Love Letters to Our Bodies

What Dr. Candace Pert Discovered About Emotions and Health

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398360/fan_mail/new] In this solo session, host Gwen Mitchell explores the groundbreaking science of Dr. Candace Pert and her landmark work on Molecules of Emotion— and what it means for Black and African American women navigating health, healing, and cancer. What You'll Learn * What peptides are and why they matter for your health * The story of Dr. Candace Pert and her discovery of the opiate receptor in the 1970s * How emotions create real chemical messengers in the body — and travel to every cell * What happens when emotions get chronically blocked and how it can affect the immune system * Why releasing emotions (tears, laughter, honest conversation) supports the body's capacity to heal * The concept of the BodyMind — one integrated system, not two separate things * Three practical steps you can take right now to begin supporting your emotional and physical health Three Places to Start 1.     Give yourself permission to feel — fear, grief, anger, exhaustion, hope. Journal, allow tears, use prayer and creative expression to move emotion through the body rather than storing it. 2.     Change the conversation with your body — notice how you speak to yourself. Begin to introduce something softer: gratitude, gentleness, love. Your body hears every word. Come into community — human connection changes our chemistry. You are not meant to walk this road alone. Featured Work * Molecules of Emotion by Dr. Candace Pert About the Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc., a nonprofit offering heart-centered educational experiences, and the Lloyd Symington Foundation, which supports visionary grassroots cancer programs. Connect * Website: moyoinstitute.org [http://moyoinstitute.org/] * Follow on social media & subscribe so you don't miss an episode * Have a topic you'd like discussed? Let them know! Love Letters 2 Our Bodies is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc and the Lloyd Symington Foundation Gwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyn-mitchell-she-her-5179431/] MOYO Institute, Inc [https://www.moyoinstitute.org/] instagram.com/moyoinstitute [https://www.instagram.com/moyoinstitute/]

Herbs that Heal and North American Black Herbalism

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398360/fan_mail/new] How can herbalism go beyond traditional medicine to meet our needs? During this episode, Gwendolyn Mitchell interviews a guest with rich knowledge about Black North American Herbalism, particularly as it pertains to women going through a health crisis. Shereel Washington is an accomplished herbalist and serves as the principal of Ixalted Natural Body Care and Botanicals, a health and body restorative herbal business that specializes in creating customized herbal formulations to support and restore overall health and wellness. Join us as she shares how her multi-faceted background in dance, martial arts, and herbalism, as first taught to her by her grandmother, has informed her life and work. Next, we dive into the details of how she uses herbalism to support women according to their symptoms, constitution, and needs. Lastly, Shereel offers some pearls of wisdom for women in the middle of a health journey of any kind: start where you are with what you have. Key Points From This Episode: •    Shereel’s background as a herbalist, martial artist, dance teacher, and performer.  •    How she came up with the name Ixalted after running an arts program with her husband, called Ixalt. •    Shereel’s first herbal teacher: her grandmother. •    How Ixalted customizes herbal remedies specific to the symptoms, constitution, and needs of her clients.  •    Why it is important to Shereel to preserve the history and knowledge of Black North American herbalism.  •    What herbs can offer to women in the middle of health crises that other medicines cannot.  •    Herbal remedies to support the cancer healing process.  •    How Shereel’s work helps women to take care of themselves productively. •    Limitations that women of color experience when exploring plant medicine. •    Advice for women in the middle of a health journey.  Quotes:  “Herbs are meant to first change our internal terrain.” — Shereel Washington [0:31:01] “Herbs invite us to – [be] more introspective and say, ‘what change, even if it’s one change, can I make to improve the quality of my life?’” —  Shereel Washington [0:43:55] “Taking care of yourself is productive. Noticing your body so that you can continue to do the things that you love but also to walk in a way that’s going to help you not cross that threshold of harm to yourself and to be able to know when you need to pull back to take care.” —  Shereel Washington [0:46:59] “You have more time than you think. Pay attention to what’s inside you and around you. You have more available than you realize. It’s not over until God says it’s over.” —  Shereel Washington [0:55:51] “Know that you have more time than you think and try [not to] allow fear to be the boss.” —  Shereel Washington [0:57:00]  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Shereel Washington on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ixalt/] Shereel Washington on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shereel-washington-3a421110/] Ixalted Natural Body Care and Botanicals [https://www.ixaltednaturalbody.com/] Charlotte Maxwell Clinic [https://charlottemaxwell.org/] Love Letters 2 Our Bodies is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc and the Lloyd Symington Foundation Gwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyn-mitchell-she-her-5179431/] MOYO Institute, Inc [https://www.moyoinstitute.org/] instagram.com/moyoinstitute [https://www.instagram.com/moyoinstitute/]

The Power of Reiki and Sound Healing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398360/fan_mail/new] Your body may be holding more than you realize, and healing may begin by learning how to listen. In this episode of Love Letters 2 Our Bodies, Adriana Parrish, founder of East Bay Healing House, joins Gwendolyn Mitchell to explore how energy work can support emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Rooted in her own experience with grief, Adriana shares how Reiki, sound healing, and mindfulness became both personal practices and a path to serving others. Adriana unpacks how these modalities help regulate the nervous system, release what the body has been holding, and create space for restoration. She offers insight into what people may experience in a session, the role of intention and intuition in healing, and how these practices can support those navigating chronic illness or intensive treatments like cancer care.  Key Points From This Episode: •    Introducing Adriana Parrish and her work in Reiki, sound healing, and mindfulness practices. •    The concept of the wounded healer and how Adriana’s grief led her into the healing arts. •    Unpacking the modalities of sound healing and Reiki and the science behind it. •    What people may feel or experience during Reiki and sound sessions. •    Common misconceptions about Reiki and reframing it as gentle energy work. •    Unpacking how sound healing uses vibration to release stored emotion in the body. •    Encouraging curiosity and firsthand experience over fear or skepticism. •    The role of trust, safety, and connection in receiving healing practices. •    How Adriana maintains her own energy through grounding and self-care. •    A reminder that healing can begin with rest, breath, and slowing down. Quotes:  “It felt like I was in my own grief and my own healing. And one day, I just woke up from the fog, and it was very clear, in terms of what my next move was.” — Adriana Parrish [0:04:07] “[With Reiki, it’s] about four sessions before one begins to feel a shift of whatever the thing is that we're working on.” — Adriana Parrish [0:09:20] “[Reiki] is just really meeting people where they are. It's moving the things that have been stuck with us and that we're needing to get moving, to create balance within one's own energy, and to call on universal life energy force to help do that.” — Adriana Parrish [0:09:54] “[Reiki] is a very gentle relaxation practice, and it's just helping the body's natural ability to bring and call in balance.” — Adriana Parrish [0:19:28] “What excites me the most is these practices becoming more integrated for people within education, within our hospital systems. People need this alternative wellness just as much as they need a doctor.” — Adriana Parrish [0:35:26] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Adriana Parrish on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-parrish-78a21689/] Adriana Parrish on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eastbayhealinghouse/] East Bay Healing House [https://www.eastbayhealinghouse.com/] East Bay Healing House linktree [https://linktr.ee/adrianamparrish] The Telepathy Tapes [https://thetelepathytapes.com/] Love Letters 2 Our Bodies is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc and the Lloyd Symington Foundation Gwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyn-mitchell-she-her-5179431/] MOYO Institute, Inc [https://www.moyoinstitute.org/] instagram.com/moyoinstitute [https://www.instagram.com/moyoinstitute/]

Bridging the Gap with Clinical Trials

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398360/fan_mail/new] What would it take to make clinical trials feel accessible, trustworthy, and truly designed for the communities that need them most? In this episode, Gwen Mitchell sits down with Ricki Fairley to discuss why clinical trial participation matters for Black women’s breast cancer outcomes and how we can bridge the gap in research. Ricki, an award-winning marketing veteran and triple-negative cancer survivor, has dedicated her expertise to breast cancer advocacy. She co-founded and leads Touch, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, a non-profit organization focused on addressing Black breast cancer as a unique disease and reducing mortality rates for Black women. They also explore the work Touch is doing through various initiatives to support patients through providing information, advocacy, and survivor-led guidance. Tune in to learn how better representation in research can lead to better treatment options, stronger support systems, and more empowered choices for patients and families with Ricki Fairley! Key Points From This Episode: •    Why breast cancer outcomes for Black women are driven by biology and research gaps. •    Link to Blog post [https://www.moyoinstitute.org/blog] with images of lymph node tumors for a black & white patient. •    Understand how Black breast cancer cells can look different from white breast cancer cells. •    Get a breakdown of the SAMBAI research initiative and what it aims to achieve. •    Unpack the two biggest barriers to Black women joining clinical trials. •    Learn about TouchCare and how it supports Black women through clinical trials. •    What Ricki wants young Black women to know about triple-negative breast cancer. •    Discover how her web series has changed the conversation around Black breast cancer. Quotes: “Not enough attention was being given to Black women, so I said, ‘We have to figure it out, we need more science.’ So that is what made me start TOUCH; to really advance the science.” — Ricki Fairley [0:06:14] “We keep these secrets, and the secrets that Black families keep are killing us. We’ve got to put the words out there. [Touch] tries to make generational health a kitchen table conversation.” — Ricki Fairley [0:19:00] “If you have triple negative breast cancer. The best science you can have right now is to get on a clinical trial because those are the best drugs we have.” — Ricki Fairley [0:26:54] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:  Ricki Fairley on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricki-fairley-561a43/] Ricki Fairley on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rickidove/] Touch, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance [https://touchbbca.org/] BlackDoctor [http://blackdoctor.org/] When We Tri(al) [https://www.whenwetrial.org/] Cancer Grand Challenges [https://www.cancergrandchallenges.org/] SAMBAI (Social, Ancestry, Molecular and Biological Analysis of Inequalities) [https://www.cancergrandchallenges.org/sambai] Unite for HER [https://uniteforher.org/] Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation [https://tnbcfoundation.org/] American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) [https://www.aacr.org/] Love Letters 2 Our Bodies is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc and the Lloyd Symington Foundation Gwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyn-mitchell-she-her-5179431/] MOYO Institute, Inc [https://www.moyoinstitute.org/] instagram.com/moyoinstitute [https://www.instagram.com/moyoinstitute/]

