Written by Charron Monaye, Author, Playwright, and Book Publisher Charron Monaye is an award-winning author and playwright who has dedicated more than two decades to the art of storytelling. She is the founder of Pen Legacy, LLC, a multimedia enterprise specializing in book publishing, writing/author coaching, ghostwriting, and theater productions. Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the most powerful creative tools of our era. Writers use it to draft articles, entrepreneurs rely on it for marketing copy, and filmmakers experiment with it for scripts and storyboards. As generative artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in everyday workflows, a pressing question is emerging across industries, who actually owns content created by artificial intelligence? The answer is more complex than many realize. While artificial intelligence can generate text, manuscripts, images, music, and even entire books in seconds, intellectual property laws were built on one enduring principle, human authorship. Copyright – Who really owns artificial intelligence content? In many cases, the person using an artificial intelligence tool technically owns the output, particularly if the platform’s terms of service grant users’ rights to the material they create. Major artificial intelligence platforms allow users to publish, modify, and monetize AI-generated content, but platform permissions are only part of the picture. The bigger question is whether the content qualifies for copyright protection at all. Globally, copyright law consistently emphasizes one principle, ownership flows from meaningful human creative input. In the United States, only humans can be recognized as authors. Fully automated artificial intelligence content may fall into a legal gray area with no clear ownership. Yet when a person guides, edits, and shapes the output, they can claim copyright as the author. But what if your edits are minor? At what point does human involvement become enough to qualify as authorship? Could your “creative contribution” be challenged in court? Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom takes a slightly different approach. Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the author of a computer-generated work is defined as the person who arranged for its creation. Even if AI produces content autonomously, copyright is assigned to the individual or entity behind it, a provision predating modern AI but still shaping how UK courts treat AI-generated works. Yet this raises questions, does simply providing the prompt make you the legal author? Or does arranging the work require deeper creative engagement? On the other hand, Sweden and Canada similarly stress human contribution. In Sweden, AI-generated works without meaningful human involvement generally cannot be copyrighted, but when a person directs, edits, or transforms the output, they may claim ownership, with AI treated strictly as a tool. Canada’s Copyright Act also requires human skill and judgment, AI alone cannot hold authorship, but content actively shaped and refined by a human qualifies for copyright protection. Across these jurisdictions, the message is clear, AI can assist creation, but ownership belongs to the human who contributes meaningfully to the final work. Can artificial intelligence content infringe on copyright? Even if you technically own AI-generated content, based on law, another legal concern that is emerging is copyright infringement. Did you know that artificial intelligence models are trained on massive datasets that may include copyrighted material? While outputs are usually unique combinations of text, images, or other media, disputes can arise if the content closely resembles an existing work. Could a generative artificial intelligence system inadvertently reproduce protected material without your knowledge? Who would be responsible, the AI developer, the user, or both? As AI-generated content becomes more widespread, courts and regulators worldwide are beginning to scrutinize how training data and outputs intersect with intellectual property law. In an age where artificial intelligence can draft entire manuscripts, create artwork, or generate marketing campaigns in seconds, the real question isn’t whether machines can write, it’s whether humans are still in control of their own creativity. Using artificial intelligence responsibly is about far more than convenience or speed. For content creators and executives, the safest approach is to treat artificial intelligence as a creative collaborator rather than a replacement for human authorship. This means taking an active role in shaping the output: editing, refining, restructuring, and adding original insights. Human involvement serves two purposes, it enhances the quality and originality of the work, and it acts as a critical safeguard against legal risk. By guiding the creative process and adding human judgment, you reduce the likelihood of scrutiny, lawsuits, or intellectual property disputes. Every edit, structural change, and creative input demonstrates meaningful authorship, strengthening both the artistic value and legal defensibility of AI-assisted content. Think of it this way, if AI can produce in minutes, how much human input is absolutely necessary to stay relevant, or even employed? Could courts one day require proof of creative influence just to grant copyright, effectively forcing humans to validate their own work? And as AI continues to evolve faster than legislation, how will society protect jobs, creativity, and livelihoods in a world where technology can outpace human authorship? As I explored in my prior article with Brainz Magazine, The Future of Writing. Using Artificial Intelligence Without Losing Your Authentic Voice, I asked one central question, how do you use AI without losing your authentic voice? Here, “authentic voice” doesn’t mean a single person’s style, it’s the distinctly human perspective that comes from real-time knowledge, lived experience, and demonstrable expertise. Speed is appealing, but we shouldn’t allow ourselves to exist one prompt away from a fully digital world where human insight is optional. One reality remains constant, ownership and creative authority belong to the humans who contribute judgment, originality, and vision to a project. By treating AI as a tool rather than a creator, you not only safeguard your intellectual property rights but also reduce exposure to legal challenges, including copyright disputes or claims of infringement. Taking an active role in your content ensures that your work meets the threshold for meaningful human authorship, protecting both your creative control and your legal standing in a rapidly evolving digital world. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Charron Monaye Charron Monaye, Author, Playwright, and Book Publisher Charron Monaye is an American writer, playwright, publisher, and literary powerhouse with a career spanning more than two decades. She has authored 28 books, co‑authored over 100 titles, and published more than 175 authors across 15+ genres, generating over $1 million in global sales. Her acclaimed series, Get Out of Your Own Way, and The Adventures of Michelle, has inspired readers worldwide and earned recognition for its impact. Her storytelling has also been showcased on stages in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Hollywood & Off-Broadway, A recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and an Honorary Doctorate, Charron’s work has been celebrated by the U.S. Department of Education, the United Nations, and numerous media outlets.

Success rarely comes from one big moment. More often, it comes from small systems done well over time. That idea shows up again and again in the career of Don Carlos Lee Gibson Jr. From military intelligence to golf operations to automotive leadership, his path is built on structure, discipline, and execution. “I’ve never chased titles,” Don says. “I focus on doing the job right. The rest follows.” Early life and work ethic – Where it started Don’s mindset began at home. His mother, Linda Bradshaw, was a multi-sport athlete. She played baseball, basketball, and ran track. That influence shaped how he approached effort and consistency. “I saw what it meant to compete and stay committed,” he says. “That stuck with me.” He attended Sullivan South High School and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Virginia College. But he didn’t stop there. He also pursued specialized training at the Golf Academy of America, earning degrees in Golf Operations, Turf Management, and Teaching and Player Development. “I didn’t want surface knowledge,” Don explains. “I wanted to understand how things actually work.” Military intelligence experience – Learning structure and Risk Before stepping fully into business, Don served as a Military Intelligence Analyst in the United States Army. The role required focus, analysis, and fast decision-making. “In the Army, you learn to assess risk quickly,” he says. “You gather facts, not opinions.” That experience shaped how he approaches leadership today. It taught him how to operate under pressure and to rely on systems rather than guesswork. “You don’t wait for perfect conditions,” Don says. “You prepare and execute.” Golf management career – Building systems that work Don’s early leadership career took shape in the golf industry. He worked as General Manager and Head Golf Professional at the Golf Club of South Carolina at Crickentree. He also held senior roles with National Golf Management Group. These positions required more than teaching golf. They involved running full operations. “You’re managing people, schedules, budgets, and expectations all at once,” he says. One of his key ideas was simple: consistency creates better outcomes. He focused on player development programs that followed clear structures. He also worked on improving daily operations behind the scenes. “When systems are clear, people perform better,” Don explains. He paid attention to details. Course conditions. Customer experience. Staff training. “Small improvements add up,” he says. “That’s where growth happens.” Transition to automotive leadership – Applying the same principles Today, Don serves as General Manager of Marietta Motors and Westfall Towing. While the industry changed, his approach did not. “Business is business,” he says. “If your systems are strong, you can adapt.” His role includes overseeing operations, managing finances, and improving efficiency. He also handles vendor relationships and risk management. “In automotive, every decision affects your margins,” he says. “You have to stay disciplined.” He brought ideas from his past roles into this space. Clear workflows. Accountability. Process tracking. “If something breaks, you fix the system, not just the symptom,” Don explains. His certifications in OSHA safety and FEMA disaster recovery reflect that mindset. “You plan for problems before they happen,” he says. What makes a strong operations leader? Across his career, Don has focused on one core idea: structure drives results. He believes many businesses struggle not because of lack of effort, but lack of clarity. “People want to do a good job,” he says. “They just need clear direction.” He also emphasizes accountability. “You can’t improve what you don’t track,” Don explains. “You have to measure performance.” In both golf and automotive operations, he has applied this thinking to build stronger teams and more reliable systems. “Leadership isn’t about control,” he says. “It’s about creating an environment where people can succeed.” Mentorship and community impact – extending the work Don’s work does not stop at business. He has volunteered with the First Tee Golf Program, helping young players develop both skill and character. He has also supported recovery programs and mentoring efforts. “Mentorship is about showing consistency,” he says. “Not just talking.” He has worked with programs like Celebrate Recovery and the TCC Drug Mentor Program. He also serves in faith-based outreach efforts, including prison ministry and community support. “You meet people where they are,” Don explains. “Then you help them build structure in their lives.” His belief is simple: the same principles that work in business also work in life. “Discipline isn’t limiting,” he says. “It creates freedom.” The big idea – Systems over shortcuts Looking back, Don’s career is not defined by one industry. It is defined by one idea. Systems matter. Whether managing a golf course, analyzing intelligence, or running an automotive operation, he has focused on building processes that work over time. “There are no shortcuts,” he says. “You build it the right way, or you fix it later.” That mindset has helped him move across industries and still deliver results. And for Don Carlos Lee Gibson Jr., that may be the clearest takeaway of all. “Success isn’t complicated,” he says. “It’s consistent.”

