EZ Conversations

By: Evergreen Podcasts
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  • Summary

  • Are you ready to embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth? Welcome to EZ Conversations, a groundbreaking podcast that dives deep into mental health, societal issues, and the incredible human ability to overcome adversity. This captivating podcast is designed to uplift, inspire, and provide practical insights while fostering a sense of community and shared understanding. Hosted by mental health advocate and therapist Furkhan Dandia. You can also support this podcast through Patreon: https://patreon.com/EzConversations. Musical credit to Michael from Piano Hooks. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/furkhan-dandia/support
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Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology
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Episodes
  • Building Resilience and Overcoming OCD: A Conversation with Dr. Ashley Smith

    Building Resilience and Overcoming OCD: A Conversation with Dr. Ashley Smith
    Feb 10 2025
    In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, Furkhan welcomes Dr. Ashley Smith, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety, OCD, and stress-related conditions. Dr. Smith shares her journey of resilience in dealing with her degenerative retinal disease and how it has informed her professional work. The discussion delves into resilience, the importance of teaching it to future generations, and the science of happiness. Dr. Smith provides insights into the nature of OCD, differentiates it from general anxiety, and discusses effective treatments such as exposure with response prevention, mindfulness, and neuroplasticity. The episode also covers the role of shame in OCD, strategies for staying motivated, and practical steps for building a happier and more resilient life. Dr. Smith highlights the importance of self-compassion and offers valuable resources for those seeking help with OCD. Dr. Ashley Smith is a licensed psychologist, co-founder of Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength, speaker, and author of The Way I See It: A Psychologist’s Guide to a Happier Life. She is a sought-after anxiety expert and outspoken advocate dedicated to changing the way we approach mental health and wellbeing. Dr. Ashley is also open about learning to thrive with a rare visual impairment. Her professional expertise and personal experiences put her in a unique position to educate and inspire. She is passionate about helping others live bold, happy lives while performing at their peak. Connect with Dr. Ashley on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook (@drashleysmith) or through her website www.drashleysmith.com. Watch her TEDx talk, Is Your Brain Deceiving You? Read her book, The Way I See It: A Psychologist's Guide to a Happier Life. Available in paperback, digital, and audio formats. 00:00 Welcome to the EZ Conversations Podcast 01:30 Dr. Ashley's Personal Journey with Vision Loss 04:46 Overcoming Shame and Embracing Vulnerability 07:38 Understanding and Practicing Happiness 18:07 Exploring OCD and Its Impact 23:49 Understanding Anxiety and OCD 25:08 Exposure Therapy and Resilience 27:50 Neuroplasticity and Behavioral Change 34:54 Shame and Self-Compassion in OCD 42:44 Maintaining Motivation and Forming New Habits 46:38 Conclusion and Resources Sponsors of the Podcast: BetterHelp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/ez10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 10% off your first month of therapy WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans. Aura: https://aura.com/ez10 for a free two-week trial Plunge: https://plunge.com/ez Mint Mobile: ⁠https://trymintmobile.com/ezconversations for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan Mental: ⁠https://getmental.com/ez NuCalm: https://nucalm.com/free-trial?/ref=ez for a one-week free trial Descript: https://get.descript.com/e2d248wpwtav for creating podcast episodes If you would like to support EZ Conversations, here are all the ways you can do that: Instagram⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://m.facebook.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrqBp_zdRiIfBRV4wURSZ2A⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/furkhan-dandia-ccc-mba-072a8a1ba/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/EzConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find Furkhan's Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Revolutionizing Children's Gut Health

