Body of Wonder Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine

Join us as we discuss the intricate connections between two seemingly opposing aspects of human experience, joy, and trauma. Dr. Tanmeet Sethi, an expert in integrative medicine and mental health, guides us through this complex terrain of our emotions.



On this episode, Dr. Sethi shares insights on how to cultivate joy in our daily lives. As Dr. Sethi says, “Joy is the ability to sit with all that life has given us.”



The conversation elicits thoughts from Drs. Weil, Maizes, and Sethi on why we should not aim to be happy all the time, and instead embrace the full range of the human experience.  



Dr. Sethi expands on the potential for therapeutic psychedelics to facilitate deep emotional healing and transformation, which may offer hope to those who have struggled with treatment resistant depression.



Finally, this episode includes skills to infuse more joy into your life.

 

Join us for an enlightening conversation with the esteemed Tibetan Medicine expert, Dr. Leslie Blackhall. Currently the Section Head for Palliative Care at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Dr. Blackhall is a nationally recognized expert with pioneering work in bioethics, spirituality and medicine, and palliative care.



Tibetan Medicine is an intricate practice that blends herbalism, spirituality, and holistic well-being. This ancient system was developed in Tibet and is based on Buddhist philosophy.



On this episode, Dr. Blackhall sheds light on its core principles and their significance in the modern world including the interplay between mind, body, and spirit.



Drs. Weil, Maizes, and Blackhall discuss how Tibetan Medicine practices align with the whole-person view of health and how they can contribute to a more harmonious life.



This conversation promises to broaden your perspectives on what it means to live well.
 

In this episode, hosts Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes dive into the world of culinary medicine with physician and food advocate, Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark.



Dr. Maker-Clark shares insights on transforming the food landscape in hospitals and schools, revolutionizing nutrition education in medical schools across the United States, and empowering patients and healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills to prioritize their health through culinary practices.



With her expertise in nutritional sciences, she discusses innovative strategies for introducing fresh, plant-based foods to enhance well-being.



Dr. Maker-Clark also shares her experience teaching cooking classes to young adults and how they cultivate a sense of empowerment and ownership over their health journey. The episode wraps up with a focus on the importance of fostering positive relationships with food from an early age.



Join Body of Wonder as we discuss the transformative power of culinary medicine!

In this thought-provoking conversation we explore the impact of compassion on health and spiritual wellbeing.



Our guest today is Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, and author, who brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to our discussion.



Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Victoria Maizes discuss the impact of compassionate care with Sensei Ellison. Through Buddhist koans (traditional stories), meditative practices, and inspiring personal stories, he shares how compassion can transform patients' and their families' lives.



In this conversation, we discuss the broader societal benefits of compassionate care, such as fostering a culture of empathy and improving quality of life.



Weil, Maizes, and Ellison also highlight the challenges that healthcare providers often face in providing compassionate care, such as burnout and meeting the demands of our modern healthcare system.



In this episode, we gain practical insights into how to develop an empathic and healing approach to our struggles and those around us.

 

Caring for an individual with a serious medical diagnosis can be difficult for patients, their families, and caregivers. For some, a palliative care professional can make a big difference.

On this episode, we welcome Dr. Delia Chiaramonte, an integrative, palliative care physician and medical educator, who helps seriously ill patients live their best life.



By going beyond symptom management, forward thinking palliative care professionals aim to develop a model of care that places the individual's physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing at the center.



Integrative palliative care combines conventional and complementary approaches. It has been shown to provide significant benefits to patients, including improved symptom management, better relationships with healthcare providers, and increased satisfaction with care.



In this episode, we discuss mind-body tools for symptom relief, experiencing joy while living with a serious condition, confronting the fear of mortality, the growing use of psychedelics in terminal care, the advantages of team-based care, and improving overall quality of care for individuals.

 

Dr. Bernard Beitman is a psychiatrist, author, and founder of the Coincidence Project. Throughout his life, he has observed and documented the patterns of meaningful coincidences.



Coincidences, says Beitman, are an expression of the mind's relationship with the environment, and he offers ways to make use of them when they occur.



According to Beitman, all individuals experience meaningful coincidences, and the frequency of those experiences grows with increased attention.



Drawing on his career and the work of Carl Jung, he explains why he believes coincidences are more than statistical probabilities or acts of fate. Instead, he suggests that coincidences, “illuminate the hidden currents that connect and unite us.”



On this episode, Dr. Weil, Dr. Maizes, and Dr. Beitman examine the differences and similarities between coincidences, synchronicity, and serendipity. They discuss common examples and draw from personal experiences.