practice of gratitude?
Can you be intentional in creating an attitude of appreciation?
What are you gratitude themes?
How to be thankful even through life challenges?
Why being grateful is essential for your happiness?
In this solo episodes Nicoleta explores the relationship between bereavement and happiness.
Sharing her own experience of a very close family member sudden death, Nicoleta takes you through a number of very important questions:
How do you move through the shock of a dear person's death?
What it means to lose someone fairly young?
How it feels to find someone you just met died unexpectedly?
What kills us young these post-modern times?
How is bereavement experienced these days and what is its impact on our lives?
Why does grief close us to happiness? And how do we open up to joy and aliveness again?
Nicoleta asks also a number of existential questions:
Why did that person live?
What was that scope and purpose of that life?
Was it to create something at a physical level and leave behind in the world?
Was it to allow another person to come to life?
Was it to save another person from a hard life?
Was it to take care of others?
Was it to experience something and learn some lessons themselves?
Or perhaps to help others experience something and learn some lessons from them?
In this episode Nicoleta talks about the relationship between sanity and happiness with Wajid Hassan, actor, author and spiritual teacher based in North Carolina, USA.
How is your perspective changed in life when you are born into a Muslim country, then you are raised in a Christian school in England, and then follow a yogi master and live your adult life in Los Angeles?
Are we spiritual beings in a physical body?
Will the spiritual life ever come first for humans in front of the material life?
Have our inactions or bad actions brought the world in such a mess?
Was the humanity for some reason brainwashed to believe in the concept of “only one life to live”?
Is the division and conflict on Earth the result of people in authority positions operating on low levels of consciousness?
Are we manipulated by forces that want to control the world and create poverty, war and division in their hunger for power?
How do we preserve our sanity and purify ourselves from the mental pollution of hatred, jealousy, envy and greed?
Can the belief in reincarnation be the solution for the social inequality we witness today?
Why is the topic of reincarnation little spoke about whilst the word “karma” is widely accepted in the western world? Do we really understand and respect the law of karma?
Is our current life a reflection of our wrong-doings from our previous lives and at the same time an opportunity to learn the lessons we need to learn in order to evolve?
Are we here on this planet to raise our consciousness?
Are we all connected?
In this episodes Nicoleta chats about ageing and happiness with Clarissa Kristjansson, mindfulness and menopause coach, podcaster and speaker from Sweden.
What does it feel to go through a burnout in your mid-50s when you are pre-menopausal, have extreme anxiety and you lose motivation in life?
Can you escape stuckness and loneliness with the aid of mindful living?
Why are women still caught up in traditional roles, over-giving and over-caring and why do they struggle to demand responsibility from men?
How to open uncomfortable conversations with partners, how to express your needs and set healthy boundaries.
Are we far from equal roles? Are women’s roles changing? Education of younger generations.
Ageing well and with grace in a society placing way too much focus on youth.
The critical role of communication in relationships and how it can keep together or break lifelong marriages.
What we want in life as we are ageing.
Sensuality as the sexual experience as we get older.
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between music and happiness with Hope Sheree, a spiritual soul artist, author, blogger and host of “A Dose Of Hope Radio” from Virginia USA.
Selected out of thousands of applicants, Hope is one of the 50 artists to be part of the world’s greatest gospel choir established by the multi-Grammy and Oscar winner Pharrel Williams that has toured the world and had been documented in the Netflix six-part docu-series called Voices of Fire.
Why would a blues and R&B recording artist reaching Top 50 Billboard charts switch to Gospel music?
How HOPE became the “Helping Other People Endure” acronym.
Where to go if you go through personal or social challenges, including illness, the pandemic and the police brutality as an African-American population.
Is Black Lives Matter movement real and what are the most intimate worries of a mother watching her young son leaving to high school and praying that he comes back home safe.
What is the impact of social injustice on people’s mental health? Can kindness and serving others heal us?
How to get a master’s degree whilst recording albums and raising 3 children.
