Advertise on podcast: Mental Health In A Modern World: Holistic & Alternative Approaches for the Spiritually Curious Young Adult

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “The body doesn’t compartmentalize stress. It summates,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic health practitioner and host of Mental Health in a Modern World, in a solo episode on why the state of your body shapes the way your mind sees reality. Many of the anxiety, depression, ADHD and OCD struggles we blame on our thoughts, Greg explains, often begin with an unhealthy body and a stressed autonomic nervous system. Today, Greg unpacks a bottom-up approach to mental health rooted in the foundational principles he learned from Paul Chek and the Chek Institute. He explains how blood sugar swings, inflammation and the gut microbiome influence mood, why hydration and water quality are among the most overlooked factors in emotional health, and how sleep and dream time give the unconscious mind room to process. He makes the case that breath is our most direct access point to the nervous system, shares a simple box breathing practice, and describes how posture and exercise choices mirror our emotions, from pulling movements that say “yes” to pushing movements that say “no.” Join today’s episode to learn why a healthy body is the prerequisite for deeper emotional and trauma work, and how sauna and cold plunge, grounding, and the four elements of alchemy (earth, water, fire and air) can become free, everyday medicine for your mind. 5 Key TakeawaysYour breath is the fastest way to change how your mind sees the world. Practice box breathing today: inhale for four, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four, all through your nose.Steady blood sugar means a steadier mood. Build every meal around protein, fat and fiber, and cut back on processed sugar and carbohydrates.Dehydration quietly stresses your nervous system. Drink about half your body weight in ounces of filtered, mineral-rich water each day.Sleep is when your unconscious mind does its deepest processing. Aim for bed around 10 PM and rise around 6 AM, in a dark, cool room.Movement and nature are free medicine for your mind. Take a walk of 30 minutes or more outside today, and get your bare feet on the earth. Memorable Quotes“Your mind can only be as healthy as the body it’s living in. If your mind is the windshield you see reality through, and your body is toxic or inflamed, it’s very hard to have a healthy perception of reality.”“How you breathe informs your autonomic nervous system, and therefore your mind, your mental health, and your perception of reality.”“Your body can’t get healthier and your mind not get healthier. We can’t put the cart before the horse.”Resources MentionedChek Institute (six foundation principles) - https://chekinstitute.com/ Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “Cravings are a lot of times the replacement for a lack of fulfilling of desire on a soul level,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic mental health coach and founder of Healing4D.com, who explains on this solo episode of Mental Health in a Modern World why your relationship with food is really a mirror of your relationship with your mother, your body, and your soul. Today, Greg takes you through the psychology of food from the ground up. He explains how the mother archetype and the mother complex imprint the way we nourish, control, neglect, or smother ourselves with food. He shows why at least 90% of addiction is rooted in attachment injuries, and how food becomes a reliable source of warmth, love, and oxytocin when that connection wasn’t available in childhood. He also breaks down the biology behind stress eating, including the cortisol and insulin loop and the gut microbiome’s influence on sugar cravings. Join today’s episode to learn why consuming food and consuming information are the same act on a quantum level, how to tell whether you’re feeding your body or your ideas, and why eating and drinking may be a spiritual practice. 5 Key TakeawaysYour relationship with food is a mirror of your relationship with your mother. Ask yourself whether you control, neglect, smother, or swing between extremes with food, then trace each pattern back to how you were parented.Addiction is rarely a willpower problem. It’s an attachment injury looking for a safer source of comfort. Identify where a parent wasn’t emotionally available and offer yourself the care you’re now seeking from food.You can’t attune to your body while you’re feeding your ideas. Drop the diet dogma and ask your body what it needs right now, then listen to the answer.Stress eating is chemistry before it’s character. Carbs release insulin to quiet cortisol, so support your blood sugar, lower inflammation, and feed your microbiome before you judge your cravings.What you consume, you become, whether it’s a meal or a feed. Choose quality, right quantity, and diversity for both your food and your information, and create as much as you consume. Memorable Quotes“Cravings are often the replacement for a lack of fulfilling desire on a soul level. A lot of addiction and cravings with food come from not meeting the needs of the soul and filling ourselves by other means.”“One of the most important questions with food is: are you feeding your body, or are you feeding your ideas?”“Food, alcohol, drugs are things that will never judge you, reject you, or abandon you. They simply offer the feeling that a parent or primary caretaker ideally would have offered.”Resources MentionedBeyond Addiction: Healing the Wounds That Bind Us - https://healing4d.com/addiction Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify "If your neurochemistry is hijacked, you do not have free will," says Greg Schmaus, holistic mental health coach and founder of Healing4D.com, who returns to Mental Health in a Modern World for a solo episode on how to stay conscious in an age of distraction, overstimulation, and overconsumption. Greg shares five ways to reconnect with your soul, from solitude and nature to creative expression, passions, and solo travel, and five things that quietly unplug you: distraction, overstimulation, overconsumption, obligation, and depletion. He explains Jung's individuation, the tension between authenticity and attachment, and how balancing inner masculine and feminine means balancing structure and flow. He also looks at how television, algorithms, cheap dopamine, and AI can outsource your inner guidance, and why Google Maps is an unexpectedly good spiritual teacher. Join today's episode for a guided heart practice that teaches you what a clear yes and a clear no feel like in your body. 5 Key TakeawaysYour attention is your doorway to your soul, so guard it. Block out time for solitude, meditation, or contemplation this week.Cheap dopamine quietly steals your free will. Take a short break from social media, processed food, or alcohol and notice what comes up.Obligation, depletion, and overconsumption cover up what needs your attention. Ask yourself where a role is overriding the needs of your soul.Nature has no ego to mirror back to you, so it is the easiest place to feel connected. Spend time outside today, phone away.Your heart already knows the difference between yes and no. Ask it to show you each one, and practice listening before you decide. Memorable Quotes"If we're living in a state of distraction or chaos, concentration and sustained attention are how we go from chaos into coherence.""If your neurochemistry is hijacked through the dopamine system, you do not have free will.""Feeling is how we connect with the heart, the heart is how we connect with the soul, and the soul is how we connect with the divine."Resources MentionedBeyond Addiction: Healing the Wounds That Bind Us (Greg Schmaus, use code podcast for 20% off) - https://healing4d.com/addiction Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “Thinking is the language of the mind. Feeling is the language of the body. When the body’s inflamed, when the body’s stressed, when the body has a lot of, you know, toxicity in it, we don’t really want to feel the body. It’s uncomfortable. So a lot of times the mind becomes overactive as a way of numbing out feelings in the body, almost like since the body’s really uncomfortable, we start to live from the neck up to avoid feeling what’s happening below,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic health practitioner and founder at Healing For Zero, on Mental Health in a Modern World. A survivor of severe anxiety and OCD, Greg Schmaus has spent a decade guiding others through integrative healing—bridging nutrition, biology, psychology, and spiritual practice. In this episode, he dismantles the reductionist mindset of modern medicine, which treats mental health as a mere chemical equation, and instead invites us to consider ourselves as living ecosystems—trillions of cells, bacteria, thought patterns, relationships, and boundaries all constantly interacting. Greg Schmaus explains why gut health is foundational to mental and emotional wellbeing, and reveals how everything from antibiotics, processed foods, chronic stress, or environmental toxins can disrupt the delicate dance between our “abdominal brain” and our mind. He explores the two-way highway connecting gut and brain, the dangers of dysbiosis and leaky gut, and powerful, actionable approaches for tending your ‘inner garden’: from diverse, whole-food eating to gratitude, sleep, circadian rhythm support, and breathwork. Learn how caring for your microbiome may be the missing piece in calming anxious minds, restoring self-identity, and reclaiming true health—and why tending to both your inner and outer gardens is the path forward—for body, mind, and planet. 5 Key TakeawaysTo transform your mental and gut health, start making these changes today: 1. Feed your microbiome by eating a diverse diet rich in whole foods, fibers, prebiotics, and fermented foods as tolerated. 2. Protect your gut by reducing processed foods, excess sugar, unnecessary antibiotics, alcohol, and exposure to chemicals and pesticides. 3. Support your nervous system—prioritize quality sleep, manage stress, and incorporate practices like meditation, breathwork, tai chi, or qigong. 4. Spend more time in nature to nourish your inner and outer ecosystems, reinforcing your connection with the natural world. 5. Foster social connection and gratitude, and practice simple activities like gargling, humming, and abdominal massage to strengthen your vagus nerve and boost gut-brain health. Start integrating one or more of these actions this week and notice the changes in your body and mind! Memorable Quotes"Thinking is the language of the mind. Feeling is the language of the body." "The gut is our biological interface; it’s the boundary that differentiates what’s you from what’s not you on a cellular level, the outside world and your inner biological environment.""Supporting the health of the body and the mind is more of an art than a science. When we learn how to garden well and balance the terrain, that’s when we really optimize health."Resources MentionedBeyond Addiction: Healing the Wounds That Bind Us (online program) by Greg Schmaus - https://healing40.com/addiction Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “You can only descend as far as your nervous system will tolerate,” says Tatiana, clinical psychologist and co-creator of the Living Eros program, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to explore how true healing from addiction means journeying beneath compulsive behaviors—armed with emotional skills and compassionate community—into the depths of our own shadowed psyche. In this transformative conversation, Tatiana shares how mythology, somatic practices, and parts work form the backbone of Living Eros, a program that reframes addiction as a spiritual crisis rather than a failure of will or morality. Instead of stigmatizing relapse or focusing solely on sobriety, Tatiana explains the unique power of integrating mythic descent, group support, and self-compassion to help people confront and befriend the deepest needs underlying compulsion. Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World to hear how Tatiana is sparking a paradigm shift—inviting us to reclaim the soul at the heart of healing, and guiding us through the mythic gates where shame dissolves and authentic desire emerges. 5 Key TakeawaysThis episode offers a transformative roadmap for approaching addiction, desire, and self-integration. 1. Approach your shadows with curiosity, not shame—identify the needs your compulsive behaviors try to meet, and begin to befriend those parts of yourself. 2. Move at your nervous system’s pace—lasting healing means not rushing the descent into your unconscious, but equipping yourself with emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. 3. Seek and offer community—healing requires the witnessing and support of others; isolation and speed can amplify harm. 4. Practice integrating both the descent and ascent—true recovery means not just facing darkness but also learning to embody desire’s light side and bring lessons back into your life. 5. Balance compassion with accountability—offer yourself both warmth and precision, refusing to be defined by shame, victimhood, or a single label. Start your journey today: slow down, reach out, and commit to the wholeness waiting within you. Memorable Quotes"We don't want people to descend deep enough to confront their shadow self, to identify what needs were being met by the compulsive behavior, without equipping them with the emotion regulation skills, the distress tolerance skills that allow them to do that work. You can only descend as far as your nervous system will tolerate.""Inanna is a goddess who journeys down through seven gates to the underworld, and at each gate she has to remove one piece of her regalia. At the first gate, she removes her crown, which for us represents the persona—the version of ourselves that we present to the world. As she continues her descent, she removes jewelry, her armor, and so on until she arrives at the bottom with nothing left. That's the literal structure of the ten sessions; each week corresponds to one of the gates.""It's such a privilege to— and I don't mean this to sound like biblical language, although there's nothing wrong with that— but to shepherd people through a journey that brings them back to themselves in a really holistic way. I feel really grateful to be a part of that, to have people's trust to do that."Connect with McKayan and TatianaWebsite - https://www.eros-shift.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-martin-phd-60311931/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckayan-may-60304b150?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mckayan888?stkn=ZDZrMDhjNjE2eGw2&utm_source=qr X - ttps://www.threads.com/@mckayan888?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Resources MentionedEros Shift Live Coaching Course launches October 6th. Listeners can receive a discount using EROS10 at checkout. To view more info and register for the coaching course visit Eros-shift.com Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “It’s very important for parents to have their own sense of purpose and their own dreams. The idea that parents are going to vicariously live through their kids…I think is extremely dangerous,” says holistic healer and former top national tennis player Dane Esses, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to explore the hidden emotional costs that come with achievement-driven childhoods. Dane opens up about how the pressures of elite sports and unspoken family expectations created a pattern of tying self-worth to performance—leaving a legacy of anxiety, burnout, and addiction that often follows athletes into adulthood. In this episode, Dane shares his journey from chasing temporary relief through winning on the court to finding genuine healing by unraveling the deep-rooted contracts formed in his family system. Alongside host Greg Schmaus, he explains why so many athletes and high-performers struggle after stepping out of the spotlight, the dangers of families outsourcing fulfillment to their children, and how to finally break free from generational patterns of guilt, people-pleasing, and “performing to keep the peace.” Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World for an inside look at Dane’s process—including a powerful live demo of parts work and family constellations—to discover what it really takes to transition from performance to authenticity, reclaim self-worth, and become the hero of your own story. 5 Key TakeawaysUnlock your potential and heal old wounds with these five powerful actions inspired by this episode: 1. Examine Your Motivation: Reflect on whether your drive to perform is rooted in your own passion or in the need to please others, especially family members. 2. Identify and Release Unhealthy Contracts: Practice naming and consciously letting go of unconscious contracts you've made to carry others' happiness or define your worth through external achievement. 3. Prioritize Authenticity Over Performance: Embrace play and enjoyment in your pursuits, allowing your true self to emerge rather than being ruled by competition or approval-seeking. 4. Set Emotional Boundaries: Recognize what emotional burdens are yours to carry and which belong to others, and return what's not yours to lighten your mind and body. 5. Engage in Daily Check-Ins: Implement a regular practice of self-reflection and playful activity to support integration, healing, and ongoing self-awareness. Take the first step today—choose one action and commit to your own healing and authenticity! Memorable Quotes"It's very important for parents to have their own sense of purpose and their own dreams. The idea that parents are going to vicariously live through their kids and their kids are going to make a bunch of money and buy them a house is extremely dangerous.""Performance isn't my self-worth. It can be fun and I love competing, but now it's more about enjoying myself and not tying my identity to whether I win or lose, because that's certainly a recipe for disaster.""I think the first thing I want to offer is if you're an athlete and you feel like you're going through a crisis, look at your crisis as an opportunity to further step into your purpose. Even if you can't see that right now, just let things take their course and keep going."Connect with DaneWebsite - https://decodewithdane.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dane-esses-775a36307/ Resources MentionedPaul Chek (holistic health and performance practitioner) - https://www.chekinstitute.com/ Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “From my experience, when we are in our natural state of being, when we are in our unique vibration, we experience optimal health—but the further and further we get from our unique vibration, the more we create an opening for illness or dis-ease,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic health practitioner and integrative mental health coach, in this episode of Mental Health in a Modern World. Drawing on years of personal healing and thousands of client sessions, Greg Schmaus challenges the idea that more knowledge, consumption, or external achievement leads to wellbeing. Instead, he reveals how the essence of both healing and life itself is about letting go: subtraction, self-inquiry, and finding alignment with one's soul’s vibration. Today, Greg Schmaus dives into the core of spirituality in a modern world, exploring how our inherited images of God—our Imago Dei—shape not only our spiritual outlook but also our archetypes of survival, our relationship with death, and ultimately our health. He unpacks how overstimulation, distraction, and “cheap dopamine” threaten our spiritual connection, and offers practical guidance for reclaiming intentionality, balancing creation versus consumption, and using meditative breathwork to access the heart—the true dwelling of the divine within us. Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World to discover how questioning your inherited beliefs—and living with deep intention—can unlock vitality, peace, and a greater sense of purpose. 5 Key TakeawaysSpiritual vitality in the modern world depends on tangible practices that align you with your unique vibration and empower conscious living. Start applying these today to transform your connection with yourself and the world. 1. Prioritize daily silence and solitude to access your soul and the divine—schedule intentional quiet time in your routine. 2. Immerse yourself in nature often so you can directly experience the living divine—go outside, truly witness, and connect. 3. Limit overstimulation, cheap dopamine, and distractions—put down your phone, reduce processed foods, and reclaim your focus. 4. Balance creation and consumption—commit to making something as often as you consume, even in small ways like cooking your own meals or creating content. 5. Set clear intentions for your actions and choices—before you eat, go online, or take any action, clarify your “why,” and choose consciously. Memorable Quotes"In the pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped.""Our relationship with God, whatever our Imago Dei is—image of God—becomes the lens that we perceive all of reality through.""When we are in our unique vibration, we experience optimal health, but the further and further we get from our unique vibration, the more we create an opening for illness or dis-ease."Resources MentionedTao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell (Translation) - https://amzn.to/3Vv1pdA Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “The more we build this relationship with our parts, the less they take over our system… the more we can be what's called self-led and work for our parts rather than from our parts, which is really a beautiful step in creating the life that we want,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic health practitioner and creator of the Internal Family Systems-inspired approach to mental health, on Mental Health in a Modern World. After overcoming severe anxiety and OCD in his own life, Greg Schmaus dedicated over a decade to helping others heal using a unique fully integrated approach—fusing psycho-emotional healing, mindfulness, lifestyle coaching, and archetypal work. In this illuminating episode, he breaks down the art and science of “parts work”—a compassionate method for understanding and transforming the “managers,” “firefighters,” and “exiles” inside us all. Far from pathologizing behaviors like perfectionism, people-pleasing, or even addiction, Greg Schmaus explains how such patterns are protective in nature, and invites listeners into an experiential practice for unblending and befriending these inner parts. Tune in to this week’s episode of Mental Health in a Modern World to discover how shifting your relationship to your internal system can create the foundation for genuine healing, self-leadership, and inner peace. 5 Key TakeawaysUnlock deeper self-understanding and healing by integrating parts work into your daily life. 1. Recognize and name the different parts within yourself—such as managers, firefighters, and exiles—to better understand your inner world [00:03:39](/timestamps/219). 2. Practice unblending by separating your core self from reactive or protective parts, allowing you to respond with compassion instead of reactivity [00:14:15](/timestamps/855). 3. Build a compassionate relationship with your parts by speaking for them rather than from them, reducing inner conflict and external drama [00:16:06](/timestamps/966). 4. Use the 6 Fs practice—Find, Focus, Flesh out, Feel toward, identify Fear, and Befriend—to systematically work with your protector parts [00:30:15](/timestamps/1815). 5. Regularly check in with your parts, maintaining an ongoing self-led relationship to promote healing and greater self-sovereignty [00:30:50](/timestamps/1850). Start your practice today—choose one part, listen in, and take the first step toward a more harmonious inner world. Memorable Quotes"And the more we build this relationship with our parts, the less they take over our system. The more we can be what's called self-led and work for our parts rather than from our parts, which is a beautiful step in creating the life that we want." "There are no bad parts. Once you have a deep understanding of all of the roles that these parts are playing, you realize that every part is playing, once upon a time, an essential role to keep an exile or to keep a core wound safe. At the end of the day, they all have good intentions.""It's not about getting rid of parts, but it's about not allowing the parts to take over the system. Not allowing the parts to stay too blended with us and to develop a benevolent and compassionate relationship from self to part."Resources MentionedNo Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz - https://amzn.to/4c88Yp3 Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “When your inner world becomes your whole environment, it really magnifies how much the mind creates our reality, how much our perceptual experience dictates our experience. Heaven or hell is really dependent on our state of consciousness.” In this riveting solo episode of Mental Health in a Modern World, holistic health practitioner Greg Schmaus recounts his profound journey through a four-day darkness retreat in Poland—a spiritual technology used for centuries by shamans and Tibetan monks to catalyze advanced states of consciousness. Greg shares how this unique immersion in absolute darkness stripped away every external reference point, forcing him to confront the parts of himself he’d previously tried to escape. He explores how the absence of light, time, and distraction brought him face-to-face with his attachments, routines, and sense of identity, ultimately allowing him to experience both deep peace and challenging moments—proving that mental state is everything. Greg describes the physiological reset, the emergence of endogenous visionary states, and the powerful spiritual lessons that led him to reconnect with his authentic self and the feminine aspect of divinity. Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World to discover how subtracting all external stimulation can illuminate the light within, and why embracing the void may be the medicine modern life so desperately needs. 5 Key TakeawaysDarkness teaches us that true healing and self-connection come from subtraction, surrender, and direct experience with our inner world. 1. Spend regular time in silence and solitude, removing distractions and external stimuli, to reconnect deeply with your authentic self. 2. Practice releasing attachments to routines, schedules, and the need for control—notice what expands in you when you let go. 3. Tune into your body’s natural rhythms without relying on external cues; eat, rest, and move based on internal signals rather than the clock. 4. Embrace both moments of bliss and discomfort as they arise—meet your entire inner landscape with curiosity, not avoidance. 5. Use mindful eating and sensory practices to become more present, attentive, and intuitive in your daily life. Dare to step into your own darkness—unplug, let go, and discover the powerful light within you. Memorable Quotes"All that's left is who you are without any outer reference points, which is such a more expansive, natural, truer, more authentic identity." "In a world full of addition—more information, more material goods, more education, more things to consume—perhaps the greatest medicine is subtraction." "What you're really afraid of in the darkness is what you're filling the darkness with, which is you. The fear of the darkness is really the fear of our own shadow, the fear of our own mind and the parts of us we’ve cast into the darkness." Resources MentionedAubrey Marcus Podcast (Darkness Retreat episode & documentary) - https://www.aubreymarcus.com/pages/podcast Ram Dass (Spiritual Teachings) - https://www.ramdass.org/ The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu - https://amzn.to/3XCWWD4 Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “When you can quiet the mind and there’s not a wave or a ripple, that’s when you experience the true reflection of yourself—and the true reflection of reality,” says holistic health practitioner Greg Schmaus, who returns to Mental Health in a Modern World for a powerful solo episode on one of the most daunting challenges of our time: quieting a racing mind in an age of constant overstimulation. Drawing on his own journey overcoming severe anxiety and OCD, Greg dives into the real roots of mental chatter, unpacking why traditional approaches so often backfire and revealing how our thinking mind works more as a protector—like a loyal but overzealous watchdog—than a true enemy. In this episode, Greg lays out the paradoxes of mind, why what you resist persists, and how befriending negative and intrusive thoughts leads to authentic inner calm. He shares two transformative meditation techniques (one for cultivating attention, the other for awareness), plus practical frameworks from Jungian psychology, Internal Family Systems, and Taoist wisdom. Greg also explores the powerful interplay between breath and thought, demonstrating how simple physical practices can break the loop of mental chaos. Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World to learn how to move beyond duality, train your “unruly puppy” of a mind, and discover how stillness is the gateway to your truest self. 5 Key TakeawaysQuieting a racing mind is possible with practical tools and self-understanding—here are five powerful actions you can take today: 1. **Practice Sustained Attention**: Use breath counting meditation daily—focus your attention on the in-breath and out-breath through your nose, counting up to 10, and gently return focus whenever your mind wanders. 2. **Cultivate Open Awareness**: Spend time each day in the “watchtower,” observing thoughts, feelings, and sensations without attachment or aversion; when you get hooked, simply note “thinking” and return to observing. 3. **Feel to Quiet the Mind**: When your mind is racy, ask yourself, “What am I resisting feeling right now?”—drop into your body and allow yourself to fully feel emotions, noticing how this naturally settles your thoughts. 4. **Befriend Negative and Intrusive Thoughts**: Instead of fighting or replacing negative or intrusive thoughts, thank them as protectors, and welcome them like an old friend for tea, turning resistance into curiosity and gratitude. 5. **Regulate with Breathwork and Movement**: Use practices like square breathing (inhale, hold, exhale, hold—each for four counts) and walking meditations matched to your breath to calm both mind and body. Take one of these steps today—commit to a mindful moment and begin reclaiming your inner peace. Memorable Quotes"When you can quiet the mind and there's not a wave or a ripple, that's when you experience the true reflection of yourself and the true reflection of reality.""The more we can access the feeling body, the more we can quiet the mental body.""The most important thing when you're having negative thoughts is to not create resistance or opposition to it, but to actually express gratitude, seeing it as a watchdog or a protector that's just looking out for your sense of safety."Resources MentionedTao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell (Translation) - https://amzn.to/3VK4CCQ Open Focus Brain by Les Fehmi - https://amzn.to/3VKeTiJ Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it’ll rule your life and you’ll call it fate,” says Josh