#33 - Systematically Building a Regenerative Future | Brenna Simmons-St. Onge`

#33 - Systematically Building a Regenerative Future | Brenna Simmons-St. Onge

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of psychologists, filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we examine the mental and emotional narratives and processes that steer the social stream of consciousness….Truly a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior. Each episode is a glimpse into the trends and patterns of human behavior and the underlying influences that navigate us into different directions. Whether we primarily focus on nutrition or the unconscious, guests share insights, thought-provoking lessons, the nuances of creativity, and the elements of being….us.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Brenna Simmons-St. Onge, the Executive Director of The Alliance Center. She is a pragmatic visionary with over 15 years of leadership experience, including a decade in corporate social responsibility. During the pandemic, Brenna launched the Regenerative Recovery Coalition-a coalition with over 335 members working together to build Colorado towards a regenerative future. Through large public-private partnerships, Brenna is leading the Coalition to create equitable social structures that will foster shared prosperity on a healthy planet. As a dynamic change agent, Brenna leads with a nonprofit heart and a business mind leveraging holistic approaches to implement and scale solutions to some of the largest issues humanity faces.

In our interview, we break down the concept of a regenerative future and the individual and social efforts required for systems-level change, as well as the gap between idealism and pragmatism. We also examine how to secure the attention of policymakers and corporations and how they should rethink and measure success and growth within a capitalist system.

The Elements of Being Podcast with Michael Moody featuring Brenna Simmons-St. Onge

#33 - Systematically Building a Regenerative Future | Brenna Simmons-St. Onge

The Elements of Being Podcast with MIchael Moody

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In this episode, we specifically discussed:

-How to personally balance living in our modern capitalist system while recognizing the significant challenges upon us.
-Transition from a corporate career to a values-driven professional path.
-The definition of the concept "regenerative future."
-How the Alliance Center has drawn the attention of governors and other politicians in Colorado.
-How Brenna and the Alliance Center choose the most appropriate focuses at a given time for driving systems-level change with regenerative business in mind.
-How we can bridge the gap between idealism and pragmatism.
-What's required in the "regenerative future" message to secure the attention of policymakers and corporations.
-How corporations and smaller businesses should rethink and measure success and growth within a capitalist system.

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To learn more about Brenna Simmons-St. Onge, visit https://www.thealliancecenter.org/.

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Listen to all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castbox, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform!

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#32 - Growing a New Future of Farming and Food Equity | Dr. Damien Thompson

#32 - Growing a New Future of Farming and Food Equity | Dr. Damien Thompson

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of psychologists, filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we examine the mental and emotional narratives and processes that steer the social stream of consciousness….Truly a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior. Each episode is a glimpse into the trends and patterns of human behavior and the underlying influences that navigate us into different directions. Whether we primarily focus on nutrition or the unconscious, guests share insights, thought-provoking lessons, the nuances of creativity, and the elements of being….us.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Damien Thompson, the co-founder of the organization, Frontline Farming, and director of the Center for Food Justice and Healthy Communities.

In addition to his training in anthropology, Dr. Thompson holds a certification in Permaculture Design and a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Teaching Certification. His interests center on the building of community food systems, small-scale urban food production, developing community, and cultural practices related to food and medicine, teaching and learning in education and permaculture. Dr. Thompson has a keen interest in how communities can utilize traditional and modern information and practices to build food systems that uplift marginalized and oppressed peoples, restore ecosystems, build biodiversity, support cultural diversity as well as provide individuals and families with the highest level of access to the means to support their own health (and we talk quite a bit about these topics today). I should mention that Dr. Thompson is also a mayor-appointed member of the Sustainable Food Council for the City of Denver, and a co-chair for the city’s Good Food Purchasing policy group. No doubt, he plays a significant role in the necessary trend of regenerative agriculture and our future connection to food.

The Elements of Being Podcast with Michael Moody featuring Dr. Damien Thompson

#32 - Growing a New Future of Farming and Food Equity | Dr. Damien Thompson

The Elements of Being Podcast with MIchael Moody

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In our interview, we bridge his education in anthropology to his farming practice and social work as the co-founder of Frontline Farming. Specifically, we geek out on the fundamentals of farming and the benefits of permaculture and a regenerative agriculture focus. We further dissected the social challenges surrounding food security, justice, and sovereignty as well as the equitable changes needed in our food system.

In this episode, we specifically discuss:

-Frontline Farming's mission.
-Advantages and disadvantages of regenerative agriculture practices with a focus on no-tilling/conservation tilling, water conservation, terracing, and cover crops.
-Inequality in our present food systems and the need for changes in food security, food justice, and food sovereignty.
-The connection between big data, food systems, and racial equity.
-The importance and repercussions of the language we use in our discussion about food systems and the policy that supports them.

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To learn more about Dr. Thompson, visit https://www.frontlinefarming.org/.

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Listen to all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castbox, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform!

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Bridal Bootcamp Exercise Program: Legs/Upper Body/Core (30-40 Minutes)

BRIDAL BOOTCAMP EXERCISE PROGRAM: LEGS/SHOULDERS/CORE (30-40 MINUTES)

Time to be your own personal trainer in LoHi! You still need to exercise outside of your personal training sessions, right??? Perform the exercises in this order. Note the descriptions next to each exercise (e.g., position of the bench or cables) and perform 16 reps for every exercise. Also, perform 16 reps on each arm if you’re performing a single arm exercise. Try to maintain a 140-160 HR (although it’ll fluctuate depending on the exercise). Don’t forget to answer the questions in the “Assessment Section” after your workout. Let’s get you ready for your wedding ceremony in Denver, Colorado!

SUPERSET 1

1st: Prisoner squat
2nd: Pushup with feet on medicine balls (failure)
3rd: Side plank

60-second sprint/30-second break

4th: Squat jumps with a medicine ball at your chest
5th: Pullups/pullup assist machine
6th: Plank with alternating plate lift (extend your arm forward and lift the plate before switching)

60-second jump rope/30-second break

7th: Split squat jump with a medicine ball at your chest
8th: Burpee pushups off of the bench (hands on the edge of a bench instead of the floor to start)
9th: Medicine ball toss at the wall while rotating

60-second Stairmaster/30- second break

10th: Alternating single leg squat with dumbbell hammer
11th: Pushups with your feet elevated on a bench
12th: Mountain climbers with a twist (30 seconds)

60-second break

Push yourself to new levels with a personal trainer in LoHi! / Photo: The Lazy Artist Gallery

SUPERSET 2

1st: Walking lunge with dumbbell press overhead
2nd: Pullup/pullup assist machine
3rd: Cable chopper with a step (alternating sides)

60-second sprint/30-second break

4th: Alternating step-up with medicine ball toss and catch
5th: Pushup with alternating dumbbell lift (see picture)
6th: Alternating toe-touch crunch

60-second Stairmaster/30-second break

7th: Alternating backward lunge with cable row
8th: Squat with the shoulder press while rotating
9th: Alternating leg lift while planking

60-second jump rope/30-second break

10th: Step-up from kneeling position with a medicine ball extension
11th: Pullup/pullup assist machine
12th: Bicycle crunch

Naptime!

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Assessment Section

No fitness or personal training program is perfect. Let’s reflect and adapt! Answer the following questions:

• How would you adapt this training program?

• Which back and chest exercises would you swap out?

• How could you make this fitness program more challenging?

• How would you change the order of the exercises?

• Would you include more breaks in between the sets?

• Would you include an even ratio of back and chest exercises instead?

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#31 - Understanding our Emotional Regulation (and Self-Injury in Adolescence) | Research Scientist Dr. Whitlock

#31 - Understanding our Emotional Regulation (and Self-Injury in Adolescence) | Research Scientist Dr. Whitlock

Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of psychologists, filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we examine the mental and emotional narratives and processes that steer the social stream of consciousness….Truly a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior. Each episode is a glimpse into the trends and patterns of human behavior and the underlying influences that navigate us into different directions. Whether we primarily focus on nutrition or the unconscious, guests share insights, thought-provoking lessons, the nuances of creativity, and the elements of being….us.

After reaching listenership in 101 countries last fall, I was pushed to examine my role in the world and the power of all of our voices as people climb out of nearly two years of pandemic uncertainty and amplified political states. It's fitting that this new season of The Elements of Being will continue to serve as an advocacy tool for mental health. What will be different is s higher level of dedication to environmental advocacy and the examination of climate change and environmental policy and its effects on our "being" globally.

This fight can no longer be ignored....and I argue that our social efforts to bring global warming to a drawdown will have a greater effect on all of our well-being more than any other action right now. By prioritizing our focus on climate change and instituting a multiprong slate of solutions, we will improve our physical health with cleaner water and air and minimize diseases and disorders while minimizing our dependence on healthcare. We will also retune our connection with nature and steer a new consciousness that elevates our emotional and mental well-being and bring new acceptance and appreciation for our diverse cultures and lands. Greater equity no matter race, gender, and income level is a heck of a byproduct of this agenda, as well. Our voices and efforts have never been more important. So, stay tuned for future episodes on these topics and more!

In today's episode, I examine emotional regulation and self-injury in adolescence with research scientist, Dr. Janis Whitlock. She has worked in the area of adolescent and young adult mental health, resilience, and wellbeing for over 30 years. She is dedicated to bridging science, practice, and lived experience wisdom in ways that inform, enhance and support the human capacity to thrive. She has experience as a frontline provider and program developer and, for the past two decades, as a researcher, educator, author, and public speaker in these and related areas.

The Elements of Being Podcast with Michael Moody featuring Dr. Janis Whitlock

#31 - Understanding our Emotional Regulation (and Self-Injury in Adolescence) | Dr. Whitlock

The Elements of Being Podcast with MIchael Moody

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As the founder and director of the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery and the co-founder of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury, she has deep expertise in areas of self-injury and related mental health challenges, including suicide, depression, and anxiety. She has also studied and written about connectedness, resilience, the role of social media in mental health and prevention, and sexual health. She earned a doctorate in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University, a Masters of Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill, and a BA from the University of California at Berkeley.

In this episode, we discuss:

-The call to understand our emotional selves.
-Common emotional regulation strategies.
-Learning the value of awareness and detachment when appropriate.
-The concept of emotional dysregulation and how it contributes to the cycles in our lives.
-Rethinking the role of controlling our thoughts and emotions.
-How emotional regulation strategies can vary among populations.
-Connection between emotional regulation and adolescent and young adult mental health challenges.
-Emotion as an allowable part of your life.
-Reasons for the classification of non-suicidal self-injury and suicide cases.
-Assumptions and reasons for self-injury among adolescents
-Patterns of adolescent self-injury and the likelihood of the same patterns in adulthood.
-The role of social media and other technological affordances in mental health and development.

To learn more about Dr. Whitlock, visit https://www.human.cornell.edu/people/jlw43 and check out her book “Healing Self-Injury: A Compassionate Guide for Parents and Other Loved Ones.”

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Listen to all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castbox, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform!

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Weight Loss Plan Phase 1: Examining Your Situational Experiences with Food

“Knowing is half the battle (I think that’s what someone said once....).”

— Michael Moody, regarding your new weight loss plan

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YOUR GOAL TODAY

Complete the "Situational Experiences with Food" questionnaire below. It’s that simple, right? Unfortunately, not. It actually requires quite a bit of reflection. Even armed with the perfect optimal or weight loss diet your ingrained social or cultural habits will influence you more than you realize. Today’s step may be the most important.

Who’s really in control when eat in different environments? / Photo: Cottonbro

SITUATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH FOOD

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Your intent isn't to eliminate the eating experience from your life. It's to heighten it from day-to-day (not just on special experiences)! To do this, you must examine your relationship with food in various situations over the 1-2 weeks. While you may need to dig into the memory bank to answer a few of these questions, try to use present examples as often as possible (we are examining your current trends and patterns, after all). By the way, you'll notice reoccurring questions in each category (important for comparison).

Restaurant Eating
-What defines an enjoyable social dining experience IN A RESTAURANT with friends and/or family? Any particular elements? Do you typically order meals that you never make at home? Type of setting, food, drink, people, environment, etc.? Be specific when describing different scenarios. My example: I love sharing a dining experience in a new (neighborhood-size) restaurant with 3-4 other people (6 or more gets too cliquish to me). We order 5-10 different dishes and share them while we taste a variety of exquisite big red wines. No dessert is necessary to complete my experience.
-Do you have a typical eating routine that you follow in these experiences? If so, what? E.g., Mama needs her Old Fashioned before the steak, and compound butter hits the table :) (there goes Mama and her Old Fashioneds again!) Sidenote: My great-grandmother (Nani) always drank a Manhatten before dinner with my great-grandfather.

At-Home Dinner Party Eating
-What defines an enjoyable social dining experience AT HOME with friends and/or family? Do you serve appetizers or other dishes you typically don't day-to-day? Any particular elements? Types of setting, food, drink, people, environment, etc.?
-Do you have a typical eating routine that you follow in these experiences? If so, what?

Vacation Eating
-What defines an enjoyable social dining experience ON VACATION with friends and/or family? Any particular elements? Types of setting, food, drink, people, environment, etc.?
-Do you have a typical eating routine that you follow in these experiences? If so, what? My example: If I'm near a body of water, I'll most certainly order fish or seafood for many of my meals.

Day-to-Day Eating
-What defines an enjoyable eating experience DAY-TO-DAY? Any particular elements? Type of setting, food, drink, people, environment, etc.?
-Do you have a typical eating routine that you follow in these experiences? If so, what? What determines the type of experience you create? My example: If my work schedule bleeds into the evening, the prep time for a meal will diminish exponentially.

In-the-Office/At-the-Laptop Eating
-What defines an enjoyable eating experience while working IN-THE-OFFICE or AT-THE-LAPTOP? And, yes, I said enjoyable. What would an enjoyable eating experience look like while professionally multi-tasking? Any particular elements? Type of setting, food, drink, people, environment, etc.?
-Do you have a typical eating routine that you follow in these experiences? If so, what? What determines the type of experience you create? My example: My meals tend to be served in a pyrex dish next to my laptop so that I can mindlessly fork my veggie mix into my mouth. Insert trough joke here.

When-I'm-Stressed/Tired Eating
-What do you tend to grab when you're stressed or tired?
-How do your portions vary when you're stressed or tired?

Eating with Particular People
-Do you tend to eat differently with different people? If so, describe the differences. My example: Ill eat more plant-based options with my friend Craig than with my buddy Jeff. I may consume more alcohol with Stu than I would with Erik.

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