What is multiple sclerosis doing to our health? Can we retain our confidence? Can we still preserve faith and continue to live on purpose?
Is happiness a choice? Can we cultivate an environment where we can be happy? Are distractions making us “really” happy?
Why Pharrell Williams is truly “Happy” and how is he as a human behind the screens?
Is fame a problem for artists?
Finally, listen to Hope singing live for the podcast convinced that music soothes the human spirit.
In this episode Nicoleta chats about menopause and happiness with Lisa Adams, registered nurse and yoga teacher from Manchester.
Find how Lisa embarked on a career in health care now spanning over 3 decades and in time developed interest in menopause and women’s health.
Learn that there is not much happiness in the medical world due to organisational issues like underfunded services and overworked staff which generally keeps the morale low.
How to find happiness inside yourself and how to reach that mental state where you feel at peace, content and balanced.
Why do people in the post-modern search for happiness in the outside world and how the answer to our questions can be find within ourselves and in the mirror of our souls.
Take ownership and responsibility for your illness or condition and listen to your body. It is not easy to recognize the menopause symptoms.
Why are we still not talking enough about this topic? Why many women are not aware of the cause of the symptoms that settle in insidiously at times. What are the symptoms of menopause. What to do when GPs misdiagnose and prescribe antidepressants because they have not been trained in menopause, plus many other questions answered on the way.
Women need to learn to be caring and nurturing towards themselves not only for other people, especially now that women live 2 – 3 decades, almost a third of their lives post-menopausal.
Health is paramount and education in schools curriculum for both girls and boys to help shape their relationships in a healthy way could lower the now highest rate of divorce in menopausal women.
Menopause remains a sensitive subject surrounded by stigma. Women find it difficult to talk to others about their experience and men struggle to understand them.
Conversations about menopause are taking place in whispering and women don’t know where to turn to.
Get informed and educated and feel empowered to implement actions to make the menopause transition as positive as it can be for yourself and the people around you.
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between self-love and happiness with therapist and coach Nicola Farnhill from Costa Blanca, Spain.
Nicola shares how her traumatic childhood experience and her therapist mother informed her decision to become a therapist herself.
They talk about the common experience of being therapists, about losing their mothers 10 years ago and what they learned throughout the decades doing their inner work.
Discover why we struggle to show our vulnerable side and express our real self and what is conditioning doing to us in life
Find out why trauma is one of the most disabling experience one can have and how trauma disconnects us from our authentic self.
Learn about what it means to live from the untruth, about emotional co-dependency and the impact of growing up with disable siblings.
Explore the role of spirituality in healing and why we spend most of our time in the mind, in anxiety and the victim mentality.
Take their invitation to expand your mind and be in presence, the portal towards peace and happiness.
What is self-love, how do you care about yourself physically, mentally and spirituality and why you should celebrating yourself every day instead of looking outside for validation and love.
Self-love is the ability to explore who you are. Self-love is the fuel for confidence, self-esteem and self-worth.
Nicola and Nicoleta share how they used humour and acceptance to overcome adversities and heal their wounds and give tips to start your inner journey and escape your tunnel mind.
In this second part of the interview with Desa Markovic, Prof. in Systemic Psychotherapy at Regents University London, Nicoleta continues to explore the relationship between sexuality, family dynamics and happiness.
They look at the parenting styles and the importance of healthy boundaries and privacy in educating children. Sometimes we fail to notice how, as parents, we send messages about sex to our children that end up shaping their sexuality.
Learn why it is essential to know who you are and what you want in order to develop a healthy satisfying sexuality.
Find how we develop sexual confidence and how the counselling and psychotherapy practice can help us all in this sense.
Explore what it means to have good sex, why do we lose our sexual desire and how the stresses of life influence our libido.
Also, let’s ask some very other important questions:
- What is the difference between sex and sensuality?
- What is normal in sexuality, and what we share and what we hide in our bedrooms?
- Who sets the norms and what standards define our sexual expectations and desires.
- Why there is still a lot of judgement around sex in the culture and psychotherapy as well?
- What is asexuality and is it a sexual orientation in itself?
- What are the most common sexual issues that clients bring into the therapy room? Between vanilla and kinky sex.
What sexual compulsions, porn and sex addiction bring into our lives.
And lastly, is sexuality related with our meaning and purpose in life?
In this episode Nicoleta explores the relationship between sexuality, family dynamics and happiness with Desa Markovic, Professor of Systemic Psychotherapy at Regent's University London.
Inspired by her own personal journey in life, Serbian born Desa has dedicated more than 2 decades to the field of sexual and family health starting with her training in clinical psychology in Yugoslavia, “a country that unfortunately does not exist anymore”.
A senior practice consultant for Relate, the largest relationship counselling service in the UK, director of training at the Institute of Family Therapy In London and Head of Programmes in Psychotherapy & Counselling at Regent's University London for 11 years, Desa shares her wisdom in counselling, sexual relationship and family therapy.
They speak about the taboo topic of sex and sexuality and how it is absent even from the counselling and psychotherapy training. Why there is angst in us when we talk about sex and why not enough has changed as there is still a lot of shame, embarrassment and guilt around this topic.
Find out that younger generation seem to be more open to talk about diversity in sex and gender, but relationships are becoming disposable due to the dating apps that offer so much choice and diversity and can lead to disappointment and unhappiness.
Desa talks about the misconceptions in teaching sex in schools, the excessive emphasis on the biological side of sex and how fantasies, fears and catastrophic thinking about sex start to develop early in life.
Part of the psychosexual therapy work is normalising sexual behaviours that people see as dysfunctions and addressing the emotional aspect of it, the vulnerability of sex.
Learn why self-worth is correlated with sexuality and why adults in their 50s and 60 still try to prove to their parents that they can do things, living their lives to please others, a dynamic that is playing in relationships and in the sexual encounters too.
What to do when one seeks other people’s approval, is unable to say no and cannot express their needs in intimate relationships.
Lastly, why we all need to work on our relationships which does not mean that there is something flawed in our couple, but that we are continuously adjusting to one another.
Next week listen to the 2nd part of this podcast where they explore:
How parents set boundaries in the family dynamic.
How the messages parents send to children about sex are shaping their sexuality .
What does it mean to have good sex.
Why do we lose our sexual desire.
The difference between sex and sensuality.
What is normal in sexuality.
What we share and what we hide in our bedrooms.
What are the most common sexual issues that clients bring into the therapy room.
About sexual compulsions, porn and sex addiction, and much more.
In this episode Nicoleta chats about the relationship between work in marketing and happiness with Ray Stanvius business developer for mental health professionals based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Ray shares the cultural shock he had when he moved from America to Catalonia in his 30’s despite his multicultural background having being born American from Argentinian mother and Lithuanian father parents.
A marketer with a degree in psychology, Ray shares the benefits of freelance work as opposed to the 9 to 5 jobs he had in the past. Ray is now helping mental health professionals develop their businesses and reach as many people as possible, from generating leads for them to teaching them do their own marketing.
They talk about the misconceptions surrounding the field of modern marketing, about influence and manipulation, and how fast the trade is changing in the digital world.
Can we do without marketing in our consumerist world focused on spending more? What is the relationship between marketing and happiness? These are some of the questions they ask and answer.
They also look at ways of staying healthy in our modern days. From a morning routine, movement, Mediterranean diet, mindful living and meditation they are all helpful in living a healthy life. Ray shares the benefit of living by the sea and taking walks in the nature (very much attuned with the Connect With Nature campaign initiated as part of the this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week running these days).
Lastly they link happiness with the pandemic and remind us about the personal choice we can all make to be well despite the drama and the hardship we face in life. Showing gratitude and appreciation for the little things we have in life can help us stay open to happiness and create fulfilling lives.
In this episode Nicoleta chats about illness and happiness with Rachel Lett, registered nutritionist, expert in metabolic and gut health and Chief Care Officer at SPAN Health.