Trent, host of the Wellness and Wisdom podcast, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to illuminate what true mental health really means in an era of speed and disconnection. Josh shares how his own early childhood trauma, from witnessing his mother’s struggle with mental illness to feeling abandoned and unsafe, became both his great wound and his eventual gift—fueling a lifelong journey to wholeness and authenticity. In today’s episode, Josh traces his evolution from soul-numbing corporate work and addictive coping strategies to helping thousands through integrated healing that honors mind, body, and spirit. He reveals why so many symptoms of “mental illness” are actually threads pointing to deeper stories of self-abandonment, inherited trauma, and the masks we’re forced to wear to survive. Josh unpacks “emotional epigenetics,” explores the liberation that comes from radical self-responsibility and integration of all parts of self, and issues a clarion call for the return of true elders and embodied wisdom in our culture. Tune into this compelling conversation to discover why chasing the “why” can be a fool’s game, how to break cycles of generational pain, and how presence, curiosity, and authentic connection are the bedrock of both personal and collective wellness. 5 Key TakeawaysTransforming your mental health starts with practical steps—let these actions guide your integration and healing journey. 1. Identify and Integrate Abandoned Parts of Self Trace your symptoms and patterns back to the inner parts you may have exiled or rejected, then work to accept and reintegrate them for authentic wholeness [13:40](/timestamps/820). 2. Stop Excavating for "Why" and Focus on "What Happened" Shift your healing inquiry from searching for reasons to clearly recognizing what occurred, allowing you to integrate lessons and move forward [23:01](/timestamps/1381). 3. Use the Liberation Loop Model for Transformational Change Map your beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and actions (BTFA) in reverse to uncover core limiting beliefs, then consciously cultivate new beliefs through trust, faith, and consistent evidence-seeking action [01:02:40](/timestamps/3760). 4. Seek True Elders and Community for Support Find guidance and healing within genuine community and elders—those whose embodied wisdom, humility, and presence can support your transformation [43:01](/timestamps/2581). 5. Make Curiosity and Self-Responsibility Daily Practices Adopt a radically curious mindset and embrace ongoing self-inquiry; celebrate mistakes and remain open to growth instead of defending beliefs or identities [51:31](/timestamps/3091). Start your journey today: pick one takeaway and put it into practice—your path to integration begins with a single, authentic step. Memorable Quotes"We are coming to a high point of consciousness that does not rely on us stuffing down emotion or ignoring what has happened. When we can identify what happened, we can understand how we can integrate deeper parts of ourselves without abandoning or rejecting them." "The quality of my life is dictated by the authenticity of my being, because when I'm authentic, I'm at peace. Yet these parts of self are very subtle—at some point we abandon a part of ourselves, and most often it's the younger version of ourselves.""True freedom is the result of when your biology and your reality are no longer at war. Your biology—who you are—and your reality—who you think you are—are one and the same. And then you can be free."Connect with JoshWebsite - wellnesswisdom.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshtrent Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joshtrentofficial/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WellnessF/ X - https://x.com/wellnessforce Resources MentionedIt Didn't Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn - https://amzn.to/4i9ofqS No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model by Dr. Richard Schwartz - https://amzn.to/3JU9JzY How to Know Higher Worlds by Rudolf Steiner - https://amzn.to/44DaI28 Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill - https://amzn.to/3VJ5Rbh Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify "A lot of what we call disease is really just dis-ease with this mismatch of what we are designed for versus what we find ourselves in today," says Jeff Bohnen, psychiatry resident and holistic health practitioner, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to illuminate why much of modern psychiatry misses the mark on both the root and treatment of mental illness. Trained in both Western medicine and holistic health, Jeff Bohnen shares his inside perspective on the tension between pharmaceutical-driven psychiatric care and science-backed natural interventions like nutrition, movement, and spiritual health. He reveals why SSRI antidepressants (and the infamous "chemical imbalance" model) are far less effective than patients are led to believe—citing the real research numbers that pharmaceutical companies don't want you to know—and how vital factors such as vitamin D status, the gut-brain axis, and even daily sunlight are overlooked in mainstream mental health care. Jeff Bohnen draws on both research and firsthand experience to explain how symptoms like depression and anxiety are the body’s intelligent but maladaptive attempts to cope with an artificial environment—akin to trying to swim a fish in sand. He outlines how common psychiatric diagnoses are often merely 'disorders of the human experience' calling for more than a pill or label, and offers a path forward for people and practitioners who are ready for a radically integrated approach. Listen to this episode of Mental Health in a Modern World to discover what most psychiatrists never learned in med school, which interventions outperform antidepressants in clinical trials, and how the future of mental health will require us to reclaim ancient wisdom as much as cutting-edge science. 5 Key TakeawaysThis episode is a wake-up call to approach mental health with greater depth, curiosity, and self-honesty—here are five powerful ways to take action starting today: 1. Address the Basics First: Prioritize quality sleep, reduce caffeine, eat whole foods, and establish a safe environment as the fundamental building blocks of mental well-being. 