Stay Grounded With Raj Jana

“We don’t have change, if we don’t expect it”I’ve had a lot of interesting people on the Stay Grounded podcast during 2018, but this week’s episode broke a new record.At 98, Dr Gladys McGarey is our oldest guest yet.Dr. Gladys has devoted her entire life to changing the face of modern medicine - and she’s seen so much.She grew up in India where both her parents worked as medical missionaries during the 1920s and she trained to become a doctor during World War II.Instead of a focus on healing, she felt medicine was too focused on ‘getting rid’ of the things we don’t want such as pain, disease, and bacteria.So, instead of being ‘at war’ with our bodies, Gladys became passionate about life and living.This sparked a lifelong mission to explore holistic medicine, which led to Gladys co-founding the American Holistic Medical Association in 1977.She was the first person to utilize Acupuncture in the United States - and trained others how to use it.The Foundation for Living Medicine was created from her visionary lif

“Even if I don’t think I can do something, just take that next step and go for it. It’s amazing what you can do even when you don’t even know it’s possible.”I'm really excited for this week's guest.Jen Hansard is the founder of Simple Green Smoothies, a business that she started out of a need and strong desire to keep her family healthy. This simple remedy has created a health movement that inspires millions of people (and counting) all over the world. But that’s not even the highlight of Jen’s journey.In addition to her business success, Jen is a mother, a best selling author, a wellness advocate, pilot in training and the perfect example of what it means to both, have it all and handle it all.She is proof that anything is possible.That you don’t have to settle and that the only limits in your life are the ones you decide to keep over yourself.We talk today about her love of life, our different life hacks, how she leans into the fear, embraces discomfort, and the power she wields by saying “yes!” to thi

“The universe doesn’t stop giving us likes and clues, we just develop a resistance to hearing them because they’re usually inconvenient” This week’s episode is definitely one of my favorites. Dmitriy Kozlov, who I affectionately refer to as Dima, is a successful entrepreneur , spoken word poet, and a friend who I attribute a lot of my personal growth to. Dima’s purpose in life is to accelerate the evolution of love through inspiring and empowering influencers. One of the ways he does that is through his company, Influex - an agency that specializes in building personal brand websites that express essence and amplify influence. (in fact, the Influex team built www.rajjana.com!) But this podcast is less about business and more about self-awareness and personal evolution. I’ve never met anyone so willing to dance with demons and let go of attachments. Dima isn’t afraid of ‘ego death’ - if there’s any chance it will take him closer to his truth. He’s not afraid to be vulner

“I had this realization that the greatest gift of being a human is the gift of imperfection. The gods or the universe don’t have the luxury of making mistakes and we do. So I relish in how many mistakes I get to make.” It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year, everyone! December is my favorite month, with the new year, literally, right around the corner, this is when I like to take a pause, sit back and reflect on the year. What worked, what didn’t work, what are the areas where I can evolve and grow in the upcoming year? 2018 shot by and it’s important that you take a moment to get grounded and align your mindset for success heading into the New Year! Speaking of success, I can’t wait for you to tune into today’s episode of Stay Grounded. Ian Stanley is a stand up comedian, film maker and one of the best copywriters in the world, selling over $100 million worth of products in the last several years. Ian joins us today to chat about his journey as an entrepreneur and the session with

“I’d been doing all these diets in the past to look a certain way rather than feel a certain way.” This week’s guest turned her life around after watching a documentary on Netflix. Rewind four years and not only was Krysta Francoeur 40lb overweight, but she was constantly sick. Prone to illness, infections, colds, severe clinical depression and terrible fibromyalgia symptoms. You name it, for over 15 years Krysta’s life had been marred by poor health and it was preventing her from participating in life fully. That documentary changed everything for Krysta. Not only did it inspire her to transform her relationship with food, but it also kick-started a journey of spiritual discovery and modern day witchcraft. Previously a designer, Krysta is now the founder of Wild Remedies - an online brand that helps people heal through the power of plants. A potion master and lover of nature, Krysta listened to the universe (as you’ll hear in this episode) to create her own brand of Chaga tea. N

