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Conversations to Inspire

Conversations to Inspire

By Jeanette Padilla Vega

We bring you inspirational people and conversations to uplift and inspire you to live your best life.
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Can You Raise A Child Vegan?

Conversations to InspireOct 06, 2019

00:00
47:41
Can You Raise A Child Vegan?
Oct 06, 201947:41
Style Blogger No New Clothes For A Year Challenge + 3 Month Update
Sep 20, 201917:28
Your Multi Million Dollar Idea Isn't Ready? Launch It Anyway, Here's Why
Aug 16, 201912:19
3 Life-Changing Lessons I’ve learned Since Going Vegan

3 Life-Changing Lessons I’ve learned Since Going Vegan

Welcome back to the podcast!

It’s been a minute since I’ve recorded an episode. I’ve been taking a lot of time to reflect, be present, and live consciously. In doing that, I’ve realized there are three new things living a vegan lifestyle has taught me. These life changing lessons are as follows: how to live consciously and with intention, how to put structure around your goals, and how to arrive at selflessness. I unpack a lot in this episode and I truly hope you find it enlightening and helpful. 

As mentioned in this episode, if you’re looking to go vegan, here are some resources to help you get started. 

RECIPES:

www.forksoverknives.com

www.veganyackattack.com  

www.hotforfoodblog.com

www.thecheaplazyvegan.com

www.itdoesnttastelikechicken.com


EDUCATION

Documentaries:

The following can all be found on Netflix and do not show any graphic content. 

What the Health 

Cowspiracy 

Forks over Knives 

The following documentaries can be found on Youtube 

Earthlings 

https://youtu.be/BrlBSuuy50Y

This documentary does show graphic content. It shows you footage inside slaughter houses. It’s a real look at where your food comes from and how it’s produced. 

Dominion

https://youtu.be/LQRAfJyEsko

This documentary also shows graphic content. If you love animals and want to go vegan but need persuading, this film will help you. It’s narrated by vegan celebrities like, Joaquin Phoenix, Sia, and Kat Von D.

Books:

How not to Die

The China Study

Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease (by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr.)

The Cheese Trap (by Dr. Neal Barnard, founding President of PCRM)

Blue Zones (Dan Beutner)

Clean Protein (by New York Times Bestseller Kathy Freston)


PODCASTS

The Exam Room (by The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine)

Heal Thy Self (by Dr. Christian Gonzalez)

Nutrition Rounds (by Dr. Daniel Belardo)

The Plant Proof Podcast (by physiotherapist and plant-based nutrition certified Simon Hill) 

The Rich Roll Podcast


Online Reading

www.NutritionFacts.org


Support

www.Challenge22.com

This is an amazing resource for people wanting to try out a plant-based diet but are having hesitations for whatever reason. It’s also great for the newly vegan. They provide awesome recipes, personal guidance, and support from a network of other vegans and nutritionists.


Continued education

Plant based nutrition certification from ecornell. https://www.ecornell.com/certificates/nutrition/plant-based-nutrition/




Aug 10, 201931:38
Demand for Doulas On The Rise, Doulas Reduce The Risk for C-Section by 25% | Doula Agency Founder, Alicia Mattera on The Benefits & Value Doulas Provide Before, During, & After Birth

Demand for Doulas On The Rise, Doulas Reduce The Risk for C-Section by 25% | Doula Agency Founder, Alicia Mattera on The Benefits & Value Doulas Provide Before, During, & After Birth

Today’s guest is Alicia Mattera, founder of doula agency, Las Vegas Baby Co. Birth has become a topic that is close to my heart since becoming a mother. Birthing experiences are unique, no two are alike. Some births are completely blissful, while others can be traumatic. These experiences stay with us for the rest of our lives and they can deeply impact how we connect with our children. 


Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all have beautiful, blissful births and establish a deeply rooted connection with our baby the second they are born? While births can be unpredictable and erratic, there are some ways one can facilitate the birthing experience. I’m talking about doulas. Doulas have been supporting expecting mothers and working to provide their desired birth goals for decades. 


In this episode, Alicia and I speak extensively on the topic of doulas. She runs a doula agency here in Las Vegas Nevada and she shares all about what doulas do, who they are, the benefits of hiring a doula, and what questions to ask when hiring a doula. We also get into other related topics like preventing and dealing with postpartum depression and anxiety, mom guilt, breastfeeding, and the impact of social media on motherhood. 


Some other questions and topics discussed in this episode include:

What is a doula?

Types of doulas

Professional doulas vs hobby doulas

What do hospitals think of doulas?

Why are so many babies born via c-section?

Whats the best type of birth to have?

Why can’t some women give birth naturally?

Postpartum depression

Post partum depression support 

Postpartum anxiety

How to prepare for postpartum depression

Social media and motherhood

Mom guilt

Support after birth

What to do if you feel like you might harm your baby (which is a really common thought)

Questions to ask when hiring a doula


Alicia also teaches child birth education and is a volunteer for Postpartum Support International. 

You can find her and see the wide array of educational classes her agency offers through her website and social handles below. 

To connect with Alicia's Doula Agency, Las Vegas Baby Co., click here.

To contact Las Vegas Baby Co., click here.

To find Las Vegas Baby Co. on Facebook, click here.

To find Las Vegas Baby Co. on Instagram, click here

To connect with Conversations to Inspire host, Jeanette Padilla Vega, click here


Noteworthy reads on doulas:

New York to Expand Use of Doulas to Reduce Childbirth Deaths

Evidence on Childbirth Benefits & Doulas

Cities Turn to Doulas to Give Black Babies a Better Chance at Survival


Feb 19, 201901:33:22
How Gratitude Can Change Your Life & Create Meaningful, Lasting Happiness

How Gratitude Can Change Your Life & Create Meaningful, Lasting Happiness

Gratitude—we’ve been seeing, and hearing, it everywhere. There’s a good reason for that. 


On a day where twenty things worked in my favor, I’d often find myself clinging to the one thing that didn’t, the one thing somebody said or did to upset me. My good mood would be ruined, and my cheery disposition would go out the window. We all do this. It’s not our fault; it’s part of human evolution. We remember the bad things to help us survive, at least, that’s how it worked many eons ago. But how does that help us now? It doesn’t, at least not in any majorly significant way. We all want to be happier. Chances are you’ve tried time and time again to push on and stay in a positive mindset. But it gets tough, sometimes unbearably so, and we revert to thinking the world is against us. Not only is this type of mentality not helpful to us, but it’s also extremely detrimental to our emotional health, mental health, and physical health. Additionally, this negative type of mindset is highly contagious and self-perpetuating. 


Having a happy outlook makes life so much easier. It doesn’t automatically solve all your problems, only you can do that, but it does provide you the emotional tools you need so that you can face difficult situations confidently as your best self. So how does gratitude play into all this? You see, gratitude is a building block for happiness. Gratitude teaches sympathy, love, understanding, and respect. This combination of emotional tools open up the doors to happiness. 


In this episode, my guest, Brin, and I discuss the practice of gratitude. Why is everyone practicing gratitude, the benefits for practicing gratitude, how does one practice gratitude, how has it helped us transform our lives, how can a single individual change the world through the practice of gratitude? We talk about all this and more.

 

Big thank you to my friend Brin for being my guest in this episode.

To learn more about Brin and her work, be sure to follow her on social media:

Instagram: @brinamberlee

Facebook: BrinAmberleeModel

Twitter: @brinamberlee 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @conversationstoinspire. 


You can find the links to the talks, documentaries and journals mentioned in this podcast, below. 

Empathy + Gratitude = Success | David Meltzer | TEDxMissionViejo

Why Giving Everything Away Will Make You Rich | David Meltzer on Impact Theory

Want to be happy? Be grateful | David Steindl-Rast

Happy Documentary

Good Days Start with Gratitude Journal

Count Your Rainbows: A Gratitude Journal


Jan 15, 201901:04:29
How to Comfort Someone Who’s Child Has Passed | Words of Advice From Someone Who’s Experienced Loss

How to Comfort Someone Who’s Child Has Passed | Words of Advice From Someone Who’s Experienced Loss

“You could say the right thing to someone and they still might cry. That’s the truth. They are in such a state of loss and sadness that you could say the perfect thing and the could still cry because they’re sad. And that’s ok.”

In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Eliza Yeafoli. I got to know Eliza after finding her organization through a volunteer app. Eliza’s organization, Heaven Bound, makes baby burial gowns for angel babies.

Heaven Bound started as a way for Eliza to pay tribute to her angel baby, Harper. It originally began as a day of service, on what would be Harper’s due date. Eliza, along with friends and family, collected donated wedding gowns that they would sew into angel gowns which would then be given to loss parents. Eliza quickly realized there was a real need for these gowns, so she turned the events of a single day into an organization. That was five years ago, and they’re still going strong. Heaven Bound receives requests from all over the nation for angel gowns.

In this episode, Eliza shares her experience after losing her baby Harper and how she coped with their loss. She also shares a little about her husband's experience during this time, who, at the time, was deployed in Afghanistan. We share why it’s so difficult to have these conversations and what to say and not say to those experiencing loss.

One of the many things I learned in preparing for this episode is that loss parents want to hear their child be remembered and spoked about. This re-solidifies the fact that their child had meaning during their time here on Earth. Oftentimes we assume that speaking of the child will only hurt the parent, so we refrain. We talked about this and many other misconceptions around how to help someone experiencing loss and grief.

If you’d like to join the many volunteers that sew these precious and much-needed angel gowns, please send Eliza and email at
heavenboundgowns@gmail.com or reach out through her social media platforms linked below.

www.facebook.com/burialgowns/
www.instagram.com/heavenboundgowns/

If this volunteer opportunity isn’t right for you, but you’d still like to help, check out www.justserve.org to find volunteer opportunities near you. You can also use the free app here. itunes.apple.com/us/app/justserve/id1006664302?mt=8

For more examples what you can say or do to comfort a grieving parent, see this beautiful article. pinchofyum.com/what-to-do-when-your-friend-loses-a-baby
Dec 04, 201801:06:01
Misconceptions Surrounding Homelessness, Why Community Matters, & How This Hair Salon Is Helping

Misconceptions Surrounding Homelessness, Why Community Matters, & How This Hair Salon Is Helping

The word "homeless" has such a stigma attached to it. We hear the word and almost completely shut out everything that follows. However, this is a conversation that needs to be had over and over again. Those affected by homelessness are not who you may think. They are our brave veterans—used and forgotten, they are our children—abandoned due to accidental circumstances, they are our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, and sisters.

“The best way to change negative stereotypes about people experiencing homelessness and ultimately end homelessness is to teach young people how to be compassionate advocates.”
—National Coalition for the Homeless

In today's episode we'll discuss the many common misconceptions surrounding homelessness and why it's important to help those in need. I’m joined by Jen McMillan, a small business owner with a heart of gold. Jen, along with her team, help feed the homeless on their days off through her organization Giving Hope. You’ll hear how this hair salon brings the community together and about the importance of doing so.

If you’ve ever thought or said any of the following statements, then this episode is for you.

“Homeless people are lazy.”
“Homeless people are drunks.”
“Homeless people are drug addicts.”
“Homeless people don’t want to change.”
“Homeless people are homeless through their own doing.”
“Homeless people don’t want to work.”
“Homeless people don’t have jobs.”
“Homeless people should just reach out to their family for help.”
“Homeless people should just go to a shelter.”
“I don’t want to help the homeless because I wouldn’t feel safe.”
“Homeless people are rude.”
“I don’t have any money to help the homeless.”
“I don’t know how to help the homeless.”


Jen is the owner of JM Hair Gallery, a Paul Mitchell hair salon, located in Henderson, NV, that has recently doubled in size. She is also the owner of Black Boutique, a clothing boutique for stylists by stylist. Black Boutique is in partnership with Paul Mitchell and is one of the other ways Jen gives back. Proceeds from select items are donated to charitable organizations. You can learn more about both of these businesses by going to their websites below and following them on social media.

JM HAIR GALLERY
www.jmhairgallery.com
INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/jmhairgallery
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/pages/category/Hair-Salon/JM-Hair-Gallery

BLACK BOUTIQUE
www.black.boutique
INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/blackboutiquelasvegas

Be sure to follow JM Hair Gallery on Facebook to see details and rsvp for Giving Hope’s next event as well as future events. The next event is just around the corner on December 2nd! If you’re local to Las Vegas or Henderson, please come join us!

In this episode, I also spoke briefly about a volunteer opportunity-finding app. That app is called JustServe. You can find it in the Apple app store. Simply download it, it’s FREE, and enter your zip code to start finding volunteer opportunities near you.

To learn more about homelessness and help those in need, visit www.nationalhomeless.org
Nov 26, 201859:22
You Were Not Born To Be Average | How To Get & Stay Motivated In The Gym, & Why Fit Women Earn More

You Were Not Born To Be Average | How To Get & Stay Motivated In The Gym, & Why Fit Women Earn More


“Right now is the best time of your life, right now. So you deserve to live the absolute best, highest-quality life that you can. You were not born into average, you were born to be great and magnificent and wonderful; and the vehicle in which you experience life, which is your body, should be working well to help you experience life in the best way possible. “

That’s Vegan Fitness Coach, Jazzy Castillo, in today’s episode.

You guys, you do not want to miss this episode. Jazzy shares such valuable and insightful tips on how to get motivated and stay motived in the gym (hint: there’s something even more powerful than motivation). We talk about common fitness misconceptions and how not being fit is costing you money. We also get into holiday diets, overindulging, New Year’s fitness resolutions, what to do if you have no time to work out, what to do if you can't afford a trainer, and when is the best time of the year to start working out. Jazzy’s energy is contagious. Her knowledge and expertise in this field is clearly visible. There are so many eye-opening points in this conversation that will captivate, motivate, and inspire you to live your best life.

Jazzy is local to Las Vegas but if you’re not from around here, don’t worry, you can still access her professional workouts and meal plans by contacting her online through her social media platforms listed below. Be sure to follow her on Facebook and join her FREE 7 Day Challenge.

Instagram: @jazzyvegancakes
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/jazzyycakess
Email: fitwithjazzy@gmail.com

Nov 19, 201801:02:24
How to Live a Healthier, Kinder, And More Compassionate Life Starting With What's on Your Plate

How to Live a Healthier, Kinder, And More Compassionate Life Starting With What's on Your Plate

Today's episode is all about veganism! My guest, and friend, Brin Amberlee wants to inspire you to live a more compassionate and cruelty-free life. She speaks about how humans are inherently kind and compassionate but have lost some of those valuable traits to desensitization. Brin was bullied about her weight as a child. Often told she was too skinny and scrawny, as a young adult she decided she was going to start working out and eating large amounts of animal protein. Much to her dismay, she wasn’t able to gain any weight. Brin shares why she went vegan, how she amassed such a large social media following and how she uses that following to advocate for veganism and animal rights. We answer questions like: Is veganism just a trend? Do I have to give up my leather shoes to go vegan? What is clean meat and is it vegan? Why are dish sponges not vegan? It seems overwhelming, how do I even start going vegan? What happens if I mess up? Brin and her business partner, Kat, are soon launching Vegazon, a monthly subscription box that slowly turns you vegan over a six-month course. Each box is unique themed, with products ranging from vegan personal hygiene items to vegan-friendly snacks. As more and more people shift towards adopting a semi-vegan or fully-vegan lifestyle, Brin and Kat’s aim is to help people smoothly transition into a cruelty-free lifestyle. To learn more about Brin and follow her work, be sure to follow her on social media: Instagram: @brinamberlee Facebook: BrinAmberleeModel Twitter: @brinamberlee. 

Education is the biggest pillar of adopting a vegan lifestyle. In this episode, we discuss “The Trifecta”, a handful of documentaries that will educate, enlighten and inspire you to go vegan. Cowspiracy (Netflix) From the producers of What the Health, this documentary focuses on the detrimental effects of animal agriculture on our planet. Forks over Knives (Netflix) This documentary focuses on nutrition. It features prominent doctors who’s food research has shown a clear correlation between animal protein and disease. This film follows people on their plant-based journey and shows their lab results before and after following a plant-based diet. What the Health (Netflix) This documentary looks at our health care system and how we’re set up to fail when it comes to dietary choices. Kip Anderson, of Cowspiracy, speaks with administrations from various health organizations, including Robert Ratner, Chief Officer of the American Diabetes Association, on why they recommend animal products although they’re strongly linked to diabetes. Additional Resources: Recipes www.MinimalistBaker.com This website features easy and quick plant-based recipes. All meals fall under at least one, if not all three, of these categories: 10 ingredients, 1 bowl, or 30 minutes or less. www.forksoverknives.com This website came after the success of the Forks over Knives documentary on Netflix. It’s owned and run by the same people. They provide awesome recipes and information for those looking to go plant-based. They also have a Forks over Knives magazine that features amazing recipes and fresh informational content that is all plant-based, of course. The magazine is sold in supermarkets including Sprouts and Whole Foods. Education How not to Die This book is jam-packed with valuable information on disease and prevention. The author, Dr. Michale Greger explains, in layman’s terms, what the most common diseases are, how we get them, and how not to die from them, all while discussing plant-based nutrition and quoting strong supporting scientific evidence. The Rich Roll Podcast Rich Roll is an endurance athlete, he became vegan at age 45 and his story is amazing. He regularly features plant-based doctors, like Dr. Michael Greger, and Dr. Zach Bush on his podcast. The China Study The most comprehensive study on diet and nutrition. Support www.Challenge22.com Recipes, guidance, and support from a network of vegans and nutritionists.

Nov 12, 201852:38