Health Power: The OG Health Podcast & Dog-Eared Podcast

Send us a textInstead of resolutions this year, perhaps you can take a hard look at some of your lifestyle choices.Immediately after the clock strikes midnight on January 1, many people are geared up for their New Year's resolutions.It's evidenced mostly at your now-busy gym. If you're a regular gym-goer, have no fear... it's predicted to be back to "normal" as soon as January 17.Why do so many people fail at resolutions?For one, resolutions present a great deal of pressure. If you're not ready to actually make adjustments in your life, you're not going to change. If you're resistant to change, you need to discover why you're experiencing that resistance. Are others sabotaging your health goals? Are you fearful of change? Are your goals just a bit too lofty?Instead of resolutions this year, perhaps you can take a hard look at some of your lifestyle choices. You don't have to wait for January 1 to start, either. You can take note of certain behaviors at any time, and then make the decision to work on them.Listen in as Naturally Savvy hosts Andrea Donsky and Lisa Davis present some tips for making better lifestyle choices this year and beyond.

Send us a textA regular listener Ray brought to my attention that Cara's sound was much lower than mine. I have no idea how that happened. I put together every show and I must have hit something just before bouncing the file. Anyway, I evened out the sound and it's a MUST LISTEN. Cara is phenomenal and so is her book!Lisa is joined by Cara Sue Achterberg who talks with Lisa about her book, "Another Good Dog: Our Family and Fifty Foster Dogs." Cara shares her experience fostering fifty dogs and in this interview you will get to hear about quite a few of them. In addition Cara's book and this interview touches on mothering older children who don't need you quite as much and the challenges that comes with that. Cara Achterberg is the author of seven books, a creative writing teacher, and a shelter dog advocate. Her memoir, Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs was a People magazine ‘people’s pick’ and featured on the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family Show. Her book, One Hundred Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues led to Cara cofound Who Will Let the Dogs Out, a nonprofit initiative to raise awareness and resources for shelter dogs. Cara lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, three rescue dogs, and a rotating cast of foster dogs and cats. For more information visit CaraWrites.com.BOOK DESCRIPTION:  In 2015, Cara Achterberg’s Pennsylvania farm became a haven for Operation Paws for Homes, which rescues dogs from high-kill shelters in the rural south and shuttles them north to foster homes. Nine puppies arrived with less than a day’s notice; a heart-worm positive dog; a deeply traumatized stray pup from Iraq; and countless others who just needed a gentle touch and a warm place to sleep. The stories of these remarkable dogs—including an eighty-pound bloodhound who sang arias for the neighbors—and the joy they bring to Cara and her family (along with a few chewed sofa cushions) fill the pages of this touching and inspiring book.When asked how she can possibly say goodbye to that many lovable pups, Cara says, “If I don’t give this one away, I can’t possibly save another.” Filled with humanity and hope, Another Good Dog will take the reader on a journey of smiles, laughs, and tears—and lead us to wonder how many other good dogs are out there and what we can do to help.

Send us a textHow can you make the most out of the coming year?With the new year comes exciting possibilities. How can you make the most out of the coming year?A big part of that is discovering what you love and how to make more time for that. Oftentimes, it can be as simple as one word, such as "balance." Another tactic is to identify your old belief systems and work on changing them. For example, if you're constantly berating yourself with negative self-talk, try listening to yourself like you are your own best friend. Would you say to a friend, "You're worthless" or "You can't do anything right"? Not likely. You need to learn how to speak to yourself in a loving way.Shaman Isabella Stoloff, founder of the Orange County Healing Center in Southern California, joins Naturally Savvy hosts Andrea and Lisa to share more about how you can make the most out of this year, as well as specific ways you can leave the negative behind.

Send us a textDo you often find yourself putting others' needs before your own, sometimes to your own detriment?This episode explores the often blurry line between empathy and codependency, offering clarity on how to support others without sacrificing your own well-being. It addresses the common struggle of wanting to help while maintaining healthy boundaries.Listeners will learn:How to distinguish between healthy empathy and codependent behaviors, recognizing the signs of self-sacrifice.The importance of setting and maintaining boundaries when helping others, preventing overextension and resentment.Practical strategies for offering support without imposing solutions, fostering independence and self-reliance in those you care about.Click here to listen and discover how to nurture healthy relationships by understanding the difference between empathy and codependency.Keywords: codependency, empathy, helping others, sacrifices, boundariesTO WORK WITH DR. JOHN - text him here: 719-310-9495  and let him know you are interested in a 15 minute FREE consultation. Get Dr. John's books here:  Making Movies in Our Minds: Working Through Our Anxiety - July 3, 2023: https://tinyurl.com/b7kp2etkConnecting In A Disconnected World: Activities That Build Connections With Children:  https://tinyurl.com/53vswdby

Send us a textLisa is joined by Craig Grossi, the author of Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other.Raised in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, Craig Grossi is a Marine Corps veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart and Georgetown University graduate. When not travelling with Fred, he devotes his time to veteran organizations including the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program and other nonprofits that benefit dogs and veterans. He now lives in Maine with his partner Nora, and their dogs Fred and Ruby.In 2010, Sergeant Craig Grossi was doing intelligence work for Marine RECON—the most elite fighters in the Corps—in a remote part of Afghanistan. While on patrol, he spotted a young dog "with a big goofy head and little legs" who didn’t seem vicious or run in a pack like most strays they’d encountered. After eating a piece of beef jerky Craig offered—against military regulations—the dog began to follow him. "Looks like you made a friend," another Marine yelled. Grossi heard, "Looks like a 'Fred.'" The name stuck, and a beautiful, life-changing friendship was forged.Fred not only stole Craig’s heart; he won over the RECON fighters, who helped Craig smuggle the dog into heavily fortified Camp Leatherneck in a duffel bag—risking jail and Fred’s life. With the help of a crew of DHL workers, a sympathetic vet, and a military dog handler, Fred eventually made it to Craig’s family in Virginia. Months later, when Craig returned to the U.S., it was Fred’s turn to save the wounded Marine from Post-Traumatic Stress. Today, Craig and Fred are touching lives nationwide, from a swampy campground in a Louisiana State Park to the streets of Portland, Oregon, and everywhere in between. A poignant and inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and optimism, with a timeless message at its heart—"it is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it"—Craig & Fred is a shining example of the power of love to transform our hearts and our lives.