John Karren is the owner and co-founder of Elements Wilderness Program in Utah. John helps run two therapeutic wilderness programs: Elements is for boys thirteen to seventeen, and Traverse is all gender, young adults eighteen to twenty five.

Today, John joins the show to discuss ‘non-traditional’ therapies and how the outdoors can be such a great benefit to everyone.

01:03 – Shay Butts welcomes John Karren to the show to discuss wilderness therapy and other ‘non- traditional’ therapy options

10:08 – How Elements Wilderness Program works

14:42 – Dealing with the negativity surrounding outdoor therapy

18:51 – Striving for excellence

23:40 – The role parents play in Elements Wilderness Program

26:53 – Shay thanks John for sharing his story today

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

John’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkarren/

Elements Wilderness Website – https://www.elementswilderness.com/

Shay Butts’ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-butts-8963b217/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

In Part Three of this very special series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin.

Today, Tonda, Candy & Jeanie talk about their experiences with interventions, reflect on servant leadership and share their passion for helping others.

00:02 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about interventions

07:18 – Servant Leadership

08:41 – Dr. Flowers opens up about the passion he has for helping people and how he manifested the life that he wanted

14:47 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Three of this series

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154/

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068/

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939/

Books Mentioned:

When Enough Is Enough -

In Part Two of this very special three-part series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin.

Today, Candy & Jeanie talk about the critical role that family plays in recovery and the value of intimacy and being vulnerable.

01:31 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about intimacy and vulnerability

07:52 – Tonda speaks to the importance of family in the process of recovery

11:14 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Two of this episode and encourages them to return for Part Three with Tonda, Candy & Jeanie

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154/

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068/

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

In Part One of a very special three-part series, Dr. James Flowers welcomes to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin.

Today, Tonda, Candy & Jeanie Griffin get personal and share their own experiences with addiction, recovery, spirituality, and The Twelve Step Program. They talk about family, and the people in our lives who become our family. Finally, they discuss the differences between belief and faith and turning to a higher power or being.

04:21 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about spirituality, addiction, recovery and family

10:04 – Turning to God or a higher power

15:23 – Family and the spiritual world

22:39 – Jeanie’s approach to family programs

32:41 – Belief and faith

35:07 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part One of this episode and encourages them to return for Parts Two and Three with Tonda, Candy & Jeanie

“I guess I’ve been on a spiritual journey my whole life. I just keep going to the wrong address.” (06:44) (Jeanie)

“Along the way, I think I’ve been introduced to different levels of spirituality. Some of it is pretty crazy, but we don’t get to tell you how you feel in Twelve Step and that’s the magic of it. I don’t think you’re gonna stay unless you have some sort of spiritual awakening.” (13:14) (Candy)

“I think that’s the way we have to approach people that are looking for recovery. Everyone comes from a different place. And, one commonality I’ve found is that the people who bring family in and the family takes a part in their recovery, are so much more successful.” (19:02) (Tonda)

“I grew up in an alcoholic home. It was a loving alcoholic home, and there is such an animal. I knew I was loved. I knew we were loved. I also knew that there was something that crept in under the door that nobody could do anything about. And it fractured our family.” (26:02) (Jeanie)

“The spiritual life is not a theory; you have to live it. And we have to live it because we are spiritual beings.” (28:56) (Jeanie)

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154/

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068/

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939/

Books Mentioned:

Another Chance: Hope and Health for the Alcoholic Family - https://www.amazon.com/Another-Chance-Health-Alcoholic-Family/dp/0831400722

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign

Amanda Blanco is the CEO of the Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire, who started her career with UHS as a Mental Health Technician over 10 years ago. In her tenure with UHS, she has successfully driven initiatives to convert a facility to seclusion free and started clinical trials on acute schizophrenic patients through MERCK, a research organization.

Today, she joins the show to talk about how a personal tragedy led her into the field of mental health, advice she would give to other mental health technicians, and the improvements she hopes to see in the mental health industry.