    Revolutionizing Children's Gut Health
    Feb 6 2025
    In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, the host welcomes Madeline Lauf, founder of Begin Health, to discuss the critical importance of gut health in children. Madeline shares her journey from rural Illinois to becoming an entrepreneur focused on enhancing kids' health through nutrition. She emphasizes the significance of early health interventions and the role of gut microbiome in children's lifelong wellness. The conversation covers the challenges and systemic issues related to infant formulas, the necessity for transparent product labelling, and the entrepreneurial resilience required to navigate market pivots. Madeline also highlights the essential role of parents as role models in promoting healthy habits and the broader implications of health on national security and societal well-being. 00:00 Welcome to EZ Conversations Podcast 00:20 The Importance of Children's Gut Health 02:04 Madeline Lauf's Journey and Begin Health 05:29 Challenges and Pivots in Entrepreneurship 09:15 The Role of Nutrition in Child Development 15:44 Balancing Persistence and Adaptability 22:05 Building Trust and Transparency in Health Products 28:36 Environmental Factors Affecting Gut Health 34:23 The Importance of Investing in Health 38:17 Role Modeling Healthy Habits for Children 42:39 Madeline's Entrepreneurial Drive 45:19 Conclusion and Contact Information Sponsors of the Podcast: BetterHelp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/ez10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 10% off your first month of therapy WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans. Aura: https://aura.com/ez10 for a free two-week trial Plunge: https://plunge.com/ez Mint Mobile: ⁠https://trymintmobile.com/ezconversations for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan Mental: ⁠https://getmental.com/ez NuCalm: https://nucalm.com/free-trial?/ref=ez for a one-week free trial Descript: https://get.descript.com/e2d248wpwtav for creating podcast episodes If you would like to support EZ Conversations, here are all the ways you can do that: Instagram⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://m.facebook.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrqBp_zdRiIfBRV4wURSZ2A⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/furkhan-dandia-ccc-mba-072a8a1ba/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/EzConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find Furkhan's Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • Navigating Parenting Challenges and Supporting Teen Mental Health

    Navigating Parenting Challenges and Supporting Teen Mental Health
    Feb 3 2025
    In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, Furkhan interviews Susan Caso, a seasoned therapist with over 20 years of experience. Susan shares her insights on the increasing rates of suicide, particularly among men, and the impact of the pandemic on mental health. She introduces her book, 'The Parenting Connection,' which aims to help families build stronger connections. They discuss the challenges of modern parenting, especially regarding screen time and social media's influence on teens. Susan also talks about her role in the 'LIV Project' and its efforts to raise awareness about suicide through a documentary and community initiatives. The conversation covers key strategies for fostering open, trusting relationships with children, the importance of emotional transparency, and proactive approaches to discussing mental health and suicidal ideation. As a mom of three with grown and middle school-aged children, Caso understands the complexities of raising kids in today’s hyper-connected world. Her book draws on her 20 years of clinical experience, sharing personal insights and proven strategies for fostering a deep emotional bond between caregivers and teenagers. The Parent-Teen Connection is more than just a guide—it's a roadmap for parents looking to cultivate what she calls "connectedness" within their families to safeguard teens in today's world. From building trust and belonging through the “mom/dad” role vs. the” parent” role to enhancing communication with their teens utilizing what she terms "the volley,” Caso gives families straightforward advice from both the standpoint of a therapist and a mother who has seen it all. Susan holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Human Development from the University of Kansas. She studied Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics and was trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. Les Greenberg. Learn more at SusanCaso.com. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:00 Susan's Background and Experience 02:36 Parenting Challenges in the Digital Age 05:40 The LIFT Project and Suicide Awareness 07:37 Proactive Approaches to Suicidal Ideation 09:42 Building Connection and Trust with Teens 13:14 Balancing Support and Independence 31:11 Addressing Suicidal Thoughts in Therapy 34:46 Supporting Friends and Family with Suicidal Thoughts 40:17 The Importance of Emotional Transparency 43:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Sponsors of the Podcast: BetterHelp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/ez10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 10% off your first month of therapy WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans. Aura: https://aura.com/ez10 for a free two-week trial Plunge: https://plunge.com/ez Mint Mobile: ⁠https://trymintmobile.com/ezconversations for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan Mental: ⁠https://getmental.com/ez NuCalm: https://nucalm.com/free-trial?/ref=ez for a one-week free trial Descript: https://get.descript.com/e2d248wpwtav for creating podcast episodes If you would like to support EZ Conversations, here are all the ways you can do that: Instagram⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://m.facebook.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrqBp_zdRiIfBRV4wURSZ2A⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/furkhan-dandia-ccc-mba-072a8a1ba/ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/EzConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find Furkhan's Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins

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