Written by Alessandra Mantovanelli, Sound Therapy and Integrative Coaching Alessandra Mantovanelli is a Sound Therapist and Integrative Coach, offering energy and somatic healing, mindful eating coaching, and Psych-K facilitation. She founded Waves for Thriving to help you shift from surviving to thriving by cultivating a heart-centered connection and coherence between your mind, body, and soul. Sound vibrations rhythmically stimulate our body’s fluids and cells, offering a gentle vibrational massage. They make different parts of our body resonate, bringing them back into coherence while providing numerous health benefits. Sound ‘bubbles’ communicate energy and resonant patterns to our body, even at the cellular level, immersing us in a sacred beauty. Sound bubbles Sound is energy generated by the vibration of matter and transmitted through solid, liquid, or gaseous mediums as a pressure wave. As the wave propagates in air, atoms and molecules rhythmically compress, getting closer together, and expand by moving slightly farther apart (rarefaction), carrying the vibration of our voice or a musical instrument. Air molecules are only a few nanometres apart and oscillate back and forth while the wave energy travels along. Although sound is often graphically represented as a single longitudinal wave emitted from a source, it actually travels as radial oscillations away from its origin [1]. Sound waves spread outward in all directions and surround our head as we sing or speak, resembling a bubble of acoustic energy that oscillates in and out in sympathy with the sound and expands spherically at the speed of sound in air.[1,2,3] Incredibly, every single molecule in the air within this ‘bubble’ contains all the vibrational information of the initiating sound source.[2] How do sound waves interact with our body? Sound propagates at a faster speed in water because water molecules are much closer together than those in air. Our bodies are composed mostly of water, so sound vibrations travel more easily and efficiently through our tissues, fascia, and fluids, also resonating within the body’s cavities. Each component of the human body (bones, cells, organs) has its own prime resonance frequency, which is why sound vibrations can help bring dissonant patterns back into coherence. Sound vibrations gently compress and decompress our body (tissues, bones, and tactile receptors in the skin), providing rhythmic stimulation to our cells. This stimulation may have a therapeutic effect, helping to increase cellular metabolism, enhance lymphatic drainage and blood circulation, stimulate nerves, and relax muscles.[4] In principle, sound vibrations travel through the body’s fluid tissues, communicating energetic and vibrational patterns to our cells and DNA, which receive this information.[5] Benefits of sound therapy Sound therapy applies specific sound frequencies from musical instruments (such as metal and crystal bowls, gongs, and tuning forks) near the body, specific body parts, or the biofield around the body, serving as complementary therapeutic support for the regulation of the nervous system. Growing evidence shows numerous mental and physical health benefits of sound and music therapies. Increases in nitric oxide When we fully immerse our bodies in sound vibrations, our sinus cavities, lungs, and endothelial cells can be sonically stimulated by specific frequencies to produce and release nitric oxide (NO), which regulates essential physiological functions across multiple organs.[5] NO benefits include supporting circulation and wound healing, improving heart and airway health, increasing blood flow and delivering more oxygen and nutrients to muscles and the brain, reducing pulmonary hypertension, and acting as a defence against pathogens. Increases blood oxygenation An increase in in vitro human blood oxygenation, cell viability, and longevity was observed after 20 minutes of exposure to recordings of a singing bowl [6], suggesting that low frequency sounds similar to the human heartbeat may support the vascular system, cell oxygenation, and overall vitality. Vagus nerve stimulation The vagus nerve connects the brain to major organs, regulating numerous bodily functions, including digestion, immune response, heart rate, and respiratory rhythms, while also reducing inflammation and supporting mental health. Singing and humming are effective ways to stimulate the vagus nerve. It can also be stimulated by listening to live musical instruments or music through high quality headphones, which activate the tragus of the ear.[5] Reduce stress and pain and improve attention and mood Significant reductions in tension, anger, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and confusion, along with an increase in vigour, have been observed after immersion in, or listening to, the sounds of singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, and other vibrational instruments.[7,8,9,10,11,12] Sound vibrations can also alleviate pain through stimulation of the body’s large A beta or A alpha fibres, closing the pain ‘gate’ and muting the signal before it reaches the brain.[5] Significant pain and stress reduction have also been reported after a 30-minute intervention with theta binaural beats.[13] Immersion in singing bowl sounds reduces stress, regulates the nervous system, and promotes deep relaxation, both psychological and physiological, in just 20 to 45 minutes, offering an excellent complementary therapy to support overall well being.[14,15,16,17] Improved sleep and cognitive function have also been reported in various patient groups, including individuals with autism.[12] Music therapy has the potential to help people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by decreasing amygdala activity, improving hippocampal and prefrontal brain function, and balancing the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. It can also reduce anxiety, increase emotional regulation and pleasure, and therefore lessen PTSD symptoms.[18,19] Music therapy also benefits individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by enhancing attention, reading comprehension, motor control, cognition, and task performance, as well as regulating emotions and mood.[20,21,22] Making music can remediate impaired neural processes and connections by engaging and linking different brain regions that have become disconnected.[23] Nature sounds and classical music have been shown to decrease heart rate and blood pressure while increasing oxygen saturation in patients with severe cerebral damage, promoting relaxation and positively influencing both physiological and emotional states.[24] Induce a meditative like, more connected state Singing bowl sounds produce a shift toward a more mindful, meditative state of consciousness, making people feel more integrated, balanced, vitalised, satisfied, secure, connected, calmer, happier, and mentally clearer.[25] These sounds can synchronise brain waves with the beat of the frequency, effectively facilitating meditation and connection, especially at theta frequency, which promotes deep relaxation.[26] Sound boosts joy and bathes you in sacred beauty Listening to harmonious sounds or our favourite music releases dopamine and serotonin, instantly uplifting us and inducing a joyful state that supports the immune system while reducing cortisol and stress.[23] Joy also triggers the pituitary gland to release endorphins, which suppress pain and create a sense of lightness and euphoria. Specific sound frequencies applied to a liquid or flexible medium create oscillating ripples on its surface, forming geometric shapes of remarkable beauty, known as cymatic patterns. According to John Stuart Reid, inventor of an instrument that makes sound visible, “Cymatics is based on the physics principle that when sound encounters a membrane, such as the surface of water or the membranes that surround our cells, a pattern of energy is automatically imprinted on the membrane”.[2] Therefore, in principle, when we immerse ourselves in certain sound frequencies, their vibrational patterns may be imprinted in our cell membranes, organs, fascia, and visceral fluid, similar to cymatics in fluids.[5] These cymatic patterns gently rotate as sounds shift phase, stimulating the cells and providing a form of ‘sonic massage’.[5] People often experience a deeper spiritual connection, greater ease, and increased joy after a sound bath, which immerses the body in a vibrational, sacred beauty. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alessandra Mantovanelli Alessandra Mantovanelli, Sound Therapy and Integrative Coaching Alessandra uses a unique integrative approach to help people move from survival to thriving, integrating and harmonizing their body, mind, and soul in a freeing dance. She holds a Master’s in Sound Therapy along with certifications as a Mind-Body Eating Coach, Somatic Trauma Healing and Reiki Practitioner, and Psych-K® facilitator. By combining her knowledge of physics and wave frequencies with biofield and energy balance therapies, she bridges ancient healing techniques with modern science. As the founder of Waves for Thriving, Alessandra is dedicated to helping individuals embrace their healthiest, happiest, and most conscious selves, unlocking their highest potential. References: [1] Reid, J.S., 2006. The special relationship between sound and light with implications for sound and light therapy. Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine, 17, p.215. [2] Cymascope, n.d. Cymatics intro . [3] Cymascope, n.d. The physics of sound . [4] Bartel, L.L. and Mosabbir, A.A., 2021. Possible mechanisms for the effects of sound vibration on human health. Healthcare, 9(5), p.597 . [5] Reid, J.S., 2024. Sound Therapy 201, Biological mechanisms that underpin sound therapy and music medicine. Medicine and Art, 2(1), pp.25–63. [6] Geffen, R., Gentile, D., Atassi, N., Reid, J.S., Cuevas-Villanueva, V., Braun, C., Farran, B. and Oomen, P., 2023. Effects of sound immersion on in vitro blood cells . [7] Panchal, S., Irani, F. and Trivedi, G.Y., 2020. Impact of Himalayan singing bowls meditation session on mood and heart rate variability . [8] Goldsby, T.L., Goldsby, M.E., McWalters, M. and Mills, P.J., 2022. Sound healing: Mood, emotional, and spiritual well-being interrelationships. Religions, 13, p.123 . [9] Cotoia, A., Dibello, F., Moscatelli, F., Sciusco, A., Polito, P., Modolo, A., Gallo, C., Cibelli, G. and Cinnella, G., 2018. Effects of Tibetan music on neuroendocrine and autonomic functions in patients waiting for surgery . [10] Jain, S., McKusick, E., Ciccone, L., Sprengel, M. and Ritenbaugh, C., 2023. Sound healing reduces generalized anxiety during the pandemic. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 74, p.102947. [11] Jasemi, M., Aazami, S. and Zabihi, R.E., 2016. The effects of music therapy on anxiety and depression of cancer patients. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 22(4), pp.455–458. [12] Cai, Y., Yang, G., Liu, Y., Zou, X., Yin, H., Jin, X., Liu, X., Wang, C., Robinson, N. and Liu, J., 2025. Therapeutic effects of singing bowls: A systematic review of clinical studies . [13] Gkolias, V., Amaniti, A., Triantafyllou, A., Papakonstantinou, P., Kartsidis, P., Paraskevopoulos, E., Bamidis, P.D., Hadjileontiadis, L. and Kouvelas, D., 2020. Reduced pain and analgesic use after acoustic binaural beats therapy in chronic pain . [14] Rio-Alamos, C., Montefusco-Siegmund, R., Cañete, T., Sotomayor, J. and Fernandez-Teruel, A., 2023. Acute relaxation response induced by Tibetan singing bowl sounds . [15] Liu, Y., Bi, K., Hodges, S. and Kong, J., 2024. Harmonious healing: Advances in music therapy and other alternative therapy for depression and beyond . [16] Lin, F.-W., Yang, Y.-H. and Wang, J.-Y., 2025. Effects of Tibetan singing bowl intervention on psychological and physiological health in adults . [17] Trivedi, G.Y. and Saboo, B., 2019. A comparative study of the impact of Himalayan singing bowls and supine silence on stress index and heart rate variability . [18] Pant, U., Frishkopf, M., Park, T., Norris, C.M. and Papathanassoglou, E., 2022. A neurobiological framework for the therapeutic potential of music and sound interventions for post-traumatic stress symptoms in critical illness survivors . [19] Landis-Shack, N., Heinz, A.J. and Bonn-Miller, M.O., 2017. Music therapy for posttraumatic stress in adults: A theoretical review. National Psychomusicology, 27(4), pp.334–342. [20] Saville, P., Kinney, C., Heiderscheit, A. and Himmerich, H., 2025. Exploring the intersection of ADHD and music: A systematic review . [21] Martin-Moratinos, M., Bella-Fernández, M. and Blasco-Fontecilla, H., 2023. Effects of music on ADHD and potential application in serious video games . [22] Lane, J.D., Kasian, S.J., Owens, J.E. and Marsh, G.R., 1998. Binaural auditory beats affect vigilance performance and mood . [23] Altenmüller, E. and Schlaug, G., 2013. Neurologic music therapy: The beneficial effects of music making on neurorehabilitation . [24] Ribeiro, A.S.F., Ramos, A., Bermejo, E., Casero, M., Corrales, J.M. and Grantham, S., 2014. Effects of different musical stimuli in vital signs and facial expressions in patients with cerebral damage. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 46(2), pp.118–124. [25] Walter, N. and Hinterberger, T., 2022. Neurophysiological effects of a singing bowl massage . [26] Kim, S.-C. and Choi, M.-J., 2023. Does the sound of a singing bowl synchronize meditational brainwaves in the listeners?

Written by Lewis Powell, Wellness CEO, Spiritual Leader & Teacher Lewis Powell is a teacher, spiritual mentor, and public speaker. He founded the Kambo Practitioner Alliance and directs Inner Guru CIC. His work blends psychology with spiritual growth, helping people break old patterns, reconnect to purpose, and step into purpose-driven self-actualisation. Most people hear about Kambo the same way. A friend mentions it, something surfaces online, or someone says it helped them reset in a way nothing else had. That curiosity is a reasonable place to start. But curiosity alone is not enough. Kambo deserves to be understood properly. I have worked with Kambo for years, trained practitioners across the UK, and watched how this practice is both used and misused in the modern wellness space. What follows is what I wish more people knew before they searched for a session. Where kambo actually comes from Kambo is a natural secretion collected from the Giant Monkey Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), native to the Amazon basin. For generations, the Matsés and neighbouring Panoan-speaking peoples of the western Amazon have used it as part of their traditional practice to strengthen the body, clear illness, and prepare hunters for days in the forest. This is not a new wellness trend dressed up in ancient language. The knowledge base behind Kambo is deep and specific, belonging to communities that have held it carefully for a very long time. That context matters when we talk about how it enters the mainstream. What actually happens in a session Kambo is applied to small burn points on the skin's surface, not ingested. This allows peptides in the secreted fluid to enter the lymphatic system directly. The body responds quickly and noticeably. In the first few minutes, most people experience a rapid rise in heart rate, a surge of heat moving through the body, sweating, and a physical purge. This purge, usually nausea and vomiting, is not a side effect. It is central to the process. The body is doing what it is being asked to do. The intensity is real, but it is usually short. A typical active phase lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. Most people are sitting up and talking within the hour. What follows that window is where the more subtle shifts begin to show. Why people seek it out People come to Kambo for many different reasons. Some are dealing with chronic fatigue, brain fog, or immune challenges that have not responded to conventional approaches. Others are in a period of life where something feels stuck, emotionally, physically, or mentally, and they want to move through it rather than around it. It is important to be clear here, Kambo is not a cure. It is not a substitute for medical care. When used properly, it can create a window, a period of heightened clarity, reset nervous system function, and a certain kind of openness that some people describe as the first time they have felt like themselves in years. What happens after that window, the choices made, the integration done, is where the real work lives. What most people get wrong There are two dominant narratives about Kambo in popular culture. One portrays it as a miracle, a shortcut to healing, transformation, and spiritual breakthrough. The other treats it as inherently dangerous, to be avoided entirely. Both miss the point. Kambo is not a psychedelic. It does not produce visions or altered states of consciousness. It works through the physical body, specifically through peptides that interact with the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and immune systems. The experience is bodily, not psychological. The risks are real, but they are almost entirely a function of how Kambo is used. Proper screening eliminates the most serious contraindications. Proper preparation and dosage management account for most of what remains. Kambo is not inherently dangerous. It requires competence from the person facilitating it. Who should not use kambo This is the part of the conversation that matters most, and it is the part most often skipped over in enthusiastic online accounts. Kambo is contraindicated for people with heart conditions, serious liver or kidney disease, a history of stroke, certain psychiatric diagnoses, those who are pregnant, and several other categories. There are also important interactions with certain medications and substances that must be assessed before any session. A practitioner who does not take a full health history and screen rigorously before applying Kambo is not practising Kambo. They are applying a powerful compound without the foundation that makes it safe. That distinction is not minor. Training, responsibility, and the state of the field Kambo is spreading faster than the knowledge base around it. In the UK and across Europe, it is possible to receive Kambo from someone who has done a weekend course, watched a few videos, or simply used it themselves and decided to start facilitating. That is a problem. A trained practitioner understands not just the application, but the physiology behind it. They know how to read the body's response, when to adjust, when to stop, and how to hold space for someone going through a genuinely intense physical process. They also know when to refer someone on rather than proceed. Responsible practice includes the conversation before and after the session, not just the 40 minutes in the middle. It includes follow up. It includes knowing the origins of Kambo and approaching it with the respect that knowledge demands. Respecting where this comes from As Kambo continues to spread through Western wellness culture, one thing risks being lost, the source. The peptides in Kambo have been studied extensively by researchers, including the Italian scientist Vittorio Erspamer, who identified over 30 active compounds in the secretion. That scientific interest has never gone away. Exciting ongoing research is currently examining the therapeutic potential of Kambo's peptides, including their antimicrobial, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties. This is an area of active scientific inquiry right now, not historical curiosity. That interest has also grown alongside commercial interest, and in some cases, indigenous communities have been excluded from both the profit and the conversation about how their secretion is being used. My own work has taken me deeper into this history than most. My book, Matsés, First Contact: Oral Testimony and the Historical Record of Contact and Cultural Transition, documents the 1969 first contact between the Matsés people and the outside world, drawn directly from elder testimony and recorded with the community's knowledge and permission. The Matsés are among the primary custodians of Kambo knowledge. Understanding their history, on their own terms, changes how you approach this practice. Ethical sourcing, genuine respect for origin, and some humility about what we are working with are not optional extras for the practitioner who takes this work seriously. They are part of the practice itself. A final word If you are curious about Kambo, that is a legitimate place to be. It has helped many people, and the interest in it is not unfounded. But curiosity is the beginning of the process, not the end of it. Understand what it is and what it is not. Ask hard questions of anyone who offers to facilitate a session. Find out where they trained, how they screen, and what their approach to aftercare looks like. The quality of the practitioner is the most important variable in any Kambo experience. For those looking to train professionally in the UK, to learn Kambo from a rigorous, ethical, and grounded foundation, you can find out more here . Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lewis Powell Lewis Powell, Wellness CEO, Spiritual Leader & Teacher Lewis Powell teaches and speaks on real psychological and spiritual change. He founded the Kambo Practitioner Alliance and leads community wellbeing work through Inner Guru CIC. He created NEOSH to train space holders in pattern-breaking and awareness-led healing techniques. His work blends psychology and spiritual growth, pushing people toward self-actualisation and purpose that’s actually lived, not performed. He writes about why we aren't getting better, culture, and indigenous communities. Have you ever wanted to change your life but felt the pull to stay the same was stronger? That’s exactly the space he talks into.