Rachel shares her experience of fighting Hodgkin Lymphoma 3 times as a child at 10, 12 and 16 and the shock she had when she relapsed after 9 years in remission at 26.
Born and raised on a farm, Rachel feels that her experience with the illness made her interested in food early in life and informed her decisions to certify as a chef and later register as a nutritionist.
Looking at the illness as being an invitation to reflect on her life and take action, Rachel considered the complementary medicine during her illness and engaged in a process of self-exploration, diet change, stress management and exercise to restore her balance.
She feels that life experiences and trauma can help you open to happiness which she defines as "a feeling of contentment and ease with everything that is going on".
They speak about the connection between gut health and happiness and how the gut communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve. Rachel shares that 95% of serotonin (called the happiness hormone) is found in the gut and if the microbiome is incorrect we cannot feel good and happy.
Nutrient deficiencies, gut health and blood sugar balance contribute to our mood and how we feel inside and have a lot of impact in our mental health and overall happiness. Nutrition is not about excluding but including the right foods that bring you mental clarity and energy and make you happy.
Rachel encourages you to do things that bring value and enrich your life. Find what makes you feel good and what makes you happy. Also be kind to yourself and make small changes with the guide of a nutritionist to become your own health expert.
It is very important to tune into yourself and notice how you feel even if you don’t have symptoms. Prevention is very important and many illnesses can be prevented, especially the lifestyle diseases that SPAN is helping to revert.
In this episode Nicoleta chats with Ray Baron Woolford, a civil rights activist, broadcaster and author from London.
Ray shares his life story, how he came from nothing and created a life of service to pay back all those strangers that have been kind to him when he needed most.
Born out of rape and abandoned by his mother, Ray has started his life in children’s homes, where he never felt love and where he was exposed to a lot of sexual abuse and violence.
He run away from care to discover life by himself and ended up homeless on the streets of London where he was shocked to see that people who had nothing were the people that gave him the most.
Ray discovered his sexuality as a gay man in the 70’ when it was unlawful and, inspired by the epidemic of AIDS and the many people abandoned by their partners and families, he established the first non-for-profit estate agency in the UK that housed LGBT and queer people.
Later, watching men in suits looking for food in the street rubbish bins, also many pensioners forced into poverty by the high cost of living despite the fact that they have worked their entire life, he created the largest independent food bank in Britain.
Although not formally educated and dyslexic, Ray has written a few books and became a broadcaster and a film maker winning many awards with the recent short documentary “Feeding Lewisham” filmed during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Being a gay man struggling for 40 years to come to terms with his sexuality, Ray has fell in love for the first time at 35 and a few years later has been through a major mental breakdown watching his partner dying from AIDS.
He found healing in the kindness of strangers that looked out for him and gained a sense of balance when he married his current partner in a civil partnership.
Over the past few years Ray has been in touch with one of his half-brothers and after he prayed every day of his life his mother walks through his door, when he was 57 his mother has also initiated contact.
Ray understands that his mother was raped and might have been the victim, but he feels that he was the one to pay the price, the one that carried the pain with him. Deespite this, Ray and his mother are now on the path of reconnection.
A beautiful life story and a captivating conversation with a man that has defied all the adversities that came on his path.
Ray is still campaigning for the eradication of inequality and poverty which he believes is the cause of war, poor health, famine, misery, mass death, poor education and refugee crisis.
He is determined to change the way activism is done and shift the narrative so people have more respect and understanding and less bigotry and ignorance around those in our communities who are poor and disadvantaged.
In this episode Nicoleta chats about the research and policy making in mental health with Sarah Hughes the CEO at Centre for Mental Health UK which has been at the heart of some of the biggest policy changes and investments in mental health for the past 2 decades.
Having seen family members struggling with mental health distress, Sarah embarked on a career in mental health - now spanning over 3 decades - in both community and secure units settings and is today bringing her vast experience into making policies and ensuring that mental health remains a priority on the government’s agenda.
