Say it with me, so those in the back with their palms pressed over their ears can hear us: EVERYONE GRIEVES. Grief is a natural part of our lives and a natural, healthy response to loss -- no matter how big (loss of life, loss of a relationship, loss of financial security) or small (moving to a new home, graduation, loss of vacation, etc.)

However, for some unbelievable and unjustified reason, our society pretends grief is unnatural, unwarranted, and largely unwelcomed. Too often, grievers hear tone deaf comments from those who are considered close friends and family: "Shouldn't you be over it by now?" or "Doesn't it seem a little soon to move on?" or "Why are you still upset?" or "Everything happens for a reason." 

Or worse, those grieving hear nothing at all, because grief has suddenly changed their address book. Those who they thought would support them in a heartbeat, are nowhere to be found. But new relationships form out of the woodwork with those who are able to hold space, love and openness with those grieving. It's all part of the process.

In today's episode, my guest, Suzanne Jabour, and I have an incredibly open, honest, insightful and helpful conversation about grief. Suzanne is a certified Grief Educator, speaker and coach who works with grievers and those supporting them to open the conversation, navigate the journey, and learn to stay in the awkwardness that all that requires. Suzanne also works with business and community leaders to understand how grief shows up at work and develop skills, mindsets and protocols that will support grievers to be successful at work. 

Suzanne and I cover perhaps the most important and untalked about parts of grief:

• There is no right or wrong way to grieve (please tell anyone who disagrees to get lost)

• The different types of grief

• How to handle the significant physical, emotional and cognitive impacts of grief

• How to move through grief and still live your life as the "waves" hit you

• How to talk about grief with others

• How to show up and what to say to someone who is grieving

• Why our society is so uncomfortable with grief

• How unprocessed collective grief is showing up in our world today 

• How leaders in business can identify if a colleague is grieving and how to change their culture to support them

This conversion is helpful to anyone and everyone who has ever experienced a loss, no matter how big or small. It's a conversation that is much needed in our world today, and I hope inspires you to start a dialogue with others about your own grief. 

In today's episode, Functional & Integrative Dietician Christina Palmisano tells us what we can do to manage the crazy body changes that happen in our late 30s and 40s. Turns out, we don't have to succumb to weight gain, fatigue, GI issues, bloating, cravings, poor sleep, etc. 

The secret is simple: Managing our blood sugar levels.

Even better? It's never too late to start and it works for everyone.

Christina breaks down why consistent blood sugar is so important, what happens when it's out of whack, how to get it under control, physical and mental side impacts, the types of food that can help manage it (spoiler: it's NOT giving up carbs), and practical tips for how you can improve your entire life by simply focusing on your body's natural blood sugar levels.

After all, everything in our body is connected so when your blood sugar is out of whack, so is your gut. When your gut is out of whack, so is your blood sugar. The same goes for your cardiovascular health, brain health, etc. But to the keys to all those kingdoms? Blood sugar.

I hope you enjoy this episode. Take notes on all Christina's tips and watch them change your life, like it did mine.  

Carlos Vasquez shouldn't even be here. He shouldn't even be alive. Those are the words he spoke to me as we shared one of the most powerful conversations I've ever had. 

Today, Carlos is Founder & CEO of How to Battle, a confidence mindset coaching program he developed following his 17-year journey in prison, which ended in June 2021. Carlos has defied nearly every odd both inside and outside of prison and his How To Battle program equips people with the tools to conquer personal and professional challenges, igniting their inner potential for a life of profound transformation. Not unlike his own.

Carlos' transformation is nothing short of miraculous. At 19 years old, six years after joining gang life due to the loss of his father, Carlos was sentenced to 20 years in prison for armed robbery and sent to a maximum-security facility. As prison is a constant mental battle, going in at an early age was particularly tough. He remembers days when self-defeating thoughts plagued his mind so badly, he wanted to end his life. He felt depressed and hopeless and did not know how to battle through it. Only once he was placed in solitary confinement did he begin to experience a gradual but steady shift in his mindset. 

