Drop The Shades

Joseph Elisha, M.D.

The world is loud. Drop The Shades is the pause. Hosted by anesthesiologist Joseph Elisha, M.D., this podcast explores how to lower the noise, regulate your nervous system, and create calm in the middle of chaos. Through science, story, and simple daily practices, Joseph teaches listeners how to step out of overwhelm, regain clarity, and move through life with steadiness and intention.

  1. 15H AGO

    From Abuse to Healing Others | #5

    What if the deepest trauma in your life became the reason you could heal others? Dr. Robert Bleck shares his harrowing story of enduring years of physical and emotional abuse as a child and how that pain shaped his path to becoming a therapist and professor. Through decades of work, he developed Source Completion Therapy, a process designed to help people finally release the trauma they’ve carried for years. In this conversation, he breaks down how unresolved pain turns into addiction, anxiety, and destructive patterns, and how confronting the source can lead to real, lasting healing. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why trauma doesn’t disappear and where it actually goes How pain turns into addictions, anxiety, and toxic patterns The 3-phase process to truly heal and reclaim your life If you’ve ever wondered whether real healing is possible, this episode might change how you see your past.

    1h 2m

  2. APR 10

    Pause to Heal Your Body | #4

    What if the key to healing isn’t doing more, but slowing down? In this episode of Drop The Shades, Dr. Emily shares her journey from years of autoimmune disease and medication to finding true healing through functional medicine and lifestyle change. In this conversation with Joseph Elisha, she breaks down how stress, inflammation, and everyday habits silently shape our health and how small, intentional shifts can completely transform it. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why stress is one of the biggest hidden drivers of chronic illness - How small daily habits create massive long term health changes - The power of “pausing” to activate your body’s natural healing If you’ve been running on empty and searching for real answers, this episode is your invitation to slow down, tune in, and start healing from within.

    50 min

  3. APR 3

    The Beauty Of Your Broken Pieces | #3

    What if the cracks in your life are the very thing that makes you valuable? In this reflective episode of Drop The Shades, Joseph Elisha explores the Japanese philosophy of kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Through this powerful metaphor, he reframes pain, failure, and hardship as essential parts of the human story rather than flaws to hide. Instead of chasing perfection, Joseph invites listeners to see their scars, struggles, and setbacks as proof of resilience and growth. In this episode you will hear about: • Why our culture’s obsession with perfection keeps us stuck • The meaning behind the Japanese philosophies of kintsugi and wabi sabi • How embracing your “cracks” can transform shame into strength If you have ever felt broken, this conversation offers a new perspective. Your story, your scars, and your healing may be the gold that makes you whole.

    7 min

  4. MAR 27

    Beyond Identity: Healing Through Community | #2

    What if recovery is not about willpower, but about belonging? In this powerful episode of Drop the Shades, host Joseph Elisha sits down with Beck Gee, CEO of Breathe Life Healing Centers in Los Angeles, to explore a journey shaped by addiction, secrecy, gender identity, faith, and ultimately, profound self-acceptance. From growing up in an alcoholic home to navigating sobriety, depression, and coming out as trans later in life, Beck shares how community became the lifeline that made healing possible. Together, they unpack the layers of trauma, the cost of hiding, the courage it takes to live authentically, and the transformative role of collective support in long term recovery. Key themes include: - The hidden impact of childhood trauma and family secrecy - Addiction as both escape and connection - Gender identity, faith, and the fear of losing community - Why healing happens through belonging, not isolation

    1h 8m

  5. MAR 20

    Come Back Home to Yourself | #1

    What if the person you’ve been searching for is you? In this first episode of Drop The Shades, host Joseph Elisha invites you into a quiet moment of reflection. When life gets loud with responsibilities, expectations, and constant noise, it’s easy to drift away from who you truly are. This conversation is about slowing down, getting honest with yourself, and beginning the journey back home. Instead of chasing perfection or productivity, Joseph shares how simple moments of silence, honesty, and self-awareness can help you reconnect with your inner voice and rediscover what really matters. In this episode, you’ll explore: - Why we slowly drift away from ourselves - How silence and honesty help us reconnect - Small boundaries that bring you back to who you are Sometimes coming home to yourself begins with one honest question and one quiet pause. If you’ve been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, this episode is your invitation to dim the noise and return to yourself.

    5 min

  6. TRAILER

    A New Chapter: Welcome to Drop The Shades

    This podcast is evolving. In this special episode, Joseph shares the story behind the transition to Drop The Shades—a new direction focused on helping you quiet the noise, reset your nervous system, and find calm in a chaotic world. Drawing from decades in the operating room, Joseph introduces a deeper, more personal format built around stories, reflection, and practical tools to help you step out of overwhelm and reconnect with yourself. New episodes every Friday, starting this week.

    3 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Is the Mind a Noun or a Verb?!

    In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha shares a reflective monologue on how we think about the mind—as both a noun and a verb. Drawing from personal experience, everyday stressors, and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, he probes the labels we apply to our thoughts and feelings. Joseph explores the practice he calls “dropping the shades,” a method of pausing and resetting through nostalgic reconnection. He explains how this mental reset—whether through music, memory, or a moment of solitude—can help us observe our inner storms without becoming them.    Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Introduction: the concept of the mind as noun vs. verb  [00:01:30] How internal labeling shapes self-perception  [00:02:55] The metaphor of the garden and choosing what we “water”  [00:03:30] Introducing “dropping the shades” as a coping mechanism  [00:04:05] Navigating emotional rapids and life’s stressors  [00:04:21] Using nostalgia to reset and re-center  [00:05:45] Operating room metaphor: connecting, pausing, and returning  [00:06:40] Neuroscience behind nostalgia’s effect on the brain  [00:07:15] Individual ways to “drop the shades” and reconnect  [00:07:40] Closing reflections and invitation to apply the concept    Joseph Elisha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-elisha-m-d-a9b7aab    Subscribe to this feed so you don't miss new episodes!

    8 min

  8. 11/28/2025

    Robin Frisella and the art of Stillness

    In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha sits down with pastel artist Robin Frisella, PSA-MP, IAPS/MC, whose still life paintings evoke nostalgia, serenity, and emotional depth. Robin shares how a casual invitation to a pastel class ignited her lifelong artistic journey, transforming a quiet post-childraising chapter into a vibrant second act. The discussion touches on the emotional processes behind her art, the meaning she finds in vintage objects, and how her work provides a calming experience for others. They also explore themes of creative authenticity, family support, and art’s healing potential.    Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Joseph Elisha recalls discovering Robin Frisella’s work in Boston.  [00:02:38] Robin shares how a pastel class began her journey as an artist.  [00:04:15] Transition from working at a copy center to painting full time.  [00:06:56] Childhood love for drawing and early creative expression.  [00:07:32] Why she was drawn to still life over landscapes or portraits.  [00:09:05] Favorite objects to paint and their nostalgic emotional weight.  [00:10:05] The story behind her mother-in-law’s butter churn painting.  [00:11:28] How antique shops inspire her artistic compositions.  [00:12:55] Capturing emotional resonance through light and setup.  [00:14:31] Building emotional connection even with commissioned pieces.  [00:15:41] Responding to whether art is created or uncovered.  [00:16:37] Visualizing the final product and evolving it through the process.  [00:17:50] Attachment to her work and meeting collectors at shows.  [00:19:05] Managing pressure and how deadlines can sharpen creativity.  [00:19:46] Pastel as a challenging but expressive medium.  [00:21:21] Leaving areas unfinished and the beauty of imperfection.  [00:22:13] Viewers' emotional responses and what they take away.  [00:23:36] Memories from her childhood and their influence on her work.  [00:25:34] Using painting as a form of emotional reset during stress.  [00:26:44] The role and emotional pull of her signature dark backgrounds.  [00:27:42] Connection to old master traditions and family support.  [00:29:10] If not art, her love for interior decorating.  [00:29:49] Her children’s support and how her art evolved over time.  [00:31:07] Losing awareness of the world while painting.  [00:31:48] Becoming more open and confident through art.  [00:32:45] Introversion, public interaction, and creative paradoxes.  [00:33:53] What she wants future generations to take from her work.  [00:34:49] Dealing with doubt and finding reassurance through audience feedback.  [00:36:02] The only critique she’s ever received and staying true to her style.  [00:37:02] Why she’d still paint even if she never sold another piece.    Learn more about Robin: https://www.robinfrisella.com/    Joseph Elisha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-elisha-m-d-a9b7aab    Subscribe to this feed so you don't miss new episodes!

    39 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The world is loud. Drop The Shades is the pause. Hosted by anesthesiologist Joseph Elisha, M.D., this podcast explores how to lower the noise, regulate your nervous system, and create calm in the middle of chaos. Through science, story, and simple daily practices, Joseph teaches listeners how to step out of overwhelm, regain clarity, and move through life with steadiness and intention.

Information

  • Creator
    Joseph Elisha, M.D.
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Joseph Elisha, M.D.
  • Show Website
    Drop The Shades

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