The Healing Catalyst

Anusha Wijeyakumar is a professor, speaker, and author of ‘Meditation with Intention,’ and today she joins Dr. Avanti to discuss the intersection of yoga philosophy and social justice. They explore why the decolonization of yoga and wellness is a pivotal piece in the discussion of social justice, and why we need to be willing to unlearn and relearn. They also unpack how our own self-care can become a hindrance to our own path to spiritual liberation as well as the collective’s liberation. This is a fascinating and important conversation on what it means to have a social justice mindset, how it connects to our health, and how we can move from talking to taking action.

Clinical psychologist and founder of RK Empathy, Payal Beri, joins us to kick off the month of July and our new intention of ‘Mindset as Medicine.’ Today’s conversation is on empathy mindset, and why developing self-empathy is critical for having healthy empathy with others. Payal shares powerful exercises for developing self-empathy, and how utilizing self-compassion will lead to a stronger empathy mindset. She also breaks down the 3 types of empathy and why it’s important that we learn when to tap into each.

Today, we’re rounding out the month of June and our intention of ‘Healing with Integrative Medicine’ with board-certified Doctor of Chinese Medicine and licensed acupuncturist, Dr. Debbie Kung. Dr. Kung shares the turning point in her life and career when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and how she was reconnected to the medicine of her ancestors through her healing journey. She unpacks the differences between acupuncture and acupressure, and talks about the healing modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including cupping, guasha, and moxibustion. Get a pen and paper to take notes because Dr. Kung also shares simple tips you can implement in your life today!

Dr. Kanchan Koya has a Ph.D. in Biomedicine from Harvard University, trained at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and is the creator of Spice Spice Baby. Today, we’re diving deep into the magic of spices by debunking myths (no, spices are not all spicy hot), teaching the powerful health benefits, and ways to start consistently cooking with them.

Dr. Ben Schuff is a naturopathic physician, nutritionist, and director of naturopathy and nutrition at BIÂN. Dr. Schuff’s philosophy is that good health is relative to each unique individual, and is an important resource for living a meaningful and present life. Today’s conversation is about how naturopathic medicine takes this approach and looks at all aspects of a human — taking the time to understand their story, and how in understanding the whole human, true healing can occur.

Sound is a fundamental part of every species’ survival, and different types of sound can powerfully heal the human body and brain. Today, neurologist and Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, is here to unpack the science behind sound and how we can use it in our lives for deep healing. She shares how sound is used therapeutically for everything from stimulating collagen production to managing neurological conditions. This is a powerful and enlightening conversation you don’t want to miss!

Today, we’re rounding out mental health awareness month with a board-certified psychiatrist, nutritionist, and professional chef, Dr. Uma Naidoo. As the author of “This Is Your Brain on Food,” Dr. Uma explains what our microbiome is, how it works, and why it’s so closely involved in our mental health. She shares tips for turning your kitchen into a ‘food pharmacy,’ detailing which foods disrupt and which support a healthy gut and brain. By making conscious choices around the foods we put on our plate, we will reduce inflammation to benefit our mood and cognitive function.

One of the leading voices in the growing field of nutritional psychiatry, Dr. Drew Ramsey, is on the show to talk about the power of nutrition in improving our mental health. As a psychiatrist who founded the Brain Food Clinic in NYC and wrote Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety, Dr. Drew unpacks insight from his years of working as a psychiatrist and why food is such a critical piece in our health puzzle. Dr. Drew also shares the 8 power player foods for helping anxiety and depression, and fun ways you can easily incorporate them into your meals.

Welcome back for Part 2 of Dr. Avanti’s conversation with board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Ellen Vora, and board-certified integrative physician, Dr. Tanmeet Sethi. Today, you’ll learn what to expect from a sacred plant medicine ceremony, and why surrendering to your experience can invoke the deepest healing. They also give insight into finding places for treatment and practitioners. If you haven’t already listened, be sure to check out part 1, Ceremonial & Therapeutic Power of Psychedelic Medicine!

Board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Ellen Vora, and integrative physician, Dr. Tanmeet Sethi, join Dr. Avanti for an impactful and insightful two-part conversation on psychedelics and plant medicine. In this first episode, they talk about the mechanisms behind how treatments like ketamine, psilocybin and Ayahuasca work — explaining in simple terms how we have a decreased stress response to trauma, and how the reversal of PTSD is possible. They also discuss why ceremony and community experiences are so powerful for a society that is deeply starved of ritual, and how these medicines allow for a greater feeling of interconnectedness.