Dr. Bec Live: Recent Episodes
Rebecca Jackson
A show for people watchers, wellness devotees, self-development junkies and anyone curious about psychology, wellbeing and understanding the inner workings of the human mind.
Each episode unpicks an intriguing concept from psychology and wellbeing research and how you can integrate this into your ordinary everyday life. The occasional special interest subject, guest interviews and some tears and laughter along the way.
What does it take to create a happy life? Dr Bec revisits the concept of happiness and the relationship with concepts such as pleasure, meaning and life-satisfaction. She also summarises the themes and concepts covered in Season 1- Dr Bec Live, and how these can contribute to looking after your mental health and wellbeing during a difficult year like 2020. To live a rich, meaningful and happy life means not only surviving but thriving following adversity by reflecting on your journey this year.
What does it take to cultivate a winner's mindset? Dr Bec Jackson is joined by Dr Jo Lukins to discuss the secret of what it takes to think like a winner. Jo discusses her work with elite athletes and the champion mindset, while Bec shares insights into military high performers, leadership and parenting. Everyone can adopt some simple steps in their daily lives to reframe their psychology and approach life with a winning attitude. Is it Habits, Optimism, Consistency, or just Embracing the Suck?
Living in the moment - is not a mindless cliche, it's important advice on how to live mindfully. Mindfulness is seeing things more clearly and paying attention moment to moment to moment. When you are being mindful you notice what is happening, as it is happening, in both your inner and outer world. In episode 18, Dr Bec discusses the application of mindfulness in your daily life and simple steps you can take to integrate it into everyday activities.
Talking about suicide and suicide prevention is never an easy conversation. But talking about it in a safe way is important. The topic and the statistics can be overwhelming. In this episode Dr. Bec Jackson, talks about the difference we can all make in the lives of those who might be struggling. The signs to look for and what you need to do to prepare yourself. You can make a big difference, by having regular, meaningful conversations about life 's ups and downs. Every day. Simply, through the act of conversation we can build connections and protections for people who may be struggling with life. This episode discusses how to have these conversations and what next after you ask “RUOK?”
If you feel you know a person who is struggling, trust that gut instinct and take the time to ask them “Are you OK?” Listen openly, encourage them to act, and check back in later.
Sometimes these conversations can be too big for friends and family. If you’re worried about someone and feel they need professional support, encourage them to connect with a trusted health professional like their doctor. Listening to this episode you may realise you need to seek assistance for yourself or for someone you know. Check the RUOK.org.au website for the most current information.
“Change your mindset change your life!” Possibly more than any other single factor, your mindset determines the quality of your life. It impacts your success, your happiness, your inner and outer world experience. Mindsets aren’t just any sets of beliefs. They orient our reactions and tendencies and serve a number of cognitive functions. They let us frame situations and direct attention so that we’re not overwhelmed with information. Dr Bec takes a look at what mindsets will best serve you.
Not just a hashtag! Living your best life is a personal philosophy which means living a life that brings you a sense of fulfilment, meaning and joy. It encompasses self-awareness, knowledge and acceptance, ultimately leading you to take actions to align your life with your values, interests and passions. In this episode Dr Bec discusses how you can define what YOUR best life looks like and what actions you can take to start making that a reality. Everyday life is enriched when living this way.
We spend a third of our life asleep. It's essential to good physical and mental health, our happiness and daily functioning in waking lives. Despite its importance, sleep remains a mystery to most of us. Dr Bec explains the function of sleep, patterns of healthy sleep and problems when we are sleep deprived. She also provides 10 practical tips for you to try - to improve the quality of your sleep.
Cultivating a practice of gratitude goes a long way to creating a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life. This episode Dr Bec outlines some of the science of gratitude, the psychological, physical and psychosocial benefits of being thankful and appreciative of all that is good and present in our life. She discusses how gratitude, together with kindness forms a social glue, to bring us together in times of adversity and hardship. It may even act as an antidote to antisocial and selfish acts.
Whether we have rich, full, happy lives depends far more on how we choose to treat others than how we are treated. Kindness transforms your mental health and wellbeing and relationships. Whether it be generalised kindness directed towards others or targeted kindness focussing on specific relationships, cultivating kindness is a powerful tool at your fingertips to help your thrive. Hear an overview of the psychology of kindness, some ideas to bring into your own life or take a 30day challenge.
Do you love to head into nature to recharge your batteries? Does your mood improve after a walk on the beach, a dip in the ocean or a run through a parkland? Do you enjoy gardening, walks in the forrest, camping, stargazing, cloud watching, fishing, or hiking? Do you feel relaxed at the sound of rain, birdsong or wind in the treetops? If you answered yes to any of these you have experienced the positive mental health and wellbeing benefits of being in and connected to nature termed "Biophilia".
Do you struggle with motivation? In this episode Dr Bec unlocks the keys to motivation. What is the psychology of motivation, why is it important to healthy human functioning, what is more powerful external rewards or internal desires, what are the common motivation myths and her top hacks to increasing your own motivation to get what you want out of life and become unstoppable! In a time when you may need to rediscover your mojo, is there a quick fix or will it just take blood sweat and tears?
Dr Bec discusses the power of writing and how it contributes to your mental health and wellbeing. She discusses the researched benefits behind personal and therapeutic writing and journalling, such as decreased stress, anxiety and depression and uplift in self-awareness, happiness and creative thinking. She also covers the links between writing and music for your brain. Follow Dr Be's easy tips to get you started and overcome common hurdles to written reflection.
In this episode Dr Bec Jackson discusses what happens when life takes un unexpected turn. She interviews a guest author abut the unexpected journey that this mother of four, Julie Fisher and her family were called to when finding out that their unborn baby boy Darcy had Down Syndrome. Julie beautifully describes the moments she found out his diagnosis, her preparations for him during pregnancy and beyond, his birth and his life since. Now a 14 year old socially active and courageous young man, Dr Bec and Julie discuss how people find new and unexpected paths when they find themselves on the road less travelled through life.
Special Note: This episode may be distressing to some listeners who have terminally ill children or who have experienced recent grief & bereavement. See resources below if you need support.
In this episode Dr Bec chats with mother, teacher and author Trish Carpenter about her journey to motherhood, her twin boys Cam and Tom and discovering Tom’s brain cancer at age 7. Trish shares her heartbreaking story and her hope that by providing insight into the practical and emotional experience of living with a child through cancer treatment and then grieving the the loss of a child, she can provide some support for other parents and families touched by childhood cancer. Trish also discusses with Bec her life since Tom’s passing in 2017, how she continues to find ways to integrate Tom’s life with hers. Trish has shared her story in her book titled Big Hand, Little Hand available at www.bighandlittlehand.com.au where Trish also has a blog you can subscribe to.
In this episode Dr Bec dedicates the show to ANZAC DAY to pay tribute to all Australian service personnel. Coming from a military family, having served 16 years in the Australian Army Reserve and now working alongside servicemen and women daily, supporting veterans is an important role to Dr Bec. Joining her to co-host the show is Chris Thompson- Lang, Veteran and co-Founder/ CEO of Frontline Yoga. Chris served 14 years as an Engineer in the Australian Army with deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan. Chris’s service in the Military left battle wounds not immediately apparent upon meeting him, but once you get to know him and his deep passion for supporting contemporary veterans and his advocacy for mental health and wellbeing of servicemen and women, as well as other frontline responders, it is clear that he returned from War, like so many before him, changed. The show includes discussion of Anzac Day traditions, their applicability to the modern veteran and how people can support all generations of veterans this Anzac day.
ANZAC Day 2020, offers a chance to take a breath, mindfully and intentionally reflect on what does ANZAC Day mean and how can it be relevant in 2020 and the future. It allows everyone to build empathy for veterans who often feel isolated and disconnected highlights the simplicity of standing in your piece of the world at dawn, with your loved ones or alone, in a moment of quiet and intentional reflection, commemoration and gratitude can be just as powerful as traditional commemorations.
In this episode Dr Bec Jackson discusses the concept of boredom, what it is, whether it’s a necessary part of our human psychology and what are the advantages and disadvantages to being bored. She discusses what we do to avoid this state of boredom and how we might leverage what boredom has to offer.
This episode discusses the advantages to taking time in isolation as an opportunity to do some inner work. When you can’t go outside to seek adventure, why not take the inner journey and check in with your self. What do you need? What can you offer yourself by way of care and compassion? You can also use this time to work on building your resilience mindset.
To discuss how you might do that Dr Bec interviews special guest Anni Finsterer, writer, actor and resilience coach, to pick her brains about her personal and professional experiences with resilience during quarantine. Anni has co-authored a 14-day program to help survive and thrive during isolation called My Quarantine Companion.
This episode of Dr. Bec Live is focussed on how to stay connected during the COVID19 social distancing measures implemented across the world. Dr Bec discusses the importance of social connection in maintaining your emotional and mental health. Especially during a time when normally we would lean on those people in our social support network. She provides practical tips and resources that you can use to overcome isolation and stay connected with your family, work, school and community. Filled with traditional and non-traditional communication strategies, this episode covers how to think creatively about the way we connect and build some new skills for now and in the future.
Recorded March 2020 - This episode Dr Bec discusses the predicted impacts of the COVID19 pandemic on the mental health of people around the world. Why emtions and moods are contagious and how you can use that in an adaptive way to empower yourself and others. Dr Bec describes the symptoms of panic, anxiety and fear and what these reactions are telling us and how we can us those warning signs to take positive actions to keep ourselves physically and emotionally safe. Dr Bec also offers 10 key strategies to improve your coping ability as the pandemic situation threatens to overwhelm usual coping mechanisms.
Resources:
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.lifeline.og.au
For up-to-date information, contact one of these trusted sources:
The Australian Government Department of Health at www.health.gov.au
The Public Health Information Line on 1800 004 599
Your local public health agency:
Australian Capital Territory: 02 5124 9213/02 9962 4155 after hours
New South Wales: 1300 066 055
Northern Territory: 08 8922 8044
Queensland: 13 43 25 84
South Australia: 1300 232 272
Tasmania: 1800 671 738
Victoria: 1300 651 160
Western Australia: www.healthywa.wa.gov.au
Pilot Episode: Our Launch show features Dr Bec Jackson Live from Canberra Australia & Toni Lontis (Radio Toni) discussing digital radio and the benefits of this platform for listeners. Dr Bec describes how the show/podcast can provide psycho-education on a range of circumstances, conditions and experiences, which in turn increases people’s social esteem, self esteem and self efficacy, while decreasing anxiety and emotional distress. Bec & Toni discuss how beginnings are always hard and uncertain. Dr Bec discusses the importance of empathy, warmth, trust, emotional safety and respect in psychology and within the Dr. Bec Live community. Bec also gives a brief intro to her book “The Journey of You” and her passion for assisting others to reflect on their own life stories and strive towards fulfilling and meaningful lives.