Welcome to another transformative episode of "Food, Feels & Banana Peels" where we delve into the stories of ordinary people who have faced life's most daunting challenges and emerged stronger, healthier, and more enlightened! In this bonus episode, I'm honoured to feature Brian Nori, a remarkable individual whose journey of healing and self-discovery will inspire and captivate you.

In 2011, Brian was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) after experiencing a debilitating optic neuritis flare-up. Despite having access to top-tier medical professionals, he found himself at a crossroads, unable to find the comprehensive healing he so desperately sought. Frustrated and determined, Brian took his health into his own hands, embarking on a profound journey of alternative healing.

Brian's quest for wellness led him to make radical changes to his diet and lifestyle. Through meticulous research and experimentation with different foods and supplements, he began to uncover the powerful connection between diet and autoimmune diseases. His dedication to a vegan, organic diet and the elimination of inflammatory foods played a pivotal role in his recovery.

However, Brian's journey did not stop there. He ventured deep into the Amazon Rainforest, where he immersed himself in the ancient healing practices of the Shipibo tribe. Through transformative Ayahuasca ceremonies, Brian delved into his subconscious, addressing deep-seated emotional and psychosomatic blockages. This profound experience not only facilitated his physical healing but also brought about a deeper understanding of himself and the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.

Brian's story is a testament to the power of holistic healing and the importance of listening to one's body. His book, "The Autoimmune Awakening," chronicles his journey and offers insights and strategies for others seeking to take control of their health. Brian's message is clear: true healing comes from within, and by embracing a multifaceted approach, we can all find the path to wellness.

Join us as Brian Nori shares his extraordinary journey of overcoming Multiple Sclerosis, the wisdom he gained from the heart of the Amazon, and his ongoing mission to inspire others to find their own path to healing.

Book : ⁠http://www.theautoimmuneawakening.com⁠

Check out Brian's art as a reflection of his amazing journey featured at ⁠http://www.norigallery.com⁠

In this bonus episode, I chat with internationally recognized health and lifestyle expert Kristin Grayce McGary.

She's an author, speaker and an authority on autoimmunity, functional blood chemistry analysis, thyroid & gut health, alleviating pain, family wellness, extreme exhaustion, resolving blocks to healing, and food as medicine. Kristin Grayce specializes in integrating mind, body and spirit in healthcare through a uniquely individualized approach. And so much more.....

We discuss how functional medicine testing can help to identify imbalances in our bodies that the modern medical system can't access with it's standardized testing.

Kristin Grace shares her knowledge, wisdom and guidance to help people understand the health of their body, mind, and Spirit and how functional and other holistic tools can help to identify and resolve root causes of dis-ease.

Check out more info on Kristin Grayce and some of her free resources here

Check out more about Laura here

In this episode I chat with Tanya Farlinger, an entrepreneur and owner of two busy spas in Ottawa. Tanya shares her story of her surprising diagnosis of colon cancer at the age of 37 and how it changed her life path. She discusses alternative modalities to conventional treatment and how her perspective, appreciation for self-care, and so much more changed. She is living her happiest life, now 12 years cancer-free and fulfilling her purpose of bringing others joy. Tanya credits her encounter with dis-ease as the wake-up call that forced her to change everything!

Connect with Tanya at exhalospa.ca

exhalo on facebook or @exhalospa on instagram

Connect with Laura@ laurapifer.com or @foodfeelsbananapeels on instagram

In this episode I chat with former Marketing Executive Lisa Marie DeSanto about her health journey. She began having "menopausal-like" symptoms that continued to worsen to a point that she was having trouble functioning in her everyday life. She was misdiagnosed by the medical community for an extended period of time, then decided to take control of her health and find answers another way. It wan't until she sought the help of a Naturopathic Doctor that she began to get answers. She was finally diagnosed with MCAS and began her journey to healing her body, holistically. Lisa Marie shares all she learned on her journey in hopes it will inspire others to advocate for themselves and their health.

You can connect with Lisa Marie at https://www.lisamarieconnections.com/

Check out Lisa Marie's new podcast coming in February

From Lemons to Limoncello

To connect further with Laura visit laurapifer.com

In this episode Rhonda openly shares her journey with disordered eating - in particular bulimia- and the healing that took place as she made peace with food and herself. Rhonda offers insight into her two decade long battle with disordered eating and discusses the tools that helped her overcome it. Whether you are emotional eating, have an unhealthy relationship with food (binge eating, strict boundaries, see food as good/bad etc.), or simply interested in learning more, you'll love Rhonda's raw revelations of her trials and tribulations on her journey to healing bulimia naturally. Connect with Rhonda on Insta or Facebook @eclipseholistichealing Resources: The F*** It Diet, Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It Connect with Laura on Insta @foodfeelsbananapeels or Laurapifer.com

In this episode I chat with Lisa Sabatini, a successful business woman who built and ran a flourishing corporate business and sister corporation..... until her health crashed.

Lisa opens up about her journey with Lyme disease that left her bedridden for a year. She shares the difficulties of her illness and the long journey to recovery. She provides us with knowledge, insight and what she learned on her journey through dis-ease to health. Her experience changed her into the healthy, happy and fulfilled path she's on today as an Energy Medicine Practitioner.

To learn more about lisa visit lisasabatini.com

To lean more about Laura and how she can support you in living healthier and happier visit laurapifer.com

Welcome to Foods, Feels & Banana Peels! In this episode I'll share my story. My journey with health and dis-ease has been filled with many ups and downs and changed the way I look at myself, health and life overall! I'm sharing the insights and revelations I found on my journey through dis-ease and reclaiming my health, in hopes they will inspire you to consider health from a different perspective. I also hope my story will reach those who are struggling on their health journey and help them to see themselves differently. In my experience, understanding and fully supporting ourselves on all levels is the key to our health.

You can learn more about me by visiting laurapifer.com

This is a short description of what you can expect to hear about on my upcoming podcast :)

In this final episode of the first season I chat with Dr. Brigitta Ziemba, a paramedic for ten years, trained Naturopathic Doctor and Cranio-Sacral Therapist. Our chat covers the Naturopathic approach to health and dis-ease and how it differs from Allopathic (Western) Medicine as we know it. She also provides perspective on the importance of nervous system regulation and overall health, and how cranio-sacral work can support the release of nervous system traumas at the root of dis-ease. We chat about food, green allopathy and SO much more! If the podcast hasn't already changed your perspective on health and dis-ease, it will after this episode!

To connect with Brigitta: IG@naturally_neuro

To connect with Laura: laurapifer.com, IG: @foodfeelsbananapeels

In this episode I chat with Rachel Cogan. She shares her journey of being diagnosed with auto-immune disease over a decade ago and more recently LADA - Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults. She discusses her use of the Carnivore Diet to reduce consumption of sugars and manage her insulin levels as an alternative to pharmaceutical medications, and so much more. Rachel freely shares her experience with food and how it's changed her life, and offers helpful tips that can help others to consider alternatives to manage their blood sugars.

To connect with Rachel:

FB Rachel Maria

IG: Iam.rachelinspired

To Connect with Laura:

laurapifer.com

IG: FoodfeelsBananapeels

In this episode I chat with Kathy Fisher of Calgary, Alberta. A former Family Lawyer, poet, theatre performer and so much more, she shares her difficult journey with Crohn's and Colitis - when little was known about this dis-ease. Kathy shares the medical system's solutions: intense long-term pharmaceuticals, to removing nearly all of her colon, and her difficult journey in enduring symptoms and eventually finding the natural medicine path that saved her life. Tune in to learn about Kathy's journey through dis-ease, advocating for herself, and eventually becoming happier, healthier and able to return to her life.

Connect with Kathy @ fisherkathleene@gmail.com

Connect with Laura @ laurapifer.com

Join me for this chat with Dr. Anmar Salman, an Ottawa-based Medical Doctor as we chat about his views as a Western Medical Practitioner on Dis-ease and Health. In this episode we chat about where modern medicine falls short and how collaboration can be the key to helping people overcome dis-ease.

To check out Anmar's Blog : Off the Cuff

Connect with Laura @ Laurapifer.com

Food & Dis-ease. We all know things we're eating aren't good for our bodies.... but do we listen? Lisa Roers shares her story of losing control of mobility in her body and so much more. Her quest to find the root cause of her illness lead her to discover what Western Medicine couldn't: the true root cause and cure - healthy digestion! Join me Sunday to learn more about food & health and why the saying "you are what you eat" is unequivocally true! Spotify, Apple and You tube (Laura Pifer)

Resources from Lisa: Lisaroers.com

Check out Lisa's podcast: Sunshine Cafe podcast

Chris Wark: Chrisbeatcancer.com

And to connect with Laura: Laurapifer.com

In this episode I chat with Kylie Delfino, a Holistic Health Professional for more than two decades. Kylie shares her own frightening health journey, her recovery to heath and all she learned on her journey.

Kylie has extensive experience with Cancer research and is now working with two US Universities and a private Clinic in California on a foundational project that promises to change health as we see it. The exciting research project focuses on precognition of the subconscious mind and measuring vibrations sent to the heart. You won't want to miss this as we discuss the role of the nervous system in overall health and how this is subconsciously influenced.....and so much more!

Resources from Kylie:

1) Hoffman institute San Francisco, California 

Video - Healing childhood trauma, Negate Love Syndrome Explained:  

(2) How trauma is held in the body: 

The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk M.D.  

Perter Levine Somatic Healing:   

Connect with Laura

In this episode I chat with Meliane Paquin-Bureau about her journey with substance abuse and how she came to forgive, love and accept herself on her healing path. Meliane openly shares some of the darker parts of her journey and how she found the light again. She offers some great insight into tools that can help us all find acceptance on our healing paths.

To connect with Meliane visit myblissfuljourney.ca 

FB IG The reiki master in recovery

In this episode I chat with Lynda Heyden-Carroll, a former corporate finance executive, about the sudden and tragic loss of her teenage daughter. Lynda shares her journey through the roller coaster of thoughts, emotions and health challenges that plagued her for many years. She tells with us how she came to terms with her grief, rose above it, and reclaimed her health and happiness holistically! She reveals insights into her healing journey and valuable information that can support those in healing from loss.

To connect with Lynda: https://lyndaheyden.com/

To Connect with Laura: laurapifer.com