Shows
Wellness WinsDana Robinson on body neutral personal training"When we're worried 24/7 about how we look or what we weigh, that's just stealing joy from day to day."
Dana Robinson speaks from experience. She went through a tough transition after college, where she was a Division I athlete. Leaving this highly competitive environment, she found her focus on diet and exercise becoming borderline unhealthy. Fortunately, she found support from a therapist, and her thinking about her body shifted in new ways as she became a mother, as well.
As a body neutral personal trainer, she has cultivated an approach that emphasizes functional outcomes and...2024-07-0242 min
Wellness WinsPT Emily Camp on finding strength amid hearing lossEmily Camp began to have hearing changes, nausea, and neck pain in high school. She was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis type 2, which causes benign tumors to grow on the hearing and balance nerves in the brain. As she entered college to pursue her dream of becoming a physical therapist, her doctors told her she'd need to have the growths removed, and this process would cause her to lose her hearing in both ears. Emily shares what it was like to undergo such a major health experience at such a young age, and how her determination...2024-03-1043 min
Wellness WinsBonus episode: Natalie Lu on creative journaling for resilienceNurse Natalie Lu of The Reflective Collective explains how art and creative journaling are good for our brains, mental health, and longevity. She also shares prompts you can use to kick off your own creative journaling practice, and she has created a calendar that serves as a beautiful guide for those who want to participate in a creative, supportive community all year long. The video version of this podcast is available on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/@WellnessWinsPodcast
Separate but related: I'm excited to offer a virtual workshop Jan. 20 on forming a creativity and wellness vision. Your...2023-12-2941 min
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativitySeason 1 finale: ReflectionsThis season flew by! We're so grateful to our guests and listeners for making this a super fun and rewarding experience. In the season one wrap-up, we discuss what it was like to get to know some of Minnesota's fascinating multidisciplinary creatives and what we plan to carry into the next season. In the meantime, follow us for updates at: https://www.instagram.com/minnesota_minds_podcast/. 2023-11-2333 min
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityBelen Rodriguez of Quebracho shares her family's story through business brandingBelen Rodriguez has a rich community here in Minnesota, but when she first moved from Argentina to Minnesota, she found herself homesick and missing the long-standing tradition of Sundays spent sharing meals with her family. She began to recreate that tradition for friends and family in the U.S., and her passion for sharing this experience grew. Over the past five years, her rapidly expanding frozen empanada company, Quebracho, has become a way for her to share the story of her family, culture, and community in Rosario, Argentina, with a wider audience. She tells us how creativity was crucial...2023-11-0944 min
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityStudio artist Anna Segner on humans' relationships with animals in art and lifeMinnesota native Anna Segner's art is at once whimsical, intriguing, and thought-provoking. She's a studio artist focused on painting, mixed media, and assemblage. Her work pulls you in with familiar imagery of things like Beanie Babies and rhinos, and it holds your attention as you begin to see the rich layers of meaning. Anna uses critical animal studies and other research to explore the human act of “toying” with animals and nature, and she discusses how her art has evolved to focus on this area. Anna and host Rachel Lauer met when they both worked in journalism, and Anna now...2023-11-041h 02
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityCertified sommelier Emily Anderson on the future of the wine industryFrom working with wine sellers in Minnesota to vineyards in Napa, certified sommelier Emily Anderson has seen the ins and outs of the wine industry from many angles. She loves sharing her passion and has interesting and creative thoughts on factors the industry will need to address in the coming years, such as approachability, affordability and adapting to a changing climate. She also loves creating the perfect wine and food pairing, and she tells us about some delightful dinner parties she's hosted using this skill. 2023-10-2653 min
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityMarianne Manzler on the power of creating a personal recordThrough her journal entries and personal essays, Minneapolis writer, editor, and Loft Literary Center educator Marianne Manzler is building a body of work around her experience being diagnosed with cancer in her 20s as well as shining a light on the person behind the illness. In this interview, she tells about experiencing imposter syndrome as a biracial child growing up in a predominantly white suburb, how she learned to lean into her voice as a writer, and why she has a goal of 100 rejections per year. Her creative process has also yielded great success. She was a Fulbright scholar...2023-10-1952 min
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityMusician Dave Berg on seizing the moment in art and lifeIf you've been to a major theater production, opera, or ballet in Minneapolis or St. Paul, chances are you've heard string bass and Hammond keyboard player Dave Berg in his element. He's been a big part of the Twin Cities music scene for decades. He shares with us how he built a diverse, sustainable music career, and he tells us about some of the fun surprises along the way, like getting to chat with acclaimed tenor Luciano Pavarotti or recording the soundtrack to an award-winning (and hilarious) Super Bowl ad. Dave currently can be heard at work in the...2023-10-121h 05
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityMeditation creator Kelly Smith on how her new book has helped her healKelly Smith is the founder of Yoga For You and the host of the chart-topping Mindful in Minutes podcast where she provides guided meditations in her soul-soothing voice. She also is the author of the newly released book "Meditation for the Modern Family." She shares her creative process when writing guided meditations -- sometimes also layering in a sound bath -- and how writing and publishing her new book has helped her overcome the emotional pain she experienced as a child with dyslexia and ADHD.
Check out Kelly's Mindful in Minutes podcast here: https...2023-10-051h 06
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityMarbling artist Heather RJ Fletcher on color and trend forecasting, book arts, and moreHeather RJ Fletcher always wanted to be an artist. She found her joy as a marbling artist and now shares her skills at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts as well as her book, Making Marbled Paper: Paint Techniques & Patterns for Classic & Modern Marbleizing on Paper & Silk. Heather tells us how she discovered marbling and how it has connected her with people worldwide. She also explains what a color and trend forecaster is and tells us what trends to watch for in the future.
Heather's website: https://www.hrjdesignstudios.com/
Follow her on Instagram: https...2023-09-211h 01
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityAmy Thielen on her new cookbook, "Company," and the art of hosting dinner partiesAmy Thielen is a Minnesota cook and a writer. She is the author of The New Midwestern Table, which won the James Beard Award for American Cooking, as well as a memoir, Give a Girl a Knife, and a new cookbook Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others. She also hosted the James Beard-nominated Heartland Table on Food Network. Find her online at amythielen.com (you can sign up for her Substack there), on Instagram, and on Facebook
Amy and her husband, visual artist Aaron Spangler, volunteer with the Nemeth Art Center in Park Rapids...2023-09-1554 min
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityCeramicist and printmaker Mariah Greenhoff on pushing boundaries and finding community in the visual artsEmerging Minnesota artist Mariah Greenhoff shares how she developed her distinct style as a printmaker and ceramic sculptor, and how her practice is influenced by both her love of challenging herself and learning new processes as well as the strong art communities she's found a home within in the Twin Cities. She also discusses the thrill of selling her work for the first time at Art-A-Whirl in Minneapolis and how she is incorporating technology in her art creation process.
Follow Mariah:
https://www.mariahgreenhoff.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mariah_greenhoff/
...2023-09-071h 06
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityYA author Nicole Kronzer on balancing her twin passions: teaching and writingNicole Kronzer is a Minnesota author and high school English teacher and a former professional actor. She wrote the young adult novels Unscripted (Minnesota Book Award Finalist) and The Roof Over Our Heads. Nicole shares the thrills and challenges of navigating a career in the publishing industry, and some discoveries she's made along the way, like the importance of taking care of the "vessel," finding your people, and expanding the definition of success. Her website is delightful: https://www.nicolekronzer.com/
2023-08-301h 01
Minnesota Minds: Cultivating CreativityGerry Kulzer, the Minnesota State Fair butter sculptor, on art, teaching and human connectionMonumental and decorative sculptor and art teacher Gerry Kulzer recently took over as Minnesota State Fair butter sculptor after longtime sculptor Linda Christensen retired. In the Dairy Building, you can watch him carve the likenesses of Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists from 90-pound blocks of salted butter in a refrigerated, glass booth. He tells Rachel and Aleisha how he stays warm and how the joy of human connection infuses his work as a sculptor and teacher.
Gerry Kulzer owns Kulzer Design Studios.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition
https://www.mnstatefair.org/
2023-08-2436 min
Wellness WinsBrandi Privitera on thriving with fibromyalgiaIt took a painfully long time for doctors to determine Navy veteran Brandi Privitera's diagnosis. And then, when she went looking for resources on how to manage this condition, she was dismayed to find a lack -- of information, of ways to connect with others, and of research funding for fibro. She turned her frustration into action: starting a blog, BeingFibroMom.com, then turning to advocacy via https://supportfibromyalgia.org/. She shares her story and struggles in this interview, and she shines a light on the path forward for the fibro community.
Wellness Wins...2023-07-3058 min
Wellness WinsMel Schneider on restoring connection to nature through forest therapyCertified Forest Therapy Guide Mel Schneider describes the experiential practice of forest bathing and how it can help us reconnect with nature. Want to set up a guided walk with Mel? Check out her website: Wild Wanders Forest Therapy Walks: https://www.wildwandersmn.com/. She also works with companies that want to set up a guided walk for their employees. You can find her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/wildwandersmn.
Wellness Wins is hosted by Mayo Clinic-trained health and wellness coach Aleisha Theisen. She loves chatting all thing self-care and well-being at www...2023-06-2038 min
Wellness WinsRachel Satrom on prioritizing self-care as a busy mom and parent of a child with Prader-Willi syndromeRachel is not new to the busy lifestyle of a mom. She has four young children, including a daughter with Prader-Willi syndrome, and she and her husband work hard to keep everything in balance in their home life. Their strategies change as their family grows and their needs shift. She shares the lessons she's learned in how to maintain self-care and manage everyone's schedules in a way that helps their family thrive.
Host Aleisha Theisen is a Mayo Clinic-certified health and wellness coach. She loves chatting about all things wellness, self-care, and well-being with...2023-06-1522 min
Wellness WinsPatricia Daiker on diabetes and self-compassionAccepting her diagnosis of diabetes took RN Patricia Daiker some time, and it included acknowledging grief -- she would never again be the person who didn't have to monitor her glucose numbers. But with self-compassion and allowing herself to process that grief, she began to thrive again. In this episode, she shares how that transition happened. Now Patricia helps other diabetic folks understand how to manage their diagnosis, process difficult emotions around it, and find the energy they need to thrive as well. You can find out more about her 5-step program to managing diabetes at Better Diabetes Life...2023-06-1041 min
Wellness WinsLora Swoape on overcoming Guillain-Barre syndromeIt started with fatigue, then her legs felt a little funny. A few weeks later, Lora Swoape was hospitalized with a Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosis. This rare but debilitating neurological condition would leave her paralyzed for some time. Fortunately, the syndrome is regressing, and she's working on walking independently again. It's been a long, difficult road, but she keeps looking forward, using her vision of wiggling her toes in the sand on the beach as a vision to drive her to get her mobility back again. Her positivity and resilience are so inspiring. She also does public speaking around patient...2023-06-0351 min
Wellness WinsMiriam Mbugua on healing the gut one step at a timeMiriam Mbugua suffered horrible stomach pain and other digestive issues throughout her adolescence. As she got older, she began to learn ways to improve her gut health and thus her overall wellbeing. Now Miriam is a gut health coach helping other folks improve their gut health (she helped me improve my acid reflux). Her coaching emphasizes self-compassion and taking small steps, and it's customized for the individual's unique needs. And she is proof that it works! Hear 3 fun facts you might not know about the digestive system and learn some practical ways to start improving your own gut health...2023-04-3038 minWellness WinsIan and Erin on finding joy and love amid griefErin Etheridge suddenly became a single mom of four in 2015 when her husband, Kenneth, died in a motorcycle accident. Ian Cox has a similar story of loss. His wife, Steffany, died in 2020, after a battle with breast cancer. Ian was suddenly a grieving single dad with three young boys. But their stories don't end there. A few years ago, their mutual circles brought them into each other's spheres. They met, fell in love, and married. And again, the story doesn't end there. In this episode of Wellness Wins, Ian and Erin share how they are finding hope, love, and...2023-04-2450 minWellness WinsBridget Berns' Journey From Anxiety and Depression to Well-being and MagicBridget Berns had the external trappings that might indicate a happy life: A great job, a husband, a home close to her family. But mental health struggles plagued her, and after some time, she found herself alone and deeply depressed. In this candid interview, she shares her journey through mental health challenges to a state of happiness, joy and well-being. Bridget now helps other women take charge of their mental and physical health. Learn more about her coaching services here. You can follow Bridget on Instagram as well.