Looking back at when she started her career, Sarah remembers the terrible articles published by the newspapers about “mad people” and can see that the world is changing and the language is more fluid, but feels that there is still a huge amount of stigma and we are slow in understanding the causes of mental health conditions.
Giving the example of people that have committed crimes and go to prison, it looks like the society doesn’t always acknowledge their traumatic past and the fact that someone’s journey is complex, so we need to ask what’s happened to people rather than what is wrong with them.
Sarah shares her own experience struggling with post-natal depression, the stigma and the internalised shame she felt which took her time to get help, despite the fact that she had worked for 2 decades in mental health at the time.
Find that mental health does not cast you aside, but it brings you closer to others because mental illness is more common than we think and maybe greater than the prevalence rates we see in the studies which are expected to increase post-Covid.
In a digital world, driven by the pressures of capitalism and consumerism, we need to acknowledge that the external factors contribute to our mental wellbeing and we all need to take a trauma-informed approach when we talk about our mental health.
The Centre for Mental Health has an ongoing and multi-faceted role, undertaking research, translating evaluations and lobbying to convey the important mental health message to decision makers. It tells the truth to the power, anticipating the need for mental health support over the next year and keeps an eye and ensures the government invests in mental health healthcare as promised in their long term plan.
Involved in the Equally Well campaign and the Social Contract, CMH gives the government the opportunity to think about prevention in mental health, what they need to do now and in the medium and long term to create a mentally healthy society. This includes the economic society (not only equality, but also racial justice and poverty), wellbeing style and budget and asks the government to take action now and not leave mental health problems for the next generation.
Whilst CMH voice has the power to influence the governments’ investment in mental health and offer support, it is ultimately a sign of self-care for each of us to take individual responsibility and prevent mental illness. Use online resources, ask for help, advocate and join mental health campaigns and by contributing to the society you will feel a renewed sense of purpose that will improve your mental wellbeing.
In this episode Nicoleta chats with Milton Lopes, an award winning actor, musician, writer and director from London about performance and happiness.
Milton shares his fantastic life journey from being born in Cape Verde and raised in the artistic area of Almada in the 80’ when Portugal was struggling with high levels of heroin consumption which led to decriminalisation of drugs in the 90’.
He chose to do sports, music and theatre from early age and became an award winning actor in Lisbon before moving to London to expand his career 14 years ago .
Milton got involved in drama teaching, doing workshops for disable performers in circus with Extraordinary Bodies and the National Centre for Circus Arts (previously Circus Space) and was part of the team that performed in the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in London 2012 .
Exploring what it means to be a performer, whether on a theatre stage, in a cinema production, teaching drama or doing a circus aerial, Milton talks about the powerful experience of connecting with the audience and the magical exchange of emotions in that vulnerable space.
Find out why fame does not feel well, about the distress and pressure it brings into personal life and why famous people get lonely and depressed. Learn how, as a Buddhist, he finds happiness in the presence and in gratitude.
Milton shares what is like to be a mixed race artist and how he was affected by the discrimination in the entertainment industry and media. He plays the guitar without fingers and he feels that music allows him to express emotions he cannot find words for.
Looking at how Portugal is living 25 years in the past in terms of social equality and diversity, Milton is full of appreciation for the openness of London and this inspired him to write and direct his own show “The Elephant”, asking a profound societal question: Is identity defined first by race or disability?
An episode full of wisdom that encourages you to want more, to go for more, to permit yourself to express your Self, to allow yourself to feel free, to don’t take NO for an answer, to continue to dream and to go and take what’s yours in life.
In this episode Nicoleta has a soulful conversation with Lourdes-Anne Requena, life coach and Tai Chi & Qigong instructor from London.
Lou shares her personal story of clinical depression, anxiety, low confidence and double suicide attempt and how her healing journey unfolded.
She tried different avenues including counselling, psychotherapy, body movement and energy, and ended up working in mental health and training in Tai Chi, Qigong and life coaching.
The conversation goes around our life struggles and explores why people are scared of self-discovery and change and how labels and diagnosis perpetuate the stigma in mental health.
