Most Americans are paying off some kind of debt, whether you've gotstudent loans, a car loan, a mortgage or high-interest credit card debt.

Sometimes, debt is part of a long-term financial plan (like if you hope to one day make money on the house you're renovating). But other times, we find ourselves in debt because of unexpected circumstances, or simply because it's tough to make ends meet.

Juggling all this debt is one reason why so many people arestressed about money. But there are steps that people can take to break the cycle, and those who have managed to put a big dent in their debt will tell you that it is usually worth a little sacrifice.

Below, CNBC Select spoke with four people who paid off a lot of debt to get their tips on how to stay motivated and find success.

Katia Chesnok was working a 9-to-5 job at a bank when her credit card debt was sent to collections.

It was a wake-up call: She realized she couldn't ignore her debt any longer, but she needed to find a way to earn more money fast.

Thanks to the advice of her colleague, Chesnok enrolled in a free marketing certificate course through Google's Digital Garage. Within a month, she'd completed three certificates (absolutely free) and had the skills she needed to start a side hustle helping local businesses generate more online traffic and revenue.

"There's a limit to how much we can save every month, but there's no limit on how much we can earn," says Chesnok. As her side hustle income grew, she was able to divert that new surplus of cash to pay off her debt.

She automated her payments every month, a trick she says is key for anyone juggling multiple jobs and bills.

"By automating my own payments, I was very consistent," she says.

Chesnok was getting paid twice a month, on the 15th and the 30th. She called her card issuers to set up autopay near the beginning of the month so she knew the money would be there and she'd have no problem covering the bill.

In 2016, Divya Sangam was credit invisibleand thought she was safe from debt because she paid for everything in cash.

But she made an error while filling out her W4, and she and her partner were hit with a surprise tax bill that they couldn't pay off right away.

One of the couple's favorite hobbies is going to the movies, especially to their local theaters in New Jersey that show movies in all three languages they speak English, Hindi and Tami.

However, when they wound up in debt, the couple reconsidered how much they were spending on date nights. They opted to stay home andstream movies on Amazon Prime and Netflixinstead.

After they paid off the debt, Sangam and her partner have decided to maintain their tighter budget: "Going to one movie a month seems like such an indulgence now," she says. "Especially to our favorite AMC dine-in theater where you can relax on the recliner or have a burger and milkshake brought to your seat."

With the extra savings from their new routine, the couple is padding their emergency fund and saving up for a down payment.

Entrepreneur Michelle Jackson has paid off over $60,000 of credit card and loan debt since 2012. When she started, the debt felt like "a mountain," and she knew that if she was going to tackle it, she couldn't make the journey miserable.

"I knew that if I tried to eliminate everything that I enjoyed from my life in order to achieve this goal, I would fail," Jackson says. "So, I decided to be honest about the things that I enjoyed as I began."

Jackson continued ordering avocado toast, she tells CNBC Select. And if you're wondering about coffee she kept buying that, too. However, Jackson was more discerning about when she treated herself, and she kept her coffee drinks simple, saying no to add-ons like extra espresso shots and flavors.

Jackson even traveled frequently. "Those trips helped keep me sane and reenergized me each time I felt a little low," she recalls.

But instead of charging travel costs on a credit card, she saved up to pay for her trips in cash. She stayed at upscale hostels, rather than expensive hotels, to enjoy a unique experience on a budget.

As for self-care, Jackson still took dance classes but found ways to lower the cost by doing work-exchange programs at the studio.

"Basically, I systematically worked through my wants and figured out ways to enjoy them at the same quality while spending less," she says.

Credit repair coach Shant Harris of Financial Common Centspaid off over $50,000 of credit card debt before becoming a certified credit consultant. Now, she has expert-level knowledge about the credit industry, including how to navigate debt collections and restore badly damaged credit scores.

Paying off her debt was challenging, but Harris possesses one important quality that she credits for getting her across the finish line: teachability.

"I wasn't born with an 800 credit score," says Harris."Everyone is where they are now because they learned something, whether it was a tragic situation or just learning from college or your friends."

You don't have to be an expert to get yourself out of debt; you just have to be adaptable and willing to learn.

The first step to paying off your debt is knowing exactly how much you've got on your plate. Pull yourcredit report for freeatAnnualCreditReport.comto see exactly what accounts you have in your name and what you owe on each.

It's also important to understand how your debt is affecting your credit score. A common assumption is that if you're in debt, your score will be bad. But actually, you can still have a good scorewhen you're in debt. The key is to borrow strategically and make your payments on time.

Signing up for a credit monitoring service will help you track your score and know where you stand. As you pay off your debt (especially revolving credit card debt), you'll likely see your score improve.

Since FICO scores are used in over 90% of lending decisions, signing up for the FICO Basic, Advanced or Premier service will help you get a good snapshot at what lenders see. It's also comprehensive, for when you want to apply for a big-ticket. All plans offer access to 28 versions of your FICO score, including scores for credit cards, mortgages and auto loans. Plus you'll receive $1 million identity theft insurance and 24/7 access to U.S.-based identity theft experts who can help restore your identity if your information is compromised.

Information about FICO Basic, Advanced and Premier plans have been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the company prior to publication.

$19.95 to $39.95 per month

Experian for Basic plan or Experian, Equifax and TransUnion forAdvanced and Premier plans

Yes, forAdvanced and Premier plans

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the CNBC Select editorial staffs alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.

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Keep your coffee and other advice from people who paid off thousands in debt - CNBC

Image courtesy of guideinc.org

By Kat Kaderabek

The month of September is deemed National Suicide Prevention Month, and the Catholic University community is still taking steps to raise awareness for this devastating reality, even while the community remains separated.

According to safecolleges.com, suicide is the second most common cause of death among college students. The advent of the global pandemic has set mental health as a huge concern amongst people, most especially the health of students and the elderly.

Regardless of age, gender, sex, or ethinicity, suicide has the potential to affect anyone. It is vital to know the services and methods to help with coping with mental health issues. It could save someones life, or your own.

In an effort to destigmatize suicide, the National Hotline will be receiving its own three-digit dial-code 988. However, this number does not go into effect for at least another eighteen months as reported by NPR.org.

As the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, this is a productive and life-saving decision that has the potential to lower the suicide rate. Currently, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255. It is open twenty-four hours for free confidential calls in both English and Spanish.

The Safe Colleges website has reported 80-90% of college students who have committed suicide were not receiving help from college counselors. The Catholic University Counseling Center has recognized these numbers and implemented several options to help those struggling with suicidal thoughts.

All students are eligible to receive forty-five free sessions at The Counseling Center during their undergraduate studies, as well as forty-five free sessions as a graduate student. These sessions appear as a one-on-one confidential counseling appointment, but group counseling sessions are also offered. These group sessions include Stress Management 101, Building Your Mental Health Pandemic Toolkit, and Mosaic.

Counseling is also available virtually; however, it is currently state-dependent during the pandemic. Regardless of this, the counselors at the Counseling Center will work diligently to find a local counselor if needed.

During these times of uncertainty that require our flexibility and resilience, it is important to engage in self-care, said CUA counselor Rebecca Kim. Self-care can include daily exercise, meditation, hobbies, social connections, and getting enough sleep. The Counseling Center is offering a variety of resources to help strengthen those self-care strategies.

She urges those who are in need of these services to please contact the Counseling Center for more information at 202-319-5765. Additionally, there are self-help resources on the website including links to guided meditations and other helpful information.

Prioritizing ones mental health is equally as important as taking care of oneself physically. While this is a very overwhelming and upsetting topic, it is an important issue to address. Suicide is preventable. The Catholic University of America is intent on raising awareness and connecting the community even amidst a global pandemic.

You are never alone. Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal.

Your community is here for you.

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Suicide Prevention Month - Catholic University of America The Tower

Wellness classes provided by the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) have started back up after a time off due to the coronavirus pandemic. While physical distancing requirements remain in place, a creative solution to offer the programs has been developed. Beginning Oct. 7 through Nov. 11, the AAA7 will be offering the popular Diabetes Self-Management Program through a telephone conference call. The format will allow the AAA7 to connect and support class participants while learning valuable tools to manage diabetes. The telephone conference classes will be facilitated by AAA7 staff through a toll-free call-in number. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

Those who are interested must pre-register for the class. Once registered, participants will receive a free Diabetes Self-Management kit in the mail and the conference call information prior to the start of the class. The kit includes the book, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, a relaxation CD, and handouts for each class. Contents in the kit will be used for the weekly calls. Participation in the weekly telephone conference calls is required to receive the kit at no cost.

Residents 60 and older in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton counties are eligible to register at no cost. To register for the class, please call the AAA7 at 1-800-582-7277 and ask for Hannah at extension 247, or e-mail info@aaa7.org. In order to receive the materials in the mail in time for the start of the class, registration deadline is Sept. 25.

Those who are interested are encouraged to register to stay socially connected and enhance their diabetes self-management skills.

Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis in ten counties in Southern Ohio including Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay. The AAA7s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.

Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a trained Resource Specialist who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an in-home assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on http://www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e-mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at http://www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.

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Diabetes self-management telephone class to begin Oct. 7 - The Tribune - Ironton Tribune

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Jay Shetty: How to "Think Like a Monk" | Amanpour and Company - pbssocal.org

September 18, 2020 15:00 ET | Source: WebMetrix

Jackson, WY, Sept. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WebMetrix Groupinterviewedpodcast producers, based on their innovative approaches and great reputations across many platforms, who genuinely want to help.

Title: 21 Podcasts to Expand Your Mind in 2021

Did video really kill the radio star? Or did the radio star take a sabbatical to brush up on some R & D and rebrand as a podcast, making the ultimate comeback decades later? With statistics showing that since 2019, podcasts have continuously serenaded over55% of the US population (155 million +)weekly, my money is on the radio stars resiliency.

Despite its immense success in recent years, the one thing many podcast aficionados can agree on is that the podcast world is a quantity over quality environment meaning there is PLENTY of garbage in the sea - not fish. In fact, a recentupdateinformed that as of April 2020, there are over 1 million podcast shows, with over 30 million episodes worldwide. Weve taken the liberty of wading through the podcast sea, catching 21 big fish to expand your mind as we crawl through the rest of 2020 and embark into 2021 in a woke state.

1.The Tim Ferriss Show

Podcast Host: Tim Ferriss

With over 500M downloads and counting,The Tim Ferriss Showis often ranked as the #1 Business Podcast on all of Apple Podcasts, surpassing the other 500,000+ podcasts with similar content. As host, Tim Ferriss interviews many world-class performers from investment bankers to major league athletes, deconstructing their lives down to their favorite books and morning routines. Through his inquisitive interview style, Tim successfully brings listeners into the lives of the elite, providing his audience with insight and advice on how to live exceptionally.

Having hosted guests ranging from Jamie Foxx to Maria Sharapova, Tim is known to be a celebrity favorite due to the friendly atmosphere he promotes on his show. Interviewees get to have final approval over episodes prior to release, which encourages authentic content curated from open, raw, and honest discussions. His show reminds listeners that even the biggest names are still people who face everyday struggles, and he uses these conversations to inspire his audience on what everyday choices they too can make to achieve greatness.

2.The Ed Mylett Show

Podcast Host: Ed Mylett

Ed Mylett is the founder and host ofThe Ed Mylett Show, a podcast dedicated to showcasing the worlds greatest peak-performers across a wide range of industries. Through sharing the journeys, knowledge, and thought leadership of a diverse range of industry professionals ranging from Randy Jackson to Gary Vee, Ed uncovers inspirational stories and practical advice, encouraging listeners to learn from experts and become the best version of themselves.

Eds conversations with a multitude of leaders allow his audience a glimpse into the industries of business, health, collegiate and professional sports, politics, entrepreneurship, and entertainment through the eyes of experts. His wide variety of material is bound to motivate any listener, proving why the show is often ranked within Apple Podcasts top 5 shows on Entrepreneurship.

3.The School of Greatness

Podcast Host: Lewis Howes

For those looking to expand their knowledge on business and self-development, class is officially in session at Lewis HowesSchool of Greatness. Launched in 2013, the podcast is a regular on Apple Podcasts Top 50 list, receiving over 4 million downloads monthly. Lewis educates his vast audience on how to be great through interviewing world-class leaders in entrepreneurship, athletics, mindset, and relationships much more.

The cliche that those who cant do teach is one we would like to counter with Lewis as our example.School of Greatnessdoes the exact opposite, it provides a platform for those who can do - in fact, those who can do exceptionally well - to teach their lessons to the masses, reflecting on their own experiences to inspire others. Tony Robbins, Alanis Morissette, and Julianne Hough are amongst the educators within theSchool of Greatness, and the overwhelming success of the podcast proves the value that Lewis Howes' audience finds in the material he shares.

4.The Skinny Confidential: HIM & HER Show

Lauryn Evarts Bosstick & Michael Bosstick

TheSkinny Confidential HIM & HER Showis hosted by entrepreneurs & brand builders Lauryn Evarts Bosstick and husband Michael Bosstick. With over 79 million lifetime downloads, and 180-210K downloads per episode, the show is widely regarded as a hit amongst its 90% female audience. To date, Lauryn and Michael have garnered over 8000+ Five Star iTunes reviews hyping up the show's content, which includes interviews with celebrities, entrepreneurs, influencers, experts, and thought leaders.

The conversations shared on the podcast are a juicy mix of wellness tips, business advice, relationship insight, and much more material inspiring listeners to become the best version of themselves. Through airing 6 episodes a month, Lauryn and Michael focus on creating content that provides their audience with valuable takeaways leading to their best lives. Jessica Alba, Ed Mylett, Whitney Port, and Gary Vee are amongst the celebrity guests that have made appearances on the show, sharing their own take on the skinny - what Lauryn refers to insider information as. The cheeky podcast is a must-listen for embarking on the path of professional and personal development, sure to induce laughter along the journey.

5.The Model Health Show

Shawn Stevenson

As a world-renown author and expert nutritionist, Shawn Stevenson is the founder and host ofThe Model Health Show,a podcast responsible for sharing a fun, entertaining, and enlightening look at the health and fitness industry. Shawn educates his audience on a variety of topics including weight loss, chronic fatigue, heart disease, diet, sex, hormones, sleep problems, and health issues. No topic is off-limits on The Model Health Show, allowing audience members to be rewarded with rich and informative content achieving and maintaining optimal health.

The ease in which Shawn breaks down complex health and wellness issues makes the topics of the show easy to understand and overcome, and is the reason behind whyThe Model Health Showis rated as the #1 Health Podcast in the U.S. on Apple Podcasts. Through making health information digestible, Shawns podcast expands the mindsets of many when it comes to understanding mental and physical wellness.

6.Superhero Academy

Marc Angelo Coppola

Superhero Academyis a podcast hosted by Marc Angelo Coppola focussed on maximizing impact through encouraging listeners to share their unique gifts with the world, touching lives with the movements they inspire. Coppola appeals to social entrepreneurs, creatives, and influencers in a variety of industries, promoting them to become everyday superheroes through harnessing their potential. Listeners will become experts in Coppolas definition of ROI (Ripple of Impact), inspiring them to lead a purposeful life.

Coppola effortlessly discusses ways to improve productivity through optimizing talent with a variety of individuals who lend their own perspectives to the conversation. He draws on his personal entrepreneurial success as a Founding Member ofValhalla Coop Farm, Founder ofSuperhero Academy, storyteller, and philanthropreneur in providing advice to enable his audience to discover their passions and actually make a living from them.

7.The Deep Dive

Adam Roa

Adam Roais a globally recognized motivational speaker and poet who encourages opening the mind to new perspectives as the host ofThe Deep Dive,an enlightening podcast known for its authentic content cultivated by adhering to no rules. Roa invites his audience to become a fly on the wall for in-depth conversations between himself and influential guests as well as independent musings, sharing informed opinions on a variety of topics that most influencers shy away from. Listeners can further interact within theCREATE Community,an online wellness community promoting connectivity through virtual daily events, including the Deep Dive Live podcast that invites the audience to converse with guests featured on the show.

As an expert on the fundamentals of self-love, compassion, and mental well-being, Roa provokes these emotions within listeners by providing an engaging view of the world through his eyes, curated from examples and stories. He challenges traditional assumptions of success by sharing his own thoughts and interviewing individuals in promoting the concept that success is not merely WHAT you think, but HOW you think.

8.Everyday Wellness

Cynthia Thurlow

Cynthia Thurlows podcast,Everyday Wellness,gets real on nutrition and wellness, providing advice that goes against the grain of mainstream practices. The globally recognized expert on nutrition and intermittent fasting is not afraid to challenge popular opinions on health trends through the conversations she shares on her show. Thurlow regularly interviews wellness professionals who are doing amazing things for their patients through alternative approaches, offering real-world evidence to back her disruptive content. The podcast host ensures that she provides her audience with a fresh perspective acquired from a thinking outside of the box mentality.

Thurlow alleviates the pressure many feel when trying to navigate the convoluted world of nutrition that all too often consists of misinformation. She shares vetted podcast material that pulls on her 20+ years experience as both a nurse practitioner and a functional nutritionist. Her target audience is women, who are highly susceptible to nutritional changes and often battle with the impracticalities of mainstream wellness recommendations. Thurlows knowledge of intermittent fasting reached an audience of over 6 million viewers following hertalkon the TEDx stage, one of the highest viewed TED Talks of all time. She uses her podcast as a platform to further share this knowledge with fellow females who struggle to incorporate the practice of intermittent fasting into their lives, providing advice to make it attainable. Cynthia Thurlows determination to disrupt traditional nutrition norms will expand both the minds and the palettes of listeners.

9.Mindful Ways

Chad McMillan

As the founder and host ofMindful Ways,Chad McMillan shares his perspectives on creative and conscious living for a better life. Chad is an awoken venture capitalist, creative artist, and champion of conscious living with over 15 years of experience helping turn around start-ups and public companies from nearly every executive capacity. After years focused specifically in the capital markets, feeling burnt out but still called to a deeper purpose, Chad spent over 15 months working with a shaman, helping him further develop and explore his intuitive instincts. This led to a journey encouraging him to delve deep into many of his own perceived fears and limitations.

Today, Chad lends this conscious marriage of his abilities, experiences, and professional wisdom to aspiring creative artists and entrepreneurs looking to transform their own lives viaThe CM Brand, a conscious lifestyle portal showcasing new holistic tools and trends that can help power up their world. His podcast serves as a tool to deliver this information to his audience in an engaging manner, allowing listeners to expand their perspectives on who we are, and what is possible.

10.Okay Sis

Scout & Mady

Scout & Mady are the sibling duo that are providing a remedy for the Monday blues with their podcastOkay Sis.As hosts, the sisters provide comedic relief through their witty banter that raises current topics in society and culture, bringing on female guests to expand on their conversations and offer experience backed advice to audience members. Launched in 2018, the duo has aired a number of episodes covering a wide range of topics including self-help suggestions (categorized as Fix Me Up), and interviews with rad fellow females who share their entrepreneurial or life success stories.

The authentic tone of their content has attracted a vast following of females that are the ultimate hype up crew in the comment section of the girls' Apple Podcast listing. Scout and Mady openly discuss real and relevant topics, offering a platform for women to share and learn from the stories of other women. In a world comprised of people attempting to be something their not, Scout and Mady are authentically themselves and arent afraid to let a little loose on their show which is sure to encourage a smile and a laugh in listeners.

11.Real Chalk

Ryan Fischer

As the official podcast of Chalk Performance Training,Real Chalkis a podcast hosted by Ryan Fischer intent on sharing an honest and open look into the world of fitness.Real Chalkshares behind the scenes knowledge on entrepreneurship in the health and fitness scene and encouragement for audience members looking to build knowledge on nutrition and exercise through recommendations and opinions backed by experts. Business owners, gym members, garage ninjas, or 24-hour meatheads are amongst the listeners that Ryan shares his advice to, encouraging them to dial in training and programming to achieve maximum success.

Having previously trained with the US Olympic Skeleton and Bobsled Teams as well as qualified for CrossFit regionals 7 times, Ryan is no stranger to the world of health and fitness.Real Chalkis used by Ryan as a platform to share his knowledge, as well as interview fellow industry experts in inspiring his listeners to reach their full potential through implementing effective training programs. His celebrity status within the fitness scene has made him immensely popular as a podcast host, creatingReal Chalkinto a must-listen for those looking to up their gains.

12.Entrepreneur Gains

Sabby Choudhary

Host Sabby Choudhary interviewsY-Combinator(YC) alumni in his podcastEntrepreneur Gains,uncovering the raw startup stories that preceded their entrepreneurial successes. YC, one of the most recognized names in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem, is an American seed money accelerator founded in 2005. To date, YC has been responsible for funding over 2000 startups includingAirbnb,Reddit,DoorDash, andTwitchto name a few, boasting a combined portfolio valuation exceeding $100 billion. Sabby fuels conversations addressing the mistakes made and lessons learned throughout the startup journeys of select YC alumni, sharing with his audience an honest view into the startup world.

Through diving into the topics of co-founder disputes, fundraising challenges, growth stages, and most importantly, attracting the support of YC, Sabby addresses the many barriers alumni members have had to overcome amongst their journey to success. As a YC alumnus himself, Sabby draws on his own experience founding multiple startups and navigating the world of VC funding when seeking insight from alumni members in developing valuable content for his audience. Startup Gains is a must-listen for entrepreneurs wanting to skip years of trial and error in the early stages of their venture based on expert recommendations from industry leaders.

13.How Are You Helping?

Sean Riley

How Are You Helping?This is the question host Sean Riley inquires about to guests on his powerful podcast, digging deep into the work that numerous impact leaders are doing in making the world a better place. Sean provides a platform for the drivers behind the work of non-profit organizations and charities, leaders of youth movements, and founders of socially good businesses to share the ways in which theyre helping the world, inspiring the shows audience to do the same.

As a conscious humanitarian and former non-profit and public service professional, Sean began his podcast as a way to uncover the stories, psychology, and deeper layers behind meaningful work. Through musing upon the topics of compassion and generosity with guests, Sean uncovers ways listeners can insightfully implement the appropriate tools and habits to make a positive global impact. His conversations c a variety of hard-hitting topics including How To Tackle Sex Trafficking and A Tipping Point For Ending Systemic Racism, inspiring his listeners to employ a conscious mind when navigating life.

14.Being

Patrick Cooke

OnBEING, podcast host Patrick Cooke explores what it means to be human in the modern world through the lens of creativity, consciousness, and personal development. Through authentic conversations with a wide array of guests including artists, intellectuals, scientists, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders,BEINGventures to make collective sense of an increasingly complex world with the unifying goal of building a sustainable future for all. As humanity continues to march full steam toward extinction, we can no longer afford to ask what is best for me?, the question must now become what is best for me and the whole simultaneously?

Host Patrick Cooke is a transformational coach, sobriety mentor, podcaster, musician, songwriter, and surfer. His enthusiasm, positivity, and passion for life are dangerously infectious and he is known for his innate ability to connect deeply with other souls. In 2012 Patrick left his hometown of Toronto, Canada, and headed for the jungles and beaches of Costa Rica. This courageous leap accelerated his own personal awakening and initiated a journey of profound transformation. It also represented a heeding of the call to honor and embrace his lifes work - to awaken and ignite each soul to their intrinsic power as the creators of their own reality. Patrick brings his uniquely fresh perspective to the show, inspiring his audience to take full responsibility and engage in evolution as conscious agents rather than simply being passive victims of the system.

15.GreenPlanet BluePlanet

Julian Guderley

Julian Guderley is responsible for expanding the way we view and interact with the planet through the inspiring interviews he shares on his podcast,GreenPlanet BluePlanet. His engaging podcast episodes interview industry leaders in the planets regenerative movement, highlighting the most impactful drivers of environmental and social change today. With 220+ episodes and counting, Guderleys interviews call upon the expert opinions of the worlds top 500 social impact makers consisting of artists, teachers, authors, and philanthropreneurs who are committed to and showcase qualities of planetary leadership!

Through his ...quest to display what makes planet earth worth living on, Guderleys podcast motivates listeners to partake in the planets sustainable and regenerative movement, providing examples on how to best do so, and sharing theories as to why. As both a transformational Leadership-Coach and Breathwork Teacher, Guderley is a true global citizen. His interview series explores the multifaceted and systemic change needed for our society & culture to make the 2020s a truly regenerative decade of action, raising the topics of sustainability, regenerative economics, consciousness, spirituality, and symbiotic relationships. GreenPlanet BluePlanet is a must-listen for those looking to increase their environmental knowledge while bringing our shared ecological footprint into balance.

16.The Smart Woman Show

Tara Oldridge

In recent years,studieshave shown that women are making strides in the entrepreneurial realm, with female-founded businesses accounting for 42% of all American businesses in 2019 alone. Tara Oldridge is a female entrepreneur for female entrepreneurs, and is responsible for driving this number. As the host ofThe Smart Woman Show,Tara references her years of successful entrepreneurial experience in providing powerful advice to fellow female entrepreneurs about how to become more profitable and impactful. Through her 20-30 minute conversations with industry leaders and celebrity influencers, Tara pulls on key topics in sharing with her audience lessons on strategic decision-making tactics and leadership skills that will drive the bottom line professionally while changing lives personally through encouraging undiscovered potential.

Taras effervescent persona makes her podcast an irresistible listen, inspiring women to unlock the entrepreneurial ideas confined in their minds. Her radical honesty and words of encouragement provide actionable advice and direction that allow her followers to realize the confidence necessary to finally launch their businesses. As a mother of two, a wife, a woman of faith, and a passionate philanthropist, Tara is no stranger to the pressures many women feel when attempting to launch their careers yet find themselves limited on time. She leverages her experience in this department to speak to other women who are in the same boat, using her podcast as a platform to demonstrate techniques to overcome time constraints to achieve success.

17.Launch, Grow, and Scale Your Business

Sam Henderson

As the host of his podcast,LaunchGrow & Scale Your Business,Sam Henderson draws upon the expertise, experience, and education of a team of Guest Gurus who have done it all before. Listeners get the chance to learn about the success-proven tactics, strategies, tips, and tools industry experts have used to Launch, Grow, and Scale their businesses. The mastermind-style podcast reduces the overwhelming chaos often associated with launching a business by providing helpful advice on how to create a sustainable game plan. Henderson inspires his audience to cultivate the focus required to achieve success for their business, regardless of the industry.

Sam Henderson is familiar with the challenges associated with business leadership, having faced adversity in his own career, and he pulls on his lessons learned from overcoming these challenges throughout the podcast. Like all entrepreneurs, he knows hes made mistakes. But now, he sees these challenges as a gift and a chance to reassess and teach others how to avoid the pitfalls whilst successfully launching, growing, and scaling. As a multi-best selling author, long-time TV Host, media columnist, speaker, multi-award-winning business owner, and High-Performance Business Coach, Sam brings a wealth of knowledge to the topics of the show, having previously practiced the lessons he preaches. His honest conversations with fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders provide encouraging advice to audience members on how to best navigate obstacles amongst business development, provingLaunch, Grow, and Scale Your Businessto be a must-listen for any business owner looking to succeed.

18.Paper Planes Podcast

Telina Too

Telina Too is the cacao over coffee, mama to Machi, former educator turned lifestyle junkie and host of thePaper Planes Podcast.The very real and candid Australian that she is, draws on personal experiences and organically guides her guests straight into when sh*t hit the fan while working towards personal and business goals. Unlike other self-help shows, which focus heavily onthe success story,she intentionally challenges that by implementing herwork backwards approachfrom hitting rock bottom to one of the richest experiences in life.

Since founding The Co. & Teli, Telina made a promise to co-create a community of conscious role models, a space that is both collaborative and innovative. While her online coaching business is thriving, being stuck in social isolation during Covid-19 ignited her to start podcasting as a result of craving community & genuine connection with other people. Having just launched in May of 2020, her podcast is still in its infancy yet already chart-topping across several countries in self-help and improvement. ThePaper Planes Podcasthas been airing new content weekly and currently boasts over 20 episodes with everyday people, and sometimes famous people too. Telina says no story is off-limits, in-fact one of the most downloadable conversations was even considered taboo.

19.The Pals Podcast

George Booutsalis & Ricky Liorti

Passion projects are what makes work worthwhile, and for George Boutsalis and Ricky Liorti,The Pals Podcastwas a passion project that turned into a popular profession. The duo started their podcast as a way to talk with friends about their interests in health & wellness, travel & adventure, entrepreneurship, sports, and much more. The goal was to create one episode a week for a year, which theyre quickly on the way to surpassing having completed 42 episodes and counting in just seven months. The Pals continuously provide their audience with enjoyable conversations in every episode, covering a wide range of interesting topics sure to encourage first-time listeners to become full-time subscribers.

George and Ricky have created an outlet for interesting conversations to flow freely, attracting notable guests onto their podcast and garnering an even larger audience because of it. The duo is having fun while expanding their reach, and the growth of their show continues to scale week after week. Needles to say, the Pals wont be putting an end to this passion project anytime soon.

20.University of Adversity

Lance Essihos

Lance Essihos advocates for the benefits of adversity in his podcastUniversity of Adversity,encouraging his audience to view the onset of adversity not as an enemy attack, but rather a great ally. Through connecting with guests who share their stories about overcoming life's challenges, Lance draws attention to the importance of hitting rock bottom in order to achieve success. Every fall provides a learning lesson on how to get back up, and this lesson is something theUniversity of Adversityeducates its listeners on, ensuring the fall, though painful, will be worth it in the long run.

Broadcasted three times a week, each episode showcases a different individual who has thrived following a great demise. Lance Essihos inspires his audience through the carefully curated content he shares, offering a wealth of tips and advice on how to get back up after even the furthest of falls.

