Happy & Free Podcast

What’s on your grocery list? Some shoppers give very little care to what they put into their bodies. The test is often: if it tastes good, then it ends up in the cart and on the table. But Dr. Gerald Cooke can give your list a make-over. On this week’s podcast, he follows up on Sleeping Your Way to a Healthier Life, beginning with a rainbow and ending with your sweet tooth. Have we peaked your interest? Follow Dr. Cooke’s advice and it could lead to healthy dishes and a healthier life. WHO IS HE? Dr. Gerald Cooke sees maintenance of good health as a collaboration between the doctor and patient, and that the two are not mutually exclusive. Since graduating from Emory University School of Medicine in 1996, Dr. Cooke has focused on treating disease with an emphasis on early detection and management of conditions to prevent advanced disease. In his off time, Dr. Cooke is a lover of outdoor sports like skiing, tennis, boating, and golf. Dr. Cooke is also a Lieutenant Commander and medical officer United States Nav

When you get sick or experience troubling symptoms, getting to the doctor is often at the top of your to-do list. You want to feel better and receive a peace of mind. But long before you get to that point, Dr. Gerald Cooke is offering treatment of a different kind; his prescription is lifestyle medicine. WHO IS HE? Dr. Gerald Cooke sees maintenance of good health as a collaboration between the doctor and patient, and that the two are not mutually exclusive. Since graduating from Emory University School of Medicine in 1996, Dr. Cooke has focused on treating disease with an emphasis on early detection and management of conditions to prevent advanced disease. In his off time, Dr. Cooke is a lover of outdoor sports like skiing, tennis, boating, and golf. Dr. Cooke is also a Lieutenant Commander and medical officer United States Navy. On this week’s podcast, hear what steps you can take that could lead to a healthier life. It doesn’t mean traditional approaches are thrown out the window, but be prepared to exercis

How many times have you heard someone say “everyone deserves a second chance?” It can become a flip response, until something happens to you and it’s what you need to get back on your feet. The story of Divine - "The 4th Letter" (http://the4thletter.com)  didn’t start out with a need for anything; after all, it was a comfortable middle-class upbringing in the suburbs. But then life took a very sharp U-turn and the young boy watched as life crumbled around him. His mom became an addict, and he started selling drugs to support the family. It went from bad to worse and he ended up in prison. That could have been it, but as you’ll hear in this weeks’ podcast, after a few stumbles, divine intervention put him on a much different track. Now he’s rubbing shoulders with tech titans and building a new kind of business.

How much are you willing to reveal about your true self? It’s easier for some than others.  There’s of course the risk of rejection, or maybe fear of an embarrassing exchange. Some chose to hide behind alcohol. They see binge drinking as more than just a youthful ritual; it’s a mask. On this podcast, we invent a new word: Drunking. People who drink with the sole purpose of getting drunk. Hear the story of one young man who masked his true self with “just one more” drink, and hear solutions that could be helpful if you’re guilty of Drunking.

We think it’s pretty safe to say that most people want to live longer. Maybe even living to 100. Quality of life is important, but being around to watch your kids grow up or being able to see your grandchildren and great grandchildren build their own lives would satisfy many. We aren’t there yet; in fact we’re not even close. But check out our podcast this week to hear how some of our relatives have made it to – or close to – 100. You might even learn something to help you live a longer, healthier life. “More and more people are living longer. In fact, people over 85 make up the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. But living to extreme old age is unusual. NIA researchers have found that exceptional longevity tends to run in some families and is supporting studies to learn more about the secrets to long, healthy life.”-National Institute on Aging Medical experts have spent a lot of years and plenty of money trying to get closer to solving the secret of longevity. There are plenty of obvious clues t

How’s your workout routine going so far? We’re not just referring to getting your body in shape, but also your mind and spirit. There’s an amazing trainer who can help you do both. His name is Erik Hajer. He’s a thought leader and disrupter in the fitness and wellness space, as well as a motivational speaker, an entrepreneur, and the author of Live Fit and Be Well – a personal transformation workbook. You can find him at his website (CoachErik.com) or listen to him right here on our podcast. Are you ready to get in shape? Listen and share.

Okay, so it's early in the new year and the “new car smell” of New Year's resolutions is still in the air. That is, if you even made them this year! Once again, we have a clean slate to start building some good habits; but making resolutions stick is easier said than done. In this podcast, we’ll give you some facts, tips, and share what’s on our respective lists in 2016. Hit play, click share, and let us know – what are YOUR resolutions this year?

  Do you want to live a more optimistic, generous, purposeful life? Well, stop what you’re doing and listen to our podcast this week. We’re excited to welcome thought leader and renowned doctor Sanjiv Chopra as our new Heart Beings expert partner. Dr. Chopra  walks us through five steps to a better life in the new year. Sanjiv Chopra, M.D. is a best-selling author and sought-after motivational speaker throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Chopra is professor of medicine and former faculty dean for Continuing Medical Education at Harvard Medical School. He’s also the James Tullis Firm Chief, Department of Medicine, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For 12 years, he led the most robust academic continuing medical education enterprise in the world, reaching out to 80,000 clinicians in 150 countries each year. Dr. Chopra is also editor-in-chief of the hepatology section of UpToDate, an online resource used by more than 600,000 physicians worldwide for clinical decision-making at point of care. 

