The Buena Vida Podcast
Welcome to the Buena Vida Podcast!
Formerly known as the ERS Walk & Talk Podcast, the Buena Vida Podcast is brought to you by the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS). This podcast is designed to support state employees and employees of higher education institutions who receive benefits through our program.
In each episode, we explore topics that promote well-being, health, and balance, featuring expert guests, insightful discussions, and practical tips for living a healthier, happier life. From mindfulness and stress management to fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness, we’ve got you covered!
Our podcast library also includes all previous episodes from the ERS Walk & Talk Podcast (dating back to 2021), so you can catch up on all the great content while enjoying the fresh direction of Buena Vida — the good life.
Subscribe today and start taking steps toward living your best life!
Episodes
82 episodes
Passing the Torch: Lacy's final episode & intro to Money Talks
In her final episode as host, Lacy Wolff shares insights on financial wellness through the ERS Buena Vida program and discusses how financial stress affects overall health and wellbeing.Subscribe to ERS Money Talks Podcast wherever you l...
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37:41
Sean Duffy: Omada for Diabetes & Healthcare in your pocket
Sean Duffy, co-founder and CEO of Omada Health, shares how his company is supporting diabetes care by providing continuous support between doctor visits through digital health technology. His journey from medical school to creating a healthcare...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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24:24
Michael Bates: Health, Leadership & Second Chances
Michael Bates' journey from correctional officer to Deputy Director of Rehabilitation and Reentry at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reveals what true transformation looks like, both personally and systemically.When Bates began...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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42:33
Kristi Docwra: Hungry for Change? The Path to Intuitive Eating
Kristi Docwra shares insights about intuitive eating, a science-backed approach that helps us reject diet mentality and rebuild trust with our bodies to find freedom in how we nourish ourselves.• Intuitive eating is about connecting wit...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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43:28
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Bijal Toprani, DPT: What we need to know about our pelvic floor
Ever sneezed and leaked a little? Felt an urgent need to use the bathroom the moment your key touches your front door? You're not alone—and contrary to what many believe, these symptoms aren't just normal parts of aging or motherhood that you h...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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31:33
Susan Combs: Resilience, Ranching and Public Service
Susan Combs shares how her upbringing on a remote West Texas ranch shaped her leadership philosophy and approach to public service, highlighting resilience and optimism as essential qualities for navigating challenges. • Growing up...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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37:55
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Tabbetha Lopez, Ph.D.: Nutrition Without Restriction & Building a Lifetime of Balance
In this episode of the Buena Vida Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Tabbetha Lopez—a registered dietitian, licensed dietician, who holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology and is a former collegiate athlete—for an inspiring and practical conversation a...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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38:40
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Creating Healthier Communities: Trent Matthias on Outdoor Fitness
Your environment plays a crucial role in shaping your health and well-being. In this episode of the Buena Vida Podcast, Lacy interviews with Trent Matthias, Director of the National Fitness Campaign, to explore how thoughtfully designed public ...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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27:07
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Heart Health: A Deep Dive with Dr. Jayne Morgan
This episode explores the vital connections between heart health, community, and overall well-being with cardiologist Dr. Jane Morgan. Emphasizing the role of friendships and preventive care in longevity, Dr. Morgan provides insights on managin...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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45:33
Habit Songs: Insights from BJ Fogg, Ph.D. and Stephanie Weldy M.Ed.
This episode dives into the transformative power of tiny changes, elaborating on the Tiny Habits method developed by Dr. BJ Fogg and his new creative project, Habit Songs for Kids. Listeners gain insight into how simple behavior modifications, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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43:17
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Embracing the Good Life: Join the Buena Vida Transformation
Our podcast is evolving from ERS Walk Talk to the Buena Vida Podcast, reflecting our commitment to support well-being as we enter 2025. Expect inspiring episodes, expert interviews, and practical tips dedicated to helping you live a "good life....
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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2:35
Transforming Mental Health: Dale Cook on Digital Therapy and Learn to Live
Explore the transformative world of mental health management with our guest Dale Cook, CEO and co-founder of Learn to Live. Dale shares his personal journey with cognitive behavioral therapy, which inspired him to create a platform that makes m...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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36:26
Revolutionizing Musculoskeletal Health with Daniel Perez, CEO of Hinge Health
Discover how you can finally conquer chronic pain without ever leaving your home. Daniel Perez, the CEO and co-founder of Hinge Health, joins us to reveal how his innovative digital health program is revolutionizing musculoskeletal care. You'll...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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29:58
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From $40K Debt to Financial Freedom: Kari Karber's Journey
Ever wondered how a single mom can pay off over $40,000 in credit card debt? Join us as we bring you the remarkable story of Kari Karber, Assistant Director of Customer Benefits at the Employees' Retirement System of Texas (ERS). Kari opens up ...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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29:46
Revolutionizing Heart Health: An Interview with Maayan Cohen of Hello Heart
What if you could take control of your heart health with the help of a simple app? Join us in this episode as we chat with Mayan Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Hello Heart, a groundbreaking digital health platform. Hello Heart combines a connecte...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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34:32
Strength Training Explained with Demetrius Bailey
Unlock the secrets to effective strength training with Demetrius Bailey, a seasoned coach with a wealth of experience training professional athletes and military personnel. Demetrius reveals practical strategies to integrate strength training i...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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43:31
Empowerment Through Wellness: One Trooper's Journey to Support Employee Wellness
In this episode Lacy chats with Corporal Harold Estep, a State Trooper from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Corporal Estep shares his inspiring story about how he lost 50 pounds and kept it off for over 10 years. He talks about his passi...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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38:16
Becoming Sugar Savvy with Alexis Schminke
In this episode of the ERS Walk & Talk Podcast, host Lacy sits down with Alexis Schminke, a Senior Training Specialist at DPS in the Aircraft Division, and a Certified Holistic Nutritionist with a background in chemistry and exercise physio...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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41:14
Dr. Benjamin Renfro: What is Airrosti and how can it help me?
Lacy interviews her own Airrosti (AIR-ROSTI) health care provider who has helped every member of her family with their injuries and pain over the years. Dr. Renfro talks about the most common types of pain he treats, like lower back, shoulder a...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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25:12
Sarah Karnes & Andrew Glass: Beyond Bookshelves
Lacy talks with Sarah Karnes, Director of Library Development and Networking at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) and Andrew Glass, Director of Records Management at ERS about the boundless resources available through stat...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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36:19
Oscar Mendoza: from Leadership to LeaderSHIFT
Lacy talks with Oscar Mendoza, Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, who experienced a profound shift in his leadership after experiencing profound grief and introspection. When he lost Warden Sergio Perez to a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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37:25
Dr. Jonathan Singer, Ph.D.: The Science of Grief
Lacy talks with Dr. Jonathan Singer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the GRILL Lab at Texas Tech University, which studies and provides support around Grief and Response to Illness into Late Life (GRILL). ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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34:16
David Michel: Breaking down barriers to preventive health
Lacy talks with David Michel, CEO of Catapult Health, the provider of an exciting NEW benefit for those who want to stay healthy or improve their health – the Catapult Health VirtualCheckup®. By making it easy to get a check-up from the comfort...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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24:30
Todd Whitthorne: This is Water
Lacy talks with thought leader Todd Whitthorne about the ways our environment is designed for us not to be healthy – to move very little, to eat processed food, and spend vastly more time passively consuming than actively connecting or creating...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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28:01
