Get Focused with Bill K. & Gina Faye

In this week's episode, we get to talk with Robert Gallagher, founder of Neo-Life Wellness. They offer products and services which provide options to the highly regulated and funded traditional medical choices. We strive to bring thought provoking topics to our listeners, and this episode was no exception. We talked for well over an hour about the huge range of alternatives that exist for wellness, and were reminded how valuable it is to ask questions about healthcare.

In this episode, we look at some of the ideas people may have about what is involved in seeing a therapist, and many of the stereotypes and misconceptions that exist regarding this. We talked about this from the perspective of the client (Bill) and the therapist(Gina). Many of these stereotypes aren't true, and in fact, the most critical thing about getting the results needed from a therapeutic relationship is open communication. Ideally, a therapist approaches every session with an open mind.

In this episode we discuss perception over reality. Bill has the example of his training for a triathlon and how the people around him perceives it. The discussion turns into how do we learn more about ourselves through paying attention. 

This week we talked about this quote that Gina shared, and what it means to us. “I don’t think there’s any way around it. If we say healing, wholeness, healthy power, true freedom, then we’ve got to, at some point, consciously engage the young ones who continue, in various states of incompleteness, to live on inside of us…..” Josh Levin This is a very rich topic that no doubt will fuel many conversations to come. Stay tuned! Want more? Go to: getfocusedwithbillk.com

We had a special guest and a controversial conversation. We decided it would be interesting to have a look at so-called conspiracy theories and the ways they might affect our thoughts and choices. Bill and I have always said that we want to offer thought provoking topics on our podcast, and this episode certainly provides that! We look at what the word conspiracy means to us, and having done that, we look at 9-11, immunization, aliens, and more. So, buckle up, enjoy the ride!

In this episode we talked about a couple of interesting subjects. The first, how to best support our kids when they are dealing with inevitable stress in their lives...and the second, on Bill's fear of failure. This is a pretty common fear many of us grapple with, and Bill put himself on the line and started to have a deeper look at his childhood, and the possible roots of this fear. The work of therapy is to recall those painful buried experiences. We welcome feedback, and appreciate your listening!

More and more science is recognizing the connection between mind and body. In this episode we talk about a quote from Gabor Mate, MD, where he points out how these two aspects of us are closely linked. The good news is, over time, and with practice, we can chose different reactions, and support the development of other receptors that are there to receive calming hormones such as endorphins. Thanks for listening and be sure to let us know what you think!

Most of us face the issue of being bombarded with information and stories on the media, and trying to decide what is accurate & what is not. We agree on the value of keeping an open mind, we looked at censorship, and briefly talked about the rights and wrongs of that practice. It seems to make sense to educate ourselves and those around us to the best of our ability, always remembering that no two people will have the same thoughts, beliefs and/or values. What do you think? Many thanks for listening!

This week we talked about the challenges of living pay check to paycheck, specifically the mental challenges this can present. We recognize that many of us try to live beyond our means, and explored the cultural beliefs that lead us to prioritizing material possessions. Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that there just isn't one answer to this issue, and that we all confront a number of challenges around this. Thank you all...see you next week!

Can we exercise and develop our mental health the same way that we exercise? We look at how we react to particular situations and thoughts , and how focused attention to those reactions allows us to respond differently than we are used to. Bill finds his flow state through physical training while Gina practices yoga and meditation. Self awareness is very helpful if we are hoping to find our own individual flow state, and there is no one right way, each of us has to figure out what that means for us.

In this episode, Bill looks at his sense that some of the people he cares about are not always being honest with him. He acknowledges that this has been an ongoing issue with him, and something that he works at being aware of all the time. We looked at some of his own motives for not always telling the truth, to see if he could better understand the motives of others. It does seem to be true, that the things we become aware of in ourselves we do start to see more clearly in others. Thank you!

More than 6 months ago when we started this podcast journey, it was our intention to discuss everyday life's challenges and joys with everyday people. We talk with one of our most dedicated listeners and learned how she found us. She also describes how listening and interacting with us has made a profound difference in her life. We reflected with Linda about how although many people might feel alone at times, the internet allows us to connect with people all over the world, and feel more connected.

In this episode we speak with Elaine Bentley Baughn MS LMFT, author of 5 Rules for Drama-Free Living. What a great conversation! We have learned so much from so many people along this journey, and Elaine has now added to this. We know that you will enjoy this conversation and want to get your own copy of her book as soon as possible. She gave us some insight into a few of the rules and how living in different regions has influenced her. Please listen, share, and enjoy! Thank you for all your support.

In this episode we discuss an article called 5 Signs you are neglecting Your Inner Child. Gina describes what is meant when people talk about our inner child and the value that can be found in paying attention to this often neglected part of ourselves. All of us deal with different thoughts and feelings, and can, at times, feel confused and overwhelmed by these. Our hope is that through this we can help minimize confusion, and support greater understanding of ourselves and others.

Right before we began recording this week, we considered what we wanted to talk about. Characteristically, once we got rolling, we took a left turn, and ended up discussing The Vagina Monologues! If you're curious about how that happened, you'll just have to listen to find out. The rest of the time was spent with Bill doing therapy with Gina...or so he says. Gina and Bill both have their own thoughts and opinions, and love challenging and sparring with each other. It's yet again a fun episode!