Healthy Mind, Healthy Life

In this deeply human and research-informed conversation, clinical research specialist Grace Ogren joins Avik Chakraborty to unpack the complexity of depression and how it's commonly misunderstood. From her personal experience with chronic suicidality and psychiatric treatment to her work with emerging therapies like ketamine, Grace speaks candidly about the real barriers to healing, the misconceptions around antidepressants, and why access—especially in rural areas—remains a critical issue. This is not a conversation about quick fixes but about how healing actually unfolds—messy, nonlinear, and courageous.

About the Guest:
Grace Ogren is a mental health researcher, writer, and clinical research specialist at Recovery.com. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, Grace brings clarity to complicated mental health topics, including depression, suicidality, psychiatric stigma, and the therapeutic potential of ketamine. She’s committed to making mental healthcare more honest, informed, and accessible.

Key Takeaways:

• Depression isn’t just sadness—it’s a complete shift in how the brain functions, and it affects every aspect of daily life.

• Ketamine therapy, while not a cure, can provide relief when traditional medications fail, helping patients access deeper therapeutic healing.

• There’s still significant stigma surrounding psychiatric medication—Grace urges we treat it no differently than taking meds for any other chronic condition.

• Rural communities face serious mental health care shortages, making telehealth a vital bridge.

• Medications aren't Band-Aids; they’re tools that can help stabilize someone enough to benefit from deeper therapy and recovery work.

Connect with Grace Ogren:
Reach out to Grace via LinkedIn or https://www.graceogren.com/

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In this powerhouse episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, we sit down with Zach Friedensohn, founder of G&R Construction, one of the fastest-growing general contracting firms in the Southeast. Zach shares his journey from property management to launching a multi-million-dollar design-build firm, emphasizing the critical decisions, leadership pivots, and mindset practices that have fueled his success. From navigating tough hiring choices to balancing the chaos of construction with family life and hot yoga, Zach delivers a masterclass on resilience and smart business building. Tune in for actionable insights on leadership, decision-making, and thriving under pressure.

About the Guest:
Zach Friedensohn is the founder of G&R Construction, a rapidly scaling general contracting company managing over $3 million in projects annually. Known for blending hands-on expertise with sharp business acumen, Zach is reshaping industry standards for communication and reliability in construction. His leadership journey reflects a commitment to quality, team empowerment, and continuous growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The pivotal moment that led Zach to launch G&R Construction.

• Why making smart hiring decisions—and knowing when to pivot—is key to sustainable growth.

• Zach’s non-negotiable daily practices: from stopping work at 8 PM to hot yoga for grounding and focus.

• How thoughtful decision-making and mentorship shape leadership success.

• The importance of choosing the right clients for long-term success.

Connect with Zach Friedensohn:
Follow Zach’s journey and learn more about G&R Construction:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-friedensohn-99766837/ 

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In this eye-opening episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, we explore how your home silently impacts your mind, memory, and emotional well-being. Our guest, Nicole Baxter—neuroaesthetic designer and creator of The Emotional Home—breaks down the science behind how sensory input from our environments shapes our brain’s chemistry and mental health. From the hidden anxiety caused by cluttered or mismatched furniture to the healing power of intentional design, Nicole helps us understand how our homes can either support or sabotage our healing journey.

Whether you're in recovery, transformation, or simply seeking peace, this episode shows why designing your home is more than a style choice—it’s a mental health intervention.

About the Guest:
Nicole Baxter is a seasoned designer, speaker, and the founder of The Emotional Home—the first neuroaesthetic-based design theory for residential spaces. With 30+ years of experience, Nicole creates sanctuaries that not only look beautiful but support emotional and psychological healing. Her work bridges neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and design to help people build homes that nurture who they’re becoming.

Key Takeaways:

• Your environment constantly feeds your brain data that impacts your emotions and nervous system.

• The amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus respond to sensory cues, triggering either calming or stress hormones.

• Mismatched, chaotic home environments can create low-level anxiety and mental fatigue.

• Most people underestimate the emotional toll of disorganized or outdated living spaces.

• Designing for joy, safety, and who you're becoming is an act of self-care and healing.

Connect with Nicole Baxter:
Instagram: @nbaxterdesign

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In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik sits down with Duff McDuffee, a coach, hypnotist, and master of the unconscious mind, to unravel why high performers often burn out despite their drive. Duff introduces the concept of the "punishment paradigm"—a fear-based approach to productivity—and offers a refreshing alternative: the "progress paradigm." Together, they explore practical strategies to break free from hustle culture, access joy-driven motivation, and build sustainable habits through flow, self-compassion, and pattern-interrupt techniques.

About the Guest – Duff McDuffee:
Duff McDuffee is a transformative coach and hypnotist who specializes in helping neurodivergent entrepreneurs and creatives reconnect with joy, motivation, and flow. His approach bridges neuroscience, mindfulness, and practical coaching to support clients in breaking out of burnout and shifting from fear-based productivity to fulfillment-driven action.

Key Takeaways:

• The “punishment paradigm” trains us to rely on fear and pressure for motivation, leading to burnout and procrastination.

• Flow is accessible to anyone through practices like pattern interrupts, mental rehearsal, and reconnecting with your “why.”

• Self-compassion outperforms self-discipline in long-term motivation and resilience.

• Rewiring your habits begins with noticing language like “I have to” and replacing it with “I get to.”

• High performance doesn’t require suffering—it can come from ease, alignment, and inner joy.

Connect with Duff McDuffee:
Visit boulderhypnosisworks.com to explore coaching options, join his Sunday group sessions, or access free tools to get started on your path to joyful motivation.

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In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Dr. Carrie Rose, best-selling author of The Completed Course, to explore the deeper purpose of online education. Beyond business growth and content creation, the conversation dives into how well-designed courses can become tools of personal transformation, mental clarity, and emotional empowerment. Dr. Rose breaks down the psychology behind low course completion rates and shares actionable strategies for educators and entrepreneurs who want to create meaningful learning experiences. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone building a course, brand, or legacy—reminding us that transformation begins with intentional design, not just information.

About the Guest:
Dr. Carrie Rose is a pioneering strategist in scalable education, known for her work with thought leaders and visionary brands. With completion rates that far exceed industry norms, she blends instructional design, storytelling, and soul to create courses that don’t just teach—but transform. Her book The Completed Course addresses the emotional and psychological roadblocks that prevent learners from finishing programs and shows creators how to build learning journeys that stick.

Key Takeaways:

• Transformation in learning is not about more content—it’s about clarity, guidance, and alignment.

• Most online learners drop out due to overwhelming structure, poor course design, and a lack of emotional engagement.

• Creators must prioritize outcomes over information and focus on modular, achievable wins.

• Grit, self-awareness, and aligned intention are key to both learning and teaching success.

• Learning experiences can be healing tools if rooted in authenticity and relevance.

Connect with Dr. Carrie Rose:
Find her on LinkedIn: Dr. Carrie Rose

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In this powerful episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, Dr. Laura Gabayan—physician, researcher, and author of Common Wisdom—joins us to explore how journaling transforms emotional overwhelm into grounded wisdom. Dr. Laura shares her personal journey navigating life-altering disability and loss, revealing how the simple act of writing helped her process grief, find clarity, and cultivate resilience. We unpack the eight core traits of wisdom—resilience, kindness, positivity, spirituality, humility, tolerance, creativity, and curiosity—and how journaling can develop each of them.

About the Guest:
Dr. Laura Gabayan is a renowned physician and researcher focused on the science of wisdom. Through her Wisdom Research Project, she interviewed 60 individuals across North America to uncover the essential traits of a meaningful life. She’s the author of Common Wisdom: 8 Scientific Elements of a Meaningful Life and a companion journaling guide that invites readers to deepen their personal insights through guided reflection.

Key Takeaways:

• Journaling offers an objective mirror for our thoughts and emotions.

• Writing by hand slows down thinking, encouraging deeper insight and emotional regulation.

• Wisdom is not innate—anyone can cultivate it through reflection and intention.

• Acceptance and emotional processing are essential for growth, leadership, and peace.

• Organizations can benefit by integrating journaling into leadership development.

Connect with Dr. Laura Gabayan:
Website: https://lauragabayan.com
Books available on Amazon: Common Wisdom and her guided journaling companion

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