Welcome to a new episode of Health Raisers! Today my guest is Amy Stewart, the delightfully curious New York Times bestselling author behind fascinating books like The Tree Collectors, The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants, which explore the unexpected stories of the natural world and have captivated over a million readers across 18 languages. She's also brought to life the wonderfully spirited Kopp Sisters historical fiction series, inspired by the remarkable true story of one of America's first female deputy sheriffs and her two feisty sisters. When she's not writing, Amy can be found in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, who runs the charming rare book shop Downtown Brown Books—and yes, she's the same Amy Stewart who somehow ended up on TLC's Cake Boss alongside appearances on NPR and CBS Sunday Morning.

In this episode, we dive into her book, The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession to discuss how simple acts help us to revere our natural world.

What we learn:

🌳 How Amy discovered that collecting trees was inexorably linked to the collectors' life stories and histories.

🌿 How every tree planted is a commitment to our future.

🎨 How simple practices like leaf collecting and mending can become profound acts of reverence for nature and mindfulness.

🌲 How the Miyawaki method lets anyone create a tiny forest in spaces no bigger than a backyard to care for our world.

💚 How tree collectors build community by connecting people through shared experiences with trees.

🌿 How spending time away from screens and connecting with nature is essential for mental health and well-being.

⭐️ And much more...

More about Amy:

Amy’s 2009 book Wicked Plants was adapted into a national traveling exhibit that terrified children at science museums nationwide for over a decade. Even better, a few bars around the world are named after The Drunken Botanist.

It’s an honor just to be nominated, but it’s even better to win, and she’s won a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, the American Horticulture Society’s Book Award, the National Outdoor Book Award, and an International Association of Culinary Professionals Food Writing Award.

Amy travels the country as a highly sought-after public speaker whose spirited lectures have inspired and entertained audiences at college campuses such as Cornell and Harvard, corporate offices like Google (where she served tequila and nearly broke the Internet), conferences and book festivals, botanical gardens, bookstores, and libraries nationwide. Find out where she’s heading next.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.

Hello, Wise Women! Today my guest is Dr. Deborah Zucker. Dr. Deborah Zucker is a naturopathic physician, author, and founder of Vital Medicine. After her own journey from chronic fatigue and depression to deep healing, she now helps women create multidimensional well-being by honoring and accepting our unique and true selves. She is the author of The Vitality Map and The Vitality Journal; learn more about her work at vitalmedicine.com.

What We Learn

- 🌱 Vitality is our birthright and life energy.

- 🧭 Honoring individuality in health and embracing experiments, not perfection.

- 💪 Practing peaceful discipline for sustainable self-care.

- 😔 Addressing shame and embracing our shadows as part of self-acceptance.

- 🤝 Reframing self-care as a service to others AND ourselves.

- 🌟 Connecting hope and vitality for a fuller, more trusting life.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.

Welcome to another episode of Health Raisers, Wise Women! My guest is Danielle Grandholme, the founder and director of Rising Kites, a nonprofit organization that celebrates the gift of Down syndrome. Inspired by her daughter Sammie, Danielle and her husband, Matt, started Rising Kites to bring resources, encouragement, and community to families in the Down syndrome community.

What began as a personal mission has grown into a vibrant movement. Today, Rising Kites also offers meaningful employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities through Rising Kites Coffee and Rising Kites Flowers — creating inclusive spaces that uplift and empower. In her free time, Danielle enjoys gardening and spending time at the beach with her family.

🐙 From Isolation to Community: Turning challenges to opportunities to build community.

🐙 Small Gestures Make Big Impacts: Danielle's resource bags have helped thousands of families nationwide.

🐙 Inclusive Spaces Change Everything: Creating environments where people with disabilities can truly be themselves - without judgment or barriers - benefits not just those individuals but entire communities.

🐙 Unfiltered Authenticity is a Gift: Learning from individuals with disabilities who live unapologetically as themselves, asking for what they need, and expressing joy without inhibition.

🐙 Therapy Through Beauty: Flower gardening became healing therapy, with each unique bloom serving as a metaphor for how every person is beautiful just the way they are.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.

Welcome to another episode of Health Raisers! Today, my guest is Dr. Evan Ciarloni, a physician and innovator specializing in geriatric medicine. As a Medical Advisor for KINNECT, Dr. Ciarloni brings his expertise in geriatrics and patient-centered care to support the company’s mission of addressing social isolation, loneliness, and health disparities among older adults. His work with KINNECT reflects his passion for leveraging technology to improve health outcomes, empower individuals, and enable better quality-of-life planning for America’s aging population

🤲 Geriatricians focus on the whole person - They specialize in age-related syndromes affecting older adults, prioritize what makes life meaningful to each unique patient, and bridge the gap within a complex healthcare team.

🕊️ Spirituality isn't about religion - It's about showing up vulnerably person-to-person and having compassion that extends beyond your circle.

🌱 Sometimes less is more - In geriatric care, the goal often shifts from aggressive treatment to maximizing quality of life and honoring what patients truly value.

💬 Advanced care planning saves families - Having conversations about end-of-life wishes before crisis hits helps families make decisions aligned with their loved one's values.

🌿 Reflection is essential - Taking time to disconnect, whether through nature walks or running, helps process experiences and manage the stress of caring for others.

💔 Social isolation is deadly - Loneliness and isolation can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! KINNECT can help!

"There's something within everybody that's spiritual connection... an openness to showing up vulnerably person to person, and an ethic of compassion that extends outside of one's own circle, that's for all people."

He completed his medical education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he developed a nuanced understanding of the unique health needs of those in underserved areas. He further honed his skills during his Internal Medicine Residency and Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at The George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., gaining comprehensive experience in health policy, leadership, and the practice of medicine in many different settings.

Dr. Ciarloni is a passionate educator, frequently lecturing on the complex medical needs of older adults. His research and presentations on delirium care, mental health, and spirituality in medicine underscore his holistic approach to patient care. With board certification in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Dr. Ciarloni’s career is defined by his drive to blend medical excellence with forward-thinking solutions, ensuring a more connected and compassionate future for aging populations.

Connect with Dr. Ciarloni: evan@kinnect.club

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.

Welcome to another episode of Health Raisers, Wise Women! Today, my guest is Noelani Sagapolutele, a licensed clinical social worker, native Hawaiian therapist, and founder of The Waʻa Collective. Noelani brings a unique perspective on blending indigenous wisdom with modern mental health practices. In this episode, we dive deep into the power of curiosity in relationships as we navigate the many transitions of long-term partnerships.

What We Learn

✨ The importance of curiosity and self-discovery in sustaining healthy relationships

🧠 How intellectual health is nurtured by asking questions and keeping an open mind

💬 Why assertive communication and understanding your own needs are foundational

🌱 The value of individual therapy as a tool for better partnership

🤝 Creative solutions for work-life balance and evolving boundaries as couples grow

💡 Navigating major life transitions—parenthood, empty nest, and retirement—with curiosity and compassion

❤️ The role of mutual respect, compromise, and reconnecting through life’s changes

And much more!

More about Noelani

Noelani Sagapolutele, LCSW, is a Native Hawaiian therapist and founder of Waʻa Collective—a directory and growing community of independent, culturally grounded mental health professionals serving Hawaiʻi and Pacific Islander communities across Hawai’i pae ʻāina and the continental U.S.. Raised in North Kohala and deeply rooted in Waiʻanae, Noelani has spent over 20-years supporting ʻohana on Oʻahu’s Leeward Coast.

Through Waʻa Collective, she is reimagining what mental health care can look like when led by and for our communities. By creating intentional pathways for local and Pacific Islander voices in therapy, Noelani works to shift the perception of Western mental health models—offering a lens that centers Pacific Islander identity, values, and lived experience. Her vision is one where individuals and families who have historically felt unseen by the system can now access care that reflects who they are and where they come from.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.

Welcome to another episode of Health Raisers, Wise Women! Today, my guest is Princella Seymour, author, CEO, and founder of Complete Elder Solutions, known as “America’s solutionist for the aging community.” Princella is the author of "Everything You Need to Know About Me," a practical guidebook designed to help families collect and organize vital information for their aging loved ones. She shares practical advice for families supporting aging parents and planning for the future.

What We Learn

🌱 How to start financial and care conversations early and empathetically

💸 Knowing and navigating elder care costs and available benefits

🛡️ Spotting and preventing elder scams (even from trusted sources)

🤝 Building a supportive team and the importance of trust

💬 Managing caregiver burnout and prioritizing self-care

And much more!

