What does a psychological operations officer actually do?Ashley Holzmann spent over a decade inserting information into conflict zones to change behavior, reduce crime, and bring terrorists to the peace table. Not with weapons. With strategy, sociology, and social science.In this conversation we go deep on how influence actually works — from Afghanistan's $50 million research program to North Korea's social media campaigns targeting Americans today.But what surprised me most about Ashley wasn't the military story.It was the artist. The soccer coach. The scout leader. The human who manages his entire life in 1-2 hour calendar blocks and says "the world won't end if I set it down."Everything — war, art, parenting, scouting, writing — comes back to one thing for Ashley - Problem solving.This is one of the most layered conversations I've had on Soul In The Game.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And this conversation might be one of the most important ones you'll hear this month.

What happens when a software engineer with 20 years of experience hits her own breaking point — and finds her way back through healing?

Anjana spent two decades in technical roles before something shifted. Quietly. Painfully. She found herself crying every night, not wanting to wake up. A life coach helped her heal over 5-6 years of deep inner work.

And then she asked one question: "Why so much pain? If I felt this — do other women feel it too?"

That question became her calling.

Today Anjana is a transformative coach specializing in family trauma healing — combining NLP, neurosomatic practices, and a programmer's curiosity to help women heal from the inside out. She brings a unique gift: the ability to ask the exact right question that helps clients see themselves clearly — and the results speak for themselves.

This is a conversation about courage, transformation, and what it really means to help someone heal.

Because sometimes the most qualified healers are the ones who have walked through the darkest rooms themselves.

What does war teach you about energy?

Wes Herche was a senior US intelligence officer deployed to Baghdad — three months after becoming a father for the first time. In that war zone, he watched energy become a matter of life and death. For every 39 fuel convoys running through Iraq, there was one casualty.

That experience forged something rare: a sustainability leader who can stare at worst-case scenarios and still show up with clarity and optimism.

Today Wes is Director of Energy & Sustainability Solutions at Prologis, former Amazon global lead for supplier decarbonization, former BCG, and co-founder of Sustainability Decoded — the newsletter for sustainability professionals. He holds a PhD in Sustainability from ASU.

In this episode we talk about the intelligence mindset applied to climate, why emissions are actually an efficiency opportunity, the truth about degrowth, AI's energy appetite, and the trim tab theory of change.

Oh — and Wes was born on Earth Day. He didn't choose this path. He was built for it.

Learn more about Wes here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/herche/

https://www.sustainabilitydecoded.com/

Anjana Nambissan is a life coach guiding you through a transformative journey towards self-love and personal growth. She believes in the power of self-love and its profound impact on every aspect of your life.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial time dedicated to reducing stigma, raising awareness, and promoting mental wellness across communities. This annual observance highlights the importance of mental health care and encourages open conversations about psychological well-being.

Established to combat the silence surrounding mental health issues, May serves as a platform for education, advocacy, and support. The month focuses on normalizing discussions about anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health challenges that affect millions globally. Key themes include early intervention, accessibility to mental health resources, and the recognition that mental health is as important as physical health.

Recent years have seen unprecedented challenges to collective mental wellness. Workplace stress, social media pressures, economic uncertainty, and post-pandemic effects have intensified mental health concerns. Young adults and professionals face particular challenges with anxiety disorders, burnout, and depression becoming increasingly common.

Life coaches play a unique and valuable role in the mental health ecosystem. Unlike therapists who focus on clinical treatment of mental illness, life coaches work with generally healthy individuals seeking personal growth, goal achievement, and life optimization. They bridge the gap between traditional therapy and self-help, offering structured support for those wanting to enhance their mental wellness proactively.

Life coaches employ evidence-based techniques including cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness practices, and goal-setting frameworks. They help clients identify limiting beliefs, develop coping strategies, and create actionable plans for personal development. Through regular sessions, coaches provide accountability, perspective, and tools for managing stress, improving relationships, and building resilience.

One of life coaching's greatest strengths lies in its preventive approach. Rather than waiting for mental health crises, coaches help clients build emotional intelligence, stress management skills, and healthy lifestyle habits that protect against future psychological challenges. This proactive stance aligns perfectly with Mental Health Awareness Month's emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Effective life coaches recognize their scope and limitations, often working collaboratively with mental health professionals. They refer clients to therapists when clinical intervention is needed while continuing to provide support for personal growth goals. This integrated approach ensures comprehensive care addressing both therapeutic needs and life enhancement objectives.

Life coaching offers a less stigmatized entry point for individuals hesitant about traditional mental health services. Many people feel more comfortable seeking a "life coach" than a "therapist," making coaching an accessible gateway to personal development and mental wellness support.

May Action Steps

During Mental Health Awareness Month, individuals can benefit from evaluating their mental wellness needs. Consider whether life coaching might complement existing self-care practices or provide structured support for personal goals. Life coaches can help develop mental wellness plans, establish healthy routines, and create accountability systems for ongoing psychological well-being.

The integration of life coaching into mental health awareness represents a holistic approach to psychological wellness, emphasizing growth, prevention, and empowerment alongside traditional therapeutic interventions.

Judy Barreto, a single mother of three boys, formerly ran "Spondeo Montessori" in Gilbert, Arizona, where she demonstrated her profound commitment to children's education. During her time as the school's leader, she placed special emphasis on incorporating environmentally conscious principles into the institution's framework and operations.

Judy embarked on a new professional path in the field of eco-therapy. We explore her fascinating transition from Montessori education administrator to eco-therapy practitioner, examining how her experience as both an educator and mother has informed this evolving career journey. Our conversation with Judy reveals the connecting threads between her previous work in structured nature-based education and her current pursuit of healing through environmental connection.

Key aspects of eco-therapy include:

1. Connection to nature: Eco-therapy is based on the principle that humans have an innate connection to nature (sometimes called "biophilia"), and that spending time in natural environments can reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
2. Formal therapeutic practices: These might include guided nature meditation, horticultural therapy (gardening for mental health), wilderness therapy, animal-assisted interventions, or conservation activities as part of a therapeutic program.
3. Health benefits: Research has shown nature exposure can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; lower blood pressure; improve immune function; increase attention capacity; and enhance overall mood.
4. Environmental awareness: Many eco-therapy approaches include an element of environmental stewardship and developing a reciprocal relationship with nature.
5. Accessibility variations: Eco-therapy can range from structured programs led by trained professionals to simple self-directed activities like regular walks in natural settings, caring for houseplants, or gardening.

Some specific eco-therapy approaches include forest bathing (shinrin-yoku from Japan), adventure therapy, care farming (therapeutic use of farming practices), and green exercise (physical activities in natural environments).

Popular Eco-Therapy Practices You Can Adopt

Here are several accessible eco-therapy practices that have gained popularity for their mental health benefits:

This Japanese practice involves mindful immersion in forest environments. Simply spend time walking slowly through a wooded area, engaging all senses—notice the scents, sounds, textures, and visual details. Research shows 2-3 hours of forest bathing can reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and boost immune function.

Engage with plants through gardening activities. This could be as simple as maintaining indoor plants, creating a small container garden, or joining a community garden. The act of nurturing plants provides both immediate satisfaction and long-term rewards as you watch them grow.

Regular interaction with animals—whether pets, wildlife observation, or volunteering at animal sanctuaries—can reduce anxiety and provide emotional support. The human-animal bond has proven therapeutic effects.

Document your observations, feelings, and experiences in natural settings. This reflective practice helps process emotions while developing deeper connections to the environment. Combine writing with sketches of plants, landscapes, or wildlife.

Participate in habitat restoration, beach cleanups, or tree planting. These activities provide a sense of purpose and community while fostering environmental stewardship.

Create art inspired by or using natural materials. This might include painting outdoors, making mandalas from found objects, photography, or crafting with natural elements.

#EcoTherapy #Montessori #WellnessJourney #NatureHealing #ArizonaWellness

Keywords:

• Eco-therapy

• Nature-based healing
• Environmental wellness
• Gilbert Arizona
• Career transition
• Mother entrepreneurs
• Sustainable education

• Holistic wellness
• Desert healing

• Parenting and nature
• Green education
• Environmental psychology

My guest Lavanya Dantuluri was one of my very first guest on this podcast. I truly appreciate her support and her knowledge share for all of us to learn and grow together with our plants!

Gardening in Arizona presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities shaped by the state's distinctive climate zones, from the scorching Sonoran Desert to the cooler high country elevations. This remarkable diversity allows for a surprising variety of plant life when you understand how to work with—rather than against—the local conditions.

Indoor gardening offers Arizonans refuge from the harsh exterior conditions. Low humidity becomes an advantage for succulents and cacti, which thrive in bright, sunny windows while requiring minimal water. Desert-adapted houseplants like snake plants, ZZ plants, and aloe vera flourish with the abundant natural light streaming through Arizona windows.

The challenge of dry indoor air can be addressed through strategic humidification for tropical plants. Many enthusiasts create microclimate zones in their homes—perhaps a bathroom jungle taking advantage of shower humidity for ferns and calatheas, while sun-drenched living rooms showcase colorful desert-adapted specimens.

Air conditioning during the scorching summer months creates another opportunity: the ability to grow plants that might otherwise succumb to extreme heat. Indoor herb gardens thrive year-round when placed near bright windows, providing fresh culinary ingredients regardless of outdoor temperatures.

Outdoor Growing: Embracing Desert Rhythms

Successful outdoor gardening in Arizona requires a fundamental shift in perspective. Rather than fighting the desert, seasoned gardeners embrace its natural cycles and conditions.

The growing calendar runs opposite to many other regions—fall becomes the primary planting season as temperatures moderate from summer extremes. Winter and spring offer ideal growing conditions for cool-season vegetables, flowering annuals, and establishing perennials before summer's arrival. Gardeners learn to create microclimates using shade structures, berms, and strategic placement to extend growing seasons.

Water conservation becomes not just environmentally responsible but aesthetically compelling through xeriscaping principles. Native plants like desert marigold, penstemon, brittlebush, and various cacti create stunning landscapes that require minimal irrigation once established. Smart irrigation systems—drip lines, ollas (buried clay pots), and gray water utilization—maximize every precious drop.

Tree selection proves crucial in the Arizona landscape. Desert-adapted species like mesquite, palo verde, and desert willow provide essential shade that can reduce ground temperatures by up to 20 degrees, creating hospitable zones for understory plantings.

The Resilient Garden Community

Perhaps most remarkable about Arizona gardening is the passionate community that has developed around it. Local knowledge becomes invaluable as experienced gardeners share hard-won wisdom about microclimate creation, rare regionally-adapted varieties, and innovative water conservation techniques.

Native plant societies promote preservation of the unique Sonoran ecosystem while demonstrating its ornamental potential. Community gardens showcase drought-tolerant food production methods, helping address food security challenges while conserving resources.

Seasonal Rhythms and Rewards

For those who align with Arizona's natural cycles rather than imposing external gardening calendars, the rewards are extraordinary. Winter months bring lush vegetables and vibrant cool-season flowers while much of the country lies dormant. Spring delivers spectacular wildflower displays and cactus blooms. Even summer offers unique opportunities for heat-loving tropical fruits like mangoes and bananas in protected locations.

If you want to join Gardening in Chandler FB group, you can find out more here: Gardening in Chandler FB Group

Doug Bland was the Executive Director of Arizona Interfaith Power and Light (AZIPL). AZIPL is a faith-based environmental nonprofit organization that works at the intersection of religion and ecology. It is the Arizona state chapter of the national Interfaith Power and Light organization.

Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) is a national network mobilizing people of faith and conscience to take action on climate change. Rooted in the understanding that caring for the Earth is a moral imperative shared across religious traditions, IPL provides educational and inspirational programs. They empower individuals and congregations to reduce their carbon footprint through energy stewardship, embracing renewable energy, and advocating for climate justice policies. IPL's strength lies in framing climate action not just as an environmental or political issue, but as a matter of ethics, morality, and our responsibility to future generations and the planet. With a network reaching millions, IPL amplifies a powerful moral voice in the climate movement.