Written by Heidi Richards Mooney, Author, Coach & Entrepreneur Heidi Richards Mooney is a dynamic professional speaker, celebrated author, seasoned entrepreneur, and Senior Executive Contributor dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to succeed. As a past president of the Florida Speakers Association, she has inspired countless audiences with her expertise in PR, internet marketing, and brand elevation. “Personal brand” can feel intimidating. For some, it sounds self-promotional. For others, it feels ego-driven. And for many seasoned executives, it simply feels unnecessary. “I have a company. That’s enough.” Until it isn’t. We’ve all watched it happen. A founder is pushed out of the company she built. A CEO is removed after a board shift. A corporate leader is restructured out of a role she thought was secure. And in that moment, the difference becomes clear. The leaders who built an Authority Footprint begin again with momentum. The ones who didn’t begin from silence. “You can lose a title. You can lose a company. But if you’ve built an authority footprint, you don’t lose your voice.” What is an Authority Footprint? An Authority Footprint is not self-promotion. It is not oversharing. It is not making yourself the product. It is the visible, consistent expression of what you stand for, what you know, and how you lead, independent of your current role. It is the body of thought, contribution, and perspective that exists, whether your name is on the door or not. When you shift the language from “personal brand” to Authority Footprint, something changes. It becomes strategic, sustainable, and intellectual. It becomes an asset. The florist who became more than the shop There’s something I’ve learned over decades of entrepreneurship. I started as a florist, a brick-and-mortar business with local customers, seasonal rhythms, and community roots. But over time, I didn’t just build a flower shop. I wrote, I spoke, I served in Chamber leadership, I launched media platforms, and I mentored women in business. My authority stopped being tied to a storefront and started being tied to a philosophy. If the shop disappeared tomorrow, my work would not, because my footprint exists beyond a building. “Your business may be the vehicle. But your authority is the driver.” That realization didn’t happen overnight. It happened because the contribution extended beyond the transaction. The flower shop was one expression of leadership, not the entirety of it. The myth of security When I served in Chamber leadership, I learned something profound about titles. Positions rotate, terms end, and leadership transitions. When my time in that role concluded, I didn’t feel like I had lost something. I felt like I had completed a season because the relationships, the voice, and the contributions didn’t disappear with the title. They traveled with me. That’s when I realized authority should never be rented, it should be owned. “If your influence disappears when your title does, it was never fully yours.” We’re conditioned to believe our position equals security. Title equals stability. Office equals authority. Company equals identity. But roles are temporary, markets shift, boards change, and ownership transitions. If your authority lives only inside your current organization, it can vanish overnight. If your authority lives in your ideas, your contributions, and your voice, it travels with you. “True authority isn’t assigned by a board. It’s earned through consistent contribution.” A real world contrast Imagine two CEOs are unexpectedly removed. CEO A has led internally for years but never written, spoken, or participated in broader industry dialogue. CEO B has consistently shared insights, published thought leadership, mentored publicly, and built visibility beyond her organization. Both lose their positions. CEO A must introduce herself from scratch, while CEO B receives calls. The difference isn’t ego. It’s the footprint they have created during their journey as leaders. How to build an Authority Footprint without becoming the brand Clarify what you stand for, not what you sell, what you believe. Contribute consistently. Write, speak, mentor, share insights, and participate in conversations. Separate title from voice. Speak not only as “CEO of…” but as a thinker and practitioner. Document your philosophy. Articles, interviews, podcasts, and guest columns create permanence. Think legacy, not algorithm. Authority compounds over time. “An Authority Footprint is built in seasons of stability so it can carry you through seasons of change.” The power of beginning again One of the most powerful shifts in my own leadership language has been this. We don’t start over, we begin again. Starting over implies erasure. Beginning again assumes growth. When one season ends, whether by choice or circumstance, you are not erased. You are evolved. And if you have built an Authority Footprint, you don’t disappear in transition. You reposition, you pivot, you continue, because your authority was never confined to a job description. Building your Authority Footprint Your company may evolve. Your title may change. Your office may disappear. But if you’ve built an Authority Footprint, your influence remains intact. You won’t be rebuilding from zero, you’ll be building from recognition. “You don’t need a personal brand. You need an Authority Footprint strong enough to outlast your title.” Authority isn’t about the spotlight. It’s about substance. And substance travels with you, wherever you choose to begin again. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Heidi Richards Mooney Heidi Richards Mooney, Author, Coach & Entrepreneur Heidi Richards Mooney is a dynamic professional speaker, celebrated author, seasoned entrepreneur, and Senior Executive Contributor dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses to succeed. As a past president of the Florida Speakers Association, she has inspired countless audiences with her expertise in PR, internet marketing, and brand elevation. A small business owner and PR strategist, Heidi specializes in helping clients amplify their online presence, craft compelling narratives, and achieve measurable results. She empowers her clients to get their websites and online profiles noticed by leveraging innovative Public Relations campaigns, capitalizing on achievements to secure media attention, and building a consistent and influential brand voice.

