It's Your Life Podcast

Hosted by Salem San Diego

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Episodes

633

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

It's Your Life with Dr. James JC Cooley a motivational speaker here to equip you to strive for greatness and overcome adversity. Life is a series of circles and cycles, phases, and stages. These are the experiences that teach you the lessons of life. You can either ignore them or EMBRACE them. Dr. Cooley offers motivation and inspiration for life's challenges. Catch up on the podcast and listen to It's Your Life on The Answer in Dallas or San Diego, on Salem Radio Networks. For more about James Cooley and how you can support the show or become a guest visit www.CooleyFoundation.org .

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 31, 202651 min

360° Health: Human Flourish

This inspiring conversation with Linda Roszak Burton, President of DRW Coaching , explores the concept of Human Flourishing and how gratitude can serve as a powerful foundation for living a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Linda examines four essential elements of flourishing— self-awareness, environmental stability, fundamental beliefs, and purpose and meaning —revealing how gratitude connects and strengthens each one. From helping us become more intentional about what we notice, to building stronger relationships, shaping healthier beliefs, and providing daily evidence of meaning and purpose, this conversation demonstrates how the intentional practice of gratitude can help us grow, connect, become more resilient, and ultimately flourish in both our personal and professional lives. Linda Roszak Burton , NBC-HWC, ACC, BBC, BS, is President of DRW Coaching. Linda is an executive and a national board-certified health and well-being coach, an academic researcher, an author and a public speaker. As a coach, she is committed to bringing strength-based coaching methodologies to her clients—grounded in cutting-edge research and evidence-based practices in neuroscience, positive psychology, and gratitude—while enhancing a leader's capacity to sustain their skills in high-stakes environments. As an academic researcher, her international studies include gratitude interventions to support stress management, mental health, employee engagement and meaningfulness of work. Linda is a credentialed executive coach through the International Coach Federation, a National Board Certified Health and Well-being Coach (NBC-HWC), a certified Brain-Based Coach through the NeuroLeadership Institute, a certified Positive Psychology-Based Health and Well-Being Coach through the College of Executive Coaching, and a Charter Member of A Loving Organization. A member of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School Affiliate, she holds a B.S. in Health Education from Virginia Tech and has completed coursework pursuing an M.S. in Conflict Management at the University of Baltimore. Linda is the author of Gratitude Heals ® - A Journal for Inspiration and Guidance (Available on Amazon) . Additionally, her Great Mills TEDx Talk on Gratitude- The Power to Heal the World was released in December 2022. Linda has been a regular contributor to the Wharton Healthcare Quarterly on the science of gratitude since 2017. Website www.drwcoaching.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaroszakburton/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_lroszakburton/ View recent videos , Is Gratitude Really Transformational? Is Gratitude Enough? Website www.drwcoaching.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaroszakburton/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_lroszakburton/ X https://x.com/lrburton https://www.facebook.com/Img4Lburton Medium https://medium.com/@lburton_32567 Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 31, 202651 min

The Body As We Age: Exercise, Nutrition, and the Changes We Can’t Ignore

This conversation takes an honest and personal look at how our bodies change as we get older and how those changes can affect nearly every aspect of our lives, including exercise, nutrition, sleep, energy, and mental and emotional well-being. Adjusting physical activities, changing eating habits, managing aches and pains, recognizing new limitations, and dealing with injuries or health conditions that may take longer to heal. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the importance of listening to our bodies, adapting our lifestyles, taking preventive health seriously, and making thoughtful choices today that can help us remain active, independent, and healthy throughout every stage of life. Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 10, 202652 min

360° Health: The Future of Medicine Why Health Begins Long Before Disease

This conversation with Dr. David Lai explores the evolving future of healthcare by examining why modern medicine is highly effective at treating disease yet often falls short in measuring and promoting true health. Drawing on evidence-based functional medicine, global health experience, and advances in precision medicine, Dr. Lai discusses the early biological changes that precede chronic illness, the critical roles of mitochondria, metabolic health, inflammation, and the gut microbiome, and how chronic stress and burnout affect long-term well-being. He also shares insights into healthy aging, the promise of biomarkers and artificial intelligence in clinical practice, and why prevention and building resilience should begin decades before disease becomes clinically apparent. Dr. David Lai Biography Dr. David Lai is a Canadian Physician, former World Health Organization medical officer, and Founder of Tao Functional Health. Over the past two decades, he has worked across humanitarian emergencies, public health, and clinical medicine, serving communities in countries including Afghanistan, Palestine, and South Sudan. Today, his work focuses on bridging evidence-based medicine, systems biology, and personalized care to better understand why chronic diseases often develop long before symptoms appear. Through clinical practice, education, and writing, he advocates for a more proactive model of healthcare that emphasizes prevention, resilience, and healthy aging. Website & Social Media Website: https://www.taofunctionalhealth.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lai-1467422ab/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@taofunctional Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 3, 202642 min

