Guest(s): Rah Kalon

Hosted by: James Francis

This is Whole Minds Healthy Bodies the podcast. A 360 Health initiative from Aetna exclusively for you...the MTA...where the goal is improving your total health and wellbeing....

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, James Francis is joined by emotional wellness expert Rah Kalon to discuss the unique challenges faced by working parents and caregivers—especially those in high-stress, high-impact roles like MTA employees. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, Rah provides powerful, compassionate strategies to support emotional resilience, manage guilt, and build healthy habits that promote overall wellbeing.

Together, they explore how self-awareness, self-regulation, and social connection can help working parents not just survive but thrive. From breath work to reframing guilt, Rah shares practical tools rooted in emotional intelligence that can make a meaningful difference—starting with the first 30 minutes of your day.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience for working parents begins with self-compassion and letting go of guilt.
• Objective self-awareness helps individuals understand their strengths and needs.
• Reparenting oneself—showing empathy and care—is a vital emotional regulation tool.
• Social support at work creates a sense of belonging and reduces stress.
• The average person spends 90,000 hours working—building community at work matters.
• Morning and evening “power hours” are crucial for mental check-ins and rest.
• 4-7-8 breathing can regulate the nervous system and reduce stress throughout the day.
• Mindfulness, sleep routines, and daily reflection foster mental clarity and resilience.

This episode is made in partnership with Balancing Life’s Issues.

Thank you for listening to Whole Minds Healthy Bodies the podcast. A 360 Health initiative from Aetna exclusively for you...the MTA...where the goal is improving your total health and wellbeing....

Don’t forget! You can visit wholeandhealthy.website for free access to incredible content created by experts. Podcasts, webinars, and reading materials on topics like sleep, inner peace, nutrition, and meditation. Exclusively for you the MTA.