01:23 – Amanda Blanco joins the show to talk about her amazing journey from mental health technician to CEO of a hospital system

06:09 – Turning tragedy into hope

07:14 – Achieving a Bachelors & Masters degree while working at UHS and what it’s like working at Universal Health Services

09:59 – Advice Amanda would give to mental health technicians

13:24 – What’s next for Amanda

14:31 – Amanda speaks to her hope for the evolution of mental health

17:03 – Dr. Flowers thanks Amanda for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can connect with her and the Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire

“It’s funny because we talk about crossroads and how there’s a fork in our road where you really start to see which way you’re gonna go. At that time I had the interview as a mental health tech, I also had an interview as a store manager for a very big store chain. It was a lot more money, but when I did the tour at the residential treatment center for kiddos, I loved it. There was something so intriguing about it.” (05:39) (Amanda)

“I started to realize, as I got deeper into case management, that I needed to do something more extreme. I needed to be at a higher level in order to make change. The people in the trenches - the case managers, the direct care staff - they do a lot of work. But a lot of change comes from the top.” (07:54) (Amanda)

“I would not be at a company if I didn;’t share the same virtues, the same philosophy, the same everything as the President.” (09:01) (Amanda)

“Sometimes, doing jobs or taking on responsibility that goes outside of our comfort zone, that’s where you’re gonna grow. That’s what we do as humans, we grow. We grow from challenge. We grow from obstacles.” (10:47) (Amanda)

“Right now, I want to make BHB - Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire - as successful as possible. I want patients to come in and when they leave I want them to call their parents, family and friends and say, ‘I feel better.’” (13:37) (Amanda)

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire Website – https://bhbhospital.com/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by

Aproteem Choudhury is a mind-body interventionist who focuses on integrative behavioral health consultancy and public health with six years of experience empowering traumatized clinical populations, communities, and healthcare institutions. He’s incredibly skilled at building relationship-driven partnerships that activate our capacity to heal trauma, understand ourselves, and face challenges with practical and accessible mind-body skills.

Today, he joins the show to talk about generational trauma, his passion for serving others and the incredible work he’s doing with families and pediatric populations at Texas Children’s Hospital.

01:22 – Aproteem Choudhury joins the show to talk about his background as a mind-body interventionist and the incredible work he’s doing in the community of Uvalde, Texas

06:38 – Service-oriented activities

11:35 – How trauma spans multiple generations both in the past and in the future

20:18 – Working with families at Texas Children’s Hospital

23:20 – Dr. Flowers thanks Aproteem for joining the show and for the great work he’s doing and lets listeners know where they can connect with him

“The work that we’re now doing in Uvalde is coming together, sharing what needs to be shared. No one is diagnosing you. No one is trying to fix you. We’re coming together as humans. and we’re teaching skills that help us connect more deeply to what’s happening in that moment. And that’s a lot of what mind-body medicine is.” (07:24) (Aproteem)

“So, what’s in our subconscious mind and what’s living in ourselves signals to ourselves and sends messages to ourselves. That’s a lot of what mind-body medicine allows us to look at and interact with - this process that’s already happening.” (15:45) (Aproteem)

“I think working with kids and families is such a privilege because you get to work with a complete system. So much of what happens in general with pediatric populations is that the child or the adolescent might think that they’re responsible for the challenges they’re facing. And that creates a whole other complex - shame, guilt - that complicates the healing process.” (20:42) (Aproteem)

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Aproteem’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/breathewithapro/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

Chef Eric James is a private chef, content creator with over 450,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, & Facebook. A self-proclaimed, Culinary Misfit, Chef Eric possesses exceptional skills to create personalized culinary journeys that surpass all your expectations.

Today, he joins the show to talk about what drew him to the wellness and healthcare industry, how an awakening impacted his relationship with food, and the correlation between food and comfort.

