In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha sits down with pastel artist Robin Frisella, PSA-MP, IAPS/MC, whose still life paintings evoke nostalgia, serenity, and emotional depth. Robin shares how a casual invitation to a pastel class ignited her lifelong artistic journey, transforming a quiet post-childraising chapter into a vibrant second act. The discussion touches on the emotional processes behind her art, the meaning she finds in vintage objects, and how her work provides a calming experience for others. They also explore themes of creative authenticity, family support, and art’s healing potential.

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00:00] Joseph Elisha recalls discovering Robin Frisella’s work in Boston.
[00:02:38] Robin shares how a pastel class began her journey as an artist.
[00:04:15] Transition from working at a copy center to painting full time.
[00:06:56] Childhood love for drawing and early creative expression.
[00:07:32] Why she was drawn to still life over landscapes or portraits.
[00:09:05] Favorite objects to paint and their nostalgic emotional weight.
[00:10:05] The story behind her mother-in-law’s butter churn painting.
[00:11:28] How antique shops inspire her artistic compositions.
[00:12:55] Capturing emotional resonance through light and setup.
[00:14:31] Building emotional connection even with commissioned pieces.
[00:15:41] Responding to whether art is created or uncovered.
[00:16:37] Visualizing the final product and evolving it through the process.
[00:17:50] Attachment to her work and meeting collectors at shows.
[00:19:05] Managing pressure and how deadlines can sharpen creativity.
[00:19:46] Pastel as a challenging but expressive medium.
[00:21:21] Leaving areas unfinished and the beauty of imperfection.
[00:22:13] Viewers' emotional responses and what they take away.
[00:23:36] Memories from her childhood and their influence on her work.
[00:25:34] Using painting as a form of emotional reset during stress.
[00:26:44] The role and emotional pull of her signature dark backgrounds.
[00:27:42] Connection to old master traditions and family support.
[00:29:10] If not art, her love for interior decorating.
[00:29:49] Her children’s support and how her art evolved over time.
[00:31:07] Losing awareness of the world while painting.
[00:31:48] Becoming more open and confident through art.
[00:32:45] Introversion, public interaction, and creative paradoxes.
[00:33:53] What she wants future generations to take from her work.
[00:34:49] Dealing with doubt and finding reassurance through audience feedback.
[00:36:02] The only critique she’s ever received and staying true to her style.
[00:37:02] Why she’d still paint even if she never sold another piece.

Learn more about Robin: https://www.robinfrisella.com/

Joseph Elisha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-elisha-m-d-a9b7aab

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In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha speaks with 12-year-old Madelyn Quinn and her parents, about Madelyn’s life as a heart transplant recipient. From enduring multiple surgeries in infancy to becoming a world-ranked junior golfer, Madelyn shares her powerful story of resilience, gratitude, and connection with her donor family. The conversation explores medical challenges, family dynamics, emotional healing, and the lasting impact of organ donation. Join us for a deeply human conversation about strength, purpose, and the extraordinary gift of life.

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00:00] Dr. Elisha shares a personal experience with organ procurement.
[00:03:30] Madelyn introduces herself and reflects on life with a donor heart.
[00:07:29] Madelyn and her parents recount the emotional and medical journey.
[00:14:37] Madelyn shares her "superpowers" and passion for golf.
[00:18:58] The Quinn family meets their donor family for the first time.
[00:24:19] Reflections on honoring the donor's legacy and the responsibility of receiving life.
[00:29:52] Madelyn answers whether she would choose a different path if she could.
[00:34:17] Dad discusses how Madelyn’s journey led him to a new career in transplant innovation.
[00:38:30] The family recalls the exact moment they received the transplant call.
[00:43:12] Madelyn shares her fears—medical and otherwise—and how she manages them.
[00:50:04] The importance of organ donation and Madelyn’s message to skeptics.
[00:54:59] Reflections on faith, gratitude, and the unseen hands that guide their path.
[00:56:57] Dr. Elisha confirms his own decision to become an organ donor after hearing Madelyn’s story.

Learn more about OneLegacy: https://www.onelegacy.org/wp/

Joseph Elisha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-elisha-m-d-a9b7aab

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In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha welcomes back Dr. Joseph Scherger, a leading voice in longevity and functional medicine. The conversation explores the fundamentals of anti-aging strategies—from supplements like metformin, NAD, and resveratrol to stem cell infusions and photobiomodulation. Dr. Scherger shares his insights on healthspan vs. lifespan, discusses cutting-edge therapies including plasma exchange and senolytics, and emphasizes the transformative power of diet, exercise, and sleep. Tune in for a deep look at accessible and advanced approaches to staying healthy longer and aging smarter.

