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

Few clichés have had as profound an impact on human development as the phrase “You are what you eat.”

Our dietary choices have a significant impact on our overall health and wellness, shaping the composition and function of our bodies.

The foods we eat supply the nutrients our bodies need to maintain brain, muscle, bone, nerves, skin, blood circulation, and immune system functioning. Proper nutrition also helps protect us from various illnesses and diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis.

Nutrition is one of the most popular topics on social media, with programming and experts dominating the market. However, following a healthy eating plan is one of the first things we sacrifice when life feels busy or overwhelming.

With so many challenges, where do we turn for the most accurate advice?

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

In this episode, we spoke with registered dietitian and health designer Beth Machnica. A leader in designing spaces and systems to maximize human health, Beth is the Director of Health and Well-Being at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, where she created and oversees a portfolio of Food as Medicine programs.

Join us as we talk to Beth about her relationship with nature, the role and function of a registered dietician, the meaning of “food as medicine,” and the role proper nutrition plays in both lifespan and health span.

Beth discusses the barriers to proper nutrition, the health inequities and disparities associated with food insecurity, the importance of nutrition and lifestyle changes for women’s health, and practical tips for anyone wanting to begin eating healthier.

This was a conversation we could really sink our teeth into.

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

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

BNMC website: https://bnmc.org/

Beth’s website: https://linktr.ee/bethmachnica?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Beth’s email: emachnica@bnmc.org

Work with Beth at this link, insurance accepted:https://www.flourishnutrition.io/providers/beth-machnica

Agenda to the 5th Annual Food as Medicine Symposium:https://bnmc.org/health-and-wellbeing/health-and-wellbeing-food-as-medicine-2025/

Get tickets for the hybrid (virtual + in-person) Symposium:https://theticketing.co/e/famsymposium2025

* 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.

According to 2025 data released by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people are living with mental health disorders.

US survey data collected in March and April 2025 indicate a substantial portion of adults experienced a mental health crisis in the past year, with many facing barriers to accessing help.

The US is experiencing a significant shortage of mental health providers, which has led to a reduction in access to care. We must find proactive ways to manage the rising mental and emotional challenges that we consistently face.

Creativity and wellness are deeply connected. Engaging in creative activities like art, music, and writing has been shown to reduce stress and lower symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Making time for creative outlets as a form of self-care allows for emotional management and expression, stimulates brain function, and promotes a sense of connection to oneself and others.

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

In this episode, we spoke with artist, mental health advocate, and keynote speaker Jeffrey Sparr. Diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as a college athlete, he struggled to live a "normal' life. Jeff co-founded PeaceLove Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes mental health through creative expression.

Join us as we talk to Jeff about his journey with mental illness, how a friend's suggestion to try painting changed the course of his life, and how his new digital teaming tool, Scribl, is reshaping human connection through creativity.

Jeff discusses the challenges mental illness can impact health and wellness, how creativity can serve as a superpower, and how any creative endeavor has a profound impact on quality of life.

This conversation is a work of art (pun intended).

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

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Jeffrey's Website: http://www.jeffreysparr.com/

Scribl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scribl-co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scribl.co/

PeaceLove

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peacelovefoundation

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacelovefoundation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peacelovestudios

* 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.

It is hard to argue that changes to our environment are real. Regardless of political affiliation, geographical location, or level of education, it is easy to see that the planet is changing.

These changes can lead to health and wellness challenges, including mental and emotional concerns.

Climate anxiety is a prevalent and growing concern, particularly among young people and increasingly in the general population.

A landmark 2021 study found 84% of young people aged 16-25 were moderately worried about climate change, with 59% being very or extremely worried, while a 2023 study also found that 45% of young people said their feelings about climate change affected their daily functioning. A 2020 American Psychological Association poll found that 55% of adult respondents were somewhat or extremely anxious about climate change.

What can we do to manage these mental and emotional stressors?

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

In this episode, we spoke with Sarah Newman, the founder and executive director of Climate Mental Health Network. Leading the largest organization in a growing sector, Sarah and her team focus on addressing the mental health consequences of climate change.

Join us as we talk to Sarah about her personal journey with the natural world, the realities of a changing world, and how climate anxiety can negatively impact our daily quality of life.

Sarah discusses the role that the Climate Mental Health Network can help all populations manage the concerns over a changing climate, the importance of community in dealing with climate change, and some tangible ways to protect our mental health and wellness amidst constant change.

We left this conversation with a much greater peace of mind.

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

We appreciate you all.

Be Well

-NOW ™️

Climate Mental Health Network Website: https://www.climatementalhealth.net/

CMHN Instagram: @climatementalhealth

CMHN Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climate-mental-health-network/

CMHN Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClimateMentalHealthNetwork

How to Invest in CMHN's Mission: https://givebutter.com/climatementalhealth

GEN Z Study Mentioned: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(24)00229-8/fulltext

Climate Emotions Map: https://www.us-climate-emotions-map.org/

Upcoming CMHN Webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jkch6Yg2SEKQtT8xqbcP0Q#/registration

* 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.