This episode was originally aired January 2023.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of engaging with Linda Taylor, who will enlighten us on matters of diet and the brain. She also discusses diet and its relationship to the prevention of Alzheimers disease. Come along and learn some helpful information about diet and its connection to brain health.

Thanks for listening!

Dr. Suzie Dukic

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

Join me for a brief and somewhat technical episode examining the relationship between the brain and the gut.

The relationship between the brain and gut health is complex and bidirectional, often referred to as the "gut-brain axis."

Mental Health: There's a strong link between gut health and mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress. An imbalance in gut microbiota (dysbiosis) has been associated with these disorders.

Cognitive Function: The gut can influence cognitive processes such as memory and learning through the production of neurotransmitters and the control of inflammation.

Mood and Behavior: Variations in gut bacteria have been linked to changes in behavior, including mood swings, due to the influence on neurotransmitter production.

Digestive Health: Emotional states can affect gut motility and secretions, leading to conditions like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), where stress can exacerbate symptoms.

The brain and gut are deeply interconnected, influencing each other's health and function. This relationship underscores the importance of considering both physical and mental health in our daily lives and in medical practice.

Thanks for listening!

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

In this episode, I'll talk a little about what's going on in our brain when we have high levels of anxiety. I'll also share a little about the by-pass metaphor and how it describes how we feel when we are ruminating or super anxious when we can't stop the negative thoughts. Lastly, I'll finish up with a 15ish minute body scan. This is one of the best tools to slow the brain down.

Thanks for listening. May you find peace and good mental health.

Dr. Suzie Dukic
suziedukic@gmail.com

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

In this episode, Dr. Suzie Dukic explores what trust in oneself might look like by addressing how we react when everything starts unraveling —events such as a job loss, a broken relationship, and just feeling overwhelmed. She suggested that in times like these, we may ask ourselves “Am I strong enough?” OR “Can I do this?”. If you're feeling overwhelmed and unsure of your next move, this episode is medicine for that exact moment!

Dr. Q’s delivery is warm, companion-like, never instructional in a heavy-handed way. She reminds us that real self-trust isn’t the absence of fear—it’s faithfulness to our strength while fear is still present. “You’ve already survived 100% of your worst days,” she says, “That is not luck. That is you!”

The episode closes with an invitation: if you’re walking through fog right now, take one conscious breath and trust yourself - You’ve got this:)

Listeners are welcomed to share their own “I came through” story @DrQ_Nature

#SelfTrust #Resilience #InnerStrength #Podcast

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

In this uplifting episode of Pebble Ripple, we dive deep into the timeless and transformative power of Hope – that quiet force that keeps us moving forward even in the darkest times.

Dr. Suzie Dukic explores what hope truly is: not blind optimism or wishful thinking, but a powerful mindset rooted in goals, creative pathways, and inner agency, as defined by psychologist Charles Rick Snyder.

We examine Viktor Frankl’s profound insights from his Holocaust survival, and how hope buffered trauma and fueled purpose.

Voices like Desmond Tutu, Martin Luther King Jr., and Amanda Gorman remind us that hope is both personal and collective, a light we can choose to see and become.

Finally, practical, evidence-based ways to cultivate hope: setting small goals, planning multiple pathways, practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with positive people, and taking action – because hope grows when we take action.

Perfect for anyone needing encouragement during challenging times or simply seeking a reminder of human resilience.

Join Dr. Dukic for a heartfelt, science-backed celebration of hope – the spark that turns possibility into reality.

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

Medications and mental health? Are medications a fix-all for anxiety, depression, impulsivity, etc...." Sorry, we can't get by that easy. In this episode, we will examine how medications can help with mental health symptoms. Dr. Steven Hollon, interviewed for an upcoming episode about the brain, discusses medications and therapy. There are a couple of times early-on that you cannot hear Dr. Hollen's response to my question, hang in there, he starts about mid-way through the episode

Thanks for listening! I wish you Peace and Good Mental Health.

Dr. Suzie Dukic

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

I will share my thoughts on why I think that talk therapy works. Keep in mind there are 100's, if not 1000's of theories and modalities that mental health clinicians apply in the therapeutic environment. Therefore, my opinion is not the only perspective of how and why therapy works.

Thanks for listening!

Dr. Suze Dukic

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com

In this episode, we'll look at diagnosis in mental health. Probably not the most interesting episode, however, detailed information is shared with the listener to help substantiate the process of diagnosis, as well as a little about how clients / patients are diagnosed.

Thanks for listening!

Dr. Suzie Dukic

Coming late January 2026; pocketbook "Nature Whispers: Finding Peace in the Wild"

Coming late February 2026: pebblerippleconnection.com