Join hosts , The Natural Nurse & DrZ, as they explore some of the most powerful natural treatments for digestive ailments. Digestive concerns are one of the top issues that initiate both in office calls to physicians and over-the-counter sales of self-help medicines. In fact, heartburn, GERD, gas ,bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and even more ser…

Join Hosts, Ellen Kamhi PhD RN, The Natural Nurse® and Dr. Eugene Zampieron, ND, AHG , as they discuss herbal formulas have been used for hundreds if not thousands of years to help people keep their immune system strong , and either prevent or shortened an upper respiratory infection ,cold or flu. The Wei qi is the 'force field' which is understood…

Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, MD PHD Phone: 1-617-823-1610 Martin Moore-Ede MD PhD is a world-leading expert on circadian clocks and how light impacts human health. As a professor at Harvard Medical School, he led the team that located the human circadian clock, and showed how it was synchronized by light. He founded the Circadian Light Research Center whi…

Sean Padraig O’Donoghue-Author of The Silver Branch and the Otherworld Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies Phone 207-670-5363 Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue is a clinical herbalist, writer, and teacher who weaves together the insights of traditional Western herbalism and contemporary science. A columnist for Plant Healer Magazine and founder of the O…

David Hoffmann B.Sc., F.N.I.M.H., RH (AHG) A Fellow of Britain’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, David Hoffmann has been a phytotherapist for 45 years. Graduating in Biological Science from Sussex University in 1973, and after clinical training became a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists 1978. He was ‘elevated’ to fell…

Karen Howard is the CEO and Executive Director of Organic & Natural Health Association, leading the organization for consumer health advocacy since its inception in 2014. With four decades of experience in healthcare policy, government relations, and organizational leadership, she is a visionary in advancing healthcare initiatives. She is the autho…

In this edition of the Natural nurse and Doctor Z, the hosts share their expertise on the underlying causes and treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Dr Z and The Natural Nurse have published peer reviewed articles on the subject, which offers hope to those afflicted who choose not to use pharmacuetical conventional treatments. Bone health is a…

Marina Buksov holds a PharmD from St. John’s University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude, distinguished by Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma honor societies. Now Marina focuses on Natural Health, and is a Functional Pharmacist, Mental Fitness & Herbal Educator, and lifelong learner of the Healing Arts. She is the creator of Build Your Holistic Herbal Prac…

Exploring Holistic Wellness in Dentistry with Dr. Marc Mortiboys Dr. Marc Mortiboys unique approach to dentistry earns him the title of "Dental Shaman," blending traditional dental practices with holistic healing modalities. By incorporating shamanic principles into his dental care philosophy, Marc taps into a deeper understanding of the mind-body …

Matthew Wood has been a practicing herbalist for over thirty-five years. An internationally known author and lecturer, he holds a Master of Science degree in herbal medicine from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine. A professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, he is the author of several books, including The Earthwise Herbal and The B…

Topic: Broken Brain: how toxins, infections, and microbes can lead to neuroinflammation, fatigue, chronic pain, and more Intro Bio: Dr. Miles Nichols,DAOM, MSOM, LAc Founder of Medicine With Heart Clinic and the Medicine With Heart Institute. Dr. Miles Nichols is a functional medicine doctor specializing in Lyme, mold illness, gut, thyroid, and aut…

John A. Allocca, D.Sc, Ph.D. is a medical research scientist and biophysicist with over 40 years of experience. He is the internationally published author of more than 60 books and textbooks. Dr. Allocca developed a computerized biochemical analysis and nutritional plan software, and nutritional formulas for migraine prevention and other disorders.…

Ashwagandha, a long-recognized adaptogen and effective treatment for anxiety, insomnia, high blood sugar, infertility, regulating blood pressure, mental clarity and more Ph (305) 469-4460 Kelley is an attorney practicing law and also teaches yoga and meditation. She has spent extended periods of time in India, where she became familiar with Ayurved…

Eric Leskowitz, M.D., is a retired Harvard Medical School-affiliated psychiatrist who practiced pain management for more than 25 years atSpaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. He has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and is the author/editor of four books including The Mystery of Life Energy. His documentary…

Author Wendy Read began her studies by completing her degree in biochemistry at California State University. She is an herbalist, holistic massage therapist, and plant spirit healing practitioner . Wendy has studied with herbalists and shamanic healers in Mexico, Guatemala, Swaziland, South Africa, Senegal, and the United States. Since 2005 she has…

Steven Horne is a Registered Herbalist with and past president and council member of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG). He is also a Certified Comprehensive Iridologist with the International Iridology Practitioner Association (IIPA) and has also served on their board of directors. He is the coauthor, with Thomas Easley of the popular medicine-ma…

Frank Forencich is a distinguished advocate for the human animal and a functional future. Frank attended Stanford University and has over thirty years of experience in martial arts and health education, Forencich offers a unique and compelling perspective on the intersection of health, human evolution, and activism. Frank has been a featured speake…