A rich talk about the body - mind - soul connection and why the lack of spiritual connection leads to addiction and other mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety can happen to anyone and having a space to openly express the inner pain and someone to listen is so very important.
You’ll learn that relationship with your Self is everything as you are the creator of your own life. You can get to know yourself and learn to regulate your emotions and internal life and this way open to happiness and the infinite possibilities life has to offer.
Find how vital it is to give yourself permission to learn, to be in love, be more free, to create abundance and go beyond your self-imposed limits.
This episode also teaches you to be open to experience everything, to listen to the messages your body, mind and spirit sends you, to be mindful, to embrace meditation, to create that space for being and allow the energy to flow through you.
In this episode Nicoleta has a delightful conversation with an inspiring accomplished entrepreneur, the CEO of Future Perfect Charles McLachlan.
Listen to his journey from growing up in a professional academic family, his years of computer science degree at Cambridge University and his challenge with a psychotic episode that relapsed whilst being a student and how he managed to overcome his mental breakdown.
Charles built a successful software development business, became consultant to various senior executives and is currently growing CEOs helping them create a work environment defined by freedom and joy and move from the brink of a mental breakdown into liberation.
We talk about the pressures we face from the society and from the corporate world to conform to a world of slavery and fear which make some people work themselves to death, destroy their marriages and disinherit their children, a competitive and endless performance culture starting in the first years of school.
Charles encourage us to take responsibility for our mental health because the “work harder and you will get everything you need is a lie, the future promise is not there for them, the future promise is more slavery or no opportunity and you have to create your own destiny, make your own choices and do your own business”.
In this 1st episode following the Pilot Season Nicoleta is doing her first solo podcast.
She shares what she’s been doing during the 6 months break following the Pilot Season and why she rebranded the podcast from Mental Wellbeing Journey into Open to Happiness.
Nicoleta talks openly about her experience in the Pilot Season when she felt uncomfortable talking to the microphone and the screen and how she aims to make the Open To Happiness a permanent podcast.
Find out what she plans to talk about with her guests and why her podcasting is encouraging you to open to happiness and create the life of your dreams.
Are you aware that your lifestyle can make you ill? From diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure to anxiety, depression or cancer, they can all be avoided by making behavioural changes that keep you fit and healthy.
In this 12th episode, the last in this 1st season, I chat with Patrick Samy, CEO at Span Health about the bridge between the old medical system and the pioneering digital medical care that helps us prevent illness and recover our wellbeing in our fast changing and demanding modern world.
A former Microsoft engineer and researcher at Stanford University, Patrick shares how his family history of chronic conditions has inspired him to link his passion for technology with his interest in biology, medicine and psychology and this way cofounded Span Health, a digital startup that delivers behavioural care to people that have lifestyle symptoms.
Whether it is high blood sugar, constant cravings or brain fog, Span is helping people reverse these issues with the help of a nutritionist, doctor, psychologist and psychotherapist to create sustainable changes and resolve underlying issues that prevent them from making progress in life.
In a time when the old medical system established after the Second World War is struggling to help the increasing population stay well and healthy, we all aseem to find it harder and harder to source the right information and access the right science behind our conditions, whether they are physical ailments or psychological conditions.
This is why it is important to acknowledge that physical and mental health awareness are not just about knowing the signs and symptoms of illness, but also knowing ourselves well, understanding our identities and how we formed a belief system through external programing, as well as staying in touch with our bodies and permitting ourselves to enter a deeper level of consciousness to create a healthy and balanced life.
In this 11th episode Nicoleta chats with Wendy Harris, managing director at WAG Associates, a telemarketing training company from England about the Mental Health First Aid.
Since emotions and feelings always factor in business and work as well as in our all interactions in life, the question is: are we able to develop that awareness around our mental health and the wellbeing of others?
Can you read other people's body language? Are you able to pick up on what is said between the words? Do you become mindful of what is happening within you when people express themselves?
