S130 MMC - Autoimmune - Celiac Disease - Annie Toro Lopez

133 MMC Michael Citrini

Chosen, Blessed, Broken, and Served: How Henri Nouwen and The Wailin’ Jennys are Keeping Hope Alive with our guest MICHAEL CITRINI, Guest Bio Michael is a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, He enjoyed a thirty-three year career in School Counseling within the North Carolina public school system. Throughout his career, Michael primarily served middle and high school students and their families, helping young people navigate academic, social, and personal challenges. Michael also served as an Instructional Specialist with Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS), where he facilitated Restorative Practice Circles for students, faculty, and staff across elementary, middle, and high schools. In addition, he led trainings in the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), a skills-based program designed to help individuals regulate and restore balance to their nervous systems, fostering greater resilience and well-being. Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wake Forest University and a Master of Education in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He later completed a Master of Pastoral Studies degree at Loyola University New Orleans and became a Certified Spiritual Director ten years ago. Michael currently serves on the Spiritual Direction teams at Edenton Street Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC and Saint Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC. In his free time, he enjoys photographing natural landscapes, leading retreats, writing poetry, and volunteering at Saint Francis Springs Prayer Center. Michael has three sisters and is a proud uncle of three nieces, six nephews, two great-nieces, and three great-nephews.

14 MMC - Aging with Grace

How do we begin to address the fears, frustrations, and stereotypes that accompany aging. How can we live the fullest life in our advanced years if we haven't yet said good bye, come to terms with our other self? The one who had knees and hips we could count on, the confidence to take off running without wondering if we can do it, checking our balance on uneven surfaces, or being extra vigilant, looking for falling hazards, even if we feel like we still have all of our faculties. What’s not talked about is the grief of accumulated losses, that may bring sadness as memories flood in at unexpected times. Complaining about frailties, things that we never expected, changes to eye sight, our stamina or our ability to gracefully get up from the couch without a groan escaping our throat. When you hear and feel joints that snap crackle and pop when you stretch. Society is always looking for that positive spin on aging. We become addicted to looking young when we have lost that “Younger Generation” feeling.

S13 MMC - Kat Dugan Interview

Episode 13 - Kat Dugan In this podcast, they interview Kat Dugan about handling grief, advocating for veterans, and finding healing through faith and connections. They discuss coping strategies, dispelling grief myths, and honoring memories of departed loved ones. The conversation emphasizes self-awareness, resilience, and the transformative power of grief. Life encompasses grief as a natural part of existence, shaping one's perspective on relationships and cherished moments. Grief is a lifelong journey with individual emotional stages, requiring compassion and self-awareness for effective coping. Advocating for self-care and resilience, addressing grief involves recognizing indicators, debunking misconceptions, and fostering human connections. Navigating Grief and Transforming Lives Experiencing the loss of their daughter, Nancy and Dan Loeffler founded Being with Grief to assist others in handling their grief journeys. By fostering meaningful dialogues on grief, they aim to guide individuals towards rediscovering purpose and joy in their lives. Early Life Lessons in Grief From a young age, Kat Dugan learned about the presence of grief through challenging life events like a shooting at her father's police officer, death of her grandfather, emphasizing that life indeed encompasses grief. These experiences shaped her lens towards cherishing relationships and valuing time spent with loved ones as a precious gift. Myths and Realities of Grief Dispelling common misconceptions about grief, Kat highlights that it doesn't simply fade away but is a lifelong journey with various emotional stages. By addressing the cyclical nature and triggers of grief, she acknowledges that each person's grieving process is unique and urges a compassionate understanding of the complexities of grief. Top Tips for Navigating Grief Kat emphasizes the importance of recognizing grief indicators like shock, anger, fear, and physical pain, while advocating for physical health and self-awareness. Encouraging individuals to find personal coping mechanisms and debunking common myths about grief, she underscores the significance of addressing grief as an ongoing journey with self-care and resilience. Supporting Veterans in Grief and Transition With a background in working with veterans, Kat discusses the challenges of reentering civilian life and addresses the need for patience and understanding in supporting returning veterans' mental health struggles. By advocating for buddy checks and fostering human connections, she promotes proactive approaches to navigate grief and mental well-being. The Power of Human Connection and Faith Highlighting the importance of human connections in combating loneliness and emotional burdens, Kat underscores the significance of daily interactions and expressions of care. Additionally, drawing strength from faith and divine mercy, she encourages gratitude practices, music therapy, and self-awareness as essential tools for processing grief and fostering healing.

S12 MMC Jess Lucas - Embodied Movement

Episode 12 Jessie Lucas Jessie Lucas, an expert in the Embodied Movement program, discusses navigating grief with body awareness, listening to body signals for healing, and the importance of kinesthetic intelligence in emotional well-being. The podcast highlights the role of movement in processing emotions and embracing authentic storytelling through movement for personal peace. Encouraging dialogue in difficult conversations fosters personal growth and understanding. Embodied movement aids in processing grief through body awareness and intentional movement patterns. Promoting Understanding Through Respectful Dialogue Creating a safe space for respectful conversations is crucial for promoting understanding. Encouraging dialogue in difficult conversations can offer valuable resources for personal growth and exploring topics like grief. By changing the conversation around grief, individuals can rediscover meaning and joy in their lives. Embodied Movement and Healing Grief Physically Embodied movement, as explained by guest Jesse Lucas, focuses on body awareness and kinesthetic intelligence to reduce stress and empower individuals. Addressing grief physically is essential for moving through the healing process effectively. By incorporating intentional movement and body awareness, individuals can navigate grief consciously. The Connection Between Emotional Response and Physical Movement Kinesthetic intelligence serves as a new form of emotional intelligence, emphasizing the correlation between body awareness and emotional responses. Practicing mindfulness through movement can help individuals trace and understand their body's signals, leading to a deeper understanding of their emotions and physical well-being. Creating Physical Changes for Emotional Growth Engaging in intentional movement patterns can provide new information and awaken the nervous system. By making small changes in movement, individuals can break old patterns, broaden their awareness, and rewire their neural pathways. Encouraging playfulness and exploration in movement can lead to a deeper connection with oneself and enhance emotional growth

S44 MMC - Nancy Ruffner Solo Aging

Our friend Nancy Ruffner joins us to talk about the grief of aging alone or solo aging. Nancy Ruffner is a Patient Advocate, an online consultant for ‘All Things Aging’. She is a dynamic speaker. Nancy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) from Western Carolina University and a Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (GCCE) from NC State University. Nancy is but one example of the emerging field of Professional Patient Advocacy, and she was among the first in her industry to earn the credential ‘BCPA’, Board Certified Patient Advocate. Nancy’s patient advocacy services has helped hundreds of clients and their loved ones to navigate the medical, legal, insurance, and housing challenges.