Brigitte Mars is an herbalist and Natural Health nutritional consultant with over fifty years of experience. She teaches Herbal Medicine at Naropa University and has taught at Omega Institute, Esalen, Kripalu, Sivananda Yoga Ashram, Envision, Tribal Visions, Unify, Sister Winds, Arise Festivals, Burning Man, and The Mayo Clinic. She is a founding a…

Theodora Scarato, MSW, serves as the Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust (EHT), a leading scientific think tank addressing environmental health issues. Scarato led EHT's pivotal role in a lawsuit against the FCC, advocating for reduced global wireless technologies. She coordinates educational programs, research initiatives, and global …

Dr. Friedemann Schaub, MD, PhD, has spent over 20 years teaching people how to rid themselves of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem and improve their mental health. By learning how to master the subconscious we can flip those self-sabotaging habits with his six keys to self-empowerment. His methods have the backing of scientific research. Dr.…

I don't know how I expected to end this episode, but "y'all have pleasant dreams, y'hear?" wasn't it. If y'all hear the grits flying out my mouth when I'm talkin', please know I come by it honest. A very sleepy story this week brought to you by a very sleepy girl. Curdie and Lina are joined by more of the strange and disturbing Goblin Creatures as …

We start to get some hints of the sadness underlying this children's story. Fortunately, my gigglebox child is there to rescue us from it. She calls me on the "creepy Mickey Mouse" voice I gave the prince, which is delightful and a much-needed correction. Leave us a message if you're having fun. The sources for our text are the cyber-scribes at gut…

The goblin-creature Lina joins Curdie on his quest. There are some evil birds and then, I don't know, a montage? He seriously does the George Lucas thing where the two bond over adventures we'll never hear about, just like Obi-Wan and Anakin. This is a fine example of Lydia in a state of rambunctious sleepiness, where she can't stay awake but can't…

Welcome to Season 2.1 of Sleepy Stories! While we're reading The Princess and Curdie in the other half of the podcast, we're going to start putting up episodes of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, also once a week. This is mostly because Lydia's getting more ambitious, and I always want to help. The Little Prince is an odd, beautiful st…

10 chapters in, Curdie's beginning his journey. The past is a different country, and its narrative rules are slow and unsteady. That said, this is a nice piece of atmospheric writing. Lydia was incredibly sleepy when we were recording this one. There's also a contrast between her current maturity and when we recorded this, but when she gets tired s…

A nice, short episode after last week's relatively large one. Lydia is stupendously tired throughout this one, but it doesn't stop her from offering commentary. The story is mostly Curdie telling his parents that he has magic hands, and them not asking for much evidence for this extraordinary claim. I understand that MacDonald's writing about 'fait…

This 35-minute behemoth had 2 full minutes of horrible mouth sounds and mushmouthed mispronunciations deleted from it. You're welcome. Lydia helped me edit this one. She was struck by the sheer amount of time and energy she spent on talking silly in this episode. Leave us a message if you're having fun. The sources for our text are the cyber-scribe…

In this chapter, The Old Princess has one of the longest monologs about being godlike in any of MacDonald's work. Fortunately, Lydia is there to ask questions and request a refill on her water. Like, a lot. Leave us a message if you're having fun. The sources for our text are the cyber-scribes at gutenberg.org; Our theme song is Jimbo’s Lullaby by …

Curdie and his father, Peter, meet the Great Great Grandmother in the mines, in a kind of angelic glory. Also, Lydia brings in Angel Bear, who is a marvelous and well-behaved guest. I'd like to hear more questions from that one. Leave us a message if you're having fun. The sources for our text are the cyber-scribes at gutenberg.org; Our theme song …

We got an incredibly energetic Lydia for this descent into MacDonald's mines. She was so energetic that I had to cut some audio where one of the many stuffies that visited us while we were recording ended up dancing on my microphone and I had to cut a little audio. I hope it wasn't too awkward. Also, sorry that I didn't put anything out for a coupl…

This is another one of MacDonald's discourses on faith. It doesn't move the plot forward much, except it does make sense for someone who's had a run-in with the magical or the miraculous to talk it over with loved ones. Make sure you stay through to the end of the episode if you want to know what it sounds like when a 5-year-old is done recording. …

This is a long one, as Curdie the miner boy meets Irene's grandmother finally, and confronts what he did to her pigeon. While this book as a whole has a bit too much fire and brimstone for my taste, I rather like these opening chapters. There's a Lydia-composed song fragment at the end that I rather enjoyed. Leave us a message if you're having fun.…

We begin what's going to be a long path of Biblical imagery for this book. I'll admit upfront that Curdie's response to being touched by a divine messenger is unexpected, though. In that vein, there's a pretty frank discussion between an adult and a five-year-old about the merits of hunting in this episode. I think it's a good idea for kids to know…

George MacDonald waxes poetic about magma and recaps the plot of his previous novel, "The Princess and the Goblin," in this chapter. For our part, Lydia takes me up on my offer to answer any questions she has, and I can't even get our podcast's name right, or the book's title either. Welcome to Season 2, and don't blame me. I voted for The Wizard o…