Written by Ilke Atasel, Agile and Integral Coach Ilke Atasel is an Agile Coach, Team Facilitator, Project Manager, and Integral Professional Coach with over a decade of experience in the gaming industry. Certified by ICAgile and Integral Coaching Canada, she blends Agile practices with Integral Coaching to inspire growth, collaboration, and lasting change in teams and individuals. We’re wired by our habits, and becoming flexible with them can feel like a threat to our whole system. Resistance shows up because doing things the way we always have is simply easier, even when it isn’t helping us grow. Rigidity and resistance to change make it harder to move with life’s natural flow. When something unexpected happens, it can feel like our whole world is crashing and crumbling. Even using the word “change” can feel limiting. Right away, it creates pressure. We get caught in a constant push and pull between our habits and what we feel we should change. Two steps forward, one step back. Pressure and disappointment make everything harder, and eventually, we give up. Flexibility, on the other hand, opens space for possibilities. It doesn’t rely on rigid A to B points that trap us in a cycle of back and forth. Even being just 10% flexible in a situation can make us feel expanded and, surprisingly, closer to the life we want. With flexibility, there’s no shame, guilt, or disappointment. Every small decision, every tiny choice becomes a win. Here are some simple activities you can include in your day, not to create huge changes, but to gently make your system more flexible and show that change is not a threat to your existence. The wrong order experiment: Do two things today in the “wrong” order, shoes before jacket, email before coffee. Notice how your brain protests, and how quickly it adapts anyway. The 10% twist: Do one thing today just 10% differently, take a new street, change your coffee order, sit in a different spot. It’s not about the change itself, it’s about showing your brain, “I can shift, and nothing breaks.” The silent reply: In one conversation, choose not to fill the silence immediately. Let the moment breathe and see what emerges when you don’t rush to rescue it. The pause before yes: When someone asks something of you, wait three seconds before answering. In that tiny gap, notice if your “yes” is real or automatic. The micro disruption: Set a random alarm, and when it rings, change whatever you’re doing for two minutes. Stand if you’re sitting, step outside, drink water, interrupt the script. Opposite hand moment: Use your non-dominant hand for one simple task, brushing teeth, or opening a door. Let the awkwardness remind you that growth often feels unfamiliar before it feels natural. The pattern break greeting: Greet someone in a slightly different way than usual, warmer, slower, more present. Tiny shifts in connection can rewire entire interactions. Micro rewrite: When you catch a thought like “I always” or “I never,” gently change one word. “Sometimes” turns rigid stories into flexible ones. One honest sentence: In a conversation, say one thing slightly more honest than usual. Not dramatic, just 5% more real. The deliberate detour: Choose inconvenience on purpose once a day. A longer road, stairs instead of the elevator, stop running to catch the bus, and practice meeting life without rushing to optimize it. Mood before action flip: Instead of waiting to feel motivated, take one tiny action first. Let the mood catch up like a slow friend jogging behind. The what if it works switch: When doubt appears, add one quiet question, “What if this actually goes well?” No need to believe it, just let it exist. Tiny boundary practice: Say “let me think about it” instead of committing immediately. It’s a soft boundary, wrapped in politeness. Curiosity over control: When something unexpected happens, ask “What’s interesting about this?” before fixing it. Train your mind to explore before it corrects. Before we wrap up, let’s pause for a moment of reflection. Awareness is where change begins, and just noticing your patterns is already your first small step toward making different choices. Which activities naturally catch your attention, where you think, “Yeah, I want to do that”? Which activities make you squirm or feel a bit uncomfortable? Which activities could easily slide into your day without much effort? If this resonates with you, I would love to connect. Leave a comment, send a message, follow along on Instagram , or simply send me an email. Take a moment, be curious with yourself, and remember, even small observations are wins. Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Ilke Atasel Ilke Atasel, Agile and Integral Coach Ilke Atasel is an experienced Agile and Integral Professional Coach who helps teams build healthy dynamics, overcome blockers, and effective processes in both cross-functional and matrix organizations. She also works with individuals to overcome self-limiting beliefs, turn ideas into action, make conscious decisions, and cultivate resilience, confidence, and compassion. Drawing on somatic and neuroscientific tools, her coaching supports lasting transformation and the integration of new mindsets and behaviors.

Written by Aleksandra Tsenkova, Psychotherapist, Author, Speaker Blending Person-Centred therapy with coaching and DBT, Aleksandra Tsenkova helps people worldwide heal trauma, unpack emotional wounds, and step into confidence. Artificial intelligence has begun to enter spaces that were once considered deeply human. From mental health apps to AI-powered chatbots offering emotional support, technology is increasingly positioned as a companion in moments of vulnerability. For many people, these tools offer accessibility, immediacy, and a sense that someone, or something, is always available to listen. In this article, I explore what the growing presence of AI in mental health reveals about the enduring importance of authentic human connection. The growing presence of AI in conversations about mental health invites an important reflection, "What does it truly mean to be heard?" While technology can generate thoughtful responses and simulate empathy, the essence of a healing conversation may lie in something far less technical, the experience of genuine human presence. The person-centred approach, developed by Carl Rogers, reminds us that psychological growth often emerges not from advice or analysis, but from the experience of being deeply understood by another person. 1. The rise of AI in mental health Artificial intelligence has increasingly entered the field of mental health support. AI-powered chatbots, digital therapy platforms, and mental health apps are becoming more common, offering users immediate access to conversations that promise understanding, guidance, and emotional support. For many people, especially those who may feel hesitant to reach out to a therapist or loved one, these tools can feel like a safe and accessible first step. Technology also responds to a very real need. In moments of loneliness, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm, people often seek immediate relief. AI tools can provide instant replies, offer psychoeducational insights, and guide users through structured exercises designed to help regulate emotions or reframe difficult thoughts. In a fast-paced world where professional support is not always immediately available, this accessibility can be both practical and reassuring. Yet, the growing presence of AI in mental health also invites a deeper question, "What actually makes a conversation psychologically healing?" While technology may be able to generate supportive responses and simulate empathy, the foundations of therapeutic change have long been understood as relational. The person-centred approach, developed by Carl Rogers, reminds us that healing conversations are not defined solely by what is said, but by the quality of human presence within the relationship. 2. When listening becomes a simulation One of the most impressive aspects of modern AI systems is their ability to analyse language patterns and generate responses that appear thoughtful and supportive. By processing large amounts of data, AI can recognise emotional cues in written text and respond with carefully constructed phrases that resemble empathy. It can acknowledge distress, offer reassurance, and suggest coping strategies, often within seconds. This capacity for rapid and seemingly understanding responses can make AI feel like an attentive listener. Unlike human conversations, it does not become distracted, impatient, or fatigued. It is available at any moment, ready to respond with calm and consistent language designed to validate a person’s experience. However, while AI may replicate the language of empathy, it does not actually experience the relational moment taking place within the conversation. In other words, it simulates understanding rather than truly encountering another person’s emotional world. AI processes information about emotions, whereas human beings encounter emotions within a shared relational space. Listening, in its deepest sense, is therefore more than generating an appropriate response. It involves being present with another person’s experience and participating in a moment of emotional connection. But if listening becomes a simulation, what might be lost from the human experience of being truly heard? 3. The forgotten power of human presence and why it cannot be automated While AI can simulate conversation, it cannot replicate the transformative power of genuine human presence. At the core of the person-centred approach, developed by Carl Rogers, are three relational conditions that define what makes a conversation truly healing: Empathy, the ability to deeply understand another person’s inner world and reflect it with sensitivity. Congruence, the authenticity and genuineness of the listener, showing up as a real person rather than a scripted voice. Unconditional positive regard, accepting the other without judgement, creating a space where they feel safe to be themselves. These are not techniques, checklists, or rehearsed responses. They are qualities that emerge naturally in a real human encounter. Presence involves emotional attunement, the subtle responsiveness to another’s feelings, authenticity, being fully oneself in the interaction, and relational safety, the unspoken sense that one can be vulnerable without fear. Such experiences arise between people and cannot be programmed or automated. While AI can offer words that sound caring, it cannot enter the shared emotional space that allows growth, understanding, and healing to occur. True presence is felt, not calculated, and it is this relational depth that remains at the heart of meaningful human connection. 4. The paradox of modern connection Ironically, we live in one of the most digitally connected eras in history. Social media, instant messaging, video calls, and AI-driven platforms keep us constantly in touch, and communication has never been faster or more convenient. Yet, despite this unprecedented connectivity, many people report feeling lonelier and more emotionally disconnected than ever. The paradox is striking, the more tools we create to communicate, the rarer genuine presence sometimes becomes. Conversations are often interrupted by multitasking, filtered through screens, or reduced to advice and commentary rather than true listening. Emotional depth can be lost amid the speed and volume of constant connection. This tension invites reflection, when was the last time someone listened to you without interrupting, analysing, or trying to fix you? When did you last feel truly understood, seen, and accepted? In a world that prioritises efficiency and constant output, these simple yet profound experiences of being fully heard have become unexpectedly rare and, perhaps, more essential than ever. 5. The future of mental health may still be human Looking ahead, technology will undoubtedly continue to play a role in mental health, making support more accessible and providing helpful information at the touch of a button. AI tools can assist with psychoeducation, emotional tracking, and even early intervention, offering resources to people who might otherwise go without. Yet, the deepest psychological shifts, the moments of insight, healing, and growth, still arise within authentic human relationships. Technology can complement care, but it cannot replace the emotional attunement, empathy, and genuine presence that humans bring to one another. In a time of automation, the ability to offer genuine human presence may become one of the most valuable skills we have, a reminder that even as tools evolve, the human heart remains at the center of psychological wellbeing. Finale Even in a world filled with AI, nothing replaces the impact of genuine human presence. In this context, as interest in the person-centred approach continues to grow, I wrote a book and developed an educational course exploring how these principles can be applied not only in therapeutic practice but also in everyday conversations. To explore how empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard can help people cultivate meaningful connections in a world increasingly mediated by technology, you can check out my book on the person-centred approach  or join my online course introducing Carl Rogers’ approach . Follow me on  Facebook ,  Instagram , and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Aleksandra Tsenkova Aleksandra Tsenkova, Psychotherapist, Author, Speaker Aleksandra Tsenkova supports individuals on their healing journey by integrating Person-Centred therapy, coaching, and DBT. She helps people process emotional pain, recover from trauma, and rebuild inner trust to step into their confidence. With a deep belief in each person’s capacity for growth, she creates space for powerful self-discovery and lasting transformation. Her work is grounded in a passion for empowering others to reclaim their voice and unlock their potential. Through her writing, Aleksandra invites readers into meaningful conversations about healing, resilience, and personal freedom.

