We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

Since humans have gathered, nature and community health have always been intrinsically linked, with nature providing countless benefits to human well-being and community resilience.

Communities actively participating in nature conservation and restoration efforts experience environmental and social benefits.

Time spent in the natural world offers numerous benefits for family health, strengthening family relationships through shared experience.

Introducing children to time in nature provides many lifelong benefits, including physical and mental health and academic competency.

One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is their time…especially outside.

Welcome to Episode Sixty-One of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this episode, we spoke with retired MLB pitcher Tim Collins. Throughout his 14-plus-year professional baseball career, Tim exemplified determination and resilience, overcoming physical and professional challenges to make a significant impact both on the mound and as a mentor in the sport. Now retired, Tim puts all his efforts back into youth development through coaching.

Join us as we discuss Tim’s approach to managing adversity, how mentors have played a significant role in his success, his philosophy of ‘family first,’ and the importance of being present for those around him, both on and off the field.

Tim shares his philosophy of getting the most out of young athletes, the need for a holistic approach to health and wellness, how our values factor into personal and professional decision-making, and the challenges and rewards of being a big leaguer.

We left this home run of a conversation ready to hit any curveball life throws at us (puns so intended)

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Tim Collins Instagram: @tim_collins37

Military Baseball Camps Tim is working with: https://www.mvp360sports.com/

Virginia Baseball Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/583372864743378

Major League Baseball:https://www.mlb.com/

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.

Do you want to live an awesome life and to also inspire others? Fish is a world...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

Nature has always had a way of showing unconditional love and support.

The natural world has never withheld its abundance, welcoming us to share its many benefits.

Research has shown that time spent in nature has positive effects on our overall health and wellness throughout the many phases of our development.

In college students, time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, positively impact the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve memory recall, concentration, sleep patterns, and overall mood.

Nature is the ultimate "study buddy."

Welcome to Episode Sixty of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this episode, we spoke with Sam Kocurek, a graduate student at the University of Michigan studying Environment and Sustainability. In addition to his master's coursework and work with campus sustainability, Sam has been a passionate and involved member of the Nature Rx project team, a group of staff, faculty, and students advancing nature-based health interventions and habits at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus.

Join us as we discuss Sam's lifelong journey of healing through nature, how nature-based programs positively impact student life, and the importance of filling a "deficit of joy" through time in nature.

Sam shares how humans are naturally predisposed to learn from the natural world, what it is like to host a university nature symposium, how to get students engaged in nature, and the importance of creating a culture of sustainability.

We left this conversation feeling as though the student had become the master.

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well
-NOW ™️

University of Michigan NatureRx Program: https://nature-rx.umich.edu

Univ of Michigan Nature Rx Symposium Resources: https://nature-rx.umich.edu/nature-for-wellness-symposium/symposium-resources

Campus Rx Network: https://campusnature.com

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.

We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

Although we find ourselves in a time of division and struggle; there are universal human experiences that we all share.

Grief impacts everyone, regardless of geography, socio-economic status, race, gender, identity, or level of education.

Grief is a natural human response to any type of loss or significant life change.

Grief can be complicated regardless of age, but it is especially difficult for children and adolescents.

For anyone experiencing grief, time in nature can be beneficial, offering holistic health advantages such as reduced stress, lowered symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhanced overall well-being.

Welcome to Episode Fifty-Nine of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this episode, we spoke with Jason Stout, youth programs advisor for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and winner of the 2024 Richard Louv Prize for Innovation in Nature Connection. Through his company, Stoutreach, Jason leads mindfulness and nature-based well-being programs for grieving youth, adults, military survivors, educators, and professionals.

Join us as we discuss his personal journey of healing from childhood loss and grief, how nature-based programs taught him the power of healing, and how he turned a lifelong connection to the natural world into a profession centered on helping others navigate the grief process.

Jason shares the difference between “helping” and “spotting” young people as they manage emotions, the power of honoring those we have lost through ceremony, and how building rapport and trust is paramount in any helping role.

This conversation offered us solace, peace, and an opportunity to grow in our own grief.

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well
-NOW ™️

Jason's Website: www.missionstoutreach.org

TAPS Website: https://www.taps.org

Outward Bound: https://www.outwardbound.org/

Children & Nature Network: https://www.childrenandnature.org/

National Alliance for Children's Grief (NACG): https://nacg.org/?srsltid=AfmBOorW68jSpnKtUfd1-zS7dAoXnpwfv-yYzGHN4MlnGPtXVWGCgxet

Judi's House: https://judishouse.org/

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.

We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

Few things are more critical to human existence than water. We need water to survive and can only live for a few days without it.

Clean water is vital to a healthy environment, economic development, and, most importantly…human health and wellness.

Essential for basic needs such as drinking, playing a crucial role in bodily functions, and maintaining hydration. Having a critical role in hygiene and agriculture, clean water sources serve as the foundation for all life on the planet.

Any challenge to the sustainability and access of our waterways is a direct threat to our existence. More than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, a global problem.

Welcome to Episode Fifty-Eight of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this episode, we spoke with Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood. An avid angler, hunter, author, and conservationist, he previously served at the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Now he helps to champion the Trout Unlimited vision, “For communities across America to engage in the work of repairing and renewing the rivers, streams and other waters on which we all depend.”

Join us as we discuss his lifelong connection to the natural world, the importance of access to sustainable sources of clean water, and the greatest challenges our water sources face.

Chris shares Trout Unlimited’s amazing mission of waterway restoration, the many health and wellness benefits of time spent near water, and how we can all do our part to conserve the streams and rivers we depend on for survival.

We certainly found our flow with this conversation (pun intended).

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Trout Unlimited Website: www.tu.orghttps://www.tu.org/

Trout Unlimited Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TroutUnlimitedNatl

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.

We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

Nature has always been a rich source of inspiration for artists and a central theme in many famous works.

Interactions with the natural world have created some of our most beloved masterpieces for thousands of years.

Each artist experiences nature differently, reflecting these unique experiences in their artwork.

Nature-based art can be in any medium and can be abstract or realistic.

Painting can be a wonderful way to express ourselves, engage with the world around us, and develop creativity.

A form of therapy, it can help us communicate complex emotions, enhance motor skills, boost confidence, reduce stress levels, and promote mindfulness.

Welcome to Episode Fifty-Seven of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this episode, we spoke with watercolor artist and YouTube educator Jackie Peacock. Jackie invites others to find lifelong strength and connection to the natural world through her paintings. She considers her work “a love letter to the forest.”

Join us as we discuss her passion for the natural world, how nature and creating art served as a safe retreat during challenging parts of her childhood, the power of talking to trees, and the quiet therapy of putting brush to paper.

Jackie shares how she processes emotions through the moody landscapes she paints, how she found a passion for teaching others and practical tips for finding professional success as a creative.

We entered this discussion feeling like blank canvases. We left it covered in brushstrokes of optimism, gratitude, and humanity.

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Jackie's Instagram: @jackiepeacockart

Jackie's Website: jackiepeacock.com,

Jackie's YouTube Channel: @jackiepeacock

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.

We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

Trees are vital to our world for many reasons. They cool the air, stabilize the soils, provide food and habitat for wildlife, and help to increase our Natural Killer (NK) Cells, which help us combat different diseases.

Trees also clean our air and act as the planet's "lungs," absorbing billions of tons of carbon dioxide annually.

It is essential to understand our relationship and reliance on the world's tree population and what we can do to ensure our own survival by helping them thrive.

Welcome to Episode Fifty-Five of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Richard Olsen, Director of the US National Arboretum. Dr. Olsen guides the mission to enhance ornamental and landscape plants' economic, environmental, and aesthetic value through long-term, multi-disciplinary research, conservation, and interpretative gardens and displays.

He is a recognized international authority who provides scientific expertise and practical knowledge to arboreta, urban forestry groups, and professional associations.

Join us as we discuss how he turned a lifelong passion for nature into his professional purpose and his philosophy on how trees have a major impact on human health and well-being.

Richard shares the incredible mission of the US National Arboretum, how many "green industries" benefit from the important research conducted by his team, how communities and organizations can benefit from nature-based educational practices, and the need for continued research into how plants can lead to life-enhancing advancements.

We left this discussion feeling like trees… rooted in our values yet able to remain flexible in the storm.

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Links:

US National Arboretum Website: https://www.usna.usda.gov/www.instagram.com/cameroncush

USDA Agricultural Research Service Links

https://www.facebook.com/AgriculturalResearchService

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbY4NfKJTwEO1rxTdNGjYbA

https://www.linkedin.com/company/usda-ars/

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.

We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

Human beings are known for many things. Our love for sharing information in the form of stories is as old as our species itself.

The ability to tell stories is as old as the words themselves. They are hardwired into our biology.

Our studies of the first humans showed evidence of sharing narratives. It is the first form of education and entertainment and the sole way we have preserved our history.

At the most foundational level of humanity, stories have always connected us to our surrounding world…and one another.

Welcome to Episode Fifty-Five of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this New Year's episode, we sat down with Veteran filmmaker and storyteller Cameron Cushman.

Cameron turned a series of highly challenging health conditions while serving in the US Army into an amazing career filled with passion and purpose.

Join us as we speak to Cameron about building resilience, the power of personal storytelling, and how we can learn more about ourselves by inviting others to share their journeys.

He discusses his relationship with the natural world, his advice for anyone starting in filmmaking and photography, and the benefits of learning to "dirty our lens."

We left this conversation ready to shout our stories from the mountaintop.

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Cameron's Links:
www.vvildwood.com

www.instagram.com/cameroncush

www.LinkedIn.com/in/cameron-cushman

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.

We'd love to hear from you about this episode.

One of the greatest measures of our quality of life is our ability to have proactive control of our health and well-being.

Sometimes we all need a bit of support along our journey to living well.

Occupational Therapy is often associated with workplace health issues such as returning to work after an injury or improving worksite ergonomic systems.

Occupational Therapists also help individuals focus on improving their ability to participate in activities of daily living by focusing on all of the ways they meaningfully, and independently occupy their time.

Welcome to Episode Fifty-Four of the Nature of Wellness ™️ Podcast!!!

In this episode with sat down with Occupational Therapist (OT), brain injury specialist, and health and wellness coach Dr .Natalie King. Natalie is the owner of Vibrant Living Skills, a company that is designed to holistically “help clients recover and regain their independence, all in the comfort of their homes.”

Join us as we speak to Natalie about all of the roles an OT can play in our health and wellness pursuits, how holistic support can help us effectively manage adversity, and practical techniques for improving our quality of everyday life.

She discusses the relationship her family shares with the natural world, her motivation for working with disabled veterans managing traumatic brain injuries, and how building nature into therapeutic programming can help elevate recovery.

This meaningful conversation set the stage for us to conquer our day.

Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review anywhere you listen to this podcast.

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Vibrant Living Skills Website:
https://www.vibrantlivingskills.com/

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA):
https://www.aota.org/

* The unbelievable Shawn Bell produces the Nature of Wellness Podcast, making us sound good.

** The NOW theme song was penned, performed, produced, and provided by the dynamic duo of Phil and Niall Monahan.

*** This show wouldn't exist without our amazing guests and all of you who listen. Please like, subscribe, follow, and review to help us get these important messages out to more folks who can benefit from them. Thank you all.