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[00:00:00] Introduction of Dr. Joseph Scherger and focus on anti-aging medicine

[00:02:02] The rise and plateau of healthspan vs. lifespan in modern society

[00:04:00] Importance of nutrition, environmental toxins, and food quality

[00:06:50] Exploring supplements like Metformin, NAD, and resveratrol

[00:09:06] Discussion on Rapamycin and its mixed results in human longevity

[00:12:28] Role of senolytics and clearing zombie cells for healthy aging

[00:15:56] Epigenetic clocks and tracking biological vs. chronological age

[00:17:00] Light therapy and its growing role in treating neurodegenerative conditions

[00:18:34] Dr. Scherger’s five most cost-effective longevity strategies

[00:21:06] Quality and timing of supplement intake

[00:23:48] Stem cell therapies: regulation, sourcing, and medical potential

[00:27:29] Use of PRP and stem cells for joint injuries like rotator cuff tears

[00:30:08] How stem cells detect and repair damage in the body

[00:31:25] Why insurance doesn’t cover stem cell therapy and associated costs

[00:32:14] GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Monjaro and their role in weight loss and longevity

[00:33:43] Philosophical reflections on extending human lifespan

[00:36:22] Impact of hip fractures on elderly health outcomes

[00:38:57] The four cornerstones to aging well: bones, muscles, gut biome, and brain

[00:40:34] Epigenetics and lifestyle’s role in gene expression and aging

[00:43:56] Can older adults in their 60s and 70s benefit from starting now?

[00:46:02] Rise of longevity clinics and elite interventions in anti-aging medicine

In this episode, I take a hard look at the cost of political assassination — not just in the moment, but in the waves it sends through history and society. From the shot that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand and set off World War I, to the attempt on Donald Trump that only deepened his support, we see a pattern: violence doesn’t silence a movement, it often strengthens it. What drives a person to believe a bullet is more powerful than dialogue? And what does it say about us, as a nation once seen as the standard of democracy, when we accept violence as a form of speech? This is a conversation about what we lose when dialogue dies — and why we have to do better…

In this episode (upon reflection on an embarrassing moment at home!), Dr. Elisha explores why silence unnerves us, why we drown it out with constant noise, and why stillness may be the very thing we need most. From Susan Cain’s Quiet and the overlooked power of introverts, to the hush that falls in the operating room when a patient goes under anesthesia, Joseph reflects on what silence reveals, what we run from, and how to reclaim it. With humor, honesty, and practical steps, he invites listeners to stop running, sit with themselves, and discover the clarity, presence, and freedom waiting on the other side of stillness.

In this episode, Dr. Joseph Elisha explores the Japanese art of Kintsugi—the practice of repairing broken pottery with gold—and how it mirrors the way life breaks us, heals us, and makes us more whole than before. Through stories, reflection, and urgency for our times, he challenges us to rethink our scars not as flaws to hide, but as the very seams that make us strong, valuable, and beautifully human.

Listen to Joseph's thoughts on... thoughts - on this special episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here!

In this episode of I'll Ask The Questions Around Here, Dr. Joseph Elisha speaks with Anyse Smith — educator, public interest attorney, and fierce advocate for the unhoused. Once in the throes of addiction and homelessness, Anyse recounts the turning point at a Riverside motel that launched her into recovery, community service, and ultimately law school. She shares hard-earned lessons on trust, shame, healing, and the underestimated humanity within addiction. With warmth and clarity, Anyse details how her experiences shape her legal work and her run for city council, offering a rare window into the complex realities of substance abuse, recovery, and redemption.

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[00:00:00] Intro

[00:02:59] Anyse describes her California upbringing and her move to the Coachella Valley.

[00:04:11] She outlines the progression of her addiction and how trauma and loss contributed to her substance use.

[00:08:54] Anyse explains how addiction led her to unemployment, couch-surfing, and ultimately being unhoused.

[00:12:44] She reflects on the deception, guilt, and family fallout common in addiction.

[00:17:50] Anyse recalls the moment she hit rock bottom in a Riverside motel.

[00:21:15] She discusses her early recovery, including two relapses before committing to sobriety.

[00:23:57] Her first night at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and the reality of shelter life.

[00:27:40] Why the Gateway Program at CVRM was transformative for her recovery.

[00:29:43] Anyse shares how faith slowly returned to her life and recovery journey.

[00:31:04] She reflects on initial judgments and how hearing others’ stories reshaped her outlook.

[00:34:22] Why sobriety remains her greatest and hardest-won accomplishment.

[00:35:29] How her relationship with her father evolved, including his own shift into addiction medicine.

[00:37:42] The societal perception of homelessness and the importance of hearing individual stories.

[00:40:49] How her law practice serves formerly incarcerated and unhoused clients.

[00:43:04] How her church and singing community supported her reintegration.

[00:44:45] The moment she’s most proud of — and the mindset she’s least proud of.

[00:46:15] Why she wouldn’t change her past, despite the pain.

[00:47:17] What she’d say to her late mother if given the chance.

[00:48:28] Her run for Palm Desert City Council and why she believes lived experience belongs in office.