Quantum Mental Health

Kelli Ritter, PhD
  • 5.0 (8)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Quantum Mental Health—where science meets soul in the pursuit of true healing. This podcast is your guide to transforming anxiety and reclaiming vitality through groundbreaking insights in quantum biology, nutrition, and mental health. Join us to explore small yet powerful shifts that spark lasting change and help you live with joy, balance, and wellbeing. Ready to step into a new paradigm of healing? Let’s dive in!

  1. 2D AGO

    E51 The Single Most Important Aspect of Parenting You’re Not Thinking About with Ben Pargman

    Listener Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and may be sensitive for some listeners. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed. ⸻ In this meaningful and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Kelli is joined by Ben Pargman, a father who lost his son Manny to suicide in 2024. Ben does not approach this work as a clinician or researcher, but as a parent whose life was forever changed by loss—and who has chosen to turn that loss into action. Following Manny’s death, Ben and his family created Manny’s Band, a foundation dedicated to preventing teen suicide by closing the gap between awareness and action. Their mission is to equip families, friends, and communities with practical skills so they don’t miss the signs of someone struggling—or the opportunity to help before it’s too late. In this episode, we discuss: • The single most important aspect of parenting that often goes overlooked • Manny’s legacy and the heart behind Manny’s Band • Why awareness alone is not enough when it comes to suicide prevention • How families and communities can get involved • The importance of connection, conversation, and shared responsibility • Practical ways to support someone who may be struggling This conversation is not about fear—it’s about connection, awareness, and showing up for one another in real and meaningful ways. ⸻ Learn More + Get Involved Manny’s Band Foundation: https://mannysband.org ⸻ If You or Someone You Know Needs Support If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone. Support is available: • Call or text 988 (U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) • Chat via 988lifeline.org • Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line) • If you are in immediate danger, call 911 If you are outside the U.S., you can find international helplines here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Connect with Dr. Kelli Want to learn more about quantum mental health and anxiety recovery? Courses: https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Website: https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ ⸻ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical or mental health care. Please consult your healthcare provider for your specific needs.

    1 hr

  2. MAR 11

    E50 Are We Too Quick to Medicate Anxiety? Rethinking Mental Health for the Next Generation

    In this episode, Dr. Kelli explores why anxiety may be better understood not only through chemistry, but through the lens of the body’s electrical and energetic systems. This episode was recorded after a mother reached out asking a question Dr. Kelli hears often: Her daughter was struggling with anxiety, and the next recommended step was a referral to psychiatry and the possibility of medication. With more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field, Dr. Kelli offers a thoughtful and balanced perspective on this increasingly common situation. While medication can play an important role in certain circumstances—particularly during acute crisis—she invites listeners to consider whether we sometimes move too quickly to medication without first exploring the biological foundations of mental health. Drawing from trauma-informed practice, nutritional therapy, and applied quantum biology, Dr. Kelli discusses the growing understanding of the body as an electrical system and how anxiety may reflect deeper disruptions in the organism’s energy, safety signaling, and regulation. This conversation is not about rejecting medication. It is about expanding the mental health conversation so parents, practitioners, and individuals can consider a wider range of factors that influence emotional wellbeing. ⸻ In this episode, Dr. Kelli discusses: • Why anxiety may not simply be a “chemical imbalance” • The body’s electrical nature and its role in mental health • How trauma, circadian rhythms, and mitochondrial health influence anxiety • When psychiatric medication may be appropriate, particularly in crisis situations • The importance of supporting the body while working alongside prescribing providers • Dr. Kelli’s personal experience navigating anxiety and health challenges with her own son ⸻ Want to learn more about quantum health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ ⸻ SUPPORT THE SHOW LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com Use Discount Code: QHM10 ⸻ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

    23 min

  3. MAR 4

    E49 Microdosing and Mental Health with Kayse Gehret

    In this episode of the Quantum Mental Health Podcast, Dr. Kelli Ritter speaks with Kayse Gehret, founder of Microdosing for Healing, about the growing interest in microdosing as a tool for personal growth and mental health support. Kayse shares insights from nearly 30 years in the healing arts and explains how intentional microdosing practices are being explored by individuals seeking greater emotional balance, creativity, and self-awareness. Together, they discuss what microdosing actually is, why it’s gaining attention in the mental health space, and the importance of education, intention, and integration when exploring these practices. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at emerging approaches to mental well-being while emphasizing safety, personal responsibility, and curiosity. ⸻ In This Episode What microdosing is and how it differs from psychedelic use​ Why microdosing is gaining attention in mental health conversations​ The role of intention, safety, and integration​ How subtle shifts can influence emotional well-being and perspective ⸻ Connect with Kayse Gehret Microdosing for Healing https://www.microdosingforhealing.com ⸻ Connect with Dr. Kelli Website: https://anxiety-recovery.com Instagram: @dr_kelli WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW Please rate and share the show. Leave a comment if you liked this episode! Light Therapy with LifeWave Phototherapy Patches https://lifewave.com/kelliritter Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com Use Discount Code: QMH10 Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs.

    1h 7m

  4. FEB 18

    E48 You Can Be Regulated and Still Be Hurt with Dr. Kelli

    In this episode, I talk about something high-functioning women don’t say out loud enough: You can show up. Host the live. Make dinner. Keep functioning. And still feel tenderness underneath it all. We explore: ​ Why relational hurt registers as a safety signal​ How conflict costs mental bandwidth and energy​ The difference between suppressing emotion and metabolizing it​ Why needing space doesn’t mean you’re fragile Hurt doesn’t mean dysregulated. You can be steady… and still be affected. If you’re carrying something quietly today, you don’t need to explain it publicly. You just need to respect it privately. PRACTITIONERS: If you’re a practitioner listening to this and thinking, this is the kind of regulation I want to embody with my clients — that’s exactly why I created Foundations in Anxiety Recovery Coaching. We don’t just teach techniques. We train the kind of steady, grounded presence anxiety heals around. March enrollment is open if you’re ready to deepen your work. Enroll here; https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/mentorship-course Ready to go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

    18 min

  5. FEB 4

    E47 Can We Heal While Living Online? Reflections on social media, nature, and nervous system

    In this solo episode, I reflect on the nervous system impact of social media, the regulating role of nature, and the tension many of us feel trying to live well in an online world. Inspired by documentaries like The Social Dilemma and My Octopus Teacher, I share personal observations, including my recent experience with a viral reel, and explore what human resilience might actually look like in this modern moment. This isn’t an episode with answers—it’s a reflection on staying human, regulated, and connected in a very digital age. Want to learn more about quantum health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW  LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com Use Discount Code: QMH10 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

    34 min

  6. JAN 14

    E46 Motherhood, Mental Health & Circadian Safety with Nikko Kennedy

    Motherhood doesn’t begin at birth — and it doesn’t end when children grow up. It unfolds across seasons, shaped by light, rhythms, nervous system safety, and the lived experience of caring for other humans while staying connected to yourself. In this episode of the Quantum Mental Health Podcast, I’m joined by my dear friend and colleague Nikko Kennedy — a doula, circadian health expert, certified Applied Quantum Biology practitioner, and Research Director at the Institute of Applied Quantum Biology (IAQB). Together, we explore motherhood through a full developmental lens — from preparing the body before pregnancy, to supporting new moms, to navigating the mental and emotional landscape of raising children over decades. Nikko shares insights drawn from both research and lived experience as a mother of five. I reflect on motherhood from the perspective of having two grown sons — now 20 and 23 — and how nervous system safety, circadian rhythms, and emotional regulation continue to matter long after the early years. This is not just a fertility conversation. And it’s not only about new motherhood. It’s about how women can support their mental health and biological resilience across the entire arc of motherhood — hormonally, emotionally, and energetically. In this episode, we discuss: ​Why circadian rhythms are foundational for women’s mental health at every stage of motherhood​How light, darkness, sleep timing, and daily structure support mitochondrial health​Preparing the body before pregnancy — without pressure or perfection​Anxiety, nervous system load, and the role of safety signals in parenting​Practical, compassionate strategies for supporting new moms​How relational support and community care sustain mothers over time — not as obligation, but as shared humanity Nikko brings deep research and communicates it in a way that feels grounded, accessible, and deeply human. Together, we reflect honestly on what motherhood looks like in real life — not just in theory. ✨ This episode is for women who hope to become mothers, those in the thick of early parenting, moms with older children, helping professionals, and anyone interested in motherhood through a quantum mental health lens. Connect with Nikko: https://www.brighterdaysdarkernights.com https://substack.com/@nikkokennedy https://www.instagram.com/brighterdays.darkernights Want to learn more about quantum mental health and go deeper into your own healing? Check out Dr. Kelli’s Courses https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/courses Connect with Kelli https://www.instagram.com/dr_kelli Visit https://www.anxiety-recovery.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW LifeWave Phototherapy Patches: https://lifewave.com/KelliRitter Earthing shoes, Harmony 783 - https://harmony783.com/pages/my-shop#2305666 Discount Code: KELLI1 Midwest Red Light Therapy https://midwestredlighttherapy.com Use Discount Code: QMH10 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Always work with your personal healthcare provider for your specific health needs. Reminding you that podcasts are not medical advice nor consultations.

    1h 20m

  7. JAN 8

    E45 An Unexpected Conversation: Grief, Suicide, and Doing Hard Things - A New Year Reflection with Pace Strickland

    Happy New Year, and welcome to the first episode of 2026 on the Quantum Mental Health Podcast. This episode didn’t go the way it was planned—and that feels important to name. I sat down with my podcast editor, Pace Strickland, intending to record a simple Q&A-style conversation. A few thoughtful questions. A light, reflective start to the year. Instead, we found ourselves in a very different—and very human—place. What unfolded was an unexpected conversation about grief, suicide, love, and what it actually takes to keep showing up to life when things have been unbearably hard. Pace shares about the loss of her brother to suicide, and together we explore how people carry grief, how they survive it, and how they find the courage to do hard things even when the nervous system wants to shut down. There are no graphic details in this episode, but suicide and loss are discussed. Please listen with gentle ears, and take care of yourself as you tune in. As we step into a new year, this conversation reflects the direction I’m feeling called toward in 2026—not just the expected mental health conversations, but the deeper, quieter, more honest ones. Conversations with people who are living consciously, intentionally, and truthfully—even when the path hasn’t been easy. This episode is about: ​ Grief that doesn’t follow a timeline​ The invisible weight people carry​ Doing hard things when you don’t feel “strong”​ Staying present instead of numbing or bypassing pain​ Allowing real conversations to unfold without forcing an agenda If you’ve ever loved someone who struggled… If you’ve ever had to keep going while your heart was broken… If you’re entering this year with tenderness rather than resolutions… You’re not alone here. Thank you for being part of this space, and for trusting these conversations—especially the unexpected ones. Connect with Dr. Kelli If this conversation resonated with you, you can explore more trauma-informed, body-based perspectives on anxiety, grief, and nervous system healing at: → Website: anxiety-recovery.com → Instagram: @dr_kelli Come as you are. Take what’s useful. Leave the rest. This podcast is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health care. If this episode brings up distress, please consider reaching out to a trusted person or a qualified mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent support, contact your local emergency services or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S. & Canada: 988).

    59 min

  8. 12/17/2025

    E44 Cold Plunge, Clear Mind: Quantum Cold Exposure + Healing in Nature with Oksana Hansen

    In this episode, Dr. Kelli is joined by her friend and quantum health colleague Oksana Hansen, Founder of Quantum Lens Wellness, for a grounded, empowering conversation about cold plunging, quantum cold exposure, and why nature-based experiences and community matter deeply for nervous system healing. We explore cold exposure not as a badge of toughness, but as a biological conversation with the nervous system—one that can build resilience, mitochondrial signaling, and emotional regulation when done wisely and trauma-informed. This is about learning how to meet stress without overwhelming the system. Oksana also shares details about two powerful cold exposure–centered events we discuss in the episode: ​Return to Nature — an immersive, nature-forward gathering she is hosting that integrates cold plunging, sauna, circadian rhythms, and community healing​The Cold Plunge Research Institute Symposium — a science-rooted event bringing together researchers, practitioners, and leaders advancing the evidence-based understanding of cold exposure and human performance Together, we explore how science, nature, and lived experience can coexist—without turning healing into another extreme sport. In this episode, we discuss: ​Cold plunging as nervous system training, not punishment​Adaptive stress vs. overwhelm (and why anxious systems must know the difference)​How cold exposure supports mitochondrial signaling and resilience​Why healing accelerates in nature and safe community​The importance of research-backed approaches to cold therapy​What to expect from both upcoming cold exposure events About Oksana Hansen Oksana Hansen is the Founder of Quantum Lens Wellness, where she helps individuals reconnect with their biology through light, temperature, nature, and intentional living. Her work blends applied quantum biology with grounded, embodied practices that support nervous system resilience and cellular health. Events mentioned in this episode Return to Nature – Cold Exposure & Nature Gathering Hosted by Oksana Hansen Learn more: 👉 https://www.quantumlenswellness.com/retreat Cold Plunge Research Institute Symposium A science-forward symposium focused on cold exposure research, application, and innovation Learn more: 👉 https://www.morozkoforge.com/cold-plunge-research-institute Gentle reminder: Cold exposure is a powerful tool—but it’s not one-size-fits-all. If you have a history of panic, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation, start slowly and consult your healthcare provider. Healing happens through capacity, not force. ✨ CONNECT WITH DR. KELLI Instagram: @dr_kelli Website: www.anxiety-recovery.com Courses, tools, and resources for anxiety transformation.

    52 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to Quantum Mental Health—where science meets soul in the pursuit of true healing. This podcast is your guide to transforming anxiety and reclaiming vitality through groundbreaking insights in quantum biology, nutrition, and mental health. Join us to explore small yet powerful shifts that spark lasting change and help you live with joy, balance, and wellbeing. Ready to step into a new paradigm of healing? Let’s dive in!

Information

  • Creator
    Kelli Ritter, PhD
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kelli Ritter, PhD
  • Show Website
    Quantum Mental Health

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