Happy & Free Podcast

A child being diagnosed with cancer does not inspire hope – not for themselves, and not for others. But this family is flipping the script, and turning a tragic situation into a tool for hope.   No parent ever wants to hear the diagnosis that their child has cancer. It was shocking for the Garcia family.  At first they shut down, but it wasn’t long before they decided to not only fight for themselves, but for kids and parents all around the world.   The result? The Richi Foundation.   On this podcast, we sit down with the president and co-founder of the organization, Ricardo Garcia.  He opens up about his most vulnerable moments and why he’s on a mission to create smiles and bright futures for young patients.   The Mission: To ensure that all children who suffer from cancer have the best prognosis and quality of life.   The Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. The Richi Childhood Cancer Foundation funds various childhood cancer research initiatives through the Richi Rese

You know which ones we’re talking about… Hearing “most embarrassing moments ever” probably conjures up a few horrible memories for you, but what if there was a way to forget about them? What if there was a way to make them a good memory? There’s no way to adequately describe the feeling of sticking your foot in your mouth or making a big, embarrassing blunder. It has happened to all of us. When it does, the immediate reaction is to crawl into a very deep hole and never see daylight again. These moments can be humbling.  Think of some A-list celebrities who have been brought back to earth, if only for a moment, by either clothing malfunctions on stage or the wrong words uttered from their lips. Every time we think about our most embarrassing moments, we cringe. Did we really do that? On our podcast this week, hear what we did, how it sometimes still haunts us, and what we are doing to deal with those embarrassing moments of yesteryear.

What no doubt comes immediately to mind is the flood of refugees coming from countries like Syria.   That is certainly part of issue, but seeking and giving refuge can happen all around us.   On our podcast this week, we sit down with Heart Beings friend Joshua Freedman, CEO and co-founder of 6 Seconds – The Emotional Intelligence Network.   What is EQ? We’ll educate you on harnessing your emotions, and with World Refugee Day this week, we’ll also focus on how people around the world and right next door are finding ways to give refuge in small and significant ways.   Six Seconds   Six Seconds is a global network supporting people to create positive change - everywhere, all the time. We teach the skills of emotional intelligence to fill the "missing link" needed for people to become more aware, intentional, and purposeful so individuals, teams, organizations, families, schools, and communities flourish.

A low-wage job doesn’t mean a low-level future, especially not for your children. This man has proven that it’s not the paycheck that makes the difference. Fred Vautour never attended college; neither did his wife. He has worked for years as a janitor. But all five of his children now have degrees from elite Boston College. They got in, succeeded, and graduated one after the other. That education is worth about $700,000 and Vautour paid for it all. Well, sort of. As we celebrate Father’s day on our podcast, hear the story of this remarkable man who cleans things for a living with a smile on his face and pride in his heart. Don’t ever say “no, I can’t” again.

Do you know what “zen” really is? “Zen” is making a revival, and in the modern age, it’s taking on more dimensions than its hippie origins. The urban dictionary describes Zen as a: “total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind.” It goes on to say that: “Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts.” What can zen do for you?  In this podcast, we’ll help you feel a little “zenny” (a word we invented) as we discuss a wonderful book: Zen and the Art of Happiness. The author’s experiences will lead to some good insights. In one example, he discusses how zen most likely saved his life. Book Review: In Zen and the Art of Happiness, you will learn how to think and feel, so that what you think and feel creates happiness and vibrancy in your life, rather than gloominess or depression. You'll learn how to adapt to life's inevitable changes, how to deal with stress in a healthy way, and h

Every day we are bombarded with a hefty dose of negative news. Plane crashes, terrorist attacks, and murders rule the headlines.   Consuming so much negative news is not good for your health. In fact, some studies prove that there’s great power in positive, uplifting stories.   Don’t agree? Listen to our podcast as we break it all down and give you plenty of reasons to spend more time on Heart Beings- erm, we mean, watching or reading things that will either make you feel good or result in personal growth.

What is R-E-S-P-E-C-T?  It is spelled out, belted out, by the great Aretha Franklin in that old but still fresh hit. We throw that word around a lot, but often times don’t treat each other with much respect especially in the workplace. On our podcast, we put respect in the spotlight. What can you do as a boss or a co-worker to show respect on the job? We’ll give you some tips to answer the question: “What is respect?" And as a bonus, give you a reason to add an old tune to your playlist.

