Dr. Michelle Robin + Bayleigh Petty: The Wellness Blueprint For a Better You
Practicing gratitude isn’t something that has a season. Yet still, every November I find myself becoming more intentional than usual about giving thanks for the abundant blessings in my life.
Personally, I like to start my day with a list of things I’m grateful for. It’s a habit I started a few years ago. And though it takes just minutes to do, intentionally making time and space for gratitude each morning sets a positive tone for the entire day.
I am grateful to do work that I love, both as a sports broadcaster and a keynote speaker.
I’m grateful for my family, and their support of my career ambitions such as authoring two books or hosting my podcast, Rounding the Bases.
And of course I’m grateful for the network that career has helped me built. There are connections, and then there are people who have become friends, much like the guests on one recent episode.
With the holidays just around the corner, there could not have been a better time to welcome this team of holistic wellness professionals who practice gratitude at the highest level every single day.
Dr. Michelle Robin is Kansas City’s original pioneer of integrative medicine and the founder of Your Wellness Connection. She was joined by Bayleigh Petty, the program manager of Small Changes, Big Shifts.
Together, they co-host of the eponymous podcast that balances the wisdom of experience with fresh, new perspectives. It’s a weekly does of inspiration fueled by a passion for helping people come fully alive.
And through small changes, moves others towards healthier, more connected, more grateful lives that stick for generations to come.
SINGLE: A Dose of her own medicine
At the time I’m writing this, Dr. Robin just began her 33rd year of practice. Anyone who has been in a specific line of work for as long as she has is bound to have learned some valuable perspective, and she is no exception.
“I really do believe that my job . . . is just to be a calming presence of life,” she shared. “I think that’s a privilege many people don’t get.”
As a medical practitioner, she encourages her patients to always look for the positives. The result is ever-powerful insight that overflows with grace and gratitude. She doesn’t just prescribe it to others, she prescribes it for herself as well.
“That’s what I love about being a wellness chiropractor,” she said. “It’s medicine I could take.”
DOUBLE: The parking lot story
Every one of us makes little decisions every day that influence the ultimate trajectory of our lives. As I look with gratitude on my own career journey, I’m often struck by the way one slight change of decision could have changed everything.
The same can be said of how Dr. Robin and Bayleigh came to know each other.
Bayleigh graduated with her degree in sports and exercise therapy during COVID. It created a unique challenge for someone trying to break into the industry, namely because there were no sports being played.
She had been on more than 15 interviews when a mutual connection referred her to Dr. Robin. She remembers calling her mom from the parking lot, trying to talk herself out of even walking into the building.
“When you look back at it now, it’s all in alignment,” Bayleigh reflected. “I needed to go through . . . all those closed doors, because the right one was waiting for me.”
It was the beginning of an epic partnership. We may never know what might have happened had Bayleigh not shown up for her interview. But Dr. Robin and everyone their practice impacts is better because she did.
“I’ve had so many wonderful people work for me. But Bayleigh’s rare,” Michelle shared with gratitude. “She gets the heart and the vision . . . she can talk what’s in my heart better than I can.”
TRIPLE: paying it forward
Dr. Robin has a passion for people. Growing up, her home life wasn’t the stable, secure environment that kids need. But despite those challenges, she still found the positives and allowed them to shape the rest of her life.
The first time she visited a chiropractor, she was a teenager suffering from a sports injury. She credits the care she received with keeping her alive. Not because her injuries were life threatening, but because the physician - Dr. John Lakin - and his wife Carol saw something in Michelle that called to them.
They took her (and her twin brother) under their wing, loving the two as if they were their own. Because of them, Michelle eventually became a chiropractor herself. In gratitude to the love and compassion that was once showed to her, she has made it her mission to pay it forward.
“I’m going to spend the rest of my time on this, this side of earth just trying to pour into young people,” she explained.
Bayleigh is one of many who has felt the direct impact of this mission.
“How lucky I am to have met her this early in my life,” she explained of her gratitude for Dr. Robin. “I’m going to spend more years alive knowing what I know.”
It inspired a shift in Bayleigh’s entire worldview. She began to see the glass half full. Instead of finding flaws in others, she began to focus on healing her own. And for the first time, she started focusing on the journey more than the destination.
“You are here to learn and do better,” she said. “That’s where the magic is.”
HOME RUN: A Simple formula for gratitude
If you look in the dictionary, well-being means happy. It only takes a few minutes with Dr. Robin to feel the high vibrations that she gives and gets by focusing on wellness as a career. To some, showing such a sustained, genuine sense of gratitude may seem impossible, but her formula for success is actually quite simple.
“I think about health as debits and credits,” she explained. “Did I put more good out into the world, or into my world, than I took out?”
For a woman who earned her undergraduate degree in accounting, hearing her explain it made perfect sense.
Some days will leave you feeling defeated, like you just need to take a break. But most days, focusing on doing more right than wrong not only creates a sense of purpose, but helps set the intention you need for achievement.
“I want to get as much out of my life as I can,” she said. And it was a perfectly fitting observation made by the most positive person I know.
Listen to the full interview here or tune in to Rounding the Bases every Tuesday, available wherever you get your podcasts.
LEARN MORE ABOUT gratitude FROM JOEL
Book Joel Goldberg for your next corporate event. He draws on over 25 years of experience as a sports broadcaster. In addition, he brings unique perspectives and lessons learned from some of the world’s most successful organizations. Whatever your profession, Joel is the keynote speaker who can help your team achieve a championship state of mind.