Written by: Henry Van Niekerk According to estimates by the consulting agency Research Nester, the global e-commerce market was valued at $37.2 trillion in 2025 and is projected to reach $44.3 trillion in 2026, eventually growing to $215.2 trillion by 2035. For retailers, this means intensifying competition and a higher cost of marketing mistakes: companies are increasingly forced to search for more predictable models of scaling. Performance marketing expert in e-commerce Kim Romanov, who has developed promotion strategies for numerous companies, has introduced an approach that reduces uncertainty in e-commerce through managed scaling. He applies this methodology in his own brand of tools designed for DIY enthusiasts. Within two years, the company he founded reached $13.5 million in revenue and stood out in the market by positioning utilitarian products within a gift-oriented purchasing scenario. In this exclusive interview, the expert explains how this was achieved. Kim, how has your experience in developing marketing strategies for other brands been reflected in your own business? The approaches I am now implementing in my own company represent the culmination of 15 years of experience in e-commerce marketing. Since 2010, I ran a small retail business in Ukraine, where part of the sales were conducted through online marketplaces. In 2018, I focused on developing my own marketing firm, Romanov Agency, and in 2024, already in the United States, I decided to launch a new trading company. In this business, I apply the approaches I developed over many years of work. I spent a long time studying the market, analyzing user demand and discussions on forums. My trading company specializes in selling tools for home use. The tools and DIY category is both highly competitive and extensive, while demand in this segment is largely seasonal. According to estimates by Research Nester, the power tools market may grow from $36.7 billion in 2025 to $85.1 billion by 2035. What were the first steps you took? How did you build a product assortment that matched product–market requirements? I began by searching for in-demand products that are not widely available in stores but can create a strong “wow” effect in advertising. Of course, high product quality and a margin of at least 15–20% were among the key priorities. From the very beginning, I also understood that it was necessary to create an offering that competitors did not have. Research conducted both by me personally and by members of my team showed that tools have clear potential as gifts. This became a key insight, and we positioned the store’s products not as purely utilitarian items, but as presents that can be given to parents, friends, or spouses. Over time, this positioning turned out to be effective: within two years, the company’s revenue exceeded $13.5 million. Under the “tool as a gift” concept, the highest demand occurs in the fourth quarter — the period when, starting with Black Friday, people begin purchasing gifts for Christmas. Beyond the positioning concept, you built a foundation that allows the business to scale. What principles underpin this system? My experience shows that for effective e-commerce development, it is important to first establish a solid foundation and only then plan actions aimed at increasing traffic and sales. Building this base was exactly what my team and I focused on during the company’s first year. We conducted tests, evaluated seasonality, analyzed search queries, and created high-quality landing pages tailored to different advertising formats. We also planned and structured advertising campaigns in advance, carefully developing creatives and offers that later formed the basis of our advertising materials. It was precisely this systematic work that created the foundation for the company’s growth. In the fall of 2024, ahead of Black Friday, we developed our strategy and began actively launching advertising campaigns. As a result, in November and December alone, we generated $3.6 million in revenue. How did you achieve such high efficiency in customer acquisition? I am a proponent of performance marketing — an approach to online promotion focused on measurable results and driven by data. However, for the system to work predictably, it is important to define target metrics in advance and continuously ensure that all activities remain within these parameters. At the same time, my key benchmark is contribution margin: growth should generate marginal contribution, not just revenue. We defined our target metrics taking into account seasonality and demand dynamics. In practice, this meant that during peak periods the team launched campaigns within predetermined efficiency thresholds; on certain days, the budget could reach up to $100,000. Our primary acquisition channel is targeted advertising, which generates the majority of our sales. In addition, we use contextual advertising on Google and Bing. When running campaigns of this scale, it is necessary to continuously analyze a wide range of metrics. For this reason, under my leadership we developed an internal custom dashboard based on our own data, which provides ongoing monitoring of key marketing indicators and helps manage the budget in real time. With so many marketing strategies and approaches available, how did you choose the direction you ultimately decided to follow? How did you select your analytics tools? In reality, there are many strategies, but the foundation of our business is performance marketing. We constantly test different tools, but always evaluate them through the lens of our unit economics. This approach has allowed us to identify the product positions that are truly in demand among customers. I always make decisions based on actual data and carefully evaluate the results; even if a particular step does not deliver the expected outcome, that information is still preserved so we can avoid similar scenarios in the future. Given the nature of our business, we actively rely on paid advertising traffic, and our choice of analytics tools was shaped accordingly. At the same time, we are now actively developing organic traffic, which will also influence the selection of tools we use going forward. In your assessment, how predictable are the results delivered by the strategy you implemented? Can everything be determined in advance based on analytics data, or are there still surprises? We have developed a strong understanding of our seasonality, and the strategy implemented under my leadership delivers fairly predictable results. We know which products our customers want to see in the assortment at different times of the year and which advertising messages will resonate. In general, testing hypotheses has become a continuous process for us, and the market rarely brings any major surprises. Our performance-driven approach involves constant monitoring, shutting down ineffective tools, relaunching them when necessary, and continuously optimizing operations to maintain profitability. Looking ahead, I plan to expand beyond the United States and launch sales in European countries. This is still a market we have not fully explored — seasonality differs there, and it may require different messaging and approaches to building advertising campaigns. Your approach requires regularly revising priorities and key metrics. How do you reduce uncertainty under such conditions? Target metrics, of course, change as the business scales. When the goal is to generate $1 million in revenue, certain approaches and tools are used; if the target is $5 million, different ones are required. For example, the company is currently preparing for its next stage of scaling, and I am considering running part of our sales through Amazon to help offset seasonality. At the early stage, entering a marketplace would not have been justified. Accordingly, many performance indicators will change, and my team and I are now modeling different scenarios to ensure that growth remains predictable. I always say: when a company grows, staying within the same boundaries as yesterday is a mistake. When a business enters a new stage, revising key metrics together with developing new strategic approaches, on the contrary, reduces uncertainty and provides momentum to move forward.

Salisbury, United Kingdom, March 17, 2026 – Researcher Gabriel H. Azuola has been nominated for the Premio Juventud Nariñista al Mérito Académico Emergente (Nariñista Youth Award for Emerging Academic Merit), an academic distinction awarded by the Academia Patriótica Nacional Antonio Nariño (Antonio Nariño National Patriotic Academy) in Colombia. The nomination recognizes his historical research on Luis Eduardo de Azuola y Rocha and his participation in the independence process that contributed to the formation of the Republic of Colombia. The award is granted by the Academia Patriótica Nacional Antonio Nariño, an institution dedicated to studying, preserving, and promoting the intellectual and political legacy of Antonio Nariño, one of the most influential figures in Colombia’s independence movement and a central voice in the early republican tradition of the country. Gabriel H. Azuola’s research focuses on the life and historical role of General Luis Eduardo de Azuola y Rocha, a jurist, military officer, and public servant who participated in the formative years of the Colombian Republic. His work examines Azuola y Rocha’s involvement in the political and institutional transformations that accompanied the independence era in Spanish America, seeking to reconstruct the contributions of figures who played important roles in shaping the early republican state. According to Azuola, the research aims to bring renewed attention to individuals whose contributions were significant but have often remained outside the central narratives of independence. “Luis Eduardo de Azuola y Rocha belongs to a generation of public servants who helped build the institutions of the new republic during its earliest years, yet whose contributions have remained largely outside the spotlight of traditional historiography,” Azuola explained. “This research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of that formative period and the individuals who participated in it.” The project is part of ongoing historical work connected to Casa de Azuola, an initiative dedicated to researching and documenting the historical legacy associated with the Azuola family and its connections to broader developments in Spanish American history. This nomination follows a previous recognition received by Azuola in Colombia. On May 9, 2025, he was awarded the Orden al Mérito del Museo Casa de la Bagatela (Order of Merit of the Casa de la Bagatela Museum) in Villa del Rosario, Cúcuta, after presenting his research during the III Lunada Jurídica Internacional (III International Legal Lunada), an academic gathering focused on the legal and historical dimensions of the independence movements in Spanish America. “Historical research is also a way of reconnecting with the broader intellectual and political traditions that shaped the emergence of republican institutions in the Americas,” Azuola noted. The Premio Juventud Nariñista al Mérito Académico Emergente recognizes scholars whose work contributes to the study and understanding of the ideas, institutions, and individuals that influenced the independence of Colombia and the development of republican thought in the region. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on April 9, 2026, at the Museo de Zipaquirá – Casa Guillermo Quevedo Zornoza, in the city of Zipaquirá, Colombia, as part of the academic activities organized by the Academia Patriótica Nacional Antonio Nariño.

Written by Joanne Angel Barry Colon, Certified Wholistic Personal Trainer, Intuitive Healer & Cosmic Energy Reader Joanne Angel Barry Colon has 30+ years in the health, fitness, and wellness industry. She is the Wholistic Fitness owner located in Queens, New York, a certified holistic personal trainer, intuitive healer, cosmic energy reader, student of Astrology, Master of Numerology, and Creator of Chakra Balance Numerology Cosmic Energy Forecast Deck. There is a fascinating intersection between biology, neurology, and energetic awareness that many women begin to notice as they enter perimenopause and menopause. What often feels confusing or overwhelming at first can actually reveal something much deeper about the way the body is shifting and recalibrating. Your body is not only biochemical, it is also electrical. Every heartbeat, every nerve signal, and every thought that moves through the brain travels along electrical pathways. The human nervous system operates through electrical impulses that allow the brain and body to communicate with one another in perfect rhythm. Hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, help regulate how stable and balanced that communication remains. When a woman enters perimenopause, that rhythm begins to change. Estrogen, which once flowed in a relatively predictable pattern throughout the menstrual cycle, begins to fluctuate more dramatically before it eventually declines. These fluctuations influence several important systems within the body, including the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system, which governs our fight or flight and rest and restore responses, as well as the hypothalamus, the small but powerful area of the brain responsible for regulating temperature, sleep, and hormonal balance. Estrogen also plays an important neuroprotective role. It helps regulate key neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, chemicals that stabilize mood, support restful sleep, and maintain balanced nerve signalling. When estrogen levels begin to shift, the nervous system can become more reactive and more sensitive to stimulation. This is why many women begin experiencing changes that may seem sudden or unexpected. Some women notice a heightened sensitivity to sound, bright lights, or crowded environments. Others experience disrupted sleep patterns or find themselves waking at unusual hours during the night. Heart palpitations, temperature fluctuations, hot flashes, sudden waves of fatigue or bursts of energy, and moments of anxiety that appear without a clear cause are also common experiences during this transition. From a biological perspective, the explanation is quite simple. The nervous system is becoming more electrically responsive because the hormonal buffers that once helped stabilize it are shifting. Yet there is another layer to this experience that many women feel but often struggle to explain. During this stage of life, the body is transitioning out of the reproductive phase and moving into what many ancient traditions refer to as the wise woman or elder phase. Neurologically and hormonally, the brain begins to operate differently. It is not unusual for women during this time to report stronger intuition, heightened emotional awareness, a deeper sensitivity to the energy of their surroundings, and a much clearer inner voice. Some spiritual perspectives describe this transition as the body becoming more energetically receptive. As the nervous system recalibrates, women may find themselves more aware of environmental energy, subtle shifts in atmosphere, or even electromagnetic influences around them. Whether we view this transformation through the lens of neuroscience or spiritual awareness, the message remains the same, the nervous system is undergoing a powerful recalibration. It is also important to remember that menopause itself lasts only one day, the day that marks twelve consecutive months without a menstrual cycle. The years leading up to that moment are known as perimenopause, and it is during this phase that most of the neurological and hormonal shifts take place. This transition is not a decline. It is, in many ways, a rewiring of the nervous system. When the body is properly supported through restful sleep, strength training, balanced nutrition, emotional processing, and practices that regulate the nervous system, this phase can lead to greater clarity, deeper intuition, and a stronger sense of inner authority. Menopause is not the loss of power. It is the refinement of it. When we begin to understand what the body is truly doing during this transition, the conversation shifts. What once appeared as a collection of symptoms can instead be recognised as a profound biological and spiritual recalibration, one that prepares a woman to step fully into the wisdom she has been cultivating her entire life. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Joanne Angel Barry Colon Joanne Angel Barry Colon, Certified Wholistic Personal Trainer, Intuitive Healer & Cosmic Energy Reader Joanne Angel Barry Colon has 30+ years in the health, fitness, and wellness industry. She is the Wholistic Fitness owner located in Queens, New York, a certified holistic personal trainer, intuitive healer, cosmic energy reader, student of Astrology, Master of Numerology, and Creator of Chakra Balance Numerology Cosmic Energy Forecast Deck. She is the Host of Joanne's Healing Within TV Show, Joanne's Cosmic Energy Radio Show, and Author/Self-Publisher. Joanne's mission is to help women (men by referral) release issues from their tissues as they release emotional weight and fall in love with themselves while witnessing their transformation into the best version of themselves.

Written by Joseannie Martinez Author and Advocate Joseannie Martinez is an Afro-Dominican and self-publishing author from Paterson, New Jersey. In 2020, she launched her Instagram account @lightlyepilepsy to shift the narrative, destigmatize epilepsy, and provoke conversations. I was fifteen years old when I had my first seizure. I woke up to paramedics standing in my bedroom, confused and dealing with a terrible migraine. At first, I thought they were there for someone else until one of them said the words that changed my life: 'You had a seizure.' I had never experienced anything like that before. My family and I were left wondering how it happened and why. A few months later, after I had turned sixteen, I had another seizure and was officially diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I was prescribed Levetiracetam (Keppra) and suddenly had to adjust to a new routine of daily medication and medical tests. The diagnosis was difficult to process. Before epilepsy, I was focused on school and my future. I was in a medical arts program in high school because I had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Even though I understood what seizures were, I didn’t fully understand what epilepsy meant for my life. I tried to keep living like a normal teenager, but epilepsy made that challenging. I often had to leave school early because I wasn’t feeling well and was excused from gym during my junior and senior years. My medication also affected me physically, and being in the sun could sometimes trigger an aura, a type of focal seizure. Even with these challenges, I kept pushing forward. After graduating from high school, I attended trade school and became a dental assistant. I started working just before my twentieth birthday and discovered that I loved the hands-on experience, especially taking dental X-rays and assisting with procedures. Over time, living with epilepsy led me to something unexpected: advocacy. After years of navigating the condition, I began sharing my experiences online. I spoke about seizures, the emotional side of living with a neurological condition, and what I was learning about the brain and nervous system. Connecting with others in the epilepsy community helped me better understand my own journey and showed me how many people were searching for support and understanding. The more I advocated, the more inspired I became to help others—especially children who might be experiencing seizures for the first time. That inspiration led me to fulfill a childhood dream: becoming an author. My first children’s book, Lucky Feels Fuzzy, tells the story of a kitten with epilepsy who experiences an aura and receives comfort from his parents. The goal of the book is to help children understand seizures in a gentle and comforting way and remind them that they are not alone. After publishing the book, I began hearing from parents and members of the epilepsy community who said the story helped their children better understand what seizures feel like. Many families shared how meaningful it was to finally have a children’s story that explained epilepsy in a relatable way. Those conversations made me realize there were still other parts of the epilepsy journey that could feel confusing or scary for children, especially medical testing. Living with epilepsy often means regular doctor visits and neurological tests. One of the most common tests is an Electroencephalogram, also known as an EEG, which records the brain’s electrical activity. That realization inspired my second book, Lucky’s First EEG. In this story, Lucky returns to help children understand what an EEG is and what they can expect during the test. Just like my first book, the goal is to replace fear with understanding and help children feel more comfortable with the medical experiences that often come with epilepsy. What began as one of the most frightening moments of my life eventually became a purpose. Today, I continue advocating for epilepsy awareness while using storytelling to help young readers and families better understand the condition. My journey with epilepsy didn’t end with a diagnosis, it helped shape the path that led me to become both an advocate and an author. Both books are available for purchase on Amazon. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook  for more info! Read more from   Joseannie Martinez Joseannie Martinez, Advocate and Author After being diagnosed with epilepsy at 16, she dreamed of writing children’s books inspired by her own experiences to help others. In 2022, Martinez published her first book, 'Lucky Feels Fuzzy'. The story features a character with epilepsy and serves as a self-help resource for young readers, teaching them how to express their symptoms and advocate for themselves. By including cats of various colors, she also promotes inclusivity and highlights that epilepsy can affect both humans and animals.

