“What They Missed, J. Flowers Found” is a deeply personal and powerful story of misdiagnosis, resilience, and healing. In this podcast, you’ll hear our own CEO Claudia Schwarz’s honest journey of life changing diagnoses, medical confusion, and the emotional toll of being told “have this surgery or you will die.” Initially diagnosed with a serious heart condition, she lived in fear—until J. Flowers Health Institute took a closer look and uncovered the real issue behind the symptoms. This is more than a medical mystery—it’s a story about being seen, being heard, and finding the right care at the right time. It’s about what happens when healthcare becomes human again. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, unheard, or lost in the system, this podcast is for you.

How would you define wellness?

MY ANSWER:

Wellness is more than a physical condition, and so much more than just the absence of illness or disease.

WELLNESS IS A STATE OF BEING.

I think about it as the body-mind (because body and mind are reciprocally linked) being in alignment with your behavior and habits.

And if you are truly committed to that state of being, then you will establish a daily, weekly, or monthly practice of those behaviors.

And, if you strive to be disciplined and consistent with that practice, it can contribute to your quality of life. It can help sustain mental health and physical vitality and ultimately, I believe that this mental and physical practice will promote longevity.

Culture plays a significant role in shaping our identities and experiences. In this episode, Dr. James Flowers sits down with Dr. Selina Hernandez, a licensed professional counselor supervisor and registered play therapist, to delve into the profound influence of culture on the human condition. Dr. Selina shares how her experiences with cultural identity and resilience have shaped her counseling approach. They discuss the importance of cultural strategies in therapy, personal responsibility, and the transformative power of sand tray therapy. Dr. Selina also explores the challenges faced by women and men, the importance of a counselor's orientation, and the role of understanding one's roots in building resilience.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Battle, a J. Flowers Provider and expert in Somatic Experiencing, to explore how our bodies hold and release trauma. Andrea breaks down the science behind this powerful approach to healing, and shares real-life tips for anyone looking to reconnect with their body and ease the effects of stress. Whether you are new to the concept or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode is your guide to "shaking it off" and moving towards a more balanced and peaceful life.

Interventions aim to impact the human condition by helping individuals see themselves as they truly are, rather than through the distorted lens of addiction or untreated mental illness. This process is challenging because their brains have been hardwired by years of substance abuse or mental health issues. Essentially, Marc Kantor is asking people to make logical decisions with a brain that is not functioning logically. Marc enjoys sharing his own story of recovery, but other topics that are important to us including co-dependency, trauma and intergenerational trauma, binge eating disorder, attention deficit disorder, compulsive behaviors, spirituality, and the gift of desperation. Dr. Flowers will ask Marc about his transformation and his road to J. Flowers Health Institute.

John Karren is the owner and co-founder of Elements Wilderness Program in Utah. John helps run two therapeutic wilderness programs: Elements is for boys thirteen to seventeen, and Traverse is all gender, young adults eighteen to twenty five.

Today, John joins the show to discuss ‘non-traditional’ therapies and how the outdoors can be such a great benefit to everyone.

01:03 – Shay Butts welcomes John Karren to the show to discuss wilderness therapy and other ‘non- traditional’ therapy options

10:08 – How Elements Wilderness Program works

14:42 – Dealing with the negativity surrounding outdoor therapy

18:51 – Striving for excellence

23:40 – The role parents play in Elements Wilderness Program

26:53 – Shay thanks John for sharing his story today

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com/

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

John’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkarren/

Elements Wilderness Website – https://www.elementswilderness.com/

Shay Butts’ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-butts-8963b217/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Part Three of this very special series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, and Jeanie Griffin. Today, Tonda, Candy, and Jeanie talk about their experiences with interventions, reflect on servant leadership and share their passion for helping others.

Key Takeaways

00:02 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about interventions

07:18 – Servant Leadership

08:41 – Dr. Flowers opens up about the passion he has for helping people and how he manifested the life that he wanted

14:47 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Three of this series

Resources Mentioned

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939

Book Mentioned:

When Enough Is Enough – ThriftBooks

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests is their opinion and is not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast

In Part Two of this very special three-part series, Dr. Jason Flowers welcomes back to the show Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, and Jeanie Griffin. Tonda, Candy, and Jeanie talk about the critical role that family plays in recovery and the value of intimacy and vulnerability.

Key Takeaways

01:31 – Tonda Chapman, Candy Finnigan, & Jeanie Griffin all join the show today to talk about intimacy and vulnerability

07:52 – Tonda speaks to the importance of family in the process of recovery

11:14 – Dr. Flowers thanks listeners for tuning in to Part Two of this episode and encourages them to return for Part Three with Tonda, Candy & Jeanie

Resources Mentioned

JFlowers Health Institute – https://jflowershealth.com

JFlowers Health Institute Contact – (713) 783-6655

Subscribe on your favorite player: https://understanding-the-human-condition.captivate.fm/listen

Tonda’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonda-chapman-3018b2154/

Candy’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-finnigan-8194068/

Jeanie’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-griffin-d-d-lmft-lpc-lcdc-25a3939/

**The views and opinions expressed by our guests are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of J. Flowers Health Institute. Any content provided by our co-host(s) or guests is their opinion and is not intended to reflect the philosophy and policies of J. Flowers Health Institute itself. Nor is it intended to malign any recovery method, religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast