Season Three, Episode 125

Join your hosts, Carmen and Sophia Micsa, to learn more about healing our collective mental health with author Phyllis Leavit.

Phyllis Leavitt graduated from Antioch University with a Masters Degree in Psychology and Counseling in 1989. As a psychotherapist, I treated children, families, couples, and individual adults for 34 years, and I have worked extensively with abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics, their aftermath, and some of the most important elements for healing, including the intersection of our emotional well-being and spiritual healing and connection. Her latest book, America in Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis, is groundbreaking. Phyllis lives with her husband in Taos, NM, and is retired from her psychotherapy practice, focusing on writing and speaking.

"I don't believe there's any person who, if they have a chance to heal in that way, doesn't become more loving, more kind, more compassionate, more creative, more contributing, more cooperative, and more peaceful." Phillys Levitt

On this Seeds of sunshine:

• Phyllis knew from an early age that she wanted to become a writer.
• Phyllis ended up choosing to become a psychotherapist because she went to therapy herself, which was helpful and life-changing.
• When Phyllis decided to write her book American in Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis, she did so because she realized that in the field of psychotherapy, even if you're not working with a whole family, you're looking at the family configuration that a person came from.
• The author thinks that the mental health crisis in America has deepened because many people have really lost the sense of family in their own lives.
• Additionally, the extreme and escalating divide between the wealthy and those really struggling to survive economically is growing, causing enormous stress.
• The mental health crisis is also due to the lack of balance between the good of the individual and the good of the whole.

To connect with Phyllis Leavitt and buy her book American in Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis, please follow her:

Phyllis Leavitt Website - Phyllis Leavitt

Instagram

(1) Facebook

Support the show

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season Three, Episode 124

Join your hosts, Carmen and Sophia Micsa, to learn more about Steve McKinney's 3-W approach to fitness that works at any age. His book The Gospel of Fitness outlines his philosophy on weight training, walking, and diet.

Steve McKinney is a bestselling author, fitness coach, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, dedicated to helping people age strong and live healthier lives. As the owner of Fitness and More, Inc., he has helped countless individuals transform their bodies through his Unique 3-W Approach to Fitness.

Steve is also a church pastor, integrating faith and mindset into his approach to wellness. His book, The Gospel of Fitness, breaks down the science of strength training and nutrition in a practical, sustainable, and life-changing way.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• Steve explains the 3W method of helping others live their happiest and healthiest lives.
• Steve explains which strength-training exercises are beneficial and which we should avoid.
• He is a big believer that we can fight sarcopenia, or muscle loss, by walking at least 30 minutes a day after dinner to improve digestion and by performing the right exercises.
• As a fitness coach, Steve has logged over 15,000 personal training sessions with his clients.
• Steve's seeds of sunshine: weight training is medicine for your body. Watching your diet is medicine for your biology, and walking is medicine for your brain. Exercise is Medicine. Just apply it correctly.

To connect with Steve and buy his book The Gospel of Fitness, please follow him:

Fitness and More - Fitness and More

(9) Facebook

Support the show

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com

Season Three, Episode 123

Join your hosts, Carmen and Sophia Micsa, to learn more about Gail Showalter’s mission to help everyone grow and reach their true potential through some tweaks to how they approach life, motherhood, and careers.

For the last 18 years, Gail Showalter has been helping single moms navigate their lives. The nonprofit she founded in 2007 supports single moms pursuing degrees that lead to employment. In southeast Texas, she is known as the “Old Bird with Feathers of Wisdom for Women and a Soft Spot for Single Moms.” Gail was a single mother of three for sixteen years before she remarried. Her first article on returning to college as a single parent was published in Single-Parent Family magazine.

Her book, Living, Learning, Loving, was published by Morgan James Publishing on September 9, 2025. Gail holds degrees in speech, art, and special education, as well as a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. She is also a Certified Life Coach and Personality Specialist.

On this Seeds of Sunshine episode:

• As a single parent, Gail took what she learned as a single mom and helped other single moms navigate their lives.
• Gail’s life lessons resulted in a beautiful book Living, Learning, Loving.
• A big believer in the power of stories to shape our lives, Gail turned each chapter into a sharing of her personal experiences with readers, offering motivation and inspiration.
• Gail knows that when we take care of ourselves and get our priorities right, we are all better off. Gail’s primary goal is to help single moms who need it to get through college, and I have pointers for those individuals depending on where they live. Gail created a nonprofit program to help single moms get through college.
• As for Gail’s seeds of sunshine, she believes it is important to set reasonable goals related to lifestyle, raising children, finances, and more.

To connect with Gail and buy her books, please follow her:

Gail Cawley Showalter | helps single moms finish college | 152 Grandchase Drive, Nederland, TX, USA

https://www.instagram.com/gail_cawley

(1) Facebook

Gail Cawley Showalter - YouTube

Support the show

Full editing credit & art design to my daughter Sophia Micsa.
There are three ways to support our podcast:
1. You can become a monthly subscriber to our podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999885/support to help us continue our journey of sprinkling as many seeds of sunshine your way. When you become a subscriber, we will also give you a shout-out on our next episode and promote your business! No strings attached and you can cancel at any time.
2. Please donate any amount at https://ko-fi.com/carmenmicsa.
3. To follow me on social media, buy my books, or contact me about real estate, please visit https://linktr.ee/carmenmicsa, or email me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com