Clinical Aromatherapy & Trauma-Informed Yoga

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398360/fan_mail/new] One of the first steps toward healing is allowing the body to rest and feel safe. In this episode of Love Letters to Our Bodies, host Gwen Mitchell welcomes Sherry Steine, an accredited yoga teacher, trauma-informed yoga therapist in residence, and certified aromatherapist who supports individuals navigating cancer and recovery. Sherry shares how her personal use of essential oils led her to formal training and eventually to therapeutic yoga, where she now integrates both to help clients regulate their nervous systems and reconnect with their bodies.  Key Points From This Episode: •    Sherry’s background in aromatherapy and integrative cancer care. •    Her transition into yoga teaching and therapeutic yoga certification. •    Combining aromatherapy and yoga therapy to support cancer recovery. •    How essential oils can ease anxiety, nausea, and sleep challenges. •    Helping clients rebuild trust and reconnect with their bodies. •    Precautions when using essential oils around pets, children, and pregnancy. Quotes: “What I've done is, in essence, paired the two modalities, the aromatherapy and the yoga therapy, for my way of working with individuals on so many levels.” — Sherry Steine [0:06:54] “When I'm working with women of color,  It will take maybe a little more therapeutic experience in order to bring us down to that parasympathetic piece.” — Sherry Steine [0:11:18] “When it comes to essential oils, less is more. So when you put oils in your diffuser. No more than two or three drops is good enough.” — Sherry Steine [0:18:55] “Yin yoga and restorative yoga provide an opportunity for those who are in recovery to stretch their bodies and work with what we call fascia, particularly in the Yin yoga tradition.” — Sherry Steine [0:30:06]  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Sherry Steine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-s-ba60892b5/] Aligned Expression with Sherry Steine [https://www.sbwaligned.com/] Aligned by the Stars: An Integrative Guide to Vedic Astrology and Aromatherapy for Life Challenges [https://www.amazon.com/Aligned-Stars-Integrative-Aromatherapy-Challenges/dp/B0GJDPZRG5?crid=2CVU452DHKZDK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sQknx8MuQOUdJ4ckPec0-KVGj6u4R3d3LzkbJ-l6tv9vMVbjNHbakHZkETGu2YtJ6FsxxymITWsKqPVaY9UIcdN-W2Umjhr6eEYhe6TdxAGn_6pcf_TjsjbotoCH790Lx1Cz8Qc5X763UvuGqSP077nBFnvmBnVqIOGy_9sdNDSvtjKAzRfPSY_PXdVhSbUEJaYPjgWw-VMHBZ1lhd1HIg0SSMnDLXPOi_fk3o48JFY.4R0I3BZJz0dlx0bVeXyYPblInusszAVxtceiqyXMu5k&dib_tag=se&keywords=Sherry+Steine&qid=1771592721&s=digital-text&sprefix=sherry+steine,digital-text,180&sr=1-1-catcorr] In Color & Scent I Settle: A Journal of Aromatherapy & Color Breathing Rituals for Inner Peace [https://www.amazon.com/Color-Scent-Settle-Aromatherapy-Breathing/dp/B0GF1R4ZG1?crid=2CVU452DHKZDK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sQknx8MuQOUdJ4ckPec0-KVGj6u4R3d3LzkbJ-l6tv9vMVbjNHbakHZkETGu2YtJ6FsxxymITWsKqPVaY9UIcdN-W2Umjhr6eEYhe6TdxAGn_6pcf_TjsjbotoCH790Lx1Cz8Qc5X763UvuGqSP077nBFnvmBnVqIOGy_9sdNDSvtjKAzRfPSY_PXdVhSbUEJaYPjgWw-VMHBZ1lhd1HIg0SSMnDLXPOi_fk3o48JFY.4R0I3BZJz0dlx0bVeXyYPblInusszAVxtceiqyXMu5k&dib_tag=se&keywords=Sherry+Steine&qid=1771592721&s=digital-text&sprefix=sherry+steine,digital-text,180&sr=1-2-catcorr] Love Letters 2 Our Bodies is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc and the Lloyd Symington Foundation Gwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyn-mitchell-she-her-5179431/] MOYO Institute, Inc [https://www.moyoinstitute.org/] instagram.com/moyoinstitute [https://www.instagram.com/moyoinstitute/]