More about Princella:

Princella Seymour’s thirty-year career has solidified her as a preeminent expert on solutions for the aging community. The heartbeat of her mission: love, family, and dignity. As a national advocate for revolutionizing elder care and transforming confusion into clarity, she has served as Vice President of the 120,000+ member National Association of Social Workers and as well as historically being a part of the Aging Life Care Association.

Her new book, Everything You Need to Know About Me, is born from decades of experience witnessing the heartache and confusion families face when trying to honor their loved ones’ wishes without having the necessary information. It is available on Amazon HERE.

As CEO of Complete Elder Solutions, Princella has helped thousands. She and her team ensure that families never have to navigate the complexities of aging alone and provide personalized solutions that honor the dignity of every individual.

Princella has a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from Florida International University.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.

Welcome to another episode of Health Raisers, Wise Women! My guest is Nancy Griffin, CEO and founder of Women Worth and Wellness. In this thought-provoking conversation, we explore the powerful connection between your financial well-being and health. Nancy, who considers herself a connector and influencer, brings decades of experience as a wealth advisor. Drawing inspiration from her forward-thinking mother, who taught her about the importance of women's financial independence, Nancy teaches us that owning our lives is the key to overall health and well-being.

🏦 What Mom taught her: How every woman needs her own bank account.

🤝 Nancy's advice: How you need a qualified financial advisor who has your back, just like you need a good doctor for your health.

💝 Give to grow your worth: How charitable giving elevates both financial and self-worth by putting you in a position to help others.

💪 Own your life completely: How true wellness comes from taking ownership of both your health and wealth decisions rather than blindly deferring to others.

🌟 Financial prowess builds confidence: How financial security creates confidence that enhances well-being, creating ripple effects throughout communities.

⭐️ Fun fact: Successful women support their communities more than men!

And more!!

More about Nancy:

Nancy is a connector and influencer. She attributes her success to personal courage, determination, and joy, when focusing on women’s health and wellness, hence creating Women,Worth & Wellness®. Nancy enjoys every opportunity to inspire and inform women about their personal health and wealth, net worth and self-worth, philanthropy and legacy—so that women feel fabulous, generous, joyful, confident, and on top of their game every day.

Nancy Griffin established Women, Worth & Wellness in 1994 as a Private Client Wealth Advisor for her female clients and their families.

Nancy continues to promote and inspire Daring & Caring Leaders, encouraging them to step up and lead in the world, following in the footsteps from many other powerful Women Leaders in the past.

Nancy’s overall purpose is to connect and influence for positive impact every chance she gets.

“My Mom was a trailblazer as a women business owner and felt that women should have their own money and wealth – including their own ideas about what to invest in. She was my inspiration for focusing on health, along with wealth, as she would often say “if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.” This has always been my focus as I worked with my clients, especially women, as women often have a disproportionate responsibility to family’s health and wellness. An equal focus on health and wealth is inseparable.”

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and

Hey, Wise Humans! This is a re-release of an episode with Seth Godin about curiosity, because now more than ever, we need voices that encourage curiosity, connection and empathy. And that's exactly what Seth Godin does. Seth is a thought leader. He doesn't just talk about curiosity. He walks the walk through his work. He invites us all to ask better questions, challenge what we think we know, and remain open to new ideas in a time when it's easy to retreat into fear or division. Curiosity has the power to bring us together. It's an extended and open hand. It builds community. So whether you're hearing this conversation for the first time or revisiting it, hopefully it reminds you that staying curious isn't just good for your mind, it's good for our social health. Please enjoy!

About Seth:

Seth Godin is an author, entrepreneur and most of all, a teachr. Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 21 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world.

The new book, out in 2024 is THIS IS STRATEGY.

His previous books include The Song of Significance and The Practice, and creatives everywhere have made it a bestseller.

Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!). He's credited as the inventor of email marketing (the good kind). Seth has given five TED talks, including two that rank as the most popular of all time.

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

What We Learn:

🔍 Curiosity Defined: The desire to inquire about things most people accept as status quo.

🧠 Curiosity Insights: Fear can be used as fuel or a compass for exploration

💡 Curiosity is a practice: Curiosity is the kindling, but shipping work is essential.

🎨 Curiosity vs. Perfectionism: Perfectionism can be a trap that prevents us from completing work.

🚀 Key Observations: Curiosity is a choice. Mindfulness and curiosity are good friends.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.