Whole by Design

What if you could shift your mood, release difficult emotions, and reset your state in just a few minutes? Music may be one of the most accessible tools for doing exactly that.

In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with professional singer Jennifer Gilmore to explore the powerful connection between music, mood, emotions, and healing. Together, they discuss how music can influence the way we feel, interrupt n...

Stories have the power to inspire, build trust, and create meaningful change. But they also have the potential to cause harm, sometimes unintentionally.

In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and Make a Scene Media founder Taylor Kampia to explore the growing practice of trauma-informed storytelling and why it matters. Together, they discuss how psychological safety, authent...

How do you know whether you're following your own path or someone else's expectations? Whether you're questioning what's next, considering a change, or starting your career, this conversation explores how to recognize the difference between external pressure and internal alignment.

In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with David Gofman, founder of Gofman Therapy and Consulting, to explore the quarter-life c...

What if the most effective thing you could do as a leader, or as a human, had nothing to do with strategy and everything to do with how you show up?

In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Daniel Lieberman, founder and CEO of Valuable Leadership, to explore his model of "humanship" and the Beacon Effect, a six-part framework for cutting through uncertainty, building genuine trust, and protecting the digni...

Grief doesn’t always follow a clear path. For many people, it can feel layered, disorienting, and difficult to move through, especially when the emotions don’t resolve in the ways we expect.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in your grief or unsure how to carry both the love and the pain, this conversation offers a way of understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.

In this episode, Dr. Julie Lop...

Stress is often treated like something to eliminate, but what if understanding it differently could help you move through life with more clarity, strength, and intention?

In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez is joined by clinician and clinical director Amanda Good to explore the stress equation, a practical framework for understanding why stress affects people differently and how lasting balance is created.

Together,...

What do high-pressure emergency response and intimate relationships have in common? Communication under stress.

In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Lee Collins to explore what truly strengthens connection in relationships.

Drawing from his background in corporate leadership, emergency response, and clinical counseling, Lee shares how high-pressure enviro...

Fertility is often framed as a purely biological issue, but what if there’s more shaping our ability to create and receive in life than we realize?

In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez is joined by Dr. Natalie Grigorian, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Master of Acupuncture, to explore the hidden factors that influence fertility, not just in conception, but across all areas of life.

Together, they discuss how...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and self-harm.

Suicidality can be complex, painful, and often misunderstood.

In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Faith Ferber, a trauma-informed Viva therapist, and her mother, Brenda Ferber, a writer, to explore Faith’s journey with mental health challenges from childhood through adolescence. They discuss early warning signs, the impact of family dynamics, and the o...

Poor sleep can affect more than just energy. It can shape mood, focus, and mental health in surprising ways.

In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Andres Barkil-Oteo to explore the hidden connection between sleep apnea and mental health. They discuss why sleep apnea often goes unnoticed, how it can mimic depression or ADHD, and what steps you can take to uncover and treat it.

This episode is an empowering...

Disordered eating impacts millions of Americans, yet so many people face it in silence. If you’re struggling, you are not alone.

In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Christie Dondero Bettwy, Executive Director of Rock Recovery, to talk about her personal journey of disordered eating recovery and her work making treatment more accessible. Together, they explore how cultural messages about food and bodies fuel shame,...

Psychedelics and breathwork may seem like very different paths to healing, but what if the breath alone could unlock the same powerful states of awareness?

In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez speaks with Mark Worster, a psychiatric nurse, entrepreneur, and trauma survivor, about how deep breathwork can be a psychedelic experience without substances. Together, they explore non-ordinary states of consciousness, shadow work, and how acce...

In this episode of Whole by Design, Robyn Brickel, an expert in trauma-informed clinical work, sheds light on how we are all built for survival. Robyn explores how healing deep-rooted wounds can lead to healthier connections, improved emotional regulation, and a more peaceful life. Tune in for valuable insights on recognizing trauma's impact and practical steps for healing that can transform the way you relate to yourself and other...

Did you know you can use your imagination to rewire your brain and heal trauma? In this episode, Tracy, a leading expert in brain science, explains how visualizing nurturing experiences can create new neural pathways. Learn how the powerful therapeutic approach of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)  can reduce emotional reactivity and transform your mental health, helping you break free from old patterns and ...

Feeling stuck, drained, or unsure of your next step? You’re not alone. In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Pascale Cook-Fernandes—coach, Reiki master, and founder of Women Finding Clarity—to explore how overwhelm and self-doubt can keep us from fully showing up in our lives.

Pascale shares her powerful approach to stepping out of the fog and into clarity, drawing from energy work, se...