What does war teach you about energy?

Wes Herche was a senior US intelligence officer deployed to Baghdad — three months after becoming a father for the first time. In that war zone, he watched energy become a matter of life and death. For every 39 fuel convoys running through Iraq, there was one casualty.

That experience forged something rare: a sustainability leader who can stare at worst-case scenarios and still show up with clarity and optimism.

Today Wes is Director of Energy & Sustainability Solutions at Prologis, former Amazon global lead for supplier decarbonization, former BCG, and co-founder of Sustainability Decoded — the newsletter for sustainability professionals. He holds a PhD in Sustainability from ASU.

In this episode we talk about the intelligence mindset applied to climate, why emissions are actually an efficiency opportunity, the truth about degrowth, AI's energy appetite, and the trim tab theory of change.

Oh — and Wes was born on Earth Day. He didn't choose this path. He was built for it.

Learn more about Wes here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/herche/

https://www.sustainabilitydecoded.com/

Anjana Nambissan is a life coach guiding you through a transformative journey towards self-love and personal growth. She believes in the power of self-love and its profound impact on every aspect of your life.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial time dedicated to reducing stigma, raising awareness, and promoting mental wellness across communities. This annual observance highlights the importance of mental health care and encourages open conversations about psychological well-being.

Established to combat the silence surrounding mental health issues, May serves as a platform for education, advocacy, and support. The month focuses on normalizing discussions about anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health challenges that affect millions globally. Key themes include early intervention, accessibility to mental health resources, and the recognition that mental health is as important as physical health.

Recent years have seen unprecedented challenges to collective mental wellness. Workplace stress, social media pressures, economic uncertainty, and post-pandemic effects have intensified mental health concerns. Young adults and professionals face particular challenges with anxiety disorders, burnout, and depression becoming increasingly common.

Life coaches play a unique and valuable role in the mental health ecosystem. Unlike therapists who focus on clinical treatment of mental illness, life coaches work with generally healthy individuals seeking personal growth, goal achievement, and life optimization. They bridge the gap between traditional therapy and self-help, offering structured support for those wanting to enhance their mental wellness proactively.

Life coaches employ evidence-based techniques including cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness practices, and goal-setting frameworks. They help clients identify limiting beliefs, develop coping strategies, and create actionable plans for personal development. Through regular sessions, coaches provide accountability, perspective, and tools for managing stress, improving relationships, and building resilience.

One of life coaching's greatest strengths lies in its preventive approach. Rather than waiting for mental health crises, coaches help clients build emotional intelligence, stress management skills, and healthy lifestyle habits that protect against future psychological challenges. This proactive stance aligns perfectly with Mental Health Awareness Month's emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Effective life coaches recognize their scope and limitations, often working collaboratively with mental health professionals. They refer clients to therapists when clinical intervention is needed while continuing to provide support for personal growth goals. This integrated approach ensures comprehensive care addressing both therapeutic needs and life enhancement objectives.

Life coaching offers a less stigmatized entry point for individuals hesitant about traditional mental health services. Many people feel more comfortable seeking a "life coach" than a "therapist," making coaching an accessible gateway to personal development and mental wellness support.

May Action Steps

During Mental Health Awareness Month, individuals can benefit from evaluating their mental wellness needs. Consider whether life coaching might complement existing self-care practices or provide structured support for personal goals. Life coaches can help develop mental wellness plans, establish healthy routines, and create accountability systems for ongoing psychological well-being.

The integration of life coaching into mental health awareness represents a holistic approach to psychological wellness, emphasizing growth, prevention, and empowerment alongside traditional therapeutic interventions.

Judy Barreto, a single mother of three boys, formerly ran "Spondeo Montessori" in Gilbert, Arizona, where she demonstrated her profound commitment to children's education. During her time as the school's leader, she placed special emphasis on incorporating environmentally conscious principles into the institution's framework and operations.

Judy embarked on a new professional path in the field of eco-therapy. We explore her fascinating transition from Montessori education administrator to eco-therapy practitioner, examining how her experience as both an educator and mother has informed this evolving career journey. Our conversation with Judy reveals the connecting threads between her previous work in structured nature-based education and her current pursuit of healing through environmental connection.

Key aspects of eco-therapy include:

1. Connection to nature: Eco-therapy is based on the principle that humans have an innate connection to nature (sometimes called "biophilia"), and that spending time in natural environments can reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
2. Formal therapeutic practices: These might include guided nature meditation, horticultural therapy (gardening for mental health), wilderness therapy, animal-assisted interventions, or conservation activities as part of a therapeutic program.
3. Health benefits: Research has shown nature exposure can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; lower blood pressure; improve immune function; increase attention capacity; and enhance overall mood.
4. Environmental awareness: Many eco-therapy approaches include an element of environmental stewardship and developing a reciprocal relationship with nature.
5. Accessibility variations: Eco-therapy can range from structured programs led by trained professionals to simple self-directed activities like regular walks in natural settings, caring for houseplants, or gardening.

Some specific eco-therapy approaches include forest bathing (shinrin-yoku from Japan), adventure therapy, care farming (therapeutic use of farming practices), and green exercise (physical activities in natural environments).

Popular Eco-Therapy Practices You Can Adopt

Here are several accessible eco-therapy practices that have gained popularity for their mental health benefits:

This Japanese practice involves mindful immersion in forest environments. Simply spend time walking slowly through a wooded area, engaging all senses—notice the scents, sounds, textures, and visual details. Research shows 2-3 hours of forest bathing can reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and boost immune function.

Engage with plants through gardening activities. This could be as simple as maintaining indoor plants, creating a small container garden, or joining a community garden. The act of nurturing plants provides both immediate satisfaction and long-term rewards as you watch them grow.

Regular interaction with animals—whether pets, wildlife observation, or volunteering at animal sanctuaries—can reduce anxiety and provide emotional support. The human-animal bond has proven therapeutic effects.

Document your observations, feelings, and experiences in natural settings. This reflective practice helps process emotions while developing deeper connections to the environment. Combine writing with sketches of plants, landscapes, or wildlife.

Participate in habitat restoration, beach cleanups, or tree planting. These activities provide a sense of purpose and community while fostering environmental stewardship.

Create art inspired by or using natural materials. This might include painting outdoors, making mandalas from found objects, photography, or crafting with natural elements.

#EcoTherapy #Montessori #WellnessJourney #NatureHealing #ArizonaWellness

Keywords:

• Eco-therapy

• Nature-based healing
• Environmental wellness
• Gilbert Arizona
• Career transition
• Mother entrepreneurs
• Sustainable education

• Holistic wellness
• Desert healing

• Parenting and nature
• Green education
• Environmental psychology