UCS Wellness Podcast

Student Athlete Wellness

Henry Ford II seniors, Anthony Lanni, Collin Carandang, and Keegan Smith, hosted the first of its kind Student Athlete Wellness Mini Fair in March of 2025. The event featured UCS and community vendors, as well as a keynote speaker - Chris McDonald, a 2008 Henry Ford II graduate, a former Michigan State University and National Football League (NFL) football player.  This UCS Wellness Podcast is hosted by the three seniors, interviewing McDonald on the importance of the three pillars that make up a student athlete - mental health, physical health and nutritional health. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness.

Managing Components of Biology Part 2

In the second episode of this two-episode podcast, the final three tips to increase focus and decrease stress will be shared with listeners. Hosted by Erin Chambers, Shelby Junior High physical education and health teacher, this podcast will cover the positive influence breath, drinking water and ideal nutrition can have on our bodies with the guidance of Jeannette Junior High physical education and health teacher, Matt Cecil.  The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan. The UCS Wellness Podcast is released on the third Wednesday of each month throughout the school year. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness Referenced items in this episode: Wimhof breathing Chris Knobbe, MD – promotes ancestral nutrition

Managing Components of Biology Part 1

In an effort to help listeners learn to increase their focus and decrease their stress, this episode is broken into two parts with host Erin Chambers, Shelby Junior High physical education and health teacher, speaking with Matt Cecil, Jeannette Junior High physical education and health teacher on the topic. In the first episode, Matt Cecil highlights sleep, exercise and cold exposure and the positive impact they can have on an individual.  The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan. The UCS Wellness Podcast is released on the third Wednesday of each month throughout the school year. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness Books referenced in this episode:  “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker, PhD “Dopamine Nation” by Anna Lembke, MD

Raising an Intuitive Eater

This UCS Wellness Podcast focuses on nutrition and how to raise, and become, an intuitive eater. Tune in as Shelby Junior High School counselor, Kim Twarowski speaks with registered dietician, Ruth Mach about this topic.   The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan. The UCS Wellness Podcast is released on the third Wednesday of each month throughout the school year. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness

Teen Mental Health and Wellness

To help give insight on teen mental health and wellness, this episode features members of the Utica High School Student Mental Health Committee, made up of a community of counselors, teachers and students who collaborate on ways to teach staff and students about mental health and help implement activities that improve mental health.  Utica High School counselor, Kelly Bronski, speaks with UHS junior Jordan Jones and senior Natalie Shtogrin about the importance of teen mental health and wellness.  The UCS Wellness podcast is a resource created by Utica Community Schools, a K-12 school district located within Macomb County, Michigan. The UCS Wellness Podcast is released on the third Wednesday of each month throughout the school year. For more on UCS Wellness, visit uticak12.org/ucs_wellness [https://uticak12.org/ucs_wellness.]