Who needs complicated guidebooks when you could change your life for the better with five steps? Learn how today. If you’ve been making excuses or struggling to figure out the best way to live longer and healthier, then search no more. This podcast could change your life for good. It’s as simple as The Big Five. Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, our friend and partner, realized that a complicated formula often scared people away from making progress, so he has broken it down to Five Simple Things You Can Do to Live a Longer, Healthier Life. In this podcast, we sat down with Dr. Chopra to discuss and digest his new book. Grab your coffee, some vitamin D and nuts, then play and share our show. “The Big Five could very well change your life for the better with very little effort.” - Deepak Chopra

How many times have you felt like throwing in the towel? It may be a difficult relationship or a job – one that was once great, but has quickly gone south. Whatever the challenge, it’s human nature to give up. What if you were to take a step back, put together a checklist, and think before you jump? That’s what we’ll help you do in this week’s podcast. We’ll share our experiences of regrets and what helped to motivate us to plow on. We’re not saying this is easy, but it might be worth a try. Also check out this poem:   Never Give Up! Reach inside! Give it all you got! As long as you’re alive you can keep on trying! Never give up! Discover how strong you are! Don’t let anyone or anything bring you down! Instead be someone who lifts others up by not giving up, and inspiring others with all you’ve achieved! NEVER GIVE UP! -Karen Salmansohn-

Nobody wants to hear a doctor say the C-word. Cancer.  Evenhighly curable forms of the disease can instill fear ina patient. There's so much uncertainty and so manyquestions. People handle adversity in so many different ways. What would beyour reaction? On this podcast, we interview a man who faced the medical giantswith courage. His response will help you deal with adversity oreven a scary diagnosis.  Listen, be inspired, and share this podcast.

Not everybody can run a marathon. After all, it takes grit and months of training to survive 26.2 miles.   But at the very least, we should all try to be like a marathon runner; setting a high goal and accomplishing it.   That's what we're talking about on our podcast this week.   One of us has been in a couple of marathons so this advice comes from a place of experience.   They’re useful tips that you can start trying right now; and who knows, you just might be inspired to strap on some shoes and test your limits.

Did you know where the bucket list term came from? Well, that’s just a little pinch of what you’ll take home after listening to our podcast this week. However, the real focus is something much more important. Most of us have a bucket list. It has all those wonderful places we want to visit and great things we want to do. But as you scroll down your list, do you see something there that you would like to do for others? In other words: is doing good on your bucket list? We hope it will be after listening to our podcast.

The matchmaking business has becoming a billion dollar industry. It seems everyone is looking for love, but for some, it can be frustratingly elusive.   Dr. Wendy Walsh has been helping couples and offering up advice as “America’s relationship expert.” She joins us on the podcast as we try to unravel the secret behind finding and keeping a great relationship.   Also, hear what turns off women and attracts men early in relationships.   WHO IS DR. WENDY WALSH?   Host of The Dr. Wendy Walsh Show on iHeartMedia’s KFI•AM 640 Los Angeles, Dr. Wendy Walsh is a Doctor of Psychology and media commentator who is obsessed with the science of love. Walsh’s TV career began in Los Angeles at UPN 13 News where she worked as an anchor/reporter and later as correspondent on Telepictures Nationally Syndicated show, EXTRA. After a break from television to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and raise two children, Walsh returned to TV as a news commentator on CNN and Fox New’s The O’Reilly Factor. In 2012, she co-hosted the Dr.

One meal, a bit of courage, and a few knocks on the door are all it takes; this simple action is revolutionizing communities.   Look around your neighborhood, and figure, how many people you know by name? With our 21st century lives, a lot of us dash in and out with only a second for a quick wave.   There can be a richness to a vibrant community. It’s not just something that old timers did. People who get to know each other and spent time together can celebrate great moments and lean on each other during tough challenges.   There’s a growing movement to push many of us out of our comfort zone and build a stronger community by knocking on a door with some food in hand.   On this week’s podcast, Amanda Varnell, co-owner of Dish T’ Pass,  a cooking school and catering company, offers some practical tips to help you reach out to those neighbors or co-workers and perhaps enrich your life in the process.

When you rolled out of bed this morning, what was the temperature of your mood? Were you excited to get your day started or worried about work? Were you cranky and ready to snap at your kids or calm and welcoming of the days challenges?   Your mood and your mind matter.   We recently posted an article by one of our contributing authors and this got people talking about the contagious nature of your mood.   On this week’s podcast, we go a little deeper by exploring ways in which you can measure and  change how your mood may be affecting complete strangers.

Learning is hard, and the college experience can be even harder. But it doesn’t have to be. You can be on the Upswing and both get your degree and enjoy the experience. Getting into college is only half the problem.  Making the grade and staying enrolled after the second year seems to be a monumental challenge for many millennials. There’s just so much going on and, often, not enough of a support structure to keep students focused and able to do the coursework. That’s where Upswing is filling the gap. Whether you are in college, getting ready to head out, or a parent, this podcast will provide useful information that could make the college journey much more rewarding. What is Upswing? Online tutoring. Academic advising. Student mentoring. We're on a mission to end attrition.

It’s an uncomfortable topic to talk about, especially for men, but there’s more to prostate cancer than you think – and women should know about it too. With a little education and forethought, you could be saving your life or the life of your loved one. It doesn’t come out of nowhere. Experts say prostate cancer builds over decades, then strikes men in their 40s, 50s, or older. It’s a highly curable disease, but often men tend to drag their feet until their wives or girlfriends nudge them to go and get checked out, or when they are forced by symptoms. On our podcast this week: What you should know that could save your life. We interview Atlanta urologist Dr. James Bennett. He’s working to raise awareness, with an emphasis on detection and prevention. Who Is He? James K. Bennett, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Bennett is a Georgia native whose enthusiasm for medicine began at Clark College in 1976 where he graduated summa cum laude. After receiving his medical degree from Duke University in 1979, Dr. Bennett attend

The next time someone tells you “no, you can’t do that, it’s impossible,” think about the people we feature in this week’s podcast. It should challenge us all to push our boundaries, shatter hurdles, and shame our doubters.  It’s difficult enough for anyone to climb a tall mountain; now consider scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro without some of your limbs.  That’s exactly what The Cloud Walkers did. It wasn’t easy, but with the help of a woman who lost a leg to a drunk driver, they conquered the mountaintop. Their story will inspire you. WHO THEY ARE-IN THEIR OWN WORDS  " For those willing to overcome, we will show the world you can walk among the clouds"  ~ Kevin Robinson, below-knee amputee and fellow Cloud Walker  Thirteen amputees embarked on a monumental once-in-a-lifetime journey. On December 26th, 2015, they left San Antonio, Texas, and travelled to Tanzania, Africa, to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world, standing at 19,341 feet.  Accompanied by a medical support team and a fi

You’ve probably read recent stories about the benefits of drinking coffee. It’s touted by experts as helping to prevent liver disease and diabetes. That’s good news for a coffee company that is doing more than just producing your morning pick-me-up. THRIVE Farmers has a new model that gives growers overseas a chance to have a stable and profitable business. The result? Changing families and communities. On our podcast this week, we interview the founder of Thrive from his farm in Costa Rica, Central America. WHO THEY ARE - IN THEIR OWN WORDS THRIVE Farmers is changing the coffee industry by supplying farmer-direct specialty grade coffee to retailers, wholesalers, and consumers through an innovative revenue-sharing model that eliminates the toxic volatility of the commodity market. THRIVE Farmers’ unique approach to the value chain allows farmers to maintain ownership of their crop and participate more fully in the market value of their coffee as it moves through the supply chain.

Lovin' Spoonfuls - Why We Do It: Alleviate hunger The face of hunger in America has changed. Food insecurity affects a rising number of families in communities across the nation. Here, one in five Bostonians are classified as food insecure, and the number of residents participating in federal meal assistance programs is at an all-time high. At the same time, the influx of cheap, processed food items over the past four decades has contributed to the alarming spike in obesity rates and diet-related health risks, especially among low-income populations. Traditional models of hunger relief rely on the convenience of non-perishable pantry staples typically laden with high levels of sodium, sugar, and chemical preservatives. But why should we stop at non-perishables when there is so much fresh food already available? Reduce food waste In the United States, we produce 430 billion pounds of food, enough to feed far more than our population, and as much as 40% of it goes to waste. Even though there are over 700,000 fo