Fear in the Body, Power in the Mind: Reclaiming Agency in an Anxious World with Dr. Vadim Dekhtyar – Episode 424

Fear isn’t the enemy, it’s a messenger. And when we learn how to listen, we reclaim our power. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Vadim Dekhtyar, a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and licensed NLP trainer with decades of experience helping individuals and organizations navigate fear, stress, and meaningful transformation. Dr. Vadim is the founder and director of the NLP Academy and has worked internationally, from advising Lithuanian government officials and state television to consulting U.S. companies on personal and organizational wellness. He is the author of several books, including his latest, “Conquering Fear: The Path of Inner Strength”, which weaves together neuroscience, psychology, and holistic practices to offer practical, science-backed tools for overcoming anxiety and reclaiming agency. His work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: deep emotional change should be both accessible and actionable. Together, Sharlee and Dr. Vadim explore how fear and anxiety affect both the mind and the body, why fear has become a cultural experience in our modern world, and how we can use awareness, physiology, and imagination to transform emotional pain into inner strength, resilience, and healing.

Dawn Dusk: Turning Grief Into Art, Light, and Resilience with Chelli Look, Blue Gerber & Jason Gerber – Episode 425

When words fail, creativity carries what the heart still needs to say. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with three powerful storytellers: Chelli Look and filmmaking duo Blue Gerber and Jason Gerber. Chelli is a fashion artisan, creative collaborator, and storyteller whose work is rooted in emotional depth and intentional design. After years in luxury retail and leading her own leather goods brand, she transformed her craft into a healing practice following the devastating loss of her sister to domestic violence. Her journey has carried her from retail floors to artisan studios in Florence, and now into partnerships with brands that use design to tell meaningful human stories. Joining her are Blue Gerber and Jason Gerber, a husband-and-wife directing team based in Los Angeles. Known for their award-winning film “Otis’ Dream” shared by Oprah and recognized by President Obama, the pair specialize in emotionally resonant storytelling across film and commercial work. Their latest documentary, “Dawn Dusk”, captures Chelli’s personal journey with care, beauty, and deep respect for the healing power of art. Together, we explore how grief can be transformed through creativity, how art becomes a vessel for meaning, and how “Dawn Dusk” emerged as both a portrait of loss and a celebration of light, memory, and resilience.

The Moment of Release: Rehabilitating Substance Use Disorder After Incarceration with Dr. Joshua Hall, FAOAAM – Episode 423

Release is not recovery, unless we build a bridge. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon is joined by Dr. Joshua Hall, FAOAAM, to examine what it truly takes to rehabilitate substance use disorder at the moment people leave incarceration, when the risk of overdose and recidivism is highest. Dr. Hall is the Medical Director and Senior Quality Officer at Crossroads Treatment Center and Chief Medical Officer at The Phoenix Center in South Carolina. Dual board-certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, he has dedicated his career to advancing compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals with substance use disorders, particularly those involved in the criminal justice system. Drawing from his clinical experience and personal journey, Dr. Hall shares insights into South Carolina’s innovative soft re-entry model, a program that begins engagement during incarceration and continues seamlessly after release. The approach combines medication-assisted treatment, peer support, and continuity of care to intercept relapse, reduce recidivism, and support long-term stability. Together, Sharlee and Dr. Hall explore why the weeks following release are the most dangerous, and the most powerful, window for change, and how treating addiction as a medical condition, not a moral failure, can transform lives, families, and communities.