The Big Silence

Latest Episodes:

64. Bobby & Karena AMA: Lessons from Our 10-Year Relationship, Tips for Calming Race Day Anxiety & More Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

It’s been a while since Bobby and I have gotten together for an AMA, so we’re back with a Wine Not Wednesday AMA episode! As we’re sipping on our Slate Theory Wine, we talk about our first impressions of each other and reflect on my growth, from a shy introvert to being more confident in myself and my mission in this world.

We give our honest tips for a healthy marriage and what’s been important to our relationship over the last ten years – describing how we navigate having different hobbies and interests, and unpack how we’ve evolved as individuals, and as a couple, throughout our time together.

Overcoming challenges has been instrumental to our confidence journeys. So with that in mind, we share our experiences with race day anxiety and advice on what has helped us the most. And we answer a few rapid fire questions, like what’s our favorite book right now, our favorite food at Ski Shores, our go-to Austin lakefront restaurant, favorite guilty pleasure TV show, country song, and what we love most about living in Texas.

Resources:

• Slate Theory Wine: slatetheory.com

• One Man Show at Soho House Austin: eventbrite.com

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

63. Brain Breakthroughs: Investing in New Mental Health Technology with Dr. Amy Kruse Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

Today’s guest Dr. Amy Kruse is the General Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Satori Neuro, a stage-agnostic venture fund focused on mental health, neurotechnology, and human flourishing. Amy leverages her decades of experience as a neuroscientist and her prior roles as an operator and a government program manager to discover transformational companies addressing the largest mental health, brain health, and wellness challenges and opportunities. She also draws on her expertise to support Satori Neuro’s portfolio companies as they evaluate and overcome scientific and implementation challenges, with a specific emphasis on deploying complex technology into real-world environments.

In this really cool conversation you’ll learn about the exciting work Dr. Amy is doing to invest in new brain and mental health technologies that will create more access and treatment options to those who need it. She shares the importance of sleep on brain health and how to improve your sleep hygiene. We also get into a super hot topic right now: mental health and psychedelics. Dr. Amy shares what the benefits are of using schedule one compounds in a therapeutic setting, the difference between or risks of experimenting with drugs recreationally, and what's really going to cause a revolution in access to mental health care. She also gives insight into what new technologies Satori Neuro is investing in now, and how we can go about addressing mental health deserts and make mental health care more accessible. Stick around to hear her top three tips for brain and mental wellness.

Resources:

• Website: satoricapital.com/team/amy-kruse-ph-d

• LinkedIn: Dr. Amy Kruse

• Men’s Mental Health Event on June 29th: One Man Show at SoHo House Austin

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

62. Unlocking the Mind-Body Connection Through Therabody Wellness Technology with Dr. Jason Wersland Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Today, we’re talking all about integrating the mind and body through innovative technologies with Dr. Jason Wersland, the Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Therabody. He is deeply involved in Therabody’s R&D process, starting with the invention of Theragun, the world’s first handheld percussive therapy device, to leading a team of scientists and engineers in creating the brand’s full ecosystem of wellness technologies.

Having started his wellness career as a chiropractor, Dr. Jason has dedicated his life to giving people access to products that can enhance their health and well-being.

In this episode, we talk about the history of Therabody and the motorcycle accident that led Jason to create what he needed to heal, how your trauma can bring about blessings, and the benefits of and modalities for getting out of your head and into your body. We also talk about new Therabody technologies like the Therabody Lounger and TheraMind, with sound frequencies that activate your nervous system and healing capabilities in the body, his dream for how these technologies can impact people’s overall well-being, and trade a few top meditation and mindfulness tips.

Resources:

• Website: therabody.com

• Instagram: @therabody

• Facebook: facebook.com/therabody

• YouTube: Therabody

• Twitter: @therabody

• Episode 12: Evolving Out Loud with Kyle Cease

• Video: Slate Theory Winery Collaboration

• Instagram: @drjasonwersland

• Facebook: facebook.com/DrJasonWersland

• Twitter: @drjasonwesland

• Joe Dispenza: drjoedispenza.com

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

61. Redefining Your Purpose with 2-time Olympian Trey Hardee Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Today's guest, joining us live in The Big Silence studio, is Trey Hardee, 2-time World Champion and 2-time Olympian (Silver in 2012) in the Decathlon. Trey was the World’s #1 ranked Decathlete four times throughout his career while racking up 4 US titles. A 7-time All-American, he also set the Collegiate Record in the Decathlon – no big deal.

Trey is also an ambassador for Flatwater Foundation, a group dedicated to providing mental health therapies surrounding a cancer diagnosis, and a coach at my gym in Austin, the Kollective.

He retired in 2017 and this is a discussion about his journey from world's greatest athlete to a man without a purpose. We talk about how he handled defeat and rebounded from “failure,” overcoming injuries and cultivating mental toughness, the low point he hit after retirement and how he began seeking help, the treatment that changed everything for him and how he has found purpose in this new phase of life.

Trey is now sharing his story in the hopes others will find solace, camaraderie, courage, and hope along their own journeys. I'm so happy to have him here and sit down and talk about lots of good stuff. Please enjoy and share with anyone you think needs to hear it.

Resources:

• Instagram: @treyhardee

• Twitter: @treyhardee

• Participate: Calm Heart Quiet Mind Challenge

• Flatwater Foundation: flatwaterfoundation.org

• Event: bigsilence.com/kendrascottevent

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

60. What Is Healthy? Reframing Food Language & Diet Lifestyle with Kim Shapira, MS, RD May 24, 2023

Show notes

Today’s super informed guest on The Big Silence is Kim Shapira, MS, RD, a practicing celebrity dietitian and nutrition therapist for the last 25 years. She’s famous for her 6 rules to develop and sustain a normal relationship with food, which forms the outline of her new book, This Is What You’re Really Hungry For, and our insightful conversation, today.

Kim specializes in helping people lose weight with a healthy mindset, the deep connections between mental health and eating, and disordered eating – all subjects we unpack in this episode. Surviving a rare health diagnosis, a dozen surgeries, and Epstein Bar as a youth – her story is one of triumph over pain, starring holistic practices and clean, mindful eating.

We begin by carefully reframing diet language – identifying triggers and where/when/how we develop our highly unique coping mechanisms – before going deep on her 6 rules and applying them to your life.

Resources:

Website: kimshapiramethod.com
Follow Kim Shapira on Instagram: @kimshapiramethod
Follow Kim Shapira on Facebook: @kimshapiramethod
Follow Kim Shapira on TikTok: @kimshapiramethod
Explore: Norman Cousins, Still Laughing | Washing Post
Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

59. Sasha Pieterse on Knowing Your Value, Rejection Resilience, PCOS & Motherhood May 17, 2023

Show notes

I am so excited to have Sasha Pieterse-Sheaffer on the show. A passionate actress, author, and entrepreneur, she’s been an actress for 22 years with the privilege of working on some fantastic television shows and films, including the hit series Pretty Little Liars.

She’s also the author of In Good Taste, a book inspired by her love of hosting and passion for healthy living. Sasha is a proud wife and mother (her favorite role) and most recently, podcast host!

We touch on all the juicy stuff in this one… Growing up in Hollywood and her experience as a child actor, how to speak your mind and #notbeanasshole, how she and her husband work together, body shaming in the public eye, her journey with PCOS, postpartum depression and motherhood, and what confronting rejection has taught her.

Sasha's newest venture, the Women In The Nude podcast, is a passion project exploring the issues facing women today, from body positivity to mental health, sex, and more. Make sure to check it out later this summer.

Resources:

YouTube: Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer
Instagram: @sashapieterse
Instagram: @womeninthenudepodcast
Podcast: Women in the Nude
Facebook: @TheSashaPietersePage
Participate: Calm Heart Quiet Mind Challenge
Event: bigsilence.com/kendrascottevent
Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

58. Miki Agrawal on Disrupting Culture, Growing from Trauma & Healing Relationship Ruptures May 10, 2023

Show notes

Today's guest is Miki Agrawal. Miki is a social entrepreneur, advisor, and investor who uses creativity and disruptive innovation to challenge the status quo and change culture. She is the founder of several acclaimed social enterprises: TUSHY, THINX and WILD (collectively valued at over 200 million). She is also the author of the #1 best-selling books Do Cool Sh*t and Disrupt-Her.

She passionately speaks about her 15 years of entrepreneurial adventures, from inventing products in taboo categories, to creatively launching them, to marketing and scaling them exponentially, to dealing with shocking setbacks – and shares her colorful, authentic revelations along the way.

We also unpack how growing up in a multicultural environment allowed her to see the world through various lenses and led the way to her becoming an entrepreneur and innovator, raising money for her first project at 18.

Miki has truly found and stuck to her zone of genius, cultivated authentic connections both professionally and personally, and knows what she wants in this next phase of her life. This conversation is inspiring and deeply moving. I hope you enjoy hearing about Miki’s life and learnings as much as I did.

Resources:

Website: mikiagrawal.com
Instagram: @mikiagrawal
Facebook: @twinmiki
Pinterest: pinterest.com/mikiagrawal/_created
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikiagrawal
Read: Do Cool Sh*t and Disrupt-Her by Miki Agrawal
Tushy: hellotushy.com
Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

57. Master Your Stress: Boosting Energy & Beating Burnout with Dr. Doni Wilson May 03, 2023

Show notes

Today's guest on The Big Silence is Dr. Doni Wilson, a naturopathic doctor, certified professional midwife, certified nutrition specialist, and author of Master Your Stress, Reset For Health. We go deep on stress, how it manifests in our bodies and minds, long term effects, and ways to effectively manage it in our day-to-day lives.

Her diverse background makes her an expert on stress as it relates to women who are pregnant or in labor, how the foods we eat can affect mood and energy levels, and even creative stress – like birthing a book! I also relay a few listener questions related to how stress directly impacts our physical health (weight fluctuations, hormones, cortisol, moods – all the good stuff) as stress is such a hot topic for so many of us.

As always, thank you for tuning in and for supporting this foundation and our mission to educate and connect people on all things mental health. So many great conversations, programs, and ideas have been created and shared – we can’t wait to keep up the positive momentum.

One conversation can save a life; sharing, liking, reviewing, or posting about this show could mean all the difference to someone in yours.

Resources:

Read: Master Your Stress, Reset For Health
Website: doctordoni.com
Twitter: @glutenfreedoc
Instagram: @drdoniwilson
YouTube: @DoniWilsonND
Podcast: Narcissism 101: There’s Always a Motive with Dr. Jaime Zuckerman #35
Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

56. Mike Lee & Angie Lee: Managing Stress & Depression, Healing with Humor & CBD Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

Brother and sister duo and Soul co-founders, Mike and Angie Lee, are here to share how they’ve made transitions in their career journeys and found natural solutions to managing ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Angie is a highly sought after marketing mentor, keynote speaker, professional podcaster, and serial entrepreneur. Mike is a world-ranked professional boxer who has fought in some of the world’s most iconic arenas in front of millions of fans.

In 2014, Mike was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis, which almost ended his career. Mike began searching for natural alternatives which led him to discover CBD and all of its incredible physical and mental benefits. Newly inspired, Angie and Mike founded Soul with the goal to help others with similar struggles, and have grown the business and product line with the ethos of having fun and striving for balance in all areas of life.

In this episode, we talk about all the ways Mike and Angie have learned about and cared for their mental health. They open up about everything from the complexities of your career being tied to your identity, to how mental illnesses can show up on brain scans, to their experiences as “unhealthy” professional athletes/fitness competitors, natural solutions for managing autoimmune diseases and stress, and the many far-reaching benefits of CBD.

Mike and Angie’s outlook on life is inspiring, positive, and centered in an authentic expression of who they really are. I love Mike and Angie’s perspective on having fun and not taking life too seriously – we all need that reminder from time to time. I’m thrilled to have them on the show and hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Resources:

Website: AngieLee.com
Angie’s Instagram: @angieleeshow
Mike’s Instagram: @officialmikelee
Podcast: Angie Lee Show
Shop: Soul CBD
Read: The 12 Hour Walk by Colin O-Brady
Podcast: What if Mental Health Is Really Brain Health? With Dr. Daniel Amen #34
Podcast: Have More Happy Days With Gabby Bernstein #5
Podcast: Evolving Out Loud with Kyle Cease #12
Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

55. Well Balanced: Managing Anxiety, Living Authentically & Embracing Play with Liz Plosser Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

Today's guest needs no introduction. Liz Plosser is the Editor-in-Chief of Women's Health. She's been passionately reporting and editing health, fitness, nutrition, sexual health, and mental health content for her entire career. She has a 360-degree outlook on the wellness world, having worked across platforms at print magazines (Self, Cosmopolitan), with video (CosmoBody), overseeing content and strategy for brands like SoulCycle, and as SVP of Content in the digital space (Well+Good).

Liz is a strong, powerhouse woman I’m lucky to have known for the past 10 years. She’s someone I look up to and a wonderful friend. In this beautiful conversation we talk about Liz’s inspiring career journey, the pressure of being in a leadership role, and how she manages the anxiety that comes with being in a public facing position - especially as an introvert.

Liz opens up about things she hasn’t shared before, like why she doesn’t drink alcohol, her daily wellness routine that helps keep her mental health in check, and how she stays connected to her inner child. She also shares her advice for how to find out who you are. I am grateful to Liz for her vulnerability, and I know you’re going to be able to relate to this conversation.