Mental Health In A Modern World

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify“The inner critic is not an enemy. The inner critic has good intentions. The inner critic is a benevolent protector,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic health practitioner and integrative mental health coach, on this episode of Mental Health in a Modern World. After personally overcoming severe anxiety and OCD, Greg Schmaus has dedicated the last decade to guiding thousands through healing by combining lifestyle coaching, psycho-emotional work, mindfulness, and archetypal practices.Today, Greg Schmaus breaks down the origins of the inner critic, revealing how this often-misunderstood internal voice is not something we’re born with, but a protector part we inherit in response to early criticism or shame—usually from parents or authority figures. He exposes the limitations and potential harm of common self-help advice that urges us to “eliminate” or “replace” the inner critic with positive thinking, arguing instead for a revolutionary approach: befriending and understanding the inner critic’s protective role.In this episode, Greg Schmaus shares a powerful meditative practice to relate to your inner critic with compassion, explains the neuroscience and psychology behind parts work, and explores how modern life’s overwhelming flow of information fuels cycles of not-enoughness and self-sabotage. You'll walk away with concrete tools to begin unblending from your inner critic and forging a healthier, more spacious relationship with yourself.Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World for a transformative perspective on the root cause of your inner dialogue—and discover how true healing begins by turning toward, not away from, your most critical parts.5 Key TakeawaysUnlock new freedom from your inner critic—here are five powerful steps you can use starting today:Recognize that your inner critic is a protector, not an enemy—approach it with curiosity instead of resistance.Pause and practice "unblend and befriend": create space between yourself and the critical voice, then get to know its positive intentions.Identify the core wound or belief your inner critic is trying to protect (such as shame, humiliation, or not-enoughness).Write out your self-critical contract: clearly state the agreement, behavior, benefit, and cost driving your inner dialogue.Balance your information consumption with mindful integration to prevent your inner critic from growing louder—apply what you learn rather than just accumulating more knowledge.Start implementing one step today and witness the shift inside yourself—your healing begins with action.Memorable Quotes"The inner critic is not an enemy. The inner critic has good intentions. The inner critic is a benevolent protector.""No child is ever born with an inner critic. All judgments and all criticisms are borrowed and inherited.""In parts work, what's called unblend and befriend. Unblend means we separate ourselves from the part; befriending means it's not the enemy—it's a part that we see in a benevolent way."Resources MentionedFamily Constellation Work (as taught by Sarah Peyton) - https://sarahpeyton.com/Connect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.coDiscover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/Mentioned in this episode:Embark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTMEmbark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify“The medicine’s always with you. Until you realize it for yourself, it doesn’t matter who tells you that or how many times you drink ayahuasca,” says Kyle Kingsbury, former UFC fighter turned holistic health coach, on Mental Health in a Modern World. Kingsbury shares how his journey from the physical violence and discipline of professional fighting evolved into a lifelong quest for presence, self-mastery, and ultimately spiritual awakening. He peels back the layers of the “warrior” archetype, describing how true strength lies not just in discipline but in knowing what’s worth fighting for—and balancing that drive with the softer power of the lover archetype.In this episode, Kingsbury details his transformation through martial arts, plant medicines, and deep spiritual practice, questioning the Western pursuit of constant addition—more hacks, more knowledge, more intensity—as a substitute for genuine self-understanding. From the dangers of awakening that outpaces integration to the pitfalls of spiritual ego and the necessity of real community and connection with nature, Kingsbury brings raw honesty and powerful lived experience to the table.Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World to hear why Kingsbury believes we can’t “add” our way to healing, why the strongest among us are often the most attuned to vulnerability and connection, and what we’re missing about real rites of passage, self-acceptance, and the wisdom found in simply slowing down.5 Key TakeawaysThis episode delivers practical wisdom for living with depth, purpose, and balance—here are five actionable steps to transform your life today:Commit to Integration, Not Just Insight: After any powerful experience—whether plant medicine, therapy, or learning—focus on actively integrating the lessons into your daily life to create real, lasting change.Master Your Shadow Through Self-Inventory: Regularly review your behaviors and patterns, especially those shaped by the warrior and other archetypes, to expose and work with your personal shadow.Prioritize Community and Authentic Connection: Seek out and cultivate genuine relationships and participate in groups or circles that offer support, challenge, and authentic witnessing.Balance Consumption With Contemplation: Slow down your rate of consuming information, create regular pockets of stillness and reflection, and trust when you feel the urge to pause or let go.Reconnect With the Natural World: Develop a direct relationship with nature—whether through farming, sourcing your food locally, or simply spending mindful time outside.Memorable Quotes"The warrior faces life frontally. It doesn’t avoid challenge. When I was a kid, my parents would fight, I would shut down and freeze. But in school, when things got tough, I would stand up and fight. There’s a big distinction between crumbling and confronting life head-on.""When your rate of awakening outpaces the pace of integration, the potential downside is you lose your mind. That’s probably the biggest one, and that’s the worst one by far. There’s nothing as bad as that; I’m not even sure death is as bad as losing the mind.""The medicine’s always with you, and until you realize it for yourself, it doesn’t matter who tells you that or how many times you drink ayahuasca. It takes you actually having access to that point to recognize it. People can tell you over and over that you’re going to be successful or have all this going for you, but until you understand it for yourself, it’s meaningless."Connect with KyleWebsite - https://www.kingsbu.