There are so many great people doing incredible things, and this year we introduced you to some of them on our podcast.  They inspired young girls to consider high tech, dreamed of outer space and got there, tapped into the power of music, and silenced doubters on a journey from fixing airplanes to Wall Street. How do you plan to change the world? Listen to our podcast as we rewind a year of inspiration. And share it with your family and friends.

Do you have your holiday list and are you checking it twice? There’s so much to do and so many parties to attend, not to mention all of the packing for trips to visit relatives. As the lights twinkle and as the carols play around the clock, the mad holiday rush is hitting its peak. Tis' the season for reflection, for giving and for receiving, yet it can also be a time of big stress. It doesn’t have to be that way. Listen to our podcast this week and it just may help you celebrate the holidays without falling apart.

It’s not every holiday that the hostess decides to skip out on her guests in order to invest in herself. But that’s exactly what happened recently. Some may call what I did selfish, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all, especially when you consider the benefits of this unusual decision. Listen to this podcast to hear what happened next.

Edrizio De La Cruz made a habit of proving his detractors wrong. An immigrant from the Dominican Republic, he held down full-time jobs while going to a community college, got into an Ivy League university, then took off from a career as an aircraft mechanic to a big job on Wall Street. On this podcast, hear the interview that may inspire you to dream big, especially when you hear what he's up to now.

There are tens of thousands of thoughts that travel through our minds each day. Sometimes they are positive, other times they are dark. What we think can make a big difference in how we act and how people around us feel. Too many negative thoughts . . . you get the picture. Or do you? On this podcast, see what happens when you start treating your thoughts like a portfolio manager. There are parallels, and all you have to do is listen closely. Click on our podcast and share it with a friend. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.

Women and significant others can attest to the fact that some men have a difficult time talking about their feelings. It could stem from the example set by their fathers or a natural inclination to appear tough and in control. What if there was a place that men could go and share, cry, talk about their faith and family, and open up about their deepest challenges? Well, there is. In this podcast, go inside the weekly meeting that feeds the souls and minds of a group of professional men. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.

Neetal Parekh was practicing law, but her heart was in a different place. She was frustrated with the slow pace of progress in ongoing initiatives and the lack of enthusiasm. She wanted to make an impact and lead others to do the same. As Parekh was weighing her next steps, her mother, who was battling cancer, gave her the gift that would cement her passion for making an impact. On this podcast, get to know the founder of Inno8social. It’s a company that offers tools and resources to help people achieve their impact potential. It all started with a blog in 2011 and has grown into a platform that also includes podcasts and a book, 51 Questions on Social Entrepreneurship. We hope you’ll enjoy this podcast and share it with your friends. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.

We are fairly sure that in the not-too-distant future the world will instantly recognize the name Dr. Fuddle. It was all hatched in the mind of musicologist and classical pianist Warren Woodruff who wrote a small play that led to a successful book, Dr. Fuddle and the Gold Baton, that is now a screenplay. There’s a big Hollywood deal and lots of exciting possibilities, but at the heart of this story is a group of young kids on a perilous adventure and an exploration of the magic of music. On this podcast, we sit down with Woodruff to learn more about his project and how music transforms kids and has the power to give people hope and strength. If you like this podcast, share it. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.

We all move through our daily lives trying to put a smile on our faces, trying to display confidence and success. But some are masking turmoil deep inside. We’re not just talking about financial or relationship issues—we’re referring to depression. It can be dark and paralyzing. For a family member, knowing how to deal with this and understand depression can be difficult. On this podcast, we’ll share a lesson learned during a walk on the beach. It might help you or someone you know. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.

Raising young boys to become respected and honest men doesn’t happen by remote control. It requires a lot of hard work. It comes down to good parenting. That’s why a father-son relationship is so vital. The elder can lead with advice and by example. We ran across one such dad in Atlanta who is trying to avoid some of the challenges of his own childhood. On this week’s podcast, we introduce you to Aaron Faulkner. His strategy is pretty simple: give his son daily affirmations to help him overcome doubt, fear, and negative influences. You just might find something here to start doing with your child, boy or girl. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.

When was the last time that you went out on a date? I don’t mean with someone else. I mean alone. Right about now you’re probably scratching your head, but there’s a point here. In this noisy world with its ringing cellphones and crowded schedules, some people are finding that going out with yourself, if only for a few moments, can do wonders. Check out our podcast this week and hear what inspired Val Mosley to take her alone time to the beach and how it recharged her life. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.

Things have changed since the days when girls were encouraged to stay home, teach, or become nurses. The sky's the limit, but what about careers in math and science? Some would argue it's still mostly a boys’ world. Now, one doctor is using her pen along with a scalpel to help close the gap. In this week's podcast, blast off into space with Harvard-educated surgeon Dr. Oneeka Williams. She's the creator and author of the Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo book series, and wait until you hear what she's up to. Happy & Free with Val and Dan is a weekly podcast that helps listeners tackle some of life’s challenges and aims to inspire with interesting personal stories.