What does it mean to belong when you’ve grown up everywhere—and nowhere—all at once?

In this expansive and deeply resonant conversation, we’re joined by Vicki Abadesco, a visionary entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, speaker, coach, and mentor whose life and work are rooted in personal growth, transformation, and global perspective. Raised across Asia, Europe, and North America, Vicki embodies the lived experience of a Third Culture Kid—someone shaped by many cultures, languages, and worldviews, yet often left navigating questions of identity, home, and belonging.

Vicki is renowned for her unwavering commitment to empowering others to live purposeful, heart-led lives. Through her organization, Soul Shoppe, she and her team have touched the hearts and minds of more than one million elementary school students with a transformative conflict-resolution and peacemaking curriculum. Her work has helped nurture a generation of emotionally intelligent young people—capable of building strong relationships, resolving conflict with compassion, and fostering inclusive, connected communities.

Together, we explore the emotional, psychological, and spiritual terrain of Third Culture journeys—the gifts of adaptability, empathy, and global awareness, alongside the grief, rootlessness, and quiet loneliness that can accompany a life in motion. Vicki shares how growing up between worlds shaped her sense of self, relationships, leadership, and purpose, and how true rootedness doesn’t always come from one place, but from learning how to belong within yourself.

This episode is for anyone who has:

• Grown up internationally or between cultures
• Felt deeply connected yet perpetually out of place
• Learned to read rooms, people, and cultures early in life
• Questioned identity, home, and where they truly belong

It’s a conversation about liminality, resilience, emotional intelligence, and the beauty of living beyond borders—externally and internally.

🔗 Learn more about Vicki and her work:
https://www.vickiabadesco.com

If you’ve ever felt like your roots travel with you, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

What if the spine isn’t just structural—but central to how the body heals, adapts, and thrives?

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we sit down with Dr. Brad Wolf to explore how chiropractic spinal care can serve as a powerful form of nervous system preservation—and why it plays a critical role in long-term health, resilience, and aging well.

Dr. Wolf shares his deeply personal journey, beginning with a childhood marked by asthma, allergies, and chronic immune weakness. From frequent ER visits and inhalers to gasping for air on the soccer field, simply breathing felt like a daily struggle. As a young adult, he searched relentlessly for answers—exploring Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, herbs, Ayurveda, massage, and eventually becoming a licensed bodyworker himself.

But it was his first chiropractic adjustment—initially driven by curiosity—that changed everything.

As Dr. Wolf began receiving regular chiropractic care, his immune system strengthened dramatically. Illnesses that once lingered for weeks began resolving in days—or even hours. This profound shift set him on a lifelong path, ultimately leading him to earn his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis in 1996.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The spine’s relationship to the nervous system and immune function
• Why chiropractic care is about preservation—not just pain relief
• How the body can heal without drugs or surgery when interference is removed
• Aging better, living pain-free, and reclaiming agency over your health
• Why modern health culture urgently needs a paradigm shift

With obesity on the rise, ultra-processed foods everywhere, and medication often used as a first response rather than a last resort, Dr. Wolf makes a compelling case for returning to foundational principles of health—starting with the nervous system.

Over the course of his career, he has helped tens of thousands of people avoid spinal surgery, recover from herniated and bulging discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and discogenic pain—and most importantly, get back to truly living.

It’s never too late to take control of your health.
To age better.
To live pain-free.
To become the best version of yourself.

🔗 Learn more & connect with Dr. Brad Wolf:
Website: https://ihealthnc.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innovationhealth1609

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovationhealthcharlotte?igsh=MTJlNnp1aG52MndqaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

🎧 Listen in and discover why chiropractic care isn’t an alternative—it’s essential.

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.

What if happiness wasn’t a personality trait—or a fleeting emotional high—but a skill your brain can actually learn?

In this episode of Rooted & Wild, we explore the neuroscience, psychology, and cultural conditioning behind lasting and permanent happiness with globally recognized speaker, author, and thought leader Valerie Alexander. Drawing from decades of experience across law, tech, storytelling, and leadership development, Valerie breaks down how the brain forms habits of thought—and how those patterns can be consciously rewired.

Together, we unpack why so many people feel “stuck” chasing happiness, how unconscious bias and cultural narratives shape our emotional lives, and what science reveals about sustainable joy, fulfillment, and resilience. This is a grounded, intelligent conversation that bridges brain science with real-world application—without bypassing complexity or humanity.

Valerie Alexander is a globally sought-after keynote speaker on workplace happiness, inclusive leadership, and the advancement of women. She has delivered transformative talks for Fortune 500 companies, global conferences, and government agencies including NASA, the CDC, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Air National Guard. Her TED Talk, How to Outsmart Your Own Unconscious Bias, has been viewed over a million times and is used worldwide as a training tool in leadership and education.

Before stepping fully into her work on culture and happiness, Valerie built a diverse career as a corporate securities lawyer, investment banker, tech executive, startup founder, and later as a screenwriter and director in Los Angeles. Her creative work includes the Hallmark film Memories of Christmas and multiple award-winning advocacy campaigns supporting marriage equality.

She is the bestselling author of Happiness as a Second Language, Success as a Second Language, and How Women Can Succeed in the Workplace, and holds the registered trademark on “…as a Second Language” for self-help publishing. Valerie currently serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Culture, Leadership and Narrative at Launch Fayette in Georgia and sits on the board of the Peachtree City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

If you’re curious about how happiness actually works in the brain—and how to make it sustainable—this conversation offers both clarity and hope.

🔗 Learn more about Valerie’s work:
https://www.speakhappiness.com/

https://www.speakhappiness.com/about-valerie/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/speakhappiness-keynotespeaker/

Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of David Allen Tracy. The content shared on this podcast is not intended to replace individualized medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns.