A SENSe of Wellness

On this episode of the A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host Susan Greeley sits down with Michael Whitehurst to explore how maintaining a regular exercise routine can help slow age-related decline and promote a longer, healthier life.   More About Michael Whitehurst   Michael Whiteburst received a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Biology from the University of Arizona. He completed masters and doctoral degrees in motor learning/control from the University of Georgia. Most of his academic career was spent at Florida Atlantic University where he served as Professor and Dept. Chair of Exercise Science & Health Promotion.    While at FAU, Dr. Whitehurst authored and co-authored scientific studies, taught neurophysiology of human movement and graduate studies dealing with the effects of exercise on brain health and cognitive function. His primary service work while at FAU included Chairing the Health Sciences Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research.     His outside interests include more than 30 years of state level amateur cycling (time trials), abstract expressionist painting, music (life long audiophile), reading and consulting via a company he founded "Training Adaptations". Through Training Adaptations, Dr Whitehurst offers lectures and one on one counseling that result in individualized exercise and dietary programs aimed at healthy aging.

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, and Dr. Aly Cohen, have a conversation about how to identify toxic chemicals in your life and how to take actionable steps to clean up your daily habits and personal health.   More About Dr. Aly Cohen Dr. Aly Cohen is a board-certified physician practicing in rheumatology and integrative medicine, as well as an environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. Her new book, DETOXIFY: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them, available now for preorder, connects the dots between everyday chemicals and the epidemic rise in immune disorders and autoimmune disease...and what we CAN all do about it!

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, and co-founder of Feed.fm, Lauren Pufpaf, have a conversation about how music contributes to our daily wellness.   More About Lauren Pufpaf Lauren Pufpaf is the Co-Founder, COO, and President of Feed.fm, a B2B music platform for consumer and retail brands, including American Eagle Outfitters, the Golden State Warriors, and Lululemon Studio. With 20+ years of experience scaling companies, Lauren has led multiple companies through Series B rounds, fueling its growth and success over nearly a decade. Throughout her career, Lauren has scaled businesses to $100M, raised over $80M in venture funding, and advised dozens of founders on successful capital raises. Under her leadership, Feed.fm has been recognized as Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024, Inc. Magazine's Power Partner, and an innovator in music tech by the Music Business Association.

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, and Double Board-Certified Cardiologist, Dr. Tracy Paeschke, have a heart-healthy conversation in honor of the upcoming American Heart Month, diving into the importance of cardiovascular health.   More About Dr. Tracy Paeschke: Dr. Tracy Paeschke, a double board-certified cardiologist, is dedicated to helping you achieve optimal heart health and overall well-being. With over 25 years of experience diagnosing and treating heart disease, Dr. Tracy has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that poor heart health can have on people and their families. This inspired her to shift her focus from intervention to prevention, embracing a more holistic and proactive approach to cardiac care. Learn more about Dr. Tracy Paeschke here.

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, and Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr. Shivani Gupta, discuss the science of life, Ayurveda.   More About Dr. Shivani Gupta: Dr. Shivani is an Ayurvedic practitioner and expert in fusing Eastern and Western practices that help our bodies achieve equilibrium. She completed her Master's in Ayurvedic Sciences and her PhD on Turmeric. Inflammation is a root cause for many health issues in our lives and we have the power to overcome it. Her passion is teaching at-home remedies to reduce inflammation naturally will help you enjoy more energy, less brain fog, less pain, and ultimately achieve vibrant health! Dr. Shivani Gupta has practiced Ayurvedic medicine for over 20 years and her approach is to show you the tools in your toolkit, so you can reach for them every time you need them. She is also the founder of Fusionary Formulas, an Ayurvedic company that helps people with inflammation and pain.  Learn more about Dr. Shivani Gupta here.

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, Castle Connolly Private Health Partners Co-Founder, John Connolly, Ed. D., and CEO of Northwell Health, Michael J. Dowling, latest book, "The Aging Revolution," and shifting perceptions on health, wellness, and healthcare through the lens of an aging population.   More About Michael J. Dowling: Michael Dowling is one of the health care industry's most highly respected voices, achieving the No. 1 ranking in Modern Healthcare magazine's 2022 list of the "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare." As a health care executive over the past three decades, he has been a no-excuses advocate for reforms that have helped the industry become more patient-focused and committed to quality and safety. His willingness to take a stand on societal issues such as gun violence and immigration has earned widespread praise and recognition from peers and the news media. During his years in academia and government, Mr. Dowling has distinguished himself as a compassionate voice for those in need, developing and promoting innovative health and human services policies.​ As president and CEO of Northwell Health for 22 years, he has demonstrated invaluable leadership in overseeing a rapidly expanding clinical, research and academic enterprise with annual revenue of $18 billion. With a workforce of more than 85,000, Northwell is the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State, caring for more than two million people annually through a vast network of 21 hospitals, more than 900 outpatient facilities—including 220 primary care practices and 50-plus urgent care centers—along with home care, rehabilitation and end-of-life services.​ Hailing from Ireland, Mr. Dowling bridges borders and brings a global perspective to health care. In 2020, he received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad, which recognized his contributions to Ireland and to Irish communities abroad, presented by the President of Ireland. He also received an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and is a board member of the Foreign Policy Association. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science, and the North American Board of the Smurfit School of Business at University College in Dublin, Ireland. He also earned his bachelor's degree from University College Cork, and went on to receive honorary doctorates from Queens University Belfast and University College Dublin. Mr. Dowling was the Grand Marshal of New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2017, when he was also inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame Learn more about Michael Dowling here.

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, and the founder of Healthy is Wellness, Nich Pertuit, PhD discuss a holistic approach to musculoskeletal health.    More About Nich Pertuit, PhD:   Dr. Nich Pertuit launched Healthy Is Wellness in 2017. Before 2017, Dr. Pertuit spent over 15 years in performance consulting and teaching at universities including Stanford, Cal Poly Pomona, and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. He received his Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Exercise Science, and in 2011 he received his PhD from Texas Tech University in human motivation, behavior change, and optimal performance. He holds the highest ranking of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.   Learn more about Healthy is Wellness at healthyiswellness.com. 

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, and co-founder of Empower Sleep, Sahil Chopra, MD discuss the importance of sleep. Sleep is fundamental to our lives. Quality sleep improves our mental well-being, physical health, performance, and energy.‍    More About Sahil Chopra, MD:   Dr. Sahil Chopra, MD is a highly experienced medical professional specializing in several areas, including Internal Medicine from UCLA, Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care Medicine from Loma Linda, and Sleep Medicine from Harvard. He has diverse experiences as a physician, known for his expertise in delivering personalized sleep care using continuous health data. Dr. Chopra is the Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer at Empower Sleep. Empower Sleep provides sleep care online using continuous vital from medical grade devices. He is a pioneer in using longitudinal sleep data to deliver personalized care, leading to overall health and improved clinical outcomes. Traditional sleep care tends to look at sleep in snapshots through the model of single-night testing. However, using continuous vitals has allowed him to hyper-personalize the treatment by analyzing hundreds of thousands of hours of data and developing unique care pathways for each patient. He has worked closely on understanding the intersection between sleep and longevity and looks forward to sharing these learnings more broadly.   Learn more about Empower Sleep at www.empowersleep.com

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast host, Susan Greeley, and health coach, Bradley Davie, discuss the importance of tracking personal health data. More about Bradley Davie:  Bradley Davie has followed his passion and pursued a knowledge and understanding of how the right choices in life can nourish both the human body and soul. He is a well-rounded and experienced expert who can help clients achieve their health goals holistically and effectively. Bradley has a Bachelor's in Kinesiology & Physical Education from the University of Maine, and has worked as a health coach since 2011. He works with his students as they create and obtain their goals in healthy living. Following his passions for more than 20 years, Bradley has poured his heart and soul into his work to help many others learn and grow through transformations. He chose to earn certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Certified Nutrition Coach. He has also obtained a certification as a holistic health coach from the Chek Institute. This certification allows him to understand how to work with clients to achieve optimal health, metabolic efficiency, and well-being by considering the whole person, rather than just focusing on a specific aspect of health. In addition to his training and certifications in the field of fitness and wellness, Bradley has also completed training in Neurolinguistics Programming, Life Coaching, and Executive Coaching. This training has equipped him with powerful tools and techniques to help clients overcome limiting beliefs and achieve their goals. His unique combination of education, certifications, and training has made him an asset for clients who want to improve their health and wellness. Learn more about Bradley: https://bradleydavie.com/ Through skills developed over 20 years in sales, marketing, and business excellence, he excels in helping organizations grow rapidly with effective systems and strategies. His talent has made him a trusted advisor for many companies seeking success. For the past 8 years, he has been helping companies implement InBody's Ecosystem of Health Assessment Tools, including body composition analyzers, blood pressure monitors, and grip strength dynamometers. Learn more about InBody: https://inbodyusa.com/beyondthescale/

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host Susan Greeley, and Spiritual & Human Nature Educator, Udo Erasmus, discuss the oil industry, the politics of health, and the way our bodies assimilate oil. Learn about modern healthful oils like flax. More about Udo Erasmus:  Udo Erasmus, founder of Udo's Choice and author of the book Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill, which has sold over 250,000 copies. As an acclaimed author and speaker, Udo has an 8-step process that takes into consideration all other elements of nature and human nature, including physical health, mental health, presence and awareness, life energy, and being in harmony with nature and humanity. Udo's background includes studies in biochemistry, genetics, biology, and nutrition as well as a master's degree in counseling psychology. Learn more about Udo at UdoErasmus.com Download the free digital draft of the brand new Your Body Needs An Oil Change: https://udoerasmus.com/asenseofwellness

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host Susan Greeley, and Spiritual & Human Nature Educator, Udo Erasmus, discuss being versus doing for achieving inner peace. Incorporating daily stillness practice through quieting the mind and body to focus on the present moment can help you feel calmer, more patient, more connected, and may even improve your overall health. More about Udo Erasmus:  Udo Erasmus, founder of Udo's Choice and author of the book Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill, which has sold over 250,000 copies. As an acclaimed author and speaker, Udo has an 8-step process that takes into consideration all other elements of nature and human nature, including physical health, mental health, presence and awareness, life energy, and being in harmony with nature and humanity. Udo's background includes studies in biochemistry, genetics, biology, and nutrition as well as a master's degree in counseling psychology. Learn more about Udo at UdoErasmus.com

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host, Susan Greeley and Karviva Beverage Founder, Angela Zeng, discuss utilizing "superfoods" in your diet to help support your mental health with a personalized approach.  More about Angela Zeng: As the visionary founder of Karviva Beverages, Angela Zeng has revolutionized the wellness beverage industry by marrying the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with cutting-edge nutritional science. With an impressive academic foundation in biochemistry, pathology, and an MBA, Angela's deep-rooted heritage in Traditional Chinese Medicine propelled her to innovate Karviva's celebrated line of whole plant-based prebiotic smoothies, antioxidant juices, and more. Each beverage is crafted to support digestive health, immune system strength, clean protein intake, and sustained energy levels. To try Karviva today and receive a 20% discount, use KARVIVATCM20 at karviva.com

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host, Susan Greeley and Athleticism Performance Coach, Justin Frandson, talk about how our environment of light, sound, frequency and vibration can facilitate healing and performance. More about Justin Frandson: Justin Frandson, is an Athleticism Performance Coach and Founder of, Athleticism.com and EMFRocks.com. He is the author of Athleticism, Whole Body + Whole Brain = Performance.  In his over 25 years, Justin does nerve work for sports performance with amateur and professional athletes in most major sports. He successfully treats concussions quickly. Knowing that everything has a resonance, Justin uses light, sound, frequency and vibration to facilitate healing and performance.  About a decade ago he saw his athletes breaking down from wearable technology and looked to nature to solve this man-made, electricity and EMF challenge. His EMF Rocks Grounding Bags are sold at doctor clinics across the country, The Grounding Bags are the leading natural protection for helping people co-exist with EMF's and get a deeper sleep.

March is National Nutrition Month and this month on the podcast we are focusing on preventing and reversing osteoporosis through our diet. On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host Susan Greeley and Dr. John Neustadt, ND, the Founder and President of Nutritional Biochemistry, Inc talk about how consuming the proper nutrients through whole foods can positively impact the biochemistry of your body and reduce osteoporosis risk. More about Dr. John Neustadt, ND: Dr. John Neustadt has an international reputation as a Doctor, researcher, and integrative medical expert. He became renowned in this field through his nutritional medicine research, clinical work, books he wrote, work with the FDA on evaluating the use of natural products for the potential treatment of rare diseases, developing million-dollar businesses, educating physicians on improving patient outcomes and the general public on how to make sure they're getting the care they need and the results they want, and as a medical expert advising businesses on product development. Dr. Neustadt earned his naturopathic medical degree from Bastyr University where he was awarded the Founder's Award for academic and clinical excellence. Dr. Neustadt has published more than 100 medical articles, written four health and wellness books and is now a #1 Amazon Best Selling Author in the field of Osteoporosis. His most recent book is, Fracture-Proof Your Bones: A Comprehensive Guide to Osteoporosis. Dr. Neustadt was also an editor of the textbook, Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine, which was used across the United States to train and educate physicians on using functional medicine with their patients.  

February is American Heart Month and eating a balanced diet is one of the best ways to keep our heart healthy. On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host, Susan Greeley and Cooking a la Heart co-author, Amy Myrdal Muller, MS, RDN, talk about bringing ease and joy into your diet and the importance of what we put into our bodies for our overall hearth health. More about Amy Myrdal Miller, MS, RDN: Amy Myrdal Miller, is an award-winning dietitian, farmer's daughter, public speaker, author, and president of Farmer's Daughter Consulting, an agriculture, food, and culinary communications firm founded in 2014. During her 27-year career, Amy has worked for Fleishman Hillard, the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, Dole Food Company, the California Walnut Board & Commission, and The Culinary Institute of America. Today, Amy works with a variety of clients across the food system, including seed companies, grower cooperatives, commodity boards, national brands, campus dining operations, and restaurants. Amy is the co-author of Cooking à la Heart: 500 Easy and Delicious Recipes to Help Make Every Meal Heart Healthy, © 2023 Linda Hachfeld and Amy Myrdal Miller, published by The Experiment. Cooking à la Heart is about the joyful, mindful pursuit of great food, enjoyed with people you love in settings that relax and inspire you to do more good things for your health.

On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host, Susan Greeley and Charity Miles Founder, Gene Gurkoff, go on a walk and talk about behavior change, motivation, movement, and giving back. The two dive into New Years resolutions and making meaningful changes to improve health wellness, and to help others. They discuss the importance of community for sustaining motivation and the significance of actively giving back. More about Gene Gurkoff Gene Gurkoff is the founder of Charity Miles, an app that enables people to earn money for charity when they walk, run, bike or otherwise get moving. Charity Miles has won several awards, including a Webby for the Best Health & Fitness App and the SXSW People's Choice Award. Gene started Charity Miles in honor of his grandfather who has Parkinson's disease. Follow Gene's social media channels! Twitter and Instagram: @CharityMiles LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-gurkoff/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/charity-miles/

  When it comes to exercising to your maximum potential and staying consistent with your weekly weightlifting, running, walking, yoga, or aerobics routine, it's not always easy to stay inspired. One common tool many of us use to get moving is music! In this episode of A SENSe of Wellness, host, Susan Greeley connects with Russel Greene, Founder and CEO of leading fitness music app, FIT Radio. The two speak about combining science and art to curate music intended to motivate, creating effective playlists, the correlation between fitness and music, workout decision fatigue, and more. More about Russel Greene Russell leverages a world of knowledge, experience, and passion from two significant areas of his life – fitness and music. After years of exploring new ways to create a more enjoyable fitness experience while discovering exciting music that ignites passion from within, he launched FIT Radio which has quickly become the go-to music fitness app and leading provider of commercial-free DJ workout mixes. Russell and his team of industry professionals, coaches, and elite trainers are proactive and passionate about providing their clients with an unparalleled workout experience, backed by 1,000s of world-class DJ mixes and specialized fitness programs. Russell believes that "getting the music choice right for one person is a science, but getting the music right for a group of people with very different tastes, well, that's an art." At FIT Radio, Russell takes a personal and hands-on approach to leading and developing his high-performing team of industry trainers and experts, guided by a strong passion for putting humans over algorithms, phone calls over text messages, and meetings over emails. In addition to being featured on media outlets such as Gadgets & Wearables and SELF Magazine, FIT Radio has become the #1 ranked music and fitness app in the Apple Store.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world, with 1 in 8 women expected to receive a diagnosis in their lifetime. While it is known that lifestyle interventions are effective in preventing this chronic disease, the foods on your plate may be a more powerful tool than you realize. In this episode of A SENSe of Wellness Podcast, host, Susan Greeley connects with Rachel Beller to discuss the role nutrition plays in breast cancer prevention. The two Registered Dietitian Nutritionists dive deep into curating your plate to sustain health and wellbeing and to equip your body to protect itself against breast cancer.  #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth More about Rachel Beller Rachel Beller, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist offering private nutrition counseling and online classes that specialize in weight management and cancer risk reduction. She is the nutrition and media expert for Good Morning America and CNN, a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, and a three-time best-selling author. Rachel has researched the role of nutrition in breast cancer risk reduction at leading research hospitals, and her signature program, The Beller Nutrition Masterclass, is a simple action plan for weight management and cancer risk reduction using the Beller Method™. You can learn more at bellernutrition.com  

In this episode of A SENSe of Wellness Podcast, host, Susan Greeley connects with Ngo Okafor to discuss common myths about exercise and aging. Ngo addressed topics like our metabolism as we get older, building muscle and burning fat as we age, and his recommendations to improve exercise ability and overall health with consistency over time.  More about Ngo Okafor Ngo Okafor is a two-time Golden Gloves boxing champion and Founder/CEO of Iconoclast Fitness, a private training facility on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue where celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Brooke Shields, Chelsea Clinton, Ralph Fiennes, John David Washington, and Danny Meyer get in their workouts. Ngo is also the creator of "28 Days Greater", a training and nutrition methodology that helps people lose up to 25 pounds in 28 days. A Nigerian immigrant, Ngo came to the United States with no professional network or net worth, but through hard work, mental toughness, and consistency built himself into one of the most sought-after personal trainers in America. After a childhood spent bedridden in Nigeria, Ngo moved to the United States to study computer science at the University of Connecticut. Never one to shy away from difficult tasks (he had his mother photocopy class notes when he was confined to the hospital, so he could keep up with his schoolwork), Ngo took up boxing at the relatively advanced age of 31—and proceeded to win two Golden Gloves National Championship titles back-to-back. Using the same laser-sharp focus, Ngo established his personal training business, creating a model others would envy and earning accolades like the one from New York Post anointing him one of "New York's hottest trainers whipping beautiful people into shape." Those beautiful people include Naomi Campbell, Julia Roberts, Iman, Kahlana Barfield Brown, and Chanel Iman. Ngo has gained this loyal following by espousing a fitness belief that the mind is the most important muscle a person needs to develop. "The body is a slave to the mind and will do anything the mind tells it to do," he says. Ngo is frequently quoted in publications as varied as Elle, Oprah Magazine, Men's Health, Women's Health, and Glamour, and is often a guest on television programs like The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Good Day New York. When he's not in the gym, Ngo works with the non-profit he founded, Champion Spirit Foundation, which provides free exercise equipment in Nigeria, for children to learn boxing, as a path to raising their self-esteem. Ngo still models when he can fit it in, having appeared alongside the likes of Gisele Bundchen and Mary J. Blige in magazines such as Vogue, W, V, and WSJ. Despite all this, Ngo says his greatest accomplishment is being a devoted family man. He's a husband and father to two beautiful children, Chioma, 8, and Amara, 4.

We all know that a good night's rest sets you up for success in terms of your health and wellness. Listen to this episode of A SENSe of Wellness Podcast for a deep dive into the science of sleep and its impacts on all other facets of your health and well-being. Host, Susan Greeley, is joined by sleep expert Dr. Michael Grandner. More about Dr. Grandner: Dr. Michael Grandner is an internationally-recognized expert on sleep and health. Through his research, he studies how sleep is an important aspect of health, like diet and exercise. He studies not only what happens to our health when we do not get enough sleep, but also how and why people sleep the way they do in the real world. His work also includes studying poor quality of sleep and sleep disorders, as well as real-world solutions for sleep problems. Current Position Dr. Grandner is Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine in the School of Medicine, Associate Professor of Psychology in the School of Sciences, Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Associate Professor of Clinical Translational Science. He is also Director of the Arizona Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner--University Medical Center in Tucson, which oversees the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders using non-medication approaches.