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Faith

On Mother Teresa, Burnout, and Belonging: Saskia Kremer on PYP 502

Saskia Kremer burned out after spending 13 years tending the sick, dying, and impoverished as a member of Mother Teresa’s order. How did she reinvent herself, and what can she teach us about a meaningful and heartfelt life?

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Building Multi-Faith Community Through Music: James Pollard Jr. and Harold Messinger on PYP 486

Can music bridge the gaps that divide communities? Can we sing and play together and rediscover our common humanity and deep caring for one another? Cantor Harold Messinger and James Pollard Jr. have been conducting a music “Faith Gumbo” in Philadelphia for the past 13 years. I hope their bright spirits and loving hearts will inspire you.

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Unraveling the Mysteries of Behavior: Mark Faries, PhD, on Plant Yourself 424

A key role of medical professionals whose job it is to help their patients and clients change, is to frame messages to maximize the odds of desired behaviors. Unfortunately, most medical professionals have been trained to communicate in ways that actually reduce patient self-efficacy by challenging their autonomy and undermining confidence in their competence. On… Read More

Balancing Future Goals with Present Attention

Today Mergoddess Sarah Bofinger and I talk about balancing big future goals – which can be motivating as hell, but also scary and possibly intimidating and overwhelming – with the simple, repetitive daily actions that may eventually get us there.

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Howard Jacobson on Procrastination, Cocoons, and the Unfinished Office: PYP 303

Happy New Year! I come to you today from the cab of my truck, in my driveway, to talk about the fact that my new office isn’t ready to move in, and it’s January 1, and it’s kind of driving me crazy. I don’t even have access to my studio, my computer, my completed interviews… Read More

“Give us This Day Our Daily Plants” with Tina Ahern: PYP 302

Tina Ahern is a long-time Plant Yourself Podcast listener and supporter. When she reached out to share her inspiring story, I knew I wanted to share it with you. Long story short, Tina and her husband Brian opened up a partially plant-based restaurant in Perry, Oklahoma, as part of their mission to serve their community through… Read More

Lifestyle Medicine for the Win with Marcy Madrid: PYP 275

Marcy Madrid is Vice President of Planning and Marketing at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas. (That’s about halfway between Dallas and El Paso on I-20.) When Midland decided to embrace plant-based nutrition as a pillar of their disease-treatment protocol, Madrid was brought in to spread the message. Both internally, and to the larger community.… Read More

Caring for Our Bodies as Temples of Spirit with Nalida Besson: PYP 201

Nalida Lacet Besson wasn’t so concerned about weighing 240 pounds or passing the occasional painful gallstone. What got her attention in the summer of 2013 was a physical malaise so complete and overwhelming, she believed she was dying. Everything hurt, including her skin. It was as if her body were saying, “I’ve had enough of… Read More

Thanksgiving and the Calculus of Integrity

The movie Airplane features a running joke in which air traffic controller Steve McCroskey (played by Lloyd Bridges) announces after each new catastrophe, “I guess I picked the wrong week to quit smoking… drinking… amphetamines… sniffing glue.”

I woke up yesterday morning, watched a terrifying video of a white supremacist gathering in Washington, DC, and thought, “I guess I picked the wrong week to feel gratitude.”

And some of my clients and students will look at all the turkeys, gravies, pies, turduckens, piecakens, and other festive dishes and tell themselves, “I’ll indulge just a little today, and tighten back up tomorrow. After all, progress, not perfection.”

To all three examples, I say bullshit.

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Jamie Gannon on Brain Cancer, Golden Tickets, and Silver Linings: PYP 155

When Jamie Gannon was 27, he was an aspiring actor living the dream in Hollywood. Reading for films, TV, and commercials. Working his day job. Working out to keep his leading man physique. Taking voice and acting classes. And living a healthy, active life. When it all fell apart, thanks to a golf-ball sized malignant… Read More