The Mental Health First Aid training helps you look at yourself from a different perspective, to understand yourself and others better. It helps you see when people are struggling around you and it teaches you to offer them that initial support before they seek the professional help they need or until the crisis resolves by itself.
An empowering chat that sees the mental health first aid training necessary and highly beneficial during this coronavirus pandemic that has changed our lives in ways that we have not anticipated and have not been prepared for.
Also a reminder for the employers and other social actors of the 1 trilion dollars spent on mental health illness at global level each year, and an invitation to consider if the Mental Health First Aid training could reduce sickness in the work place.
Health is not the absence of illness, but rather a state of balance between the body, mind and our consciousness.
In this 10th episode Nicoleta chats with Xenia Bolomiti, ayurvedic therapist and wellbeing coach from London, about the benefits of ayurveda called the "science of life" in the Eastern world.
How has this eastern practice that preceded today's conventional medicine managed to preserve its wisdom and knowledge from ancient times and survived as a holistic therapy and medicine practice for 5,000 years?
Considered by many schoolers the older healing science, ayurveda aims to restore our natural balance applying methods and natural treatments specific to our body constitution ("dosha").
Listen to this episode and find out why medicine is of no use when the diet is wrong and how to follow the good diet and lifestyle for your particular body constitution with this alternative medicine and therapy.
The absence of someone or something that has been part of our lives for decades can be very upsetting and those feelings of emptiness can be perceived as a loss of purpose and meaning in life by some of us.
In this 9th episode Nicoleta explores with her guest Willis Atherley-Bourne, therapist and supervisor from London, the loss of someone through death, breakup or divorce as well as the loss of a job, social status, home or an object, and how that loss taps into other wounds accumulated over the years.
Can we still cherish the happy memories and celebrate the legacy left behind by those we lost? How do we manage the existential questions that arise? Is our attachment style playing into the grieving process? Can we manage those intense feelings of sadness, sorrow, anger, anguish and worry and can we deal with the prolonged mourning and complicated grief?
Nicoleta and Willis answer all of these questions and many more and share how to find support and someone to lean on throughout this life-time journey of grieving, calling walking through grief like “learning to walk all over again”.
How does the pleasurable activity of gaming or gambling become an addiction that destroys lives? Why can one person play for fun and another one is unable to stop?
In this 8th episode Nicoleta chats with counselling psychologist Annika Lindberg from London to find that gambling addiction is not about the amount of money lost, but rather about losing the control and not being able to stop despite the negative consequences it brings into our lives.
From losing jobs, missing time with family, to accumulating massive debts and losing their homes, addicted gamblers are either looking for the buzz of a big win or gamble as a way of coping with difficult emotions.
Their inner worlds are marked by anxiety, depression, shame and a strong sense of isolation and when they cannot see a way out from that desperation they can go as far as thinking of or attempting to commit suicide.
Causing real devastation in the lives of millions of people, gambling addiction is nowadays a problem of the society not of the individual only and is becoming a public health problem due to the slow emerging reform in regulation.
The good news is that there si support and change is possible when gamblers awaken and move out of the secrecy of their behaviour. Listen this episode to find out more.
In this 7th episode Nicoleta chats with French born Kensaye Russel, a DJ, music producer and radio host from London about rejection and its impact on our lives.
From real life rejection to virtual rejection expressed in the number of likes and comments on social media, rejection can be painful and can knock down our self-esteem, confidence and sense of self-worth.
Whether it’s a matter of circumstances, luck, taste or subjectivity, rejection is a simple life response that does not change who we really are.
Rejection is rather a platform for learning, growing and personal development, and every NO can teach us something about ourselves, others and the world around us and can help us build resilience and endurance in life.
In this 6th episode Nicoleta chats with Russian born and trained Oxana Fomina, a life & spiritual coach and numerologist from London and look at life from a body – mind – spirit – social world perspective.
Listen to this episode and find out how psychology, psychotherapy, numerology and spirituality overlap and how they all tap into the same knowledge of this universe and how can they answer some of your life questions.
