This week on Healthy Living with Yoga Anita, I’m joined by Shari Duffy and Kyrah Altman of LEAD (Let’s Empower, Advocate, and Do Inc.).

When Shari’s daughter, Megghan, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at just 23 years old in January 2020, her mission didn’t stop — it grew stronger. Years earlier, Megghan and Kyrah had founded LEAD while still in high school after recognizing the lack of resources and support for young people and families facing a terminal cancer diagnosis.

A graduate of Fitchburg State University, Megghan was passionate about mental health advocacy and became a mental health counselor. Today, LEAD honors her legacy by providing free resources, mental health support, and coping strategies to young adults navigating life-altering diagnoses.

💛 LEAD is currently gathering data to measure the effectiveness of their FREE course — and they need participants and feedback to help expand beyond Massachusetts and reach people nationwide and globally.

👉 Take Megghan’s Course (FREE):
https://leadslearninglab.teachable.com/p/megghans-course

To support the mission, Shari also publishes adult coloring books through ShariB Creatives on Amazon, with all proceeds going directly to LEAD to keep the course free.

Let’s shine a light on this beautiful legacy of empowerment, advocacy, and love.

🎙️ Healthy Living with Yoga Anita – Community Spotlight!

This week I interviewed Arthur Pierce, Choir Director at Leominster High School and founder of the award-winning show choir, Ignition. Arthur began teaching locally in 2000 at St. Leo School and St. Anna School before joining Leominster Public Schools. After attending Show Choir Camps of America in Ohio, he launched Ignition—now in its third year and already earning top honors, including a recent bronze medal! 🏆

We were joined by student song captains Miriam Rosenbaum and Dusk Costa, who shared how they prepare, collaborate, and grow from judges’ feedback. Students even help inspire themes—last year featured Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and this year’s powerful show is Fallout, set in a dystopian future.

Arthur also created the Flamingo Show Choir Festival, celebrating Leominster’s landmark and bringing talented performers together. Choreography support comes from Julie Boyd, Zach Moore and Heather Mahan.

🎟️ Don’t miss the Flamingo Festival on March 7th!
Tickets: https://onthestage.tickets/show/leominster-music-department

✨ Support our amazing local students and the arts!
📻 Catch Healthy Living with Yoga Anita Saturday mornings on WLPZ 95.1FM.

#Leominster #ShowChoir #SupportTheArts #StudentLeadership #healthylivingwithyogaanita #YogaAnita #CommunitySpotlight #WLPZ #MusicEducation #LocalTalent

🎙️ New Episode: Healthy Living with Yoga Anita

This week, I sit down with Derek Craig, owner of Canvas and founder of the nonprofit Coff33 Corp. Derek is a Leominster native, LHS football alum (Class of 2006), whose journey took him from Central Massachusetts to Texas and into a career in specialty lighting—working on major projects including the African American Museum in Washington, DC.

After a life-altering eye infection that led to near-total vision loss, Derek returned home and transformed adversity into purpose. Through Coff33 Corp, his mission is to cultivate creativity, innovation, and community by creating an inclusive space for artistic expression and collaboration.

We’re also joined by Ascenzio Valeri, a friend of the program—musician, poet, and published author of My Descent Before Ascension. Ascenzio recently recited his poetry on WGBH (PBS), sharing powerful words rooted in resilience and self-expression.
🔗 Learn more about Ascenzio: https://respectedrejectz.com/

This episode is a heartfelt conversation about creativity, community, overcoming challenges, and the healing power of the arts.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healthy-living-with-yoga-anita/id946777214

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3svd2Z30ttYt1n25vg8C8h

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HealthyLivingYogaAnita

or your favorite podcast station

#HealthyLivingWithYogaAnita #PodcastInterview #CommunityHealing #CreativeCommunity
#NonprofitSpotlight #Resilience #OvercomingAdversity #ArtAsHealing #LeominsterMA
#CentralMass #PoetryAndPurpose #InclusiveSpaces #CreativeExpression

✨ New Episode: Healthy Living with Yoga Anita ✨

This week, I’m joined by Damary Rosado — scientist, mom, poet, and author of Unraveling My Soul: “Silence the Mind and the Heart Will Sing.”

Originally from Puerto Rico and now a longtime Fitchburg resident, Damary shares her powerful healing journey. After losing her mother at just 12 years old to a drug overdose, her aunt encouraged her to write as a way to process grief. That practice eventually became her book of poetry — a deeply honest expression of loss, faith, and hope.

Shortly after publishing her book, Damary faced another unimaginable challenge when her daughter was diagnosed with Flu B, which progressed to sepsis, organ failure, dialysis, and a two-month coma at Boston Children’s Hospital. Through daily prayer, unwavering faith, and the incredible medical team, her daughter made a miraculous recovery and returned to school at the Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction in Worcester this past December.

Damary now shares her story to inspire others to lean into faith, creativity, and community during life’s most difficult moments. A conversation filled with courage, love, and healing you won’t want to miss.

📍 Recorded with gratitude to The Cellar, Fitchburg
🎙️ Special thanks to Brittney Stumpf
🏥 Honoring the care team at Boston Children’s Hospital

#HealthyLivingWithYogaAnita
#DamaryRosado
#UnravelingMySoul
#PoetryHeals
#FaithAndHealing
#Resilience
#GriefToGrowth
#BostonChildrensHospital
#FitchburgMA
#PuertoRicanVoices
#HealingJourney
#HopeAfterLoss
#CommunityStrong
#WomenOfStrength

🎙️ New Podcast Episode | Healthy Living with Yoga Anita

I’m pleased to share a new episode of Healthy Living with Yoga Anita featuring Lin Xie—a globally respected philanthropist, educator, entrepreneur, investor, and wellness advocate.

Lin’s career spans academia, advanced technology, and holistic health. She has held teaching and research appointments at leading institutions across China, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, and spent over 20 years as a Senior Software Engineer at Dassault Systèmes (SolidWorks), where she received the Best Contribution Award.

Since 2008, Lin has focused on healthy lifestyle coaching, nutrition, and real estate investing, while also serving as a Director of The Global Spiritualist Association and the International Institute of Well Being. Her long-standing commitment to service includes support of Project Bread and the Pan-Mass Challenge for cancer research.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of science, wellness, spirituality, and service, and how these elements contribute to sustainable health and meaningful impact.

📻 Listen on
Apple
Spotify
YouTube
or your favorite podcast station

#HealthyLivingWithYogaAnita #Leadership #Wellbeing #GlobalImpact #HolisticHealth #Podcast #WLPZ951FM

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🎙️
Healthy Living with Yoga Anita

This week, I’m excited to welcome Anthony & Brittany Knowles, owners of Bin There Dump That Central MA 👉 www.BTDTCentralMADumpsters.com

Anthony’s journey started over 10 years ago as a part-time side hustle while working full time as a Fitchburg firefighter. When the original owners were ready to retire, Anthony took a leap of faith—and encouraged his wife Brittany to do the same. Together, they built a thriving family-owned business that now serves communities from the New Hampshire border all the way to Connecticut. 💪

Their company is known for reliable, affordable dumpster rentals, bins that fit into tight spaces, prompt delivery, and truly professional service for both residential and commercial projects. 🏡🏗️

Beyond business, Brittany is deeply involved in her local Chamber of Commerce and charity event planning, and together Anthony and Brittany have earned awards for both service and entrepreneurship. 🌟

Tune in to hear their inspiring story, business wisdom, and commitment to community on this week’s episode of Healthy Living with Yoga Anita.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired!

#HealthyLivingWithYogaAnita #LocalBusinessSpotlight #EntrepreneurJourney #FamilyBusiness #FirefighterEntrepreneur #CommunityLeaders #CentralMA #SmallBusinessSuccess #BinThereDumpThat

✨ Take Control of Your Health

What if you could live a happy, healthy, vibrant life with fewer doctor visits and less dependence on medication?

This week on Healthy Living with Yoga Anita, Nurse Practitioner Ann Law shares the truth about achieving optimal health through food, fitness, and mindset. Her personal story, professional expertise, and passion for education make this episode a must-listen.

🎧 Available now
🌿 Learn more: coachannlaw.com

#OptimalHealth #WellnessWisdom #HealthyChoices #LongevityLifestyle #PodcastLife #YogaAnita

This week on Healthy Living with Yoga Anita, we welcome a familiar and trusted voice from local radio—former WLPZ DJ CJ Ward of The Watchlist.

CJ brings his cinematic wisdom and sharp insights as he shares his Top 10 Movies of 2025, along with bonus picks you won’t want to miss:

• 🎭 Top Male & Female Performers
  
  
• 🎬 Best Rob Reiner Film
  
  
• 🎄 Ultimate Christmas Movie
  
  
• 🎥 CJ’s Pick for Top Director of the Year
  
  

Known for his high-accuracy award predictions, CJ doesn’t just watch movies—he studies them. His thoughtful perspective, industry knowledge, and passion for storytelling make this episode both entertaining and enlightening.

Whether you’re a film lover, awards-season follower, or simply looking for a fun and engaging listen, this episode delivers insight, nostalgia, and great conversation—all part of healthy living for the mind and spirit.

🎧 Tune in and see which films made CJ’s must-watch list!


#HealthyLivingWithYogaAnita
#PodcastEpisode
#CJWard
#TheWatchlist
#WLPZ
#MovieTalk
#TopMovies2025
#FilmLovers
#AwardSeason
#PopCulturePodcast
#MindBodySpirit
#WellnessForTheMind
#MovieWisdom
#LocalRadioVoices