Resonate | Conversations & Life Lessons from Rancho La Puerta

Rancho La Puerta with NOVA
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This is Resonate: Conversations and Life Lessons from Rancho La Puerta, hosted by Barry Shingle. Join us on a journey to our world-famous wellness resort and spa, built on four thousand beautiful acres in northern Baja, Mexico.  In each episode, we’ll explore heart-centered thoughts on well-being and life from our expert presenters whose core message aligns with our motto at Rancho La Puerta: “Siempre Mejor,”—Always Better. Open the door to a new way of being, and find what resonates with you.

  1. 3d ago

    61. Finding Your Voice Through Humor and Storytelling

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. New York Times bestselling author Firoozeh Dumas joins Barry to share how humor helped her tell the Iranian American stories she rarely saw represented growing up. She reflects on identity, belonging, perseverance, and the creative process behind Funny in Farsi. Firoozeh also explores the power of laughter to break down barriers, the importance of protecting your authentic voice, and why she makes a daily practice of looking for joy. This warm and thoughtful conversation is a reminder that our stories can help us recognize how much we have in common. Resources: Firoozeh Dumas’s WebsiteFollow Firoozeh Dumas on InstagramFiroozeh Dumas’s Books  To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    61. Finding Your Voice Through Humor and Storytelling

  2. Aug 3

    60. Everyone Has a Story Worth Telling with Josh Berman

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. What if the most memorable stories begin with the people Hollywood usually overlooks? Television writer, producer, director, and author Josh Berman joins Barry at Rancho La Puerta to share how a law-school graduate found his way into some of television’s most recognizable writers’ rooms. Josh reflects on his early days at NBC, writing six episodes during the first season of CSI, running writers’ rooms for Bones and The Blacklist, and creating the beloved series Drop Dead Diva. Throughout his career, Josh has used storytelling to explore science, truth, justice, body image, and the experiences of outsiders. He explains how his grandmother, a four-foot-eleven Holocaust survivor who carried herself like a supermodel, inspired the heart of Drop Dead Diva and its groundbreaking plus-size lead. Josh also introduces his first novel, Dead Matters, a forensic thriller following FBI agent Ella Penrose as she investigates crimes that appear paranormal but may have scientific explanations. He shares why rewriting is the real key to strong writing, how personal stories become compelling material, and the techniques he teaches aspiring writers during his workshops at the Ranch. This warm and insightful conversation is a reminder that everyone has a story worth telling and that entertainment can make room for compassion, humanity, and hope. Resources: Josh Berman’s Dead MattersDrop Dead Diva on Prime Video To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    60. Everyone Has a Story Worth Telling with Josh Berman

  3. Jul 20

    59. The Science of Pleasure, Joy, and Vitality With Dr. Erica Oberg

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. Could pleasure be the prescription your wellness routine is missing? In this uplifting episode of Resonate, Barry sits down with naturopathic doctor, researcher, and Healthy Hedonism author Dr. Erica Oberg to explore why feeling good is genuinely good for us. Drawing from more than two decades of working with patients, Dr. Oberg explains how many people follow every wellness rule, from counting their steps to tracking their sleep, yet still feel exhausted and miserable. Dr. Oberg challenges the belief that health must require sacrifice, punishment, or constant discipline. She shares how pleasure can shift the body out of chronic fight-or-flight mode and into a restorative state where it can rest, repair, and thrive. She also explains the difference between intelligent pleasure that nourishes us and habits that temporarily numb stress while leaving us feeling worse afterward. From taking an eight-second hug to turning a morning cup of coffee into a meaningful ritual, this conversation is filled with accessible ways to bring more presence and enjoyment into everyday life. Dr. Oberg offers her three-part prescription for greater vitality: spend time in nature, connect with another person, and make room for creativity. Tune in to discover why longevity should include vitality, how the way we eat may matter as much as what we eat, and why you do not need to wait for retirement, a vacation, or the end of your to-do list to experience joy. Resources: Free Healthy Hedonism Audiobook for the First 100 ListenersBuy Healthy Hedonism: Why Feeling Good Is Good for You! by Dr. Erica ObergDr. Erica Oberg’s WebsiteDr. Erica Oberg on InstagramDr. Erica Oberg on LinkedIn To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    59. The Science of Pleasure, Joy, and Vitality With Dr. Erica Oberg

  4. Jul 6

    58. Why Retirement Can Be a Beginning, Not an Ending

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. What If Your Next Chapter Is Your Most Meaningful One? Barry is joined by Marci Alboher, writer, speaker, author, and a leading voice in reimagining work, purpose, and connection across generations. Marci shares her own courageous shift from corporate law to journalism, revealing what it means to listen to your inner voice when the life you built no longer feels aligned. Together, Barry and Marci explore the beauty of encore careers, second acts, and the growing movement to bring older and younger people together in meaningful collaboration. From mentoring and intergenerational housing to purpose-driven work after retirement, Marci offers a hopeful vision of aging as a time of contribution, curiosity, and renewal. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what comes next. Whether you’re approaching retirement, feeling stuck in your current path, or simply wondering how to use your gifts in a more meaningful way, Marci reminds us that purpose doesn’t have to be grand to matter. Sometimes it begins with a small experiment, a new connection, or the courage to ask, “What else is possible?” Resources: Marci Alboher’s LinkedInCoGenerate’s WebsiteThe Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life by Marci AlboherOne Person/Multiple Careers: The Original Guide to the Slash Career by Marci AlboherGirls Write Now Website To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    58. Why Retirement Can Be a Beginning, Not an Ending

  5. Jun 22

    57. Rethinking Cannabis, One Conversation at a Time with Dr Amanda Reiman

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. In this thoughtful and eye-opening episode, Barry speaks with Dr. Amanda Reiman, a cannabis researcher, educator, and founder of Personal Plants, about the evolving conversation around cannabis, wellness, and harm reduction. Amanda shares how her work began in the early medical cannabis movement in California, where dispensaries served not only as access points, but as community spaces for healing, support, and connection. Together, Barry and Amanda explore the endocannabinoid system, the difference between smoking and edibles, why “start low, go slow” matters, and how cannabis may support people dealing with pain, sleep issues, anxiety, or a desire to reduce alcohol or opioid use. Amanda also brings nuance to common myths, from the idea of cannabis as a gateway drug to the misconception that it carries no risks at all. This conversation doesn’t tell listeners what to do. Instead, it offers information, context, and a grounded invitation to stay curious. Whether you’re new to cannabis, skeptical, experienced, or simply interested in how the science has changed, this episode opens the door to a more balanced and informed understanding of the plant. Resources: Personal PlantsAmanda Reiman on InstagramBook Mentioned: Harm Reduction Approaches to Working with Adolescents Who Use Substances To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    57. Rethinking Cannabis, One Conversation at a Time with Dr Amanda Reiman

  6. Jun 8

    56. Keith Macpherson on Music, Mindfulness, and the Present Moment

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. Can Music Bring You Back to Yourself? Welcome to Resonate, conversations and life lessons from Rancho La Puerta. In this thoughtful episode, Barry is joined by Keith Macpherson, a musician, author, coach, and mindfulness teacher whose path has taken him from a seventh-grade school assembly to Canadian Idol, world travels, and wellness workshops across cultures. Keith shares how music first opened the door to self-expression and later became a powerful bridge into mindfulness, healing, and presence. Together, Barry and Keith explore the deeper connection between music and mindfulness, including how a single song can help us slow down, process emotion, reconnect with memory, and listen more deeply to ourselves. Keith also shares the five principles from his book, Making Sense of Mindfulness, touching on inner dreaming, exposing the saboteur, opening the mind, becoming mindfully aware, and the power of the words “I am.” This episode is a gentle reminder that mindfulness is not a buzzword or an escape. It is a daily practice, a choice, and a return to the essence of who we are. Whether through breath, music, intention, or kindness toward ourselves, Keith invites us to start small, listen closely, and come back to the present moment with compassion. Resources: Keith MacphersonMaking Sense of MindfulnessMaking Sense of Mindfulness Online ProgramKeith Macpherson Daily IntentionsLet’s Connect Podcast To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    56. Keith Macpherson on Music, Mindfulness, and the Present Moment

  7. May 25

    55. Jazz Week and the Healing Power of Music

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. What if music, movement, and healing were all part of the same rhythm? In this soulful episode of Resonate, we’re joined by Brinae Ali, a tap dancer, vocalist, choreographer, educator, and interdisciplinary artist whose work lives at the intersection of jazz, movement, history, and healing. Brinae shares how growing up in an artistic household in Flint, Michigan shaped her path, why a college political science class deepened her calling as an artist, and how music can become a form of medicine when it reaches the body, the emotions, and the spirit. Together, we explore the democratic language of jazz, the healing power of vibration, and Brinae’s commitment to preserving the legacy of legendary tap dancer Baby Laurence through archival research, performance, choreography, and education. She also reflects on community as a wellness practice, the importance of collaboration for a sustainable creative life, and the rituals that help her stay centered while moving through a full life of performance, teaching, parenting, and creating. Join us for an inspiring conversation about lineage, joy, artistry, and the rhythms that carry us back to ourselves. Resources: Jazz Week 2026 at Rancho La PuertaBrinae Ali on InstagramBaby Laurence Legacy Project at Jacob’s Pillow To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    55. Jazz Week and the Healing Power of Music

  8. May 11

    54. Family Week at Rancho La Puerta: Connection Across Generations

    Make sure to mention the code PODCAST when making your next reservation and enjoy 15% off on new bookings for 7-night stays in 2026. Applicable towards new reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. On space-available basis. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Booking must be made by December 27, 2026. What makes Family Week at Rancho La Puerta feel so magical? In this lively episode of Resonate, Barry gives us a special preview of the 15th Annual Family Week by speaking with four of the presenters bringing their gifts to The Ranch this summer. Chess teacher Alex Freuman shares why chess is more than a game, offering a place for patience, strategy, critical thinking, and connection across generations. BollyPop creator Aakansha Maheshwari invites us into the joy of movement, blending Indian dance, pop music, and global rhythms into classes that help people de-stress, have fun, and spread happiness. Chef Vivian Mercado takes us inside La Cocina Que Canta and the organic garden, sharing her love for feeding the next generation with healthy, creative, kid-friendly food. She also reflects on the special energy children bring to The Ranch and the lasting relationships built through Family Week. Finally, circus artist, auctioneer, former police officer, and animal sanctuary founder Matt Roben talks about a life full of unexpected chapters, and why juggling, balancing, acrobatics, and play can bring kids, parents, and grandparents together. From chess boards and dance floors to garden-fresh meals and circus fun, this episode is a celebration of curiosity, connection, and the joy of learning together as a family. Resources: Rancho La Puerta Family WeekRancho La Puerta Events CalendarChef Vivian MercadoBollyPopBollyPop on Instagram Rockland County Chess ClubAlex Freuman at Rancho La PuertaMatt Roben To learn more about our wonderful presenters and exciting weeks coming up at the ranch, go to RanchoLaPuerta.com and check out our events calendar. Mention the podcast when making your reservation to take advantage of a special offer. Some restrictions may apply. Produced by NOVA

    54. Family Week at Rancho La Puerta: Connection Across Generations
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This is Resonate: Conversations and Life Lessons from Rancho La Puerta, hosted by Barry Shingle. Join us on a journey to our world-famous wellness resort and spa, built on four thousand beautiful acres in northern Baja, Mexico.  In each episode, we’ll explore heart-centered thoughts on well-being and life from our expert presenters whose core message aligns with our motto at Rancho La Puerta: “Siempre Mejor,”—Always Better. Open the door to a new way of being, and find what resonates with you.

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