We have access to more health information than at any other point in history.

And somehow, figuring out who—or what—to trust has become harder than ever.

Search for almost any health question online and you’ll find thousands of articles, videos, opinions, products, practitioners, and promises. And when you step into the world of Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative (CHI) Health, the possibilities become even greater—but so does the challenge of navigating them.

How do you find credible information?

How do you know whether a practitioner is experienced and trustworthy?

And how do you explore different approaches to your health without surrendering your own intuition, discernment, or ability to advocate for yourself?

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, I’m joined by entrepreneur, facilitator, speaker, and writer Esther Sarlo, founder of Mynd Myself.

Esther and her team created Mynd Myself in response to what they saw as a profound gap: there was no centralized space where people could explore credible information from across the Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Health landscape while also connecting with vetted, experienced practitioners.

At the heart of Mynd Myself is a beautifully simple idea:

You should be empowered to become your own best health advocate.

That doesn’t mean navigating your health alone. It means having access to information, perspectives, resources, and people who can help you ask better questions and make more informed choices—while feeling safe, heard, seen, and supported along the way.

Esther takes us inside the story and philosophy behind Mynd Myself, the problem she originally set out to solve, and the much larger vision beginning to emerge around what this platform could become.

And there’s another reason for this conversation.

Over the past several months, Esther and I have been having some very interesting conversations behind the scenes about Mynd Myself, its future, and what might be possible if we brought our respective experience and visions together.

Those conversations have led somewhere neither of us necessarily anticipated.

And in this episode, we finally get to share the news.

This isn’t simply a conversation about another health platform.

It’s a conversation about creating a place where conventional wisdom can meet complementary perspectives, where practitioners and seekers can find one another, and where people are encouraged to become active participants in their own health journeys.

And for both Esther and me, it marks the beginning of a very exciting new chapter.

Learn more about Mynd Myself:

https://www.myndmyself.com/

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Henry Hawk. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

The blue pill or the red pill?

There’s a moment when the familiar begins to feel strange. You’re going through your day, doing what you’ve always done, and suddenly you wonder how so much of your life became something to get through.

You followed the instructions. Earned the degree. Got the job. Took on the payments. Each promise of freedom came with another obligation—and living kept slipping further into the future.

After the debt. After the next promotion. After retirement.

But somewhere inside, you’re growing tired of waiting.

The world keeps getting louder. The future feels less certain. And beneath the pressure to keep up, keep working, keep becoming, there’s a voice you may have spent years trying to quiet.

What happens when you finally listen?

This episode of Rooted & Wild is for anyone who has looked at the life they’ve built and felt a longing they couldn’t quite explain. Anyone who is tired of postponing joy, performing certainty, or wondering whether there’s still time to choose something different.

Perhaps you’ve felt it for a while.

Perhaps that’s why you’re here.

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Henry Hawk. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

The world can change faster than our bodies know how to process.

Political division, economic uncertainty, violence, technological disruption, climate anxiety, changes in our communities, and the constant stream of troubling information can leave us feeling as though the ground beneath us is always shifting. Even when we are physically safe in the present moment, our nervous systems may remain braced for what could happen next.

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, Henry welcomes Dr. Melanie Gray, a PhD-prepared nurse, educator, and trauma-informed wellness strategist, for a conversation about creating an inner sanctuary when the world around us feels uncertain.

Together, they explore what safety actually means and why it is more than the absence of immediate danger. Safety can be a felt experience within the body. It can be the ability to breathe more deeply, return to the present, recognize what is within our control, and reconnect with the part of ourselves that remains steady even when life is changing.

Dr. Gray shares how prolonged uncertainty can keep the nervous system in a state of hypervigilance, leaving us exhausted, reactive, disconnected, or constantly anticipating the next crisis. They discuss the difference between being informed and being consumed, why the body may struggle to trust calm after extended periods of stress, and how boundaries can protect our peace without disconnecting us from the realities of the world.

This conversation also explores the sacred dimension of safety. If the nervous system shapes how we experience connection, intuition, trust, and the Divine, then tending to it is not merely an act of self-care. It can become a spiritual practice. Through small moments of regulation, intentional rest, and compassionate awareness, we can begin creating a sanctuary within ourselves that does not depend entirely upon external circumstances.

Finding inner safety does not mean ignoring suffering, pretending everything is fine, or withdrawing from the world. It means developing enough steadiness to remain present without being swallowed by fear. It allows us to respond thoughtfully, protect what matters, and continue living with purpose even when we cannot predict what comes next.

The world may remain uncertain. The ground may continue to shift. But within each of us, there may still be a quiet place where we can pause, listen, breathe, and remember that we are here.

Perhaps sanctuary is not somewhere we escape to.

Perhaps it is something we learn to carry within us.

Learn more about Dr. Melanie Gray and her work at DrMelanieGrayTheConfidenceCoach.com.

Connect with Dr. Melanie Gray:

Instagram | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Henry Hawk. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.