Kathy Mangan

Episode 34: Episode 34: Regulating Your Nervous System

August 29th, 2025  |  22 mins 31 secs

breathing exercises, chiropractic care, nervous system

In this episode, Kathy speaks with Dr. Nico Smith of BetterRoots Family Chiropractic in Missoula. Topics include the importance of regulating the nervous system and vagal tone. Dr. Nico also shares a helpful technique he calls the "360 Breath."

Episode 33: How to Reframe Your Bad Days

July 8th, 2025  |  27 mins 29 secs

anne martin, breathwork, emotional release, hypnotherapy, integrative trauma, kathleen managan, mental release, mindfulness, neuro-linguistic programming, overthinking, perception, post-traumatic growth, red willow learning center, stress, trauma, unconscious mind, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Anne Martin is an integrative trauma coach who specializes in working with first responders as well as motivated individuals looking to do better in their careers, their relationships, and in communications. She's trained in hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming, breathwork, and mental and emotional release. Her focus is to collaborate with clients and groups to create positive transformational changes to develop fulfillment, richness, and trust.

Episode 32: Why Change Is Hard

June 27th, 2025  |  28 mins 34 secs

anxiety, behavioral therapy, clinical hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, forgiveness, kathleen managan, mindfulness, overthinking, perception, red willow learning center, unconscious mind, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Betty Higgins has over 30 years of experience in business management, teaching, and coaching. She is a registered behavioral therapist, a master Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner, and is certified as a clinical hypnotherapist, cognitive behavioral therapist, as well as a life coach. Betty is also certified as an energy system practitioner for the last 20 years. Betty has had a private practice in Missoula, Montana.

Episode 31: Gardening—Nourishing Mind, Body & Soul

May 13th, 2025  |  27 mins 43 secs

connection, emotional health, farm ecology, farming, gardening, grief, kathleen managan, mental health, natural world, nature, philosophy, psychology, red willow learning center, resiliance, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Greg Price has degrees in philosophy and psychology and has been the River Road Farm Director for Garden City Harvest for 24 years. In addition to farming, he teaches classes on soil health, farm ecology, and farming/gardening best practices. He also has taught naturalist classes centered around bear ecology throughout western Montana.

Episode 30: The Power of the Present Moment

April 15th, 2025  |  28 mins 53 secs

bilateral stimulation, clinical mental health, emotional regulation, intentionality, jen racicot, kathleen managan, mental wellness, mindfulness, present moment, red willow learning center, somatic awareness, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Jen Racicot is a nationally certified counselor with her master's in clinical mental health from the University of Montana. Jen's life experiences as a fifth-generation non-Indigenous Montanan have been infused in teaching, service, and advocacy in Montana for over 20 years. She has worked with ages 3 through 70, counseling and traveling as a speaker and leading workshops on mental wellness. For more information on Jen's work, you can visit her website, at https://jenracicot.com/.

Episode 29: Mindfulness in Nature

March 20th, 2025  |  21 mins 43 secs

christine lustik, connection, grounding, kathleen managan, meditation, mindfulness, nature, red willow learning center, reflection, self-awareness, university of montana, vagal nerve, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Christine Lustik is a leadership coach and leadership development specialist focused on guiding authentic, caring, productive, and confident people managers. After earning her PhD, Christine focused on developing her own self-awareness. She obtained two mindfulness teacher certifications, including one from an organization called Awake in the Wild, which certifies teachers to guide mindfulness in nature classes and retreats. Christine has a labyrinth outside of Missoula where she offers retreats. For more information on Christine's work, you can visit her website, Mindfulness Organizations, at https://www.mindfulnessinorganizations.com.

Episode 28: Utilizing the Power of Plant Medicine

February 21st, 2025  |  25 mins 3 secs

adaptogens, elaine sheff, essential oils, green path herb school, herbalist, herbs, kathleen managan, nervines, plant medicine, red willow learning center, tea, university of montana, western montana ahec, wmt ahec

Elaine Sheff, a clinical herbalist and author of several books on herbal medicine and healing, has been passionate about sharing herbal knowledge for over 30 years. She is the co-director of Greenpath Herb School in Missoula, Montana, where she inspires and empowers students and clients to reconnect with the earth, plants, and their own healing journey. A professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, Elaine teaches workshops and speaks at conferences both nationally and internationally.

Episode 27: Balance in the Natural World Through Ayurveda

December 11th, 2024  |  30 mins 33 secs

ayurveda, ayurvedic medicine, balance, dosha, holistic medicine, kathy mangan, laura marx, nutrition, self-care, university of montana, western medicine, wmt ahec

Laura Marx has been a family nurse practitioner for 40 years and has a part-time private practice in Missoula. She has also been an assistant clinical professor for the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing for Montana State University. She teaches psychosocial concepts and health promotion. Laura knew from early in her career that the Western model of medicine was lacking in a holistic approach and sought to become more integrative both in her practice and her teaching. In 2011, Laura studied at the Mount Madonna College of Ayurveda to become an Ayurvedic wellness consultant. She found that this oldest and time-honored medical model gave her a new perspective in our relationship to health and nature.

Episode 26: Finding Compassion During Climate Distress

November 4th, 2024  |  25 mins 22 secs

climate distress, climate issues, climate psychology, eco-anxiety, eco-harmonious lifestyle, kathy mangan, nature and nurture, resiliency practices, sarah aronson, university of montana, wmt ahec

Sarah Aronson was mothered by the landscape of Southeast Alaska at the toe of the Mendenhall Glacier. She maintains a climate-aware psychotherapy practice as a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. She holds an MFA from the University of Montana and her debut collection of poetry and other bodiless powers won the 2018 New American Poetry Prize. Sarah is also a host and producer for the Montana Public Radio, home to her most recent project, Health and Mother Earth.

Episode 25: In Pursuit of Happiness

September 18th, 2024  |  33 mins 28 secs

happiness, john sommers-flanagan, kathy mangan, mental health, montana happiness project, university of montana, wmt ahec

John Sommers-Flanagan is a Professor of Counseling at the University of Montana. He is a clinical psychologist and the author or co-author of over 100 publications, including nine books and many professional training videos. John has published many newspaper columns, and op-ed pieces, including articles in Psychotherapy Networker, Counseling Today, and Slate Magazine. You can learn more about John's latest venture, The Montana Happiness Project, at www.montanahappinessproject.com

Episode 24: Unspoken Heroes: The Neurovascular Points

August 9th, 2024  |  34 mins 50 secs

eden energy medicine, innersource, kathleen mangan, neurovascular, susan stone, university of montana, wmt ahec

Susan Stone is a senior faculty member for the Eden Method and is in her 16th year of teaching for Innersource. She brings to her students and patients an extensive 47 years in holistic health. She is an acupuncturist, nutritionist, and an Advanced Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner. Susan's unique approach delves into the causative factors of imbalances and her gentle but laser-like modalities can allow for rapid change to occur.

Episode 23: The Social Resilience Model

July 12th, 2024  |  37 mins 7 secs

all things vagus, kathy mangan, mental health, red willow learning center, social resilience, therapy, threshold global works

Laurie Leitch has been a practicing psychotherapist, clinical trainer, consultant, and researcher for over 25 years. She is the founder and director of Threshold Global Works, established in 2011. Threshold Global Works is dedicated to cultivating and enhancing natural resilience within communities, organizations, and individuals using the neuroscience-based Social Resilience Model. If you are interested in learning more about Laurie's work you can find her website below:
https://www.thresholdglobalworks.com/

Episode 22: The Alexander Technique

June 12th, 2024  |  31 mins 32 secs

alexander technique, health and wellness, kathy mangan, mari hodges, mobility, pain management, therapeutic, therapy

Mari Hodges is a certified Alexander Technique teacher and pain management specialist. She has a therapeutic pain specialist certificate and a Master of Science in Medicine and Pain Management. She is passionate about empowering people to enhance mobility and performance. Mari also loves helping people discover personal transformation and increase of freedom of movement by changing long-standing habits of posture, movement, and thought. Mari is based in Missoula and is available for individual coaching by appointment. For more information about Mari and the Alexander Technique visit her website: https://marihodges.com/alexander/

Episode 21: Taking Yoga Off The Mat

May 3rd, 2024  |  21 mins 57 secs

julie mackiewicz, kathy mangan, meditation, red willow learning center, therapy, yoga

Julie Mackiewicz attended her first yoga class in 2001 and has been on this journey ever since. She completed her first teacher training in 2007 and began teaching that same year. For the past 15-plus years, she has continued on the concurrent paths of student and teacher, completing further training continually. Immersing herself in learning and sharing her deepening, expanding, and evolving understanding and experiences as a teacher. It is the unending depth and breadth of yogic studies that entices and inspires her to continue on this journey and experience the unfolding and uncovering of ourselves.

If you're interested in reaching out to Julie, her information can be found below:
Website: https://juliemackiewicz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemackiewicz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.mackiewicz.9/

Episode 20: Open To Grace

March 28th, 2024  |  22 mins 21 secs

healing, julie rae o'connor, kathy mangan, mental health, therapy, yoga, yoga therapy

Julie Rae OConnor began teaching yoga in Missoula, Montana in 2000 at the request of her then employer and friends. She teaches individual and group yoga classes. Julie Rae is a Registered Yoga Teacher and Licensed Massage Therapist practicing myriad modalities. Traditional Thai Medical Massage, CranioSacral Therapy, Structural Integration, Reiki, and yoga are present in a session. Julie Rae earned a BFA in Drama with an emphasis in Acting at the University of Montana. The essence of acting is keen listening, observation and honestly responding. Awareness, self-observation, and reflection inspire action and practice with dedication. Julie Rae is passionate about sharing self-care practices with her hamlet through her business and with her tango dance community.

Episode 19: The Healing Powers of Sound

February 6th, 2024  |  25 mins 40 secs

arwen kittelson-aldred, healing, kathy mangan, mental health, music therapy, musical healing, red willow learning center, sound therapy, therapy

Arwen Kittelson-Aldred is a trained instructor of Kundalini Yoga and meditation as taught by Yogi Bhajan. She is also a classically trained musician and brings her skills to sound therapeutic practices and workshops. Arwen is currently at work earning her Master's in Social Work.

To learn more about Arwen and her practice visit: https://www.arweniansoundscapes.com/