Vivekananda said over a century ago that “human mind is a great master, but a lousy student” and we can all connect with that. We tend to function stuck in our early programming which brings a lot of distress and suffering, but we can retrain our minds and look at your lives from behind the minds and this way expand our consciousness.
Enough with identifying with your body and mind only. You are much more than that. Learn to manage your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing and live your life from inner peace, balance and joy.
In this 5th episode Nicoleta chats with DJ and music producer Serhat Gedik aka Subaholic’s from Northern Cyprus about the negative thinking and its impact on our lives.
Starting from the studies that show that out of the 50,000 thoughts we have each day 80% of them are negative and 95% of them are repetitive thoughts, recycled day after day, they explore how to change our mindsets and search for happiness and positivity within, and what happens when we look for fulfilment in the outside world.
Nicoleta looks at negative thinking from a psychological perspective and concludes that our distorted thinking is a learned process that can be unlearned and replaced with a more positive way of being.
And Subaholics shares his spiritual journey and how it helped him understand that we manifest our thoughts and changed his life through reflection, self-discovery and meditation.
Question for a DJ: is music an uplifter that can enhance our mental wellbeing or, on the contrary, a downer that can make us feel empty and depressed?
Subaholic’s share his view from within the music industry: what it means to be a musician nowadays, what has changed over his 2 decades career, and speaks openly about the “silly tradition” of drug consumption and the tragic lives of Michael Jackson, Prince or Kurt Cobain.
What is wrong with people (especially men) that use their power to intimidate, influence, persuade or even threaten others to get sexual gratification?
In this 4th episode Nicoleta is having a rich conversation with her guest Michelle Denny-Browne, counsellor, supervisor and clinical manager at One in Four, the largest charity supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and trauma in the UK.
They look at the elephant in the room, this taboo of childhood (sexual) abuse through the lenses of the many high-profile cases we’ve seen coming out over this past decade:
...From the once famous - now infamous Jimmy Saville, who abused hundreds of children for over 5 decades and mesmerised an entire world so that his victims feared to speak up the truth about his monstrous behaviour even one year after his death...
...To Harvey Weinstein who sexually abused hundreds of Hollywood actresses and has been recently sent to jail for 23 years (only)...
...To the corruption of the mind Jeffrey Epstein used to groom his entourage to bring him hundreds of young girls in his sex trafficking ring...
...To the prolific case of the South Yorkshire town - Rotherham - considered the biggest child protection scandal in the UK history, as the police and social services knew about the abuse of 1400 children for over a decade and failed to act on the reports of the abuse for 3 decades between 1980 and 2010.
In this 3rd episode Nicoleta has a deep conversation about burnout with her guest clinical psychologist and therapist Dragos Dragomir and explore the difference between stress ("the too much" in our lives) and burnout ("the not enough" syndromme). From paramedics, nurses, firefighters and police force affected by burnout in their challenging work to staff feeling burnt out when lacking support form their organisation and to the guest himself going through burnout when feeling underused in his skills, this is a rich conversation about what it means to live in our modern world driven by capitalism and consumerims. Are you at risk of burnout? Do you know what to do about it? Listen to this 48 min episode and allow yourself to search for answers to some important existential questions.
In this 2nd episode Nicoleta talks about stress with her guest Chris Hodgkins, an accomplished jazz musician and broadcaster from London. Listen to this 30 min episode and find out what is causing stress in our modern world and the terrible impact it has on our mental activity, emotional life and physical body. Be reminded about the power of music in healing and coping with stress, and learn to find ways to spot stress early and act timely to remove this silent killer from your life.
In this 1st episode Nicoleta talks with her guest Munise Sabri, a colleague psychotherapist from London, about our mental health pandemic and the impact of the coronavirus on our lives. Listen to this empowering 28 min chat that looks at mental wellbeing from a fresh perspective. Is our society really open to talking? How do we cope with the social presure? From anxiety, depression, addiction and trauma to getting in touch with our selves and creating a happy and fulfilling life.