The Finding Peace Podcast

My guest on this episode of the Finding Peace Podcast is John Callas.  John Callas is a veteran writer/director/producer in the entertainment business. His experience ranges from the worldwide release of feature films to numerous motion picture trailers, national and international commercials, live-action title sequences, laser disc projects, a documentary shot on location in Russia, as well as having been the Worldwide VP for The Walt Disney Company while working at a large post-production facility. John wrote and directed the feature film “NoSolicitors,” starring Eric Roberts and has adapted NY Times bestselling author, William H. LaBarge’s book, “Lightning Strikes Twice.” John is also a published author which includes: SECRETS, WHEN THE RAIN STOPS, CHRISTMAS VOICES, NO SOLICITORS, AND FIRST TIME PARENTS SURVIVAL GUIDE TO UNNECESSARY AND WILD SPENDING. John's prowess can be seen on live-action teasers for Ransom, Dennis The Menace, Body Of Evidence, The Golden Child, Spaceballs, The Glass Menagerie, Cocoon II, Poltergeist III, Betrayed, My Girl, Glengarry Glenn Ross, As Well As Title Sequences For The Two Jakes, and A Few Good Men and a promotional film for an amusement ridefrom Showscan. John also directed an award-winning short film, THE WHITE GORILLA. While creating live-action teasers for feature films, John had the opportunity to work with notable actorsincluding Mel Gibson, Walter Matthau, Jack Nicholson, Madonna, Eddie Murphy, and Mel Brooks.In addition to working on feature film teasers, his work can be seen in projects for HBO, The DisneyChannel, Show Time, the Broadway Play Phantom Of The Opera, and the 1993 redesigned TRISTAR LOGO. John's extensive background also includes over 200 commercials for such clients as Kellogg's, Dodge,Sunkist, Sprite, Toyota, Fuji, Volkswagen, Honda, McDonalds, Mazda, Minolta, Jedi Merchandising, Kraft,Jordache, Sea World, Givenchy, and Sonassage with celebrity George Burns and industrial projects forCorporations including Vidal Sassoon, Salomon North America, Nissan, and The Kao Corporation Of Japan. John's television experience includes directing a 14-week series entitled Potentials, with guests Buckminster Fuller, Norman Cousins, Ray Bradbury, Gene Roddenberry, Timothy Leary, and others. He also directed 80 segments for Bobby's World, which has been rated the #1 show on Fox 11 Television in its time slot, garnering John an Emmy nomination.A multi-faceted filmmaker, John's work can be seen in music videos for Glenn Frey Of The Eagles, Bill Wyman Of The Rolling Stones, Jefferson Starship, Sammy Hagar, Rick Springfield, Doobie Brothers, Styx, and more. John has been recognized with: An EMMY nomination for Bobby’s World, THE NEW YORK CRITICS CHOICE AWARD for Lone Wolf, BEST FEATURE at Fright Night Festival & BEST DIRECTOR at Scar A Con festival for No Solicitors - Several awards for his short THE WHITE GORILLA, A CLIO and BELDING for his work on the Sunkist campaign, BEST OF THE WEST for directorial work on a one-woman show, and an MTV AWARD FOR BEST CONCEPT for Glen Frey's Smuggler’s Blues. John holds a Master's Degree from Occidental College and is a member of The Directors Guild of America.   You can learn more about John and purchase his book at  www.amazon.com/~/e/B004U7GSZA https://www.facebook.com/When-The-Rain-Stops-110606307893109 Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnpcallas  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnpcallas/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-callas-3648837/  IMDB: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0130327?ref_=hm_prof_photo Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Callas  

Upon coming back from a long-needed vacation, I discovered a golden box in the mail that didn't have any identification from where it came.  When I opened it, I discovered a bunch of pictures and other things from my childhood that my mother sent me.  Immediately, I knew that something had happened, so I called my mom.    In this episode, discover what happened as you join me in continuing the journey towards Finding Peace.   Don't forget to sign up for the Free Finding Peace Five-Day Challenge at www.troyllove.com  

My good friend, Sholom Rosenson, is my guest on the latest episode of the Finding Peace Podcast.   Sholom is a very driven individual with a stellar heart. He cares deeply for his family and for those who put their trust in him. After years of searching for what could work for his own healing, he finally discovered a handful of tools that have worked and made it his mission to pass them on to others. He tries to bring out the best in others and he lives his life in a way that serves God and the community.  In addition to attending, staffing, and running numerous men's workshops, he has seen a number of private clients and isthe co-creator of Inner Wholeness-  the inner you YOU never knew.   You can find out more about Sholom below: Blog: http://figuringmeoutintime.blogspot.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Fi68cHGwfajBHFruK_xuw FB- Figuring me out: https://www.facebook.com/blogfiguringmeout FB- Inner Wholeness: https://www.facebook.com/innerwholenessworkshop https://inner-wholeness.com/     Contact information: innerwholenessworkshop@gmail.com sholomrosenson@gmail.com  

Traver Boehm knows men. How they think, what’s behind their behavior, and most importantly — their unique challenges in the modern landscape.   Traver is the founder of the UNcivilized Men’s Movement, the fastest-growing men’s movement in the world. He is the author of Today I Rise, and Man UNcivilized as well as a two-time TEDx speaker, men’s coach, and podcaster.   Drawing upon an eclectic background ranging from professional bodyguarding and Mixed Martial Arts to a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and meditation, Traver counsels men, women, and couples on how to better understand men’s mental health and relationship difficulties.   Although he’s not quite sure how to feel about the title, he has been dubbed, “The Man Whisperer” as he has the unique ability to speak to men in a way they can hear and understand.   In 2016 after losing a pregnancy, his marriage, and his business partnership all within weeks of each other, he created a radical year-long social experiment to answer the questions, “Who am I and who am I as a man?”    Highlights of the year include: Volunteering with the dying as a hospice worker Meditating for 28 days straight in complete isolation and pitch-black darkness in a Guatemalan hut Living in the frigid Utah wilderness for a month with only a knife, a water bottle, and a blanket   With a passion for people and a unique lens through which to view the human experience, Traver is a highly sought after teacher in the fields of consciousness, intimacy, and personal development.    When not teaching workshops or radically shifting the way men experience their masculinity, Traver can be found obsessing over a single word in front of his laptop, chasing surf around the globe, and being awful at yoga.   For more information please visit his website www.manuncivilized.com And find him on Instagram: @traverboehm And all podcast platforms at The UNcivilized Podcast with Traver Boehm     Don't forget to sign up for the Free Finding Peace Five-Day Challenge at www.troyllove.com    

In this episode of the Finding Peace Podcast, I am joined by Ambika Devi, who will also be helping me host our upcoming Finding Peace Weekend Workshop on September 24 -26, 2021.  Spots are going fast, so make sure you register today at https://www.findingpeaceacademy.com/onlineweekendworkshop   Ambika Devi is an international award-winning publisher and best-selling author of four books, anexpert astrologer, and a dynamic speaker. As a personal coach, she specializes in igniting your intuitivemagick, getting your creativity flowing, and putting you in touch with your inner wizard! Her pocketsare filled with multiple degrees in fields of study including A Masters in Yoga and Meditation, andbachelor’s degrees in Astrology, and Fine Arts. Stuffed inside her backpack are colored pens, a journal,a kindle, a passport full of stamps, and a deck of tarot cards. Her passion is guiding individuals to findinner peace, outward success, and a greater level of health and happiness. She has appeared on TheLearning Channel, radio, and in periodicals as a relationship and communication expert, taught HolisticHealth at the university level for 21 years, and looks forward to guiding you to reach your highestpotential!   Find Ambika at the following links: https://linktr.ee/AmbikaDevi https://ambikadevi.com/    