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Joel Goldberg 0:16
Hey, everybody. Welcome into another episode of Rounding the Bases presented by Community America Credit Union: Investing in You. This week, we might be investing in, I don't know, some turkey, stuffing, whatever your Thanksgiving food of choice is. I might have to get to that at the end of this podcast, just because I even if you're listening to this, you know, six months later, two years later, I don't ever think it's a bad thing to talk about Thanksgiving. It's never a bad thing to talk about gratitude. That will certainly be the theme of this podcast today. Quick shout out to my friends at Chief of Staff Kansas City. I'm certainly grateful for them, partnering with them on a lot of different activities, and really appreciate their support as well with this podcast. If you're looking for a job, if you are looking to hire someone, if you're looking for just a great resource, I say all the time, check them out in Kansas City or not. Chiefofstaffkc.com. Making Connections That Matter. Somewhere along the way of this journey of mine, beyond television, but in the podcasting and speaking and networking to really get all that going, I was introduced to one of my two guests today, who then introduced me to the other guests that I have today, The beauty of networking and friendship and so much more, and when I'm talking about gratitude, I can't think of better guests to have. Today I'm joined by a team of holistic wellness champions who balance the wisdom of experience with fresh, new perspectives. Dr. Michelle Robin, who's been on this podcast about more than once, I don't know how many times. She is Kansas City's original pioneer of integrative medicine and founder of Your Wellness Connection. She's joined by Bayleigh Petty, program manager of Small Changes, Big Shifts. Together, they are co-hosts of the eponymous podcast that plants weekly seeds of possibility to nourish your soul. Don't we all need that? It's a weekly dose of inspiration, fueled by a passion for helping people come fully alive and through small changes, moves others towards healthier, more connected lives, and wellness that sticks for generations to come. When you're talking wellness, I'm definitely talking about Dr. Michelle Robin. That office, you're supposed to go in there and get better and feel better, but you feel better on the inside and out. How's that? I mean, that's the way I feel. Bayleigh, you see it every day you're in there. Michelle, you practice it every single moment. So first off, welcome to you both, and in advance and happy Thanksgiving.
Dr. Michelle Robin 2:47
Joel, thank you. And I can't think of a better week to be hanging out with you. It's my, my favorite week of the year when people really get intentional about gratitude. So it's fun to be here with you.
Joel Goldberg 2:57
Well, we have a lot to talk about with what you both are doing. And I, you know, as we were mapping out the the shows, I said, All right, gratitude, you know, let me have you guys, because I, we could talk for hours and hours. Now, we should talk for hours about it, it's, it's, it's so important. We'll go where this goes. But Bayleigh, good to have you joining us too. So it's our first time doing a podcast, the three of us together. But you see this every single day. You're practicing it. What do you think about when you think of Thanksgiving week, gratitude and and I think I got it right in terms of the the feel of that office, did I not?
Bayleigh Petty 3:34
Oh yes, absolutely. And I'm happy to be here. And I you said it perfectly. There's just when you walk into that office, it's a place of healing. That's what you're supposed to do. And so when I was looking for a job, fresh out of college, and walked into that office, I as soon as I was there, when I was in the parking lot, I was actually trying to talk myself out of going into the interview. But when I was sitting there, I was like, Oh, wow, this is different. This is where I'm supposed to be. And then as I got to learn what was happening at Your Wellness Connection in this framework and in the healing that was happening in those four walls, it was inspirational, and that's when I knew that's where I was supposed to be. And so thinking about the week of Thanksgiving and talking about gratitude, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of so many people's healing journey. That's an honor in itself for people to open up to you and to come to you in a place of vulnerability, and so being able to help guide them through that journey, through what Dr. Robin does in her practice, and what we're doing at Small Changes with the education and the implementation of all of it, it's transformational. And it's very powerful. And I'm honored to get to do the work.
Joel Goldberg 4:42
By the way, I can refer to you as Dr. Robin. I know that's the official title, but there's like, this weird balance between, yes, you are my chiropractor and doctor, and like to even say that the people doesn't feel right, because it's so much more. You're a friend. You're a mentor to me. I. You are so much more. So I just stick to Michelle. I don't think you mind about that one. I'll let Bayleigh refer to the boss by her proper title. But I know your, too, your relationship is tight, but your relationship with everybody is like that. Michelle, that's what feels so good about coming into that office. By the way, this was not, you know, any kind of paid advertisement for Your Wellness Connection. I don't even know that they need it, although I will make that recommendation to anyone. But I think it's just it's such a perfect time of year. I guess 365 days a year would be the right time to express gratitude, to be able to express my gratitude towards you and everyone in that office for that matter, because I again, that feeling is always there. But tell me about Thanksgiving week as someone that practices gratitude at the highest of level every single day of the week, mindfully. That is a part of who you are as a human being. What does Thanksgiving week mean to you, Michelle?
Dr. Michelle Robin 5:56
Well, first of all, I can always do better. Joel, thank you, though I do, I do take my own medicine. That's what I love about being a wellness chiropractor, is it's medicine I could take. I'm so glad I'm not a orthopedic surgeon. I have to, like, cut legs off or do things like that, because I couldn't take my own medicine and know how it works. And so at the first part, I'm just I'm grateful for the opportunity to be alive, and I'm grateful for the way my body works. As I'm aging, I'm noticing my hearing changing and my eyes changing and those aches and pains, and I think that that's a privilege many people don't get. And Sonny, one of my friends said the other day, they were looking at the back of my hair. They said, You don't even have a gray hair in the back of your hair, and it's just amazing that you don't have that. I thought, well, that's a good thing. But so there's it's the gratitude changes everything. And I want to think about M.K. Mueller, who wrote Eight to Great, and meeting her years ago. And I just think about, how can I be grateful for the moment, in the present moment, to sit with you right now? So what this week means to me, Joel, is what it means. Every day. It's moment to moment, and some days I practice moment to moment better than I do, and I'm just striving to live my life in the present moment. And it's it's tricky. It's tricky, especially as an entrepreneur and business owner and a person that takes care of people, you always say, Thank you God. Am I doing the right thing? Am I making the right decision? So anyhow, it's a, it's hard to stay in the moment, Joel, but I work at it.
Joel Goldberg 7:25
Well. It takes effort, you know, certainly every single day and and, you know, I've learned that from you. And it there's just it never stops, right? And in the best of ways, too. I mean, it does take effort. We can't coast through it. Let's, let's talk a little bit Bayleigh. First off, I thought that was really interesting, that you sat in the parking lot and obviously looking back on that. That's, I've got to imagine, that's, that's just the fears of going in for a job and whatever, whatever it was, I'm sure, looking back on that now you're like, boy, if I knew what this would become, if I knew what was waiting for me, I would have been sprinting out of my car to get in there.
Bayleigh Petty 8:01
Yeah, you know, I think it's...so I graduated in COVID. And so at this point in time, this was probably my 15th plus job interview. My background is in sports and exercise therapy, and so when I graduated, that's what I wanted, that's what I thought I wanted to do. I wanted to be in the sports world. Well, that was a crazy time to try to be entering the sports world, because there was, I mean, nothing was happening, and when I was and so no athletic departments were hiring because they didn't know if they were going to have a season. And so at that point, I was just kind of at a standstill. And I had interviewed at a physical therapy office, and had a great interview. And then Dr. Robin happened to reach out to that person, and was like, Hey, I'm looking for somebody that wants to have hands on, you know, as a chiropractic assistant, somebody that's willing to touch people. Well, my background, I love the human body. That's my forte. I would love to help people heal in that way. And so that was no problem for me. And so when you look back at it now, it's all in alignment. It's all a part of my path. I needed to go through all of those other interviews, all those other closed doors, because the right one was waiting for me, and I didn't know it at the time, sitting in the parking lot, but it is kind of just that, if you trust your gut, like I just knew I had to go in. I had to go in for my interview, and then I called my mom in the parking lot, trying to talk myself out of it, and then five minutes afterwards, and I was like, Hey, I think I'm going to take the job, and I'm moving to Kansas City in a couple weeks. And so it was a whirlwind from there, but exactly where I was supposed to be, and it has opened up so many doors and so many opportunities to put me in better alignment with what I'm supposed to be doing.
Joel Goldberg 8:12
Michelle, what do you make of that? I'm sure you've heard that story before, but you know, I mean, Bayleigh is everybody that works there has a significant role, but, but you put a lot of trust in her and believe in her, and it's hard to imagine her not there, doing what she's doing. One little, slight change of decision there, and this, this connection, this relationship never happens too. I mean, I'm sitting here thinking about all the this little decisions we make in life, or the big decisions it almost, you know, to me, in many ways, personifies small changes, big shifts, that that these little moments suddenly could lead to bigger things. I know it's more than just that, but what do you think when you hear hear about that parking lot experience?
Dr. Michelle Robin 10:21
Well, you're right. I've heard that a couple times, and Joel, it makes me emotional, especially when thinking about gratitude. You know, I'm starting my 33rd year in practice, and that seems so unreal. You know, Bayleigh's been alive and and I just really trust the Holy Spirit brought Bayleigh into my life. I was at a point. You know me, I'm a little bit I know I'm a perfectionist, but I see a way that healthcare should be delivered. I see a way that healthcare should be talked about and shared and educated. And I want to tell you, Joel, some days I want to give up and just say, you know, Michelle, why do you care? That...anyhow. I can go on about all the reasons why I need to care, but I'll tell you about all the reasons I shouldn't care. And then this young woman drops into my life, and I had no idea at that moment what a profound impact she would have on my journey. And so it goes both ways. I've been I've been fortunate. I've had I've had many wonderful people work for me, but Bayleigh's rare. Bayleigh's rare, and she gets the heart and the vision, and she It's like she can talk what's in my heart better than I can. And so for me, it's probably one of my top, top five things I'm grateful for my journey is that God brought me Bayleigh Petty to help carry on this legacy.
Joel Goldberg 11:42
And that legacy involves Small Changes, Big Shifts. And Bayleigh, I don't think you knew you were signed what you were signing up for when you when you started this right now, Program Manager of something that really is is special. And so yes, we could talk about the services at Your Wellness Connection, and we've done that a little bit. Again, that wasn't necessarily the point other than for me to highlight how special it is in there. It's beyond just the services that you would expect, the holistic approach to all of it. But then there's the Small Changes, Big Shifts. Tell us what that's about, where that's going, because I know it's an ever evolving, I don't know what I'm calling it, foundation organization. Tell me more about it.
Bayleigh Petty 12:25
Yeah, so when I first joined the team at Your Wellness Connection, and I learned about, you know, the Small Changes, Big Shifts model in the nonprofit, I knew that's where I was supposed to be, right? There was something pulling me to getting this education back into the underserved communities or people who don't know where to turn. I was somebody who had just finished, you know, I had played sports my whole life. I had just finished a degree in exercise science. And so if I didn't know these things about health and wellness, how can most of the general population, people who this isn't even their interest, know this? And so it sparked, or ignited a flame in me to like, we've got to get this out there, right? Like I'm watching people first hand go through these experiences at Your Wellness Connection. And so then when I found out that the nonprofit Small Changes, Big Shifts, is taking this education out to underserved communities and teaching them small wellness tips, no matter where you're at in your well being journey, no matter your financial status, what you resources you have available to you, there are small things that you can do to better your well being every all of us, everybody listening, no matter where you're at, there's something that you can do taking that next right step. And I think sometimes when it comes to health and well being, it's almost glorified as this self care, expensive luxury thing, when there's so many small, intentional changes that you can make in your day that will change the trajectory of your life. And that, and I always tell people, small changes, big shifts. And as we all know here, it's not just a nonprofit, but it's really a movement, it's a framework, it's a mindset. It can be applied to all areas. So we really focus on the well being aspect and and taking care of yourself from that mind, body and spirit perspective through these small changes and implementing small health habits. But I tell people when we're working with them, it can be applied to all areas of your life. It can be applied to your finances, it can be applied to your cleaning schedule. It can be applied to your parenting, right? It's, it's all about those small, intentional changes towards your bigger goal. But when you break it down into bite sized pieces, it seems more realistic for people, and it helps them can get those consistent habits and make it more of a lifestyle change than rather than just a diet or a workout or trend, it's actually a part of who they are.
Joel Goldberg 14:49
The website and we'll have in the show notes, is smallchangesbigshifts.com. The mission, Small Changes, Big Shifts, empowers all people by meeting them where they are in their well being journey. We simplify well being by educating the community to support generational health change so people can become fully alive. I think the thing that I like about about this movement, that that Bayleigh, you're talking about, the thing that I love about it, Michelle, is it involves, it could involve anything you're doing all day long. I guess I'd best describe it when I when I come in, I come in every three weeks, generally to get adjusted. And some people, those that that love getting adjusted, need to get adjusted. Whatever - for me, I think it's both - will rave about that experience. But it's more than that, because I always walk out. Excuse me, I always walk out with something more. Maybe it's a piece of advice to work on. Maybe it's and I think and Bayleigh, you know this. I mean, the thing about Michelle is that she is as well networked as anyone in this town. It's like, it's like going to the jack of all trades, or the, whatever you want to call it, like, hey, I need this. Oh, I got somebody for you. Oh, I got somebody for you that it just, I'm always going to walk out unless everything is perfect, by the way, in my day, and I don't need anything. And when is our day ever perfect? I'm always going to walk out with something. And so my point, Michelle, is that I think, I mean, you tell me, if I'm getting this right, that there's something that we could be working on every single moment. And that's kind of the point of all this, isn't it?
Dr. Michelle Robin 16:21
Yeah, you know, a couple things I want to tackle and tag on to what Bayleigh said. Wellbeing in the dictionary means happy. And Joel, it's hard to be happy when you're worried about how you're going to feed your kids, or how you're that you got a stomach ache. Or can you can you go out and see friends and not have to run to the restroom? Because so many people have digestive distress, it's in the top five reasons people come see me, by the way, is digestion. And underneath, anxiety, of course, pain, anxiety, sleep, digestion, are some of the top five. And so you could always be working on something. That's why I love our snackable deck. We just got a chance to participate in the Helzberg Entrepreneur Retreat, the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Retreat, which you've been a speaker for. It was a couple weeks ago, and we got a chance to create a little tiny, snackable deck, because we did some well being moments throughout the day. And what I do know to be true is you can always be working on your well being, and some days you just need to take a break, but most days it's like, okay, how can I do more right than wrong? Joel, you may not know this my undergrads in accounting. Did you know that?
Joel Goldberg 17:22
I did. I only reason why I know that is I remember the first time you told me. I'm like, wait, what?
Dr. Michelle Robin 17:28
Yeah. So I think about health as debits and credits. And so as you lay your head down tonight, you think, God, Did I did I have more credits than debits? Did I put more good out into the world, or into my world than I took out? So you can always be working on something, whether it's a smile on your face, whether it's doing you probably we've not talked about lymphatic drainage. Could I be doing Castrol packs? Could I be gargling? Could I be humming? I've got so many tricks and tips that I just have learned because I'm trying to, it's I'm trying to take my own medicine. I'm just trying to get out of this as well as possible. I'm that person that I want to slide it at home plate. How do you got that? How to get rounding the bases in right? I want to slide it home plate. And I want to be done, and I want to get as much life out of my life as I can. So.
Joel Goldberg 18:11
That's a home run right there. If we're going to go with that, that route, we will get to the home run question in a in a little bit. So you guys are always and I'm talking in terms of Small Changes, Big Shifts. You guys are always working on something, always working on the next thing, or the next couple things. I guess that's part of being the program director, too. Bayleigh. So what? What's on the horizon now as we start heading towards 2025?
Bayleigh Petty 18:36
Yeah. So we are currently finishing up our Shift Experience Scholarship Program, and so that will end in January. And so what that program is, is we take 18- to 30-year-olds, we in underserved communities, and they can apply for an application where we will cover six months of their well being. And so they can come into Your Wellness Connection and get full service. You're going to get lab worked. We'll tell you what you're deficient in, maybe some of your food allergies, and then guide you along that journey, providing the supplementation that you need. You get access to chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, esthetician, counseling, really, this whole person health perspective. And so for people who don't know where to start, or don't know have the resources to do so, they can apply for this program. And so we're wrapping that up. We've got a really good cohort. We've got eight people that will be finishing up in January. Six of them are nonprofit workers. And so we love being able to pour back into those that are pouring out into our community. So as we wrap that up at the beginning of 2025 we are then going to be looking to launch our Quadrant Education Programs. And so really, what we're currently doing as a program manager, I'll partner with other nonprofits, and we'll do little half day retreats where we'll talk about the quadrants of well being. And so an example, we've worked with awesome ambitions in the past, and we did a food is fun day. And so we went in and we talked with the girls of, how do you make healthy, mindful choices around eating? But then we also incorporate the mechanical quadrant, where we do some stretching, and then we do the energetical quadrant, where we do some meditation. And then we include the psycho spiritual where we kind of do some journaling at the end and talk about their experience throughout the day. So all of our retreats always encompass all four of our quadrants in this whole person health perspective. And so as we go into 2025 we're looking to launch our own and host them at your Wellness Connection, for people to sign up to the classes and come we'll have different age groups and different focuses for each one, but getting just back out into the community outside of our partnerships, and actually bringing people into our building and servicing them through outside of all the services at Your Wellness Connection, but really providing them the education through our nonprofit arm.
Joel Goldberg 20:41
Michelle, you want to add on to that at all?
Dr. Michelle Robin 20:44
Yeah, you know, I we just did something for Girl Scouts where we did around body image. I don't know if you know this number one concern between the age of 10 and 90 is body image, whether it's for yourself, your grandchild, and we get it, you know, it's like, God, I need to lose 10 pounds. Everybody has body dysmorphia. And so how can we do that? So we are excited to partner with other not for profits, like Bailey said, that are pouring out into the community. And how do we help those people stay more happy, more well? And so I'm super excited about that. We'll launch another scholarship program probably spring. We're trying to look at the timing right now, as you well, know, it's, it's, it is a not for profit, so it's funding. And so we are grateful for our partners that help us get this message out to the world. You know, it's, we do a lot of it at YWC for a couple reasons. One, that's where we live, you know, metaphorically to where,
Joel Goldberg 21:38
Sometimes literally, too, yeah?
Dr. Michelle Robin 21:40
Yeah. And then also, too, we're able to, you know, maybe underwrite some of the care differently in our magic wand world. If, if we had a vision for five years down the road, small changes would be in multiple communities where we help other providers have access, and other communities that that maybe don't have access to people like us to have access, whether it's in Chicago or southeast Kansas or northwest Missouri, wherever it could be. We just want people to be able to have access to good thoughts and good food and great providers that are walking the talk, you know. And the in the in the other thing, just as Joel, I think, you know, I got a heart for young people, and part of this because, you know, when I was, you know, 15, went to the chiropractor because of a sports injury, and here I am, many years later, and because of the Dr. John Lakin and his wife, Carol Lakin, I'm still alive. And so I just feel like it's my job to pay it forward. And so I'm going to spend the rest of my my time on this, this side of the Earth, this side of the ground, just trying to pour into young people. And so my personal vision is that in five years, 50% of the people we serve at your Wellness Connection are under under 40.
Joel Goldberg 22:53
You know when I hear you talk about that, first off, the only change I'll make is you have a heart for everyone. But I know what your point was, is that you have a passion, just an even deeper passion, an even greater heart. I mean, Bayleigh, you know this there you you always get a hug walking out, and it's got to match up to the heart. I learned, I finally learned the right way to do that. It took me, like, a year of coordinating, because, you know, like, I don't know that anybody thinks which side to hug. You just do it. No, it's always about the heart. So and I but I know what your point is on the younger kids, and I know how much that means to you, in part because of your own story. But when I hear what you're doing right now, or I know what you're doing, and think about greater purpose too. And again, going back to Bayleigh, you didn't know what you were signing up for. It was obviously much more than you realized. But the same thing for you too, Michelle. I mean, when you started your practice, or when you you know when, when, when you pursued this path of becoming a chiropractor and so much more. I don't, I don't know that you could envision all of this too. And so I'm curious what both of you make of small of everything that you guys are doing. I mean, not not just Small Changes, Big Shifts, but but the amount of people that you're touching, the younger generation, the older generation, that there has to be moments where you sit there and think, Boy, this is, this is really big. You know, I think to me, Bayleigh, that's one of the greatest, and I'm guessing it probably took me a lot more years than it's taking you to figure this out, because we get so locked into our work. We get so locked into whatever it is...I need to pay the bills, I need to take care of, you know, the kids...I need to...You sometimes forget that there's so much of it, there's there's such a greater purpose to all of that. It took me a long time to start to understand that. I understand it right now, I don't think I understood it fairly when, when I was your age. Then again, I don't know that I was surrounded by someone like a Michelle to teach me something like that. I'm curious your perspective. You know, on this week of gratitude, or on this, this holiday week, of what you think of this, just overall, this massive movement, movement in your ability to change people's lives.
Bayleigh Petty 25:08
Yeah, you know, I love what you said about how lucky I am to have met her this early in my life, right? And so it's I just am so grateful that I'm going to spend more years alive knowing what I know in this whole person realm, or this whole person health perspective. So with the work that we do, in, as you mentioned earlier, servicing different generations, one of the biggest things that I love is the grace aspect of the work we do. Right? You don't know what you don't know, but now that you're open and you're and you are here to receive and to learn and to do better, that that's where the power is. That's where the magic is. And so for me, the generational change aspect comes from because I know better, I'm going to do better for my kids. And so that's the mission. That's why the target demographic is that younger generation, because if you know better, you'll do better. And that's how we're going to start to see that generational change occur. And you know, for me personally, I would not be the daughter that I am, the mother that I am, the partner that I am, if it was not for Small Changes, Big Shifts, the framework, the message, the mission, because it has changed my outlook on life. I do approach things from more of a gratitude perspective. So I was definitely somebody prior to, I always say there's a Bayleigh, like a pre MR and post MR. So like my pre-Dr. Robin. I really think I looked through life as a glass, glass half empty. That was really kind of my I was almost looking for something to be wrong, because there were so many things that I was healing within myself that I didn't know that I needed to heal, right? But for me, it was like, Okay, well, if I can find flaws and everything else, there's no flaws in me, right? And so then the more that I started to work on myself, it was easier to look at life from this gratitude perspective of look at all that I have and not be I'm somebody that's goal oriented, so it's easy to get stuck on on the mountain top right, and not focusing on the journey. And so one piece of advice that I got very early in my career is, you're going to get to the top of the mountain. That's inevitable, right? You've got the drive. You're going to get to the top of the mountain. But if you don't slow down and look around, you're going to get to the top and be like, what was this for? And so I'm so grateful to know that. And you know, I'm talking I'm in year four of my career, right? I entered the workforce in 2020, I'm so blessed that this early in my career, I understand the importance of the journey and paying attention to every moment that we're in, and that that applies to your career, your personal life. You know, whether you've got kids or nieces or nephews or even just friends, that you have a good support system that is all just a moment of time. And so if you don't stop and realize where you're at and what you're, what lesson are you supposed to be picking up on in this chapter of life, it all leads to the next thing. And so i It's very freeing for me to know that what's meant for me in this life won't pass me, and I just genuinely try to live from that mindset. It helps me stay grounded. It helps me stay grateful for what I'm what I have. It also helps me stay grateful for the things that don't come to me, because I know that it just wasn't meant for me, and that the next step is going to be a bigger purpose, and that's been reflected in my professional career this whole time, because again, if I What's meant for me didn't pass, if I wouldn't have walked into that door, I wouldn't be here today, but it was meant for me, so that's exactly why I did.
Joel Goldberg 28:29
I am so inspired by what you just said in part, and I'll learn from it. And but I, you know I hear you talking about that, Bayleigh and Michelle, I want your perspective on this, because I definitely did not know that in my 20s. I'm pretty sure I didn't know it in my 30s, I think I started to figure it out in my 40s. I have it now in my 50s as much as I can, and we'll continue to work on it, right? But when I hear Bayleigh talk about that, Michelle one, I hear a lot of your influence in there, and I wonder what you reflect upon when you were her age, and what you thought back then, or maybe what you know now. It has to be incredibly gratifying and special to have someone you're close with that you've influenced get this, and we don't get all of it. We never do get this at such an early age with so much ahead, right? I mean, that's what you're trying to do with with Small Shifts, Big Changes. That's what you're trying to do with everybody. But to see that figured out, or at least understood at a young age, has to be incredibly inspiring to you. I think?
Dr. Michelle Robin 29:42
Well, yeah, as I told you, it's one of the most special people I've ever had a chance to work with. And, you know, I used to be called Murphy Brown because, you know, pretty much a driver, not really not a driver. In look at me a driver, because I feel the passion in the purpose so deep in my soul. And I...had that at 25. You remember, I started practicing at the age of 25 about six weeks before I turned 26 and I remember Dr. Lakin teaching me about mind and, you know, reading Napoleon Hill and Think and Grow Rich. And I was not around that. Remember, my mother was married four times by the time I was 17, and so he poured into me. So he was my Michelle. I was a Bailey, and I could see now, and I've never thought about this till right this moment. So it's extremely emotional, because both he and his wife are gone. She died this year. Is how they poured into me so much. I was one of their kids. I'm still I'm like the big sister, their daughter text me this morning and said, Can you talk? So it is one of the highlights of my career. And Joel to think about it. You know, once again, at 25 I was $150,000 in debt. I had nowhere to go but up, as far as a lot of things and so many people have poured into me. I, it would take me easily, 100 people I could listen poured into me my first few years. You know you met, you know you talked about Dr. Cleveland earlier, Dr. Yenny, why we have the quadrants of well being. I met Dr. Yenni because of Dr. Cleveland and and it's really all about connection, connection back to your higher self, connection back to yourself. About understanding I don't feel good today. Why don't I feel good today? Well, you know what? I had wheat and dairy yesterday, airways around I had some I was around people yesterday that maybe don't live from an open heart, or I didn't get out and move so. So I just want to inspire people wherever you're at right now, because I've been, I've been walking around dead. Joel, you know, even six years into practice, I was 31 years old, I can tell you the year that I was walking around dead, and I was the Bayleigh. I did. I was successful in the outside world, but I wasn't successful in the inside world, and in my job in Bayleigh's life is to remind her of who she is and who she isn't, which is just as important, and to be a grounding, positive force in her life, and not just hers, but everybody. I really do believe that my joy, my job, is to just be a calming presence of light. I don't take it for granted.