21.The Appliance Workshop

Chris & Andrey Czupiel

New immigrants entering the North American workforce are often met with the challenges of not knowing where to begin, how to make a business successful, and how to stand apart from others. This is something Chris Czupiel has experienced, and its what drives him and Andrey Czupiel to pull on their own knowledge in advising others on how to start their journey within the trades industry. With Andrey being the founder and director of the Appliance Technical Institute of Canada, and Chris operating as the president of Toronto Appliances Service and Appliance Technical Institute of Canada, the duo share a wealth of knowledge and experience for anything appliance related.

Together, theyve createdThe Appliance Workshop Podcast,which focuses on immigration, entrepreneurship within the appliance servicing industry, and advice on how to become a national appliance servicing trainer. They bring the appliance servicing community together in Canada like never before seen, from British Columbia to the Maritimes, and everything in between. The Czupiels provide listeners with a portal into the world of startups, sharing stories on what the experience is really like and what should be expected. Through their podcast, the duo teaches their listeners skills that are transferable to any business. From coast to coast, The Appliance Workshop Podcast shows its audience that potential has no borders.

Contact: Immy Tariq Webmetrix Group Immy@webmetrixgroup.com

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WebMetrix Group On The 21 Podcasts to Expand Your Mind in 2021 - GlobeNewswire

One medically retired veteran of the U.S. Army is helping recreate the brother and sisterhood people often find in the service through his YouTube channel that focuses on gamingand self-care.

After Christopher Boehm left the army, he learned from a friend the staggering statistic that 22 veterans die each day by suicide.

Being injured and having a past struggle with alcohol abuse, he connected with the pain of these veterans.

He decided then that he wanted to help others leaving the service smoothly transition to civilian life.

SHARE: Hundreds of Americans Become Foster Families to Ailing Senior Veterans, Opening Up Their Hearths and Homes

When he learned that the U.S. Army uses Twitch, a live streaming platform for gamers, for recruitment purposes, he knew he could do something similar to connect with veterans and prevent the social isolation and depression that exists in the veteran community.

Christopher set up his own YouTube channel, Bayonet X-Ray, where he plays video games live for 22 minutes at sunrise each morningrepresenting the 22 veterans that die by suicide each day.

While gaming, Boehm shares strategies for combating PTSD and depression, daily motivation, and tips on healthy eating and breathing. He also provides general camaraderie for isolated veterans.

My goal is to connect with veterans that cant access other services, explains Boehm. This YouTube channel is my way of helping my brothers and sisters, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important to stay connected and break up the day to day monotony.

MORE: When Struggling Restaurant Tried to Sell Bourbon for $20K, Anonymous Veteran Buys It for Twice the Price

Boehm has a kind, peaceful voice, and his YouTube channel isnt just for veterans: Its for everyone. Check it out today.

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This Veteran is Helping Fellow Vets Transition to Civilian Life Through Video Gaming - Good News Network

Even before 2020 began, many Americans of all ages had mental health conditions and alcohol or drug issues that werent getting the attention and care that they deserved.

Now, six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, three months into a major social justice movement, two months away from a national election and with school starting, hurricanes blowing, wildfires burning and the economy slumping, its a fair bet that many more people are struggling with mental health concerns.

Thats why Michigan Medicine assembled a panel of experts for a recent webinar to offer concrete steps that might help, and links to further resources for helping to manage overall well-being.

This recording has a wealth of tips, from breathing exercises to family activities to advice about the kinds of healthy lifestyle choices that can bolster mental health and keep alcohol use in check. The U-M Department of Psychiatry also offers a wide range of resources and helpful links in its COVID-19 Toolkit.

If youre feeling overly stressed, depressed, anxious or concerned about your alcohol use or someone close to you is showing such signs you dont have to start with a specialist. In fact, primary care providers such as family doctors, general internists, pediatricians and primary care nurse practitioners, are trained to handle many mental health symptoms, says Jill Schneiderhan, M.D., a U-M family medicine doctor and mental wellness specialist.

So just as you would start by contacting them for a new physical symptom, dont be afraid to contact them about changes to your mental health and substance use. That includes a persistent low mood, finding things less enjoyable, and anxious thoughts that intrude on your everyday life.

Several of the experts focused on the things you can do to improve your mental state, including more regular bed times and wake times, cutting out screen use in bed, keeping up social connections even if its via video chat or phone calls, eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, engaging in a hobby, spending time outside, and engaging with art and music.

Elizabeth Duval, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in the U-M Department of Psychiatry, offers some specific breathing exercises and mindfulness activities that anyone of any age can do, almost anywhere.

Box breathing: Breathe in for a few seconds, hold for a few seconds, breathe out for a few seconds, and hold for a few seconds before breathing in again.

Try the 54321 exercise: Sitting or standing wherever you are, take a moment to notice and name out loud or to yourself five things you can see right now, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.

When talking with someone, say what you are feeling inside. Just speaking it out loud can actually help defuse the feeling itself

If youre a parent, keep in mind that your children are noticing and reacting to the way youre handling these times, says Polly Gipson, Ph.D., a clinicalpsychologist who heads U-Ms Trauma and Grief Clinic. Thats especially true if your family has lost someone to COVID-19, or you belong to a group or live in an area thats being especially affected by current events.

But you can be a model to them by engaging in healthy mental wellbeing self-care and finding ways to focus on positive memories, things to be grateful for, family togetherness because of the lack of scheduled activities, and more. She recommends the CALM method: Communicate with the child to share information, find out what they know and validate their feelings; help them stay Active and creative; Learn how children in general, or your child in particular, show distress; and Model self-care by using positive strategies and sharing them with children.

Childrens future mental health depends in part on how theyre affected by adverse experiences now, both their own and those that their larger community is going through. If you notice troubling behavior in the children in your life, speaking up to get help can make a major difference.

Alcohol and cannabis sales have shot up during the past six months, and jokes about drinking or using marijuana-derived products to cope with these times are rampant on social media. This is typical during stressful times, says Mark Ilgen, Ph.D., the addiction psychologist who directs the U-M Addiction Treatment Services. But he warns that as time goes on, what was once a short-term coping mechanism could develop into a substance-use problem.

Fortunately, he says, support groups, twelve-step groups and addiction care specialists have pivoted to offer online help. And newer medications can help people who have developed a dependence on alcohol, opioids and more. If youre not sure you need this level of help, he notes that many people can cut back on their substance use on their own, by setting targets for themselves including limits on daily or weekly alcohol or cannabis intake. If you find you cant stay within these self-imposed limits, thats a time to seek help. Find more information on the U-M Addiction Treatment Services COVID-19 Addiction & Recovery Resources page.

Above all else, the experts note, if you or someone youre in contact with have been feeling hopeless or even suicidal, its crucial to get help. Dont shy away from discussing the topic, and get in touch with a primary care provider if its not an urgent situation. For urgent or life-threatening situations, contact the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 800-273-8255 or call 911.

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Coping and Hoping: Mental Health Tips for Trying Times | University of Michigan - Michigan Medicine

In this week's Your Best Life, 6 News Anchor Leslie Draffin traveled to Salado to explore sound baths, a holistic approach to relaxation and healing.

TEMPLE, Texas September is National Self-Care Awareness Month and right now is the perfect time to take a little better care of yourself. In this week's Your Best Life, 6 News Anchor Leslie Draffin traveled to Salado to explore sound baths, a holistic approach to relaxation and healing.

"If you're suffering from anxiety, depression. If you work a lot, if you haven't worked in a while, it's basically good for everyone," said McKenzie Reeves, a massage therapist, reiki master and owner of Salado Creek Healing.

Reeves said sound baths are basically a meditation tool she as used during her other therapies for the last year.

"If you can help the body find its balance again it'll start to heal," she said.

A sound bath has nothing to do with water. Instead, you're bathed in sounds of different frequencies meant to put you in a deep, meditative state. Reeves uses various tools from crystal bowls to gongs and chimes. Each one tuned to different parts of the body.

According to Reeves, "These are in 432 hertz, which is the miracle tone or frequency. So, it just helps to allow total body wellness and allow your body the availability to heal itself by just giving it a break from real life."

The life-long singer also uses her voice to create healing frequencies of sound.

"I found out that I can sing with them. I can sing another note and it creates a harmonic either binaural beat or some sort of harmonic frequency there that is really powerful for the body, things just release. It's really amazing," she said.

Reeves said to understand why it works, think of your body as a flowing, vibrational system.

"Everything's vibrational, you know they teach you in science in school, that everything's just vibrating at a certain frequency. So, when you get out of frequency it creates a lot of pain and other disturbances like emotional disturbances in the body," she said.

Reeves said sound can help move those stuck feelings.

"So by playing through them and allowing the sound waves to flow through your biofield, which is the energy field around you, it washes away and helps tune the body back into wellness and frequency, happiness. If you think of how you hear somebody sing something that's super, super powerful and you get goosebumps like that affects you on a vibrational level! And so, listening to beautiful music is just healing. It has been since the dawn of all the time," she said.

Each sound bath lasts about an hour. Reeves plays and sings, taking participants on a journey into relaxation and sleep.

"You can release a lot of stuff, stuff that you didn't know you had, stuff that your family's been holding on to for a long time, or things that have been chronically bothering you for as long as you can remember. It allows you to feel weightless for just a moment, sometimes longer, helps get out of the heavy," she said.

Reeves sound baths are donation based so it's accessible for anyone to try. If you'd like to try one for yourself, you can find Reeves on Facebook.

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Sound baths | A holistic approach to relaxation and healing | Your Best Life - KCENTV.com

The patients seen by mobile integrated healthcare and community paramedic programs are among the most complex out there. While CP leaders have now devised a standardized framework for evaluating their needs, much remains subjective when individual medics sit down to rate individual patients.

Wednesdays EMS World Expo session on MIH-CP patient management challenges provided an opportunity for providers from different departments to collaborate on a pair of case studies and work jointly through that evaluation framework, known by the mnemonic CPS MERITS. The idea was to benefit from each others experiences and ideas.

CPS MERITS was developed by Dan Swayze, PhD, COO of the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, and Anne Jensen, EMT-P, special projects coordinator for San Diego Fire-Rescue. Jensen led Wednesdays session with Faith Applewhite, NRP, from the Santa Fe (N.M.) Fire Department. They were joined by community paramedic Shawn Percival, who works with Jensen in San Diegos Resource Access Program (RAP), and Santa Fe mobile health paramedic Ramos Tsosie, a colleague of Applewhites in Santa Fe Fires Mobile Integrated Health Office (MIHO).

Both departments use CPS MERITS, but to galvanize the exchange of ideas, they crossed services to work through the case studies, with Percival and Applewhite leading the first and Tsosie and Jensen the second.

The mnemonic, described in a 2019 EMS World article by its creators, helps providers understand the nature and severity of the patients condition, establish a baseline to measure change over time, and provide a road map for care planning. It stands for:

Each of these dimensions is measured as threatening (in need of immediate assistance), unsustainable (working but not for long), sustainable (not ideal but could work long-term, such as a person adapted to homelessness), or ideal. Once rated they can be prioritized for action, with threatening and unsustainable situations taking natural priority.

Percival described a mid-60s female living in a city neighboring San Diego who, during their 18-month collaboration, called 9-1-1 400500 times in her own town and another 80 in San Diego.

He judged her clinical and psychological situations threatening: She had dementia with severe behavioral and cognitive impairment, and often sought Tylenol for arthritis pain in her wrist. Shed overdosed on it previously and didnt understand the danger of taking too much. She was triggered by family, and while her dementia made any help difficult, her problems seemed mostly behavioral, Percival said.

Meals, records, and income werent a problem (ideal), but the other four domains were all unsustainable: Family (social) was tiring of her repeated 9-1-1 calls and false claims of abuse. She was housed (environment) but not always supervised and thus could go out for Tylenol. (Shed also leave the gas stove on, which, while caught each time by her husband, could raise the situation to threatening, Percival noted.) Her calling 9-1-1 for transportation couldnt be sustained, and taxi companies had begun refusing her service over repeated nonpayment. And while she could basically self-care (skills), the stove issue and persistent nonunderstanding of Tylenol overdose dangers left that unsustainable too.

Two threatenings, four unsustainablesa tough patient for sure. The proposed big-picture solution was conservatorship, and her daughter was willing to assume it. But a barrier popped up: Despite the dementia, she was deemed to have the capacity to consent. The countys patient advocate suggested a special conservatorship with dementia powers, so now Percivals team is working with the hospital social worker to navigate that application process.

A lesson here: Sometimes you need multiple plans. You never know where its going to lead you, said Percival. You think youve reached the end goal, then the goal posts have been moved on you.

This patients unsustainable dimensions also intertwine with the conservatorship, but it is rarely used, hard to get, and COVID has slowed court processes. The team is currently awaiting a decision.

Tsosie said his department has found the CPS MERITS framework useful but added an extra legal domain after missing some patient arrests.

The patient he described was a 41-year-old male, mostly homeless, who lived part-time with extended family in the pueblos outside Santa Fe but frequently traveled to town with his mother. In the 18 months theyd worked with him, hed overdosed on opiates 16 times they knew of and maybe more. Hed also been hit by motor vehicles several times and had TBI and a leg injury that caused chronic paina big driver of his substance use.

Obviously the ODs made his clinical situation threatening. Psych was too: The TBI caused problems with impulse control, Tsosie said, and it was hard to get this patient to appointments. Drugs and alcohol were easily available.

Meals and transportation were judged sustainable, but the income domain rose to threatening because the patient was focused on getting disability to the detriment of any other efforts at self-help.

All other dimensions were unsustainable: Family (social) was loyal, but he couldnt use at the pueblo so often didnt stay. In town (environment) he often slept on the streets. He wanted disability but was unable to collect the necessary paperwork (records). He had good social skills, but lack of impulse control often led to aggression. And while he had various court issues (legal), complying with such requirements wasnt usually a priority.

Three threatenings, five unsustainablesanother tough one. But while this patient clearly needs help, his repeat overdoses forced the team back to a much more basic posture: just trying to keep him alive. They gave naloxone to him and his family and took him repeatedly to a harm-reduction clinic in an effort to habitualize his use of it. His income domain was also difficult to address: Hed applied for disability and been denied twice, so they connected him with a representative to help, but he continues to miss appointments.

Beyond that the team has worked to stay in close touch with the patient, keep a feel for his baseline, and offer support and positive social interactions. Tsosie described those interactions as oxygen to those in such challenging circumstanceswithout them, he said, its hard for you to think and feel and navigate the world.

Efforts to help these patients are ongoing. You may face some equally as difficult. There arent right or wrong answers with CPS MERITS, and the point isnt that you should agree with all the ratings here. It can be subjective and vary with community resources. The lesson is theres value in sharing multiple perspectives and working through such assessments with additional sets of eyesthats something community medics often need.

John Erich is the senior editor of EMS World.

Original post:
You Be the CP: Case Studies of Complex MIH Patients - EMSWorld

c/o Ava Nederlander, Photo Editor

First Things First (FTF), the orientation program organized by the Resource Center for first-year, First-Generation Low-Income (FGLI) students, ran from Monday, July 20 to Friday, Aug. 28. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this years FTF program was conducted online, featuring a number of synchronous and asynchronous programs rather than previous years in-person, two-and-a-half-day program before New Student Orientation (NSO).

FTF specifically aims to help FGLI students adjust to campus life and equipthemwith the necessary resources, support systems, and academic services to succeed at the University. The program is also an opportunity for students to engage in conversations about their backgrounds and how to navigate a predominately white and wealthy institution.

This years six-week program divided each week into themes, each focusing on a specific facet of campus life: a welcome to Wesleyan, financial aid and independence, academic readiness and resources, connections and networking at Wesleyan, self-care and discovery, and onwards and upwards.

Students attended workshops and panels organized by Resource Center Director Demetrius Colvin and FTF intern CeCe Payne 21, interacting with each other and their FTF orientation interns.

According to Colvin, FTF acknowledges the inequalities faced by FGLI students and provides them with resources for success at the University.

If you come from a family that has thatexpectation, or has that experience, then not only are you passively getting a lot of that information just as youre growing up, but then you also have a direct source you can go to, as you are facing challenges and having questions, and first generation low income students really dont have that same resource, Colvin said. So thats partially why this program was created to help them get that social and cultural capital they need to successfully navigate the institution.

In addition to helping address some of the institutionalized challenges FGLI students face, FTF builds connections for students, creating a community built on shared experiences.

FTF for me is sort of like the first kind of community youre brought into, FTF Orientation Leader (OL) Mahey Gheis 22 said. As a first-generation, low-income student, it means finding people that can relate to you on that level which is kind of hard to parse out when youre at Wesleyan among a general population of college students, and its an opportunity really for connections that can be formed on the basis of those commonalities, which I think is really unique.

FTF Orientation Leader Ariana Baez 22 echoed Gheis words, describing her own experience as a participant and OL for FTF as both meaningful and welcoming.

FTF was the thing that made me feel secure in my position at Wes regardless of my identity and actually because of my identity, Baez said.It celebrated me and ensured me that I was here on my own merit, not as a statistic or filling a quota for Wes, but it really empowered me to take up space and find my own community.

It is unclear whether the changes made for this years program will carry over into future years. Nonetheless, Baez hopes that the positive feedback about the new format will be taken into consideration when planning for next year so that the program can continue to grow and support FGLI students in the best ways it can.

Every FTF student that I talked to this semester, I think, felt a lot more supported because it wasnt a three-day thing, although they didnt get the traditional social in-person interactions that I did, Baez said.

Despite this lack of in-person, Payne stillemphasized the overall success of this years FTF program.

There were a lot of moving parts that went into this, but it came together in a really conducive final product, Payne said. I think one of the big things we had to keep asking throughout was just about access and thinking about the fact that we were in the middle of a pandemic and there were a lot of things that were on peoples plates that they might not have had planned in March. It was just a lot of different things that we had to consider to make sure that everyone was able to capitalize in the way that we wanted them to. I think at the end of the day, we did a good job.

Oliver Cope can be reached at ocope@wesleyan.edu.

Hallie Sternberg can be reached at hsternberg@wesleyan.edu or on Twitter @halsternberg.

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First Things First Adapts to COVID-19 Regulations for Class of 2024 - Wesleyan Argus