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kylekingsbu/Resources MentionedKing, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette - https://amzn.to/4epm17GStealing Fire by Steven Kotler & Jamie Wheal - https://amzn.to/4uR23c5Gene Keys by Richard Rudd - https://amzn.to/4frFJkiHow to Eat, Move and Be Healthy! by Paul Chek - https://amzn.to/4uQYIttConnect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.coDiscover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/Mentioned in this episode:Embark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTMEmbark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify“Spirit’s always in charge… Life is just the lily pads to getting to where we’re going to go anyway,” says Dawn Paula, evidential medium and energy healer who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to unravel the mysteries of intuition, near-death experiences, and the deep connection between the physical and spiritual realms. Having encountered profound paranormal experiences since childhood and survived a life-changing near-death event in high school, Dawn Paula has spent her life seeking out others who share these boundary-expanding encounters—and now helps clients explore their own intuitive and psychic abilities.In this immersive, hope-filled episode, Dawn Paula reveals how “the spirit world isn’t out there—it’s right here,” sharing her journey from sports medicine into massage therapy, Reiki, and ultimately, mediumship. She explains why modern society dampens our innate sensitivity, how children’s energetic gifts are shaped (and often shut down) by trauma and cultural programming, and how the rise of technology is altering our consciousness and frequency. She and Greg also dive into the purpose of soul contracts, the nuances of free will, and why embracing both the dark and the light is essential to the human experience.Tune into Mental Health in a Modern World for an unforgettable conversation on spiritual awakening, evidential mediumship, and how to reclaim your sovereignty—and your joy—on this wild, multidimensional path.5 Key TakeawaysUnlock your intuitive potential and embrace your spiritual path with these actionable steps:Trust your intuition—reconnect with the innate sensitivity and knowingness you had as a child.Nurture your physical body—maintain your health to raise your vibration and deepen spiritual connection.Approach technology mindfully—limit overwhelming input to create space for subtle awareness and intuitive growth.Embrace free will—recognize your power to shape your journey through conscious choice and self-empowerment.Allow yourself to play—infuse your life with joy, curiosity, and lightness on your spiritual path.Take one step today to trust yourself more and live with greater presence!Memorable Quotes"I believe that we are really spiritual beings having this earthly human experience. As children, we're open, we're just naturally intuitive, and then society starts to desensitize us from that knowingness.""Our intuition is one of the hardest and greatest things that we can do in being connected to source and spirit. I think that's what really desensitizes children—teaching them to go against the grain and not to trust themselves.""The gift is being in the human body and being able to experience it all, knowing that it's not the end all, be all."Connect with DawnWebsite - https://www.dawnpaula.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_dawnpaula_Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DawnPaulaPsychicMediumResources MentionedSacred Soul Society – https://www.dawnpaula.com/sacred-soul-societyWaze – https://www.waze.com/Poltergeist - https://amzn.to/3PqyiiUConnect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.coDiscover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/Mentioned in this episode:Embark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTMEmbark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify“I've been using spirituality and other means to reject myself and repress who I am, and I was just finally ready to ask for help,” says Speaker A, an emerging artist whose struggle with insomnia, pornography addiction, and the fear of intimacy leads to a powerfully vulnerable session on Mental Health in a Modern World. In a riveting conversation with holistic practitioner Speaker C, Speaker A unpacks his journey: four nights without sleep, waves of shame, and the realization that his deepest wounds stemmed not from simply bad habits, but from a lifelong impulse to hide the truest parts of himself.Today, Speaker A shares how archetypal and parts work unlocked the protective, sabotaging patterns within him and the childhood pain beneath—a territory rarely explored so openly by men. He courageously details the process of breaking his unconscious contract with pornography, the visceral chaos of inner transformation, and how somatic dance (and finally, authentic creative expression) helped him find safety in his body and connection with others.Tune in to this episode of Mental Health in a Modern World for a raw, hope-filled look at healing addiction, shame, and the path to genuine intimacy—starting with the courage to be seen.5 Key TakeawaysHealing deep wounds and reclaiming intimacy requires courage, self-inquiry, and compassion—here’s how you can start:Identify and compassionately engage with your inner protector parts to understand what they’re guarding and what they truly need.Give yourself permission to express difficult truths and vulnerabilities, especially the ones you’ve been ashamed to