“I don’t believe there’s a ceiling to how good life can get. I don’t believe there’s a limit to the amount of love I can feel.” Today’s podcast is a little different. Adam and I recorded this just after we first met! We were both at a book launch of a mutual friend in New York City and I had to go up and give him a hug because he’d just blown me away! I know what it’s like to speak on a big stage. That mix of fear and nervous energy is all-consuming - and that’s when you know what you’re going to say! So imagine stepping onto a stage to deliver a poem that hasn’t even been written. Well that’s what Adam did. He delivered the most beautiful, impromptu poem flawlessly. I was so inspired by this man’s ability to dance with the fear that I had to get to know him better. And this podcast episode is the result. Recorded under Brooklyn Bridge in NYC, this was the second deep dive conversation Adam and I had on this day. The first for Adam’s podcast, and the second for episode 51 of the

“I actually am more brother and sister with people that are across incredibly diverse paths and walks of life than I had ever imagined.” In this 50th episode (woohoo!) of the Stay Grounded Podcast, I wanted to bring you an extra special guest to mark this big milestone. And Matthew Abrams delivered. Matthew’s passion (and life purpose) is to support individuals and collectives to reach their fullest potential. He does this by creating and holding courageous spaces where people feel safe to explore with vulnerability, and honesty. The reason Matthew can do this so beautifully is because of his rich curiosity for himself and his fellow humans. After spending 9 months travelling, living, and working in really diverse cultures Matthew learned first hand how similar we all are - and how are differences can create deep connection. We just have to be prepared to pull away the veil. “There’s something in the space between you and me that’s magic and only together through curiosity and explora

 “I can have whatever I want - I just have to think about it.” It’s not often that you get to sit down with a man who sees no limits. We live in a society where we’re conditioned to be average. We’re surrounded by restrictions and limitations that compel us to settle for less and drop dreams of a better life. Jesse Elder doesn’t see life in the same way that most of us do. The oldest of five, Jesse was homeschooled and raised in an environment where he was given a free reign. He had permission to explore his passions and his interests - free of the restrictions that most of us face. The freedom allowed him to take ownership of the things that got him excited. And it began to program his mind to view life through a radically different lens. Jesse is the modern day action philosopher. And in this episode, you’ll discover how you can use your thoughts to get more out of your life - whether that’s more health, wealth, happiness, wisdom, or success. So listen in with an

“Experiences develop you. They define you. They refine your attitude.”This episode’s guest has been called “The Real Life Wizard of Oz" by Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine because he has the ability to make the impossible, possible.Nowadays, Steve Sims rubs shoulders with celebrities and billionaires. His luxury personal concierge service, Bluefish, creates incredible experiences for its members and allows Steve to live an interesting life vicariously through his clients.But it wasn’t always this way. Steve started out as a bricklayer. As an East London boy who grew up in a low income family, he was well versed in the ‘them vs us’ culture.He’d look at the people who seemed to have it all and wondered why he couldn’t live like that. When he realized there was no real reason (and it was all in his head), he started to challenge himself to live a fuller life on a daily basis.And in this episode, Steve shares how you can do the same by using experiences to seize life by the horns and infuse everyday with surprise

“Our only job as humans is to live in our truth.”I didn’t know who Danete was when I took the empty spot next to her at dinner.It was at a mastermind. I’d set myself the intention of connecting with some incredible humans and somehow I felt drawn to that empty seat. As we started chatting, I didn’t feel like I was having a conversation for the first time. I felt as though I already knew Danette.It was beautiful, I was inspired, and I absolutely had to have Danette share her story right here - on the Stay Grounded podcast.Now there’s a reason this is episode 47.This number takes us right back to the rock bottom moment when Danette’s life transformed.Rewind 5 years and Danette had just lost her son during childbirth, she was recently divorced, and had just $47 to her name.This scenario would break most people, but somehow Danette found the courage to turn her ‘muck’ into opportunity and RISE into the phoenix of who she’s supposed to be in this lifetime.“You don’t have to love all of it, but you get to love your