01:23 – Chef Eric James joins the show to talk about his role as a ‘Culinary Misfit,’ and how he got into the food world

06:30 – What drew Chef Eric James to the wellness and healthcare industry

08:49 – Chef Eric gets vulnerable and opens up about his mother and his childhood

11:06 – Chef Eric speaks to a recent health awakening and how it’s impacted his relationship with food

13:11 – Advice Chef Eric would give to those looking to cook healthier meals for themselves

14:05 – The relationship between food and comfort

17:18 – Dr. Flowers thanks Chef Eric James for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can connect with him on questions about food

“We [at Culinary Misfits] care more about the experience. The food has to be good, but my mindset was I want people to approach Culinary Misfits with a question like, ‘Oh, wow what is this?’” (03:43) (Chef Eric James)

“The reason why I don’t even do a lot of food competitions is because I don’t believe it’s about the chef. I really don’t believe it’s about the food. The food makes the journey better, but I believe it’s about us as human beings, as the journey that we take that food can help guide us on that journey. For me, I believe that food can cure the soul.” (07:15) (Chef Eric James)

“For me, my favorite style of food is Spanish, because I believe that Spanish flavors are so deep. They’re beautiful flavors. I love Italian, but Spain goes so deep and rich with their flavors.” (10:30) (Chef Eric James)

“Here’s what the people eating my food get when they eat my food. They know when it was made, how it was made, who it was made by, and what’s going in it.” (13:37) (Chef Eric James)

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Chef Eric James’ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefericjames/

Chef Eric James’ Website – https://www.chefericjames.com/

Chef Eric James’ Email – events@chefericjames.com

Culinary Misfits – https://culinarymisfitscp.com/

Culinary Misfits TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@culinarymisfits?lang=en

Culinary Misfits YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-YDorDe1lhrSKyHdwfF8A

Culinary Misfits Instagram –

Farideh Banafshei is a relational integrative therapist who integrates and tailors evidence-based psychological interventions, drawing knowledge from diverse schools of thought, to optimally create the most supportive approach to best suits her patients’ needs. She specializes in areas such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, phobias, and personal development.

Today, she joins the show to discuss trends in Artificial Intelligence and telemedicine in the aftermath of the global pandemic, alternative medicine options, and therapeutic approaches that she employs with her patients.

01:25 – Farideh Banafshei joins the show to discuss everything from the recent coronation of King Charles III to her journey to psychology

09:54 – What impressed Farideh the most about J. Flowers Health Institute

10:41 – The growth of A.I. and Telemedicine in the aftermath of Covid

13:53 – Alternative medicine and the use of saffron

16:32 – Other techniques that Farideh uses for therapeutic approaches

21:10 – Why it is so difficult to find good mental healthcare in the UK

25:14 – Dr. Flowers thanks Farideh for the incredibly work she continues to do in mental health

26:40 – Dr. Flowers thanks Farideh for joining today’s show and Farideh leaves listeners with her thoughts on what it means to understand the human condition

“I picked that university because they’ve got a really strong background in the medical field here. You get to work with some of the best in the field and you talk with some of the best in the field. And, with that, it sort of unlocked this new passion in me. I did a lot of research on the effects of migration on developing effective disorders. I did a lot of research with perinatal women, with people with additions. And that kind of drew this passion in me and I ended up working in addictions for quite a few years.” (08:12) (Farideh)

“And I think one thing, for me, that settled really nicely in my brain when I came out to see J. Flowers Health Institute at the end of last year was actually how much at the forefront of medicine you actually are.” (09:54) (Farideh)

“The idea of a holistic, natural way of life is really coming forward in all these different ways of being.” (14:24) (Farideh)

“We have The National Health Service, which is obviosuly free healthcare. However, what it was fifty years ago is very different to how it is today. It’s really, for lack of a better term, almost on its knees. It’s really difficult to access mental healthcare, or actualy healthcare in general. It’s extremely hard. The waiting lists are as long as one year. You’ve got hundreds of people waiting to access care.” (21:55) (Farideh)

“You need someone to say, ‘Hey, sit down with us. We’ll do a ten-day evaluation and find out what’s wrong with you. We’ll understand you from all these different angles, and we’ll give you this intervention and treatment program and help you moving forward. And I think that’s one thing that J. Flowers does so beautifully. And that’s the thing that’s missing in London. It’s a lot of self-knowledge. You’ve got to go out there and search and seek. And that’s what people find difficult, and I think that’s what people are really struggling with here.” (23:55) (Farideh)

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are...