2. Embrace Holistic Tools: Integrate exercise, nutrition, meditation, breathwork, and time in nature into your daily routine—these accessible practices can outshine medications for many. 3. Question the Status Quo: Think critically about the effectiveness of psychiatric medications and explore evidence-based alternatives; don’t accept the "chemical imbalance" narrative at face value. 4. Personalize Your Healing: Align your approach to what resonates with your values and beliefs, whether it’s therapy, lifestyle changes, or spiritual exploration—your buy-in is essential for success. 5. Take Ownership and Get Curious: Don’t wait for the medical model to catch up; seek out research, question your symptoms, investigate micronutrient deficiencies, and become an advocate for your own health. Start today—pick one small change from this list and make it yours. Memorable Quotes"I think a lot of what we call disease is really just dis-ease with this mismatch of what we are designed for versus what we find ourselves in today." "If anything is not smart, honestly, it's our environment, our environmental structure. The body is doing what it's supposed to be doing for a lot of people, but we have removed ourselves from the state of optimal conditioning for that body." "I think of mental illness in a lot of cases as being kind of the same thing as an autoimmune condition. The immune system is trying to help, trying to do its best to protect, and the symptoms are a casualty of that response. Often these mental disorders might reflect the body's attempts to stay safe more than something being 'wrong' with the individual."Connect with JeffLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbohnen Resources MentionedWin Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - https://amzn.to/3VE3Oro Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb - https://amzn.to/3z6zmBo Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) by American Psychiatric Association - https://amzn.to/4bte2E1 Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “We’re part of this flow of life—and to get back to harmonizing our mind, our spirit, our body involves being in nature and being connected with all of those things,” says Jonny Suarez, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to reveal how the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine illuminates the path to true mental, physical, and spiritual health. Jonny Suarez shares how his childhood obsession with kung fu films began a lifelong pursuit of the ‘warrior monk’ archetype, leading him into Chinese martial arts, holistic fitness, and a deep dive into Eastern healing. On the podcast, he unpacks how traditional Chinese medicine views the body not as a set of disconnected parts, but as an integrated system linking mind, body, and spirit—and why this makes it so radically effective for addressing chronic pain, emotional distress, traumas, and mental health challenges where Western medicine falls short. He reveals how Chinese medicine’s focus on harmonizing and strengthening the body contrasts with the Western pharmaceutical tendency to block or suppress symptoms; why early life experiences—like the birth process and the mother-child bond—reverberate through adulthood in surprising ways; and how practices like time in nature and “shaking Qigong” restore balance lost to the overstimulation of modern life. If you want a mind-expanding look at the connections between ancient wisdom, modern suffering, and true healing in the age of anxiety, tune in to this week’s Mental Health in a Modern World episode with Jonny Suarez. 5 Key TakeawaysImmerse yourself in these powerful ancient principles and rediscover harmony in your mind, body, and spirit. Spend intentional time in nature to ground yourself and disconnect from overstimulation and devices.Practice simple body-shaking Qigong daily to clear stagnant energy, rebalance your system, and return to center.Prioritize nourishing connections—whether with loved ones or through self-care rituals—to build vital Yin (restorative) energy.Address your health holistically: focus on strengthening and harmonizing your body’s systems, rather than just suppressing symptoms.Create pockets of stillness throughout your day to counter the fracturing of your attention and reclaim clarity of mind. Choose one to begin today and start your return to balance. Memorable Quotes"We're part of this flow of life and to get back to harmonizing our mind, our spirit, our body involves being in nature and being connected with all of those things. That also means time away from devices. So go into the forest where you don't have reception and spend some time out there.""The yin anchors the yang. The yang, if it did not have yin, would just be all over the place, lost and ethereal and blasting out. There's nothing to ground it. The yin is what grounds the yang.""I feel like the low-hanging fruit is what we should go for, which is the easiest things we can begin to change in our lives or support that just start inching us closer to maybe working on the deeper stuff."Connect with JonnyWebsite - https://unifiedfma.com/ Resources MentionedShaking Qigong (General reference; video resources available on YouTube) - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=shaking+qigong Paul Chek’s Holistic Health and Nutrition Courses - https://chekinstitute.com/ Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “We are metaphor, that we're made of metaphor. And so the issues that we have and the problems that we have with people are metaphors for the places where our brains are tied in knots and need to be untied and untangled so that we can become whoever it was brains were meant to be— in their snowflake, completely unique incarnation in the world.” says Sarah Peyton, researcher, teacher, and author specializing in relational neuroscience and nonviolent communication, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World for an unforgettable exploration of healing, trauma, and the forces shaping who we become. Sarah Peyton draws on revolutionary findings in neuroscience, family constellation work, and her own lived experience to explain why so many of our struggles are rooted in inherited patterns, unconscious contracts, and a deep need for resonance and accompaniment—rather than advice or “fixes.” In this conversation, Greg Schmaus invites Sarah Peyton to unpack the science and soul of how trauma disrupts our natural capacity for connection, why metaphor is a biological language of the brain, and how precision and warmth together create the conditions for transformation. Discover how the roles played by our earliest caregivers, unacknowledged grief, and “sabotaging” habits all point to what the nervous system has done to ensure our survival—and what’s truly required for lasting change. Listen to learn why we unconsciously replicate our family dynamics throughout life, how to uncover hidden “carrots” underlying self-sabotage, and what it really means to become the unique person your brain was always meant to be. 5 Key TakeawaysDiscover transformative tools for healing, growth, and self-awareness from this episode. Start implementing these actionable steps in your own journey today: Cultivate Resonance: Practice offering others both precision and warmth in your communication to foster emotional connection and relaxation in the body 05:53.Embrace Metaphor: Use and notice metaphor in your language as a way to better understand yourself and create deeper connection with others 10:11.Prioritize Accompaniment over Advice: When supporting others, focus on being present and attuned rather than jumping straight to advice-giving 11:28.Identify and Update Unconscious Contracts: Reflect on self-sabotaging or restrictive patterns in your life, discover the hidden commitments driving them, and consciously choose healthier, updated behaviors 27:24.Recognize and Heal Family and Ancestral Patterns: Notice how family imprints and constellations shape your actions, and work to untangle and release what no longer serves you 54:38. Take your next step—choose one actionable point, practice it this week, and witness meaningful change in your life. Memorable Quotes"We are made of metaphor. The issues and problems we have with people are metaphors for the places where our brains are tied in knots and need to be untied, so we can become who our brains were meant to be in their snowflake, completely unique incarnation in the world.""When the correct word is given to an emotion that a human is feeling, that person's body relaxes. It's like the message has been received, and they get to move on to whatever's next.""If there's accompaniment and resonance, we don't actually have to make these contracts. If somebody were with me, going, 'Yes, of course this would be kind of scary sometimes,' then I don't have to make that contract to be closed; I can just be with what is."Connect with SarahWebsite - https://sarahpeyton.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/empathybrain X - twitter.com/resonantself YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/sarahpeyton Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarahpeytonauthor/ Resources MentionedW.W. Norton Publishing - https://wwnorton.com/ Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify “There are no good archetypes, there are no bad archetypes. All archetypes have 50% light and 50% shadow,” says holistic health practitioner Greg Schmaus, who returns to Mental Health in a Modern World for a deep dive into the four survival archetypes and the unconscious contracts that shape our healing journeys. Drawing on teachings from Caroline Myss, Sarah Peyton, and Richard Schwartz, Greg exposes how the child, victim, saboteur, and prostitute archetypes underpin not just our challenges but also our paths to reclaiming inner empowerment and agency. This conversation explores how these primal patterns originate in childhood, the hidden agreements we make to secure safety, and how our light and shadow sides work together beneath the surface. Greg unpacks how these archetypes influence everything from trauma responses and chronic pain, to relationship dynamics and self-sabotage. He shares practical frameworks for identifying your own unconscious contracts—and guides listeners through a meditative exercise to “unblend and befriend” the parts of ourselves that hold us back, transforming internal enemies into allies for growth. Listen in to Mental Health in a Modern World for a revelatory dialogue that challenges how we see our suffering, provides tools for practical self-inquiry, and invites you to a more empowered, integrated path toward healing. 5 Key TakeawaysTransform your healing journey by bringing awareness and agency to your foundational patterns—here’s how to start: Identify which of the four survival archetypes (child, victim, saboteur, or prostitute) most influences your current patterns and reflect on its impact in your life.Write out an unconscious contract you may hold with one archetype, detailing the agreement, behavior, benefit, and cost involved.Practice the guided meditation to connect with the part of yourself carrying this contract, using curiosity and compassion to understand its fears and history 33:31.Actively observe moments when you compromise your values, self-sabotage, or default to victimhood, and consciously choose a new response aligned with your empowered self.Unblend and befriend your protective parts by expressing gratitude for their role, then reclaim more agency and sovereignty over your choices 43:12. Start today: pick one archetype and take a small step toward compassionate self-awareness and transformation. Memorable Quotes"Archetypes are really the language of the psyche. Archetypes become the vehicles that we use to express ourselves and come to know ourselves in relationship to ourselves, others, and the world.""The saboteur always shows up at moments of expansion, at thresholds or moments of change or transformation. The saboteur is very often trying to protect us from the most empowered version of us.""You see the saboteur, the prostitute, or the victim are not an enemy. We see them as parts expressing this archetype, trying to protect us from some core wound, some trauma, or some experience from the past that they want to make sure never happens again."Resources MentionedSacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential by Caroline Myss - https://amzn.to/3VUzSPT Your Resonant Self: Guided Meditations and Exercises to Engage Your Brain's Capacity for Healing by Sarah Peyton - https://amzn.to/3zK1g9V Internal Family Systems Therapy by Richard C. Schwartz - https://amzn.to/4bZqUE3 Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM