Episodes

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Shanthi Appelö, registered dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they explore the benefits of summer fruits across the state of Michigan. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Fruit that is in season and the benefits of them Tips for u-pick farms Strategic ways to get your daily serving of fruit Ways to make your fresh fruit last longer

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Dr. William Beecroft, Medical Director of Behavioral Health for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. Together, they discuss how being near a body of water can benefit our mental health. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Why water has a calming effect on the mind What mental health benefits are associated with spending time near water How individuals can incorporate regular exposure to water into their...

In the upcoming episodes, we'll feature conversations from the Mackinac Policy Conference, which centers around the theme "Bridging the Future Together." This theme invites dialogue on inspiring collaboration across divides and addresses key issues for Michigan’s future, including business growth, education, infrastructure, innovation, and equity. We’re continuing our conversations with conference attendees and hope you enjoy these bonus episodes. On part 3 of this series, we’ll be focusing on ...

In the upcoming episodes, we'll feature conversations from the Mackinac Policy Conference, which centers around the theme "Bridging the Future Together." This theme invites dialogue on inspiring collaboration across divides and addresses key issues for Michigan’s future, including business growth, education, infrastructure, innovation, and equity. We’re continuing our conversations with conference attendees and hope you enjoy these bonus episodes. On part 2 of this series, we’ll be focusing on ...

For the next few episodes, we’ll be bringing you conversations from the Mackinac Policy Conference. This year, the conference is focusing on “Bridging the Future Together”, which will invite dialogue among speakers and attendees on ways leaders will inspire radical collaboration across divides. With focus on the greatest issues and opportunities in Michigan, the concept of “Bridging the Future Together” will cover key themes critical to Michigan’s future including attracting businesses and jobs,...

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Sydney Lipsey, Manager of Behavioral Health Strategy and Planning for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss ways manifestation may affect your wellbeing. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: How manifestation is viewed and defined Differences between manifestation and positive thinking How to approach practicing manifestation

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Shanthi Appelö, registered dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss how certain food pairings can help increase nutrient absorption. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Why certain food pairings benefit our health Food combinations that are better for nutrient absorption Misconceptions about pairing foods How often you should be utilizing food pairings to help nutrient absorption

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Angela Moore, NASM Master Trainer & Fitness Nutrition Specialist. Together, they discuss better ways tackle your to-do list. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: How effective to-do lists can positively impact your wellbeing Aspects of creating an effective to-do list Tools to help streamline to-do lists Strategies to help prevent to-do lists from becoming overwhelming For more info on Angela Moore, visit Angela T. Moore (...

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Shanthi Appelö, registered dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss ways we can snack smarter on the go. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: What to consider when choosing snacks Common mistakes when snacking and how to avoid them Tips for navigating portion sizes Effective strategies for navigating smarter snacking habits

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Dr. Angela Seabright, Care Management Physician for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss whether or not sleep aids promote better sleep. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Common difficulties achieving restful sleep Commonly recommended sleep aids "Sleep cocktails" and if they're effective How natural sleeps aids play within a broader approach to sleep

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Dr. Angela Seabright, Care Management Physician for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss the benefits of power naps. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Optimal duration of power naps Primary benefits Potential long-term health benefits Practical tips for taking a successful power nap

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Dr. Kristyn Gregory, Medical Director of Behavioral Health for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss ways positive self-talk can be beneficial to stress reduction. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: The physical and mental connection between positive-self talk and stress reduction Practical techniques to incorporate positive self-talk into their daily routines Common challenges people face when adoptin...

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Maddie Yaw, Nutritionist, MPH. Together, they discuss ways we can stock our cupboards with heart healthy foods. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: How a well-stocked cupboard contributes to maintaining good heart health Key staples we should make priority to better our heart health How we can balance convenience and eating healthy Practical tips to revamp our kitchen cupboards to better impact our health

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Mallory Applewhite, Vice President of Community Impact for the American Heart Association. Together, they discuss what numbers you should be focusing on to maintain a healthy heart. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Specific numbers we should prioritize for optimal heart health Everyday things we do that impact our heart health unbeknownst to us How to approach lifestyle changes to address and improve our numbers How to ...

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Ann Marie Wakula, certified personal trainer and macro nutrition coach. Together, they discuss things you should look for when choosing a workout routine. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Elements that make a well-rounded fitness plan Key factors to consider when choosing an exercise routine Ways to stay consistent with a workout routine You can learn more about Ann Marie at her website, or Instagram page.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Angela Moore, NASM Master Trainer & Fitness Nutrition Specialist. Together, they discuss reasons why you should consider not making a New Year's resolution this year. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Why resolutions are flawed What we should focus on instead of resolutions Focusing on changing behavior and how to approach it Why goals work better than resolutions For more info on Angela Moore, visit Angela T. Moore (em...

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Dr. William Beecroft, Medical Director of Behavioral Health for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. Together, they discuss negativity bias and ways to overcome it. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: What negativity bias is and how it develops Ways to overcome negativity bias How negativity bias impacts our health

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Nick Nerbonne, Media, Digital and Industry Relations Director for Travel Michigan. Together, they discuss Michigan destinations to check out this winter. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Michigan winter destinations to add to your bucket list Summer destinations that are worth checking out in the winter Destinations that are off the beaten path Indoor destinations to visit if you're not of fan of cold weather

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Dr. Kristyn Gregory, medical director of behavioral health for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they explore ways we can identify and cope with burnout. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: What is burnout and how it differs from other stress-related conditions How we can self-evaluate and determine if we are experiencing burnout How long it can take to recover from burnout and what factors can influence the dur...

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Shanthi Appelö, registered dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they explore if it's possible to take a test that shows you which foods to avoid. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: The differences between food sensitivity, food intolerance and food allergy The reliability of food sensitivity tests Recommendations one should take if they're experiencing digestive symptoms

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Shanthi Appelö, registered dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss how we can incorporate more veggies into our diet. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: The recommended daily servings of vegetables Effects of getting your daily servings and the impact of not getting enough vegetables a day Ways to increase your veggie intake How to make vegetables more palatable

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Marissa Jarrett, well-being coordinator for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss if 10,000 steps a day is the step goal we should be aiming to achieve. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: Where 10,000 steps a day originated If 10,000 steps a day is beneficial across the board, or can it vary from person to person The benefits of maintaining a step goal

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Ann Marie Wakula, certified personal trainer and macro nutrition coach. Together, they discuss how to approach starting and maintain a new routine. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: How to track your progress and layout a plan How to use visual tracking to maintain motivation Strategies for getting back on track after experiencing a setback You can learn more about Ann Marie at her website, or Instagram page.

On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Shanthi Appelö, registered dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Together, they discuss the impact our food can have on our carbon footprint and ways we can reduce it. In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore: What carbon footprint is and how it relates to our food Sustainable eating - the benefits and barriers of it Examples of sustainable foods