Written by Dr. Katharina C Mahadeva Cadwell, Board-Certified Internal Medicine & Palliative Care Physician | The 6PM Collapse Coach Dr. Kat Mahadeva is a board-certified physician and creator of Biological Leadership™, a science-based framework for sustainable leadership. She helps high-achieving women align their biology with their ambition—so they can lead with clarity, resilience, and vision in every area of life. You set your bag down after another long day at work, maybe pour a glass of wine, maybe sit for a moment on the couch. Somewhere in the back of your mind, a familiar thought appears, the one that has been following you for months, maybe even years. Tonight, I should finally start. The business idea you can’t stop thinking about. The project that would eventually replace the job. The next chapter you know you’re capable of building. And then another voice arrives almost immediately, not tonight. You’re too tired to begin. Nothing catastrophic happened during the day. In fact, if someone asked how work was going, you might even say it was productive. But by early evening, the mental space required to think creatively and take a meaningful step toward independence has quietly disappeared. This moment is so common among high-performing professionals that most people assume it’s simply the price of having a demanding career. But the real cost is far greater than a tired evening. Without solving this pattern, the idea stays an idea. Another year passes. The job continues to own your energy, and the business you keep imagining never actually begins. Life slowly moves into what many professionals privately recognise as ‘someday mode’, a place where ambition remains alive, but the energy required to act on it never quite arrives. I call this pattern the 6PM Collapse. The confusing part What makes the 6PM Collapse so frustrating is that most of the people experiencing it are doing everything right. They are not living on fast food and four hours of sleep. In fact, many of them are highly optimised. They try to exercise regularly, hydrate properly, improve sleep hygiene, meditate, attend yoga or fitness classes, and manage their stress. They invest time and money into staying healthy, and yet the collapse still happens. By evening, the energy required to build the next chapter of their lives is gone. So the assumption becomes, I must need more time. But time is rarely the real problem. What’s actually happening inside the 6PM collapse As a physician, I began paying closer attention to something that didn’t quite fit the typical explanations for stress or burnout. What I noticed was far quieter and far more subtle. Throughout the workday, the human nervous system is constantly preparing for what might happen next. A meeting that could become tense, an email that requires careful wording, a conversation that carries emotional weight, or a decision that will affect other people. Each of these moments creates a small activation in the body. Your jaw tightens, your breath becomes slightly shallower, your shoulders lift almost imperceptibly, and your attention sharpens. Individually, these moments are insignificant. One brief tightening of the jaw or a moment of mental vigilance costs almost no energy at all. But across the span of a demanding workday, these micro-activations accumulate. And here is where psychology offers an important insight. Researchers have long observed what is known as the Zeigarnik effect, the brain’s tendency to keep unfinished or unresolved tasks active in our awareness. Open loops naturally hold our attention. In many ways, this mechanism is useful. It helps us remember what still needs to be done, drives productivity, and contributes to the satisfaction we feel when we complete something that was previously unresolved. The same principle explains why cliffhangers keep us watching the next episode or why unfinished projects continue to occupy our thoughts. The problem is not that the brain keeps track of unfinished loops. The problem is that many of these loops never fully close during the workday. A conversation that didn’t land quite right, an email that carried a subtle emotional charge, or a decision you’re still turning over in your mind, each of these open tabs continues to run quietly in the background. And because the brain and body are deeply interconnected, these open cognitive loops carry a physical signature. The nervous system and your body continue to operate as if the situation still requires attention. None of this feels dramatic in the moment. In fact, most people barely notice it happening. But when these small activations occur hundreds of times across a day and do not resolve completely, the energy cost compounds. What began as whispers eventually accumulates into something much heavier. By the time evening arrives, the nervous system has been running multiple open loops for hours. Your brain and body, working in tandem, are simply spent. The result is the familiar experience of the 6PM Collapse, not dramatic burnout, but a quiet depletion of the mental space and physical energy required to begin anything new. In other words, your nervous system has been paying small energy costs all day long, and by evening, the bill comes due. Why most stress solutions miss the mark Many traditional stress-management strategies focus on recovery after the fact. Meditation sessions, yoga classes, or scheduled somatic practices are all beneficial, and over time they do improve the nervous system’s overall baseline. But they also share one limitation, they require setting aside time. And for professionals already operating inside demanding schedules, that time is often the one resource in shortest supply. What if the real leverage point lies somewhere else? Instead of waiting until the end of the day to reset the system, it is far more effective to interrupt these activation loops while they are happening. In other words, rather than making time to reset, you learn to reset in time. A small difference in language, yet a profound difference in practice. Closing these loops as they arise prevents the accumulation that eventually leads to the 6PM Collapse. Over the course of a day, dozens of tiny resets restore energy that would otherwise have been quietly drained. And when that accumulation stops, something interesting begins to happen by evening. Energy returns, not in dramatic bursts of motivation, but in something much more valuable, mental space. The key shift This is where the real shift happens. A small difference in words creates a massive difference in life. Instead of waiting until the end of the day to recover, you begin interrupting activation in real time. You close loops as they appear, release tension when it starts, not hours later, and clear the road while you’re still driving it. And that changes everything. Because when these small activations resolve throughout the day, they stop accumulating. This means that by evening, your nervous system is no longer carrying the full weight of everything that happened since morning. That is how the pattern behind the 6PM Collapse begins to reverse. What happens when the collapse stops When those activation loops begin closing throughout the day, something subtle starts to change. The first shift isn’t productivity, it’s something quieter. Mental space returns. You get home and notice something unusual. You’re not foggy or mentally bruised. Your system still has enough capacity to think. And with that mental space comes something else many professionals haven’t felt in a long time. Tiny islands of mental energy begin to reappear, a few minutes where your mind feels clear instead of crowded, and small pockets of time where you can actually follow a thought instead of pushing it away. Your creativity begins to wake up again, and suddenly the thing you’ve been wanting to build doesn’t feel impossible anymore. You might open a document, sketch an idea, or spend thirty focused minutes on the project that will eventually become your exit, not because you forced yourself, but because the energy is finally available. This is how you can begin building your exit while still working the job that once consumed all of your energy. Where to start If the 6PM Collapse sounds familiar, the good news is that this pattern is highly trainable. Small interventions during the workday compound into enormous gains in evening capacity. What begins as noticing a single moment of tension or closing one open loop gradually turns into something much larger, a nervous system that no longer spends the entire day carrying unresolved activation. By evening, that reclaimed energy becomes usable again. That’s exactly what I teach inside ‘Available at 6PM’, a short training designed for professionals who want to arrive at the end of their workday with enough mental space and energy to begin building what comes next. Because most professionals don’t lack ambition, they already have that. What they’re missing is the usable energy that allows ambition to become action. When the 6PM Collapse disappears, something else becomes possible, the next chapter you’ve been thinking about finally has the energy to begin. If you’d like to start reclaiming that energy, you can learn more about the ‘Available at 6PM’ training here. Most people believe they need more time to build their exit. What you actually need is usable energy at the end of the day. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Katharina C Mahadeva Cadwell Dr. Katharina C Mahadeva Cadwell, Board-Certified Internal Medicine & Palliative Care Physician | The 6PM Collapse Coach Dr. Katharina Mahadeva is a board-certified physician, executive health resilience coach, and the founder of Vivo, Ltd. She created Biological Leadership™—a science-backed framework helping high-achieving women regulate stress, reclaim energy, and lead with clarity. A graduate of Stanford’s LEAD Executive Program and Harvard Business School Online, she studied Data Science and Digital Health to integrate systems thinking with high-performance biology. With over two decades in Internal Medicine and Palliative Care, Dr. Kat is redefining sustainable leadership by aligning strategy with the body that drives it.