During a three-year sentence in solitary confinement, an encounter with a chaplain  challenged Carlos to keep fighting. He became relentless in his pursuit for understanding why he had developed the callous mindset that created the destruction that landed him in prison. He desperately wanted to understand the human mind with the hope that in doing so, he could then understand my own. He developed a deep need to find an answer to the question that was keeping him up at night: What was his purpose in life? 

In this episode, Carlos beautifully and painstakingly details the journey that led him to his purpose, starting with his childhood battles and ending with the founding of How to Battle. This conversation is not to be missed. 

Molly Reeser was a Michigan college student teaching horseback riding lessons as a side hustle when she befriended Casey Foote, a precocious 10-year-old girl who would change her life forever. Casey was battling brain and bone cancer, and during the last few years of her life, Casey was introduced to a horse farm where she spent many afternoons grooming and riding her favorite horse. Even as chemotherapy, surgeries and the emotional weight of cancer kept Casey physically weak, she never let her illness get in the way of bonding with horses and friends.

Connecting with horses allowed Casey to be a kid again and kept her and her family strong during their difficult fight. Watching Casey interact with horses was therapeutic for her family as well. When Casey was at the barn, they were able to witness an instant transformation as her hospital gown was replaced with boots and breeches.

Casey would have loved for other children and their families to experience the joy that horses once gave her. To honor Casey's life, Molly in 2004 founded Camp Casey, a non-profit organization that provides horseback riding programs to children with cancer, rare blood disorders, and other life-threatening illnesses. Camp Casey keeps Casey's legacy alive and enables children, like Casey, to apply the strength gained from their equine therapy program to their fight against cancer.

Equally charismatic, hilarious and humble, Molly shares her incredible, inspirational story of starting Camp Casey as well as the impact it has had on thousands of families across Michigan. 

Learn more at https://camp-casey.org/ and @campcaseymi

Jared Sklar, better known as @Sklartacus by his legions of @bodi cycling students, is a self-proclaimed 300lb. couch potato turned super-cycling instructor and motivational speaker. Jared leads and inspires with depth of insight, a personal approach to fitness, and – of course – fiery dance moves that you can expect to be seared in at every class and touchpoint.

Cycling changed Jared's life, helping him to lose over 100 lbs over a 6 month period, and he has made it his mission to motivate everyone around him. His story has been featured in Men's Health and CNN, and now on What Nobody Tells Us. Jared's dives deep into:

• How an unforeseen injury forced him to turn to cycling -- against every fiber in his being

• What motivated him to lose the weight

• How he battled and overcame a pervasive negative mindset

• Serendipitous moments that put him on the path to his purpose and new career

• Strategies to keep going even when things aren't going "according to plan"

• How he built and inspires his loyal @bodi community 

• His experience as an entrepreneur and founder of The Sun Cycle

• What's next for the triathlete and Iron Man

"What Nobody Tells Us" shares everything you need to know about the things no one wants to talk about. Our society too easily avoids uncomfortable conversations, leaving those going through tough times feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and stressed beyond belief. Few know this better than host Christie Bishop. 

In 2009, at just 30 years old, host Christie Bishop's life and career were turned upside down when her then-fiancee, Bryan, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given just six months to live. Christie's life went from wedding celebrations and climbing the marketing corporate ladder to living the devastating realities of cancer caregiving and feeling isolated from nearly everyone she knew. Christie knows the continuous overwhelm, confusion, isolation and stress that comes with facing a difficult personal situation -- it doesn't have to be cancer -- that society deems too uncomfortable to talk about. "What Nobody Tells Us" aims to demystify hard topics with compassion, insight, honesty and humor, supporting those who are going through it, as well as empowering friends and family to lean-in versus peace-out.  

If you or a loved one are facing a life-changing health diagnosis, struggling as a parent, going through age-related hormone issues, battling weight gain, facing mental health challenges issues and more, "What Nobody Tells Us" is for you.