share.Replace self-destructive coping mechanisms, such as pornography or media binging, with embodied practices like somatic dance and creative expression.Release unconscious contracts and old patterns by consciously naming them, honoring their original purpose, and inviting in healthier replacements.Regularly create safe spaces for authentic self-expression and supportive community connection—your healing can inspire others to share and heal as well.Start today: embrace your inner work, express your truth, and reconnect with your authentic self.Memorable Quotes"I was cracking up the other day because here I am, 30 years old, living with my parents, dealing with porn addiction, compulsive masturbation, insomnia— all these things going on. As I'm healing, it's like my parents are out of town, and I feel like Kevin McAllister in Home Alone, stepping outside going, 'I'm not afraid anymore.' But then, of course, that guy down the street shows up and I realize, okay, I'm still afraid. That's what these past weeks have been like.""I knew that the deeper need of pornography was me looking to be held, for intimacy, and I confused it with sex. I took on the programming of pornography—so when that moment arises where you feel lonely and want to be held, it means that you want to have sex or consume sexual content. But what I actually needed was intimacy, to be held.""For so many years, I was sharing things I thought were cool designs so people would accept me. Now I'm excited to finally share the things that move me, not the things that keep me safe."Connect with KevinInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kev.net_Resources MentionedKing, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering Masculinity Through the Lens of Archetypal Psychology - A Journey into the Male Psyche and Its Four Essential Aspects - https://amzn.to/4nGVN3RConnect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.coDiscover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/Mentioned in this episode:Embark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify"Addictions are when wants become needs—and wants become needs as a result of unmet needs," says Speaker A, holistic health practitioner and host of Mental Health in a Modern World. Drawing from a decade of experience helping clients navigate anxiety and OCD, Speaker A dives deep into the epidemic of “socially approved” addictions, from scrolling social media to processed food and caffeine, and unravels why most of us are unconsciously trapped in cycles of self-sabotage.In this episode, Speaker A explains how socially normalized patterns of addiction are rooted in invisible wounds: attachment injuries, unmet essential needs, and the internal wars between our desires and our deeper needs. He breaks down frameworks for understanding the psychology behind addiction—including Gabor Maté’s cost-benefit ratio, the alignment of "head and heart," and the role of internal "protector parts" that uphold destructive habits.If you want to uncover the hidden contracts that keep you trapped, decode what unmet needs are fueling your habits, and hear actionable steps for healing addictive patterns at the deepest level, tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World for this insightful solo episode with Speaker A.5 Key TakeawaysTransform your relationship with addiction by putting these steps into practice now:Take a Needs vs. Wants Inventory: Write two columns for your essential needs and non-essential wants; identify which wants have turned into needs and which needs consistently go unmet.Reflect on Attachment Injuries: Look back at your childhood to uncover breaks or injuries in your attachments to caregivers and where you may have sacrificed authenticity to secure attachment.Identify Your Story Gap: Recognize any discrepancy between your internal feelings and the story you project outwardly to others—closing this gap removes a major driver of addiction.Check Your Head-Heart Alignment: Explore where your head and heart (or mind and body) are out of alignment, and commit to making choices that unite your intellect and intuition.Write Out Your Unconscious Contracts: Clearly state your unconscious agreements driving self-sabotage—identify the behavior, its perceived benefit, and its cost, and start the process of renegotiating these contracts.Start now—empower yourself by taking one concrete step from this list today!Memorable Quotes"Addictions are when wants become needs, and wants become needs as a result of unmet needs.""You can't escape the prison that you don't know you're in.""Addiction is when a want becomes a need."Resources MentionedIn the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté - https://amzn.to/4tz76fuIntroduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard C. Schwartz - https://amzn.to/4uQgAnPConnect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.coDiscover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/Mentioned in this episode:Embark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTMEmbark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify“You resist persists. If you want to shrink something, let it expand. If you want to get rid of something, allow it to flourish. As soon as you make one thing good, another thing becomes bad,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic health practitioner and founder of Healing 4D, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to share his deeply personal and professional journey healing obsessive compulsive disorder.In this episode, Greg Schmaus unpacks why OCD is skyrocketing today and how conventional approaches may miss its true roots. Drawing from his experience healing his own severe OCD after a Division 1 collegiate athletic career, he explains how trauma fragments the psyche, why unaddressed gut infections and inflammation can inflame the mind, and how true healing requires a blend of somatic work, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, mindfulness, and paradoxical spiritual practice.He busts common myths, shares paradoxes drawn from Zen and Taoist teachings, and outlines his integrated, holistic approach—rooted in his Four Doctors philosophy and real-world case experience—to address the entire mind-body-spirit landscape.Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World to discover why, for Greg Schmaus, OCD became not just something to overcome, but his greatest spiritual teacher, guiding him and his clients back to unity consciousness and genuine self-healing.5 Key TakeawaysHealing OCD requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach—explore these five actionable steps to begin your transformation today:Address unresolved trauma using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy by working with protector and exile parts of your psyche.Shift focus from obsessive thoughts to bodily sensations—practice somatic awareness to feel and process stored emotions.Embrace mindfulness and non-judgmental awareness, allowing thoughts and feelings to arise and pass without resistance or attachment.Build a strong healing foundation by prioritizing lifestyle essentials: a nourishing diet, restorative sleep, regular movement, and time for happiness.Contemplate and practice spiritual paradoxes: let go of resisting thoughts, allow them to expand, and observe how this creates inner quiet.Start with one of these steps today—your path to wholeness and relief begins with a single, intentional action.Memorable Quotes"You resist, persists. If you want to shrink something, let it expand. If you want to get rid of something, allow it to flourish. As soon as you make one thing good, another thing becomes bad.""You cannot heal OCD in the mind; you heal it in the body. The language of the mind is thinking. The language of the body is feeling.""OCD was the greatest spiritual teacher I've ever had because it taught me how the mind works, how reality works, how energy works, and how to eventually find my way back to that place of witnessing, that place of observing, and that mindfulness space of non-attachment and non-aversion."Resources MentionedInternal Family Systems (Richard Schwartz, IFS Model) – https://ifs-institute.com/Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu - https://amzn.to/4nijMpFConnect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.coDiscover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/Mentioned in this episode:Embark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTMEmbark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTM

📺 Watch on YouTube and Spotify“Oftentimes, I share with the students. Everybody wants to do Psychedelic Journey these days. And I'm like, listen, if you are not cleaning up your diet and getting your body right, your mind is not going to be able to project the images properly.” says Speaker A, holistic lifestyle coach, shamanic practitioner, and expert teacher at the Czech Institute, who joins Mental Health in a Modern World for a riveting exploration of the intersections between ancient shamanic wisdom and cutting-edge biogeometry.A lifelong seeker whose own childhood health struggles propelled her into the world of holistic healing, Angie Chek weaves together biology, energy medicine, biogeometry, and shamanism to reveal how unlocking mental, emotional, and spiritual health demands clearing not just the mind—but the body and one’s physical environment as well. She unpacks the surprising ways in which energetic imbalance, environmental toxins, and even soul fragmentation show up as chronic diseases or mental health challenges. Her stories of animal spirits, nature divination, and soul retrieval offer a fresh perspective on anxiety, depression, and the so-called “spiritual crisis” seen today in children and adults alike.Tune in to this episode of Mental Health in a Modern World to learn why true healing requires a clean vessel, how biosignatures act as an energetic language for organ balance, and why our pain, rather than being suppressed, is often the very key to transformation. Discover practical insights for parents of sensitive kids, seekers of non-psychedelic shamanic practices, and anyone interested in bridging science and spirit for next-level mental wellbeing.5 Key TakeawaysDiscover practical steps from this episode to enhance your well-being, mental clarity, and sense of connection—start transforming your life today:Clean up your diet and lifestyle to become a clearer vessel for insight, healing, and shamanic experiences.Incorporate daily meditation and movement practices to quiet your mind and strengthen your intuition.Explore biogeometry and start experimenting with biosignatures to harmonize your personal energy and environment.Limit screen time and increase time spent in nature for yourself and your children to reduce overstimulation and enhance grounding.Practice soul retrieval and address past traumas to reclaim lost parts of yourself and support your mental and emotional health.Take the first step now—choose one action and commit to it today!Memorable Quotes"Everybody wants to do Psychedelic Journey these days. If you are not cleaning up your diet and getting your body right, your mind is not going to be able to project the images properly.""If you really want to dive into these realms, start with meditation. Get your mind to quiet—when you quiet your mind, then you can start to hear again, you can start to feel again, you can start to sense again. Then that whole world opens up to you.""Don’t spend your life trying to convince someone to like peaches when there are so many people who love peaches. Find your people, find your tribe, be you, and watch the magic happen."Connect with AngieLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-chek-9a73748/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/1anginator/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/angie.lustrickResources MentionedBiogeometry: Back to a Future for Mankind by Dr. Ibrahim Karim - https://amzn.to/4eQo5X1The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner - https://amzn.to/4efnUo3You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay - https://amzn.to/4t6J9MyConnect with GregWebsite - https://www.healing4d.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmausLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/🎙️🎙️🎙️Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.coDiscover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/Mentioned in this episode:Embark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTMEmbark on The HTM JourneyMHMW - HTM