  I am standing along the banks of the Colorado River. The sun is rising above the horizon turning the speckled clouds across the sky a fusion of pinks, oranges, and purples. I am standing in soft sand, the kind that billows up into my face at the slightest movement. I am holding two 5 gallon buckets. I am listening to Joe (name has been changed), a Native American of the Quechan Tribe, on whose land we are standing as he explained that several months ago over 200 youth from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints helped plant hundreds of indigenous trees all along the river to help beautify and preserve the land. The challenge was that now that summer was approaching and temperatures can rise to nearly 120 Fahrenheit, there was concern about the trees getting enough water. If they could make it through this season, chances would be that the roots would be deep enough by next year for the trees to survive. But for now, there was a need to get water from the river to each of the trees. And that’s why I am holding two 5 gallon buckets. Joe is showing us how to reach the buckets into the river and pull them out without falling in. We are then to carry the buckets of water to the trees, some of which are almost an acre away from the river. Joe also suggested that we talk to the trees as we are giving them water. “They are living things,” he said. “Encourage them with kind words. Cheer them on.” Shamefully, I rolled my eyes. I was here at the request of my wife and had about ten other things that I thought I could be doing on a Saturday morning besides carrying water to trees. But I am not one to complain… out loud anyway. So, I dipped my buckets in the river and started to walk. The water splashed all over my pants and shoes getting them all muddy. My arms started to ache as I carried the buckets of water nearly 50 yards to the farthest tree. I thought to myself, “There has got to be a better way of doing this.” and then my ethnocentrism kicked in. I started imagining how we could dig lines for a sprinkler system or hire a big water truck to drive along the trees spraying water. But then I noticed some young men laughing and singing as they carried their buckets of water to the trees. They had smiles on their faces. I did not. Immediately, I recognized that my shadows were out. The impotent one saying: This is too hard. Why are we doing this anyway? It’s not going to make much of a difference. The trees are probably going to die anyway. This is so dumb. The Rebel: You could be doing something else right now. You could be mowing your own lawn or doing the laundry. I don’t know why you are doing this. The Judge: You think you know better don’t you. You think you know how to do everything better. Look at those young men having a good time. Why aren’t you smiling? Photo by Mathias P.R. Reding on UnsplashAs I carried the water, the louder they got. The more the water splashed on my shoes creating sand into muddy cement that weighed down my feet, the louder they got. And then I arrived at the tree. Calling it a tree was being generous. It was really just a twig sticking out of the ground. And it needed me. It needed what I had to offer — right now. And so I poured the first bucket of water out into the hollowed-out area around the tree. And then I poured the second. And then I heard something that I realized were words coming out of my mouth. “Hey, little tree. I have some water for you. I believe in you little tree. You have what it takes. By this time next year, you will have grown so much. You will have grown branches and will be able to provide shade. You will provide food and shelter for animals and birds. Those who wander here will see your beauty and how you contribute to the beauty of this entire area. You can do it, little tree. I love you.” And I found myself smiling as I returned to the river to fill my buckets with more water. https://medium.com/@t.love.manofgod/3f1911f3ca4f   What are the lessons you draw from this parable? Send me an email!

Belinda Farrell, author of the book Find Your Friggin’ Joy, graduated with a BA in Spanish and English from the University of California at Berkeley and is trained in hypnotherapy, past life regression, NLP, Hawaiian chanting, and ancient Hawaiian healing (Huna). Belinda trained with Anthony Robbins (author of Unlimited Power) and has effectively used these skills in her own life. She has completed 18 firewalks. When Belinda was forty-eight, she collapsed with herniated discs and spinal nerve damage. Threatened with paralysis by her medical doctors if she didn’t have surgery, Belinda instead chose to apply the ancient Hawaiian healing practices she had been learning the previous three years, which are covered in this book. Her back completely healed, including childhood scoliosis. For fifteen years she has been sharing these healing practices with others, offering Reconnective Healing and Huna classes and taking clients to Hawaii to teach Huna and swim with wild spinner dolphins.  Website:  www.HunaHealing.com

With April being Stress Awareness Month, country’s fresh new face Erin Cosgrove is talking about her own experience with anxiety and mental health, how she copes, how this helped her write her latest release Time To Live and why it is so important to bring awareness to the subject.   Stress Awareness Month is a time to bring awareness to what causes our stress and how we can keep ourselves healthy mentally. “I was in a serious state of depression for 6 months, basically it started as soon as the pandemic started. The stress of everything happening in the world really made my mental state decline,” says Erin. “What helped me most was writing music. Out of all the chaos came my single Time To Live, which was my way of releasing my emotions into a song and telling myself and others that everything will be okay. I wanted to give people as well as myself a sense of hope and inspire people to continue to live their lives rather than hide in fear.”   Throughout the month of April, Erin hopes to encourage those who also may be struggling. She shares that it is incredibly important to recognize the things in your life that are causing you stress, but on the other hand, it is just as important to find those healthy ways to deal with it. “Set aside time every day to put yourself first. I’m an advocate for listening to your own body, taking slow deep breaks, setting routines and short-term goals to start off the day with an accomplishment.”   Stress continues to build for her in another aspect of her life as she gets ready to move over two thousand miles away and relocating from her hometown in CA to Nashville this summer. “I’m so excited to be making this move. Yes, it’s very stressful when it comes to packing everything up, including traveling with two cats and a dog. While I do love living in CA, it’s time for me to make that move to Nashville to continue doing what I love.”   As Erin gears up to release a lyric video for this song, scheduled to come out later this month, she shares one more perception on the meaning of this song. “Anxiety and depression can happen to anyone regardless of their situation and everyone handles pain differently. In all, be kind to others, there’s always hope. It’s Time To Live.” Visit Erin Cosgrove at her website and follow along with her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Her song Time To Live is available on all digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and more. For more info on stress and ways to cope, visit www.stress.org.   About Erin Cosgrove: Breakthrough country artist Erin Cosgrove has it all. Based in Los Angeles and Nashville, this powerhouse singer, songwriter and actress has made a name for herself with a great social media following. Teaming up with Grammy winning producer Mikal Blue, Erin released her second single The Perfect Place to Start, which became an overnight hit, gaining over 15k Spotify streams in just the first week and premiered on Sirius XM The Highway. She is also an aspiring actress, having appeared in the hit TV show “Parenthood,” along with “Good Girls Revolt,” and USA’s reality show “Summer Camp.” Erin has opened for some of the biggest names in country music including A Thousand Horses, Big & Rich, Danielle Bradbery, Love & Theft and Russell Dickerson. She has performed at numerous festivals including the Oakheart Country Music Festival, Paddy Fest and Round Up Country Music Festival in CA as well as performing at the Daytona 500, the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Stadium and the House of Blues. Whether she’s writing, performing, or acting, she feels most at home in front of a crowd or camera. With her powerful vocals, remarkable songwriting and impressive acting, Erin Cosgrove is setting the bar high with the finish line nowhere in sight.

In this episode, I sit down with Rusti Lehay and explore the healing power of telling our stories.  Rusti is a writing coach who offers keynotes, breakout sessions, webinars, weekend retreats (both destination & online), and daylong writing seminars. For over a decade she has been a creative writing instructor and writing coach/editor, specializing in bringing an empathic, heart-centered approach to coaching authors and beginning writers to craft and tweak their words, stories, and lessons. Using time-tested exercises, she shares how our experiences and events are our mirrors and best teachers.   Writers are encouraged to find and speak in their own voice to best serve their audience, not the editor. Working with writers is one of her greatest joys. Sometimes the audience is you as her key statement is “the pen is mightier than the therapist.” Driven by a passion for memoir and passing on stories, Rusti believes if you have lived and breathed, you have a story. The page is the most friendly place for reflection and self-examination. Rusti is often told, “You create such safety for anyone in your groups.” If you have lived and learned, you have the wisdom to share! Both as a writing & speaking coach, she believes the page and stage are waiting for you to appear. Someone is waiting to hear your journey and learn from your wisdom.   You can learn more about Rusti by going to her website: www.rustilehay.info   Check out any of the links below to access this and other episodes of the Finding Peace Podcast. https://open.spotify.com/show/0p6DK6fPPjHH0z911oCuUghttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1472700242https://www.troyllove.com/thefindingpeacepodcast

In this episode, I share a recent experience that reminded me of what happens inside when we are faced with a threatening experience.  Listen as I discuss the flight or fight response and the aftermath.  I also remind listeners that they are worthy of love and belonging, even when we forget it sometimes.