The Dream Catcher Podcast

[Interview] The Chinese Five Elements: Identify Your Elements & How it Can Benefit You (feat. Dondi Dahlin)

We’re all born with individual rhythms that go beyond the influence of our genes and upbringing.

The Five Elements is one of the systems that we can use to understand our rhythms.

The system originated in ancient Chinese medicine 2,000 years ago–when scholars theorized that the universe is composed of five forces: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. 

Our guest Dondi Dahlin will help us understand the five elements better and how we can use it to transform ourselves.

Dondi Dahlin is an award-winning public speaker and has been seen on Hay House, Shift Network, OMEGA Institute, Mindvalley, and ACEP. She is also a popular teacher spreading Eden Energy Medicine and the Five Elements through international workshops. She co-authored The Little Book of Energy Medicine and her book The Five Elements became a best-seller when it was released in 2016. Dondi is also an internationally-acclaimed dancer, actress, and teacher in television, film, and stage for over 30 years. 

In this interview, Dondi explains the personality types represented by the five elements of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal and how we can use them to stay in balance physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. She also talks about how we can use it to improve our relationships with others.

Contingency Plans: Why You Need One to Make Room for the Unexpected

A contingency plan is a prepared set of actions you can take if something unexpected happens.

Think of it as a plan for a "what if" scenario for turbulent live events, like a shift in your finances or health. Most people go through life without a plan B, without seeing the need for planning for the unexpected.

These five steps will help you create good contingency plans, so you aren’t caught unaware. 

Birth Order and Relationships: Understanding the Connection and How to Use it

As an adult, you probably don’t think much about your birth order and relationships affected by it as it does not impact your everyday life. 

But whether you’re a firstborn, middle child, last-born, or an only child, it does play a significant role in making you who you are today. 

Birth order shows general tendencies but also provides knowledge of our relationships. Find out about your birth order traits and compatibility with other birth orders.

[Interview] Scandinavian Life Philosophies that Can Make You Happier and Live Well (feat. Lola Akinmade Åkerström)

According to the World Happiness Report, Scandinavian countries consistently rank the happiest. Northern European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland seem to have found the formula for happiness.

Happiness in this context refers to satisfaction with the way one’s life is going and a sense of wellbeing. So, what is their secret, and can we try it at home?

I invited  Lola Akinmade Åkerström to give us insight into Nordic philosophies that can boost our satisfaction and make us live well and feel happier.

An award-winning writer, speaker and photographer, Lola Akinmade Åkerström has photographed and dispatched from 70+ countries for various publications. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Travel Channel, Lonely Planet, and many more. She has received photography and writing awards, including recognition from the Society of American Travel Writers. Having lived on three different continents, Lola is drawn to the complexities and nuances of culture and how they manifest themselves within relationships. 

Join us for this insightful conversation, where Lola gives us an overview of Scandinavian culture and philosophy. We discuss some of the region's prevalent happiness ethos and how it may benefit our lives.

If you liked what you heard, please don’t forget to like, rate, share and subscribe to this podcast. Thank you!

Ikigai: What is it and How it Can Help You Find Purpose and Meaning in Life

Finding purpose in life is something most of us want. But asking about your purpose can seem like too lofty an aspiration. Fortunately, there are models we can use to unravel our unique purposes, one of them being Ikigai. 

Ikigai is a Japanese word that represents the passions, talents, and professions that give meaning and allow us to contribute to the world. 

Learn more about finding your Ikigai and how you can use it to discover your bliss.

Linguistic Discrimination: How it Influences Our View On Others

With over 7000 languages worldwide, languages are a hallmark of cultural diversity. Even in English-speaking countries, people speak with linguistic variances and fluency. 

Yet, many people don’t appreciate this diversity and discriminate against those who don’t sound “normal” to them. Linguistic racism is a term used to describe racism perpetuated against others based on their language use. 

Learn how this bias impacts how we see other people and what we can do to become more sensitive to linguistic discrimination.

[Interview] Surviving Storms: How to Deal with Challenges & Adversities (feat. Mark Nepo)

We all face adversity from time to time, but some of us are able to flourish when things get difficult, while others seem to struggle. So, what does it take to stand firm during these tough times?

According to my guest Mark Nepo, the key to standing strong against life’s unavoidable storms is to know our true self and solidify our connection to all Spirit and all life. He's here to explain more.

Mark Nepo is a poet and philosopher who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for over 40 years. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, he has published 22 books and his work has been translated into over 20 languages. Mark has been interviewed several times by Oprah Winfrey and was also chosen as one of OWN's SuperSoul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity. In 2015, he was given a Life-Achievement Award by AgeNation. In 2016 he was named one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit.

During our conversation, Mark offers his valuable insights and practical steps on navigating difficulties based on principles from his book “Surviving Storms.” He eloquently brings us to common passages and paths, urging us forward on the journey. 

If you liked what you heard, please don’t forget to like, rate, share and subscribe to this podcast. Thank you!

Why it’s Important to Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome For Success

In our pursuit of success, the process takes time and effort. 

Our society contributes to our disdain for the process of achieving our goals—we reward winners and disregard the ones who tried. We don’t get to see the steps that led to glory. 

But there’s no shortcut to success, and we must do our due diligence. 

Learn five reasons to love the process and the steps you can take to make the journey enjoyable as you head toward your dreams.

Dating Out Of Your League: What it Means (and what it should mean)

When we say someone is “out of your league,” often we’re referring to attractiveness, but it can also be a combination of wealth, social status, and looks, or simply your belief that they are better than you in some way. 

As shallow as the idea of “leagues” are, the truth is that we all size people up. But is partnering with someone out of your league an ethical vehicle to gain social currency? 

Learn a better alternative to a transaction mentality in love that’s genuine and kind.

[Interview] The Art of Humility: Why Being Humble Makes You Happier (feat. Daryl R. Van Tongeren)

Narcissism is on the rise: it manifests in people we know, celebrities, influencers, politicians—and even, from time to time, in ourselves.

The drive to self-promote has seduced many people to become someone they’re not.But there is a powerful tool that can help us defeat it: humility.

Following the latest science, Daryl Van Tongeren shines a light on this ancient virtue in his book titled “Humble.” He’s here to unpack his findings on this very important topic.

Daryl R. Van Tongeren, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at Hope College. As a social psychologist, he has published over 160 scholarly articles, coauthored The Courage to Suffer, and currently serves as associate editor for The Journal of Positive Psychology. His research has been covered by The New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR affiliate radio stations.

In this interview, we do a deep dive into humility: how ego has become pervasive in our culture and what we can do to keep it in check as we advance in our lives and teach it to younger generations. Daryl speaks about the types of humility and how it can build confidence, help us achieve success, and make our world a better and kinder place.

If you liked what you heard, please don’t forget to like, rate, share and subscribe to this podcast. Thank you!