Their mission focuses on mobilizing faith communities to address climate change and environmental issues through:

1. Religious Environmental Stewardship: Engaging diverse faith communities around the theological and moral imperative to protect the environment and address climate change
2. Education and Advocacy: Providing resources, workshops, and programs to help congregations understand environmental issues and implement sustainable practices
3. Energy Conservation: Promoting energy efficiency in religious buildings and congregants' homes
4. Renewable Energy: Encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources like solar power
5. Policy Engagement: Advocating for environmental policies at local and state levels that align with values of caring for creation

AZIPL works with various faith traditions including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and others across Arizona. They help religious communities integrate environmental stewardship into their spiritual practice and community outreach.

The organization typically offers programs like energy audits for houses of worship, climate education workshops, interfaith climate prayer services, and opportunities for faith leaders to speak out on environmental issues affecting Arizona communities.

To learn more about AZIPL, visit AZIPL website

Environmental biologist Manju Venkat shares how birds connect us to nature, offering solace during challenging times and inspiring mindfulness in our everyday lives.

Find more about Manju's birding here: Fine art Manju

Join us for a soul-stirring conversation with environmental biologist and passionate birder Manju Venkat, whose journey from Bengaluru, India to Southern California has been guided by a deep connection to the natural world.

In this episode, we explore how birds serve as both messengers and mirrors in our lives. Manju shares personal stories of finding direction through observing birds during life's challenging moments, and how these winged creatures can reconnect us to our environment when we feel most disconnected.

Discover:

• How Manju's upbringing in a family of naturalists shaped his scientific career and artistic pursuits
• Practical tips for beginning birdwatchers to develop mindfulness through observation
• The surprising ways birds adapt to urban environments and what we can learn from their resilience
• How bird photography and watercolor painting can deepen our appreciation of nature's details
• Simple practices to incorporate bird awareness into daily life, even in busy urban settings

Whether you're an experienced birder or simply curious about finding more meaning in the natural world, Manju's insights offer a refreshing perspective on how the creatures that surround us daily can transform our understanding of both nature and ourselves.

This conversation reminds us that sometimes, the guidance we seek is literally right outside our window, waiting to be noticed with fresh eyes. We cover below topics in our conversation.

• birding podcast
• environmental biology
• mindfulness through birdwatching
• nature connection
• bird photography
• urban birding
• nature therapy
• birdwatching beginners
• environmental consciousness
• wildlife appreciation
• bird conservation
• nature mindfulness
• ecological awareness
• birding community
• urban wildlife

Birding transforms ordinary walks into extraordinary adventures where each sighting feels like discovering hidden treasure. This accessible hobby requires minimal equipment—just binoculars and curiosity—yet offers endless depth as observers develop sharper eyes and ears for distinctive calls, flight patterns, and behaviors.

Beyond the joy of identification, birding connects us to seasonal rhythms and local ecosystems. Birds serve as environmental indicators, their presence or absence telling stories about habitat health. The practice naturally cultivates mindfulness as observers slow down, focus attention, and appreciate subtle details often missed in daily life.

Whether in urban parks or remote wilderness, birding builds community through shared checklists, guided walks, and citizen science projects that contribute to conservation efforts. For many enthusiasts, the pursuit evolves from simple species lists into deeper appreciation for how these remarkable creatures navigate survival challenges through migration, adaptation, and intelligence.

The perfect blend of science and soul, birding reminds us we're part of something wild and wonderful—even in our own backyards. Some simple tips:

• Start where you are: Your backyard or neighborhood park is perfect. Birds are everywhere!

• Listen first, look second: Often you'll hear birds before seeing them. Learning basic calls helps enormously.
• Find local birding groups: Experienced birders love sharing knowledge and can show you hotspots you'd never find alone.
• Create a bird-friendly space: Even a small balcony with a feeder or bird bath can attract regular visitors.
• Practice patience: Sometimes the best sightings come from picking a comfortable spot and simply waiting quietly.

Remember, birding isn't about competitive listing - it's about connecting with nature right where you are. The joy comes from observation, not achievement!

Tags: Nature, Science, Mindfulness, Environment, Wildlife