Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Chaiara Barbera, on air from April 22nd
Join Chiara Barbera as she shares her journey from Australia to the heart of Calabria, where a deep connection to her Italian roots sparked a mission to preserve disappearing traditions. Through her project Vera Italia, Chiara invites travellers to become active participants in sustaining culture—connecting with artisans, farmers, and families whose way of life tells the story of the real Italy. This episode is for anyone seeking more than a postcard-perfect trip—for those who crave meaning, connection, and a chance to help keep Italy’s soul alive, one experience at a time.
Chiara Barbera is the founder of Vera Italia, a mission-driven platform connecting travellers with the true spirit of Italy through cultural and culinary experiences. Born in Brisbane to four Italian grandparents, Chiara grew up surrounded by stories, recipes, and values deeply rooted in her heritage. Her grandparents’ courage to leave Italy in search of a better life laid the foundation for her own journey—a return to the homeland they once left, with the hope of giving something back.
Now dividing her time between Italy and Australia, Chiara begins this journey in Calabria, Italy’s hidden gem, to connect with the Culture Creators—artisans, farmers, cooks, and families—who keep the spirit of Italy alive. Through Vera Italia, she helps others discover the beauty of these traditions, not only to experience them but to ensure they continue for generations to come.
Her work is a love letter to her roots, a calling she believes was guided by faith, and a legacy that she is determined to honour, preserve, and pass on.
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Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air fromApril 23rd
Breathing, something we take for granted until we are short of breath
Breathing, something we all do without a second thought. Inhale. Exhale. The rhythm of life. But the truth is, we don’t often appreciate our breath… until it’s stolen from us by illness, fear, trauma, or time.
When the lungs struggle, everything slows. The body panics. The mind races. Suddenly, each breath becomes a conscious effort, a negotiation between spirit and body, a plea to stay calm, to find space, to survive.
Shortness of breath isn’t just physical; it’s emotional, spiritual. It can feel like life itself is pressing pause, holding you in a moment of vulnerability, reminding you just how sacred breath really is.
That’s why lung health isn’t just a medical issue, it’s a life issue, a soul issue. And it deserves both the brilliance of science and the nurturing hands of nature.
Yes, we need the medicines that open the airways when a crisis hits.
Yes, we need the doctors, the oxygen tanks, the life-saving protocols. But we also need the stillness of mindful breathwork, the soothing comfort of mullein tea, the gentle power of qigong, and the emotional healing that comes from being heard.
Let’s stop seeing lungs as just organs; they are our inner winds, the bellows of our life force. When we care for them medically, holistically, and soulfully, we reclaim the grace of breath and the freedom it brings.
So, breathe in this truth: Every breath is a gift.And with every exhale, you have the power to heal.
Heart and Tree, we are like nature and follow the same path to breathe.
?? What is Croup?
Croup is a viral infection that affects young children (mostly under 5), causing swelling in the upper airways, particularly around the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea).
Key signs of croup:
A barking cough (like a seal)
Hoarseness
Stridor (a high-pitched wheeze when inhaling)
Often worse at night or early morning
Usually comes after a cold or mild fever
It’s contagious and usually caused by viruses like parainfluenza.
Treatment:
Humidified air or steam can help
Cool night air sometimes eases symptoms
In more serious cases, a doctor might prescribe steroids to reduce swelling
? What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the lower airways in the lungs. Asthma can kill and is still doing so today.
Key symptoms:
Wheezing (especially when exhaling)
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Coughing (often worse at night or early morning)
Asthma is triggered by things like allergies, exercise, cold air, stress, or infections.
Treatment:
Inhalers (like Ventolin or corticosteroids)
Long-term management plans
Avoiding triggers
? So, are they alike?
They both involve breathing trouble but:
Croup is a short-term illness, mainly in little ones, and affects the upper airway.
Asthma is a chronic condition, can affect all ages and impacts the lower lungs.
Different roots, different treatments — but they both deserve attention when they show up.
let’s take a soulful stroll through the breath of life — the lungs — and talk not just about the conditions but how both modern medicine and holistic care dance together to bring healing and balance.
?? Common Lung Conditions (Beyond Croup & Asthma)
1. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
A progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. It includes:
Emphysema: Damage to the air sacs (alveoli)
Chronic bronchitis: Constant cough and mucus
Mostly caused by smoking, pollutants, or long-term exposure to irritants.
2. Pneumonia
An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus.
Causes: Bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
3. Pulmonary Fibrosis
The lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred, making it harder to breathe deeply.
Often idiopathic (unknown cause), but can also be linked to environmental exposures or autoimmune conditions.
4. Lung Cancer
The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. One of the most serious lung diseases.
5. Bronchitis
The airways become abnormally widened, leading to build-up of mucus and recurrent infections.
? Medical Drugs: Lifesavers & Lifelong Companions
Modern medicine has its place — no doubt. When things are acute, severe, or life-threatening, it’s often the first responder.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniorsanthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Quantum Spirituality with Sara Troy and her guest Ronald Okuaki Lieber, on air from April 22
His award-winning poetry reveals key messages about identity, belonging, and the human experience, deeply shaped by his upbringing as the child of a Japanese mother and an American Jewish father in a military family. Having moved 14 times in his first 14 years, he developed a unique lens on culture, adaptation, and inner resilience. These themes echo through both his writing and his 24-year career as a psychoanalyst, where listening deeply to others has enriched his understanding of the human psyche. Drawing profound connections between psychoanalysis and poetry, he explores how the unconscious mind and the creative process intertwine, offering insight, healing, and a shared sense of truth.
“Many people who come to see me, as a psychoanalyst, are searching for answers, either in how to live or how to understand the world,” says Lieber. “Some have serious concerns about love, life and purpose, and others feel like something’s not quite right, that something’s missing. The search for how to live life can be aided by psychotherapy, but also by poetry.”
Ronald Okuaki Lieber, born in Tokyo just after World War II to a Japanese mother and a Jewish American soldier father, brings a richly woven cultural perspective to his debut poetry collection, The Long Journey Out, which earned praise from Kirkus Reviews and was a finalist for the North American Poetry Books Award. His poems—finalists in competitions such as The Knightsville Poetry Prize and the New Ohio Review Poetry Contest—have appeared in esteemed journals, including The Nation, American Poetry Review, New England Review, and Seneca Review. Having lived in 14 places by age 14 before settling in Petersburg, Virginia, Lieber’s life has been shaped by constant movement, deep listening, and cross-cultural insight. After earning a BS in Biology and serving in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, he completed an MFA at Columbia and went on to deepen his literary voice through international residencies. In his late 40s, he trained as a psychoanalyst, eventually becoming director and journal editor at the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies. With over 24 years in private practice and experience as a retired English professor and plant medicine guide, Lieber brings a rare and profound depth to both his poetry and his psychoanalytic work, where language, healing, and the unconscious beautifully intersect.
He resides in New York, splitting time between New York City and Copake in the Hudson Valley.
‘Lieber uses small and infinite details to explore the mind in this poetry collection…. A penetrating, measured group of poems exploring wonder, emotion, and the ways the world moves us.”—Kirkus Reviews
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Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy and her guest Paul D Corona, MD, on air from April 15th
Paul D Corona, MD, a Southern California-based physician who is reshaping the future of psychiatry and family medicine? With over 30 years of medical experience, Dr. Corona is not your typical physician. Starting his career in family medicine, he seamlessly transitioned into psychiatry, ultimately pioneering an approach he calls “Mind and Body Healing.”
Dr. Corona has authored three books in his “My Mind & Body Healing” series, offering revolutionary insights into the treatment of mental health and challenging conventional methods that have been stagnant for decades.
Are you tired of one-size-fits-all mental health solutions? Dr. Corona offers an unconventional yet tried-and-true approach to psychiatry, which includes the off-label use of medications, combined treatment methods, and aggressive strategies that get results. Above all, he believes that mental health treatment is not about quick fixes but a carefully calibrated balance that leads to holistic healing.
In an insightful interview, Dr. Corona sheds light on what makes his treatment methods revolutionary in the realm of psychiatry, offering a refreshing divergence from traditional models. Central to his practice is Mind Body Medicine, a holistic approach that acknowledges the profound interconnection between physical health and mental well-being. He challenges the conventional psychiatric model, questioning its dependency on symptom-based diagnoses and long-term pharmaceutical solutions, advocating instead for root-cause healing. Known for embracing the off-label use of medications, Dr. Corona sees this as a practical necessity rather than an anomaly, emphasizing real-world patient results over rigid protocols. With a foundation in family medicine, he brings a unique perspective to psychiatry, understanding the body as a whole system and often identifying underlying medical conditions that manifest as mental health issues. He also explores the role of supplements and complementary therapies, cutting through the commercial noise to highlight what truly supports recovery. In an age increasingly attuned to holistic health, Dr. Corona’s methods align with modern wellness trends while remaining grounded in science and compassion. Lastly, he boldly addresses the societal implications of mental health, arguing that early and integrative intervention in psychiatry could help curb crises like school shootings and suicides, underscoring the need for proactive, not reactive, care.
Dr. Paul D. Corona, MD, is a Southern California-based physician reshaping the future of psychiatry and family medicine with his pioneering approach, “Mind and Body Healing.” He is the host of The Dr. Paul Show, available on Roku, Amazon Fire, and YouTube. A leading voice in mind-body medicine, his latest book, The Corona Protocol: A Scientifically Proven Medical Solution to STOP Addiction, Bullying, Homelessness, School Shootings, and Suicide 30 Years in the Making, is available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats. Dr. Corona unveils groundbreaking insights into mental health treatment, challenging conventional approaches that have stagnated progress.
With a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Corona began in family medicine before transitioning to psychiatry—a shift that led to the development of the “Healing the Mind and Body” series of books. His holistic approach integrates emotional and physical well-being, offering an innovative alternative to traditional psychiatric treatments. The Corona Protocol presents his revolutionary methods as solutions to major societal challenges and serves as a resource for patients, families, and healthcare professionals alike.
A Southern California native, Dr. Corona earned his BS in Biology/Pre-Med from the University of Southern California before obtaining his medical degree from New York Medical College. He completed a rigorous three-year residency in family practice at California Hospital in Los Angeles. Today, he runs a private practice in Laguna Niguel, California.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
Nature of Addictions with Sara Troy and her guest Ian Fee, on air from April 16th
My wild ride to sobriety, from Drunken oblivion to profound clarity.
“I was the life of the party when I was drunk, and I’m still the life of the party today.” —Ian Fee
Buying into the myth of the “work hard, play harder” mentality, Ian Fee immersed himself in a culture that celebrated excessive drinking. But as the days turned into years, alcohol became more than just a means of entertainment and high finance; it became a destructive force that eroded his personal relationships, wreaked havoc on his body, and clouded his judgment.
In Wild Ride to Sobriety, Fee tells a remarkable tale of a man who found the courage and determination to face the skeletons in his closet and achieve healing and personal growth. From therapy and self-reflection to embracing vulnerability and restoration, he made a conscious choice to benefit from the gift of sobriety without sacrificing the enjoyment of life.
I wrote a book to make a positive impact on others to be a better husband, mother, son, daughter, business owner, and friend. My experience of thinking booze was my superpower building my business, while neglecting my family coupled with 2 failed marriages. I found sobriety 7 years ago, and boy was it a game changer for life, Business, Relationships and most importantly, ME. I have lost 80lbs, found health and wellness as my new addiction, and aim to be a better person every day. I live every day to make a positive impact on people and bring epic positive Energy to the people around me. My new superpower is to share my story and make an impact on others on the benefits of sobriety, health, mindset, stack baby wins, nothing good came out of drinking NOTHING. The power of looking inward and forgiving your younger self, believing in your current self and creating your future self.
I’m a fellow Canadian. I was born in New Westminster, then moved to Bellingham till I was 12.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support. Thank you. Please support Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.
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