“We’re all human beings and we all crave connection with other human beings.”In this episode, I get to speak with the incredible Ken Blackman - a sex and relationship expert who focuses on sex, intimacy, and connection.I believe your life is a product of your relationships - whether that’s with your friends, parents, your partner, your kids, or your work colleagues. In my own life I’ve found that the better your relationships, the better your life becomes so I couldn’t wait to get an expert perspective on something we all struggle with to some degree.We’re social beings - we CRAVE connection - but it’s also an area of lives where we can find it difficult to have what we really want.And in this episode, you’ll get some insights that will help you understand why that is.“Courage is NOT fearlessness.”Although Ken has been coaching for over 20 years, he wasn't always a relationship expert. Previously, he worked at Apple, but he found his true passion after struggling with intimate relationships himself.Ken used t

“There’s a lot more going on here than just cells floating around in my body. My mind has a lot more to do with it than I believe.” Frank started college just like any other student. He was outgoing, social, and identified himself as an athlete. But that all changed in his second semester when he got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Used to peak fitness and endless physical energy, Frank started to experience intense stomach pains and blood in his stools - on a daily basis. Sport became painful and Frank’s social life dried up because he never wanted to be far from a toilet. After 18 months of declining health, Frank put his trust in the doctors and agreed to have his colon removed. This involved major surgery and a length recovery process. Frank felt better for a few months, then the pain started all over again. In this episode, Frank tells his story of finding positivity amongst this chaos. He shares how he was able to learn from his dwindling health to take control of his life an

“Betting on yourself is probably one of the most accelerated tracks of genuine personal development that you’ll ever go down.”In this episode I dive deep into the rabbit hole with psychotherapist and the ‘Shrink for Entrepreneurs’ - Peter Shallard.Peter started his business journey in his homeland of New Zealand with a brick and mortar psychotherapy clinic. After a local business owner became a client, Peter was inspired to explore entrepreneurialism to build his own practice. This kick-started a love affair with business and how business can be used as a tool for accelerated human growth and development.Fast-forward a decade, and Peter now works with entrepreneurs to help them achieve wealth, freedom, and sanity (the ultimate hat trick for entrepreneurs) so they’re in a position to figure out ‘what next’ - because that’s the place where life gets most fulfilling.This episode is incredible. Peter is obsessed with understanding what makes people tick and why they’re compelled to do the things they do. Peter’s

“An addiction is something that’s covering up something else.”Jenn Edden has been helping people quit their sugar addiction for over 14 years. As you’ll hear in this episode, this is Jenn’s calling and she’s hugely passionate about the work she does.Jenn captivated me because you don’t often hear sugar and addiction in the same sentence. But when you learn that sugar lights up the same part of the brain as cocaine, you realize how serious this addiction can be. I guess that’s what’s most scary. How many times were you given a lollipop when you were hurt or sick as a child?Jenn is the real deal. Raised in an addictive family, Jenn admits she’s seen a lot. It’s one of the things that makes her such an authority on this subject. She knows her stuff and she’s going to get you to view sugar in a whole new way.Especially if you have kids...“First answer, right answer.”As a mom of three, it’s fascinating to learn how Jenn has drawn from her own experiences and teachings to raise kids who have high self-esteem and st

“You have to take a leap of faith that you can in fact succeed at one thing… and practice that great advice which is sometimes hard to follow which is called focus.”This episode’s guest is a rockstar!Majeed started his entrepreneurial journey when he was just 16. By the time he was 21, he’d bought and sold FIVE companies and used entrepreneurship to fund his passion for travel.Majeed is now in his early 30s and he’s married with two young children, but his mantra for life hasn’t changed. “I live to travel” and that’s what he does! He now travels the world helping experts get their stories onto stages so they can serve more people with their message through public speaking.It’s one of the reasons Majeed has such incredible insight. Through his work he gets to help all kinds of people including Olympic athletes. This breadth of knowledge and experience shines bright throughout conversation.One topic we talk about a LOT is passion. It’s so important if you want a life that’s fulfilling.So come listen in and disc

“The ego uses the past to predict the future… By holding onto the past, you’re just creating the same pattern.”This episode’s guest didn’t think she’d make it to her 40s.Raised by immigrant parents, Adamaris was brought up with the belief that you have to work hard for everything. She was taught that no one was going to give her anything - she had to do it all herself.So that’s what she did.As a high achiever, Adamaris committed to the grind and tackled life the ‘world’s way’. She worked her way through the education system to ace college and get a masters degree before landing a corporate job in an investment bank.Then she worked and worked until she reached the point where her body couldn’t take it anymore.Thanks to severe adrenal exhaustion, Adamaris’s dream fell apart. Incapable of work she had no choice, but to quit her job. Suddenly, she was $50k in debt, living at home with her parents, and so broken her body couldn’t even digest foods - only liquids.It was an insane low that became the ‘gift’ which tr

“There is no wrong way to live life.”I’m super pumped for episode 40. It’s another BIG milestone for the Stay Grounded podcast and we’ve got an incredible guest to mark this special occasion.Marc Cordon and I have similar roots. As second generation immigrants, we’ve both grown up as minorities trying to find our own version of the American dream. And it’s been one hell of a ride!As you’ll hear in this episode, Marc wasn’t always the approachable, compassionate guy you’ll hear today. He used to be ‘an angry Asian’ - desperate to not be Filipino so he could be like everyone else and fit it. But that wasn’t Marc’s destiny. In fact, standing out became the very thing that helped him achieve the success he enjoys today.Inspired by Michael Jackson, Marc is the coach that coaches the coaches. A positive psychology expert and the force behind Make Money Coaching Program, Marc’s mission is to empower people and have as much fun as possible.So settle in because you’re in for a treat! Along with some incredibly honest

“If you just work with amazing people, helping a billion isn’t as crazy as it sounds.”I first heard this guest speak at a recent event and I was hooked immediately.Dr. Steve Young has, what many would call, a crazy goal.In fact he calls his mission to help a BILLION people love their way to building their greatest legacy by providing the tools and systems for success his ‘moonshot’ goal.But as you’ll hear in this episode, it’s not as crazy as it sounds.Since 2001 Dr. Steve has personally healed over 7 thousand people and influenced countless more indirectly. Using functional medicine and drawing upon science-based principles, Steve helps people resolve their physical ailments so they can return to health and high energy.He’s all about the process - not the hacks. Specifically, Steve inspires people to transform their relationship with food so they can regain control of their body and leverage health to live a happier life.“We all have this ability of heightened intuition. Our reality is so much more than the

“I became OK with failing - with the possibility that it might not work out. That was where the freedom came.” This episode’s guest and I have a lot in common. We both have corporate backgrounds in engineering (in fact, Darla calls herself a recovering engineer!) and we both experienced similar trigger moments that ‘forced’ us to take the leap out on our own. Now, Darla’s life couldn’t be more different! As a coach, she hosts intimate retreats that help people fast-track their learning and get out of their own way. So if there’s a part of you that’s not fully satisfied with the life you live right now, this episode is for you. Like me, Darla lived her life as convention tells us to do. She did all the right things, but life still slapped her in the face. But sometimes we need to be forced backwards before we can move forward again. So if you want to get unstuck, listen in as Darla dives deep into her own journey. Along the way, she reveals the hidden beliefs and experiences that

“We have a philosophy that all emotions are good. It’s about being able to move through those emotions that’s the key - so you can move from the negative to the positive.”This episode is a little bit special because I don’t have one guest, I have two!It’s power couple Desiree and Alonto Mangandog and they’re both passionate about using essential oils, aromatherapy, and acupuncture to help people process and move through their emotions.This episode blew my mind! When we live in our heads and we’re challenged by what Alonto referred to as ‘infobesity’, we can lose sense of the power our senses have to shake up our emotions.Desiree explains how 95% of everything that goes on happens in our subconscious - it’s no wonder it can be so hard to know ourselves - so we can grow and evolve into our potential.But as you’ll see in this episode, essential oils are a powerful tool that can unlock the door to heightened emotional awareness and maturity. That’s because the right oils used in the right situation can soften us,