This originally aired on 104.7 KXFM radio station in Laguna Beach, California on 4/17/2026.

These are some things that have helped me call back my energy from energy drains and energy vampires.

Energy is currency in our society today. It is very important to call back your energy as much as you need to, to feel calm and at peace. If you are starting something new, creating something, starting a business, publishing a book, or simply just want to feel more at peace, learn how to call back your energy.

Your energy is YOURS. It is priceless. While it is great and necessary to help and care for others, it is not selfish to call back this energy to yourself, whenever you need it back! Learn how in this episode. Remember to say or think: " I call back my energy!"

Do you feel called to write, but find yourself held back by self-doubt or anxiety? Or are you a seasoned writer who is currently plagued by writer’s block? Well, you aren’t alone.

In this episode, I share practical tips for moving through writer’s anxiety and breaking the cycle of self-doubt that can keep stories stuck in your head. While this insight can help any writer, it is targeted specifically for those who are new to writing or returning to the craft after some time.

Alongside my work as a registered dietitian, I’m also a creative writer rediscovering storytelling after many years. I wrote quite a bit in my previous career in corporate communications, technical writing, and freelance nonfiction, but not creatively. For a long time, the stories I wanted to write stayed locked inside of my head because of severe writer’s block, which was fueled by anxiety and self-doubt.

In this episode, I share some simple tips that have helped me begin writing creatively again, even though it has been a slow process. These tips might help you either return to the page, or start your journey as a new writer. Some of this insight can also help people returning to other creative pursuits after a hiatus.

How can music help us get in tune with ourselves, our stories, and our communities? What is cathartic and healing about certain sounds? What can the musical traditions of indigenous cultures teach us? My guest on this episode, Kenny Kirkwood, discusses these questions with me and more.

Kenny Kirkwood is a musician, educator, and folktivist. A Juno award-winning Canadian musician, he has toured internationally. Kenny spent his childhood in Zambia. This experience influenced his songwriting, his craft, and immersed him in the communal and spiritual aspects of music.

We talk about:

• Why certain songs are cathartic to us
• The lost art of music as an oral tradition
• How music can help us tell our stories
• Tips for learning how to play a musical instrument as an adult
• What we can learn from the indigenous cultures in our area
• Why humming can help us learn rhythm, increase awareness, and keep us in the present moment
• How trauma from early musical education as a youth can impact us as adult learners

Find out more about Kenny and his music at kennykirkwood.com