In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, I welcome Momoko Uno, who shares her poignant yet humorous story of facing adversity, particularly during a traumatic hotel quarantine in Australia amidst the pandemic. Momoko discusses her memoir about this experience, which includes the loss of her mother during the quarantine. She reflects on how humor has been a coping mechanism for her, even in the darkest times. The discussion also delves into her journey from Australia to China for medical school, her draw to challenging situations, her views on grief and spirituality, and the importance of living life fully. Momoko’s insights into using humor to cope with adversity, coupled with her professional experiences in medicine, provide a rich, multifaceted perspective on resilience and personal growth.

Momoko Uno is a doctor of integrative and functional medicine. With her diverse expertise—including acupuncture, herbalism, and psychology—she offers a holistic approach to wellness through her practice, Omni Wellness NYC. Her work focuses on resilience and Trauma recovery, reflected in her contributions as an author and speaker.

02:48 Introduction to Momoko’s Story

03:25 The Hotel Quarantine Experience

04:33 Navigating Life’s Challenges

05:41 Journey to Integrative Medicine

09:26 Coping with Grief and Loss

14:08 Finding Meaning and Moving Forward

20:16 Humor as a Coping Mechanism

23:19 Sharing Personal and Embarrassing Moments

23:55 A Funny Story About My Mom

26:01 The Role of Humor in Grief

27:05 Evolving Relationships After Loss

28:06 The Importance of Humor in Life

32:42 Self-Acceptance and Authenticity

34:17 Reflections on Life and Regrets

37:31 Concluding Thoughts and Resources

Sponsors of the Podcast:

• BetterHelp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/ez10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 10% off your first month of Therapy
• WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans.
• Aura: https://aura.com/ez10 for a free two-week trial
• Plunge: https://plunge.com/ez
• Mint Mobile: ⁠https://trymintmobile.com/ez10⁠ for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan
• Mental: ⁠https://getmental.com/ez

If you would like to support EZ Conversations, here are all the ways you can do that:

• Instagram⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠
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• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/furkhan-dandia-macp-mba-072a8a1ba/⁠
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Or find Furkhan’s Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠

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Furkhan Dandia Therapist and Coach

I am a men's coach, therapist, group facilitator, podcaster and author. My journey began five years ago when I was going through a separation. I found myself alone and in a shame spiral that our culture and society covertly exert on people due to the perceived "failure" of a marriage. Unfortunately, I personalized that message which led me to fall deeper into a hole, causing me to surround myself with people that did not serve me and engage in substance abuse. While seeking therapy, I was not making the wholesale changes I needed.

As part of my experience with therapy, I realized that I am not alone in the challenges men my age experience (I separated at the age of 34/35). I realized I could be a voice for men like myself and offer support in this space. In the middle of the pandemic, I applied for a Master's degree in Psychology to become a therapist. This change was a significant shift for me as I worked in the corporate world as an engineer. Once I leaned into the space of supporting other men, I also started a podcast to normalize these difficult conversations and started a men's group a year later with the support of a friend.

I thought I was giving something back when I started the men's group. However, I quickly realized I was getting substantially more from the connections I built than I initially anticipated. It was also something I needed because I was going through another breakup.

At that point, I also realized that I had not taken the time to heal, and I was outsourcing my healing through romantic relationships, substances, material acquisitions and superficial relationships. I decided to step away from the outgoing lifestyle and started to focus on my healing which was another phase of evolution for me on my journey. Over the last year and a half, I have become mindful of the people I spend my time with. I have cleaned my lifestyle of substances, toxic environments and behaviours. I have focused on my sleep, my health and my knowledge. I have improved my spiritual relationship with myself, which was lacking the most over the past five years. This is the best I have felt.

As part of my solitude journey and to find myself again, I also released a book encapsulating my journey, which I hope to share with others. My book is titled: The Pursuit of Self-Love.