Content advisory: This episode describes a mental health crisis...2023-04-0628 minWellness WinsTrying Times Call For Trying New Things, With Natalie Lu Of The Reflective CollectiveTwin Cities RN Natalie Lu has been working on her wellness game for some time, and six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, she recognized she needed to lean into those practices to sustain her. Hear how creative journaling, meditative movement, and the Japanese art of Kintsugi (putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold) have helped her care for herself, and how she's fostering community among caregivers to heal and sustain amid the nation's healthcare burnout crisis.
Follow Natalie's Reflective Collective, a community for caregivers:
On Facebook
On Instagram
Watch for her workshop on creative...2023-04-0435 min
Wellness WinsStaying well and thriving in Antarctica with Coach Beth Jennings (Part 2)Health and wellness coach Beth Jennings is a pro at maintaining healthy habits while traveling. Whether it be a job that took her cross country or living in Antarctica where she worked as a physical therapist, Beth has learned how to stay well wherever life takes her. Hear her tips and tricks in this episode of Wellness Wins. To learn more about her health coaching services for travelers, go to bethjennings.com.
To learn more about Aleisha's wellness coaching services for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and writers, check out: https://www.connectiontowellness.com
2023-02-2324 minWellness WinsStay healthy on the road with Coach Beth Jennings (Part 1)Do you struggle like I do to make healthy choices while on the road? I recruited health and wellness coach Beth Jennings to help me out. She's learned by doing, traveling cross-country countless times, as well as living in less-than-hospitable Antarctica. Join us as she shares simple and doable tips to keep yourself well on the road. Find out more about Beth Jennings and her coaching service for travelers: https://bethjennings.com/
To learn more about Aleisha's wellness coaching services for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and writers, check out: https://www.connectiontowellness.com
2023-02-2218 minWellness WinsSparking workplace joy from the inside out with Janelle and CJJanelle and CJ are nurses and educators. They love what they do. But sometimes even people who love their jobs need a little inspiration. Hear about how these women spearheaded a delightful movement called "Fun Fridays," which has sparked joy and fun and connection in their workplace. Send this podcast to your work bestie. Maybe you will want to start your own "Fun Fridays" movement together in your workplace!2022-12-0128 minWellness WinsPreventing compassion fatigue and burnout with Kate KompasJournalist-turned-animal welfare worker Kate Kompas is the interviewee in this discussion on self care, self compassion and preventing workplace burnout. Kate works for the Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She has a unique perspective working in the animal welfare space, which -- while rewarding -- can also be taxing for those tasked with caring for these vulnerable creatures. Her commitment and passion have guided her in learning to make transformative mindset shifts about nutrition, movement and workplace wellbeing.
Find out more about the Tri-County Humane Society: https://tricountyhumanesociety.org/
To learn more about...2022-12-0150 min
Wellness WinsThe heart attack many don't survive: Elijah shares his story40-year-old Elijah, a chef at a Minnesota hospital, didn't feel quite right after his shift. He stopped at the employee health services clinic - a decision that likely saved his life. Elijah recalls how he went from cooking for hospital patients one minute to being wheeled to the ER the next, and what recovery has been like as a busy husband and dad of two young boys.
Wellness Wins is a podcast that honors the stories, struggles and successes of people who have overcome major health challenges or are managing them and thriving. Wellness Wins is hosted...2022-10-1929 min