As you can see, George MacDonald loved a good tautology. Here we are at the end of our first season. We'll stumble into "The Princess and Curdie" after the New Year. Also, looks like I was still calling this thing "Sleepytime Stories" right up until then. I'm genuinely curious to find out how deep that error stretches into Season 2! This is more of…

Originally recorded in North Carolina, this episode has a bit of a different energy to it. Lyd's having a good time during this one, and so am I. This is the moment where the goblins "Plan B" comes to fruition, with unintended consequences for all. I think it's safe to say that MacDonald's goblins are clever without being at all wise. Leave us a me…

Lydia does some slight impromptu voice acting in this one-- I like it! She's also at her chirpiest, giving us constant commentary, so this may be one of my favorite episodes. Enjoy! Leave us a message if you're having fun. The sources for our text are the cyber-scribes at gutenberg.org; Our theme song is Jimbo’s Lullaby by Claude Debussy performed …

If you've ever wanted a chance to get to know a stuffed ray named Moon Eyes, she and Lydia are both chatting up a storm early on in this short episode. This is an aftermath chapter. While we know the Princess and Curdie are momentarily safe, we also know the goblins had a destructive contingency plan in place, so the story shifts to the miners' sur…

Curdie finally gets to have an apologetic chat with Princess Irene-- listen to children, y'all. Reunited, the heroes get to plan their next steps against the goblins, and realize that the goblins are about to do Something Terrible. Leave us a message if you're having fun. The sources for our text are the cyber-scribes at gutenberg.org; Our theme so…

Fans of a rambunctious girl-child won't be disappointed by this episode! Ain't gonna lie, her antics made this the hardest episode to edit thus far. My apologies for not updating last week. I started a new job AND got the most persistent case of food poisoning at the same time! I'm adjusting my schedule accordingly. I'm also on a new computer, whic…

There's strong evidence that this episode is Peak Silly for this Daddy-Daughter team. Blame it on fatigue, blame it on my voice acting struggles-- The Cook gets 3 female voices before I realize the character's male-- blame it on a rambunctiously grumpy daughter who picks fights with pillows. All of the above honestly makes this episode one of my fa…

Lydia felt very sick while we were recording this one. She was almost inaudible for a lot of it, finally prompting me to play with the "Amplify" effect in Audacity. There's a learning curve, but I think the podcast as a whole's going to be improved as a result. This was months ago. The Lyd's feeling just fine now. :-) Leave us a message if you're h…

Lydia was pukey-sick for this episode, and I think my delivery reflects some of the stress I was feeling. Sorry about that. Lydia delivers an amazing impersonation of What If World's former president, J.F. Cat, though! This short chapter contains a surprisingly progressive argument in favor of Believing Children. I like it quite a lot. Irene has th…

Hey! Back to our regularly scheduled postings this week! We recorded this back on Saint Patrick's Day, giving you a pretty good idea of how long it was before I actually started posting vs when we started recording. Another chapter where MacDonald has some long discussions about faith and moves the plot forward at the end as an afterthought. While …

Not only do we get another Lydia stuffie-- Hershey-- joining us this episode, we also get some of MacDonald's best writing. Here are a few quotes: "Seeing is not believing. It is only seeing." "It would be at least as bad to not believe him as it was for him not to believe her." "We are all anxious to be understood... but there is one other thing n…

There's a lot to unpack in this extra long episode, what with Lydia surprising me with Mister Crocodile and some fairly deep discussions. This is McDonald's hardest stance on faith yet, with Irene being the person who believes, and Curdie playing the rationalist. I'm happy that he seems sympathetic to both positions, at the very least. Leave us a m…

We switch back to the Princess Irene's perspective, and her magic ring gets her into subterranean trouble in this episode. Irene's very young, so it's not surprising she's frightened past the point of tears. Even so, she's also a hero, as we'll soon see. Lydia couldn't stop stirring her Sleepytime tea in this episode. Sorry about the clinks, y'all.…

Curdie remains in the Goblin royal family's trap and we get a good idea of how nasty they can be in this chapter. Parental advisory: intimations of cannibalism and use of the pejorative "Harelip" continue in this chapter. Also, my singing is hilariously bad this time. McDonald intentionally makes some of Curdie's improvised rhymes forced, and more …

I think 'clue' is a mining term mentioned earlier in the book. Or maybe I'm thinking of 'gang?' Anyway, Curdie digs deep and strikes a rich vein of goblin in this chapter! Also, caveat emptor! Lots more terrible singing and perhaps the worst goblin accents ever are featured in this chapter! This chapter contains my first and hopefully only disclaim…

Another short chapter, re-introducing Irene's King-Poppa and finally discussing the whereabouts of the Princess' mother. Also, if you've ever wondered which one is the daddy and which is the daughter, Miss Sassy Pants Lydia turns up and can answer a lot of questions in the this vein! Bon appetit! The sources for our text are the cyber-scribes at gu…