Ep. 17: “The Chair and the Valley”: Rewriting Your Story After Trauma

Ep. 17: “The Chair and the Valley”: Rewriting Your Story After Trauma

Author Banning Lyon engages in a profound conversation about his memoir, The Chair and the Valley, in this episode of Wellness in Today’s World. He and Dr. Debra Kawahara explore themes of trauma, healing, and the transformative power of nature. Banning shares his personal journey through hospitalization, the challenges of writing about his experiences, and the importance of agency in therapy. He emphasizes that trauma does not have to define one's identity and discusses how punk rock and nature played crucial roles in his healing process. The conversation concludes with reflections on parenthood and the ongoing journey of wellness.

Ep. 16: Transforming Inherited Pain into Care and Courage

In this compelling episode of Wellness in Today’s World, psychotherapist, activist, and author Satsuki Ina reflects on intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and the power of collective healing, drawing from her lived experience as a child born in a World War II incarceration camp and her decades of clinical and community work. Grounded in her memoir, The Poet and the Silk Girl, Ina shares how uncovering her parents’ letters and diaries illuminated both the depth of their suffering and the silence that shaped her upbringing, emphasizing how trauma is passed down not only through stories but through unspoken behaviors, embodied anxiety, and relational patterns.   The conversation explores the limitations of individual therapy in addressing collective trauma and highlights the importance of community-based healing practices, including storytelling, healing circles, and “compassionate witnessing,” as pathways to reclaim voice, identity, and agency. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this episode invites listeners to view mental health as both a personal and collective journey, encouraging them to honor their histories, engage in community healing, and stand as witnesses to injustice.

Ep. 15: Beyond Grit: A New Framework for Resilience

Dr. Sherry Hamby, author of the new book Stronger Than You Think: Building Lifelong Resilience, joins Dr. Debra Kawahara for this episode of Wellness in Today’s World. Dr. Hamby shares her journey from victimization research to the development of the Resilience Portfolio Model, emphasizing a comprehensive, culturally responsive approach to resilience that goes beyond toughness to encompass meaning-making, interpersonal strengths, environmental factors, and regulation. Discover how this model is applied globally and how it can help individuals and communities build lifelong resilience.

Ep. 14: The Science of Supercommunication: Building Connection Through Better Conversations

Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Supercommunicators, joins Dr. Debra Kawahara to explore the science behind meaningful communication. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral research, Duhigg explains how communication is not just about words but about connection.  The conversation introduces three types of conversation: practical, emotional, and social, and how misalignment between them can lead to misunderstanding. Duhigg shares actionable strategies for improving communication, including the “matching principle,” asking deep questions, and practicing active listening through techniques like “looping for understanding.”  They also discuss the role of vulnerability in building trust, the importance of curiosity in navigating difficult conversations, and how strong relationships are foundational to overall health and well-being. The episode offers listeners practical tools to become more effective communicators and build deeper, more meaningful connections in both personal and professional settings.

Ep. 13: Hope for Alzheimer's Treatment and Improved Brain Health

As part of Brain Awareness Week, this episode of Wellness in Today's World features Dr. Debra Kawahara engaging with Dr. Duke Han, a clinical neuropsychologist and tenured professor at the University of Southern California, to explore the critical topic of brain health. They discuss the importance of understanding cognitive well-being as we age, the role of mentors in shaping careers, and the Global Council on Brain Health's work. Dr. Han shares insights into the six key pillars of brain health: social engagement, cognitive stimulation, stress management, physical exercise, restorative sleep, and nutrition. The conversation also highlights the significance of early habits, the impact of diet on cognition, and the latest research on Alzheimer's disease, emphasizing the need for community engagement and education. Finally, they discuss the promising advancements in Alzheimer's research, offering hope for future treatments.