Above Ground Podcast

Thinking does interact with feeling and behavior.  Dr. Michelle Marks believes it’s the emotion we encounter before the thought. Dr. Marks also feels that if we could just breathe momentarily, we might quell the alarm that goes off in so many of us. What’s up everyone? It’s episode one hundred ninety eight of Above Ground Podcast and this week we are talking emotions and the alarms they set off in our bodies and minds. Little tiny abrasions affect our authenticity stress.    Our sympathetic stress response comes from us being wired to react. Proving that response is different than reaction and have separate frequencies that they carry.  Our deep sense of shame keeps us from feeling the connections we need so badly. Shame is a reaction. A possible false tale that you have question and doubt.    During our time together we cover RUTs (Repetitive Unhelpful Thoughts), the ideas of distract, detach, dispute.  Everything starts with self-compassion.  Psychological Fitness and its five elements; self care, breathing, mindfulness, positivity and self-compassion. Those alone can help to make the world a safer place.    Dr Michelle Marks is currently offering online consultation services for stress, health and well being. Her thirty year professional career has a pedigree of coveted certifications and accolades. Please click the link above to visit her site.    Thank you for listening to Above Ground Podcast. The only mental health podcast from the peerspective in Nippertown.  Please follow us on all the socials and come find us at NipperFest 2024.  Until next week get well, be safe, stay ABOVE…

Most would agree that how we show up in the world can be shaped by our environment, emotions and our feelings of connection. If we showed up as a dimmed, dull version we may react out of sorts, causing harm, doubt and hurt.  That’s why it’s important to take responsibility for any word or deed you put out there and own your shit. Sometimes we have to bring the noise down a bit and chew some humble pie and others call us to bring the noise to our own fioble.  Hey, welcome to episode one hundred ninety seven of Above Ground Podcast. The only Nippertown podcast from the peerspective of mental health.  This week we talk responsibility and knowing when to say you’re wrong. This week Will is given us a peak into a recent text he received from a listener, and must take responsibility for his word. Leaders lead, and leaders acknowledge when they are wrong.  In a dire time for legitimate sources of information and not just listening to the mainstream jargon or “expert” influencers, who are busy being the new super family poster children of consumerism. Will believes his integrity depands to provide accurate content and to uphold one of the most important tenants of service, do no harm.  Check it out and let us know what you think. You can tell us personally to our faces at Upstate Punk Rock Flea Market, this Sunday March 26,2023 from 11am-5pm at Empire Live Albany. 93 North Pearl Street Albany, NY. Come by and give spring a slightly darker, macabre and underground feel. Channel your inner Joey Ramone or Debbie Harry and rock out to Radio Radio X spun punk music.  Thank you for listening and please come back next week for another episode. Please be kind and look out for eachother out there. Get well, be safe and stay ABOVE....

For those of us who lack self love, life can be arduous. Like carrying around a hundred pound weight. A weight hard to shed no matter how hard you run. Lou Solano found recovery in running. Connection in running. And Lou is gonna fly now because he knows he is never alone in running or in life.  What's up everyone? Welcome to episode one hundred ninety six of Nippertown's mental health podcast from the peerpective. This week we discuss suicide, running and connection. The power of mother nature's soundtrack and a group of strangers cheering you on to just cross the finsih line. Peer support at its essence.  Lou knows recovery from a suicide attempt is not going to be perfect or easy. Lou likes to focus on where he'd like to finish and not the missteps along the way. Lou came to our attention through his article  titled, You Are Not Alone, for Adirondack Sports magazine in July 2022. Thanks to Julie for making the connection.  Through training and life Lou continually strides to just keep on running.  Thanks for listening to another episode of Above Ground Podcast. Please continue to follow us, share our content and connect with us. Get well, be safe, stay Above.          

Scars can hold us back and keep us stuck. Scars can also act as a catalyst for change and a reminder that we are stronger because we have overcome something. Sharing the stories under your scars might even plant the seed for another to bare their own scars.  Welcome to episode one hundred ninety five of Nippertown’s only mental health podcast from the peerspective. This week we are talking scars. Our title inspired by the GodSmack song of the same title. We all have them, but not all scars are visible at first glance. Scars validate our journey and offer evidence of meaning.  That doesn’t mean that you should share the meaning of your scars with everyone. Not all inquiries require an answer.  You can even have fun with the ones that come with negative feelings or memories by coming up with an interesting anecdote or story of its acquisition.  As humans we need to remember that not everyone is comfortable with their scars, let own facing a barrage of questions about them. This can be a triggering experience for individuals. None of us are in the same place at the same time enough when it comes to talking about our scars. Let’s face it, scars are often trauma induced. We aim to be trauma informed.  Thank you for listening to Above Ground Podcast and supporting mental health awareness, advocacy education. You can find a new episode every Wednesday wherever you pod. Join us at our favorite metaphysical boutique, The Sage's Circle, 443 Saratoga Rd, Glenville NY. Sunday March 12, 2023 at 1pm. This is our monthly Mental Health Peer Meet Up Group. Come be surrounded by others who our having similar experiences. It's confidential, share as much or as little as you like. We can all use support at one time or another. This is a safe space for all to be supported.  Find us at the next Upstate Punk Rock Flea Market on Sunday March 26, 2023 from 11a-5pm at Albany's big city rock club Empire Live. Come down to 93 North Pearl Street Albany, NY 12207;(518)900-5900. Come down and find very cool and unique one of a kind items of the often dark and macabre. Lots of items to check out and people to watch. Get on down and paint your spring with a shade of black.  We appreciate all of your support in the way of shares, likes, follows, and donations. Continue to spread the word that everyone has mental health. It's time to end the stigma and take care of it like it should. Until next week, get well, be safe, stay ABOVE.

In ancient times, Sages were revolutionaries, teachers and healers whose wisdom was sought by those seeking universal truths on how to live well in the world. Divinely inspired philosophers, saints and leaders with a direct and unique knowledge of the Universal/Absolute Truth. Will the circle be unbroken? It will with Sages like Jaime Pawlinga.  Hello and welcome to episode one hundred ninety four of Above Ground Podcast. Our guest this week is the founder of the Sages Circle, Jaime Pawlinga. The Sages Circle is Nippertown’s premier metaphysical boutique and spiritual center located at 443 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY. Offering a variety of products, services, classes and workshops with your wisdom and growth at the heart of it all.  Jaime has come to her wisdom by possessing an unquenchable desire to grow and learn from her spiritual practice. One that started when she was young. As the granddaughter of a pastor, she knew at an early age that a spiritual path needed to be followed. This morphed into being certified in energy healing as a young teenager.  Growing into a healer and a guide. Working in the health care domain as an end of life doula and guiding families through the last, an often most difficult transition, death. Going on to become an EMT and then a FireFighter until health forced yet another shift. Leading Jaime to pursue yoga as a mode of therapy to later becoming a Certified Yoga Teacher.  Jamie has been led to the circle, because she is the circle and that circle will be unbroken.  This Sunday, March 5 at 6pm, come to the Sages Circle for a book signing and discussion of TPP’s new book, Never Underestimate the Power of You. A help yourself book because life is the ultimate DIY project. Come hear Tim discuss and read from the book. Copies will be available for purchase at the event.  Then, Sunday March 26, from 11a-5p, is the next Upstate Punk Rock Flea Market  Empire Live, 93 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY. Vendors from all the dark corners come to fill up the room with unique, macabre, one of a kind jewelry, art, fashion, and creations you won’t find at Crossgates Mall or anywhere else. Come down say hi to Above Ground Podcast and let’s put some black in our spring.  Thank you as always for listening and please continue to visit with us every Wednesday wherever you pod. We cannot do it without you. You can support the show by donating at BuyMeaCoffee/AboveGroundPod. Remember that everyone has mental health and until next Wednesday get well, be safe, stay ABOVE 

Carl Jung suggests we learn the theories and modalities, but not forget that in the end we are dealing with human beings. All the stuff that comes between us in a therapeutic setting especially, between client and provider, can work against the Human Factor. What’s a peer to do?  Welcome to episode one hundred ninety three of Above Ground Podcast. This week the guys discuss the conundrum of dealing with humans in the mental health world. Be it peers, professionals and the dreaded self-anointed know it alls.  It’s clear that in 2023 our human capacities have been taxed beyond what many of us ever believed. The engineering of social media and algorithms have dissected connection and our views of ourselves. This has led us to feel untrusting, unloved and often unlovable.  Thanks for connecting with us. Please follow us on the socials. Subscribe to the pod on your fave platform. If what we provide is helping, you can help us by going to BuyMeACoffee/AboveGroundPod.  Come out Sunday March 5, 2023 at 6pm to our favorite metaphysical boutique and spiritual center aptly named, the Sages Circle. Located at 443 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY. Celebrate and take part in the Never Underestimate the Power of You, book signing and discussion with TPP. Because life is a DIY project and this is a help yourself book. Grab your copy at the event. Sunday March 26, 2023 is the next Upstate Punk Rock Flea Market at Empire Live Albany, NY. 11am-5pm come down to 93 N.Pearl Street Albany, NY 12207 and purchase some one of a kind, cool, and often macabre gifts and jewelry. Artists and creators from all over the Tri-State and New England areas bring their creations for sale. Above Ground Podcast will be there to discuss mental health. Hope to see you there.  Thanks again for listening and for supporting mental health. Find us every Wednesday on Nippertown.com and everywhere you pod. Until next time get well, be safe, stay ABOVE!  

This week Above Ground Podcast is stoked to have as our guest, Sylvester Jenkins the third. Sylvester is known as a Bounce-back Specialist,as well as, Author, Speaker, Husband, Father and Vet. Sylvester's journey would be the definition of resilence. Suffering from low self-esteem and abandonment issues, stemming from not having a male figure in his life, Sylvester found gang life as the closest thing to family.That led him into life on the streets as an early teen and could have ended much differently. You Can't Stop Me is the story of what it takes to grow into the strongest version of self development. "People fake being fine, they don't fake being depressed", says Sylvester. Having feet in different cultures that contain many believing mental illness is a weakness, Sylvester has become a staunch mental health advocate. Sylvester believes that by being better for yourself you are better for everyone else. His ability to overcome every hurdle thrown in his path speaks to the commitment he has to, empower the next generation to rise above their obstacles and unleash their inner-warrior.  Sylvester Jenkins dedicates himself to sharing his life's work and to helping others become the best versions of themselves. Find Sylvester's book, From Combat to Comeback, on Amazon or grab the audio somewhere. Check out Sylvester's YouTube page. Or find him on Facebook and Instagram.  Thanks for listening. Please come out Sunday February 19, 2023 at 1pm to The Sage's Circle,443 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY, for our next Mental Health Meet-up Peer Group. Click the link and go to the Facebook event page. Then Sunday March 5, 2023, will be TPP's Book Discusiion and Signing at 6pm. Please call (518)369-7018 or [email protected] Come out, purchase a book, have it signed and hear some of the wisdom from this help yourself book. Never Underestimate the Power of You, Hope to see you there. Until next week, get well, be safe, stay ABOVE...    

The Battle Royale is on. it’s a mash up of our thoughts, emotions, fears, doubts … all in the same ring. How will you make it out of the ring? Balance? Letting go of the idea of winning? You’re thinking is the main variable in making it to the ring and being the last one standing.  Not letting your thoughts dominate your emotions, not letting the emotions take over the mind and control your actions.  Allow grace, give yourself compassion and remain vigilant throughout. This is the battle of evermore and it will forever carry on, just don't let it take you down for the count.  Welcome to episode one hundred ninety one of Above Ground Podcast. This week Will & TPP throw down in the squared circle of emotion and face the battle of evermore. The emotional mind vs reasonable mind.  Does carrying on that fight cause more dilemmas or will it inspire your solution? Here in lies the strength it takes to don the tights and boots, march down the aisle and step between the turnbuckles. The battles we wage within ourselves often leave us sick in the aftermath. Don't get caught in a figure-four.  If you can find your wise mind you can learn to blend the parts into the whole. There is always the middle path. The non-doing side. By just the right amount of effort it all gets done. We can use our wise mind to help guide us in the fight between emotion and rationale, talk them down and bring them together. In our wise mind we put into action the integration of wisdom and utilize its power to aim us in a non-attached manner toward our wanted outcome. Always keep in mind, does not one battle make an entire war. You will have exercise after exercise in the mind war games. Know this, you are enough. The Sages Circle at Point Plaza, 443 Saratoga Road Glenville, NY is quickly becoming Nippertown’s premier metaphysical boutique and spiritual meeting place.  Sunday February 19, 2023 at 1:00pm is the second Mental Health Meet-up Peer Group. This is a general peer group for mental health conversations. Facilitated by either or both TPP and Will. Our first group drew nine participants. Follow the link or call the Sages Circle at (518)369-7018.  Then Sunday March 5, 2023 at 6:00pm will be a Discussion and Book Signing for Timothy (TPP) Parent and his book, Never Underestimate the Power of You at the Circle. Please call or click the links to register for these events and any other event or service you'd like to have facilitated by Jamie and the Circle.  Thanks for listening to Above Ground Podcast. Until next week when we are joined by Author, Bounce Back Expert, Mental Health Advocate and Retired Army Veteran, Sylvester Jenkins III, we appreciate your support. Get well, be safe, stay ABOVE.

We don’t always recognize that our lived experience has meaning. Meaning to us, yes. But, it can also benefit the betterment of mankind. That’s what peer work is. Using our lived experience to benefit others, should they need it. Chosen Reject , Phillip Fleming knows the power of peer support and hears its music.  This week Above Ground Podcast episode one hundred ninety. We are joined by Phillip Fleming for our first of two innerviews to celebrate Black History month. Phillip is a member of the Board of Directors and a Peer Specialist at Fountain House, an ordained minister, and the Recording Secretary at New York Association of Black Psychologists. Phillip spreads his knowledge and on the way out drops the mic.  Kurt Cobain shouted that the kids were the chosen rejects and when Phillip first heard that, he knew he belonged somewhere. Phillip just needed to find his place. “You’re free to take off the label like you take off a coat!” Says Phillip about the labels that stigma adorns us with. Taking off that coat allowed Phillip to discover who he was and create who he is.  Thanks for listening to this week's episode of Above Ground Podcast. This Saturday, February 4th at 8pm Will Foley is performing at the Fuse Box in Albany, NY. 12 Central Avenue Albany, NY. $10 dollars at the door. In support of Black Belt Jones, Psychomantieum, Same Old Rat. A great heavy rock bill. Will should take the stage just after 8pm. Come support local music.  Sunday March 5th at 6pm the Never Underestimate the Power of You Discussion and Book Signing celebrating the release of Tim's book at The Sage's Circle, 443 Saratoga Road, Glenville NY. We will also be holding another Mental Health Peer Group on Sunday February 19th at 1pm, back at the Sages Circle.  Thanks for listening, get well, be safe, stay Above...  

Missing pieces of the puzzle can cause it all to fall apart.  You can create new puzzle pieces. Connecting the pieces can make a beautiful picture. The displaying of the picture takes epoxy, a frame and care. One misstep can cause the pieces to fall, and when falling to pieces, is it a piece that we are missing or have we put pieces together in the wrong order? This week on episode one hundred eighty nine the guys discuss the pieces of the helping yourself puzzle. Putting yourself back together is a do it yourself, no one is going to save you project. The wisdom to be gained is outside, but integrating it is an inside job. Just like gasoline is only potential power and unless you pour it into a combustion engine it won’t do what it is intended to do.  This we week we also mention the fine art of kintsugi. This technique of repairing broken pottery is an extension of the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, the philosophy of finding the beauty in transience, imperfection and simplicity. This great article from the blog, The Conversation will help you understand.  Some questions to ponder this week; what pieces are you missing? What pieces no longer fit? Is ignorance really bliss when the pieces are falling apart? What do you recognize that no longer fits and are you ready to create new pieces? Does healing ever end? Thanks for listening to episode one hundred eighty nine of Above Ground Podcast. We appreciate you listening . Please support our endeavors by sharing, reviewing and following. You can also support us at these upcoming events.  Saturday February 4, 2023 Will is opening for Black Belt Jones, Psychomanteum, Same Old Rat at the Fuse Box 12 Central Avenue, Albany, NY. Doors at 7pm $10 support local music. No support, no scene.  Sunday March 5, 2023 at the Sages Circle 443 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY Nippertown's premier metaphysical boutique hosts, Timothy ‘TPP’ Parent and his book discussion and signing event at 6pm.  TPP's book, Never Underestimate the Power of You, is a help yourself book because life is a DIY project. Hope to see you out there in support of mental health. Until next week get well, be safe, stay Above.