WhozYourMama

Michelle Kreft
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

Welcome to WhozYourMama, the podcast dedicated to empowering your mental health and wellness. Each episode is a journey towards mental strength, resilience, and holistic well-being. We explore the challenges and triumphs of mental health, offering expert insights, inspiring personal stories, and actionable strategies to help you thrive. Whether you're seeking to build mental fortitude, enhance your self-care routine, or find strength in community, WhozYourMama is your supportive companion. Tune in, find your strength, and let's conquer the path to wellness together.

  1. Intention, Integrity, Connection: The Venice Electric Light Parade Story

    JAN 15

    Intention, Integrity, Connection: The Venice Electric Light Parade Story

    Sunset can feel like a reset button, and for us, it’s the moment a glowing stream of bikes turns Venice into a living neighborhood again. Marcus Gladney joins to share how the Venice Electric Light Parade grew from a late-night discovery into a decade-long, sober, family-friendly movement that brings hundreds of people together every Sunday. What started with wheel lights and a playlist became a lifeline for riders who needed connection, especially during lockdowns when Bicycle Bedtime Stories kept hope alive at dusk. We dig into the origin story—from leaving successful businesses in Kansas City to finding belonging on the boardwalk—and why clear values like no alcohol, no smoking, and kid-first pacing are the guardrails that keep the ride safe and joyful. Marcus opens up about DMs that changed his perspective, personal rides with folks who were struggling, and the power of showing up consistently. We also explore how technology can be intentional and human: iFit brought the parade to Norditrack users worldwide, letting someone in Thailand ride along and message Marcus in real time. The ripple effects stretch from families and restaurants to brain health, proving that movement, music, and community can recalibrate a tough week. Beyond the glow, there’s a philosophy: move with intention, protect integrity, and don’t be afraid of a redo. Marcus shares the choices behind collaborations he accepts—and those he declines—to keep the parade aligned with its mission. Kids who joined at four are now sixteen, and that arc is the true reward: routines that become roots, joy that becomes practice, and light that becomes legacy. If you’re craving connection, curious about building a values-led community, or just want a reason to look forward to Sundays, this one’s for you. If this story sparks something, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the word that guides your week. Then meet us at sunset—let’s ride. Support the show

    18 min
  2. How Chasing Discomfort Turned a DJ Into a Marathoner and a Better Human

    JAN 8

    How Chasing Discomfort Turned a DJ Into a Marathoner and a Better Human

    What if the soundtrack that moves a dance floor could also carry you through mile 24? We sit down with Ryan “DJ Lush Bunny” Jesena to unpack a transformation that began in lockdown and ended at a marathon finish line—powered by purpose, disciplined coaching, and playlists engineered for cadence, not just vibes. Ryan takes us back to the track where he watched athletes grind in silence while the world stayed still. One conversation with a coach reframed everything: don’t train without a purpose. That simple rule set a clear goal—finish a marathon—and forced every habit to line up behind it. The early days were brutal: half a block left him breathless and sick, so he rebuilt from the feet up with barefoot strength, form work, and patience. The results stacked fast. He lost 40–50 pounds, quit drinking, stabilized sleep, and found more energy and clarity at work. The race mattered, but the deeper win was identity: someone who trains with intent. Music became a tool, not a distraction. Ryan explains how BPM shapes effort—under 120 for base miles, faster tempos for intervals—and why mixing genres keeps the mind engaged when the body fades. He maps marathon playlists like DJ sets, syncing songs to course segments and expected fatigue so the right track hits exactly when the wall does. We dig into practical tips for beginners: build purpose first, use cadence to control pace, protect your morning routine, and let consistency lead before chasing speed. The most powerful insight is philosophical: comfort rarely equals happiness. Measured discomfort—hard sessions, honest feedback, the sting of failure—creates growth and a fuller human experience. If you’re starting from zero, curious about using music to guide training, or ready to trade ease for meaning, this conversation will hand you a blueprint. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge, and tell us: what hard thing will you choose next? Support the show

    14 min
  3. How Intuitive Dance Transforms Stress Into Strength

    12/26/2025

    How Intuitive Dance Transforms Stress Into Strength

    What if a dance floor could double as a healing space? We dive into an energizing conversation with DJ and creator Sebastian Siren about how intuitive movement, electronic music, and community can regulate the nervous system and unlock real emotional release. This isn’t about performance or steps—it’s about listening to your body, following curiosity, and letting rhythm reset your stress response. Sebastian traces his path from LA’s abundant wellness scene to New York’s intensity, showing how intention can replace access and how a brand can evolve beyond “just parties.” He shares why he designs playful, transcendent, and transformative sets that land listeners neutral to elevated, not burned out. We unpack practical somatic tools—hip circles, micro-movements, breath pacing—that pair beautifully with techno’s steady beat, and we explore how injuries or life shifts can push you toward gentler, smarter ways to move. You’ll hear a roadmap for finding your “little portals”: conversations at bars and coffee shops, cacao circles, bathhouses, and affordable breathwork sessions that become anchors for self-care. We talk about grief after leaving a beloved sport, the surprising power of a weighted hula hoop, and the quiet confidence that comes from feeling your posture, breath, and mood change in sync with the music. Whether you’re in a club or your kitchen, these practices help you downshift from survival mode and reconnect with joy. If you’re ready to start, build a short playlist, set a ten-minute timer, and let your body lead. Then tell us what you felt and what you want more of. Subscribe for new episodes, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with the song that gets you moving every time. Support the show

    19 min
  4. How to Stop Carrying Too Much and Start Caring Well

    12/18/2025

    How to Stop Carrying Too Much and Start Caring Well

    Your mind doesn’t just need more motivation; it needs maintenance. We dive into energy hygiene with Anabel Salimian of ROOTS, exploring how to keep your mental state clear and resilient when life crowds your calendar. From the holiday rush to everyday stressors, we unpack simple ways to care deeply without carrying more than your share, and how to reset before burnout takes the wheel. We start by distinguishing caring from carrying—why values-led commitments feel light while people-pleasing feels heavy—and how that difference shows up in your body as tension, brain fog, and fatigue. Annabelle breaks down early burnout signals you can actually track, then walks us through micro-practices that work in real life: 4-6 breath cycles to calm the nervous system, quick body scans to release stress, and short walks to steady your heart and head. No hour-long rituals required; two focused minutes can change the day. Reflection ties it together. We share simple journaling prompts—What drained me? What fed me? What boundary protects tomorrow?—along with gratitude lines written in your own words to train attention toward what stabilizes you. You’ll learn how to set clean boundaries before resentment builds, protect your sleep with a calm wind-down, and treat reset time as part of responsibility rather than a luxury. If you’ve been trying to do it all and feel your energy slipping, this conversation offers a humane, repeatable plan to recover your focus and joy. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these tools. Your support helps us grow this community of parents, educators, and caregivers who are building healthier brains and brighter days. Support the show

    11 min
  5. How Intention Turns Food Into a Tool for Health, Creativity, and Service

    12/11/2025

    How Intention Turns Food Into a Tool for Health, Creativity, and Service

    What if the way you plate dinner could rewire the way your family thinks, feels, and shows up for the world? Chef Keven Lee joins us to explore how intention transforms everyday meals into tools for health, creativity, and community. He traces his culinary identity back to a home alive with art and hospitality—a sculptor father, a nurturing mother, and a childhood where food was both ritual and play. From New York and Switzerland training to launching brands in caviar and coffee, Keven shows how artistry and service can live on the same plate. We get practical about feeding kids without friction. Start with one ingredient they love and build from there. Freeze extra fruit for smoothies, fold in spinach without secrets, and narrate flavors so children learn sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and fresh as a kind of tasting literacy. We talk cravings and balance—when you’re reaching for sugar, ask whether the body really needs food, movement, water, or rest. Budget-wise, Keven points to staples like rice, beans, eggs, frozen vegetables, and canned fish, then layers flavor with citrus, herbs, and texture to make simple food feel special. The conversation turns outward to community. During the LA fires, Keven borrowed a pupusa truck, tapped food bank relationships, and moved surplus dry goods into the hands that needed them most. The blueprint is simple and repeatable: use what you have—time, tools, networks—and involve your kids so generosity becomes a family habit. We close on mindset: become it from within. When you cultivate internal wealth—discipline, gratitude, curiosity—healthier choices and real-world impact follow. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves food and service, and leave a review telling us one small action you’ll take this week. Support the show

    20 min
  6. How Reflection, Accountability, and Kindness Build a Life You’re Proud Of

    12/04/2025

    How Reflection, Accountability, and Kindness Build a Life You’re Proud Of

    A father’s wisdom hits different when you can feel the miles behind it. We invited my dad, Jim “Jimbo” England, to pull back the curtain on the values that shaped our family—integrity, perseverance, and caring without fear—and the result is a candid, grounded conversation about how to build a life you can stand by. No buzzwords, no fluff. Just the habits and hard lessons that carry you through a noisy world. We start with a simple compass: tell the truth, keep going, and love people deeply even when it stings. From there we explore boundaries that actually work—mental and emotional lines that shift with seasons without losing their anchor. Jimbo shares why flexible boundaries beat rigid ones, how to protect your energy without closing your heart, and why the courage to care is worth the risk. We dig into mentorship and mistakes, too: better decisions often sprout from bad ones, especially when mentors are honest about their scars. Learning to pay it forward turns private insights into public good. The episode also challenges the climate of hot takes and dug-in heels. Jimbo makes the case for humility and civility as daily disciplines. Strong beliefs can live alongside open minds if we build the muscle of reflection and accountability. We get practical about staying grounded—shortening your time horizon when you’re off track, checking choices against your core values, and course-correcting in real time. And we close with a lesson that took decades to learn: don’t get comfortable with losing, but do learn to lose well. Losing with grace can be the ultimate teacher, strengthening character, relationships, and long-term success. If this conversation gave you a new lens on values, boundaries, or growth, tap follow, share it with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your support helps us keep building a community devoted to learning out loud. Support the show

    18 min
  7. From Burnout to Flow: How Music, Energy, and Mindfulness Reset the Body and Brain

    11/21/2025

    From Burnout to Flow: How Music, Energy, and Mindfulness Reset the Body and Brain

    What if your body aches were really energy leaks—and your best medicine was a song you could move to? We sit down with DJ and producer Sebastian Siren to trace the line from burnout to flow, using dance, sleep hygiene, and intentional creativity to restore the nervous system and spark joy. Sebastian frames life as a single energy account: time, attention, and relationships all spend from the same source. He shares how an honest audit exposed his drains and how somatic tools—standing in front of speakers, floor work, and free dancing—released months of tension when meditation alone fell short. We dig into the brain chemistry behind the experience, exploring how rhythm and movement nudge dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to improve mood, focus, and resilience without forcing it. We also unpack the before-and-after of the pandemic on nightlife. With venues shuttered and communities scattered, many turned inward or numbed out. Sebastian makes the case for embodied connection: safe dance floors where expression is welcome and the crowd becomes a supportive instrument. Inside the booth, he treats a DJ as an energy conductor—starting strong, letting mixes breathe, and closing with trance-tinged euphoria that leaves people smiling, crying cathartically, or simply lighter. His selection rule is simple and radical: pick what the body loves, not just what the brain approves. If energy is currency, spend it on rituals that pay you back. Try a one-hour set on a walk, a kitchen dance before emails, or a weekend session that shakes loose the week. Then protect sleep, set cleaner boundaries, and notice which people and habits refill your balance. Subscribe for more conversations at the edge of music, mental health, and mindful performance, and share your go-to song for an instant reset. Your next breath—and your next beat—are waiting. Support the show

    25 min
  8. How Small Habits Create Big Shifts in Your Energy

    11/14/2025

    How Small Habits Create Big Shifts in Your Energy

    Ever wish your brain came with a dimmer switch for the late-night buzz and a quick-start button for mornings? We delve into energy hygiene—simple, science-backed habits that clear mental clutter, safeguard your inner peace, and help you navigate your day with less friction and more intention. With Anabel Salimian of ROOTS, now pursuing her PhD in psychology, we unpack how boundaries, sleep cues, and micro-resets turn scattered effort into steady momentum you can actually feel. We start by defining energy hygiene and why it matters more during high-stress seasons like exams, deadlines, and holidays. From calming soundscapes and chakra tones to white noise and gentler playlists, you’ll learn how to create a wind-down that your nervous system recognizes on cue. We contrast nighttime reflection with morning activation: gratitude and reframing to close loops at night, then focused goals and one key priority to spark the day. Anabel shares evidence-informed prompts, and we explore the emotional payoff of writing worries down so they stop running the show. Daytime gets practical with the mindful minute—short resets that pull you out of spirals without blowing up your schedule. We pair that with five-minute walks, sunlight when possible, and clear device boundaries that reduce overstimulation. A favorite moment: the “Fab Five” high five that turned a reluctant ten-minute walk into a 30-minute joy ride, reminding us how small, positive social cues co-regulate stress and lift mood. The through-line is simple: treat habits as dials, not switches. When life gets loud, dial up grounding inputs and dial down stimulation; when energy returns, add morning sparks and protect an easy landing at night. If you’re ready to trade burnout for a steadier baseline—better sleep, clearer focus, and a bit more delight—this one’s your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review to tell us the one habit you’ll try this week. Let’s go, y’all—the time is now. Support the show

    24 min
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About

Welcome to WhozYourMama, the podcast dedicated to empowering your mental health and wellness. Each episode is a journey towards mental strength, resilience, and holistic well-being. We explore the challenges and triumphs of mental health, offering expert insights, inspiring personal stories, and actionable strategies to help you thrive. Whether you're seeking to build mental fortitude, enhance your self-care routine, or find strength in community, WhozYourMama is your supportive companion. Tune in, find your strength, and let's conquer the path to wellness together.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Kreft
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 WhozYourMama
  • Show Website
    WhozYourMama