Our lives are not handed to us fully formed. Instead, we have the opportunity to weave them into existence: to merge our passions with the world's needs. This week's Dr. Lisa Radio Hour & Podcast guests have done just that. Listen in to show #12, "Weavings," and be inspired!
Guests include...
The Dr. Lisa Radio Hour & Podcast airs weekly at 11 am on WLOB radio 1310 AM (Portland)/streaming online. Listen to the Podcast or click on the link below:
Weavings: Dr. Lisa # 12
The show began with our "Deep Dish" foods segment, co-hosted by Maine Magazine wellness editor, Genevieve Morgan. Our conversation centered on the ways we feed ourselves, physically and emotionally. We discussed an inspirational food book (The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg) and ways to cook one of our cruciferous favorites: Brussels Sprouts. Our locally grown Brussels Sprouts and "Green Smoothie" ingredients are courtesy of Whole Foods Market (Portland).
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This week on our "Wellness Innovations" segment, sponsored by the University of New England, was about "The Neuroscience of Why Gratitude Makes Us Healthier," by Ocean Robbins:
Negative attitudes are bad for you. And gratitude, it turns out, makes you happier and healthier. If you invest in a way of seeing the world that is mean and frustrated, you’re going to get a world that is more mean and frustrating. But if you can find any authentic reason to give thanks, anything that is going right with the world or your life, and put your attention there, then statistics say you’re going to be better off.
There’s an old saying that if you’ve forgotten the language of gratitude, you’ll never be on speaking terms with happiness. This isn’t just happy talk, it turns out. Your brain knows the difference. Several studies have shown depression to be inversely correlated to gratitude. It seems that the more grateful a person is, the less depressed they are. Philip Watkins, a clinical psychologist at Eastern Washington University, found that clinically depressed individuals showed significantly lower gratitude (nearly 50 percent less) than non-depressed controls.
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The first guest on today's show was Jill McGowan, Clothing Designer, of Jill McGowan Inc.
The first line of clothing from Jill McGowan, Inc. was a series of white shirts. This line was inspired by her work as a patternmaker in the men’s shirt industry. After comparing her work on men’s shirts to women’s clothing of equal price, she realized the genuine need to improve the standard of women’s clothing.
Jill’s shirts and seasonal collections are now available in over 300 speciality stores around the country and her work has been featured in several publications including Women’s Wear Daily, Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times, Victoria, Real Simple, Rescue and More magazines, and the online fashion site: Daily Candy, Maine Magazine, Down East and the Boston Globe.
Jill has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show and Martha has blogged about her visit to the studio. Her shirts have been worn in many feature length films, and the television shows SportsNight, What Not To Wear and Martha Stewart. Jill McGowan was selected as one of the fashion innovators for the television show, Main Floor, sponsored by Cotton, Inc.
Jill McGowan Retail, the company’s flagship store, opened in November 2010 in Freeport Maine.
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Alex Rheault of the Quimby Colony and MECA was the featured guest on our "Maine Magazine Minutes" segment with Maine Magazine wellness editor (and Dr. Lisa Radio Hour co-host) Genevieve Morgan.
Alex Rheault is an artist, independent curator and writer living in Portland Maine since 2001. Rheault serves as Chair of Illustration and assistant professor at MECA, is the artistic director of Quimby Colony’s Fashion, Costume, and Textile arts program, and founder of drawing room, a roving community-focused art project. Rheault is dedicated to inclusive and collaborative projects and brings people together through communal creative acts. She celebrates the curiosity, passion, and willingness we all possess, and strives to support expansive thinking, open-ended process-focused activities. Rheault adapts experimentation with materials to build skills, working with themes that ground a sense of connection, and in turn, inspire discovery and awareness.
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As part of the Dr. Lisa Radio Hour we read our weekly quote from Our Daily Tread, the book created to support the organization Safe Passage. Our Daily Tread has raised more than $22,000 since 2008.

Dr. Lisa travelled to Guatemala during Thanksgiving week to get a firsthand look at this organization founded by her late friend and Bowdoin College classmate, Hanley Denning. Read more about her travels on the Bountiful Blog.
Want to help? Safe Passage is pleased to announce a holiday promotion of the book Our Daily Tread, edited by Dr. Lisa Belisle and featuring inspirational quotes, essays, photography and artwork by Safe Passage students. From now through January 2, the regular retail price of $24.95 will be lowered to $18.99 to help share these motivating stories of how children can leave the Guatemala City garbage dump to achieve an education. To enjoy this special promotion and support Safe Passage, please purchase the book online here
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Our "Give Back" segment featured Sarah Armentrout of Carlisle Riding Academy and Equest. Sarah, along with husband Nick, co-founded Equest Therapeutic Riding Center in 1998. Sarah served as Executive Director for all of Equest’s 12 years. As Head of School in their new enterprise, Sarah combines her passion for horses with a desire to serve her community, and today is involved in all aspects of managing Carlisle Academy, from organizational oversight to fiscal and strategic planning. Sarah has been in the field of equine-assisted therapy since 1995 when she was first certified as an instructor for Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH, Int.).
Now an Advanced Level PATH instructor with a keen interest in developing the para-equestrian sports side of the program, Sarah enjoys helping her students reach their personal goals. Prior toCarlisle Academy and Equest, Sarah managed the Corporate Giving Program and eventually directed the Corporate Communications Department at Tom’s of Maine. She currently is Vice Chair of the York County Grantmaking Committee of the Maine Community Foundation
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Click here to read this week's featured Bountiful Blog post, "Magic."
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Support for the Dr. Lisa Radio Hour & Podcast is graciously provided by Akari, Maine magazine, Whole Foods Market (Portland), Tom Shepard from Hersey, Gardner, Shepard & Eaton/Ameriprise. Mike LePage & Beth Franklin from ReMax Heritage, Robin Hodgskin of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Dr. John Herzog of Orthopedic Specialists.


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The Dr. Lisa Radio Hour & Podcast Team includes:
Dr. Lisa Belisle, Co-House & Executive Producer,
Genevieve Morgan, Co-Host & Editorial Producer,
John McCain, Audio Producer, Provider of Original Music,
Chris Kast, Editorial Producer & Brand Strategist,
Marci Booth, Business Advisor,
Jane Pate, Assistant Producer,
Nathan Hankla, Website Advisor,
Kevin Thomas, Executive Producer.
The Dr. Lisa Radio Hour & Podcast studio is located at the offices of Maine Magazine, 75 State Street, Portland, Maine.
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Join us next Sunday, December 11 at 11 am for the next Dr. Lisa Radio Hour & Podcast on WLOB radio Portland 1310 AM/streaming online. Guests will include Angie Arndt of ChIME, Cyrus Hagge, innovator and change-maker and Dave Holman of Safe Passage.
Thank you for being part of our world!