360° Health: The Somatic Gap: Why Knowing is Not Enough

Explore the disconnect between knowing what supports health and actually being able to do it. Discuss how the nervous system, rather than a lack of motivation, often determines whether healthy behaviors feel possible. S haron Plaché Biography Sharon Plaché is a Doctoral Scholar in Lifestyle Medicine Education, health promotion, trauma-informed care, and behavioral change at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. With an MSc in Integrative Health and Lifestyle Medicine from Point Loma Nazarene, Sharon has provided quality, holistic somatic and trauma-informed health education coaching, and bodywork in San Diego since 1989. Sharon is a Diplomate of ACLM; Certified Health and Wellness Coach/NBC-HWC; SEP - Somatic Experiencing Practitioner; Amen Clinic Certified Brain Health Coach; Havening® & BrainSpotting® Practitioner; HeartMath® Trainer, Mentor & Intervention Practitioner; NARM and Neuro Affective Touch Practitioner and Instructor in NLP, MER® & Hypnosis. Coming from a background in ballet training and yoga practice, Sharon has a strong understanding of human anatomy and physiology. In addition, she can support the balance of the muscular system, mind/body integration, and energetic principles that govern health and well-being. Each session is unique and tailored to the individual's current needs. Each session focuses on creating the most beneficial outcome possible by using popular models of lifestyle medicine, health coaching, and somatic therapies. Her practice aims to continue providing quality therapeutic support to San Diego and its extended communities. Websites/Social Media www.SharonPlache.com www.facebook.com/SharonPlache1 https://www.instagram.com/sharonplache/ www.linkedin.com/in/sharonplache http://members.nbhwc.org/member/SharonPlache https://certified.heartmath.com/user/sharon-plaché-1/ www.lifecoachmatch.com/user/sharonplache/ www.youtube.com/user/sharonplache https://certified.heartmath.com/user/sharon-plaché/ www.sharonplache.yelp.com www.profiles.goggle.com/sharonplache Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 3, 202652 min

360° Health - The Badass Path to Health: Emotional Honesty, Awe, and a More Fully Lived Life

Tina Bernard, founder of Badass Arts , joins us to explore "The Badass Path to Health: Emotional Honesty, Awe, and a More Fully Lived Life." In this inspiring conversation, she shares how embracing emotional honesty, cultivating moments of awe, and expressing ourselves through creativity can lead to deeper healing, resilience, and authentic well-being. Tina discusses how facing our emotions instead of avoiding them allows us to live with greater purpose, stronger relationships, and renewed joy, demonstrating that true health is about nurturing the mind, body, and spirit while courageously living a life that is both meaningful and fully alive. Tina Bernard Biography Tina Bernard is the founder of The Badass Arts, a platform helping women bridge the gap between what they know and how they live. Through speaking, curated salons, and transformational experiences, she explores emotional honesty, self-trust, purpose, and the patterns that keep women from living fully. Her work blends storytelling, practical insight, and original concepts such as Bigly Feels™ and Radical AWEpreciation. Tina is also an author, speaker, and 2026 Athena Leadership Award Nominee and a 2026 Global Recognition Award recipient. Website https://www.thebadassarts.com/ Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 29, 202642 min

360° Health: The Somatic Gap: Why Knowing is Not Enough

Summary Explore the disconnect between knowing what supports health and actually being able to do it. Discuss how the nervous system, rather than a lack of motivation, often determines whether healthy behaviors feel possible. Sharon Plaché Biography Sharon Plaché is a Doctoral Scholar in Lifestyle Medicine Education, health promotion, trauma-informed care, and behavioral change at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. With an MSc in Integrative Health and Lifestyle Medicine from Point Loma Nazarene, Sharon has provided quality, holistic somatic and trauma-informed health education coaching, and bodywork in San Diego since 1989. Sharon is a Diplomate of ACLM; Certified Health and Wellness Coach/NBC-HWC; SEP - Somatic Experiencing Practitioner; Amen Clinic Certified Brain Health Coach; Havening® & BrainSpotting® Practitioner; HeartMath® Trainer, Mentor & Intervention Practitioner; NARM and Neuro Affective Touch Practitioner and Instructor in NLP, MER® & Hypnosis. Coming from a background in ballet training and yoga practice, Sharon has a strong understanding of human anatomy and physiology. In addition, she can support the balance of the muscular system, mind/body integration, and energetic principles that govern health and well-being. Each session is unique and tailored to the individual's current needs. Each session focuses on creating the most beneficial outcome possible by using popular models of lifestyle medicine, health coaching, and somatic therapies. Her practice aims to continue providing quality therapeutic support to San Diego and its extended communities. Websites/Social Media www.SharonPlache.com www.facebook.com/SharonPlache1 https://www.instagram.com/sharonplache/ www.linkedin.com/in/sharonplache http://members.nbhwc.org/member/SharonPlache https://certified.heartmath.com/user/sharon-plaché-1/ www.lifecoachmatch.com/user/sharonplache/ www.youtube.com/user/sharonplache https://certified.heartmath.com/user/sharon-plaché/ www.sharonplache.yelp.com profiles.goggle.com/sharonplache Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 27, 202652 min

360° Health: Obesity Care at the Intersection of Lifestyle Medicine, Science, and Compassion

This discussion explores how new obesity medications are transforming the landscape of obesity care while highlighting the growing importance of understanding the science behind obesity as a complex, chronic condition. As medical treatments continue to advance, lived experiences remind us that medication alone is not the complete answer; lifestyle medicine, individualized care, and compassion remain essential. By examining the intersection of emerging treatments, scientific knowledge, healthy lifestyle practices, and the real-world experiences of people living with obesity, we can better understand how to create a more effective, supportive, and comprehensive approach to long-term health and well-being. Ted Kyle Biography Ted Kyle is a pharmacist and healthcare innovator living in Pittsburgh. He's also a tireless advocate for people living with obesity. His widely-read daily commentary, published at Conscienhealth.org, reaches a diverse audience of thought leaders in health and obesity. His peer-reviewed publications focus on obesity, weight bias, and health policy. Websites & Social · conscienhealth.org/news · X: conscienhealth · Facebook: ConscienHealth · LinkedIn: ConscienHealth · Instagram: Conscienhealth · Bluesky: conscienhealth.bsky.social Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 13, 202652 min

360° Health- Beyond the Illness Model: Reclaiming Mental Health from the System

This conversation explores a fundamental question: are we approaching mental health in the most effective way? It examines what mental health truly means beyond diagnostic labels, the distinction between normal human suffering and mental illness, the influence of life experiences, relationships, and environment on emotional well-being, and the evidence surrounding current treatment approaches. It also considers how cultural, institutional, and economic forces shape mental health care, while challenging listeners to think about resilience, recovery, personal responsibility, and the importance of helping people build meaningful, fulfilling lives—not simply reduce symptoms or acquire diagnoses. Dr. Roger McFillin Biography Dr. Roger McFillin is a Board-certified Clinical Psychologist and one of the most prominent independent voices challenging the psychiatric and mental-health industrial complex. As Executive Director of the Center for Integrated Behavioral Health and founder of the nonprofit Conscious Clinician Collective, he has spent two decades building the clinical credibility that makes his public challenge to the system impossible to dismiss. A spiritual awakening in 2020 transformed the way he worked with clients and drew him toward post-materialist science. One of only two psychologists selected as an expert panelist at an FDA forum on SSRIs during pregnancy, he has become a Substack bestseller in health politics and one of the fastest-growing independent voices in the space, trusted precisely because he speaks from inside the field he critiques. He is also the host of the Radically Genuine Podcast, which ranks in the top 0.5% of podcasts globally. Social Media https://www.instagram.com/radicallygenuine Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 6, 202651 min

360° Health: HOW FINANCIAL WELL BEING CONNECTS TO MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

This conversation explores the powerful connection between financial health and mental well-being, emphasizing that true financial security is about far more than income or investment returns. It examines how mindset, daily habits, emotional decision-making, and financial clarity influence stress, relationships, retirement planning, and overall quality of life. The discussion also highlights the psychological barriers that prevent people from making sound financial choices, the importance of developing healthy money habits across generations, and how practical strategies—such as those outlined in Retirement Saving Success: Three Simple Steps —can help individuals achieve greater confidence, peace of mind, and long-term financial wellness. Leonard Wright Biography Leonard has been delivering Retirement Plan Solutions for businesses for 37 years. Over the last 29 years, Leonard has been implementing three layers of the Retirement Plan Cake as a Retirement Plan Specialist at his offices in San Diego with qualified business owners, and other small business retirement plans like SIMPLE IRAs, SEPs, and works with the State of California on the important aspects of State Facilitated IRA Programs for employers who don’t currently offer a company sponsored Retirement Plan. Leonard's first book for Participants in Retirement Plans will be available on Amazon October 01, 2025, Retirement Saving Success, Three Simple Steps. His second book for business owners, Retirement Plan Success, will be available in the second half of 2026. Leonard implemented his first 401 (k) plan as a CFO in one of America’s top jewelry companies, which included America's first jeweler established in 1810 in Manhattan, Black Starr & Frost, in 1988, and again in a 31-point health care company in 1992. Leonard started his firm in 1996, where his practice has been primarily in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York. Leonard has served the accounting profession through the Association of International of Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), and California Society of CPAs. For the AICPA, Leonard is the current chair of the Personal Financial Planning Executive Committee, the past chair of the Member Retirement Plan committee, and has served on the PFS Credentialling Committee, the PFP Executive Committee, and the Financial Literacy Commission, where he worked on a three-person task force with the American Red Cross and National Endowment for Financial Education to highlight the importance of disaster planning in your community in the creation of the Disasters and Financial Planning - A Guide for Preparedness and Recovery which Leonard co-authored through the AICPA. For the California Society of CPAs, Leonard co-chaired the business committee and worked with the California Treasurer's office during the development of the State IRA program for business owners who do not currently offer retirement plans. As part of the communications to the accounting profession, Leonard developed a symposium working with the treasurer's office in Oregon, Illinois, and California, as well as the past head of the PBGC, The Honorable Jonathan Gotbaum, and Angela Antonelli, the CEO of the Center for Retirement Initiatives. Leonard's favorite time in Las Vegas is a 7-year period where he and two other CPAs were co-hosts of Financial Fridays, first at KMZQ, broadcasting live on the SWIM show from the Las Vegas Strip for about 2 1/2 years, and then from the second oldest radio station in Las Vegas, for nearly five years at KLAV. The featured guests every Friday were America's top CPAs from California, Nevada, and across the country, as well as North America's top business leaders. Leonard has been quoted in financial media across America and at the BBC, interviewed on radio and television, and is a current freelance journalist at Rethinking65, and has been quoted widely in a variety of financial press in America and for the BBC. Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 29, 202651 min

Ageism & Loneliness

Dr. Eric Shapira highlights how ageism can contribute to loneliness among older adults by fostering stereotypes that diminish their value, independence, and social connections. He emphasizes that compassionate healthcare goes beyond treating medical conditions; it involves listening attentively, respecting each person's dignity, and recognizing the emotional and social challenges that often accompany aging. By practicing empathy, building meaningful relationships with patients, and addressing loneliness as a health concern, healthcare professionals can help improve both the well-being and quality of life of older adults. Dr. Eric Shapira Biography Dr. Eric Shapira was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Bethany College in West Virginia. Dr. Shapira went to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia and had a medical and dental residency at Mt. Zion Hospital and Medical Center in San Francisco. He met and married Susan and they are still running strong after 45 years of marriage! He received a master’s degree in clinical Gerontology from Notre Dame de Namur University and a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Shapira holds a master’s in general Dentistry as well. He had his own private practice in Dentistry in Half Moon Bay, CA for 40 years. He now works per diem in dentistry and has a practice in gerontology and geriatrics named Aging Specialists, Inc, for over 20 years. Dr. Shapira teaches geriatric and special needs dentistry. He worked as a volunteer in China from 2007 to 2018 at the behest of the Chinese government, the US Dept of State and Commerce Department through a non-profit agency. Dr. Shapira taught geriatric medicine, dentistry, nursing, and hospital administration. He was presented with the Chinese Friendship award in 2014, the highest award for Humanitarian service they give. He holds Rotary’s highest Award for Meritorious Service and is many times over a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr. Shapira has volunteered all over the world in almost 50 years of being a Rotarian. He has published three books: A book on healthy aging named, “ A New Wrinkle: What I Learned from Older People Who Never Acted Their Age ,” recently after 2 ½ years , A 60-year retrospective titled, “ The Art of Eric Z Shapira, ” and most recently. A textbook, after almost 4 years of writing and editing, “ Geriatric Dentistry: Gateway to Longevity and Life-Long Health .” This book will be printed in 7-8 languages. But his greatest honor in life is to give his “gifts” away…. Website https://agingmentorservices.com/services Social Media Channel https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-shapira-28769932/ Support the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.