Joel Goldberg 32:21
It's powerful, and it's important, and I'm glad that both of you shared those perspectives. I want to get to my baseball theme questions I didn't ask you guys. If you both want to answer one, we'll roll with whatever. I know you guys have thought about it. So Bayleigh, I'll start. I'll start with you, or you guys could jump in on this. How about a home run? In your case, in your young career?
Bayleigh Petty 32:42
Yeah, I think besides the obvious of where I've landed in my career that we've talked about throughout the rest of the show, I think for me, it's been running that scholarship program. It is an honor to be integrated into somebody's well being journey and to be that person that they open up to especially when they have stories of not trusting or not knowing where to turn. And it's even more inspirational to then see how big of a transformation people can make within a matter of six months, if you're just setting the right intentions and you have access to the tools. And so it for me, I grow as much in it as I lead the people through it. It's a mirror for me. I can't tell them to do things that I'm not doing myself. And so each time, it's a home run for me, because I grow every cohort in a different way. And that's how we're supposed to be. We're supposed to be evolving. We're supposed to be continuing to grow and to learn from each other. And so having access to that group of these beautiful spirits that are on their healing journey is is a home run for me.
Joel Goldberg 33:45
How about you, Michelle?
Dr. Michelle Robin 33:46
You know, I've had a really blessed career, and I always tell myself that if for some reason I'm not here tomorrow, I've done what God wanted me to do. And I would say a home run for me, besides hiring Bayleigh and then having the phenomenal team we have at Your Wellness Connection is when on my 30 year, we did 30 lessons that I learned about being. And I actually have it on my board over here. And so as we start to go into next year, over my 33rd lesson, and just thinking about the lessons and the people that have, like I said, poured into me. And so you know, you know, just like you, you know you're, you're just, you're Joel, you're a bright light wherever you go, people love you. And I remember recently, we had somebody in the office, and you know you're, you're a rock star, and in our in our city and our community, and you take time to take a photo with this young man who just was like, Oh my God, that's Joel Goldberg. And so I think just home run for me is being around people like you who come with with an open heart and really, truly care about this community. That's, that's the biggest home run. And for 33 years to say that I've got to, I've got the privilege of of practicing in Kansas City, one of the most generous communities. Wow.
Joel Goldberg 35:07
Well, thank you for including me as a small part. I say a small part because there's so many and they don't have to go in there and take a picture of somebody. And I always like to say, too. I don't know if this is like a defense mechanism, or it's just easier to to be self deprecating that, you know, whatever words we want to use there. I don't know if you said celebrity or whatever, just put it in air quotes, at least, please. Because it's, you know, my kids will do that if I'm not doing that and but you know, at least on my end, and I'm not asking myself the home run question right now, just grateful that that the work that I get to do of just being on TV and talking about baseball, which, which certainly was my passion and and very selfishly enjoyable to me, that, you know, I get to love my job. Not everybody does, but then to be able to have that impact or bring a smile to somebody's face, to understand that somebody wants to take a picture, and that seems silly to me, by the way, but it makes somebody's life, and 10 years later they come back to you, or 20 years later, and it's like, well, just one little moment can change somebody else's day. That's a powerful thing to understand. So what I want to picture with me? Heck no. But if it makes somebody's day, and they go and share it with someone and tell somebody about it. That's a pretty cool thing. So how about a swing and a miss? I'll start with you, Michelle, and what did you learn from it?
Dr. Michelle Robin 36:26
Oh, I've had many. The one I'm most thinking about lately is in 2013 Labor Day weekend. I was at the at our lake house, and I got a Facebook that said somebody was applying for job, and I let somebody leaving and applying make a decision that changed my culture drastically. And I had this guy that modeled his his facility after our facility, and he said to Michelle, why do you care so much? Just collect rent and pay your building off. You have retirement. And I listened to him, Joel, and then I had that phone call in September of 2013 that I made a decision that was right in so many ways and wrong and much more. And I think it really hurt my culture. I can't just show up and collect the money. That's not my assignment. And if it's your assignment, fine, but it's not my assignment. I'm a collaborator. So that was probably a big swing and miss. Not probably it was.
Joel Goldberg 37:29
Yeah, it was. Bayleigh, how about you?
Bayleigh Petty 37:31
You know, for me, I'm early in my career, so I'd like to say that I don't have too many swings. I think I'm constantly my batting average is just low right now. Let's just say that. Okay, but I think the biggest lesson for me has just been thinking that I can do it all on my own has been my biggest swing and a miss. I come from I'm an athlete by nature, so I think that it's like, let's just go grind it out. I've got that grind mindset of like, we can do it. It has been very powerful for me and very healing for me to ask for help and to delegate. And so that has been a lesson that I'm still continuing to learn, but was definitely a rough, rocky start for me. At the beginning, was trying to take on more, because I'm not I want to be a team player. I want to help. And so I would just say yes, but there was times that I was letting things fall through the cracks. So the biggest lesson for me has been collaborating and working with a team, and it's okay to pass things on.
Joel Goldberg 38:24
Good lesson to learn. All right, last one on the baseball theme questions. Small ball. Michelle, we've talked about this before. Small ball to me, and I don't always explain it anymore, because I use it every week and turned it into a book and a second book coming. But small ball to me in baseball terms, the sacrifice, the bunts, the things that don't show up on the score sheet. And that's why I like to use it for life too. We all judge ourselves or others right or wrong by what we see on the outside, or we celebrate the, you know, buying a new home or or a new car, or whatever, a great vacation. But what are the little things that make a difference? The little things that really are small shifts big changes, right? So what Michelle is small ball to you?
Dr. Michelle Robin 39:15
Wow, with you describing that, it changed my answer. So thank you for doing that.
Joel Goldberg 39:19
Want to think more about it, or?
Dr. Michelle Robin 39:20
No, no, you know. Actually, I know. I'll go and then I got some ideas for people to really get the max most out of Thanksgiving. You know, I'm a great-aunt. I have 10 niece and nephews. I'm in the life of seven of them, pretty consistently. Talk to them, probably most of them, you know, a couple times a month. But I have some littles. I call them littles, my great-nieces and nephews. And I think small ball for me, is slowing, I'm going to say slowing the F down, slowing down and getting at their level and taking time to be with them. I believe that for me, I'm thinking about time. I'm thinking about my own. I, um, this house more than my own exit. And what do I want to? How do I want to, you know, leave. How do I how do I want to exit this journey, whether it's exit my practice, exit life, but how do I want to so small ball for me is slowing down and spending time with those littles.
Joel Goldberg 40:19
I love that. That's, that's really good. And, you know, I think a lot of us have a hard time, myself included, slowing it down. We just, we were so focused and and sometimes you just got to open the eyes up, see what's around you, slow it down. Embrace the journey. Bailey, what's small ball to you?
Bayleigh Petty 40:37
You know, small ball is everything to me, really, especially it's closely related to Small Changes, Big Shifts. It's all about those small, intentional changes. And so for me, I took your question more in the health and well being space. And so what are small things that I can do every day to put myself in a position to be at my optimal health, right? So like starting my day with water first thing in the morning. It's something that's very simple, and then ending my day with gratitude. Those are my two like non-negotiables. I put them on my checklist every day, and it helps me mentally, knowing that I cross them off if so, I end every day with three things that I'm grateful for. It was a practice that I started right when I joined the team, and it kind of just helps you reground at the end of the day, because we we do. The days are fast, and so it's hard to be like, what went well, what's going good in my life. And so it is a mental practice that is transformed my mindset to just reflect each night on three things that I'm grateful for. And it's perfect going into the holiday season.
Joel Goldberg 41:39
Really interesting that you say that because I and I don't always get it, but I've tried to make it a non-negotiable to do that same practice to start the day, and only because sometimes I'd fall asleep or whatever at night, and then it wouldn't happen, and, you know, these late night baseball games. So I try to do that at the start of the day after a meditation. And I've talked about that some on this podcast. It's a game changer. It just it sets the tone for the day, and just at least enables me to slow down. I kind of started it through advice of a good friend of mine, Jeff Landsman, who's very into wellness, my longtime friend who who said he will not doom scroll or do anything on his phone until he's done that, that meditation and that journaling first thing in the morning. So it's an important part, no matter what, and a piece of small ball that I've picked up. Okay, four final questions as we round the bases. The final one will have to do with Thanksgiving. But let's talk about about Bayleigh and Michelle, the athletes, because I've heard stories about Michelle on the basketball court and Bayleigh, you're, you're, you're much more recently on the volleyball court. Tell me about your your volleyball career. Give me, give me a little scouting report on on you as a volleyball player.
Bayleigh Petty 41:39
Oh man. So volleyball was actually my second love. I started with basketball very early on playing sports since I was eight, those people that I grew up playing sports with are my best friends today. So when I say that, it is a part of who I am, it has shaped my who I, who I've become, and who's around me. And so I give a lot of who I am today to the sports world, but I started volleyball when I was in, I think, fifth grade, competitively. Played through college. I went to Fort Hays State University. I was a middle in high school, and then when I got to Fort Hays, we ran a three middle offense, so I actually transitioned to a right side. Had to learn to set that was completely new for me. So I learned a lot in college, and I had the best teammates the season in my volleyball collegiate career didn't go as I had planned it to when I was first, you know, in the recruiting process, but the people that I met along the way are my sisters. We are bonded for life. It is friendships that in friendships and lessons that I wouldn't trade for the world.
Joel Goldberg 43:46
Alright, Michelle, let's go back and picture. Well, you played a lot of sports, I know, but, but I'm picturing like that, that scrappy guard on the basketball court. You've talked to me about basketball a little bit. Go, go back to those, those very young years of of Michelle, the athlete?
Dr. Michelle Robin 44:01
Well, you know, I didn't start playing any sports until I was a sophomore in high school, so I have three years, and it's a funny way how I got there, but I'm glad I got there. I got a chance to go play at Lebec Community College for two years, mostly because of my attitude and I was fast, so was not the guard, but I gotta, I gotta play. And the coaches say, Michelle, you're on the team because your attitude, you always show up, you give it 100% and so I don't have quite the athleticism that Bayleigh has, but I do have the heart.
Joel Goldberg 44:34
Well, now that, you know now that shows on the pickleball court. I believe if the stories that I've heard are true, but that same heart, by the way, that heart comes back to it again, right? That that will, that desire. And so I always like sometimes to hear some of those, those fun athlete stories and and get that perspective on that second question as we round the bases. I was just thinking about this and Bayleigh, this one will be for you, because every, anything that you're learning right now is going to get passed on to your kids. They will benefit from that. And anyone within, within that ecosystem in your world, and anyone that they touch. And I bring that up only because I was in, I don't know, a month ago, and your kids were in at that moment, you know, in the lobby, and so I was able to watch you, you know, with them. What does it mean to you to know that you have this knowledge at such a young age that really they could start understanding now?
Bayleigh Petty 45:29
Yeah, you know, I think that is, it's priceless to me. Is the best way to put it. My kids are going to grow up, in a way, and let me just also say that I know that there's going to be some things that they're going to have to unlearn from me or heal from me, or some characteristics or traits that they say it ends with me. And that's again, how it's supposed to be. So I think all parents listening, if you have if you have a kid, maybe an adult kid like me, that says, hey, I'm stepping out and making generational change. Don't take it personal. There's so many lessons of good things that you take, that your parents gave you. But then there's opportunities like I have now, where I've just exposed to so much more, to where it's like, I think about the athlete I could have been right, like I was going to a two a day practice and head into the cafe and eating two burgers and the fries and pizza, you know? So it's like, what if I would have been fueling myself the way that I know now, and even mentally fueling myself the way that I know now, who could i Who could I have been in that? You know, again, I think to the sports world, who would I have been in that realm? And so for me, I know that my kids are going to grow up knowing how to fuel themselves properly. That's a big one. That's a big generational change we're making in our household. And then the second thing is knowing that all of your feelings are okay. All of your feelings are always okay. How you react is where we needed, is what we coach, and is what we talk through. And so letting them know that no matter what, and especially, you know, I've got African-Latino kids, we come from cultures that don't talk about your feelings, don't talk about it being okay. And so it is powerful to me to know that they are not only going to be speaking life into themselves, but hopefully their friends and hopefully our family all like all of our past generations of those, hopefully they can look at our kids and say, Okay, wow. Like, yes, this is how it's supposed to be, and encourage them to be who they are authentically, because there's so many things that we can learn from kids. I'll have to write a book one day on the lessons that my kids are teaching me, because if you're open to the lessons, they're constantly coming. I think kids are put on this earth how we're designed to be, and so we can learn a lot from them, if we kind of push our pride aside and and get a chance to put yourself in a kid's perspective.
Joel Goldberg 47:38
My only piece of advice, I think Michelle would agree with this, is that whenever that book happens five years, 10 years, three years, 15 years, start jotting down in your phone or somewhere, every single one of those things now, perfect. It'll be a lot easier to untangle then. And it's really just a form of journaling, is all it is. So if you're not doing that already, I'm sure you're journaling, just get it out there, because one, you'll have those memories forever, and two, it'll be a lot easier to write that book, and it's going to be a heck of a book. Third question, as we round the bases, is this one's totally out of nowhere, other than the fact that I think on our questionnaire that we do, Michelle, you filled this out, and I don't know that I knew this one, but you have a little bit of a deeper connection to the Morse code than most of us.
Dr. Michelle Robin 48:23
Yeah. Well, first of all, Joel, congratulations on your new book.
Joel Goldberg 48:26
Thank you.
Dr. Michelle Robin 48:28
Super excited about that. I remember when you actually did the show in your first book, we talked about Small Changes, Big Shifts and some similarities. So.
Joel Goldberg 48:35
Because I felt I had to ask you, first, we're going to call this thing Small Ball, Big Results, and it really sounds like I'm stealing your name. Are you okay with that? And you were, thankfully, but go on, sorry.
Dr. Michelle Robin 48:44
Yeah. So much fun there. So congratulations. I do want to echo what you said to Bayleigh, is to start jotting those eye downs. Maybe it's in your five year old with a note lessons I'm learning, because it does matter. I remember when I did the 30 year 30 lessons I learned, actually started on that about nine months before, and just started thinking about the stories that I learned. You know, don't, you know, here's a perfect one for for life right now is don't let the negative few affect the positive many. And Joel, I know you get that from being a public, public person. So I forgot the question.
Joel Goldberg 49:19
Morse code. Morse code.
Dr. Michelle Robin 49:21
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, they Morse code, yeah.
Joel Goldberg 49:23
Totally off on a tangent. But it just it was too good of a fact to have to pass up.
Dr. Michelle Robin 49:28
Yeah, yeah. My mother's maid name is Morse. And so Samuel Morse, who invented Morse code, is in her family line. It makes him in my family line. So, yeah, so I don't even know Bayleigh knew that fact.
Bayleigh Petty 49:40
I did not know that. How cool?
Joel Goldberg 49:41
Great grandfather or, yeah, great, great, or great, great, great, something like that. Yeah, sometimes I just, I like fun facts, because, yes, I didn't know that until I read it on on our survey. And so we all learned something new today. But the point of this podcast, gratitude. We have talked a ton about the incredible work at Small Changes, Big Shifts. We're going to wrap it up for each of you with a two part Thanksgiving related question. One, go to Thanksgiving food, and two, one thing that you would recommend to anyone here on Thanksgiving. And by the way, as I said before, 365, days a year. So it could be August that you're listening to this. It could be June. This will apply one piece of gratitude advice, or something that that someone can take and use today, a food and a piece of gratitude advice, we will, Bayleigh I'm going to start with you.
Bayleigh Petty 50:45
Okay. My go to food is my grandma's homemade stuffing. It is not gluten free currently, but maybe it will be something that I can put a spin on. And so that is one that I like plan my talks for because it is my favorite Thanksgiving dish. And My piece of advice for people, kind of going into this holiday season, and especially Thanksgiving time, is take a moment to yourself before entering a room and kind of set the intention, taking a breath and knowing what like, what your boundaries are, kind of walking in. So family is tricky. Sometimes it's it can be a very exciting thing. It can be a heavy thing for people, either way, how do you want to show up? What? What way do you want to present yourself to this room? And so take a second before you walk in. Take a deep breath, because if you're looking to get offended, you're going to be offended when you walk in. So kind of just shifting that mindset of what the intention is, in setting yourself up for success before entering in your family gatherings.
Joel Goldberg 51:45
Good stuff, okay? Michelle, Thanksgiving food. You have a guilty pleasure. You're always so well behaved, it feels like.
Dr. Michelle Robin 51:54
Well, my my guilty pleasure is French fry Fridays. However, I will probably no be having french fries on Thanksgiving. Well, actually I will, because I'm going, I know where I'm going, I know where I'm going to lunch, so I'm going to eat out on that day, so I probably have french fries, maybe pumpkin pie. Joel, you know, but I really love what Bayleigh said. So I could just air quote, ditto. Just go in looking for what's working, whether it's in your own body, your own heart and the people around you, I do believe that most people, most people, really just want to feel loved, and they want to be loved. So just go in with a loving heart and loving eyes, and I think you'll be surprised about how much stress free, less stressful the holiday is.
Joel Goldberg 52:41
Amen to all of that, to both of you and everyone listening, if you're listening the week this comes out a happy Thanksgiving. We can practice that gratitude though all year long. For more information again, check out the website and this incredible movement, smallchangesbigshifts.com. So grateful to both of you for many things beyond just this podcast. Thank you so much for doing it, though. To Dr. Michelle Robin, thanks for everything, of course, and I look forward to all that continuing. Bayleigh Petty, I'm so excited for you and the early part of this journey. What a what a special, special thing to be involved with and continue to have success and change people's lives. Thank you both. Happy Thanksgiving and really appreciate you spending time today.
Bayleigh Petty 53:35
Thank you, Joel.
Dr. Michelle Robin 53:36
Joel, you rock. Hey. I'm sending you a big heart to heart hug.
Joel Goldberg 53:40
There it is. I'll get one in person very soon. Thank you, ladies, there you go.