Conversations with Joan

Latest Episodes:

When You Lose A Child to Suicide Aug 04, 2025

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What does it mean to keep living when the unimaginable happens? How does a mother find her voice again after losing a child to suicide? Betsy Stephenson shares her journey through the depths of loss after the death of her son and how she’s learned to navigate life in the aftermath. Betsy is the author of the book, Blackbird: A Mothers Reflections on Grief, Loss, and Life After Suicide.

How to Understand Your Dreams Jul 27, 2025

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Do you believe that it’s possible to use your nighttime dreams as a practical tool to develop your fullest potential and live a life of purpose? According to Dr. Bonnie Buckner, we all have a “secret mind” that can be accessed through dreams. She shares her method for translating the mystery of dreams so you have access to your inner powerhouse for transformation. Dr. Buckner is the founder and CEO of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery. In addition, she serves as an executive coach and senior fellow at George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. Dr. Buckner is the author of the book, The Secret Mind: Unlock the Power of Dreams to Transform Your Life.

How to Eat to Beat Disease Jul 21, 2025

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The human body is designed to fight disease. And with the right fuel, this hidden power can be amplified. Dr. William Li believes that each of us has an enormous opportunity to take charge of our lives using food to transform our health. He talks about the new science of how the body heals itself. Dr Li is an internationally renowned physician, scientist and author of the New York Times bestseller Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself. His groundbreaking work has led to the development of more than 30 new medical treatments and impacts care for more than 70 diseases including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. His TED Talk, Can We Eat to Starve Cancer? has garnered more than 11 million views. Dr. Li has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, and the Dr. Oz Show, and he has been featured in USA Today, Time, The Atlantic and O Magazine.

Harnessing the Power of the Cosmic Zone Jul 14, 2025

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According to Madi Murphy, we each have the ability to flex our supernatural powers in order to reach our highest potential. She joins us to talk about how we can tap into the Cosmic Zone to achieve what we want while leaving our comfort zone. Madi is the co-founder of CosmicRX and author of the book, In the Cosmic Zone: Embody the 12 Astro Archetypes to Unleash Your Genius and Activate Your Authentic Self. Madi has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and Marie Claire.

Addiction Is A Family Disease Jul 07, 2025

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Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual, it deeply impacts the entire family creating emotional strain, broken trust, financial hardship, and ongoing cycles of stress and pain. Art Dielhenn contends that healing is possible for everyone involved. He discusses how we can break the cycle of addiction, foster emotional resilience, and create true life transformation. Art is the author of the book, Addiction Is A Family Disease.

Turning Grief into Growth Jun 30, 2025

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What if you could flip the script on the pain in your life and learn how to cultivate purpose and joy not after grief but during it? John Tsilimparis contends that we can understand our emotions and reframe grief that opens us up rather than shuts us down. He discusses how grief and loss can empower us to build emotional resilience in a difficult world. John is a psychotherapist, mental health consultant, writer, podcast host, and former adjunct professor at Pepperdine university and UCLA. He’s the author of The Magic in the Tragic, and Retrain Your Anxious Brain.

How to Live with Joy Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

When we experience a difficult time, we may believe that finding joy is too hard, too much to hope for, and only for those who are resilient enough. According to Dr. Tanmeet Sethi, joy is an innate human right accessible to all. Dr. Sethi helps us rediscover joy, not as a destination or solution, but as a practice for healing. Dr. Sethi is a board-certified integrative family medicine physician and clinical associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She has spent the past 25 years working on the frontlines of the most marginalized communities, as well as globally with victims of school shootings, survivors of hurricanes, citizens impacted by police violence, and psychologists in Ukraine under attack. Dr. Sethi is the author of the book, Joy is My Justice: Reclaim What Is Yours.

Hope for Mental Health Jun 16, 2025

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Mental health challenges are real and they’re common. It has been reported that 1 in 5 adults experience some form of mental illness in a given year, and nearly 1 in 5 children have some type of serious mental illness. Kay Warren discusses how we can support individuals struggling with mental health challenges and their loved ones. Kay cofounded Saddleback Church with her husband, Rick Warren. After the death of her son, Matthew, who lived with serious mental illness for most of his life, she founded Saddleback’s Hope for Mental Health Initiative as a way to support individuals and family members of loved ones with mental illness and suicidal ideation. In 2019, Kay started BREATHE, a ministry to support parents of children with serious mental illness. She is the author of several books including, Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough.

Awakening To A New Life Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Suzanne Giesemann knew how to live in a left-brained world as a Navy commander and aide to the head of the US military, but the death of her pregnant stepdaughter catapulted her on a journey leading to a very different destination. Suzanne believes that seeing from the eyes of the soul is the key to a joy-filled life. She discusses how we live from the soul’s perspective where she contends the highest answers lie. Suzanne is a spiritual teacher and author who was recognized on the Watkins list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. She is the host of the Messages of Hope podcast and author of multiple books including, The Awakened Way: Making the Shift to A Divinely Guided Life.

Using Anxiety for Growth Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

Often, those who suffer from anxiety either exhaust themselves trying to cure it or they resign themselves to a lifetime of fear and worry. But according to Dr. David Rosmarin, instead of fighting anxiety, we can learn to turn it into a strength. He discusses how we can use anxiety as a tool to be more self-aware, self-accepting, and resilient. Dr. Rosmarin is the founder of the Center for Anxiety, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and director of the McLean Hospital Spirituality and Mental Health Program. He is a clinical innovator in the treatment of anxiety, a board-certified clinical psychologist, and a peer-reviewed scholar. He is the author of the book, Thriving with Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You.

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