What does it mean to reconnect with yourself when life, relationships, or expectations have caused you to lose touch with who you are? In this episode of Wellness in Today’s World, recorded on-location in Washington, DC, host Dr. Debra Kawahara visits with psychologist, ordained minister, professor, and author Dr. Thema Bryant to explore the importance of reclaiming joy, authenticity, and self-worth.

Drawing on her book Matters of the Heart, Dr. Bryant discusses why we must allow ourselves to experience the full range of emotions rather than rushing toward positivity, and how vulnerability and self-acceptance create the foundation for genuine connection. She also discusses integrating spirituality with evidence-based psychology, honoring cultural and Indigenous wisdom, and bringing psychological knowledge beyond traditional academic and clinical settings. The conversation ultimately offers a powerful reminder to choose yourself, nurture your relationships, and “go back and get yourself” when you’ve left parts of yourself behind.

What if healing from adversity isn’t about returning to who we were before something difficult happened, but learning how to live meaningfully with what has changed? In this episode of Wellness in Today’s World, host Dr. Debra Kawahara sits down with psychiatrist, humanitarian mental health expert, and author of Why We Suffer and How We Heal, Dr. Suzan Song. Recorded on location in Washington, DC, the episode explores why suffering is an inevitable part of life and how we can find meaning, connection, and purpose amid instability. Drawing on her personal experiences and humanitarian work, Dr. Song introduces her “three friends of winter”—narrative, ritual, and purpose—and explains how they can help us make meaning from adversity, restore a sense of safety, and live according to our values. The conversation also challenges the emphasis on individual healing by highlighting the importance of community, co-regulation, and collective connection.

Why do so many people feel that they’re never doing enough? In this thought-provoking episode of Wellness in Today’s World, psychiatrist and Guilt Free author Dr. Jennifer Reid explores with host Dr. Debra Kawahara why guilt can become such a persistent burden, particularly for women. She distinguishes between healthy, adaptive guilt and the excessive guilt driven by unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, caregiving roles, and social conditioning. Introducing her “Guilt Equation,” Dr. Reid explains how the gap between expectations and perceived reality fuels chronic self-criticism while offering practical strategies for cultivating self-compassion, setting healthy boundaries, and aligning decisions with personal values. The conversation ultimately reframes guilt not as an individual failing, but as a shared experience shaped by culture—one that can be transformed through awareness, community, and intentional change.